The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55: 1604-1605; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of The Catholic Missions, As Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 13 of 55: 1604-1605; Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of The Catholic Missions, As Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
him another rich haul, when he cast from the pulpit the net of the
word of God, in order to fish for souls. This was a chief, one of the
most powerful in that district; in imitation of the chiefs of Botuan
(although ignorant of what they had done), he arose like them in the
congregation, and after earnestly asking for baptism, began then and
there his preparation--by publicly asking pardon of all those whom he
might have wronged, and offering full satisfaction, whatever might be
the amount of his obligation; and (an act of much greater importance),
by putting away one of his two wives. Through this the Spirit of truth,
[9] which is uniform, swayed the hearts of the others to be like
this man's, and brought them, most efficaciously and harmoniously,
under the gentle yoke of Christ, although he and they were so far
away. But inasmuch as this divine Spirit is present in all places,
in all alike it operates as if they were but one, its strength and
power being subtly and efficaciously active.
A third mission was held in this village during Lent of the year one
thousand six hundred, by Father Melchior Hurtado, who had gone to
these islands in the previous year with the father-visitor. Devoting
himself to the study of the language, he used it effectively as we may
judge from a letter written by him from Paloc to the same father, as
follows: "In the village of San Salvador (which is the same as Paloc)
the number of those who had recourse to the discipline was greatly
increased, especially on Fridays, when it was necessary to exclude
the children [from the church], to make room for the adults. Many
went out for the bloody discipline, and it was cause for edification
to behold the fervor with which at the conclusion of a short sermon
which was preached to them before the procession began, all the people
fell upon their knees, asking in a loud voice pardon for their sins,
with such emotion and weeping that we who were present were also
brought to tears. They were all deeply impressed by the sermons on
the various stages of the passion; and also when we pictured to them
the life of Christ our Lord, from His childhood until He was fastened
to the cross. They shed many tears thereat, and their minds were so
impressed by those sacred events that for many days they talked of
nothing else. On Easter Sunday a most joyful procession was formed, in
which was borne the cross triumphant, handsomely adorned; all were clad
in white tunics, and bore garlands of flowers. Those who have received
communion have set a notable example. They have a sort of brotherhood
the members of which are the most assiduous in their attendance at
church. There are two women, among the most exemplary and capable,
who take care of the rest; and when any woman asks to receive communion
for the first time, they instruct her how to approach it. The example
of these few women has induced the rest of the people to ask eagerly
for the most blessed sacrament. During this time some seventy adults
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