The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898 by Various

V >> Various >> The Philippine Islands, 1493 to 1898

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Our Order has been no less occupied with the Indians in these
regions than with others--partly because there is a greater number
of them gathered in this town of Manila than anywhere else, partly
because they feel a greater good-will toward the members of the
Society than toward any others. They never lack some one of Ours
to aid their confessions; and they would need old priests the year
round, if there were so many who understood the language, to hear
the confessions of all. They greatly affect the holy communion, and
report wonderful fruit from it. Every week, on Saturday, very many
hasten to perform their discipline with the others; and more would
come if the city gates which separate the Indians from the Spaniards
were not closed at nightfall. Indeed many do not fear to creep through
the little hole in the gates in order not to neglect that salutary
penance. They hasten, too, on the Sabbath to hear the sacrament of
the mass of the Blessed Virgin, and in Lent to hear sermons, and that
in such numbers that, although our church is of considerable size,
they fill it completely. And when it was overthrown by the earthquake,
they all hastened together, down to the very children, to give their
help in carrying stones away. It was a delightful sight to see them
swarming like ants upon the rubbish and the wall--men and women,
young and old, powdered with dust and lime, carrying baskets on their
shoulders and vying with each other in carrying off the ruins so as
to clear the space.

The girls' sodality, recently introduced among the natives, has
marvelously roused all the others. Sometimes they have fed the poor
with such liberality that much was left for the prisoners and other
needy persons. After the meal was over, they poured water for the hands
of the poor persons, and kissed them; and then the poor persons fell
on their knees and prayed God for their benefactors. At another place
these same Indian members of sodalities went to the Indian hospital and
there gave their aid to the sick by making their beds and digging up
the ground for them--a thing worthy of special admiration in this race,
for they abhor visiting hospitals. The sodality members, although poor,
offer the usual alms to the church and to those who are in need. They
are given to hearing sermons and to fasting, being content for whole
weeks with bread and water. They are glad to go to our churches for
confession and spiritual instruction, and obtain great spiritual
benefit and edification.

A certain Christian woman who was for a long time held in slavery to
the infidels in the islands of Mindanao and Borneo, which are given
to the faith of Mahomet, could not be torn from the true belief,
or be persuaded to the worship of idols, although she visited many
of their places.

An Indian man, who along with some others had made his confession
that he might receive the holy communion, declares that he had kept
silent as to the circumstances of some sins; and that in a vision he
saw a beautiful child offering to him the holy eucharist. But when
he answered that he was a great sinner, the child replied: "Thou
are indeed not worthy of the communion, for in thy confession thou
hast hidden such and such a circumstance." Therefore when he awoke
he hurried to our church, revealed the vision to one of the fathers,
and desired to repeat his confession.

Another had so accustomed himself to the scourging of his body that
one day when he was required to march with a troop of soldiers,
he withdrew from it in the night, in order that he might not omit
this holy exercise. When the officer of the infantry, going his
rounds at night, secretly perceived this, he thought the man was
meditating some mischief, and silently followed him. At last he saw
him enter the cemetery of a church, and after pouring forth prayers
to God, beat his back severely. When the scourging was finished, the
officer approached; and when he recognized this Indian, he was even
more edified. And when he asked him where he was from, he answered
that he came from the city of Manila, and said that he was in the
habit of confessing to Ours. The captain, marveling that a tyro in
the Christian religion should take such care of his soul's health,
gave him some money and told him to go back home, that he might not
be perverted by the habits of the soldiery.

A priest with a brother as his companion was sent off as on a
mission to some Seilan villages, which, being without parish priests,
needed instruction. When they reached there the plague was raging;
and the father and brother freely assisted them, not only by the
administration of the sacraments of confession and the communion,
but by that of food, which was prepared in our church.

