The basilica arose from the idea, proposed by father Julio Matovelle in 1883, of building a monument as a perpetual reminder of the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart.
President Luis Cordero issued the decree on July 23, 1883, and it was carried out by president José María Plácido Caamaño on March 5, 1884.
The congress, in accordance with the year's budget, designated 12,000 pesos for the construction - 1,000 pesos per month, beginning in 1884.
By the decree of July 3, 1885, the fourth Quitense Provincial Council turned the construction of the basilica into a religious commitment in the name of the country.
In 1887, the Issodum Fathers began construction for five years, with the approval of Pope Leo XIII.
The Oblato fathers donated the land for the basilica.
To continue construction, donations were accepted from believers, who provided stones in exchange for engraving their names on them.
In 1895, the state established a tax on salt to continue the building.

In 1901, Father Matovelle and his Community of Missionary Monks, took charge of the construction at the request of Archbishop Pedro Rafael González Calisto.
The building was designed by architect Emilio Tarlier at the cost of 40,000 French francs.
Tarlier was inspired by the Bourges Cathedral.
On July 10, 1892, the first stone was placed.
Between 1892 and 1909, the Heart of Mary Cathedral was constructed.
The basilica was blessed by Pope John Paul II on January 30, 1985, and it was consecrated and inaugurated on July 12, 1988.

The basilica remains technically "unfinished."
 Local legend says that when the Basílica is completed, the end of the world will come.

Basilica Travel Guide Archived 2017-11-16 at the Wayback Machine.
Retrieved October 8, 2008.

"La Basílica del Voto Nacional - Historical Building - Quito, Ecuador".
Viva Travel Guides.
Archived from the original on 12 February 2012.
Retrieved 31 December 2011.

"Basilica del Voto Nacional".
Ecuador.com Official Website.
Retrieved 6 June 2018.
The basilica arose from the idea, proposed by father Julio Matovelle in 1883, of building a monument as a perpetual reminder of the consecration of Ecuador to the Sacred Heart. President Luis Cordero issued the decree on July 23, 1883, and it was carried out by president José María Plácido Caamaño on March 5, 1884. The congress, in accordance with the year's budget, designated 12,000 pesos for the construction - 1,000 pesos per month, beginning in 1884. By the decree of July 3, 1885, the fourth Quitense Provincial Council turned the construction of the basilica into a religious commitment in the name of the country. In 1887, the Issodum Fathers began construction for five years, with the approval of Pope Leo XIII. The Oblato fathers donated the land for the basilica. To continue construction, donations were accepted from believers, who provided stones in exchange for engraving their names on them. In 1895, the state established a tax on salt to continue the building.
In 1901, Father Matovelle and his Community of Missionary Monks, took charge of the construction at the request of Archbishop Pedro Rafael González Calisto. The building was designed by architect Emilio Tarlier at the cost of 40,000 French francs. Tarlier was inspired by the Bourges Cathedral. On July 10, 1892, the first stone was placed. Between 1892 and 1909, the Heart of Mary Cathedral was constructed. The basilica was blessed by Pope John Paul II on January 30, 1985, and it was consecrated and inaugurated on July 12, 1988.
The basilica remains technically "unfinished."  Local legend says that when the Basílica is completed, the end of the world will come.
Basilica Travel Guide Archived 2017-11-16 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 8, 2008.
"La Basílica del Voto Nacional - Historical Building - Quito, Ecuador". Viva Travel Guides. Archived from the original on 12 February 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
"Basilica del Voto Nacional". Ecuador.com Official Website. Retrieved 6 June 2018.
Basílica del Voto Nacional