_ 10 _ The needs of the members of our Society are very great in these parts, mainly in the cities of Ormuz and Diu rather than in Goa, because for lack of preachers and spiritual personnel many Portuguese live outside our low. Because I consider this need so great, I shall send Antonio Gomez to Diu and Ormuz, since God Our Father has given him so much talent and fervour in preaching, administering confession, giving spiritual Exercises and conversing with the Christians: and I shall send Master Gasper to the Sants Fe college. Summary of pp. 234-6 My dear Brother, you would perform a great service to God if you came with members of the Society to India and if, among them, were seven or eight preachers. These would not need to be men of erudition, since the infidel in this region are unlettered people, but rather men of virtue and experience. One preacher, accompanied by a priest to give confession and Spiritual Exercises, could easily open a college, first for children of the Portuguese, and then for those of the locals. I have received a great deal of information about the island of Japan, which is 200 or more leagues beyond China, from Portuguese who have been there and from some Japanese. These came with me last year from Malaca and became Christians in the Santa Fe College in Goa. I am
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