SAINT MIGUEL FEBRES CORDERO

Feast Day - February 9

Lived (1854 – 1910)

Patron Saint of Christian Schools, Ecuador, Teachers and Writers

Michael was born lame to a wealthy Family in Cuenca, Ecuador. On his wheelchair one day, he saw a rose in the garden, and above the flowers, he saw a beautiful lady wearing a white and blue dress, calling his name. His family, who could only see the rose, were astonished when he proceeded to get up and walk. From then on, Michael spoke with Our Lady and Jesus on a regular basis.

In 1863, the De LaSalle Brothers arrived in Ecuador and they started a seminary, Michael enrolled as a lay brother. His parents frowned at his plan to become a lay brother instead of a priest. Then, they sent him to the seminary where his father taught, but within a few months he became seriously ill and had to return home.

His mother finally agreed to let him become a lay brother. In 1868, Michael entered the order of the De La Salle Brothers and a year later was assigned to the Beaterio, a congregation of lay sisters dedicated to prayer and charitable work in Quito, where he worked tirelessly in preparing children for First Communion for the next 26 years.

Transferred to Spain to assist in the translation of sacred documents, he caught a cold that developed into pneumonia, and he died. His body was returned to Ecuador, and his tomb in Quito soon became a shrine and place of pilgrimage.