The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-07-22
Sor Patrocinio.


nous, over the civilized world, is
now verging on seventy years ofage.
In very early youth Maria Raphaele
Quiroga was admitted rs q pensions
er into the convent of Cabaliero de
Gracias IN Madrid, the most dissolute
of all those vile abodes. So detesta
BILE did this convent become in the
eyes of the Madrelanos that, in 1885,
they demolished the building, the
graves were opened, the corpses torn
from their cofiins, and the nuns sent
to another convent.
In November of tho same year,
1885, proceedings were instituted
against Senorita Quiroga, who was
then for the first time brought to
public notice under the conventnal
name of Sor Patrocinio. She was
charged with fraud in pretending to
perform miracles; and, strange sit
reads now to the devoted adherent
OF Isabella the ex-Queen, the judge
who Immediately commenced the
prosecution demanded by the Gov
ernmcnt reported soon after, as tho
result of tho preliminary examina-
tion, "that she had claimed to have
been taken out of her convent by
the devil, who conducted her to the
road leading to Aranjuez, and told
her that Maria Christina was bad
woman in every respect, and that
her daughter must never rule over
Spain" The gist of the crime con-
sisting in her assertion, in the name
of Col, that Isabella would never
rule over Spain.
In tho course Of tho trial o.hnr
charges were brought against ,..c
nun. One, that she had wounded
her own side and claimed that the
wounds were supernaturally irfict-
ed while kneeling at her prayers
The autharities commissioned two
distinguished physicians to examine
these singular wounds. They found,
of course, that they had been caused
by artificial means, and that as soon
as these artificial means were rcmov-
ed the wounds healed speedily.
The Court found her guilty, and
sentenced her to be removed, "with
all due consideration to her calling
and position" to another nunnery
situated cat least forty leagues from
the capital.
After her removal from Madrid
Sor PatrocInio devoted herself entire.
ly to the cause of Don Carlos, and
continued her fraudulent practices.-
Foolish and fanatical, like so many
members of the Bourbon family, Don
Carlos attached more Importance to
the letters the nun wrote to him, and
to the advice which she gave him,
than to the strategic plans Of his
Commander-in- chief, .Zumalacarro-
gui.
But the Carlists were unsuccessful,
and Sor Patrocinio passed over to
the theocratic party at the Court OF
Isabella.
The nun was astute and far sight
ed. She, with the assistance Of the
Bishop OF Pampeluna, attached her.
self to the cause of Don Francisco,
the asplrant ana subsequently the
successful candidate for the hand OF
the young Queen Isahella She per-
suaded the King that she could bring
his mother out of purgatory to ad-
wise and guide him; indeed she pre-
tended to have herself made
several trips to that uncomfortable
place to bring word from his lamented
parent. AT one of tho frequently
recurring revolutions in the palace,
Narvacz being in power, both King
and nun were eYiled; but they soon
returned, when the latter obtained
more influence tina ever.
Hitherto Sor oatrouinio had taken
pains only to influence the King Con
sort, but hencetorth she attached
herself moro closely to the Queen.
and, emboldened by her success il
frauds, she attempted higher flights
She succeeded in causing tho statute
OF Christ in st. Francis's Church te
bc covered with bloody sweat as q
mark Of His disapprobation OF The
policy pursued by Spain. Such
things had often been accomplished
before. But how can We account fol
the Queen carrying her faith SO tal
in tho supernatural powers of So
Patrocinio as to allow the Designing
nun to persuade her to wear only
such cdnsisds as Sor Patrocinia hat
already had on her own body TO
twenty-four hours.
| Sor Patrocinio was still nominal,
nun, but she never resided pcrma
ncntly in a cloister after the Queen
marriage. She camo and went lik
any other untrammelcd lady iron
Rome to Spain, and back from Spail
70 Rome. She detied the law tha
had exiled her forever from Madrid
in Il it city she always rode throug
tho streets in aroyal cquipagc draw
by fur mules, two or three carriage
follt ,ingit, and an escort of homo
acco siganying her. When che di
resile at the Convent Of St. Pasca
half dozen carts, bearing the roys
coat of arms, could be seen ever