_The third provincial chapter is held; and after the election a not
slight danger assails the Reform. The first convent of Manila is
moved inside the walls_.
[The first section of this chapter deals with affairs of the Recollect
order in Spain. The third election of provincial results in the choice
of father Fray Gregorio de Santa Catalina. Dissensions immediately
break out in the ranks of the religious, which are engineered by
the retiring provincial, father Fray Joan Baptista. The schism
results in the suppression of the order by a bull of Paul V, and
its absorption into the calced Augustinian ranks. Various influences
are set afoot, however, by those devoted to the Reform, and the new
provincial prepares to go to Rome to entreat the pope to reconsider
the suppression. The second section deals with the]
_Removal of the convent of Manila_
In order to divert the grief of Ours in España for a moment, the
need of referring to the removal of the convent of San Nicolas of
Manila from its location outside the walls (which is now the college
of San Joan Baptista, as above stated) to the other site, within the
enclosure, where now is the glorious capital of the most religious
province of the Philippinas Islands--is interpolated. The credit
acquired by the good founders in a short time was vast, by means
of their exemplary life, and the zeal that they had manifested in
the reduction and conversion of the infidels. They had shed abroad
in all directions the light and splendor of their virtues, and very
especially of their voluntary poverty and abstraction from temporal
things, contenting themselves with but very little, and coveting, at
the most, the attainment of permanent blessings and riches. They won
many persons for God in that city by means of their holy instructions,
and taught them the true way, which very few court. By that course
they made themselves so much masters of the good-will of all that
the people begged them unanimously that they should enter a more
comfortable place--but without abandoning that place, because its
preservation was so useful for the welfare of as many souls as lived
in those suburbs and environs, so that nobles and plebeians might
enjoy the spiritual food that the fathers so promptly distributed to
them. Besides, it seemed unavoidable to do that, so that they might
be more secure and better guarded, whatever happened, because of the
continual and sudden attacks of the Japanese, Chinese, and Sangley
enemies, who are wont to attack those suburbs with courage. Father
Fray Joan de San Geronimo assented to the prayers of the faithful,
and the not little convenience of his own associates; and accordingly,
aided by the alms that were given him, he bought certain small houses,
near to a site where many years ago the artillery was founded. That
site was also given him at the end of the year by Governor Don Joan de
Silva. The opposition of some was not wanting, although that convent
was so desired and applauded. However, that opposition soon ended;
and our religious endured it with signal austerity for many days,
until the very noble gentleman and master-of-camp, Don Bernardino del
Castillo Ribera y Maldonado--a native of Mexico, castellan of the fort,
and regidor of the city--together with his very virtuous wife, Doña
Maria Enriquez de Cespedes, through the devotion that they bore to our
institute and to the holy neo-thaumaturgus Nicolàs de Tolentino (at
whose intercession a son was born to him, who died shortly afterward,
the same lady having petitioned our glorious father to negotiate
with God so that that son might not live if he were to grow up bad
and a sinner), assumed the patronage of the church and convent. He
immediately erected a fine building of cut stone, the cost of which
exceeded one hundred thousand pesos. In addition to that, he assigned
it a suitable income--not for the support of the religious, for at
that time it was not the custom for Ours to accept such; but for the
necessary repairs that had to be made later.
At the conclusion of the work, it was our Lord's pleasure to grant
him a very pious death, prepared, among his many alms, by actions
and customs more resembling those of a perfect religious man of an
arrogant and merry soldier. The religious buried him as if in his
own house, displaying on his honorable tomb the memory of his deeds;
and erecting monuments afterward to him and to his consort in a very
fitting niche, as well as suitable proclamations of thankfulness that
Ours published. He left the devotion of the great titular saint,
whom he greatly loved, well established; consequently, by means of
his authority, the city chose the saint as patron, and decreed that
his day should be celebrated, and that the city should attend in the
form of its cabildo, which has always been done. Governor Don Alonso
Faxardo, governor of the islands, our illustrious benefactor--who gave
us permission, as far as the royal patronage is concerned, to preach
the gospel in the provinces of Butuàn and Caràgha, together with
the islands of Cuyo and Calamiànes--was also buried there. From that
permission have resulted so great increase in numbers to the Church,
and great honors to our Recollect order. Likewise the governor's wife,
Doña Catalina Zambrano, and others--auditors and officials of the
Chancillería, and many noble gentlemen--keep him company there. A
notable confraternity has been founded in that church, called the
Nazarenos [_i.e._, the Nazarines"], so that on the night of Holy
Thursday they march through the streets in a most devout procession,
just as they are accustomed to do in the kingdoms of Castilla.
