Our Lady of Guadalupe

Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego four times December 9-12, 1531, at the hill of Tepayac not far from Mexico City.  Here's how John Steinbeck describes the first apparition in his wonder-full retelling of the story: "Just as day was breaking there came to him, first softly, and then louder, the sound of many birds' songs.  He looked up the hill and the dawn light was brighter than any he had ever seen.  The music seemed to come from everywhere....the fullness of beauty was in him.  He saw an Indian woman standing in the rocky path with the light all around her, so that the stones gathered the light and glittered like jewels....She spoke quietly in the light, 'I am Mary, the Mother of Jesus....I have seen the suffering of your people and I have come to them through you.'"
When he tells the bishop, the bishop asks for a sign.  Steinbeck continues: "Juan Diego went back to the hill path and in that barren, rocky place he saw roses of Castile fresh and lovely growing in a place where roses could not grow and blooming in a frosty month when roses do not bloom.  In the dawn he  gathered the flowers...."
Juan Diego carried the roses in his cloak to the bishop.  "'Here is the sign,' he said, and released the corners of his cloak, and the roses uncrushed and unwilted fell to the floor.  And then the bishop saw the cloak of Juan Diego and he got to his knees.  On the rough cloak of the Indian Juan Diego was the image of the Mother of God."