of New Year's day, which was celebrated with much solemnity, many
persons, from all classes of people, repairing to confession and
communion. His Lordship also preached at the titular feast of the same
church (that of the glorious St. Ildefonso), which was celebrated with
the like attendance and devotion, in the presence of a concourse of
people, and with many communions. His Lordship was also desirous of
introducing, in imitation of Manila, the practice of scourging in the
church during Lent; and he actually visited it, on the first Friday,
with a considerable following. He began by preaching a very devout
sermon, at the conclusion of which, seeing that, although night had
set in, the church was still light with the rays of a full moon, he
determined to leave it for the time, and accordingly returned after
his choir had sung the _Miserere_.

On account of the heat in this region, the churches are so constructed
as to be open and airy, and for this reason are poorly adapted
for taking the discipline. Accordingly he changed his plan and,
inviting the children of the school, and the students, with these and
many others of the town, he arranged for every Friday of that Lent a
procession of blood, in which the bishop himself marched barefoot. This
procession left the cathedral in the evening, and proceeded to
the other church (of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady), some
distance away. In the meantime the rest were flagellating themselves,
even to the extent of drawing blood; and while the choir was singing
the _Miserere_, the holy bishop scourged himself alone in the sacristy.



How the Christian religion extended in the island of Bohol. Chapter
XXXXII.