g groves and in laying out gardens, and was
anxious that silk should be produced in the islands, hoping thus to
retain there for their benefit the money which was going to China,
and thus to secure their prosperity. To this end he planted mulberry
trees, and was active in other ways, even constructing a loom,
and teaching the Indians to weave in the European fashion. He was
accustomed to say that the highest form of prayer was that which most
inclines one to self-mortification; and he so practiced this that his
own life was a perpetual mortification. He taught this in the house
and elsewhere; and in his own exercises he could not use any other
method than mortification. His sermons were all on fear, judgment,
and condemnation. He said that this was what the world needed; and he
was not mistaken, for in truth he accomplished great results through
this teaching. One of his hearers, who was once praising to me his
instruction, repeated an expression which the father often used,
and which had deeply impressed him: "There [_i.e.,_ "in the other
world?"] you will understand it," he would say with wonderful truth and
force. In our household intercourse with him, he would assert that he
who aspires to perfection must be convinced that the pleasures of food,
drink, the couch, idleness, and the like, are not for him. All this,
however, he did not urge by force, but rather taught it in a kindly
manner, and gently guiding each one according to the strength which
God had given him--although he said that God gave strength to all in
proportion to their courage in working and suffering for His love. He
also said that one should die rather than commit the slightest venial
sin; and in his own case he was so rigid in this respect that at
times it seemed excess of scruple. His life was certainly most pure,
and his death like unto his life. During his illness we all admired
his great patience and resignation in the hands of God.

Father Antonio Pereira used to say that he often visited him in order
that he might profit and be edified by so admirable an example. The
day when he died, we had already noticed in the morning that extreme
unction should not be any longer withheld from him; and so I prepared
him to receive it, telling him that it seemed to be time. He raised
his eyes and hands toward heaven with great devotion, exclaiming:
"To pass to eternity!" With this he became lost in thought, spoke not
another word, and, receiving with much