A Conversion obtained through the intercession of the ...

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Part of The Little Apostle of the Mountain Province

Title: A Conversion obtained through the intercession of the ...
Language: Spanish
Year: 1924
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Fulltext: 87 A Conversion o!itain~d thnnig/1 the intercession of the Blessetl Little Flotl'tl" of Jesu:>. Ml'l1. Martin Buarn:e with her two little gr.:1n~-dauglers, Rosalia and Serafina Bua.nee l:uc:J~BRI~U more than four il years, Fa.ther Leo stationed at Itogon, had been the b only missionary for all Benguet, and on ,·arious occasions the zealous man had asked hi!' superiors to provide him with at least one companion, that they might labor with more profit in the Vineyard of the Lord. Through his persistence, Father Jose was put in charge of all the part of Benguet to the west of the riYer Agno, while the east side remained in charge of Father Leo. This was about 'i years ago. The two missionaries went explor.ing one day and, passing through the towns of Atok a.nd Kapangan, arrived at last at Tublay, at the house of an Jgorot named Buance. At various times before, Buanee had been visited by Father Leo and pagan though he was, he had ::llways received the priest with Christian hospitality. On such occasions he had been the chief listener to the instructions of Father Leo, but the 83 poor man had never been able to make up his mind to wash his immortal soul in the saving waters of Holy Baptism and to become a child of God and of the Holy Catholic Church. It had happened that the poor Igorot fell sick and suffered much · from cancer in the stomach. Without doubt the goot!l Buance, so far a pagan, had to die. Said Father Leo: "We must prepare our friend Buance to g-0 "traight to Heaven." The husband of one of the daughters of the house promised that he would be moved the next day to the Baguio hospital, where Father Jose might baptize him, since the sick man did not wish to receive the Sacrament of Redemption that day. Because of some pressing business, Father Jose had to go to San Fernando, La Union, and Father Leo had to return to his home at ltogon. Father Jose had a great devotion to the Servant of God, Blessed Sister. Theresa of the Child Jesus, and before he left for the town mentioned, he knelt and said with all his heart: "O God, our Father, let Buance be my first convert! Blessed Hister Thereba of the ChilJ. Jesus, take care of the poor Igorot; if I am able to baptize him, I will give him the name Martin, in memory of your noble family.'' It was the month of August, the time of typhoons, and all day torrents of water had fallen. Spent with weariness and drenched as well by the constant rain, Father Jose, returning from his journey to San Fernando, reached Baguio at night. l:Iere the Parish Priest said to bim : .. They have come from Tublay to summon you; Buance is dying. I went myself but, alas! he does not wish to be baptized; his married daughter is the chief cause of his obstinacy to the grace of God." "What a shame! But I will go and see what I can do tomorrow,'' replied Father Jose. "G~d bless your undertaking! I will order prayers for the poor creature." Tublay is three hours' journey from . Baguio. The next day the typhoon ha<l become stronl?'er; the narrow, rocky path had become a very torrent of wa.er. \Vet to the skin, Father Jose arrived at the summit of the mountain, from which he was able to see, below, the house of the poor dying man. First he had to drive evil spirits out of the house and, in spite of the violent rain, he stopped and began to recite the shortformulaofexorcism. After he had sprinkled holy water which he carried in a small lwttle, he descended the hill and entered the homie. Poor Buance was in the center of the house upon the floor. Around him was his married daughter and other Igorots, who gazed defiantly at the Father with a meaning look, as if to say : ''It is our turn now - we do not need you here.'' The Father spoke directly to Buance's daughter and in a sweet but firm Yoice said: "Rise, sit there, and not a word." Then, with a relic of Blessed Theresa (sweet lily!) hid beneath the pillO\v, and the image or the Servant .')f God upon a ,.:mall t.:tble, he sat besiM the sick man, and a tender and important conversation began. Not more than half an hour passed, when there resounded in the room the words of salvation for the happy Buance : "Martin, I haptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.'' Teri days after, :\farti n died; Fat her Jose arranged the burial and, before he closed the coffin, he placed in the hand of his corwert, the image of the Flower of Jesus (fair 89 Dove of Heaven!). He was the first adult Igorot baptized by Father Jose, and he went quickly to heaven to plead the eause of his unfortunate countrymen. Without doubt, Blessed There;;a helped him much, for the result has been sp~ndid; all the Buanoo family is now Catholic, many lgorot farnilif'8 of Tublay have been e1mvertecl since, and in ihat steep mnu ntai 11011s <.,'Ount.ry t,'Overed with lovely evergreen pines, achapel will he erected, the first perhaps in the whole worJJ to hear the name of The Blessed Little Flower of J€sus. mglands' first Martyr His name was Alban. It was a time of persecution. A Christian priest came Hying from his pursuers and took shelter in Alban's house. Alban was still a heathen, but he hid the. Christian priest, out of pure kindness and pity for a hunted man. He observed the devotion of his guest. How fervent it was and how tirni:. What a com;olat-ion and joy l he priest seemed to tind in p!'ayer. Alban's heart was touched. He listened to the priest and became a believer. Meanwhile the persecutors had found out where the Christian was hidden, and carne to search Alban's house. Then Alban, putting on the dress of his hidden teacher, delivered him~elf into their hands, as if he had been the fugitive; and in this way the priest could escape. But ,\ lban, bel'ause he refused to betray his guest, and say where he was gone, and because he refused to offer sacrifice to the idols he used to worship, was scourged and led forth to be put to death. The spot for the exel'ution was a beautiful meadow, clothed with flowers, on a little rising ground: a fit theatre for a martyr's triumph. He was unmercifully beheaded and, where his blood was shed, there now stand a church and town which bear his name. The soldier who was appointed to put A lb:m to death was so moved by his victim's resignation and greatness of heart that he chose rather to suffer death with Alban that to have the guilt of being his executioner. Let us remember this when we are tempted to bt> selfish. Let us remember that the first great deed of Christianity in England, the :first instance in which it showed its power, was in making a man die to sa rn a stranger's life, and draw on another to die with him. And if a God-man died for us all on the cross of Calvary, it was to win us all for heaven and to teach us by His example that christian charity shows iti;:elf by deeds and sacrifices.