ort time before. They were all deeply moved, and resolved to ask me
for confession and the cure for their souls. In order that so rich a
prize should not be lost, I labored assiduously, preaching now to the
Spaniards, now to the Indians. On that Sunday I preached three sermons,
and tried, moreover, by special discourses to attract the headmen and
chiefs, explaining to them how they ought to make confession. When
they understood that I must go immediately after the first day of
Easter, they entreated me to remain, if only until the third day,
in order that they might make their confessions as they should. I
consented to this; and from that hour, all the people, Spaniards as
well as Indians, began to consecrate themselves with such devotion as
to make me ashamed. I did not lose this opportunity--now encouraging
and consoling them, now removing their difficulties, now instructing
them; and striving most heartily to assist them. The confessions began
before dawn, about four o'clock in the morning; and the people came
with general confessions for a whole life or for many years, uttering
them with tears and sobs. Indeed, it was necessary to loosen the reins
and encourage them, for it was not necessary to seek, as is usually
done, incentives to contrition and grief. During this mission some of
the Spaniards were obliged to go away to another islet; some of them,
in order not to lose this opportunity, hastened to confess, making up
for the shortness of the time allowed them by their great devotion;
others, who were deprived of even this satisfaction, deferred their
confessions until my return, to their own great sorrow and with holy
envy for those who remained. In truth, God knows best what went on in
those souls: what I can say is, that I have never seen such tears, or
conversions so sincere. There were persons who spent entire nights in
weeping, with the crucifix in their hands. During the Easter season
they were so withdrawn from worldly concerns that it seemed to be
Holy Friday; and they did not leave their houses except to go to
mass or to confer with me about the welfare of their souls. In their
silence and downcast looks, and the grief which they felt within,
they gave evidence of the mercies which our Lord had showed them, and
the light which He was bestowing upon them, as they went from and to
their houses. I experienced a thousand scruples in regard to calming
and satisfying their consciences; but I gave a thousand than