by Father Alonso
Rodriguez, who went there to hold a mission. What he accomplished in
the few days that he could spend among them he himself relates in a
letter, a section of which is as follows: "We held a mission at Paloc;
and the method of teaching the doctrine by decurias [8] so aroused the
enthusiasm of all that within ten days many learned the prayers and
gained all the knowledge necessary for baptism. Such was the emulation
among them that their prayers never ceased--at night, in their homes;
and by day, in the church. As a result, on the feast of the glorious
St. Joseph I baptized fifty adults, among them the most prominent
persons of this village. To see their leaders already Christians is
a strong incentive for the others to follow these. From many others I
withheld baptism, as it was necessary to investigate their marriages,
and this could not be done on account of the absence of the persons
concerned. Of these latter there is a considerable number, but I trust
in our Lord that within a few days not a man will remain unbaptized
in this village; for already they are all catechumens and attend
the church. At the same time I baptized also fifty children." The
father proceeds to relate other devout exercises of those Christians,
which I do not repeat here, as they are similar to those which I have
recounted of others. Afterward, Father Juan de Torres held another
mission in the same town, and our Lord made him joyful by granting
him another rich haul, when he cast from the pulpit the net of the
word of God, in order to fish for souls. This was a chief, one of the
most powerful in that district; in imitation of the chiefs of Botuan
(although ignorant of what they had done), he arose like them in the
congregation, and after earnestly asking for baptism, began then and
there his preparation--by publicly asking pardon of all those whom he
might have wronged, and offering full satisfaction, whatever might be
the amount of his obligation; and (an act of much greater importance),
by putting away one of his two wives. Through this the Spirit of truth,
[9] which is uniform, swayed the hearts of the others to be like
this man's, and brought them, most efficaciously and harmoniously,
under the gentle yoke of Christ, although he and they were so far
away. But inasmuch as this divine Spirit is present in all places,
in all alike it operates as if they were but one, its strength and
power being subtly and efficaciously active.