death found him, and carried him away--as I believe, when he was
certain of enjoying life--three months and a half after his arrival at
Mindanao. Although he died alone and without the sacraments, as there
was no one to administer them, he met death with great edification,
leaving in that camp a sweet odor of sanctity, and the title of a true
servant of God. He was a native of Sevilla, thirty-three years of age
and had spent eight years in the religious life; he was overflowing
with fervor, and so zealous for the good of souls that all--whether
Indians, Negroes, Spaniards, Chinese, or other peoples--ever found
him disposed to consider himself their debtor, and to succor them
with the utmost willingness and alacrity, for which reason he was
burdened with many toils and painful nights. He never lay down for
the purpose of slumber, but only when sleep seized him unawares in
the midst of his occupations. He possessed the gift of languages, by
which I mean that he learned many with great facility. He also had
the gift of ministering to various peoples and those of different
classes at the same time, thoroughly satisfying them all. At times
he delivered three discourses or sermons to the Spaniards in one day,
because the occasion demanded it. At the same time he did not neglect
the Indians with all their variety of tribes and tongues. It was a
providence of our Lord that he remained alive after the decease of
the governor; for with his good judgment and kindly disposition he not
only consoled and animated the army, but was of great service to them,
and gave them wise advice, in matters of importance which required
careful management. He scourged himself every morning when he arose for
prayer, and almost always wore a hair-cloth shirt. He never ate supper,
that he might be better prepared for his prolonged vigils, study, and
prayers. In fine, he employed so well the short time that he spent in
the religious life that I am sure that it was equivalent to a service
of many years. He lectured on rhetoric in our college of Avila and was