Nuestra Señora de los Dolores

La Dolorosa, Marian holy cards collection, ML. 031 Box 22, circa 1675-2018. Marian Library, University of Dayton Libraries, Dayton, Ohio.

Country

Ecuador

Description

Nuestra Señora de los Dolores  or “Our Lady of Sorrow” is an ancient image of the Blessed Mother.  Her cult in Ecuador is huge and many miracles have been attributed to her there.  One particularly famous story begins on the evening of August 20, 1906, with a group of boarding students who had finished their dinner heading off to study hall. They passed by an oil painting of Our Lady of Sorrows, which depicted Our Lady holding the crown of thorns and three nails, with her heart pierced by seven swords.  Looking up, Jaime Chaves, one of the youngest of the group, saw the Blessed Virgin open and close her eyes.

 

At the time he was with three younger classmates, and they immediately went and told Father Andres Roesch, who was talking to the older kids about a recent earthquake at the time.  The Lady continued to open and close her eyes for about another 15 minutes, but Father Andres Roesch had ignored the boys and did not see this.  He instead made the four boys go to the chapel and say the Rosary. Perhaps to safeguard it, the painting was moved into the chapel, and as other boarding students were praying in front of the image, the painting of Our Lady Sorrow started opening and closing her eyes again. 

 

This time more than just the four youngest boys saw it happen this time. All the students cried out, saying that they saw her eyes moving. This led to a further investigation into the phenomenon by the Ecclesiastical Authorities. After the investigation, about six weeks after Jamie Chaves first saw her eyes move, the Vicar General of the diocese ordered the image to be transferred from the academy to a Jesuit church.

 

A celebration was held at the Jesuit church, where many people came to see the image.  The Virgin’s eyes moved during the celebration for all to see, causing many to convert to the faith.  One of these converts was the editor of a religious newspaper who had attended the celebration to mock the painting and the proceedings, but when the painting moved her eyes, he changed his mind. The painting of Our Lady of Sorrow continued moving her eyes for the next two days and was seen by many more people. On July 6, 1906, the image opened and closed her eyes three different times. The first two it was said she lifted her eyes up to heaven, but the third time it looked as if she was holding back tears. The crowd feared for their lives, but the picture then returned to normal and has been so ever since.

 

References:

Researched by Michael H. Meade

Popular Devotions

Novena to the Queen of Martyrs:

MOST holy and afflicted Virgin, Queen of Martyrs! Thou who didst stand motionless at the foot of the Cross, beneath thy dying Son, through the sword of sorrow which pierced thee then, through the unceasing suffering of thy life of sorrow, and the bliss which now amply repays thee for thy past trials and afflictions, look down with a mother's tenderness and pity on one who kneels before thee, who venerates thy sacred Dolores, and places his request, with filial confidence, in the Sanctuary of thy Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart.  Present, I beseech thee, to Jesus Christ, in union with the infinite merits of His Passion and Death, thy sufferings at the foot of the Cross; and through the efficacy of both, obtain the grant of my petition.  Amen. 

Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us who have recourse to thee.  Amen. (Fongemie)

Fongemie, Pauly. NOVENA TO THE QUEEN OF MARTYRS, www.catholictradition.org/Passion/queen-martyrs4.htm.

Hail Mary

Dios te salve, María. 

Llena eres de gracia: El Señor es contigo. 

Bendita tú eres entre todas las mujeres. 

Y bendito es el fruto de tu vientre: Jesús. 

Santa María, Madre de Dios, 

ruega por nosotros pecadores, 

ahora y en la hora de nuestra muerte. 

Amen.

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