South America
Ecuador
Quito
Monastery of Saint Catherine of Siena
1594

A brief description.

The monastery of the Dominican nuns of Saint Catherine of Siena, was founded in Quito, Ecuador, 1594, during the Sales Tax Revolt. In 1613 it moved into the houses that used to belong to Lorenzo de Cepeda, a brother of sister Santa Teresa de Jesus.

The original adobe building was improved towards the end of the seventeenth century, and a new roof was added in 1794. A final restoration later on removed much of the ornament from the church. There are still some interesting pieces left: the 'Chapter Hall' contains an impressive work representing the Lord of Mercies, a sculptured group of Our Lady of the Staircase, and a painting of the Divine Shepherd.

Catalina de Jesus Herrera was elected prioress in 1755, and her new confessor Tomás Corrales, O.P. ordered her to continue her autobiography. So she described her spiritual life from 8 February 1758 till 27 August 1760.
The original manuscript of this biography, 'Floregio doctrinal de la Vble Madre Herrera',  the great mystical writer of the eighteenth century, is also among the treasures of the monastery.

Philately

Honoured the 200th founding-day of the monastery of Saint Catherine in Quito
the portrait of Catalina de Jesus Herrera, O.P. (22.08.1717-29.09.1795),
writer of mystical works. Her autobiography is preserved in the monastery
in Quito.

Ecuador 1977, Mi 1740, Sc C 696.

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