However, it appears that in the fashion scene, women are given the major spotlight as their clothing is much more multifarious and glorified for chicness, elegance, and regard. Men in fashion and unconventional models, like those of the marginalized or impoverished demographic, on the other hand, are rather considerably inferior in such a domain. This is because men’s attire is still trying to be diverse, with a couple of innovations in design here and there, while unconventional models, despite body positivity movements and gradual removal of prejudice against a person’s personal backgrounds and cultures, are not the primary market and “face value” of most of these companies. Amidst such a bold statement, that does not mean that men and the deprived can no longer be iconic, otherwise esteemed, especially in fashion.
How, you may ask? Well, let me tell you a story of a man, a lowly peasant, from ancient Mexico, who had made one of fashion’s most iconic garments in history become well-known, all thanks to his humility, respect, obedience, and the amazing wonders of a fine, angelic woman, whose ethereal beauty came straight from the heavens above. Spoiler: he is neither a well-known designer nor someone who sews clothes!
Introducing, Juan Diego: a poor yet humble native Nahua from Cuautlitlán, Mexico. He is a farmer, a widower, and a tiller of soil. He once was under the influence of the pagan beliefs of the Aztec empire, but later converted to Catholicism when the Spanish conquistadors, led by Hernán Cortés, successfully conquered the Aztecs, eventually spreading Christianity via architecture, practice, and doctrines across their land.
On December 09, 1531, while he was journeying on Tepeyac Hill, Juan Diego encountered something extraordinary. First, he heard the birds sing as a bright light from the top of the hill glimmered. As he witnessed this event, he thought he was dead. Eventually, the birds stopped harmonizing. But this time, he heard tunes coming from the hill, which made him think he had actually passed. A few moments later, the melodies have paused. In all glory, a fair lady suddenly appeared to him on top of the hill and called his name in Nahuatl — their native language. As he went up the hill, Juan Diego noticed that the woman looked younger, assuming she was 15 to 16 years old. While in complete awe, the lady introduced herself to Juan Diego. She is the Mother of all people, the Mother of Jesus Christ — she is the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Blessed Virgin Mary told Juan Diego her wish: to help her build a sacred place, a church, to honor her Son. To make this request a reality, she instructed Juan to go to Padre Juan de Zumárraga, the head priest of the church of Mexico at the time. She told him to tell Padre Zumárraga all that he had seen and heard. With much humility and respect, Juan Diego adhered to her command.
During this mission of convincing the friar to believe in the Blessed Virgin Mary’s request, Juan had a hard time. Despite telling everything about the apparition, the head priest refused to believe and even urged him to go back again one of those days to narrate his story once more. With a heavy heart, he went back to the Blessed Virgin on the 10th of December, 1531, and expressed his sincerest apologies and asked if she could replace such a lowly man like him with someone more worthy of a mission, which requires vigor and commitment. Yet, she insisted. With a calm and consoling tone, Our Lady told Juan Diego that he was doing well and ample. She expressed that hardships along the way are inevitable, which is why it is through prayer and her name that he can triumph and implore Padre Zumárraga to listen to her heavenly plans. Furthermore, she proudly disclosed to him that he was her only chosen messenger; someone who would relay the messages of the divine to make saintly agendas come true. Upon hearing this, Juan became more confident and ignited the flames within his spirit to obey the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The next day, he proceeded to meet Padre Zumárraga. As instructed, he retold the entire story, everything he had seen and heard on the hill. Padre Zumárraga got a little surprised and confused as he was listening to Juan Diego. He wondered how a considerably newly converted peasant knew much about theological and Marian concepts in great and accurate detail. With that, he asked Juan what was with the hill, and his Lady wanted a church built there. He then remembered about a pagan god named Tonantzin — an Aztec god epitomizing a motherly figure with several snakes in its form — who happened to have a pyramid there before, which fits the description revealed to him in Juan Diego’s story. Here, Padre Zumárraga concluded that a Catholic church is desired to be constructed on Tepeyac Hill to honor a pagan goddess.
After hearing Juan Diego’s tales and sentiments, he agreed to do the request on one condition: If Juan Diego successfully provides concrete evidence to prove this plan, that is the only time Padre Zumárraga shall allow the church to be built. In addition to this, he also wanted to learn more about the woman in Juan’s stories, because he thought that the lady may either be the pagan goddess that he has in mind or some superficial being. Such a notion is brought by fear of friars enlightening Juan Diego, thus, suspecting his knowledge, since how can someone who, apart from the prayer, the Lord’s Prayer, can barely comprehend the Spanish language be so good at explaining religious concepts?
