Brief of Sixtus V

Erection of the custodia of the Discalced Franciscans in the
Philippines into a province

Sixtus V, Pope:

In perpetual remembrance of the affair.

While with our mental vision we regard the fruitful results, which,
with the aid of God, religious persons--especially the Friars Minor
of Observance [56] known as "Discalced" ["barefoot"], of the custodia
of St. Gregory in the Philippine Islands of the Western Indias--are
zealously gathering by their own toil, as so many workmen in the field
of the Lord, busy for the glory of God and the spiritual health of
peoples dwelling in those very remote regions so far away from us,
we think it right--nay, even their due--that we should graciously
impart the favor of our apostolic love for their comfort and increase.

In truth, our very dear son in Christ, Philip, Catholic king of
the Spains--in his own name, as well as in that of our beloved sons
the guardian and the other brethren of the custodia of St. Gregory
in the aforesaid islands--has represented to us, that the brethren
of the province of St. Joseph of the same order, established in the
kingdoms of the Spains, whereon the aforesaid custodia of St. Gregory
was dependent, in chapter held lately in the town of Cadahalso,
in the diocese of Toledo, prudently being of opinion that they no
longer could maintain the said custodia otherwise than with notable
loss ... unless the aforesaid custodia were erected into a province,
resolved that they should humbly petition us to deign of our apostolic
bounty to confer the title of province on the aforesaid custodia,
and provide whatever else might be needed in the premises.

Accordingly, as we have learned also through information from our
beloved son, Francis Gonzaga, minister-general of the whole Order of
Observance, that no prejudice will be occasioned to anyone by reason
of this erection of the said custodia; nor will the fathers thereof
under due regular observance, to their own great advantage, cease to
render grateful service to the Lord--wishing to decorate them with
worthy favors ... nor indisposed to hearken to their plea, by our
apostolic authority, and in virtue of these presents, we do erect
and establish the aforesaid custodia of St. Gregory, hereafter to be
called "the Province of the Discalced Friars of St. Gregory," in the
Philippine Islands, to be ruled and governed henceforth by a minister
provincial. He shall be chosen by the brethren of t