The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XXIV, 1630-34 | Page 7

1893 [but written in 1630].
Source: Translated from a copy of the above work, in the possession of
the Editors.
Translation: This document is translated (and in part synopsized) by
James A. Robertson.

HISTORY OF THE AUGUSTINIAN ORDER IN THE FILIPINAS
ISLANDS
By Fray Juan de Medina, O.S.A.
(Concluded)
CHAPTER XXX
Of the first election of our father Fray Lorenzo de León
With the fourth of May, 1596, all the capitular religious of this
province of Santísimo Nombre de Jesús of Filipinas assembled, and
without much debate cast their votes for father Fray Lorenzo de León,
[1] a native of the city of Granada, and son of the house at Méjico,
whose learning, ability to preach, and other good qualities made him
very well known, and caused him to be elected without opposition.
Accordingly he won the contest as provincial, to the general liking of
all the religious of the province, both those voting and those who had

no vote. All were assured that he would govern rightly because of his
prudence, and beyond doubt his government was all that. The province
during his term had the honor and repute that was proper. Since his
method of procedure was alike for all the religious, it was necessary in
the following chapter to retire the provincial to his devotion; and one
may infer that in that it acted more for the common welfare than its
own.
Thereupon, the voting religious being assembled, cast their votes,
without any opposition, for Fray Juan de Montesdoza, [2] son of the
house at Méjico, a native of the city of Utrera, near Sevilla in
Andalucia. He was a most excellent provincial, for one always
recognized in him a remarkable integrity of morals, and he was much
given to prayer and divine worship. He endeavored as earnestly as
possible to give his whole being to the order, and not to be found
lacking in his ministry. He visited his entire province whenever
possible; and that which has always been most annoying to the
provincials in respect to its visitation--namely, the province of
Bisayas--was not troublesome to him, for he visited it. He did not
hesitate at the suffering or the dangers of navigation, which at times is
wont to be especially perilous, because of the many storms that
generally invade the islands, and the not few enemies. He was
considered lost, for he was not heard of for more than four months; for
they wrote from the Bisayas that he had already embarked for Manila,
and he had not arrived. Finally, the Lord was pleased to bring him to
our doors when he was least expected. God is a Father of pity, and
attends to His children (and more to His servants) when they find
themselves most in need of Him. He was received in the convent of
Manila by many people, for all revered him as a servant of God, loved
him as a father, and respected him as a true prelate.
On the twenty-second of April, 1602, the chapter was convened in the
house at Manila. Father Fray Pedro Arce, who is now bishop of the city
of Santisimo Nombre de Jesús, and who has twice governed the
archbishopric of Manila, was elected in it. Father Fray Mateo de
Mendoza presided at that election, while father Fray Juan de
Montesdoza was the absolute provincial, as we call it, or the freed one,

since now he is no longer provincial. The first definitor was Fray
Agustín de Tapía, the second, Fray Bernabé de Villalobos, the third,
Fray Diego de Zerrabe, and the fourth, Fray Diego de Salcedo. As
visitors were elected Fray Juan Bautista de Montoya and Fray
Francisco Serrano. [3] All, having assembled, as our rules ordered,
enacted very wholesome regulations, and provided for the province
with those mandates, which were seen to be more necessary at that time,
in order to check thereby the boldness of certain men, who were giving
room for the decay of the province, which in nothing loses more than
by permitting it to relax in its rigor. For even there it is said that the
bow must sometimes loose the string which holds it bent, in order to
give it rest and so that it may not break. I grieve over this, that it is said
in the order, so that at times some reasonable recreation may be
allowed; but in that which touches the essential aspects of it, it does not
seem right that it be lost, for never have I seen that what is once lost in
point of religion is regained. It appeared, therefore, easier to our father
St. Ignatius to found a new order than to reform an old one, where its
members were already used to such and such a manner of life. It