Juan Diego was a simple aboriginal American who had converted to Catholicism. On December 9th, 1591, Juan Diego saw an apparition of the Virgin Mary, who asked that a church be built on that hill. Juan Diego conveyed the message to the bishop, who wanted proof for his incredible apparition story. Juan Diego returned to the sight and bought back a tilma of out of season roses as proof.
When the peasant revealed what was in his tilma, the bishop and the entourage dropped to their knees as the simple garment had a portrait of a mestizo Blessed Virgin Mary, replete with symbolic Aztec hermanuetics.
Within a decade, nearly the entire Mexico people converted to the faith. And the humble tilma, which should have only lasted for 25 years has lasted for over 400 years.
1531, not 1591!
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