On another mission performed by the rector of the college and another
priest, there was a mighty fruit of their labors reaped in hearing
confessions, in reconciling enemies, and in recalling the perverse to a
better life. Twenty adults were initiated by the sacrament of baptism,
having been imbued with the Christian faith by a certain blind man. He,
though deprived of the use of his eyes, yet took such care of his
catechumens that if a single one out of any number, however great,
was missing, he regularly informed the father. We think the more
of this from the fact that he who formerly was numbered among the
catalons--that is, petty priests of idols--now since his conversion
has become a teacher of Christian doctrine.

Residence of Antipolo [36]

In this residence are ordinarily maintained three priests, to care for
the harvest of three thousand Christians. More than five hundred have
been baptized this year. We have tested the great devotion of this
people, and their rare sense of piety in frequenting the sacraments,
in offering prayers, and in undergoing discipline and performing
other good and edifying works; and, finally, there has been wrought
in them all a great change in conduct.

The father-visitor has laid the foundation of a hospital, which
is of great importance. On the day when the roof was finished the
father-visitor led them in serving the poor who were gathered there,
by pouring water on their hands, and then kissing their hands on his
bended knees, which example was followed by all the chief men there
present. And thus the custom has been established that four members
of the confraternity established for this purpose bring them their
food every day. The same thing is done by the women for the sick of
their sex.

A beginning has been made of a school for boys, in which they may be
educated from their earliest years in all virtue and good morals,
according to the laws of Christ, so far as these are open to their
capacity. This is a thing not merely necessary for their receiving
the true doctrine, but also easy and delightful. They are all fed
with rice sent by their parents, and by other contributions. Their
occupations are learning to read and to form their letters, and to
do such other things as are appropriate to childish years.

The custom has everywhere been introduced of singing throughout
the year, in honor of the Virgin Mother of God, the anthem _Salve
Regina_; and on Saturdays in Lent of performing the discipline in
church. So when some Indians were bathing in the river, as is the
custom in hot countries, and heard the bell give the call for _Salve_
and the discipline, they put on their clothes and set out. Only one
remained, and laughing at his companions said in their language:
"_Acoi ouian_!"--that is, "Bring back something for me," which is
their expression of ridicule. When the others had gone away, he who
was alone was attacked and killed by a crocodile--a fierce animal of
these regions, which is very fond of human flesh--and that before
they could render him any assistance, spiritual or temporal. This
event was indeed the occasion of no little wonder, for this beast
is very voracious, and swallows men whole, or piece by piece, or at
least tears off hand or foot; but this man he left whole and untorn,
which the Indians attribute to the virtue of the _Salve_ that they
sang and the discipline that they performed.

Residence of Zebu

This residence is in the province called Pintados, in which the
greater part of Ours have lived and are working for the salvation
of the Indians, although ordinarily not more than three priests and
four brothers labor there. The situation is extremely convenient,
because all the other residences carry on their work from it as a
center. The ministry of the Society is exercised with great profit to
the city. A boys' school has been opened, and the Latin language is
taught. Last year the most reverend bishop, the officials, and other
leading men, in letters sent to his Catholic Majesty, made a full
statement of the great spiritual harvest with which Ours in these
regions exercise their ministry, among both Spaniards and Indians;
and they also earnestly entreated that he would be pleased to render
that residence permanent by some annual provision, in order that they
might be able to continue to enjoy the labors of our fathers.

The excellent bishop walked on foot, although a man sixty years old,
throughout the whole of his diocese; [37] and, turning aside into
our houses, he there dwelt with us in such humility and familiarity
that he seemed to be one of our members. After he had finished the
visitation of the diocese, he was accustomed to say that he had
greatly admired the modesty and piety of the women in it; for in
gossip and conversation their reputation had long been very much to
the contrary. He added that he had seen nothing like it in all Nueva
Espana. Turning to our fathers, he declared that they ought to be
contented with their lot, because they had undertaken the duty of
disseminating the word of God in those regions; for in his opinion
they were spending their lives in a part of the world which was the
best of all, and the best beloved by God, and that from which they
would be able to obtain the most ample fruit for their labor.

In our churches we began this year the practice of the discipline,
with a great number of penitents and great devotion from the people. We
also delivered sermons, with the Christian catechism, to the garrison,
with extraordinary results.

