"The Skull of San Francisco Monastery" - "La Calavera del Convento de San Francisco"

 I would like to start saying that hope you enjoy these legends!

Each place has a story; someone told me one day that places keep memories because people forget them.

The legend that you are going to read happens in San Francisco’s monastery which is located in Quito downtown. Do you believe in paranormal events? Because this legend has an intriguing mystery related on a skull. “The skull of Franciscan monastery” – “La Calavera del Convento de San Francisco”.

As far as we know, many monasteries and churches in our country had the tradition of burying their monks in the underground of each place. So, keep in mind this fact…!

This legend happened one night a lot of years ago, it was really cold, because it was winter. It all began when Fray Carlos and Miguel got back to the Franciscan monastery. Nobody knew where they had come and no one will know because after that night they were not be able to say anything to anybody. It was a really red letter day.

To make this story short, Fray Carlos and the Brother Miguel that night, knocked the big door of the monastery around midnight and someone told them:

-            Hail Mary! Who is it?

-            I’m Fray Carlos, he answered.

-            Oh! My Lord, Your Reverence! And where is the Brother Miguel?

-            Here! He is with me but they did not realize that their alcohol smell was in the air.

-            But you return really late!

-            Silence! Open the door!

Afterwards, inside the monastery every lantern was turned off and everything was in a total darkness. So, they were walking to their rooms but at the end of the hall there were a lot of voices and noises. Surprisingly, when Fray Carlos went up to the first step, a terrifying skull were going down with a sarcastic smile.

-            Fray Carlos said: Mercy!

-            And Have mercy on me! Brother Miguel said too.

Both of them were yellow bellied and the skull stood up in front of them and said:

-Pulvis est in pulvere reverteris

In the darkness and silence, a lot of mysterious voices told them: “For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return”. Then, many horrifying screams were heard.

-            Forgiveness Lord, Forgiveness! Said Fray Carlos, raising his arms to the Heaven while Brother Miguel fainted.

Finally, tradition tells that the next day they found Fray Carlos, who in an attitude of repentance, had died at the bleeding feet of the Christ of San Francisco, and Brother Julio made a solemn vow never to leave his room.

Do you enjoy this legend?

Did you visit Franciscan monastery?

Hope you can do it!