The arrival in the Philippines of the father-visitor, Diego Garcia, and how he began his visitation.  Chapter LI.

When affairs were in the condition which we have described, the father-visitor, Diego Garcia, very opportunely arrived in the islands, with some companions, [3] on the seventeenth of June in the year one thousand five hundred and ninety-nine.  His arrival was a source of much consolation and joy, on account of the reenforcement which he brought us, and was of much importance and advantage to the internal government of the Society in those parts, on account of the good order to which he reduced all our affairs, particularly in our ministries and in the methods of aiding those souls.  Upon careful investigation he learned that, during those four years while our fathers had given instruction in the islands of Pintados, twelve thousand persons had been baptized, and that there were about forty thousand catechumens—­not to mention many others who, although they were not on the list of catechumens, had also an inclination (or at least no repugnance) to receive the faith and the gospel.  In accordance with this information, the father-visitor set about organizing the affairs [of the missions], and providing needed assistance, as we shall later see.  Before entering upon this, however, I will relate, in order to show the mercies of God toward our fathers, a special instance of this which His Divine Majesty displayed toward them and the vessel which brought them from the port of Acapulco to the Filipinas.  The pilots were confidently sailing over their accustomed course, heedless that in it there were shoals.  One evening at the hour when the Salve is wont to be repeated, and while all 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, [4] 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.