advised him to have faith in
our Lord and confidence in the virtue of the holy Agnus Dei--making
known to him the favors which our Lord has granted to men, and the
miracles which He has wrought through the efficacy of this holy relic;
he then placed an Agnus Dei on the Indian's neck. From that very moment
the latter felt relieved, and our Lord, in order to show that He had
granted that favor by means of the holy relic, caused him, whenever
the emblem was removed from his neck, even for a short time, to lose
at once his reason, and go astray. The Indian himself stated that, as
soon as it was removed, he lost his wits and had no control of himself,
but that when wearing it his mind was quite calm; so he gave many
thanks to our Lord, and related the efficacy of the holy Agnus Dei.
Some notable incidents that happened in the city of Santissimo Nombre
de Jesus. Chapter LIV.
The fortunate arrival at this city of the father-visitor occurred in
Lent of the year one thousand six hundred. Although he increased the
number of our fathers in that city, he realized that their labors
among the Chinese were a hindrance to their work among the Indians;
he therefore entreated the right reverend bishop of that city to
place the Chinese in the care of some other order, which his Lordship
did. By this measure our fathers had less responsibility, but were
not less occupied; for, not to mention the other peoples who, as I
have said, resort to this port, the Bissayans alone kept six fathers
so busy during Lent that the people hardly left them alone by day
or by night. Nevertheless, so great is the need, and at the same
time the scarcity, of the bread of divine truth, for lack of those
who may distribute it, that many people dwelling very near the city
die in this hunger and cannot be assisted; for although the right
reverend bishop of Sebu and the few priests who are under him do much,
and the fathers of St. Augustine much more, neither the former nor
the latter suffice for the care of so many children. After Lent and
Easter, one of the fathers visited, by way of recreation (for such
are the vacations which they enjoy there), some pagan villages which
are about six leguas from the city. He remained there eight days,
which gave him opportunity for the usual occupations. Although the
time was very short, our Lord was served by some good results; for
the father found many Christians who, through lack of teaching and
their constant asso
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