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Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Page 7

© Kathryn Morse

succeeded in building a school of law as a part of the Sacred Hearts College. He himself gave several courses in it. It was solemnly dedicated in May, 1906. At last his dream had come true. But soon the dream would turn into a nightmare, and the new building would be transformed into a heap of rubble. Father Mateo's faith would be put to a severe test. Apparently the fire was about to be extinguished.

Thanks for the Earthquake

One sunny, quiet day in August, the day after the Feast of the Assumption, Father Mateo was with a group of fellow priests in the courtyard of the Sacred Hearts College taking recreation. The bell had just rung to announce the end of the recreation period. As they were about to enter the building, the earth suddenly began to tremble violently beneath their feet. They threw themselves to the ground, expecting to be crushed at any moment by falling walls. It was all over in a short time, but what havoc had been wrought in that short period of time! Scenes of destruction everywhere met the eye. The huge steeple of the beautiful collegiate church had crashed into the sanctuary, and untold damage had been done to the college buildings. But none of the religious had lost his life, although the death toll in the city ran high.

Standing in the midst of the ruins of what had been his beloved school of law, Father Mateo was tempted to ask, "Why did You let this happen?" But he didn't. He made an act of blind faith in the infinite Wisdom of God. He says he never regretted it. In fact, he now thanks the Sacred Heart for having permitted the earthquake: "Were it not for that fact, I might never have become the 'globe trotter' of the Sacred Heart."

The Garcia Moreno Picture

One of the few things in the Sacred Hearts College not damaged by the earthquake was a large oil painting of the Sacred Heart. It was found hanging at a crazy angle from a beam, dust-covered but unharmed. Since this picture has had great influence on Father Mateo's career and the beginnings of the Enthronment, it is important - and interesting - to know the story behind it.

This picture had been painted by an outstanding Ecuadorian artist by the order of Gabriel Garcia Moreno, and was used for the solemn consecration of

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