The little Apostle of the Mountain Province

Title

Language

English

Year

1924

Subject

Catholic missionaries

Mountain Province

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

The Little Apostle of the Mountain Province (translated from “La Defensa,” June 192k-} A new review has come to light, edited by the Missionaries of the Mountain Province; it is called: “The Little Apostle of the Moun tain Province”, [n its first number it announces its purpose which is to show the needs of the Missions among the Igo rots. We, Filipinos, have been attack ed too much on the other side of the Pacific: we have been called a wild people, because some of our brethren of the Mountain Province have been exposed in exhibitions. In Europe, even today that same opinion exists because there too some Igorots have been exhibited. One of the principal reasons why our political enemies deny us independ ence, is that in the Philippines there are still thousands of our brethren who do not enjoy the civilization of the Filipino country they inhabit. Thus it is our duty to help the Missionaries in their apostolic zeal for the conversion of thelgorotes: their cristianization means their civiliza tion. Would it not be a shame for us, Catholics, to refuse our coopera tion, when foreigners without bond or duty towards these uncivilized tribes of the Mountains, sacrifice their personal properties, all that they have, even their life, and that without any personal advantage and without any other desire than to christianize our Filipino brethren? And shall we remain mere onlookers when those overworked heroic Mis sionaries, not satisfied with their own material and personal sacrifices, write to their parents, relatives and friends in their own and other coun tries to ask alms and help? And those charitable persons answer the calls of the Missionaries, and support them as far as they can to relieve our brethren in the Mountain Prov ince . What the Missionaries ask now of us is a subscription to their review. Reading it, we shall become more convinced of our duty to help our country people and brethren. I myself have visited many per sons, askingthem to subscribe to “the Little Apostle”. Until now nobody 34 who understands the needs of the Apostles of truth, who sacrifice their all to finish the great work of the civilization of the Philippines, has refused me the peso for a subscrip tion. I would visit many more per sons if I had only time, but as un happily I have no leisure, I wish to make my voice heard through “La Defensa” by all of you, Catholic Filipinos, praying you to subscribe to The Little Apostle. If you do not know English, some of your friends who speak it, will gladly accept the review to read it and so, not only will you add your penny to the relief of our brethren, but also you will make others inter ested in the mission work and stir up in them the desire to cooperate with the Missionaries of the Moun tain Province, for the greater welfare and unity of our country and the glory of God. Let us thus take an interest in removing a stain from the heart of our country. By our help we can and we must prevent the falling off of the work of the Catholic Mission ary: God will reward us for it. A Catholic and Patriotic Filipina. LETTER published in the Review of the Missionaries of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Scheut (Belgian Missionaries), by the Very Rev. Father A. Van Zuyt, Provincial Superior, after his annual visit to the different missions in the Mountain Province in the year 1923. ( Continuation) What a glorious spectacle at the entrance of Tucucan: a grotto on the slope of a mountain. It is made of great blocks of stone. In front of it a small level ground covered with flowers. Down the mountain rush the waters of the Bontoc river. Here and there a few houses whose inhabitants for the most ignore our religion but who may expect the protection of the Blessed Virgin and, let us hope, pretty soon their con version . The place is an ideal one which only the artistic soul of Father Billiet could discover. Of course all the inhabitants of Tucucan were present. I put on the sacred vest ments and, while singing a solemn Magnificat, we entered the town and went to the grotto. I blessed it and then sang a Solemn Mass. The children of Bontoc and Tucu can seemed to be under the impres sion of the solemnity of the act: never did they sing better: they seemed angels from heaven who re joiced at the sight of the honor given to their heavenly mother and the taking possession by God of the in fidel town. On and over these mountains.

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