After their talk, Juan immediately journeyed on to willfully provide the head priest’s request. A little while after his exit, Padre Zumárraga ordered his men to follow him and bring him back, along with the woman he was speaking to. Unfortunately, upon crossing a causeway, Juan shockingly disappeared. The guards looked for him, but went back to the bishop’s office empty-handed. Instead, they warned Padre Zumárraga that Juan is a sorcerer and that he must not believe in his words.
While all of these shenanigans occurred, on the 11th of December, 1531, Juan Diego finally arrived on top of the hill. He then told the Blessed Virgin Mary about Padre Zumárraga’s conditions. Our Lady accepted such a wish, but she told Juan to head back the following day instead to acquire the piece of evidence from her, as she wanted Juan to go back home first and rest. When he reached home, he saw his uncle, Juan Bernardino, ill and dying. He hurriedly searched for a shaman to treat his uncle. Upon finishing the rituals, the shaman told Juan that there was nothing he could do. Moreover, he instructed Juan to prepare for his journey to the afterlife. While Juan was telling the news to his uncle, Juan Bernardino refused to die a pagan and expressed his desire to be converted into the Catholic faith. With that, he requested that Juan look for a priest to help him have a confession before his final moment.
The next day, on December 12, 1531, Juan began his trip to Tlatelolco to look for a priest to attend to his uncle. He was supposed to take his usual path on Tepeyac Hill, but altered his way to avoid meeting the Blessed Virgin. He did so out of shame for not seeing her to get Padre Zumárraga’s request. While walking, he unexpectedly saw Our Lady on top of the hill, going towards his direction, while calling his name. As much as he wanted to escape, he met face-to-face with the Blessed Virgin Mary despite his effort to run as fast away as he could. During this instance, he knelt and begged her for forgiveness. He explained what had happened to his uncle, hindering him from doing what they had agreed upon. After listening to Juan’s pleas, with much affection, she said: “Hear and let it penetrate into your heart, my dear little son: let nothing discourage you. Do not fear any illness or vexation. Am I not here who am your mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else that you need?”
While this was happening on Tepeyac Hill, Our Lady concurrently appeared to his uncle, Juan Bernardino, too. In this apparition, she healed his uncle. And for the very first time, the Blessed Virgin Mary introduced herself as “Our Lady of Guadalupe”. With the same instructions to Juan Diego, she told Juan Bernadino to go to the head priest, too, to share more about this divine apparition. Upon doing so, Our Lady reassured Juan not to worry anymore, as his uncle had been healed.
After that, she told him to gather and cut some flowers from the top of the hill in preparation for Padre Zumárraga’s wish. With a happy heart, despite the snowy weather, Juan adhered to looking for flowers amidst the uncertain probabilities. On top of Tepeyac Hill, he discovered a garden of Castilian roses — flowers which do not grow in that region, but rather in South Spain, where Padre Zumárraga was from. He did as instructed and collected these flowers using his tilma, otherwise known as a cloak. Juan brought this to Our Lady. Upon arranging these flowers inside his cloak in a motherly manner, she told Juan Diego to reserve this piece of evidence for the eyes of the priest only. He agreed and set off to meet Padre Zumárraga.
When he arrived at the entrance of the head priest’s location, the guards asked him what his purpose of visiting Padre Zumárraga was. He said he had something to show him. Despite having to wait for hours, Juan patiently did so. During this long wait, the guards became curious as to what he had inside his cloak. Juan Diego dismissed them, refusing to show their contents. Amidst his refusal, the guards tried to get his tilma from him three times. Unfortunately, all they felt was “holographic” items that seemed to give the sensation of flowers, which they thought
were embroideries or painted figures upon the fabric. With the assumption of his being a sorcerer, they alerted Padre Zumárraga to his presence. Because of this commotion, the guards summoned a small crowd to try to protect the bishop. Upon seeing Padre Zumárraga, the guards told him everything about Juan’s comeback and what he had in store for him to see. They urged the friar to meet with Juan due to some things they could not explain. He permitted and let Juan enter the room he is in.
After entering the room, Juan Diego told Padre Zumárraga that in his hand rested the evidence he was looking for from the Blessed Virgin Mary, the lady he was suspecting. As he said yes to seeing such a request, Juan dropped the cloak open, where the roses inside also fell to the floor. Here, they saw an image of a fine, angelic lady — the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Apart from Padre Zumárraga, 20 other people in the room witnessed the miracle. Without delay, they soon had the plans of the Blessed Virgin constructed. Finally, a church was built to honor her and her Son. The miraculous tilma was displayed inside the premises of the church. Juan Diego later wished and eventually became the church’s server, sharing the wondrous story of the apparitions to thousands of pilgrims until his final moments here on earth. When he passed, he was revered and honored by many, considering him a saint.
