after the flocks of the heathen were gathered in one place they were
converted to God with such earnestness, so completely without pretense,
that I can say nothing else than that God their Maker and Redeemer
has desired by some peculiar favor in their calling to add them to
His flock--inasmuch as within two months two thousand mortals have
yielded themselves to the laws and customs of Christ, by accepting
baptism. And it is my opinion that, if some fathers are ready,
the whole of them will accept the yoke of Christ. It is beyond the
power of language to tell with what spiritual joy I am affected when
I see men who are almost savages of the forests hastening down from
the mountains to supplicate the benefits of baptism. Nay, the very
children, like to angels, taught by I know not whom, now repeat the
Christian faith. Indeed, a few days ago one came to me not ignorant
of his catechism, whom I had not seen for ten years, and with great
earnestness begged me not to refuse to baptize him. The catalons,
or priests of the idols, also come, and show by so many proofs that
they desire baptism with all their hearts, that it is necessary
to satisfy their desires. Truly, my Father, I abound in delight,
I rejoice, I exult; nor is there anything in this world set before
me than to serve our Lord God with all my heart, and to desire that
all should be turned to the worship of His Divine Majesty. On Sunday,
in church and elsewhere, there were counted seven hundred persons. If
your Reverence were to see at sunset a hundred mountain boys and girls
who have been newly added to Christ marching in procession along the
bank of the river, praising God in harmony and chanting all together
the Christian faith, he could not help dissolving in tears of joy. A
few days ago in Dita five hundred were purified with holy baptism. Thus
in the whole region of Bohol we may now easily count three thousand
Christians. At the beginning there were only eight hundred; now,
by the accession of a new blessing of God, twice thirteen hundred
have been added in baptism."

With regard to another brief mission undertaken by a priest, the
same Father writes as follows: "God adorns and enriches this Tobigon
[42] people with so many heavenly gifts that I do not dare depart
hence, and break the thread of our most happy progress. The church
is filled with people morning and evening; no one is anxious about
food, although they may not have it, or may have to bring it from