1531: Virgin Mary seen Near Tolpetlac, Mexico

THINK ABOUTIT SIGHTING REPORT

Date: December 9 1531

Sighting Time:

Day/Night: early morning

Location: Near Tulpetlac, Mexico

Urban or Rural: –

Entity Type: perfect holy Virgin Mary.

Entity Description:

Hynek Classification: CE-III (Close Encounter III) Close observation with animate beings associated with the object.

Duration:

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Source:  Johannes Fiebag, PhD.

Summary/Description: 57-year old Juan Diego, an Aztec Indian, who six years before, had converted to Christianity, was on his way to a town nine miles away in order to take part of the holy mass. The route he took led him through stony fields and over small hills. In the vicinity of a small hillock, which is known to the Indians as “Tepeyac” and later became the Spanish name “Guadalupe,” he became aware that he was hearing an unknown unearthly music.

This music was coming from the top of the hill. He looked up to the hillock, to the side where the sun was rising and from where the wonderful singing originated. And when the singing suddenly stopped, when it was no longer perceivable, he heard how someone from the top of the hillock called, “Juan Dieguito!” And when he reached the top of the hill, he saw a noble lady standing there.

She invited him to come nearer. Her garment shined like the sun, as if it was reflected by light, and the stone, the rock on which here feet stood, as if sparkled of beams; the glow of her gleamed like jewels, like the most beautiful ornament, the Earth, as if was shining in the glow of the rainbow. Juan Diego fell down to his knees. The apparition once more spoke to him and named herself as the “perfect holy Virgin Mary.” She claimed to have come so that the people would build her a sanctuary on the “Tepeyac.”

She said that Juan Diego was the chosen messenger who should bring this request to the bishop of Mexico City. Bishop Juan de Zumarraga listened to Diego tell his story, but he did not believe his allegations. He sent Juan Diego away with the comment that he wanted to deal with the subject later. Disappointed, Juan Diego went back to the “Tepeyac”. When he arrived, he again met with the “queen of the heavens.” He bewailed his misfortune and asked her to choose another messenger, preferably someone who was better prepared for the mission. However, the Virgin stressed, “It is absolutely necessary that you go personally and that you request that my Will be carried out.”

The bishop still did not believe Diego and sent him back and asked him to request some kind of evidence so the bishop could really believe that the “queen of the heavens” had really sent him. Once again Juan Diego returned to the “Tepeyac” where the mysterious woman was waiting for him. He informed her about the bishop’s request and the “Virgin” told him to return tomorrow in order to obtain such evidence. He was told to go to the top of the hill where he had seen the Virgin and there he would see different flowers and pick them, put them together and to then bring them to her presence.

Even though it was during the winter and frost covered the grounds, these flowers had apparently grown on top of the barren hill. Juan Diego was ordered to put the flowers into his tilma, an upper garment similar to an apron. Then the light figure or virgin took the flowers with her venerable hands, then she put them back into his tilma and she told him that go back with the flowers since these were the evidence. He again waited several hours before he could see bishop Zumarraga. When he opened his white tilma the splendid flowers fell to the ground there the tilma transformed into an omen. Suddenly there appeared the beloved image of the Perfect Lady, of the Holy Virgin Mary. All in the room fell to their knees and admired it greatly. Convinced with the evidence a chapel was built on the hillock.