The Little Girl of Ecuador

Ecuador is a small, mountainous, and very Marian country. The explorers and conquistadores liked to participate in popular demonstrations in honor of the Virgin Mary. At the time of territorial conflicts and popular insurrections, the Virgin was invoked to bring justice and peace.

On March 25, 1875, President Gabriel Garcia Moreno consecrated the Republic of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Most Sacred Heart of Mary.

The village of El Quinche is situated 50 km from Quito (the capital), in a mountainous region. Its church has a statue of the Madonna and Child dating from the 16th century, "Our Lady of the Presentation," also known as Our Lady of Quinche. Tradition reports that the natives recognized in this statue the features of a Woman who had previously appeared to them, and called her "La Pequeñita" (the Little Girl).

In 1985, Our Lady of Quinche was declared patron saint of Ecuador.

Source: Attilio GALLI, Madre della Chiesa dei Cinque Continenti, Ed. Segno, Udine, 1997.