possible inclination to receive our holy faith and
come on every Sunday and feast-day to hear the sermons
and discourses; a large audience always assembles,
and all of them, even the infidels, entertain a great
affection for holy things. Of their own accord
they bring their children to be baptized, and their
sick people, to hear the gospel read. They erect
crosses in their grain-fields, and sing the Christian
doctrine with the Christians, of whom there are usually
some in every house. In times of sickness they
come at once to be baptized; and as they are universally
well instructed, and have sufficient knowledge of
the things of our faith, it is easy to succor them
upon such occasions, so that hardly any one dies without
having first received holy baptism. An Indian,
seeing himself afflicted by a violent disease, asked
to be baptized. They went to call the father
for that purpose, but in the meantime the malady had
gained such headway, that when he arrived he found
the house in confusion and everyone bewailing the
sick man as one dead. The father, seeing that
he could not speak and seemed unable to hear, assured
himself that he had asked for baptism; and, knowing
that he was one of those who frequented the church,
he asked for water to baptize him. Then, speaking
in a loud voice, he persuaded him to try to say ‘Jesus.’
It seems that at the sound of that most sweet name
the sick man recovered somewhat, and, making a great
effort, pronounced the word. He soon regained
breath, and made answer to the questions of the catechism,
to the great wonder of all who were present.
He received holy baptism, and soon afterward our Lord
granted him complete health. His parents, who
were pagans, astonished at his recovery, attributed
it to the virtue of the holy name of Jesus, and to
holy baptism. Through the mercy of God, there
is constancy among the faithful. In all the time
I have resided here I do not know of any Christian
who has been present at a pagan sacrifice, although
living among so many of them. The corregidor of
this town related to me, with surprise, that although
he had investigated many cases pertaining to this
matter, he had never found any Christian guilty therein.
This same man related that he had [on official journeys]
taken in his company, among other Indians, some Christians
of this town; that in some places which were unsafe,
on account of enemies, he placed sentinels; and, when
it was the turn of the Christians to go on guard,
they were found praying, and singing the doctrine.
He noticed, besides this, that they never let a day
pass without reciting the rosary; and he greatly valued
and praised such solicitude among persons so new in
the faith.”