Foundation of the first convent of Manila

The announcement made by father Fray Andres de San Nicolas while on his deathbed to his brethren was fulfilled without any failure—­namely, that they should not despair, for divine Providence was already arranging a house for them, which would give great pleasure to all.  The fact was that, in verification of his words, on the same day on which the despatches for their voyage were made in Espana, the deceased governor began to build a very fine summer-house, which had its garden and its ponds, in a site called Bagunbaian, only three hundred paces from the walls.  It was just being finished when he returned from his conquest, and when he ended the pleasures and joys of this life.  The retreat and pleasantness of this place were very welcome to Ours; consequently they tried to buy it, and did so—­having collected the alms in two afternoons.  During that time two religious went through the city, accompanied by certain influential persons, [and collected] more than three thousand pesos, with which they paid the sum asked, a great portion of what they should have given having been forgiven to them.  Accordingly, they immediately took possession of their convent on the day of St. Nicolas de Tolentino, to whom they dedicated it by a special vow, which all took at the beginning of their navigation from the shores and coasts of Espana.  Under such good horoscope was born the happy province of the Philipinas Islands.  And thus we should not wonder at the great luster that it has cast, shedding its rays by its zeal through the darkest and most forgotten districts, where a notable number of pagans, who were living like wild beasts in a blind barbarism, received the truth of the faith which we profess.

The apostolic men first settled the firm foundation of their house—­not in the material of it but in the direction of their solid virtues.  They lived in the greatest poverty and contempt of [earthly] things, without other end than the seeking of God in prayer, and in making Him known and loved in their talks and examples.  There was some opposition on the part of our calced fathers in regard to the title that they gave to the new church, that of the miraculous Father San Nicolas de Tolentino; for his devotion was practiced in a chapel of the principal convent and was very popular, and they thought that it would be lessened or be done away with altogether.  Ours, being so good men, disapproved greatly of litigation; and, although with great grief, they talked of consenting to change the title, commending the matter to our Lord very earnestly, with the intervention of peculiar penances and exercises.  The matter was left to be decided by lot, in which many saints took part, not excluding their own dear one.  He, then, was chosen, the first, second, and third time; and the will of God was thus made plain.  Not only did they confirm what was already done, but they also placed under his protection the province which was