St. Juan Diego, December 9
An Indigenous farmer near Mexico City, Juan Diego saw the Virgin Mary on the hill of Tepeyac in December 1531. When he brought roses in his cloak to the bishop as a sign, the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on the cloth. He was canonized in 2002, the first Indigenous saint of the Americas.
On the General Roman Calendar, December 9 is an optional memorial: Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin.
December 9 on the calendar
December 9 is the 343rd day of the year (the 344th in a leap year), with 22 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Wednesday |
| 2027 | Thursday |
| 2028 | Saturday |
| 2029 | Sunday |
| 2030 | Monday |
Keeping December 9
December 9 falls during Advent. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival.
Saints of the week around December 9
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| December 6 | St. Nicholas |
| December 7 | St. Ambrose |
| December 8 | Immaculate Conception |
| December 10 | Our Lady of Loreto |
| December 11 | St. Damasus I |
| December 12 | Our Lady of Guadalupe |
The day before, December 8, is the day of Immaculate Conception. The day after, December 10, belongs to Our Lady of Loreto. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.