Transcription and Translation of an Augustinian Document on the Juan Ymbing Miracle

Spanish Transcription:

Año de 1640—Información sobre el milagro que Nuestra Señora de Caysasay usó con Juan Ynbin, sangley cristiano¹.

COMISIÓN DEL ARZOBISPO FRAY HERNANDO GUERRERO PARA LA AVERIGUACIÓN DEL MILAGRO
(8 de enero de 1640)

Nos, D. Fray Hernando Guerrero, por la gracia de Dios y de la Santa Sede Apostólica, Arzobispo Metropolitano de estas islas Filipinas, del Consejo de Su Majestad. Por cuanto ha llegado a nuestras manos un testimonio signado y firmado de Alonso Márquez, escribano público de la provincia de Balayan, término de nuestra diócesis, por do consta que una imagen de Nuestra Señora la Virgen María, Reina de los Ángeles, que está en la iglesia de Casaysay, visita del priorato de Taal, ha hecho un milagro con un sangley cristiano llamado Juan Ynbin, cantero, que en aquella sazón ayudaba a la fábrica de aquella iglesia; al cual prendieron con otros sangleyes y echaron por muerto los ejecutores, con ocasión de este alzamiento general que han hecho los de Calamba, parián de esta ciudad y los de Santa Cruz. Y le dieron grandes heridas penetrantes de modo que lo dejaron por muerto. Y parece que el dicho Juan Ynbin se había próximamente confesado con el padre predicador fray Alonso Rodríguez, prior del dicho convento de Taal, y encomendándose a la dicha imagen para que le librase de la muerte. No obstante que por el dicho testimonio consta tener cuatro heridas penetrantes, que por cualquiera de ellas naturalmente eran de muerte, teniendo todos los nervios principales del pescuezo cortados a machetazos, y con dos lanzadas en el cuerpo, en la tetilla derecha. Y [consta] haber estado tres días naturales sin comer ni beber, ni recibido cura alguna, y haber estado en el agua y a las inclemencias del cielo. Y dicho y declarado el dicho Juan Ynbin habérsele aparecido la dicha imagen, y sacádole de la mar donde se halló la primera vez que le socorrió, y después traídole a la orilla y a tierra sobre una hoja blanca. Y cuando le iba trayendo se apartaban y huían caimanes y otros peces espantosos con la vista de la dicha imagen. Y habiéndole traído a tierra, le mandó se volviese a proseguir con su obra. Y diciéndole no saber el camino para ir a Casaysay, donde se fabricaba su iglesia, le mostró el camino y le pasó de un río sin mojarse. De modo que caminando llegó al dicho lugar y estuvo en una bóveda de la dicha iglesia. Y por el dicho testigo consta que con ser las dichas heridas tan grandes y penetrantes, no tener olor ni estar hinchadas, como naturalmente lo suelen estar pasando veinticuatro horas, especialmente las que se mojan, que todo lo susodicho son efectos que sin particular milagro y ayuda de tan gran Señora no podía suceder.

Y para mayor honra y gloria suya y de su precioso y bendito hijo, importa que este milagro tan estupendo se autentique con información de todo lo sucedido, para que asimismo se alienten los fieles a su devoción. Para para cuyo efecto delegamos nuestras voces y jurisdicción, con toda plenitud al maestro Joseph Cabral, cura y vicario del partido de Balayan, para que haga de todo ello información, con todos los testigos que directa o indirectamente supieren de este caso, en todo o en parte; recibiéndole al dicho Juan Ynbin, siendo necesario, nueva declaración; haciendo todas las diligencias judiciales y extrajudiciales que convengan. Y para mayor firmeza nombrará un nuncio cursor con quien seguirla, tomando del juramento de que acudirá a todo lo que toca a su cargo bien y cumplidamente. Y nombrará por notario de esta causa al dicho Alonso Márquez, escribano público, a quien desde luego nombramos por tal. Y recibirá de él el juramento de fidelitate, y nombrará intérpretes fieles y legales y los demás ministros en tal caso necesarios. Y hecha la dicha información, proceso cerrado y sellado, nos lo remitirá. Y encargamos al dicho maestro acuda a este negocio con el cuidado que caso tan grave requiere. Y para mayor solemnidad acudirá a hacer el dicho juramento de fidelitate ante cualquiera religioso sacerdote de la orden de nuestro padre San Agustín, a quien lo cometemos. Y para que conste, dimos la presente firmada de nuestra mano, sellada con el sello de nuestras armas, refrendada de nuestro secretario. Dada en Manila, en nuestro palacio a ocho de enero de mil seiscientos cuarenta años. [rúbricas] Fray Hernando, Arzobispo. Por mandado de Su Señoría Ilustrísima, Diego Núñez.

