The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 21 of 55: 1624; 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 21 of 55: 1624; 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
in those struggles, comforting the Christians who were there, and
obtaining many triumphs for himself. Finally, on the arrival of the
time for his ransom, he returned to his convent at Cuyo, joyous at
having suffered for God, although not well satisfied at not having
given his life for his holy law. But we can declare that if the
barbarians lacked the determination to condemn him to martyrdom,
our Catholic soldier did not want the courage to receive it.
We shall give an end to this year of twenty-two, by giving a brief
memorial of father Fray Diego de Santo Tomàs, a native of Nueva-España,
a creole of Cholula, and the son of Diego Garcia de Leon and Doña
Inès Carrillo. He went to Filipinas when very young, where, leaving
the deceits of the world, he betook himself to the port of religion,
taking our holy habit in the convent of San Nicolàs of Manila. He
professed in the year 1610. When he saw the so great fervor of
the religious for the spreading of the faith, he took the call so
effectively into his breast that the superiors, employing him in that
exercise, ordered him to become sub-prior. He was afterward prior
of Masinglo, and lastly of Dinai. In the exercise of those duties,
he was careful to employ all his strength in caring for the sheep
reduced to the flock of the church. He went through the Calamianes
Islands, preaching, converting, and confirming those converted in the
faith. And as his cares were prodigious, and he became weakened by
his hardships, his strength failed him; tired out, he became sick,
and died on a desert beach, without any human presence. However the
divine presence would not fail him. Happy soldier, whom death overtook
while fighting in the campaign of the Church of God!
Let us give a companion to this father, and let him be father Fray
Juan de la Anunciacion. He was born in Madrid, in the parish of
San Gines. His parents were Diego del Castillo and Felipa Manuel de
Benavides. He took our holy habit in the year 1613, while father Fray
Juan Bautista Altaraque was master of novitiates. He professed the
following year under father Fray Augustin de San Gabriel, prior of
the convent of the said town. He went to the Indias, being desirous of
employing his life in the service of God and the welfare of souls. He
thoroughly understood the languages of the Indians. Entering the
rudest of the islands, he preached with great fervor, and converted
many heathen. He spent some years in that employment, and finally his
life, without anyone being present at his death. He died worn out,
and for lack of nourishment. He lived much, since as long as life
lasted for him he employed it in the service of the holy church and
the conversion of the infidels. His body was found and very reverently
given honorable burial.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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