Biography
The life of Miguel Ayatumo takes place against the background of the early Jesuit missionary efforts in the island of Bohol.
In a place called Boholio (Bohol) is born to pagan parents an exceptionally attractive "Indian" child (nirio Indiesito). At the age of seven, he is baptized in the Holy Catholic Faith by Jesuit father Gabriel Sanchez and is named after the Archangel St. Michael, hence his name Miguel. For five years after baptism, he lives with his parents, who have themselves taken the rite of baptism, and so amazes everyone because, even at a tender age, he is filled with fervent piety, fasting, praying as he walks from house to school, and even flagellating his young body.
{{Infobox settlement | name = Bohol | official_name = Province of Bohol | settlement_type = Province | image_skyline = Bohol Capitol Building Tagbilaran.JPG | image_caption = Bohol Capitol Building, Tagbilaran | image_flag = Flag of Bohol Province, Philippines.svg | flag_size = 120x80px | image_seal = File:Bohol Seal 1.svg | seal_size = 90px | image_shield = | anthem = Awit sa BoholBohol Hymn | image_map = Ph locator map bohol.png | map_caption = Location in the Philippines | coordinates = 9°54′N124°12′E | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Philippines | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Central Visayas (Region VII) | established_title = Discovered by the Spanish
Founded | established_date = 25 March 1565
22 July 1854 | seat_type = Provincial Capital | seat = Tagbilaran | government_type = Sangguniang Panlalawigan | government_footnotes = | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Edgar Chatto | leader_party = PDP-LABAN | leader_title1 = Vice governor | leader_name1 = Dionisio Balite (Independent) | leader_title2 = Provincial Board
Michael is an archangel in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran systems of faith, he is called "Saint Michael the Archangel" and "Saint Michael". In the Oriental Orthodox and Eastern Orthodox religions, he is called "Saint Michael the Taxiarch".
In spiritual terminology, piety is a virtue that may include religious devotion, spirituality, or a mixture of both. A common element in most conceptions of piety is humility.
At the age of 12, Miguel enters the Jesuit boarding school or seminario where his faith so increases that he becomes a "model of perfection" for all. For four years in the school, Miguel is like an "angel," performing all his temporal and spiritual duties with utmost zeal and fidelity. He would accompany the Jesuit fathers in their missionizing forays into the surrounding territory, going ahead of them to cut a path through the foliage with his bolo, acting as carrier and cook, and standing guard at night as the priests slept. He spends all his days in prayer and meditation.
At age 13, he makes a personal vow of chastity. He applied himself to his studies with such dedication that even in the hours when the other boys are out playing in the fields, he is studying and writing for catechetical use on topics like devotion to Virgin Mary, examining one's conscience, or making a good confession, all of which he never fails to present to the priests for examination and correction. So focused is Miguel on faith that he molds his whole life as a preparation for a Christian death.
Chastity is a virtue related to temperance, one of the seven virtues and it is defined as refraining from deviant sexual conduct. Chastity is usually defined within the moral standards and guidelines of a culture, civilization or religion. The term is closely associated with sexual abstinence, especially in the context of premarital and extramarital sex.
On 19 November 1609, Miguel woke up early and went to the sacristy to help prepare for the mass. The mass over, he went to the river to assist six other boys who were there washing clothes. As he descended the steps leading to the water, he slipped and fell, striking his chest against the prow of a moored boat. Crying out Iesus, Maria, y Ioseph and murmuring the names of his titular saints, the sixteen-year-old Miguel received the last sacraments as he died. Dressed in a tunic, a fresh palm in his hand, his head adorned with a crown of flowers, he was later buried.
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records. In some countries, it is known as the vestry.
Miguel was then buried inside the Loboc Church alongside with another saintly figure, Jesuit Fr. Alonso Humanes. Both graves became subjects of pilgrimages since 1633.
The San Pedro Apostol Parish Church, commonly known as Loboc Church, is a Roman Catholic church in the municipality of Loboc, Bohol, Philippines, within the jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tagbilaran.
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