CATHOLIC PRESIDENT OF ECUADOR

By Sr. Leonor Cedeño, SHM

In the nineteenth century, when Ecuador was on the road to ruin because of liberal, secularized, anti-Catholic governments, a prominent political character emerged – Gabriel García Moreno – showing himself to be the magnificent archetype of a Catholic statesman in the modern world.

Gabriel was born on December 21, 1821. His father, Gabriel García Gómez was Spanish and his mother, Mercedes Moreno, was from Guayaquil, a very austere and devout woman. Gabriel was the eighth and last child. He spent his childhood and teenage years in Guayaquil, a city that was surrounded by a host of social and political conflicts. The country was under both the power of Colombia and then Peru, until the day of the legal erection of the Republic of Ecuador which became independent in 1830, when Gabriel was nine.

However, the arrival of independence did not bring the desired peace, as in the next six years Ecuador would face eighteen revolutions, a civil war, and numerous executions and political assassinations. All this began to leave a profound impression on Gabriel, with the hope that one day order and peace would reign.

When Gabriel’s father died, his mother entrusted his education to a Mercedarian, Fr. Betancourt.

He later moved to Quito, the capital of Ecuador, where two of the priest’s sisters took him in. Upon his arrival, he enrolled in a course in Latin and later entered the School of San Francisco as a day student. There, he studied philosophy, mathematics, and history. After high school, he attended college to pursue a career in law, although he took a special interest in mathematics and science.

The atmosphere around him was rationalist, Voltairian, and secularist, openly hostile to the Church and the world of politics was characterized by lies and corruption.

At age 18, he began studying for the priesthood, but convinced of his lack of vocation he resumed his college studies, bearing in his heart the desire to defend the religious values of the country, which would later lead him to the world of politics and law. He would place himself at the service of the Church, courageously fighting against those who promoted anti-Christian laws.

By the time he was 25, Gabriel had launched himself into political activity, which he would engage in until his death. He married Rosa Ascásubi. As a capable writer, he also launched several newspapers.

The country was going from bad to worse, and the nation was decaying amidst conspiracies and turbulence, falling into an ever more powerful secularism. García Moreno launched an intense attack on the policies of Urbina, in power at the time, from the weekly La Nación, and was exiled twice on account of it. He took advantage of these periods to devote time to study and further strengthen his Catholic thought.

Gabriel sensed the hidden desires of liberalism and Freemasonry to destroy Ecuador’s Christian roots and the religious unity of the country. The liberal constitution was a clear example. His discontent grew and a resistance group, consisting mainly of young people, began to form with García Moreno at the head, inviting people to fight. Many groups took to the streets with the cry of “Long live religion, death to the Constitution.” Finally, a revolution broke out in Guayaquil that spread to other parts of the country.

THE PRESIDENCY

With his talent as a political leader, García Moreno was able to win the support and admiration of the people, so much so that on March 10, 1861, without objections he was unanimously elected President of Ecuador and took over the command, being sworn into office at the Cathedral of Quito. A new constitution was drafted in which Catholicism was recognized as the state religion.

“This country is undoubtedly the kingdom of God. It belongs to Him as His property and he has done nothing more than entrust it to my care. I must therefore make every effort imaginable so that God may reign in this kingdom, so that my commands are subordinate to His, so that my laws enforce His law,” Gabriel said.

He pledged to restore the rule of morality, using vigorous correction of crime and promoting Christian education, always maintaining a merciful spirit. He protected religion, encouraged industry, trade, agriculture, promoted the construction of roads and the extension of railway lines, and nearly eliminated the large debts incurred in previous decades of political corruption.

He improved the education levels both in schools and colleges, bringing in religious congregations from Europe. He specifically requested the collaboration of the Jesuits, with whom he had a close friendship, as well as that of learned professors from German universities.

During his presidency, García Moreno consecrated Ecuador to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, because he wanted Christ Himself to reign over the country. It was the first country to be consecrated to the Heart of Jesus.

SPIRITUAL LIFE

García Moreno was a Catholic politician because he was a Catholic man.

He had an extremely profound life of faith and spiritual life, with daily Mass and prayer. He also prayed the Rosary. He tried to go to confession at least once a week and go on a retreat once a year. He always carried the book of the “Imitation of Christ” with him. In one of the last pages, he had written down several resolutions including: “Prayer every morning, praying especially for humility. In doubts and temptations, think of how I would think about this at the time of my death. What will I think about this while I am dying? Make acts of humility, like kissing the ground in secret. Never talk about myself. Be glad that my person and actions are censured. Keep God and the Virgin Mary before me and do the opposite of what I would be inclined to do. Every morning, write down what I should do before I get down to work. Make my work worthwhile and persevering, organize my time. Carefully observe the laws. May it all be only ad majorem Dei gloriam.”

He also exchanged letters with Pope Pius IX, who supported him in his work. He had cultivated a deep friendship with Pius IX, as they were united by a great love for the Church.
He exhibited many virtues both in his family and on a political level. He had a great love for his family, his wife and children, where he poured forth all his tenderness. He never let work absorb him so much that it took time away from his family or spiritual life.

MARTYRDOM

The enemies of the faith hated him and were seeking his death. He knew his life was in danger, but he considered it an honor to die for Christ and he said so in a letter to Pope Pius IX written on July 17, 1875, less than a month before his death: “How fortunate for me, Holy Father, to be hated and slandered because of our Divine Redeemer, and what immense happiness for me if your blessing should gain from heaven the grace of my shedding blood for the One who, being God, shed His blood on the Cross for us!” And on August 4th, he wrote to his friend Juan Aguirre, “I will be killed. I am happy to die for the holy faith. See you in heaven.”

On August 6, 1875, Gabriel got up as usual at five o’clock in the morning to go to the six o’clock Mass. His assassins, a small group inspired by the incendiary writings of liberal Juan Montalvo, were watching him but decided to delay their action, as it was First Friday and there was a fairly large crowd of faithful. That same morning, a little while later, Gabriel walked into the Cathedral to visit the Blessed Sacrament. Once inside, he was notified that someone was looking for him. As he walked out, Faustino Lemus Rayo struck him with a machete on the head several times, while his accomplices fired their guns. Altogether, he was stabbed fourteen times and shot six times. Alarmed by the commotion, several soldiers came from the Palace and one of them killed Rayo with a single gunshot. It was later discovered that Rayo had a check in his pocket, signed by known Masons.

As Gabriel was dying, he was taken into the Cathedral and placed before the altar of Our Lady of Sorrows. He still had a pulse, but could not speak. Only with his eyes did he manage to answer the priest’s questions, and he nodded when asked if he forgave his murderers. He was then given the absolution and the anointing of the sick. Within minutes, he peacefully breathed his last.

©Magazine HM º172 May-June 2013