A commonality that seems to be woven across most Marian apparitions is her appearance to people the world would least expect to be granted the honor of her presence or the responsibility of her requests. The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is no different - when she appeared in December of 1531 on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City, it was to Juan Diego, a simple, widowed man walking on his way to daily Mass. When she requested a shrine be built in her honor at the site of her apparition, Juan Diego went obediently (but not without his doubts) to the Bishop of the city to make her request known. The bishop was hesitant to believe Juan Diego. In response, Our Lady instructed Juan Diego to gather roses, which were in full bloom despite it being winter, into his tilma and bring them back to the Bishop. When he opened his tilma to present the roses, a miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe was found there. This image holds so many incredible details and so much meaningful symbolism. In particular, her portrayal as a native Aztec woman during a time of conflict between the Spanish and Indigenous people reveals her willingness to meet each of us where we are in order to be our mother.