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Life of Gregory Lopez
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THE LIFE OF GREGORY LOPEZ.
CHAP. I.
Of the Birth and Employments of Gregory Lopez till his going to New-Spain.
GRegory Lopez was born at Madridin Spain. He seemed to have had
neither Father nor Mother, nor Kindred
as S. Paul said of Melchisedech
inasmuch as never any heard him
speak of his Parentage; nor, in all the time
he was in these parts of New Spain, which
was four and thirty years, writ he to his
Kindred, or asked after them. And this
hath occasioned some curious persons to
imagine, that he was very nobly descended;
the Son of some prime Gentleman of Castile:
which they gathered likewise from
his behaviour, being discreet, noble, and full
of an humble gravity; which he manifested
when he treated with any Ecclesiastick, or
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Secular person of quality: for, observingalways the due respect and reverence sutable
to every ones condition, he had an admirable
Liberty of spirit, wherewith he spake
to them; and resolution, wherewith he treated
any business with them. This is the opinion,
some had of the linage of Gregory Lopez;
all, that I could gather from certain discourses
I had with him on this subject, is,
that his parents were rather poor, than rich;
yet, of what rank they were, I could never
learn; though a few dayes before his death,
I resolved to ask him their names, that I
might make to them a relation of, and they
might rejoice, and reap edification from, so
good a life, and death. Whereunto he made
me this answer: Since I went into the field to
lead a solitary life, I have held God only for my
Father; my Brethren by this time may be dead,
for I was the yongest. Such an oblivion of his
Family retained this Servant of God; esteeming
all nobility as baseness; and only
valuing the power, that God hath given us
to make our selves his Sons in the Spirit.
He was born the 4th. of July in the Year
1542. on the Day whereon was then kept
the feast of S. Gregory Thaumaturgus, though
now this Festivity be transferred to the 17th
of November. He was baptized in the Parish
of S. Giles, and called Gregory, because
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born on the forementioned day. The nameof Lopez I take not for that of his House;
but that he was willing to assume it for disguising
his Family. He had two Sisters, and
divers Brothers; and, though Gregory was
in age the yongest of all, yet it is credible,
that he surpassed them in merit, and in the
true Nobility, that derives from Vertue.
Our Lord prevented him with his Grace
very early in his Childhood; for, asked by
me on a certain occasion when he had begun
to serve God, whether it were as soon
as he had the use of reason; he answered,
he knew not for certain, whether it were
then, or a little after: but that he was very
sure, that our Lord called him very early,
so that he had never been a childe in his manners.
And he used to say, as one well experienced,
what the Holy Ghost spake by
Jeremias: That it would go well with the
man, who hath carried Gods yoke from his
youth. Lam. 3.27.
In his Childhood he learnt to reade, and
write, wherein he proved very eminent: as
may be seen sufficiently in certain papers,
we have, written by his own hand, so fair,
eaven, and curious, that they look like Printing.
It is a thing averred, and by him also
plainly confessed, that he never learned Latine;
nor any of the liberall Arts: Whence
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it follows, that in many things he had onlyGod for his Master; and by his sole conduct
arrived to many natural, and divine truths,
which men that spend their whole life in
those studies, can scarcely attain to, or learn
out of Books: as in its place we shall relate.
A grave, and creditable Person told me,
that Gregory Lopez, being very young, went
without acquainting his Parents to the
Kingdom of Navarr; where he lived six
Years, or more with a Hermite; and when
his Father seeking him very carefully at last
found him, he brought him to Valladolid,
where at that time the Court was: and there
made him serve as a Page, much against his
will. Of this I have no further certainty,
than that I mentioned. But I understood from
Gregory Lopez himself, that he had lived at
Burgos, which is in the way from Madrid to
Navarr: and he related concerning that City
certain things of edification, and devotion.
He told me also, that he had been some time
a Page at Court: yet neither the bravery, nor
business of the Court could make him forget
our Lord, or that interior recollection,
to which he found himself called. To which
purpose I have heard him say that when
he was sent on a message by his Lord it
was his principall care to go talking, and
conversing mentally with God.
