Volume 30 / Book 1 — Chapter XXXII

The election of father Fray Alonso Ximenez as provincial

On the ninth of April, 1592, the Sunday Deus qui errantibus—which is the third after Easter, and the customary day for holding provincial chapters—the electors assembled in the convent of Manila to elect a provincial; and they unanimously elected as second provincial of this province father Fray Alonso Ximenez, who was at that time prior. He was a very devout friar, an aged man and venerable, whose fervor of spirit caused him to work like a youth at a time when his great age and the many hardships which he had endured justly required rest. There were chosen as definitors fathers Fray Francisco de la Mina, Fray Juan de Castro (nephew of him who had just filled the office of provincial), Fray Thomas Castellar, and Fray Juan de San Pedro Martyr. The vicariate of Binalatongan was entrusted to father Fray Luis Gandullo, that of Calasiao to father Fray Pedro de Soto, and that of Bataan to father Fray Juan de San Pedro Martyr. As prior of the convent of Manila was elected father Fray Francisco de la Mina, being compelled to undertake it by his obedience, after he had accommodated himself to the ministry of Bataan, and had learned the language with great effort. He had begun to learn it when he was almost seventy years of age, and had been greatly pleased with these Indians because he had found in them greater ability than in those of Nueva España, to whom he had been a missionary for forty years. Although this long term of service would have justified him in resting when he was relieved from labor, he was so far from this that he spent nearly the whole day with his Indians in Bataan, hearing them confess, teaching them, and showing them the way to salvation, because of the great love which he felt for them. So he much regretted leaving them, to take the position of prior at Manila—although they needed in the convent a man of his endowments, and the duties in the convent were less laborious than those of the ministry that he then had. But this was the very thing that grieved him, because he had not come to that province to rest but to labor—insomuch that he feared those who were taking away his labors were depriving him of his merit. But the order of his superior made everything plain, and assured him that he would not lose but gain merit in this way, since his good-will was worth as much with God as many labors; and, besides this, he would gain in addition that merit which the position of prior could give him, which, for those who are such priors as this father was, is not a small but a great increase.

At this time died the venerable father Fray Juan de Castro, first vicar-general and provincial of this province. It was he who had established and kept it in the happy state in which it was. He was born in Burgos, of noble race; and his father, being left a widower, had entered our convent of San Pablo at Burgos. He had left his son in the world, but was followed by him into the religious life when the son reached maturity. The son was scholarly and well read in the saints. Against his father’s wishes he went to the province of Guatimala, where he became twice provincial. The prudent king Felipe II appointed him to the bishopric of Vera Paz [sc., Cruz], and sent him the royal letter of presentation to the said bishopric. The father not only desired to be excused from accepting, but concealed the matter until he desired to go to China. When the fathers endeavored to obstruct his purpose he threatened, if they would not let him make this journey, to make the other to his bishopric, which was further away and from which he would never come back. This was only a threat, because he had taken a vow not to accept the bishopric, and was resolved to keep it. He was a kindly man, and very easy of access. He was given to the use of old proverbs. He had great skill in extricating himself quickly from useless business. He was much given to the reading of the [lives of the] saints, which in dead letters contain living thoughts. When he said mass he used to water the altar with his tears, though he strove greatly to control himself. His addresses to the order had such fervor, devotion, tenderness, and gentleness that those who heard them regarded them as words from heaven, and went forth from them with new spirit. This was especially true of his address at the first chapter, when he assigned the fathers to their duties. It then seemed as if it was not he that spoke, but the Holy Spirit. There is much that goes to show that this is true. Father Juan himself was accustomed to say that he was certain that he had made no mistake in this assignment—something which those who know him and who know his humility would attribute to nothing else than divine revelation. Those who were in this chapter accepted, without a single word, the duties assigned to each one, although these were such things as might cause trembling in the souls of giants in virtue, being no less than driving the devil out of his own house and his ancient abiding-place. At times the father seems to have shown the spirit of prophecy. In one case he declared that there were those before him who, as he knew, had never lost their baptismal innocence. This is proof of itself that he spoke not without some inspiration from without his own mind. Second, he declared that all those who were before him should go through life without falling into mortal sin. Those who listened to him understood that he was speaking of the sin of the flesh, which is that from which those are least safe who accept the ministry of souls, [even] with humility and in the fear of God. This is especially true before they learn by experience how much God helps those who fulfil this office in loving obedience to Him. On several other occasions father Fray Juan showed that he had the spirit of prophecy. He told Fray Juan de Soria that he would leave the order, but not to his own blame, rather to the glory of God and the happiness of the provincial, as was fulfilled. By anointing a brother who suffered from scrofula, he cured him; but when he was about to anoint Fray Domingo de Nieva, who suffered from headache, he stopped and withdrew the holy oil, saying that it was not God’s will. Father Fray Juan had special grace and power to arouse devotion in those with whom he talked, in confession or in private conversation. The infirmities with which he was afflicted as a result of the exposure and the hardships which he suffered in China never entirely left him. He held the chapter which elected as his successor father Fray Alonso Ximenez, and immediately afterward went to the hospital of the Chinese, asking to be cared for as a poor man—preferring to die there rather than in the convent, not only because he might die there with greater humility and poverty, but because he would be less disturbed by visits, and would have more opportunity to be alone with God. In his last days he was afflicted with fears of the judgment of God. To his last moment he observed the rigorous rules of the order. When at last he died, he left the religious edified and consoled by his example, but most sad to lose him, for merely to see him had comforted them.]