Fray Geronimo de La Resurreccion”

Accordingly, when this order arrived with the other despatches, the priors of San Nicolas of Manila, of Zibu, of Cabite, of Masinglo, of Amo, of Bolinao, of Calumpan, of Tanda, of Butuan, of Iguaquet, of Tibastlan, of Cuyo, of Linacapan, and of Cagaiang assembled.  Under the presidency of the said father Fray Pedro de la Madre de Dios, they unanimously elected the venerable father Fray Onofre de la Madre de Dios, provincial, on the sixth of February of that year twenty-four, the time that the present history has reached.

The election was very suitable, as he who was elected was deserving of other and greater posts.  He was a native of Perpinan, in the county of Rosellon, and a son of the convent of Zaragoca, in Aragon, where he studied arts and theology.  He was prior of the convent of Zuera, and afterward master of novitiates in that of Madrid, where he furnished a great example of observance and virtue.  He went to the Indias with the zeal of preaching the faith of Christ our Lord.  He filled some posts worthily, with so much satisfaction to the religious that he deserved to be the first provincial of that province.  He completed the suitable ordering and economical regime of the houses, the methods that he practiced being continual presence at the choir, steadfast application to the divine worship, and the decoration of the churches.  He was modest in his actions, which he adapted to all; mild in his intercourse, by which he made himself loved; skilful in business management; extremely poor, and given to continual mortification.  The definitors were father Fray Andres del Espiritu Santo, father Fray Diego de San Bernardo, father Fray Joseph de San Augustin, and father Fray Juan de Santo Tomas, chosen men indeed.

The acts passed are reduced to the following points:  “That the religious living at the missions or villages of the Indians maintain all the regular observance of the convents, especially in rising at midnight for matins, and in the two hours of mental prayer morning and afternoon, even though there should be no more than one priest.  That authority be given to the missionary fathers to carry some books that are conformable to their profession; and that they be prohibited from wearing hempen garments, especially since the heat of the country is contrary to that harshness.  That the ministers learn the language of the Indians within one year; and that, in order to avoid disturbance, they do not receive guests in their convents, unless it be bishops, religious, governors, or alcaldes-mayor.

[A section on the first intermediate general chapter of the Recollects, which was held at the convent of Portillo, follows.  Section iii treats of the life and death of brother Fray Juan de San Nicolas, who had professed at Manila, December 21, 1622.  The malice of certain Indians who were taking him up the river from the convent of Iguaquet, to aid in one of the missions, causes his death; for they