Nuestra Señora de 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
The name "Our Lady of Sorrow" comes from the painting of the Blessed Mother at San Fransico de Quito, Ecuador (Santora, 345). On the evening of August 20th, 1906 a group of thirty-six boarding students finished their dinner and were about to head to study hall. While others were talking and messing around on their way to study hall, Jaime Chaves, one of the youngest of the group, began to look at the picture of Our Lady of Sorrows, which was hanging on the wall (Miracle of Delorosa Del Colegio, Quito). The picture is an oil painting that has Our Lady of Sorrrows holding the crown of thorns and three nails, with her heart pierced by seven swords. As Jamie Chaves was looking at the picture, he saw the Blessed Virgin open and close her eyes. At the time he was with three other classmates, all younger, and they immediately went and told Father Andres Roesch, who was talking to the older kids about a recent earthquake (Miracle of Dolorosa Del Colegio, Quito).
The opening and closing continued on for about another 15 minutes, and Father Andres Roesch assumed that it was just an illusion that the boys were seeing, and as a result made the four younger kids go to the chapel and say the Rosary. The painting was moved into the chapel, and as the boarding students were praying in front of the image the painting of Our Lady Sorrow started opening and closing her eyes again (Miracle of Dolorosa Del Colegio, Quito). This time there were more than just the four youngest kids that saw it happen this time. All of the students yelled out, saying that they saw her eyes moving. This time it was more credible because there were so many students that saw her eyes moving. This led to a further investigation into the phenomenon by the Ecclesiastical Authorities. After the examination, 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 where it was at to a Jesuit Fathers’ church (Miracle of Dolorosa Del Colegio, Quito).
After the painting was transferred, it was celebrated at Jesuit Fathers’ church. The celebration was celebrated by the community, schools, academies and much more from the city of Quito. With the crowd there, the painting of Our Lady of Sorrows moved her eyes several times. Her eyes moving ultimately led to people converting. One of those who converted was the editor of a religious newspaper (Miracle of Dolorosa Del Colegio, Quito). He originally went to the celebration so that he could mock the painting, but when the painting moved her eyes, he instantly converted. The painting of Our Lady of Sorrow continued moving her eyes for the next two days, and was seen by may more people. It caused many people to start crying and it also led to even more conversions. On July 6th, 1906, the picture 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 returned back to its original face (Miracle of Dolorosa Del Colegio, Quito).
Santoro, Nicholas J. Mary in Our Life: Atlas of the Names and Titles of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and Their Place in Marian Devotion. IUniverse, 2011.
THE MIRACLE OF DOLOROSA DEL COLEGIO, QUITO, www.catholictradition.org/Mary/del-colegio.htm.
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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