The Jesuit school, Saint Gabriel’s Academy in Quito, Ecuador, had just finished the last meal of the day, and the thirty six boys were leaving the refectory. It was the evening of April 20, 1906. Brother Luis Alberdi and the students were just heading to study hall, however, when the head-master, Father Andrés Roesch, instead granted recreation time for the boys. The younger boys played and talked together as they usually did, while Father Andres spoke with the older ones about the recent earthquake in San Francisco, just two day earlier.

Four of the younger boys, who had recently received their first Holy Communion, where sitting together and speaking of holy things. As they were talking the youngest of them, Jaime Chaves, turned and looked at the image in the refectory, which was hanging about 10 feet away. This image was of Our Lady of Sorrows, which depicted her with 7 swords in her heart, as she holds a crown of thorns and three nails in her hand, while her eyes are full of love and sorrow.

Following his inspiration, the young boy watched it closely and saw the eyes of the Virgin slowly open and close. Quite frightened at what had just taken place before his own eyes, he drew it to the attention of his three other companions. Seeing it also, they immediately ran and brought Father Andrés and their other classmates to see that was happening. For the next fifteen minutes, all of the boys watched, as the image hanging in their refectory continued to open and close its eyes. Father Andres said that it must be an illusion, and they then left to say the rosary, as the eyes continued to open and close.

Not long afterward, it happened again. The image had been moved into the chapel, and as they had just finished their rosary and were beginning the Litany of Our Lady, the boys shouted out "Her eyes are moving!"

After this, the occurrences where brought to the attention of the ecclesiastical authorities. The Sorrowful Mother image was then moved with great reverence from the Academy’s Chapel to the nearby Church.

The phenomenon continued and was witnessed by crowds of people, producing many miracles. For a time, the eyes of Our Lady slowly opened and closed for three consecutive days. It was during this time, that while the choir was singing:

Once again, O Mary,
Turn thy motherly eyes
Upon those who kneel before thee,
Imploring thy compassion.

That the eyes in the image moved slowly. Then, it seemed as if the background behind Our Lady faded, that her face became a life-like hue, the form of which appeared to protrude from the painting, as if it was a real face. She looked up towards heaven twice, and at times looked as though she was forcing herself to restrain her tears. Suddenly, those in the Church began to cry out in alarm and dismay. The face of the Virgin had suddenly turned deathly pale, and she seemed as if she was about to die of sorrow. The people cried out for mercy while shedding tears of compassion and contrition. The paleness slowly left her face, and the Blessed Mother returned to her normal serenity.

Many people who witnessed the miracles that took place, said that they felt deeply moved by grace, and desired to change their lives and practice virtue. Through this image, many people where converted.

Fifty years after the original miracle had taken place, Pope Pius XII declared La Dolorosa del Colegio (as this picture is called in Quito) "Queen of the Catholic Education in Ecuador", and bestowed the special honor of Canonical Coronation to the miraculous image of Our Lady of Quito - Our Sorrowful Mother.