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He likewise told me, that, when hecame to this coast of New Spain, he had
spent some days at our Lady's of Guadalupe,
watching the night in prayer at that
holy House, beseeching the Perpetuall
Virgin, the Guide of Pilgrims, to obtain
for him Light of her Blessed Son to perform
the voyage he had designed and it is certain,
that most merciful Virgin by a particular
Revelation directed his voyage for
New Spain; which course he very chearfully
undertook: and this matter he discoursed
very particularly with a certain
friend of his. He likewise told me, that,
being one day in prayer in the holy Church
of Toledo, he received a singular regalo,
and favour from our Lord, the like to
which till then he never enjoyed: and, it
may be, it was concerning this his way, and
that our Lord shewed him favour in it. I
have not hitherto heard in what other
affairs it was that he employed those first
twenty Years of his Life.
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CHAP .II.
How he came to New Spain, and began to leade a Solitary Life among the Indian Chichimecos.
I could never fully understand concerningGregory Lopez what motives he had
for coming into these quarters, except
those above mentioned; though he could
not deny to me, that the principal cause
was the greater glory of God: who, as
may be supposed, meant to take this his
Servant from his country, and from amidst
his Kindred, like another Abraham; both
to try his faith and obedience, and to conduct
him into the Desert, and there speak
to him in his heart, Hos. 2. 14.
He was some Twenty Years old when
he arrived at the Port of S. John de Ulua:
and in the City of Veracruz, he gave away
in alms certain white Stuffs, he brought
with him; which, as they assured me,
might be to the value of about eight hundred
Crowns. From thence he went to
Mexico; but what befell him in that
journy is not particularly known. Being
come to the City, he was some dayes with
S. Roman a Notary, and also with the
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Secretary Turcios, to get by his pen wherewithto defray his charges for passing to
Zacatecas, where he hoped to find better
convenience for that solitary life, which
he so desired. For the further certainty of
this his first coming to Mexico I will produce
a Letter, which Lewis Zapata in the
Year 1591. writ from the Mines of Tasco
to the same Gregory Lopez to Sancta-Fee,
where he then was. Twenty nine, or Thirty
Years since dwelling in the street of Tacuba
in Mexico, there came a Gentleman from
Spain, and lodged in my house, clad in
Serge; who also fasted that Lent with bread,
and water: he was called Gregory Lopez;
they tell me, you also go by that name. Do me
the favour to write, whether you be he, and
to commend me to God, &c. Gregory writ
back in the same Letter only these words.
I am he, you mention; and will do what you
request me. A stile, surely, very discreet,
and so much more becoming
Christian prudence, as it is far from those
Complements, and superfluity of words
wherein others spend paper, and time,
about things of little importance.
Gregory departed from Mexico for
Zacatecas, not out of greediness of wealth,
which hath peopled those Mines with a
multitude of inhabitants, but out of a desire
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of getting that pure gold of Charity,which our Lord Christ counsels us to buy
of his Majesty, to make us rich. He staid
some few days at Zacatecas, where, being
one day in the chief Piazza of that City,
at the time when the Waggons departed
for Mexico with the Plate, he chanced to
see the huge confusion, and tumults of
Arrests, oaths, perjuries, threats, quarrells,
and debates: insomuch as that two
drawing their swords at that very instant
killed each other upon the place.
This encreased his desire of retiring
from the conversation of men, seeing what
disorders, and extremities they incurr
for a litle earth. And having formerly felt
in himself a very vehement impulse, and
clear call from our Lord to retreat to Solitude,
he changed his costly clothes he wore,
for a course canvas and went eight
Leagues further into the Country, to the
Valley of Amayac, near the Chichimecos,
whose cruelty in those times was much
feared by the Spaniards. But, being the
servant of God, he went sufficiently armed
with patience, and having begun the war
with invisible Enemies, the Infernall
powers, dreaded not the visible, Men especially,
whose inhumanity, and barbarousness,
he thought, by Gods grace,
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to overcome with great kindness, andcondescendence. In this place he with his
own hands built a litle Cell, or Cabbin,
wherein those very Indians assisted him,
which continueth to this day: though
more properly we may term it an Hermitage,
being the first, we know of, that
was made in New Spain. Here he began
to lead a solitary life in his entring upon
the one and twentieth Year of his age. The
generous Youth then seeing himself in the
field, or lifts, where he was to engage in
such furious conflicts with the enemy;
the first thing he did, was to put himself
into the hands of God, and place himself
under the shadow of his most faithfull defence,
and protection, using these words.
