Letter 15. To Mother Mary of Jesus

Prioress of Cordova |

Containing much profitable advice to those whose office is to govern and provide for a community

JESUS

Be in your soul. My daughter in Christ, the cause of my not having written to you for so long a time has been rather the remote position of Segovia than any want oi will. For my good will has ever been, and I trust in God shall ever be, the same towards you. I feel for you in all your trials. But I would not have you take too much thought concerning the temporal provision for your house, lest God should forget it ; and you should fall into great temporal and spiritual distress ; for it is our over- anxious solicitude which brings us to want. Cast all your care, my daughter, upon God, and He will nourish you : for He Who has given and will give the greater, will not fail to give the less.

Take care that the desire to be in want and poor never fails you, for that instant your courage will fail, and your virtues will become weak. For if in time past you have desired poverty, now that you are in authority you should desire it still more, and love it ; for the house must be ruled and furnished with virtues and heavenly desires, rather than by carefulness and arrangements for temporal and earthly things : inasmuch as our Lord hath bidden us to take no thought for our food, nor for our raiment, nor for to-morrow. What you have to do is to train your own soul and the souls of your nuns in all perfection in religion, in union with God, and rejoicing in Him alone ; and I will assure you of the rest. It seems to me very diffcult to imagine that the other houses will come to your help, when you are settled in so good a position, and have such excellent nuns. Nevertheless, if I have an opportunity, I will not fail to do what I can for you.

I wish much consolation to the mother sub-prioress, and I trust in our Lord that He will give it, and strengthen her to bear her pilgrimage and exile cheer fully for love of Him. I am writing to her.

Many salutations in our Sovereign Good, to my daughters Magdalen of St. Gabriel, Mary of St. Paul,* Mary of the Visitation, and Mary of St. Francis.

May He be ever with your spirit, my daughter. Amen.

FR. JOHN OF THE CROSS.

From MADRID : the aoth of June, 1590.