On Saturday morning December 9th, 1531, Juan Diego, a Catholic Aztec Indian, heard the voice of a young woman calling his name near the hill of Tepeyac. The woman said, "My dear little son, I am the ever-Virgin Mary, Mother of the true God who gives life. I desire a temple, a church, in this place where I will show my love to your people." Juan Diego told the Bishop, who asked for a sign.
Early Tuesday morning, December 12th, the Blessed Mother again appeared to Juan Diego, telling him to climb the hill and bring the roses, growing miraculously there in the cold winter, to the Bishop. When Juan Diego untied his cloak to give the roses to the Bishop, to his wonder he saw the Virgin herself, imprinted on his tilma! Many Indians came to see the miracle and to pray before the image of the beautiful Lady. They realized that God loved them as much as He loved the Spaniards from across the sea. In the next few years, 8 million Indians were baptized!
This Our Lady of Guadalupe statue has a traditional look to be revered by Catholics of all ages.