Lord here I go forth only to serve you, and not
to make any account at all of my self; if I
perish, on your account be it: and meerly
for your sake. By which words Gregory
did not mean that his soul could perish
by Gods means, he doing on his part what
he ought, and was able: for, this could
not be imagined of a person, naturally, adorned
with so great an understanding;
and, supernaturally, endowed with so
much light. But by this manner of speech
he expressed a heart wholly resigned to
God, and enflamed with the love of his
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Honour, that on his account, and meerlyfor his service, not his own, he came
thither, and on the same account, if so
was his Divine pleasure, there would
perish.
From the very instant that Gregory Lopez
made this Act, he found the favour of our
Lord very present with him, and began to
walk with great courage in the narow path
to Perfection: wherein he went not a step
back, nor ever stopped, nor lost sight of that
light, and clarity, wherewith God guided
him in this way. He armed himself with
austerities, and mortifications of his Body;
which he macerated with continuall
abstinences: for, he used to eat but once
a day, though his meal were but short, &
of little nourishment: the most of his
time, it was only Indian Maiz or wheat
parched, with the Indians call Cacalote.
And this custom he observed with such rigor
to his death, that on no occasion, though
of dangerous sickness, he ever left it off:
He never eat flesh. If they sent him in alms
some slices of Beef, he thankfully received
them, disguising his abstinence, but eat
them not. His ordinary bread was little
cakes of Maiz. He suffered some affronts
from the Spanish souldiers, that passed that
way to seek out the Indian Chichimecos,
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& take them prisoners. Some termed him,a Lutheran Heretick, because he did not
hear Mass: not considering, that the nighest
place, where it was said, was seven
Leagues or 24. Miles from his Cottage;
notwithstanding at the prime Feasts he
went to hear it, and presently returned
to his solitude. Others called him fool,
for chusing so dangerous a dwelling; telling
him. Methinks, you smell of the Grave
already. But the souldier of Christ little regarded
those terrours; for our Lord had
imprinted in the barbarous Indians such a
love, and reverence toward him, that,
though they killed with their wonted cruelty
the other Spaniards there about, when
they came to Gregory's habitation, they
saluted him by signes, and with severall
gestures, and motions of their countenance
and hands, offering him Tunas a fruit
that grows there and some Conies: and
those who had gotten some words of Latine
said Deo gratias to him; shewing
themselves as courteous, and civill to
him, as if he had been one of their own
Nation, or their Brother; and so they very
willingly helped him to build his little
Cottage. Whence may be seen, how
powerfull good example, and an humble,
and milde behaviour is, to conquer, and
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soften the hearts, even of wild beasts.I have heard it related for certain,
that, Gregory once making a ditch for a
litle garden he had there, one called Martin
Mroena, who had a farm not far from
that place, saw him surrounded with Angells,
wherupon he came with great devotion,
and tears, and told it to his wife
Donna Maria de Mercado importuning
him much to acquaint her with the reason
of that change, and alteration she saw in
him at his return.
CHAP. III.
The combats wherewith our Lord in this time did exercise him, and the remedies he furnished him withall, to bring him off victorious.
ALthough the austerity of Gregory intreating his Body was very great; as
likewise his suffering inconveniences, and
want of necessaries afforded him occasion
of meriting; yet all this was pleasant in
comparison of the Interior Exercise,
wherewith our Lord continually tried
him. And though in particular he told me
12
not, in what kind, or way this Exercise,and triall was, yet he often assured me,
the violence of the Combat was such, that
he admired how he had been able to persevere,
and that his hair stood an end,
when he remembred those times. This he
said being now an old Souldier and much
experienced in such assaults. Upon an occasion
that offered it self he, though very
modestly, told a Confident of his, that he
had a hot skirmish with the Devill, and
came to a spirituall grappling with him;
and such was the contention, that therein
the blood burst out at his ears, and nostrills.
The remedy, he used on such occasions,
was prayer, wherein he persevered night,
and day: and it was but necessary, for his
not yielding to his Enemy, to employ all
his strength in requesting it. Now, among
the sentiments which our Lord for his
support, and consolation, gave him in
Prayer, there was one very singular in
these words: Fiat voluntas tua, sicut in
cœlo, & in terra. Amen, Jesus. Which he
repeated continually; so that for the space
of three Years every time he breathed, he
uttered them mentally at each respiration,
without failing, or forgetting himself:
nor did either eating, or drinking, or discoursing
with any make him intermit this
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Exercise. And, I asking him if he couldpossibly remember those words, when he
first awaked; he answered me, Yes: and
that, so duly, that being awake, he breathed
not a second time, before he called
them to mind. A thing very strange indeed,
yet not impossible to Gregory, as
suting with the great vigilance, and constancy,
which our Lord gave him in all
that, which he represented to him, to be
the divine Will, and advantageous for
his Soul.