Among the most revered images of those islands is reckoned that of the
holy Christ, which is called "the Christ of humility and patience,"
which was lately placed in the right side chapel. Licentiate Joan
de Araùz, cura and beneficiary of the parish church in the city of
Mexico, gave it, and with it a treasure of favors and concessions to
Manila. That image is very natural, and of the best manufacture that
has been known in those remote hemispheres. He manifests himself to the
sight, seated on a rock, with his cheek resting on his hand; and the
sight of him moves the hard heart of the most abandoned to trembling
and devotion. The religious took it aboard at Acapulco in solemn
procession, all of them hoping to arrive safe with so good company,
as happened. Accordingly, as soon as they cast anchor, they carried
that image to the college of San Joan Baptista, so that it might be
lodged until the necessary arrangements were made for the festival
of its entrance. The festival was at last effected after the lapse
of many days, and it was one of the celebrated festivals that have
been seen and admired, both in its pomp and in the concourse that
collected from all parts because of the fame of the image. It was
placed first in the cathedral church, and next day, a very momentous
procession having been ordained, they carried it thence to the convent,
where the beginning was made and the conclusion given to a magnificent
novena. The divine mercy showed its favors very frequently to those who
petitioned it for aid in their troubles with a true and living faith.
There is another image of our Lady, called "Consolation," because of
the great consolation that those who are afflicted find in it, when
they are most exhausted. Her devotion commenced from the time of the
entrance of our Reform into the islands; and it has been continued
by means of the favors that she scatters in protection of those who
commend themselves to her by invoking her aid. Our patrons had a most
singular affection for her, and therefore they left a clause by which
a mass was to be sung for their souls in all the festivities of the
most blessed Mary. They offered her many gold jewels and articles
of richest clothing, that testified the love with which they humbly
surrendered to the vassalage due to her. Father Fray Antonio de San
Augustin [38] encouraged greatly the worship and veneration of that
sacred and miraculous image, and received instant pay and wages for
his labor. For when he was about to die (the candle being already
in his hand), without anyone perceiving it or having hope of it he
recovered his senses, and talked to those present who were watching
him and assisting him, to the astonishment of all the physicians,
who regarded him as a dead man. He declared what had happened, and
said that having offered in his heart his vows at the feet of the
said Virgin, when he was almost dead, as was thought, he heard her
near him talking to him, together with St. Nicolás de Tolentino;
and she graciously revivified him, saying that he was not to die
from that illness. That was a fact, for within a few days he arose,
just as if he had not been at the gates of death.
The third image that illumines and ennobles that convent is that of
the famous titular saint, Nicolàs de Tolentino. He has chosen to make
himself known in those remote regions as much as in the other regions
of Christendom, by means of the continual prodigies and marvels that he
works there. A great volume might be written of those that have been
seen in Manila alone, and a greater volume of those outside. Suffice
it to say that, because of his having appeared to the sailors in
their greatest straits and troubles, they have all unanimously taken
him as their patron. The glorious saint rewards their pious devotion
by lofty marvels, and does not discontinue for all that to work them
very frequently on land--for which both the Spaniards and the Indians
of the Philippinas Islands venerate him as a refuge, in whom they
consider their relief very sure.
Strong religious have gone out from that very strict house to combat
the power of the devil, in order to remove his yoke from many souls,
as we shall see in the time of reporting their deeds of valor.
[The chapter concludes with the pious deaths of Fathers Andrès de
San Joseph, Diego de Santa Ana, and Gaspar de la Madre de Dios, and
of Brother Simon de San Augustin, all of whose bodies were buried in
the Manila convent. [39]]