ACEPTACIÓN DE LA COMISIÓN POR EL MAESTRO JOSEPH CABRAL
(18 de enero de 1640)

En el pueblo de Casaysay, visita del de Taal, en dieciocho días del mes de enero de mil seiscientos cuarenta años, el maestro Joseph Cabral, cura beneficiado del partido de Balayan, dijo que por cuanto Su Ilustrísima del Sr. D. fray Hernando Guerrero, Arzobispo de estas islas y del Consejo de Su Majestad, le da comisión para la averiguación del milagro de Nuestra Señora de Casaysay, como más largamente consta de la comisión de esta otra parte. Y para usar de ella.

AUTO PARA EL NOMBRAMIENTO DE LOS OFICIALES E INTÉRPRETES
(18 de enero de 1640)

En el pueblo de Casaysay, en dieciocho días del mes de enero de mil seiscientos cuarenta años, el maestro Joseph Cabral, cura beneficiado del partido de Balayan y juez de comisión para la averiguación del milagro de Nuestra Señora de este dicho pueblo, dijo ser necesario primero nombrar un nuncio cursor e intérpretes en lengua sangleya y tagala, y los demás oficiales que sean necesarios para el dicho efecto; y que sean personas de satisfacción y confianza. Y a cada una se les despache nombramiento en forma. Y por este auto así lo proveyó y firmó.

[Rúbricas]

Maestro Cabral.

Ante mí,
Alonso Márquez, notario.

English Translation

Year 1640—Inquiry into the miracle performed by Our Lady of Caysasay upon Juan Ynbin, a Christian Sangley.

COMMISSION OF ARCHBISHOP FRAY HERNANDO GUERRERO TO INVESTIGATE THE MIRACLE
(January 8, 1640)

We, Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, by the grace of God and of the Holy Apostolic See, Metropolitan Archbishop of these Philippine Islands and member of His Majesty’s Council.

Whereas there has come into our hands a testimony, duly authenticated and signed by Alonso Márquez, public notary of the province of Balayan, within the bounds of our diocese, stating that an image of Our Lady the Virgin Mary, Queen of the Angels, which is in the church of Caysasay, a dependent chapel of the priory of Taal, has performed a miracle involving a Christian Sangley named Juan Ynbin, a stonemason who, at that time, was helping with the construction of that church; and whereas he was seized together with other Sangleys and left for dead by the executioners, on account of the general uprising carried out by the people of Calamba, the Parián of this city, and those of Santa Cruz. He was inflicted with grievous and penetrating wounds, so that he was left for dead.

It appears that the said Juan Ynbin had recently confessed to Father Preacher Fray Alonso Rodríguez, prior of the said convent of Taal, and had commended himself to the said image so that she might deliver him from death. According to the said testimony, he had four penetrating wounds, any one of which would naturally have been fatal. The principal nerves of his neck had been severed by blows of a machete, and he had also received two spear thrusts in the body, in the right breast. It is further stated that he had remained for three full days without eating or drinking, without receiving any treatment, and had been exposed to the water and the elements.

