Christian Saints

        St. Didacus, also known as Diego, Diaz, was born in 1400 in Seville, Spain into a poor family. His parents placed him under the direction of a hermit. Didacus loved this solitary life, and when still young he became himself a hermit and supported himself by weaving mats.
Later he applied for admission to the Franciscan Order at the convent of Arizafa and was received as a lay brother. In 1445 he was chosen the guardian of the Franciscan community on the Canary Islands, where he worked until 1449. Then for a period of time he held a humble office of infirmarian in the convent of Ara Coeli in Rome; and his biographers record the miraculous cure of many whom he attended. He was finally recalled to Spain and was sent by his superiors to Alcala where he spent the remaining years of his life in penance, solitude, and the delights of contemplation. He died November 12, 1463 at Alcala and was canonized in 1588 by Pope Sixtus V.
See: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo La Cuisine des Anges, St. Diego Giving Alms.

Recommended reading:
Saint Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe by Josephine Nobisso, Virginia Esquinaldo (Illustrator). Pauline Books & Media, 2002.
The Lady of Guadalupe by Tomie De Paola. Holiday House, 1988.