The history of the Virgen de San Juan has its roots in the religious experience of a people who have felt the very close presence of Mary, the Mother of God, in their lives. A small statue of the Immaculate Conception was placed by the first Spanish missionaries in a church in the town of San Juan de Los Largos, in Jalisco, Mexico. In 1623, through Mary's intercession, a young girl was brought back to life, and this image of Mary then became known as La Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos. With their migration to the United States, the Mexican people brought with them their devotion and love of the Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos. In 1949, Father Jose Maria Azpiazu, OMI, aware of their devotion to Mary, granted their wish and placed a replica of the statue of the Virgen de San Juan de los Lagos in his Parish in San Juan, Texas. As the number of pilgrims coming to this small church increased, Fr. Jose decided to build a shrine to the Virgen de San Juan. With 60,000 pilgrims present, it was dedicated on May 2, 1954.

On October 23, 1970, a pilot flew his plane directly into the Shrine destroying it completely, except for the tower which still stands. No one at the time of the fire was hurt. And very significant for the pilgrims was the fact that the statue of la Virgen was rescued from the flames completely intact. For the next ten years, the pilgrims continued coming to venerate the Virgen de San Juan del Valle whose statue was temporarily located in the parish cafeteria awaiting the building of the new Shrine.

The dream of a new shrine, spacious and modern which responded to the needs of the pilgrim, was made a reality on April 19, 1980. This new Virgen de San Juan del Valle Shrine could now seat over 1,800 people. The dedication on the Way of the Cross took place on October 16, 1993. These 14 stations are depicted by 30 life size bronze statues and are placed along a 3/4 mile path. On February 2, 1995 the exterior wall of the shrine was blessed with the dedications of its majestic mural titled "Jesus Presents his Mother." The Shrine was designated a National Shrine on March 24, 1998 and on June 12, 1999 it was designated and honored as a Basilica which gives it its present name of "Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle - National Shrine." Today the Basilica pastoral staff invites you to have a religious experience here at your Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle.