Juan Diego found Bishop Zumarraga’s house. After a long wait, he was finally admitted. Juan told the learned and holy man everything, through an interpreter. The bishop asked many questions. A wonderful excitement began to rise in his heart. But in matters like these, one must proceed carefully, Bishop Zumarraga reminded himself. What if the man has only imagined all this, or what if it is a trick of the devil, who seems especially ruthless and busy these days?
The bishop sat silently stroking his beard. If God’s Mother is truly appearing and asking for a church to be built, his thoughts continued, it will come about in spite of my own doubts. I will wait and see what happens.
Bishop Zumarraga rose. “Thank you for sharing your story, Juan,” he said kindly. “You may go now. We can speak about these things another time.”
Juan rushed back to Tepeyac Hill. He felt certain that Mary would be waiting for him. He was right! His heart pounding with joy, he scaled the rocky hill. There was the young Lady, in that same wonderful light. Juan sank to his knees.
“My very dear Daughter!” he began, not sure how to address the young Maiden who had called him her son. “My Queen, my Lady Most High, I did what you asked. Even though I had to wait a long time, I did get to see the bishop. I gave him your message. He listened quietly to me and asked me questions. But I don’t think he believed me, because he told me to come back again, so that he could examine the matter further. He thinks that the church you are asking for is my idea, not yours. Please, my Lady, send some important person to bring your message to the bishop—someone the bishop will respect and believe. I am only a poor, humble villager. Pardon me, my Queen. I hope I have not displeased you.”
The Lady smiled at Juan Diego with so much love. What he said was true: he was a simple man, good and sincere. That was why she had chosen him to deliver her message. “Listen, my well-beloved son,” she told him, “I have many others whom I could send to the bishop if I wished, but I want to send you. Tomorrow I want you to go back to the bishop and tell him to build me the church that I ask for. Tell him that she who sends you is the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God.”
Looking at her brilliant face, Juan Diego felt encouraged. “I hope I didn’t displease you by what I said, my Queen and my Lady,” he quietly repeated. “I will be happy to go and see the bishop again. I will do everything that you ask. I just thought that the bishop might be more willing to listen to someone more important than I.” The Mother of God smiled understandingly. “Wait for me here, my Lady,” Juan added. “Tomorrow, at the setting of the sun, I will bring back to you the bishop’s answer. I leave you in peace, my exalted Daughter. God keep you.”
Before dawn the next morning, Juan Diego hurried to Mass in Mexico City. Then he presented himself at the bishop’s house. Again the servants kept him waiting for hours before letting him in.
Juan pleaded with Bishop Zumarraga. He even cried. The bishop rested his hand on Juan’s shoulder. “Be calm, my son,” he urged. The bishop then asked Juan many questions, over and over again. He was impressed with Juan’s goodness. Juan seemed to really be telling the truth. But still, Bishop Zumarraga did not act. Instead, he gave Juan another mission: “Go back and ask the Lady for a sign.”
What happened next was a miracle in itself. The bishop instructed his servants, “Follow Juan Diego. Watch where he goes and to whom he speaks.” Bishop Zumarraga realized that as the spiritual leader of the Church in Mexico, it was his duty to find out the truth. He had to be sure that Juan Diego was neither lying nor imagining things.
The servants followed Juan all the way back to Tepeyac Hill. Then, right before their eyes, Juan vanished! The men searched, but could not find him. They returned to the bishop’s house, denouncing Juan Diego. “He’s a fraud, or maybe even a sorcerer!” They were willing to swear he had truly “disappeared”! What power could have accomplished this? the bishop wondered.
Actually, Bishop Zumarraga’s servants had walked very close to Juan Diego, but God had not allowed them to see him. Mary had hidden him in her light, and even hidden the light itself!
Juan quickly told the Blessed Virgin all about his audience with Bishop Zumarraga. “So be it, my son,” she answered. “Return here tomorrow and I will give you the sign the bishop has asked for. Once you have it, he will believe you. Remember that I will reward you for everything you have suffered. Go now. I will be waiting for you tomorrow.”