Letter 7. To the Same Religious

The holy father informs her of the foundation of the monastery at Cordova, and of the removal of the nuns in Seville

JESUS

Be in your soul. I wrote to you in haste when I left Granada for the foundation at Cordova. I have since received your letter there, and those of the gentlemen who went to Madrid, thinking that they should find me at the council. You must know, however, that it never met, for we have been waiting to finish these visitations and foundations, while our Lord is now making such haste in the matter, that we are without strength to follow Him. The friars have been received at Cordova with the greatest joy and solemnity on the part of the whole city. No Order has been better received there. All the clergy and confraternities of Cordova assembled on the occasion, and there was a solemn procession of the Most Holy Sacrament from the Cathedral Church — all the streets being decorated — with great concourse of people, as on the feast of Corpus Christi.

This took place on the Sunday after Ascension day, and the bishop preached, praising us much in his sermon. The house is in the best part of the city, and belongs to the Cathedral. I am now busied at Seville with the removal of our nuns, who have bought some very considerable houses ; though they cost about 14,000 ducats, they are worth more than 20,000. They are now established there. My lord Cardinal is to place the Blessed Sacrament there with great solemnity on the feast of St. Barnabas. Before my departure I intend to establish another house of friars here, so that there will be two of our Order in Seville. Before the feast of St. John I shall set forth for Ecija, where, with the divine blessing, we shall found another ; thence to Malaga, and then to the council. I wish I had authority to make this foundation, as I had for the others. I do not expect much from what is going on ; but I trust in God that the foundation will be made, and in the council I will do what I can ; and you may say so to these gentlemen to whom I am writing.

Send me the little book of the Stanzas of the Bride which I think Sister of the Mother of God will by this time have copied. Remember me very specially to senor Gonzalo Mufioz, I do not write for fear of being troublesome to him, and because your reverence will make known to him that which I have here related to you,

Dearest daughter in Christ,

Your servant, FR. JOHN OF THE CROSS.

From SEVILLE : June, 1586.