The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume 32, 1640: 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.Aduarte, Diego
History
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898: Volume 32, 1640: 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.
Aduarte, Diego
Demarcation line of Alexander VI; Missions -- Philippines; Philippines -- Discovery and exploration; Philippines -- History -- Sources
the college of Sancto Thomas at Manila, which he did obediently,
putting aside his desire to go to Japon. That he might have more
time and ease in the holy exercise of prayer, he never undressed at
night during the last twenty years of his life, but slept seated in a
chair. This country is infested with multitudes of annoying mosquitos;
but he did not take advantage of the common means of preventing them,
which is a tent, something permitted to all the religious. He would
not accept one, but offered to the Lord the stings of the gnats, which
is no small mortification and penance. It was no wonder that he paid
small attention to the stings of mosquitos, as he often wore next to
his skin a girdle bearing fifteen rosettes in honor of our Lady of
the Rosary and her fifteen mysteries, with points so sharp that they
drew blood when they were touched with the finger. Besides this he
wore an iron chain, which was kept bright by wear and gleamed as if it
were polished; and in addition to all these things he sometimes wore
next his skin a hair shirt, with points of iron so cruel and large
that the mere sight of them shocked some religious who happened to
see them, as being the most severe thing that they had ever seen in
their lives. He was most abstinent, full of devotion for the mass,
and above measure humble. He was also very kind and gentle, especially
to repentant sinners. He was scarcely a year in this province when
his ardent desire to go to Japon was finally gratified.
Father Fray Miguel de Ozaraza was a native of Vizcaya; and because
of his virtues, devotion, and prudence he was much beloved in the
convent of Sancto Thomas at Madrid, where he lived for some years
in great quiet, with all the comfort that a good religious could
desire. But as many laymen have been moved by the desire of worldly
riches to leave their comforts in España and to go to the Indias,
so the desire for spiritual profit caused father Fray Miguel to come
to this most distant part of the world. He was very industrious,
and skilful in the management of business; and had much to do
with the management of the affairs of the shipload of religious
with which it was intended to begin the new congregation. When he
came to the province, and more clearly understood the condition of
affairs here, he left the congregation and was incorporated into the
province. For this he obtained the reward of martyrdom for which he
sought. No opportunity for him to go to Japon immediately offering,
he was directed to learn an Indian language, and to minister to the
Indians; this he did with humble obedience, not looking down upon
this despised ministry. At the same time he studied the Japanese
language. His fortitude in martyrdom was supernatural and divine.]
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