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]

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THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. I3

were devoutly reciting it, a young man fortunately
(or rather through the singular providence and
mercy of God) descried shoals from the maintop
and immediately began to shout a warning. With
that the crew- although everyone was agitated and
fearful lest, with the freshening of the wind, they
would be driven upon the shoals - hastened, some to
the sails, ropes, and rigging, others to the helm, and
the pilot to direct the ship's course. Our fathers,
meanwhile, repaired to their quarters and berths to
invoke the most blessed Virgin, to call upon God,
and to pray for the intercession of the saints - all of
them especially invoking that of blessed Father Ignacio,' a relic of whom the father-visitor carried with
him. Showing this to his companions while the rest
were busied in the other occupations, he augmented
the fervor with which they cried to heaven, and at the
same time their confidence that by means of that holy
relic our Lord would deliver them from their danger. And so He did; for, upon steering so as to direct
the vessel to one side, to avoid the shoals, the vessel,
in spite of their efforts, would not obey, but, turning
in the other direction, doubled the shoals. If their
attempt to steer had been successful, not only could
they not have passed the shoals, but they would have
drifted hopelessly upon them; but, as it was,
the flagship was saved. Moreover, her lighted
lantern (for evening had already arrived) guided
the other ships, which followed behind her, through
the channel, and in this manner all of them were
saved.
Referring to Ignatius de Loyola (I491-I556), the founder of
the Jesuit order, and afterward a saint; he is here mentioned as
" blessed," as he was not canonized until 1622.