Catholic
Character
A spiritual resource for Catholics
October is the month of the Holy Rosary!
The 7th is the feast of the Holy Rosary
Our Lady of Good Success
Location: Quito, Ecuador
Address: Coming soon
Taken from America Needs Fatima: https://americaneedsfatima.org/articles/the-story-of-our-lady-of-good-success
One day in the year 1582, a young nun prayed before the Blessed Sacrament in the choir of her convent in Quito. Suddenly, she heard a terrifying rumble and saw the church enveloped in a thick, smoke-filled darkness. The main altar alone remain illuminated, as if in broad daylight. There, the tabernacle door swung open and our crucified Lord came forth, nailed to a life-size cross. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist, and Saint Mary Magdalen stood by, as on Calvary. Our Lord was agonizing.
Mother Mariana of Jesus
The young nun heard a voice: “This punishment is for the twentieth century.” Then she saw three swords hanging over Our Lord’s head, each with an inscription. On the first was written, “I shall punish heresy”; on the second, “I shall punish blasphemy”; and on the third, “I shall punish impurity.”
Then the Blessed Virgin addressed the young nun: “My daughter, do you wish to sacrifice yourself for these people?”
“I am ready,” responded the nun. At that, the three swords plunged into the nun’s heart, and she fell dead by the violence of the pain.
Is this a fairy-tale? An incredible allegory? The fantastic figment of someone’s fertile imagination? No, these are facts.
God occasionally visits the earth with the “magic touch” of His omnipotence. By Divine discretion He makes an exception to the earthly standards of everyday and introduces the extraordinary. We learn of His interventions and miracles as if the veil of Faith is lifted a little, and we get a glimpse of Heaven, helping us feel closer to our celestial home.
Many claim to have received this magic touch, yet just a few bear the august mark of authenticity, which is usually a purifying process of the favored soul through acute suffering.
During this same apparition the Blessed Virgin of Good Success asked Mother Mariana to have a statue of her made exactly as Mother Mariana saw her. She wished this statue to be placed in the Prioress’ seat in the high choir so that, from there, she might effectively rule over her convent. She wished a crosier to be placed in her right hand as a sign of her authority as superior, along with the keys of the monastery so she might defend it in the centuries to come.
Defend it she did. On several future occasions, hostile governmental officials sought to move the sisters or close the convent. Not one of these attempts succeeded.
Mother Mariana measuring Our Lady
In some cases the person in charge died or was removed from office before the order was carried out. On one occasion, a large number of men assigned to converge on the convent at a specified time all forgot the rendezvous until the time had passed.