But your Paternity will learn of a more glorious fruit from these missions in Bohol from the letters of Father Gabriel Sanchez and Father Cristofero Ximenez, [40] who have been assigned to that mission. [41] In letters written in the month of October, Father Gabriel writes as follows:  “Our Lord has singularly blessed our attempts and labors.  For after the flocks of the heathen were gathered in one place they were converted to God with such earnestness, so completely without pretense, that I can say nothing else than that God their Maker and Redeemer has desired by some peculiar favor in their calling to add them to His flock—­inasmuch as within two months two thousand mortals have yielded themselves to the laws and customs of Christ, by accepting baptism.  And it is my opinion that, if some fathers are ready, the whole of them will accept the yoke of Christ.  It is beyond the power of language to tell with what spiritual joy I am affected when I see men who are almost savages of the forests hastening down from the mountains to supplicate the benefits of baptism.  Nay, the very children, like to angels, taught by I know not whom, now repeat the Christian faith.  Indeed, a few days ago one came to me not ignorant of his catechism, whom I had not seen for ten years, and with great earnestness begged me not to refuse to baptize him.  The catalons, or priests of the idols, also come, and show by so many proofs that they desire baptism with all their hearts, that it is necessary to satisfy their desires.  Truly, my Father, I abound in delight, I rejoice, I exult; nor is there anything in this world set before me than to serve our Lord God with all my heart, and to desire that all should be turned to the worship of His Divine Majesty.  On Sunday, in church and elsewhere, there were counted seven hundred persons.  If your Reverence were to see at sunset a hundred mountain boys and girls who have been newly added to Christ marching in procession along the bank of the river, praising God in harmony and chanting all together the Christian faith, he could not help dissolving in tears of joy.  A few days ago in Dita five hundred were purified with holy baptism.  Thus in the whole region of Bohol we may now easily count three thousand Christians.  At the beginning there were only eight hundred; now, by the accession of a new blessing of God, twice thirteen hundred have been added in baptism.”

With regard to another brief mission undertaken by a priest, the same Father writes as follows:  “God adorns and enriches this Tobigon [42] people with so many heavenly gifts that I do not dare depart hence, and break the thread of our most happy progress.  The church is filled with people morning and evening; no one is anxious about food, although they may not have it, or may have to bring it from a distance.  All their care is to be Christians, and to be initiated in baptism.  In these fifteen days in which we have instructed them in the rudiments of the Christian faith, there have been baptized more than two hundred and fifty adults.  There remain forty catechumens, for the rest will be baptized after our return.