Our Lady of the Dolores, "Dolores of the College," venerated in the church of the St. Gabriel College

Marian devotion of Quito (Pichincha)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Dolores, "Dolores of the College", is attached to San Gabriel College of Jesuits in Quitowhere the original image to which the call occurred is preserved "Prodigy of the Dolored" el 20 April 1906. On that day, towards the night, a group of students and teachers of the school witnessed that the image of the Virgin, in the form of a painting, opened and moved his eyes for several minutes. The fact caused great shock in the educational community and in the city of Quito.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Dolores, "Dolores of the College", is attached to San Gabriel College of Jesuits in Quitowhere the original image to which the call occurred is preserved "Prodigy of the Dolored" el 20 April 1906. On that day, towards the night, a group of students and teachers of the school witnessed that the image of the Virgin, in the form of a painting, opened and moved his eyes for several minutes. The fact caused great shock in the educational community and in the city of Quito.

From the perspective of the documented history, the Archdiocese of Quito opened a canonical investigation shortly after the event. A group of experts examined the image and received testimonies from the present; the 31 May 1906 the Vicar Capitular issued a report and decree in which he stated that the fact was "proven as materially true" and that, because of the circumstances in which it happened, could not be explained by natural causes or attributed to diabolic influence. The decree authorized this image to be given the veneration permitted by the Church and the faithful to come to it "with special confidence."

As for the tradition surrounding the prodigy, various devotional narrations highlight the climate of religious and political crisis of the early 20th century in Ecuador and present the prodigy as a sign of Mary's maternal presence in the midst of youth and nation. Some popular versions highlight gestures, dialogues and internal details of witnesses that are not recorded in official documents and belong to the field of piety and devout legendNot necessarily historically verifiable.

The image and the sanctuary

La imagen de la Dolorosa del Colegio es una cromolitografía de Our Lady of Sorrows, that is, a printed reproduction of a pictorial type, and not a carved sculpture. It represents the Virgin Mary in an attitude of pain, according to the classical iconography of the Mater Dolorosa: The contemplative Virgin, associated with the seven pains, usually with dark dress and expression of serene suffering. The concrete image of the San Gabriel College became famous precisely for the movement of his eyes, attested in 1906, and is preserved as a picture in the school area.

According to available sources, the original image was venerated and venerated at the San Gabriel College of Jesuits, in the historical center of Quito. It is not known that the school and its church have been legally erected as Nacional or diocesan sanctuary specifically dedicated to the Dolorosa of the College; the sources above all describe the school area and its chapel, as well as the relationship with the nearby Church of the Society of Jesus, important Jesuit temple of the city.

At least once a year, on 20 April, the original painting is moved from the San Gabriel College to the Church of the Society of Jesuswhere an intense day and eighth of veneration are held. During those days, and due to the great influx of faithful who come to venerate the Virgin, the church limits tourist access and prioritizes liturgical celebration and popular devotion.

Sponsorship and coronation

In the historical development of this devotion, the Dolorosa del Colegio has been reconocised as youth and education in Ecuador. The sources point out that, from the prodigy and its growing veneration, it was declared youth education patternin close connection with the educational mission of the Jesuits and the San Gabriel College. There is no official decree of civil or ecclesiastical patronage of a specific city or diocese in the sources consulted beyond this general reference to youth and education.

As for the canonical coronationcertain devotional sources mention that the miracle and the increase of devotion led to a canonical coronation granted by Pope Pius XII. However, it has not been found in the official sources consulted (ecclesial documentation cited in the journalistic notes or ordinary databases) the specific year nor the text of the corresponding Pontifical Decree. In the absence of a secure and verifiable data on the exact date and circumstances, the requested rule applies: does not contain a documented canonical coronation (with year and delegation clearly identifiable in accessible primary sources).

Party and devotion

La fiesta propia de la Dolorosa del Colegio se celebra el 20 April, aniversary of the prodigy of 1906. Wherever Iglesia universal conmemora a Our Lady of the Dolores on September 15in Ecuador this particular advocation has its festive center on the date of the prodigy, with Masses, novies and devotional acts that continue several days, especially in Quito.

Each year, 20 April, the original image is moved from San Gabriel College to the Church of the Society of Jesuswhere the solemn Eucharist and other celebrations are held up to approximately the 25 April. Due to large influx of devotees who come to venerate the Virgin during this period, the temple suspends the tourist visit and is mainly devoted to the cult, maintaining this situation until the end of April. This is one of the most significant Marian manifestations in Quito, especially linked to students, families and educational communities.

In the ordinary life of the school year, the faithful can visit the image at the San Gabriel College during school hours, according to devotional sources. The devotion stands out for the trust in the protection of the Virgin over the young and for the presentation of the Dolorosa as a near Mother in school, family and vocational difficulties. Many people link favors and thanks to the intercession of the Delorosa of the College, consolidating a strong tradition of local and national pilgrimage.

Link to the Rosary

The specific sources on the Dolorosa del Colegio no describen un unique and own bond between this advocation and a particular form of prayer of the Rosary (for example, a fellowship of the Rosary specific to this sanctuary or an exclusive practice). Therefore, with regard to a form of prayer of the Rosary exclusively or legally linked to this title, no consta.

However, in the tradition of the Church, the title of Our Lady of Sorrows is deeply associated with the contemplation, in the form of a Rosary or crown, of the "seven pains of the Virgin"who go through key moments of Mary's life with Christ: prophecy of Simeon, flee to Egypt, loss of the Child, encounter on the way to Calvary, death of Jesus, descent from the cross and burial. In many places the Rosary of the Seven Dolores or the ordinary Marian Rosary is meditated by highlighting the mysteries of the Passion.

Aplicado a la Dolorosa del Colegio, the prayer of Rosary (both traditional and seven pain) becomes a privileged form of to unite the youth and the faithful to the mystery of Christ's suffering and redeeming love, considered in the company of Mary. In the school and university context, this Marian devotion promotes community prayer, filial trust in the painful Mother and the education of faith through the meditation of the mysteries of Jesus' life and Mary's participation in them.