Letter I. To Inés Pascual

Barcelona, Dec. 6, 1524..

JHUS.

I have deemed it advisable to write this to you on account of the desire that I know you have of serving the Lord; and I well understand that at this moment you must be feeling weary, not only on account of the absence of that blessed servant whom it has pleased the Lord to call unto Himself, but also because of the enemies and the obstacles to the service of the Lord that you meet with in the place where you are, as also on account of the enemy of human nature who never ceases his temptations. For the love of God Our Lord endeavour always to carry out your desires, making nothing of the obstacles; for if you heed them not, temptation will have no strength whatever against you. That is what you must do, ever preferring the praise of the Lord to all things. And this the more, as the Lord does not command you to do things that may be injurious to your person, but on the contrary desires that you c should live joyfully in Him, giving to the body that which it may need. And let our speech, thoughts and conversation be in Him," keeping the commandments of the Lord before our eyes; for this He desires and ordains. And whosoever considers this well will find that his principal trial and difficulty in this life will be.... [The rest of the letter is lost.]

A pilgrim of the name of Calisto is in the place where you are, and I should much like you to mention to him the state of your affairs; for in truth it is possible that you may find him of greater help than you imagine.

For the love of Our Lord let us make efforts for Him, seeing that we owe Him so much; for we tire sooner of receiving His gifts than He of bestowing them upon us.

Pray to Our Lady,to intercede for us sinners to her Son and Lord, that she may obtain for us grace in our labours and trials, and may convert our weak and bad (natures into strong and joyful ones to her praise.

Barcelona, feast of St. Nicholas, 1525.

The poor pilgrim,

Inigo.*

Notes on the text

• a One MS. adds: “And about the things necessary to the body for that end.”