The Philippine Islands, 1493-1803; explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the Catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commericial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the beginning of the nineteenth century; [Vol. 1, no. 13]

1604-1605] CHIRINO'S RELATION 8 I
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 thanks to God our Lord for
having brought me to that place for the great good
of so many souls. Certain persons assured me that
they had never before seen the like. We continued
to hear the confessions, so that they might be better
prepared for Easter. Certainly, had I to purchase
by dint of toil those moments of consolation, when I
was administering to each one the sacrament of communion and seemed Ito read his very heart, a thousand journeys from Espafia were little to give for
that. I was to go on the fourth day of Easter, but
that was impossible, for with earnest solicitations
they entreated me to remain - and some, moreover,
had not finished their confessions; it was therefore
necessary to wait until Sunday. On that day we
effected a reconciliation between the murderer and
the adulteress, who embraced and pardoned each
other and made their confession with much devotion.
On Monday morning I was obliged, on account of
my departure, to say mass shortly after two o'clock;
and yet the service was not so secret as to prevent
them from attending it, all being present, and manifesting great devotion. With tears and words they
expressed their great regret at my departure, and
made me promise that I would soon return to console them; and with this I came away, glorifying the
Lord. I left, in process of erection, a little hospital
for the sick and poor, which all aided with charitable
offerings and personal attendance. Glory be to our
Lord Jesus Christ, from whom proceed all things."