We shall give an end to this year of twenty-two, by giving a brief memorial of father Fray Diego de Santo Tomas, a native of Nueva-Espana, a creole of Cholula, and the son of Diego Garcia de Leon and Dona Ines Carrillo.  He went to Filipinas when very young, where, leaving the deceits of the world, he betook himself to the port of religion, taking our holy habit in the convent of San Nicolas of Manila.  He professed in the year 1610.  When he saw the so great fervor of the religious for the spreading of the faith, he took the call so effectively into his breast that the superiors, employing him in that exercise, ordered him to become sub-prior.  He was afterward prior of Masinglo, and lastly of Dinai.  In the exercise of those duties, he was careful to employ all his strength in caring for the sheep reduced to the flock of the church.  He went through the Calamianes Islands, preaching, converting, and confirming those converted in the faith.  And as his cares were prodigious, and he became weakened by his hardships, his strength failed him; tired out, he became sick, and died on a desert beach, without any human presence.  However the divine presence would not fail him.  Happy soldier, whom death overtook while fighting in the campaign of the Church of God!

Let us give a companion to this father, and let him be father Fray Juan de la Anunciacion.  He was born in Madrid, in the parish of San Gines.  His parents were Diego del Castillo and Felipa Manuel de Benavides.  He took our holy habit in the year 1613, while father Fray Juan Bautista Altaraque was master of novitiates.  He professed the following year under father Fray Augustin de San Gabriel, prior of the convent of the said town.  He went to the Indias, being desirous of employing his life in the service of God and the welfare of souls.  He thoroughly understood the languages of the Indians.  Entering the rudest of the islands, he preached with great fervor, and converted many heathen.  He spent some years in that employment, and finally his life, without anyone being present at his death.  He died worn out, and for lack of nourishment.  He lived much, since as long as life lasted for him he employed it in the service of the holy church and the conversion of the infidels.  His body was found and very reverently given honorable burial.

[Most of the third chapter is concerned with affairs in Japan.  A short description of that country is followed by the efforts of the Recollects to gain entrance to its inhospitable shores in 1623.  Fired by the news of the persecution waged against the Christians, two fathers, Francisco de Jesus and Vincente de San Antonio, disguised as merchants, set out from Manila to preach the gospel to the Japanese.  But many misfortunes overtake them:  their boat, old and weak, opens at the bow and compels them to put in at the island of Babuyanes; shortly after setting sail once more, a fierce storm drives them to the Chinese coast, whence they narrowly escape shipwreck