There is perhaps no person in the history of the world who has served as a bridge between more cultures, peoples, and faiths than Mary. Mary's ability to connect diverse peoples and cultures is rooted in her openness to the divine — it was in her womb that heaven and earth met, mingled, and produced the person of Christ. People from many cultures report that Mary has appeared to them, offering warnings, reassurance and guidance. And for millions, both within and outside of Christianity, Mary has become the ultimate example of a woman exalted, of a fresh beginning for a weary world.