Note 8 — COLLEGE OF SAN JUAN DE LETRAN

And in fact, that college is of great use to this community, not only as it shelters and rears therein all the orphan and abandoned boys, but also because any well-raised youth leaves that college, or seminary, for all walks of life in this community. Some adopt a military life, others a sea-faring life, and others the ecclesiastical estate, both monastic and religious, and from them are regularly supplied most of the curacies of these islands, and other employments more noteworthy, both in the ecclesiastical and in the political world. Excellent students leave that college, many of whom graduate not only with the degree of bachelor, but also with higher degrees. On the date of this writing, four sons of the college are living with the dignity of masters and doctors. They are occupied in honorable posts. Others are also licentiates in the arts. Always in all times the college has had worthy sons who have honored it, because in general they are very attentive to study, and observant, of their obligation, and that fact is well known and believed throughout this city. It is surely a matter worthy of admiration that they make so great use of their studies, as they have many other duties and occupations which scarcely allow them time to study; for, besides some assistancies outside the college, inside it they have duties and so many employments of devotion, that one does not know when they study their lessons. In the morning, before or after mass, they recite a portion of the rosary, and afterward they go to the university. When they return thence they recite another portion. Also when they return in the afternoon from the university they recite the last portion of the rosary with a chanted Salve, and litany. Later in the evening before supping they also have other devotional duties. This is the ordinary employment every day. This seems not only not a little troublesome for a college of students, but also scarcely suitable for their studies; but this which apparently would be a hindrance and obstacle to their studies, conduces in reality to their application, or to the greater clearness with which they study. For, according to the public understanding and report, they graduate from that college better prepared than from others; and although they are lads, they attribute it to the special protection of the most holy Mary, because they recite to her every day in chorus their whole rosary. All live under that impression, and accordingly, although they petition for dispensation from other exercises, they never ask dispensation from that exercise of the rosary, because they have understood that that is what maintains them and keeps them in the progress of their studies. As proof of that I shall relate an event which was but lately told me by a doctor who was a collegiate of that college. He says that when he left the college to take up a certain employment, either with the liberty which is enjoyed outside it, or because of the duties of his profession, he abandoned the custom, which he had until then observed, of reciting the whole rosary daily, contenting himself with reciting only a portion. He entered for the degree in theology, and for the literary duties annexed to that degree, applied himself very earnestly to his studies, but with so little fruit of his application that he could scarcely understand anything that he studied. “What is this,” he said in surprise, “when I was in college did I not grasp whatever I studied? But what is this that is happening to me now that I can scarcely understand what I am studying?” Then he bethought himself of the fact of his error, and he understood the origin of his lack of intelligence. Consequently, he reformed his past lukewarmness, and again began to recite the whole rosary daily. By this diligence alone he found that he could grasp what before he could not understand. Mary is the most holy mother, not only of the fear and love of God, but also of learning and knowledge, as she herself says by the mouth of the Preacher. Consequently, it is not surprising that she communicates light for intelligence and for progress in their studies to those who pray to her as her sons and venerate her as a mother, and praise her in that devotion so pleasing to her.8