With this amazing story, going back to my case in point, it is indeed possible for a man from a marginalized, otherwise deprived, demographic to become notable and iconic in the field of fashion. Who would have thought a mere cloak made of coarse fibers from the maguey or agave cactus, worn by a simple man who is neither a well-known designer nor someone who sews clothes, would have a significant religious impact on the world? Imagine, it could have been directly from the Blessed Virgin Mary; however, Our Lady chose to have it done through the support of Juan Diego, where the spotlight has been given to all personalities involved in the miracle in a considerably balanced characterization in the story. Juan Diego’s cloak, aside from being a well-known garment in the world of fashion, has stood the test of time and even had various professional fields question its credibility.
The miraculous tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe, preserved for nearly 500 years, remains a powerful symbol of faith, hope, and love. More than a sacred relic, it has inspired countless conversions and holds deep significance in the Catholic Church. Revered across cultures and beliefs, it bridges faith and different fields, serving as a tangible blessing from Mama Mary and a profound testament to both human understanding and divine mystery. Throughout time, many esteemed personalities became bold enough to test the tilma’s authenticity and glory, just like how fashion enthusiasts and experts authenticate designer items, especially clothing.
Speaking of which, according to a compilation of research works presented by mariologist and theologian Luis Fernando Castañeda Monter, several discoveries affirm the miraculous nature of the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Infrared photography by biophysicist Philip Serna Callahan in 1979 revealed the absence of brushstrokes and preparatory artistic layers, while Nobel Prize-winning chemist Richard Kuhn found that the tilma’s colors are of unknown origin — not animal, vegetal, mineral, nor found on the periodic table; thus, those colors do not exist here on earth. Microscopic studies of the Virgin Mary’s eyes on the tilma by Engineer José Aste Tonsmann show adherence to the Purkinje-Sanson Law, which states that when light shines into the eye, you can see three reflections — two upright and one upside down. These also contain micron-sized human images invisible to the naked eye, and exhibit reactions to light similar to living eyes, according to Dr. Rafael Torrija Lavoignet. The stars on her mantle precisely match the constellations visible on the day Juan Diego presented the tilma. The four-petaled Nahui Ollin flower over her womb represents Jesus and the four corners and seasons of the earth.
According to historical and theological interpretations, Her hairstyle in the tilma signifies virginity in Aztec belief, while the medallion with a cross reflects the religion of the Spanish conquerors, signaling to the Aztecs that Her faith was aligned with that of the conquerors. Her praying hands imply submission to a higher divine power, reinforcing the idea that she is not a deity but honors one greater than herself. The black lace around her waist signifies pregnancy, while her red garment symbolizes the earth, and her green-blue mantle, representing heaven, was associated with royalty in Aztec tradition. The white blouse denotes purity and virginity. Her position in front of the sun and standing on the moon indicates her superiority over the Aztec sun and moon gods. Lastly, the angel beneath her, holding both her mantle and garment, emphasizes her human nature — she is from the earth and not a god.
According to mathematicians, the image on the tilma follows precise mathematical patterns, including the Golden Ratio, the Fibonacci Sequence, and Kepler’s Laws. In relation to music, Fernando Ojeda discovered that when the arrangement of stars on the Virgin’s mantle is translated into musical notation, it produces a harmonious and celestial melody — so exact that shifting the pattern even slightly causes the music to become distorted. It is also believed that this very tune is the melody Juan Diego heard during the apparitions.
How astounding it is to know that in the fields above, supernatural discoveries such as those from the cloak of Juan Diego can be objectively testified with factual data. Officially authenticated by several experts, such a garment gives us another reason to believe in the wonders of the Catholic faith, particularly in the presence of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is up to us to accept it wholeheartedly or verify it further. It is without a doubt a matter of choice between the sayings “To see is to believe” or “Believe and you will see”, but it would be much appreciated if we opt for the first option. Who knows, heavenly indulgences on varying degrees may await?
And so, as we gaze upon the miraculous tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe one more time, let us instill within our minds that to see is not just to believe — but to encounter the divine and appreciate its wonders with earthly ideals. While there are continuous debates and contradicting beliefs between science and religion, the story of Our Lady of Guadalupe is not merely a testament of our past, but a tangible and living proof of faith, love, and a Mother who still calls upon her children to return to her Son.
The tilma was bestowed upon us by Our Lady not just to witness the relic’s heavenly glory, but as a gift for us to honor, commemorate, and share, not just to Christians within the Catholic Church, but to anyone around the world. Its magnificence remains a mystery, but the tilma’s stories, significance, and supernatural phenomena will forever be a renowned heavenly iconography showcasing Our Mother, Our Lady — Mama Mary. May her image of holy grandeur, compassion, and kindness be embedded not just in religious history, but woven and etched in our hearts. And for that I say: Ave Maria, gratia plena — Hail Mary, Full of Grace!