At the end of three Years, wherein he
exercised himself in the meditating, and
ruminating on the forementioned words,
finding himself much improved thereby,
and greatly conformed to the Will of
God, in whatsoever his Majesty thought
fit to ordain concerning him, the same
Lord was pleased to put him upon another
Exercise, not so much of words, as
works, which was an ardent Love of
God, and his Neighbours, wherein that
religious Soul setled it self, as in a vertue
the most heroical and most acceptable
to our Lord. Supported with so solid, and
firm a foundation, he went always increasing
and ascending from Vertue to
Vertue, without ever cooling in this amorous
affection of Charity, wherein the
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Divine Goodness had grounded, and fortifiedhim: as shall be seen hereafter.
CHAP. XII.
Of other remarkable things, whereby our Lord evidenced the Sanctity of Gregory Lopez.
AT the same hour that Gregory died,a Religious Woman, much exercised
in Vertue and the way of
interior living, with whom the Holy Man
communicated in the union of Spiritual
Life, being in Prayer absorpt in Spirit,
saw Him come toward her, saying these
words: Sister, I am going to Heaven; you
shall not go so soon, because your presence is
necessary for the service of God, and comfort
of this Convent: And so he instantly
disappeared, leaving her soul much edified,
and fully resigned to the will of God;
though her desires were to be loosed
15
from her mortal flesh, and be with Christ.She, before the news came to Mexico of
Gregory Lopez's death, imparted this
Revelation to her Confessor; who, certified
of the truth of it, counselled the said
party to conceal what had been revealed
to her, till God should declare what was
to be done. He also advised her, by using
more prayer, to try whether this
Spirit were of God, or some evil Angel.
Twelve days after she told her Confessor,
it was our Lords will, she should reveal
this to me; because I had enquired concerning
what had passed. And these
words also were spoken to her from the
mouth of her Heavenly Spouse Jesus
Christ: Wherefore, thinkest thou, is Gregory
seated near unto me? But because,
for me, he forsook all the temporal things of
this life, and lived with inward Recollection,
and silence.
I was told by a Religious Woman, of
whose Vertue and Spirit I am much satisfied,
that some five years before the
Death of Gregory as she lay on her Bed
after Prime because at that time she was
sick our Lord in her sleep shewed her
the Heaven open, out of which went in
Procession all the Religious Orders, and
divers Martyrs, and likewise the B. Virgin
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our Lady, with many Women-Saints,and Christ our Lord with his Apostles;
she wondering thereat, it was told her,
they went to visit the holy Gregory Lopez
who was sick. Afterward she heard
that he was then like to dy, and in five
days he had not eat a bit.
A Person, whose wisdome, vertue, and
humility is very well known to all, out of
an affection of devotion, and love which
he bare to the holy Man, desired him a
few days before his Death to remember
him; he promised, he would. And, the
first Saturday-Night after his death he
saw in his sleep a Vision, wherewith he awaked,
and perceived it was the shape of
Holy Gregory, whose blessed Soul united
it self to the body of this person, and
with very great Jubilee made him bless
and praise God in his Saints, and especially
in the Holy Confessor Gregory. This
passed a while; and he composed again
to rest with much joy and consolation
felt himself again touched all over his
body; and, being awaked, a second time
that appearance of Gregory seizeth him,
moving him extraordinarily, and urging
him to praise God, without his deliberating
thereon, or being able for an instant
to cease. It likewise made him discerne,
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and confess, how unworthy he was ofsuch a favour, and how much obliged to
serve God, and render thanks for that
Visit of his faithful Friend.
A Servant of God, of approved vertue,
whom our Lord instructs, and encourages
by frequent Extasies, and
Rapts being one day, ten years before
Gregory died, tortured and full of pain,
inwardly recollecting himself he began to
contemplate the sublimity of Gregory's
Spirit. And, being rapt in spirit by this
consideration, there was represented to
the eyes of his mind an Image so Crystalline
and transparent, as he might see
through it; and it was told him, Such is
the Soul of Gregory Lopez. At which
he wondred and rejoiced exceedingly,
telling it to Gregory, who answered him
not a word.