A certain father added that a sick Indian had lost the faculty
of speech before he had confessed, so that he could not receive an
exhortation to a pious death. Accordingly, he urged him to attempt at
least to pronounce the name of Jesus. The sick man obeyed, and uttered
it obscurely so that he could scarcely be heard. The father continued
to urge him to speak more distinctly. Finally with a moderate effort he
uttered it with the greatest distinctness, made a complete confession,
and on the following day left his bed well.

Father Miguel Gomez [38] was sent to a tribe at a considerable
distance. At first he gave all his attention to learning the names
of those who had not yet been washed in the holy waters of baptism;
and there were brought to him sixty, besides some others who are known
as Visaians. And to all these, after he had sufficiently demonstrated
the vanity of idols and the truth of the Christian belief, he imparted
baptism, with so great a degree of consolation to them all, although
they were old men, that they all marveled. But before dawn, behold
some others, men and women of very great age, who had hidden by the
gate of our house that they might be initiated by means of the same
sacrament. Accordingly sixty, along with six children, were initiated;
and in this number was included the chief of the place, a man already
more than sixty years old.

Residence of Bohol

This residence is subject to the preceding one, that of Zebu. The
harvest reaped in it your Paternity will learn from the letter of
Father Valerio Ledesma [39] herewith enclosed. He says: "In accordance
with the direction of your Reverence I visited the island of Bohol and
gave my first attention to collecting the people, who were scattered
everywhere, into one place. To many I suggested means of peace, and
proposed efficacious remedies; and at last I succeeded in getting a
thousand men, the greater part of whom had been trained in the use of
arms, to leave their mountains, from which it had been impossible to
draw them before, and to assemble at one spot. We also attempted to
attract a number of barbarian inhabitants of the mountains, who had
never looked upon any mortals before they saw our fathers, making use
of all of the offices of humanity and of the allurements suitable
to their nature, and we succeeded. We assigned them a settlement
near the river, where they have now built a church, to which they
flock on Sundays. We have baptized one hundred and twenty of their
children, or even more. The adults have not only laid aside all
of their fierceness, but pray for baptism with the greatest ardor,
singing chants, and night and day recite the Christian faith.

"On the day sacred to St. Anne, to whom the church was dedicated,
the conversion of a certain old chief, on whom they all look as a
father, made a beginning for the conversion of the rest. He on bended
knees begged me with the most humble prayers that I would bathe him
in the sacred fount. His example greatly confirmed in their purpose
those who were ready for baptism, and excited others to desire it;
so that one after another, to the number of more than one hundred,
came as suppliants for baptism. In Visaia I baptized eighty-nine
adults at one time, and a few days later ninety-four--partly children,
partly adults; and on another day all the rest of the natives. Leaving
here I crossed a mountain; and the Lord obtained as spiritual gain
twenty-nine children, with faces like those of angels; and with the
cleansing water we sprinkled them in the name of the Holy Trinity,
along with three adults whom I had taken with me that they might
hear the sacrifice of the mass, and might by word and example be more
accurately instructed in the Christian faith. After we had gone some
distance thence, we came to a hamlet in which the natives had built
a convenient church in preparation for our arrival, extending over a
space of ten cubits. Here we began to spread our net, or rather the
net of Christ, and caught in it all the fish that were there; for
all the leading men and women, with old and young, great and small,
cast themselves at the feet of Christ Jesus, recognizing Him as the
true God and ardently pleading to be joined to Him in faith through
the mystery of baptism. And here I began to recognize the favor which
God had shown me, in calling me forth from Espana in these days;
for this single instance was enough reason to call me forth. On the
very first occasion when we baptized, we plunged a hundred persons
in the sacred fount; on the second, all the rest without exception.

