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. 44]

I IO

THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS

[Vol. 44

before the image, and the members of the congregation say the responses; and afterwards he makes an
address to them; or a book of devotion, or the rules,
or the indulgences, are read aloud; or the list of
saints for the month is announced, according to their
proper place on the calendar. There are some persons who frequent the sacraments during the year,
confessing and receiving communion on the most
solemn days of the year, especially on the feast-days
of the Virgin, and before a marriage is solemnized;
and it is a custom often practiced among the Indians
to confess and receive communion on one's saint's
day. In the afternoon those who have received communion go to the church for a short season of prayer.
When the women approach the time of childbirth,
they confess and receive communion, and remain in
the village. Thus an Indian hardly ever dies without the sacraments, except by some sudden fatal accident; for at the instance of the ministers the people
are instructed to summon the father as soon as any
one becomes dangerously ill. Many Indians hear
mass every day; recite the rosary in concert in their
houses, on the streets, and while they are sailing;
say the litanies, and sing with most delightful harmony the Salve, the praises of God and of His
mother resounding in every direction. They offer
to the Church the first-fruits of their products; and
carry the images, the shrouds, and other things to
bless the seed-sowing. After childbirth, they offer
the infants to the Virgin on Saturday, and receive
the benediction. They order masses to be said for
the souls in purgatory, and present candles and other
offerings to the Virgin and the saints. They furnish
light at mass with lighted tapers, give food to the