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The Republic of Ecuador: Servant of the Sacred Heart |
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Many citizens of the United States, no matter how thoughtful they might otherwise be, tend to look down upon all of the nations of Latin America as being beneath us in more ways than simply how the map is drawn. Many simply dismiss all of Latin and/or South America as nothing but a collection of poor countries ruled by small-time despots, tolerant of corruption and simply unwilling to 'get their act together'. Although there are many ways that this attitude can be explained, it is nevertheless unhelpful and on the whole, untrue.
A major historical reason for this attitude revolves around the inherent prejudice in the early U.S. halls of power against the Catholic culture dominant south of the border. Latin America was not especially quick to follow the U.S. example of throwing off European rule and establishing secular republics. In fact, when the early cases of Mexico and Brazil did become independent, each started out as traditional Catholic monarchies, regarded by many in America as insulting if not dangerous to their 'ideal' republic. |
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Sacred Heart Icon from Ecuador |
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When the independence movement did come, it was met with considerable opposition and was largely carried out through the use of foreign mercenary armies. Even so, in the case of Ecuador the world caught a glimpse of one of the few such attempts to save the situation and build a society based on the Christian principles of the Roman Catholic Church. Ecuador became independent following the break up of the multi-nation state known as "Gran Colombia". Soon afterward, she came under the leadership of one of the greatest Christian statesmen of modern times, Gabriel Garcia Moreno. Although some biased U.S. accounts would try to portray him as yet another South American dictator, President Moreno showed more care and compassion for his people than any other Ecuadorean leader before or since. Here again, God had provided just the right man at just the right time to carry out His plan. Were it not for the actions of a few evil men, Gabriel Garcia Moreno may well have went down in history as the founder of a new era in Latin American politics. |
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Moreno was a well educated man who had gone to Europe where he was able to witness the political game from all points of view in France, from the ultra-liberal revolutionary republic, to the traditional, conservative Catholic monarchy. He came home to Ecuador with a clear understanding of what his country and people needed to succeed. Ecuador, since independence from Spain had fallen into chaos and disunity. From Quito Moreno launched a campaign to reunify the country.
Although he was himself a monarchist, Moreno became President of Ecuador in 1860. He viewed the republic as a temporary step toward becoming a kingdom under a traditional Spanish prince. He immediately turned the country around. Public works programs took effect, the economy was strengthened as it never had nor would be again. He also improved education and reformed the military. He also made the Catholic Church the |
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center of his government and consecrated the nation of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He made the feast of the Sacred Heart a national holiday in Ecuador and was the only national leader to protest the conquest of the Papal States by Piedmont-Sardinia. Unfortunately, President Moreno was assassinated in 1875 by Freemason conspirators. Things went downhill from there. |
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However, God still had a special place for Ecuador in the plan for world salvation. During the period of Spanish rule, in the early 17th Century, Venerable Mother Mariana de Jesus Torres in Quito began having visions of the Blessed Virgin. She was instructed to make a statue of the Holy Mother, to be known as Our Lady of Good Success. She was also given many prophecies which would directly apply to us in the modern time.
She was told that in the 20th Century Satan would go on a rampage with the help of the Mason secret society around the world. The truth of this was proven when the 20th Century proved to be the deadliest for Christians around the world, with faithful Catholics being massacred from Mexico and Spain to Germany and China. She also prophecied internal attacks against the Church, and a massive assault against the sacrament of marriage (the truth of that is only too painfully clear). She also told of the ridicule and persecution that would befall the priesthood. Our Lady also said that these things would happen in a time of great luxury when few people actually believed in Christ her son.
Yet, there was hope. Mary also promised that those who remained faithful, who heeded the visions of her, and kept their simple and childlike faith would be the key to winning souls back to the true Faith. She even predicted a great Catholic president who |
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Our Lady of Good Success |
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would be murdered by the Masons (see above). She predicted the definitions of the Immaculate Conception, Papal Infallibility and that the Pope would become a prisoner in the Vatican. In 1906 Mother Mariana's coffin was open and evidence of sainthood were found. She can still be visited in her convent in Quito, Ecuador. |
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