A certain Religious Man, that led a
Spiritual life, much addicted to Prayer,
as he was praying once in the Quire, receiving
from God by Gregory's intercession
such a clear knowledge of his nothingness,
as much edifies all that converse
with him, and likewise such a great
love of God, and union with his Divine
Majesty, that, it being about two
Months since he received this favour, he
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hath never discontinued this Union, butpersevered in one continued Act thereof.
A certain Priest, much affected with
the vertue and Spirit of this Holy Man,
and who had great hopes of being assisted
in the presence of God by his Prayer,
thinking once on Gregory who died a
little before and on his happy condition,
and how prevalent with God he
was, was bid in his sleep, Ask, ask;
and in obedience to the direction he asked
our Lord a thing which, till then, he
could never obtain. And presently the
same day it was granted him: and by this
means he procured other things, not for
himself only, but also for others.
Another man, one spiritual and devout,
who was wont to come and ask
counsel of Gregory Lopez, desiring the
same likewise after his death, it was said
to him: Judge not thy Neighbours, and be
more Temperate. Wherewith, he told
me, he received considerable benefit in
his Soul.
Many other things, like these, our
Lord hath effected; whereby is discovered
the great glory, with which his Divine
Bounty hath honoured Gregory,
since his happy Passage; and by numerous
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Miracles attested his eminent sanctity.CHAP. XIII.
Of some Miracles, which God did by the Reliques of Gregory Lopez.
IT is usual, and peculiar for God to ennoblehis Friends, not in their celestial
Country only, where they live
eternally, but in this Exile likewise,
where they are deceased; and to honour
such at their Death, who honoured him
in their Life; and, for manifesting the
righteous works of the Just, to effect by
him works miraculous: God's power by
Miracles honouring him, who served
and honoured God by his Vertues. And,
because those of Gregory were so conspicuous,
the Divine Bounty hath done and
doth every day such a number of Miracles
for this his Servant, that, had any care
and diligence been used, in collecting and
approving them, we might at present
compose a very ample Relation thereof.
And I trust in God, he will not cease to
do more, for his greater glory, the honour
20
of this Holy Man, and our profitand edification. I will here relate only
some of the most authentick, and unquestionable.
That very day he was interred, an Indian
Woman of quality, Wife to the Governour
of this Village, lame of one Arm,
and in great pain thereby, at the same
instant that she took Gregory Lopez's
Hand into hers to kiss it, found her self
well and cured, and quit of all pain; rendering
thanks to our Lord for the mercy
he had shewn her by this his Servant's
means.
Four days after Gregory's death, a litle
Girl of five or six years old, that by eating
of earth had got a disease very dangerous,
by reason of great obstructions,
a swelling in her belly, a strong fever, with
swellings in her head, and heart. Being
thus, sore afflicted, she said these words
to her Mistress a Lady very Noble in
blood, but more in piety, and the retreat
which she chose, and observes in the Monastery
of our Lady of the Conception, at
Mexico Mother, lest God take me away,
apply to me that little welt of Gregory Lopez's,
that was given you: for he will cure
me. The Lady did so, leaving the Child
that night in a great Fever; and, when
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she rise to Mattins, as she used to dowent to see her by the way, and found
her quit of her fever, and asleep. She
awakens her, and asks her, Child, how
dost thou? Well; replied she, for, your
Saint hath cured me of my distemper. The
Lady aforesaid gave our Lord many
thanks for so great a Miracle.
Another principal Lady in Mexico had
such a violent head-ach, that she was like
to go besides her self, and, finding no
help from any other remedies, she light
on one very singular and efficacious, in
having in the house a Sleeve of Gregory
Lopez's Doublet, which was preserved
with great devotion and veneration.
They laid it on her head, and immediatly
she took some rest, and awaked perfectly
cured of her grief.
A Child of three Months old, the first
and only Son of his Parents, who were of
the best rank in Mexico, had a strong
Fever, unable either to suck, or sleep. In
this sadness and affliction of all those of
the family, and kindred, a Servant remembered
her self of a certain Relique of
the holy Gregory Lopez that was in the
house; which at the same instant that it
was applied to the Childs head, he fell
asleep, and some few hours after awaked,
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took the Breast, and was well.His Parents and those that were present
gave great thanks to God, and the Saint,
for this Miracle.
In the same City was a Priest in such
extreme pain with the Toothach, that for
three days and nights he could not rest
one minute, and by its violence his face
was much swelled. His Mother gave
him a piece of Gregory's garment, which
he with faith and devotion applied to his
Cheek, and presently fell into a sleep,
which continued from Nine a-clock that
night till morning, and awaking found
his face without either swelling, or pain:
attributing so sudden a recovery to the
Holy man's intercession, and rendering
for it thanks to our Lord.
