According to tradition, St. Juan Diego was visited by the Virgin Mary (in her manifestation as Our Lady of Guadalupe) four times in December 1531. She asked him to tell the local bishop to build a shrine to her on the site of her apparitions on Tepeyac Hill, on the outskirts of what is now Mexico City. At one point, the bishop asked Juan Diego for proof of the apparition. Mary then instructed him to gather roses growing on the hill (even though it was winter) and bring them to the bishop. When St. Juan Diego opened his tilma (cloak) before the bishop, dozens of roses fell out, and an image of Mary was miraculously imprinted on the inside of the tilma. This miracle convinced the bishop to build the church according to the Virgin’s request.