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• 29 Returning from Taos back to the land of the Queres nation, and going westward for twelve leagues from Santa Ana, its last pueblo, you will come to the Great Rock of Acoma. This place has cost the lives of very many Spaniards and friendly Indians, as much due to its notched and impregnable rock as to the great courage of its inhabitants , who must number about two thousand souls. And in this past year of 1629, God was well served: we were able to pacify them, and they now have a friar who is teaching them the catechism and baptizing them. Our Lord has confirmed the truth of this holy sacrament of baptism with a miracle. Here is how it happened. A little creature only a year old was dying, literally in the throes of her last breaths, in the arms of her mother. The mother was weeping over her as though she were dead. The padre said to her that, as he had been teaching, if she loved the baby enough, she should allow her to be baptized so that should she die, she would still enjoy eternal glory in heaven. And although the mother was a pagan, she took the baby to the friar and asked him to baptize the child. At this, the padre said, “Well, my daughter, have faith, because this holy baptismal water is quite powerful. It can revive your child.” And sprinkling it on the baby and saying the baptismal words, a marvelous 16. TheGreatRock ofAcoma 30 • Chapter 16 thing happened: the little girl arose and was well and healthy. She fell upon her mother’s breasts, and was cheerful and endearing to the padre, showing by her actions, since she could not yet speak, how grateful she was for the good he had done. Seeing all this, every one of those Indians was confirmed in the Faith. With great devotion they quickly began to pray that they be baptized. Blessed be God for all this. ...

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