A little vignette from the epic of European colonial expansion.
April 30 ~ Venerable Regrettable Loss of a Treasure for a Pearl
The Venerable Franciscan Priest Diego Perdomo, a native of the Isle of
Palma; son of Mateo Perdomo and Isabel Blas; professed in the Convent of
Mexico, on the 22nd of January, 1584.
He was one of those who went along in the discovery of California, in the
year 1596, with Sebastian Viscaino; and being Prelate, with five Religious,
he resigned so as to attend with fewer encumbrances to the conversion there.
He had [gathered] by this time many children of Caciques, teaching them the
Christian Doctrine. But the devil, furious over his fruitfulness, disturbed
the conversion through the covetousness of a Soldier. A woman belonging to
one of the Indian chiefs had a pearl of considerable size for a nose
decoration. The Soldier asked for it and, when she did wish to give it, he
tore it off with violence. Her screams infuriated the Indian men, obliging
the Religious and the Spaniards to set sail to escape the fury. Thus, the
treasure of those poor souls’ salvation was lost for a pearl.
There came the time to pay the debt of mortal life. A few books which he
had for his use, he passed, with license of the Prelate, to a Nephew of his,
a Religious of the same Order, named Fray Diego Cabrera. He bid farewell to
his benefactors and relatives, never to see them again. Holding the post of
Teacher, his religious life ended (although he remained among the Religious
in perpetual memory), on April 30, 1632.
"Menologio Franciscano"
Fr. Agustin de Vetancurt, 1698
tr. Magister Levitatorum
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