a, they succeed in this with difficulty. For
lack of workers, they are often obliged to entrust the administration
of many villages to one person, and sometimes to abandon districts in
toto. Then how can three be presented for each ministry when there
is scarcely one for each mission? Besides, since there are so many
languages, there is no order which does not minister in four or five
languages; and although all of them apply themselves to the study
of the languages, few attain them so perfectly that they can explain
entirely the height of the mysteries of our holy faith; and since there
are so many missions, what order can present three times the number of
ministers who will worthily serve the missions? Let us suppose a case
also where there would be a sufficient number of capable religious. On
that account there would be no assurance of better results; for
of the three who would be presented, it is possible that the least
capable would be chosen, as there would be no accurate information
of his being less competent. That would be known better within his
own order, where by continual intercourse it is learned who is most
suitable for the ministry. Besides that, there might be a religious
whom it would be proper to retire because of his demerits, but by
virtue of the fact that the prelates have to present three religious
for each mission, they are obliged to include him in the presentation
for the sole purpose of completing the number. Who will prevent a
froward one from slandering the electors, discrediting the worthy,
and gaining the favor of friends and relatives by putting forth all
his efforts to attain the desired liberty in order to escape from the
observance and the cloister? Oh, beginning so full of troubles! If
one had to describe all the troubles, it would be necessary to use
much paper. Let the above suffice, so that it may be recognized that
the reason why the holy orders resist subjection to the bishops is
not so much for the sake of preserving their authority, as because
they see the grave dangers that must ensue for them. Finally, they
exercise their right in that, of which no one can complain, for they
are doing wrong to no one.

Sec. III

Continuation of the matter of the preceding section, with especial
bearing on our discalced Recollect branch.

737. The reasons thus far advanced touch all the orders in common. Let
us now pass on to speak of our own in particular. There is no doubt
that St.