[The chapter closes with several miraculous occurrences and pious observations that emphasize the grandeur of the Christian religion. These marvels are interspersed with other matter as follows:]
During the triennium of our father Fray Alonso de Méntrida, the sending of a religious to Maluco was discontinued, and the convent of Cavite was completely abandoned. It must have been the opinion of grave fathers that that was not of importance. Many things are kept, which although they are of no use at the present time, are at least preserved for the hopes which are entertained that they will be useful in the future, and that they will prove of advantage. No notice was taken of that, for four eyes are worth more than two; and what has appeared in one way to me may appear to others in an entirely different light. Hence I shall leave the discussion of this matter.
In the first part of the year 1629, the most holy sacrament was found missing from the altar of the cathedral of Manila.
It was a thing that troubled all greatly; but it most troubled the archbishop of Manila. The greatest and most painstaking efforts imaginable were made. Many were arrested, and put to severe torture; and, for many months, no other efforts were made than to ascertain whether the aggressor could be discovered by any manner or means. But that one was never found, nor could they discover who stole it, nor what was done with it. The archbishop retired to San Francisco del Monte, which is a convent of the religious of our father St. Francis, who spend their lives there in the contemplative life with notable perfection and spirituality. There then our archbishop took refuge, and spent many days in other similar works, furnishing an example to all the country; and although it is true that he was always an example during all his life, he seems on this occasion to have redoubled his acts of penitence—praying God, as a truly contrite man, that, if that lamentable case and one so worthy of sorrow throughout the islands had happened through his omissions. He would pardon him and regard those sheep which had been committed to him with eyes of pity and kindness; and that he might not be the cause that their punishments be multiplied. He caused prayers to be said by the convents and parishes, noting that beyond doubt the sins of the people were great, since the Lord was working against them and permitted that the sacrament be taken from its place and dwelling in so sacrilegious a manner. For no less in the present desecration than in that which these sacrilegious Jews practiced toward our Lord in the garden, the gravity of the sin is recognized, since He allows such treatment. And no less is the love recognized which He has for us, accepting and receiving to Himself the insults which He does not wish to fall upon His people—like the pious mother who shielded the dear body of her son, whom she loved, with her own, so that the tyrant might not wound him, preferring the welfare of her son to her own.
Chapter XLII
Of the election of our father Fray Juan de Henao
Our father Fray Francisco Bonifacio, with the mildness which we have seen, with which he began and divided his government, ended it with the same, not leaving any religious any ground for complaint. For he loved them all equally, and equally strove for their spiritual welfare, acting toward them in every respect as a true father and shepherd. He had cast his eyes on father Fray Jerónimo de Medrano as his successor. The latter was then definitor, and he was a person of great talent for what the office requires, and had preached at Manila in a very satisfactory manner. But since there are so many different understandings in a province, all men cannot judge of a thing by the same method, for every one feels regarding it as his own judgment dictates. Consequently, there was a following which tried to elect father Fray Francisco Coronel, a man of vast learning, and of whom very great hopes were entertained for the future. But that following never could gain the full game, nor even check the other faction. Thereupon they settled on a scheme which did not succeed badly, and that was to cast their votes for our father Fray Juan de Henao, who belonged to the other faction, and had the father president on his side. By this means, the election was conferred upon the man who was least expected [to gain it]. One would believe that the Lord chose to give him therein the dignity which He had taken from him six years before—the reader will remember what we have said about that.
At this time the fathers born in the Indias, although they were few, had obtained a bull from his Holiness, so that between them and the fathers from Castilla there should be alternation [in the celebration of Corpus Christi]. Its execution was committed to the archdean of Manila, Alonso García, a creole, who was much inclined to it. Accordingly he proceeded without allowing any appeal or argument, although those presented by the Castilian fathers were very cogent. Finally he proceeded to extreme measures, by declaring the fathers excommunicated. Here the province refused to admit the letters of excommunication. Finally, our father Henao was elected in this contention, with father Fray Estéban de Peralta acting as presiding officer of the chapter. The definitors elected were: father Fray Juan de Tapia; the second, Fray Juan de Medina; the third, Fray Nicolás de Herrera;[75] and the fourth, Fray Martín de Errasti.[76] The visitors were father Fray Jerónimo Medrano and father Fray Cristóbal de Miranda.[77]
The father provincial and the other father definitors looked after the affairs of the province with great prudence, and discussed the most important matter of that time—namely, the choice of a person to go to the court of Roma to represent the causes which had moved them not to accept the alternation, giving him the money for expenses which the other fathers are accustomed to carry, with additional pay, and as the case required. The father master, Fray Pedro García, was selected for that purpose. He was the brother of the archbishop and a person of great talent and resources, who would be well received anywhere because of his person, learning, and excellent mode of procedure. But the Lord was pleased not to allow him to reach Nueva España. The creole fathers also requested that permission be granted to them, for they wished to send a procurator on their own account; and their request was granted. Accordingly they sent father Fray Alonso de Figueroa,[78] a person of much ability, and the most suitable that could be selected among the men of his following.
Father Fray Hernando de Cabrera, an admirable minister of the Tagalos, of whom we have already spoken, asked for leave to go to España. Together with the father master, Fray Pedro García, he took passage on the flagship “San Juan,” a new ship whose first voyage this was. Aboard it was Don Fernando de Silva, who had governed these islands, four procurators for the city of Manila, who were being sent to look after the property of the citizens, on account of unfair dealings by those of Nueva España in the returns made for it [i.e., for goods exported thither from Manila]. Further, two fathers and a brother named Fray Juan de Peña took passage with them. Two of our religious embarked aboard the almiranta—father Fray Lorenzo [sic] de Figueroa as procurator of the creole fathers, and a brother named Fray Francisco de San Nicolás. They left the port of Cavite, August 4; they experienced considerable suffering, for the vendavals were blowing vigorously, and those winds make it difficult to get out of the bay. At last it was God’s good pleasure to give them weather which enabled them to make their voyage. In this line, on the return trip to Méjico, the ships do not sail in company, but each one takes the direction which is most expedient for it, relying on God, who will aid them. The storms were frightful. The almiranta suffered the most terrible voyage that ever ship has suffered. For after a few blasts they had to cut down the mast, and, when they reached thirty-six degrees, they lost their rudder. In such plight they agreed to return, suffering destructive hurricanes, so that, had not the ship been so staunch, it would have been swallowed up in the sea a thousand times. Finally God was pleased to have it return, as if by a miracle; and as such was it considered by all the inhabitants of Manila. The other vessel, being a new and larger ship, on perceiving the storm, went to a lower latitude. It continued to plow the sea, to the great discomfort of all, for it was six months on the voyage. The father master, Fray Pedro, died on that voyage, with so excellent an example that there was no one aboard the ship who was not edified. Father Cabrera also died with great piety, and like a devoted religious, as he was. The brother lived. Even the chaplain aboard the ship died. In all the dead numbered ninety-nine persons, who could have peopled a world. Those who arrived were in such condition that it was necessary to let them regain their strength in the port of Valdebanderas. The procurators on both sides had this lot, which was plainly that which occurred to all. But against the will of God there is no one who can go; what is important is, that His will be always done.