The said Juan Ynbin also stated and declared that the said image had appeared to him and had drawn him out of the sea, where he had first been found when she came to his aid. She then brought him to the shore and onto dry land, upon a white leaf. As she was bringing him along, crocodiles and other fearsome fish moved away and fled at the sight of the said image. Having brought him ashore, she commanded him to return and continue his work. When he told her that he did not know the way to Caysasay, where her church was being built, she showed him the way and carried him across a river without his getting wet. Thus, as he continued on his way, he reached the said place and stayed in a vault of the said church.

The said witness further attests that, despite the great size and depth of the wounds, they neither emitted an odor nor became swollen, as wounds naturally tend to do after twenty-four hours, especially those exposed to water. All these circumstances are effects that could not have occurred without a particular miracle and the assistance of so great a Lady.

For the greater honor and glory of her and of her precious and blessed Son, it is important that this most extraordinary miracle be authenticated through an inquiry into everything that happened, so that the faithful may likewise be encouraged in their devotion.

For this purpose, we delegate our authority and jurisdiction, in their full extent, to Master Joseph Cabral, parish priest and vicar of the district of Balayan, so that he may conduct an inquiry into the matter, calling all witnesses who may have direct or indirect knowledge of this case, whether in whole or in part. He shall, if necessary, receive a new declaration from the said Juan Ynbin, and shall undertake all judicial and extrajudicial proceedings that may be appropriate.

For greater security, he shall appoint a court messenger and process server to assist in the proceedings, administering to him an oath that he will faithfully and properly perform all the duties pertaining to his office. He shall appoint the said Alonso Márquez, public notary, as notary of this case, whom we hereby designate for that office. He shall receive from him the oath of fidelity, and shall appoint trustworthy and competent interpreters, together with such other officials as may be necessary in this matter.

Once the said inquiry has been completed, he shall send it to us as a closed and sealed case record. We charge the said Master to attend to this matter with the care required by so grave a case.

For greater solemnity, he shall take the said oath of fidelity before any religious priest of the Order of our Father Saint Augustine, whom we hereby authorize for this purpose.

In witness whereof, we have issued this document, signed by our own hand, sealed with the seal bearing our arms, and countersigned by our secretary.

Given in Manila, at our palace, on the eighth day of January, one thousand six hundred and forty.

[Signatures]

Fray Hernando, Archbishop.

By order of His Most Illustrious Lordship,
Diego Núñez.

ACCEPTANCE OF THE COMMISSION BY MASTER JOSEPH CABRAL
(January 18, 1640)

In the town of Caysasay, a dependent chapel of Taal, on the eighteenth day of January, one thousand six hundred and forty, Master Joseph Cabral, parish priest of the district of Balayan, declared that His Most Illustrious Lordship, the Most Reverend Don Fray Hernando Guerrero, Archbishop of these islands and member of His Majesty’s Council, had granted him a commission to investigate the miracle of Our Lady of Caysasay, as is more fully set forth in the commission on the preceding page. And, in order to carry out that commission...

DECREE FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIALS AND INTERPRETERS
(January 18, 1640)

In the town of Caysasay, on the eighteenth day of January, one thousand six hundred and forty, Master Joseph Cabral, parish priest of the district of Balayan and judge commissioned to investigate the miracle of Our Lady of this said town, declared that it was first necessary to appoint a court messenger and process server, interpreters in the Sangley and Tagalog languages, and such other officials as might be necessary for this purpose; and that these should be persons of proven reliability and trustworthiness.

A formal appointment shall be issued to each of them. And by this decree he so ordered and signed.

[Signatures]

Master Cabral.

Before me,
Alonso Márquez, Notary.

¹ Transcription and translation of “Año de 1640—Información Sobre el Milagro que Nuestra Señora de Caysasay usó con Juan Ynbin, Sangley Cristiano,” online at “The 1762 Archive.”