In the house of a Gentleman of Mexico,
a person well known in the Kingdom,
there befell a Slave of his such an unexpected
accident and sad misfortune, that,
by reason of a fit he had, all present took
him for dead. A Gentlewoman that
was by, remembring that she had in her
custody a piece of the Shirt in which
Gregory Lopez died, given her by me
sent for a little Casket, and, taking out
the said Relique, she laid it on the infirm
Man's forehead, and immediatly he came
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to himself, perfectly well, though exceedinglybruised; and being asked, what
he felt, he answered, Nothing. All that
saw the passage with its particular circumstances
could not but ascribe this
cure to a Miracle, which our Lord
wrought by his Servant Gregory Lopez.
In the City de los Angeles an Honourable
Lady was near the point of death by
the Meazils that befell her nigh her time
of lying in, the Infant being dead in her
Womb. Her Husband, seeing her in
such danger, intreated a Brother of the
Convalescents, called John Vallcio, to go
visit her. He went, and took with him
a piece of Gregory's garment, and, applying
it to the sick party's neck, said to
her: Madam, trust in God; for his Servant
Gregory Lopez will obtain your recovery;
and bear great reverence to this his
Relique; as it seems, she did: for, being
safe delivered, she was presently well.
The said Brother in the same Town applied
that same Relique to a sick Woman,
who a long time had such terrible pains in
her head, that she cried out continually
night and day; wishing her to put great
confidence in our Lord, that by the merits
of Gregory Lopez he would give her
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health. His Majesty presently did so: andshe was very thankful to God, and
devout to him, who by his intercession
had freed her from so excessive pain.
In the City of Tlaxcala a Young man
had a miserable Leprosy, and having tried
divers, and spent much in order to his
cure in vain, a Brother of the Convalescents
gave him a piece of Gregory's garment,
bidding him apply it to his neck,
and take this Servant of God for his Advocate,
with great confidence of his recovery.
And within eight days space he
grew well, and quit from his Leprosy
divulged this Miracle, publishing with
signal gratitude the wonders of God, and
the praises of Gregory.
In a Village of this Kingdome called
Hihualapa a Gentleman for Sixteen
Months was tortured extremely with
the Colick, without being free one day
or hour in all that time; yea, the last
twenty days, his pain left him not one
minute. A Gentlewoman happened to
be present, Wife to the Chief Justice of
that Province, who told him, she had
seen wonderful things done by the devotion
those in her house bare to the holy
Gregory Lopez; and, if he, with like faith,
took him for an Intercessor to the Divine
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Goodness, he might be confident ofhealth. The Sick Man hearing this took
a piece of Gregory's Shirt; applying it to
the place where his pain was sharpest,
and, holding it there a little while, presently
voided a stone of the bigness of an
ordinary Pine-kernel. Hereupon he recovered,
never after feeling the foresaid
pain, and held it for certain, that this
favour and cure was granted him by the
merits and intercession of Gregory Lopez,
to whom he continued very devout and
grateful.
A Brother of the Convalescents, called
Alonso de la Fuente, was six years in the
Hospital of Guasteca, almost continually
sick, full of plaisters, and both legs having
ulcers running upon them. The
Chief Brother seeing him thus helpless,
and that, besides these and other indispositions
& pains, there rise in his forehead a
knob or swelling as big as an egg, and another
in his ankle, little less, both very
painful, he removed him to the Hospital
in the Island of S. John de Ulua, conceiving
that, it being a hotter Climate, he
might recover there. It fell out quite
contrary; for, by reason of the moisture
from the Sea, and the cold of the Northwinds,
he grew much worse. This Brother
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being one day extreme sad and troubled,recommending himself to our Lord,
and his Saints, earnestly besought the
Servant of God Gregory Lopez to procure
him his health; and recalling to mind
certain Reliques of his given him at Guastepa,
he applied them to his head with
a night-cap, and to his leg with bands,
and taking off the plaisters and patches,
he wore, threw them into the Sea; and
within three or four days, after he had
applied the said Reliques, without any
other medicine, he found himself perfectly
cured of his Maladies, swellings,
and pains, which never troubled him
more. Whereby he plainly perceived,
the intercession of this his great Servant
was very powerful with God.