Just before dawn on Saturday
the 9th of December, 1531, Juan Diego was on his way to Mass near
Mexico City. He came to a hill known as Tepeyac just as day broke. He
could hear the singing of many beautiful birds, but then the singing
suddenly stopped. As he looked towards the top of the hill he heard
someone calling his name. He was amazed to see a beautiful lady. Her
clothes glimmered like the sun and her brilliance made the rocks and
plants sparkle like jewels. Juan Diego bowed deeply before her, as she
told him that she was Holy Mary, the Mother of God. Then she instructed
him to go to the bishop in Mexico City and ask him to build a great
church so that people would come to know her love, compassion, and
protection. But the bishop wished for a sign.
In this beautiful
retelling of the story by award-winning author, Demi, find out how the
miracles performed by the Virgin of Guadalupe persuaded the bishop to
build the church; how they caused ten million Aztecs to convert to
Catholicism within just eight years; and why the basilica dedicated to
the Virgin of Guadalupe today receives 20 million pilgrims per year,
making it the most popular Christian pilgrimage site in the world.
Demi is the award-winning
author of over 130 bestselling children's books, including Jesus, Mary,
Saint Francis of Assisi, Joan of Arc, Saint Bernadette and the Miracles
of Lourdes, and Talking to God. Her titles have sold over half a million
copies. The Empty Pot was selected by former First Lady Barbara Bush as
one of the books to be read on the ABC Radio Network Program Mrs.
Bush's Story Time, sponsored by the Children's Literacy Initiative.
Demi's book Gandhi was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and
received an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. In addition, she
represented the United States at the First International Children's Book
Conference in Beijing, China. She lives with her husband in Yarrow
Point, WA.
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