Vietnam or Thailand ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Updated: April 30, 2025
The ship was at the port of Figen, about fifty leagues from Amanguchi, and within a league of Fucheo, which some call Funay, the metropolis of Bungo. The Portuguese were overjoyed to hear news of Father Xavier.
He leaves a little book with the wife of Ekandono, and for what it served. He arrives at Firando; and what reception he had there. He preaches at Firando with great success. He takes Amanguchi in his way to Meaco. He stays at Amanguchi; his actions there. What hindered the fruit of his preaching at Amanguchi.
Departing with Fernandez, and the two Japonian Christians, Matthew and Bernard, for this great voyage at the end of October, in the year 1550, they arrived at Facata by sea, which is twenty leagues distant from Firando; and from thence embarked for Amanguchi, which is an hundred leagues from it.
Thereupon, they set themselves at work to publish, not only what the Bonzas of Amanguchi had written of him, but what they themselves had newly invented; "That he was the most wicked of mankind; an enemy of the living and the dead; his practice being to dig up the carcases of the buried, for the use of his enchantments; and that he had a devil in his mouth, by whose assistance he charmed his audience."
One of the chief of the assembly discovered somewhat else in this unshaken patience: He was the most learned amongst all the doctors of Amanguchi, and the most violent against the gospel He considered, that a law which taught such patience, and such insensibility of affronts, could only come from heaven; and argued thus within himself: "These preachers, who with so much constancy endure the vilest of all injuries, cannot pretend to cozen us.
He was not without sorrow for Oxindono king of Amanguchi; who, though persuaded of the excellence of Christianity, was retained in idolatry by carnal pleasures: and for Neatondono, first prince of the kingdom, who, having noble and virtuous inclinations, might have proved the apostle of the court, if some trivial reasons had not hindered him from becoming a Christian.
The honour of Xavier in the kingdom of Bungo, and the success of his labours there. He converts a famous Bonza. In what manner he prepares the Gentiles for baptism. What happens to the companions of Xavier at Amanguchi. The death of the king of Amanguchi, and the desolation of the town. The brother of the king of Bungo is chosen king of Amanguchi: the saint rejoices at it.
Those reasons were, that the Bonzas of Amanguchi, having written all they could imagine, to render Xavier contemptible, it was convenient to remove those false conceptions from the people; and at the same time, to let them see how much the Christians honour their ministers of the gospel, that thereby the Heathens might be the more easily induced to give credit to them; so that the honour would reflect on Jesus Christ, and the preaching would be raised in value, according to the esteem which was given to the preacher.
The cavalcade came up to him within a league's distance of Figen; and found him walking betwixt the two lords of Amanguchi, who had never left him, and himself carrying his own equipage. Gama was surprised to see a person so considerable in the world in such a posture, and alighting from his horse, with all his company, saluted him with all manner of respect.
But seeing that the entry of China could not be attempted by that way which he had proposed without great hazard, he would be the only priest who should expose himself to those dangers; and retaining with him only one brother of the Society, the Chinese, Antonio de Sainte Foy, and another young Indian, he sent Balthazar Jago, Edward Silvia, and Peter Alcaceva, to several employments; the first to the kingdom of Bungo, and the two others to Amanguchi.
Word Of The Day
Others Looking