"When I was once explaining to a fierce and barbarous fellow the great
glory of paradise and the dire pains of hell, he answered, just as
if he had been possessed by a demon, that he had rather go to hell
than to paradise; and, as he was one of the chiefs in that region,
he carried a great many with him to the same decision of a perverse
mind. But I did not hesitate to attack the foolish fellow again and
again, and I insisted upon the horror and the eternity of the torments
with great vehemence of language; but he answered that he certainly
ought to go, after this life, there, where his parents and the rest
of his ancestors had departed, rather than anywhere else. Then I
responded that he had better just try the force of fire; but he, with
hands as hard as his heart, did not hesitate to snatch up some burning
coals from the hearth. However, a few days later, his mind divinely
changed, he ran out into the fields and meadows, and, calling all his
tribesmen together, he urged them to accept the Christian sacraments,
with such zeal that he had no equal among the Visaians."

In another letter sent to the father-visitor from the same place,
the same Father Valerio writes that another father had written to
him that in the islands Lobo and Dita he had sprinkled four hundred
persons, chiefly infants, with the most holy waters. Thus within the
interval of three months more than a thousand had been initiated by
the same sacraments, and numberless others are left burning with the
same desire. Therefore the members of our Order declare that the time
is come for the salvation of that island, and eagerly wait for workers.

But your Paternity will learn of a more glorious fruit from these
missions in Bohol from the letters of Father Gabriel Sanchez and Father
Cristofero Ximenez, [40] who have been assigned to that mission. [41]
In letters written in the month of October, Father Gabriel writes as
follows: "Our Lord has singularly blessed our attempts and labors. For
after the flocks of the heathen were gathered in one place they were
converted to God with such earnestness, so completely without pretense,
that I can say nothing else than that God their Maker and Redeemer
has desired by some peculiar favor in their calling to add them to
His flock--inasmuch as within two months two thousand mortals have
yielded themselves to the laws and customs of Christ, by accepting
baptism. And it is my opinion that, if some fathers are ready,
the whole of them will accept the yoke of Christ. It is beyond the
power of language to tell with what spiritual joy I am affected when
I see men who are almost savages of the forests hastening down from
the mountains to supplicate the benefits of baptism. Nay, the very
children, like to angels, taught by I know not whom, now repeat the
Christian faith. Indeed, a few days ago one came to me not ignorant
of his catechism, whom I had not seen for ten years, and with great
earnestness begged me not to refuse to baptize him. The catalons,
or priests of the idols, also come, and show by so many proofs that
they desire baptism with all their hearts, that it is necessary
to satisfy their desires. Truly, my Father, I abound in delight,
I rejoice, I exult; nor is there anything in this world set before
me than to serve our Lord God with all my heart, and to desire that
all should be turned to the worship of His Divine Majesty. On Sunday,
in church and elsewhere, there were counted seven hundred persons. If
your Reverence were to see at sunset a hundred mountain boys and girls
who have been newly added to Christ marching in procession along the
bank of the river, praising God in harmony and chanting all together
the Christian faith, he could not help dissolving in tears of joy. A
few days ago in Dita five hundred were purified with holy baptism. Thus
in the whole region of Bohol we may now easily count three thousand
Christians. At the beginning there were only eight hundred; now,
by the accession of a new blessing of God, twice thirteen hundred
have been added in baptism."

With regard to another brief mission undertaken by a priest, the
same Father writes as follows: "God adorns and enriches this Tobigon
[42] people with so many heavenly gifts that I do not dare depart
hence, and break the thread of our most happy progress. The church
is filled with people morning and evening; no one is anxious about
food, although they may not have it, or may have to bring it from a
distance. All their care is to be Christians, and to be initiated in
baptism. In these fifteen days in which we have instructed them in
the rudiments of the Christian faith, there have been baptized more
than two hundred and fifty adults. There remain forty catechumens,
for the rest will be baptized after our return.

"An old man, a chief who is held in high honor, and who has hitherto
been obstinate, has at last told me that he is ready to bow his
head to baptism. He is all white-haired and decrepit, so that he
can scarcely combine word with word. Since he is unable to come to
church, I am compelled to go to his house. I will baptize him, with
another man of advanced age, as early as possible. It seems to me no
small evidence that they have been predestinated, that both of them
have waited so long, and that they now begin to glow with so great
a desire for baptism."

