During the triennium of our father Fray Alonso de Mentrida, the sending of a religious to Maluco was discontinued, and the convent of Cavite was completely abandoned.  It must have been the opinion of grave fathers that that was not of importance.  Many things are kept, which although they are of no use at the present time, are at least preserved for the hopes which are entertained that they will be useful in the future, and that they will prove of advantage.  No notice was taken of that, for four eyes are worth more than two; and what has appeared in one way to me may appear to others in an entirely different light.  Hence I shall leave the discussion of this matter.

In the first part of the year 1629, the most holy sacrament was found missing from the altar of the cathedral of Manila.

It was a thing that troubled all greatly; but it most troubled the archbishop of Manila.  The greatest and most painstaking efforts imaginable were made.  Many were arrested, and put to severe torture; and, for many months, no other efforts were made than to ascertain whether the aggressor could be discovered by any manner or means.  But that one was never found, nor could they discover who stole it, nor what was done with it.  The archbishop retired to San Francisco del Monte, which is a convent of the religious of our father St. Francis, who spend their lives there in the contemplative life with notable perfection and spirituality.  There then our archbishop took refuge, and spent many days in other similar works, furnishing an example to all the country; and although it is true that he was always an example during all his life, he seems on this occasion to have redoubled his acts of penitence—­praying God, as a truly contrite man, that, if that lamentable case and one so worthy of sorrow throughout the islands had happened through his omissions.  He would pardon him and regard those sheep which had been committed to him with eyes of pity and kindness; and that he might not be the cause that their punishments be multiplied.  He caused prayers to be said by the convents and parishes, noting that beyond doubt the sins of the people were great, since the Lord was working against them and permitted that the sacrament be taken from its place and dwelling in so sacrilegious a manner.  For no less in the present desecration than in that which these sacrilegious Jews practiced toward our Lord in the garden, the gravity of the sin is recognized, since He allows such treatment.  And no less is the love recognized which He has for us, accepting and receiving to Himself the insults which He does not wish to fall upon His people—­like the pious mother who shielded the dear body of her son, whom she loved, with her own, so that the tyrant might not wound him, preferring the welfare of her son to her own.

CHAPTER XLII

Of the election of our father Fray Juan de Henao