On December 12, 1531, a miracle happened in Mexico. A poor Indian, Juan Diego, was walking on a lonely road north of Mexico City, looking for water for his uncle. He was surprised by a vision of a beautiful woman who directed him to a spring of fresh, cool water. In the same spot a few days later, the vision appeared to Juan Diego again. This time, she told him to go Mexico City to tell the high church officials to build a church in her name on that site. But why would the ecclesiastical officials believe the poor Indian man? Surely the Virgin Mary would not appear to someone so lowly. They insisted on proof.
So, Juan Diego returned to the hillside to visit the Virgin again, and asked her for a sign. Immediately, beautiful red roses sprang up from the ground, even though roses do not normally bloom in that area in December. He picked them and wrapped them in his rough Indian Tilma (blanket), and brought them to the church officials. When he opened his tilma for them, they fell to their knees in veneration and amazement, for they saw a beautiful image imprinted on the Indian's blanket. It was the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe, just as Juan Diego had seen her. It is said that the image is so perfect that one sees the image of Juan Diego in the pupil of the Virgin's eye.