The venerable father Fray Bartolome de Nieva, and brother Fray Pedro
Rodriguez
[Death fell heavily upon our fathers in this year, seizing the best on
every side. In Manila it cut short the thread of the life of father
Fray Bartolome de Nieva. Father Fray Bartolome was a native of Nieva
in Castilla la Vieja. While still a layman, he went to the Indias in
the search for wealth. He spent some years in Mexico; and in spite of
the great wealth of that country, the luxury of life there, and the
agreeable climate, he could not be satisfied or find peace. Hence he
determined to change his course of life, that he might find the calm
for which he sought. Though he was already a grown man, he became
a child in following the duties of a religious order. He assumed
the habit in the convent of Sancto Domingo in that illustrious
city, and began not only upon the elements of the religious life,
but upon those of grammar. He did well in the studies of arts and
theology, and by the aid of the Lord he came forth a religious of
great spiritual qualities--prayer, penitence, and prudence, both
spiritual and temporal. He joined a company of religious who passed
through Mexico in the year 1594, on their way to the Philippinas. He
was too old to learn the language of the Indians, but he accompanied
the brother who taught and baptized the Chinese in the hospital for
that people; and thus assisted the other minister, whose duty it was to
live in the hospital. When he determined to go to the Philippinas his
companions in Mexico strove to prevent him, because he suffered from
several infirmities, and the labors in the Philippinas were known to
be very severe. The Lord, however, gave signs that He desired him to
go. He showed especial devotion to the holy Virgin and was a useful
and devoted minister. The Lord gave father Fray Bartolome wonderful
powers of spiritual conversation, and of insight into character; and
even some powers of prophecy, of which a number of illustrations are
given. Through him the Lord healed not a few sick. A letter of his is
reported at length, in which he incites a sinner to give up his evil
way of life, and shows a knowledge of the man's heart which could only
have been given him by God. Other instances of the same sort are cited
and an account of the holy death of father Fray Bartolome is given.
At the same time there died brother Fray Pedro Rodriguez, a companion
of the first founders of this province. He was most closely associated
with those who taught and baptized the Chinese. During his whole life
he had sole charge of the temporal affairs of the hospital. Father Fray
Pedro was not content with receiving those who came, but had persons
to inform him if there were any sick in the orchards or quarries, or
other places where the Chinese who live about Manila were gathered for
work; and immediately sent to have them brought to the hospital. He
often went in person to bring them, and, no matter how offensive or
disgusting their diseases, he cared for them with his own hands. He
waited upon them at all hours of the day and night, caring for
their bodies; and he strove to teach them the things necessary for
the salvation of their souls, as soon as their sickness gave him an
opportunity. He suffered greatly from asthma; but, in spite of this
affliction, he constantly employed the discipline of stripes--not
upon his flesh, for he had none, but upon his bones, which were
covered with nothing but skin; insomuch that some Spaniards came to
look at him, regarding it as a marvel that such a living image of
death should be able to stand. His head was like a skull with eyes
in it, but so sunken that it seemed almost as if he had none. The
truth is that he ate no more than sufficient to sustain him in this
condition; yet he was so attentive and careful to provide dainty food
for a sick man that the religious were sent there to him during their
convalescence. He had no greater pleasure than this and his unexpected
success in converting some heathen. The Lord provided him with these
pleasures, which served him as food and drink to sustain his life. To
the two hours of mental prayer observed in the whole province he added
two others daily, continuing them after that which follows matins,
and prolonging them till dawn. As soon as daylight appeared he left
the work of Mary to go to that of Martha in caring for his sick,
giving them breakfast after their own custom--which is followed in
all the care that is given them, and in everything done for them. In
spite of all these labors he thought so humbly of himself that one
day when a religious heard him uttering heavy groans and deep sighs,
and asked the cause, being unable to refrain from doing so, Fray Pedro
answered that it was because he was so evil that, though he had so many
times prayed to the Lord for a trifle of His love and charity, he had
not gained it. The superior desired to try him as to his obedience;
and seeing that he labored with such delight at the hospital, and
took such joy in serving the sick, he determined to find out if there
were some self-love hidden in all this. He therefore directed him to
leave the hospital, and to come to the city and take up the office of
sacristan in the convent. Fray Pedro immediately obeyed, and, going
into the sacristy which was entrusted to him, he fulfilled his duty
with cleanliness, neatness, and good grace in all things, just as if
he had exercised it all his life, and had never been occupied with
the other. He was accordingly directed to return to the hospital,
where he was more needed. The governor, Don Juan de Silva, went to
visit the hospital; and when he saw this brother with nothing but
bones and skin, and when he heard the things which they said of him,
he felt such reverence for him that he kissed his hand, and offered him
his favor for all things of which his hospital had need, and arranged
to grant him all that he wished, for the governor looked upon him
and venerated him as a saint. At the time of his death, about three
thousand who had died in the hospital had received baptism. In the
intermediate chapter which took place in the following year honorable
mention was made of this religious.]