Cathedral Basilica of San Juan de los Lagos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of St. John of the Lakes |
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| Catedral Basílica de Nuestra Señora de San Juan de los Lagos | |
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| Location | San Juan de los Lagos |
| Country |  Mexico |
| Denomination | Catholic |
| Tradition | Roman Rite |
| History | |
| Dedication | Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 30 November 1732 |
| Completed | 1769 |
The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of St. John of the Lakes is a very important Catholic church in San Juan de los Lagos, Jalisco, Mexico. It is also known as the San Juan de los Lagos Cathedral. This church is special because it is visited by over 7 million pilgrims every year. This makes it the second most visited church in Mexico, right after the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
A basilica is a church that has been given special honors by the Pope. A cathedral is the main church of a diocese, which is an area managed by a bishop.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
The story of this important church began a long time ago.
Building the First Shrines
The very first shrine, or holy place, was built in 1642 by a person named Diego de Camarena. This first building is now known as the Chapel of the First Miracle (capilla del Primer Milagro). Later, in 1682, Diego de Camarena finished building a second, larger sanctuary. Today, this second building is the parish of San Juan Bautista.
The Current Basilica
The church you see today was built between 1732 and 1769. Carlos Cervantes, who was the bishop of Guadalajara at the time, was in charge of this big project. The church became a cathedral in 1972. This special title was given by Pope Paul VI through an official church document.
A Special Place for Pilgrims
The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of St. John of the Lakes is a very important place for many people. Millions of pilgrims travel there each year. They come to honor Our Lady of San Juan de los Lagos, a special image of the Virgin Mary. People believe that miracles have happened there. This makes the cathedral a center of faith and a significant landmark in Mexico.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Mexico
- Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady
Images for kids
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