Letter 8. To F. Ambrose Mariano of St. Benedict

Prior of

MADRID Containing wholesome instructions for the training of novices

JESUS

Be in the soul of your reverence. Our need of religious is very great, as your reverence knows, because of the many foundations. It is therefore necessary that your reverence should have patience until father Michael leave this place to wait at Pastrana for the father provincial ;

the foundation of the convent of Molina being nearly completed. It has seemed good to the fathers also to assign to your reverence a sub-prior, and have made choice of father Angelus, believing that he will agree perfectly with the prior, which is most necessary in a monastery. Your reverence will give to each of these his letters patent, and will not fail to take care that no priest meddle or converse with the novices, for as your reverence knows, nothing is more injurious to them than to pass through many hands, or that strangers should frequent the novices. Since, however, you have so many under your care, it is reasonable that you should help and relieve father Angelus. Give him authority, as he is already sub-prior, that he may be more considered in the house.

It does not seem that father Michael is so much needed here, and he might do greater service to the order else where. Of father Gratian nothing new, except that father Antony is now here.

FR. JOHN OF THE CROSS.

From SEGOVIA : Nov. 9, 1588.

[St. John was now the president of the consultors in the absence of Father Nicholas Doria, and therefore wrote this letter as a member of the council.]