Today (March 31), we commemorate a great historical event that took place 505 years ago in the Philippines, an event believed to have unfolded under Divine Providence. On March 31, 1521, Spanish explorers, bearing the Standard of the Cross and representing King Charles I of Spain, also Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, celebrated the first Mass in the Philippine Islands. This momentous occasion was led by the renowned navigator Ferdinand Magellan, together with a secular priest, Fr. Pedro Valderrama.
The Italian chronicler Antonio Pigafetta recorded this solemn event, which occurred on the last day of March, a day like today. It was also Easter Sunday, when two native rulers were, for the first time, introduced to the worship of the true God:
«On Sunday, the last day of March, and feast of Easter, the captain sent the chaplain ashore early to say mass, and the interpreter went with him to tell the king that they were not coming on shore to dine with him, but only to hear the mass. The king, hearing that, sent two dead pigs. When it was time for saying mass, the captain went ashore with fifty men, not with their arms but only with their swords, and dressed as well as each one was able. Before the boats reached the shore, our ships fired six cannon shots as a sign of peace.
At our landing, the two kings were there and received our captain in a friendly manner, placing him between them. We then went to the place prepared for the Mass, not far from the shore. The captain sprinkled musk rose water upon the two kings. During the offertory, they approached to kiss the cross as we did, though they offered nothing. At the elevation of the Body of our Lord, they knelt like us, with hands joined in adoration. The ships fired all their artillery at that moment. After the Mass, each fulfilled the duty of a Christian by receiving Communion. Thereafter, the captain had his men perform a display of sword-play, which greatly pleased the kings.»
After the Mass, a cross was planted by Magellan on top of a nearby hill. Fray Gaspar de San Agustín later recounted this moment:
«The first cross was raised, which Ferdinand Magellan himself placed on a hill not far from the shore, with tears and deep devotion from all who witnessed the standard of Christ our Redeemer being lifted in lands so distant—lands long believed to have been under darkness. There, he also formally claimed the territory for the Crown of Castile in the name of Charles V.»
It was at this moment that the people of these islands were delivered from the darkness of spiritual ignorance and error, and were brought into the marvelous light of the true Faith. Those who had long lived in pagan ways were enlightened by the Gospel, and through the grace of God, came to know and worship the one true Lord.
In this, true liberty was bestowed upon the natives, not merely of the body, but of the soul, for the gates of heaven were opened to them through the truths of the Catholic religion. Thus, by Divine Providence, they were freed from the bondage of the prince of darkness, in whose captivity they had long remained, and were led into the path of salvation and eternal life.
Lawrence Cawas, Círculo Carlista Felipe II de Manila
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