With regard to another mission, Father Gabriel Sanchez writes that the
archdeacon of Zebu, who holds a benefice in Tana, went to the island
of Bohol, twelve leagues distant, to ask our superior for a father
skilled in the language, to preach the gospel to his tribe. Father
Gabriel was sent, and in one month heard four hundred confessions,
and offered to many the sacred body of the Lord. He also baptized
eighty small children and some larger ones. The custom was there
introduced of having boys march in procession in the public streets,
and chant the Christian belief. The same thing has been done in the
church, so greatly to the delight of the people that even the chiefs
of the tribe think it small honor to them if they are not sometimes
examined in the same belief.

The Indian wife of a local governor was bedridden, and one night began
to suffer so intensely that she was entirely deprived of the power of
speech. A father of the Society was called, who found her entirely
speechless. And since she had not confessed her sins, although she
tried to do so, the father began to recite the holy gospel, and to
sprinkle her with holy water; and when this was done she collected
her strength and, after pronouncing the name of Jesus, said, "Have
mercy upon me!" Then, in the presence of many, she desired to confess;
and after less than a quarter of an hour she arose from her bed, so
well and whole that the father would not listen to her, but directed
her to come to church on the following day to make her confession,
which she did. The same thing happened to the same father in the case
of two other sick persons, whom by the recitation of the gospel and by
the sprinkling of holy water he restored to sense and health, so that
they were able to confess their sins. Further, on two different days
having gone to two children near to death, and deprived of the power
of speech, with the same antidote of the gospel and of holy water,
he restored both to their former health, so that one of them went so
far as to jump suddenly out of his bed and return to his boyish sports.

The same priest also went, for the sake of hearing confession, to a
man who lived a league and a half from the town, whose body was so
weakened and torn by sickness that he could not bear to be touched
or to be turned from one side to the other. When his confession had
been heard and the gospel had been recited, the father went away on
Saturday of that week. On the following Sunday, when the father asked
how the sick man was, he was told that he had been restored to health,
and had gone out to an island in order to get by hunting what was
necessary for his food. One night, while the daughters of one of the
chiefs were chanting the heads of the Christian law, they looked up
from a sort of portico and saw a crucifix in the sky, with a kind of
crown on the head, rough but beautiful, and with the whole body and
breast plainly visible. It shone like the sun, and went up to heaven
until it reached the sphere of the moon; as soon as it had reached
that it vanished. The sight of this vision caused the spectators as
much joy as its disappearance did sorrow. The father commanded that
the whole thing be recounted in church, in the presence of many, by
those very persons who had seen it; although, as that tribe is very
simple and modest, they showed great fear and shame in telling the
story. Afterwards it was learned that the same crucifix had appeared
in another place two leagues away. This vision ought to be recognized
as of greater value because it befell persons of exceeding virtue,
who are persevering in their pristine habits of holy living.

Residence of Samar

Since the inhabitants of this island are scattered along an extended
coast-line of the sea, it was necessary to send six of the fathers for
the greater part of last year to cultivate it, with the results which
might be expected from such missions. We learned from the letters
of Ours that the people of this island who live along the coast
have begun to offer their names in order to receive the Christian
religion, and that all the chiefs have already been purified by
holy baptism. The duty of visiting fourteen places rests upon this
residence. In this year three thousand six hundred and eighty persons,
for the most part adults, have been joined to the spouse of Christ
through the holy waters of baptism. In one tiny island, which had
not been visited for two years, two of Ours who had been sent thither
on mission were received by the whole tribe with such delight that,
all the way from the beach of the sea to the church of the place, they
adorned all the roads with green branches; and then they were led to
the church by a procession of boys and girls singing the Christian
teaching with joyous voices. And when Ours asked to have placed on
the lists the names of those who desired to receive baptism, they
answered that there was no need of a list, that they all wished to
become Christians. The old men--who are generally more perverse than
the rest, and are unwilling to learn the Christian teaching--brought
forward no other ground for the baptism which they so much desired
than that their old age promised them no long life. Thus all by the
divine grace were made children of God, and inheritors of eternal life.

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