nd preaching; and very
many frequented the communion. One of these was at the foundation
of a confraternity; the other was occasioned by a plague of locusts
which had been devastating all those islands for two years. In order
to obtain from God a remedy for this evil, they chose the most holy
Virgin Mary as their intercessor, and made a vow to celebrate the feast
of her most pure conception, and to give on that occasion liberal alms
as aid for the marriages of the poor and the orphans. They fulfilled
their promises, and our Lord received their humble tokens of service
and showed them that He was well pleased, by turning aside the locusts
from their crops, and giving them that year very abundant harvests. All
the people of the village have now directed to the church that recourse
and dependence which they formerly exercised toward the ministers of
the devil; and, consequently, when they experience any ill, however
trifling it maybe, they summon the father to hear their confessions,
or to have the gospel recited to them. Hardly a day passes, while their
sickness lasts, when they do not cause themselves to be conveyed to
the church, at the time of mass; and when that is ended they approach
the priest, to have him recite the gospel and sprinkle them with holy
water. Sometimes there are so many of them that, when the priest has
done this for them, he is compelled to wait until they go away before
he can leave the altar. They also carry first to the church whatever
grain or seeds they are about to sow, to have these blessed, in return
for which they offer the priest the first-fruits of their harvests.

The leading events in the city of Santissimo Nombre de Jesus. Chapter
XXXXI.

As a result of the favors bestowed upon the six resident members of the
Society by the right reverend bishop of Sebu, Don Fray Pedro de Agurto,
a religious of the Order of St. Augustine (who entered this year
into his church and erected it into a cathedral), the fruits of our
ministries were at this time most abundant and prosperous. As I have
already stated, these were exercised among the various nationalities
who inhabit that city, or who resort thither from various regions for
their business and traffic. Likewise, at the instance of his lordship,
a school of Latin was opened in our college for his servants and
clergy, who were joined by the sons of some of the citizens. This
school was not only a common and general benefit, but also very use