Our Lady of Guadalupe with Juan Diego

The apparition of Our Lady to Juan Diego in December of 1531 started one of the most widespread religious cults in the Spanish realm. As devotion, it was driven by the creoles and the secular clergy and in 1663, the papal Curia dedicated a festival day to her and prayers were said in her name. In 1737, the Church declared Our Lady of Guadalupe the patron saint of Mexico City, establishing her feast on December 12; in 1754, she was declared patron of the Realm of New Spain.