One morning, while walking to an early church service, Juan Diego hears a voice calling, "Juanito! Juan Dieguito!" He comes face to face with the Virgin Mary! "I would like a shrine built on this hill," she tells him and instructs him to take her wish to the bishop. Juan Diego protests that the bishop will pay no attention to him, a lowly peasant, but the Virgin says that she will protect him. Juan Diego visits the bishop three times, but only after he brings a sign from the Virgin—-a bunch of roses that are miraculously blooming in December—-does the bishop relent and agree to the Virgin's request. From then on, the image of the Virgin is imprinted on Juan Diego's rough cactus-fiber tilma. Today, millions of pilgrims visit the shrine and pray before the image of "Our Lady of Guadalupe." -from the book jacket