On December 12, Catholics in the Americas celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Franciscans were there at the beginning of this story.

Franciscans and Our Lady of Guadalupe go hand in hand

As the late Dr. Gary Francisco Keller, for years Director of the Hispanic Research Center of Arizona State University, explains, “The Franciscans and Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe go together hand in hand. Franciscans were the first missionaries to come to Nueva España, beginning with Pedro de Gante in 1523 and, in 1524, the Twelve Franciscan Apostles of New Spain. . .The work of these Franciscans marked the beginning of the systematic evangelization of the indigenous peoples of Mexico.”

The old basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mexico, constructed between 1695–1709 (photo by J. D. Garcia)

Apparitions of Our Lady of Guadalupe to Juan Diego

The Hispanic Research Center at ASU has available on its website an