Letter (number unidentified). To Don Lorenzo, Avila, December 30, 1561

THE SAINT'S BROTHER, AT LIMA

'Thanks for present of money which is to be spent in the foundation of St. 'Joseplis. Family matters.

JESUS !

MAY the Holy Spirit ever be with your Hon-our ! Amen. And may He repay you for your care and great promptitude in helping us all. I trust the divine Majesty that it will win you much merit in His sight as the sum sent arrived most opportunely for all of us, and has brought me personally great relief. I believe that it was God Who moved you to give me so much, as for a nun like myself, who, glory be to God, now thinks it an honour to wear a patched habit, what I received from Juan Pedro de Espinosa and Varona (as I believe the other merchant is called) was sufficient to keep me from want for some years.

I have already written you a long account of an affair which I could not avoid undertaking for several reasons and motives, which having been inspired by God cannot suitably be stated in a letter.'' I will only say that, in the opinion of holy and learned men, I am bound not to be cowardly, but to do what I can to forward the projedt. It is question of founding a convent, to contain only fifteen nuns,' which number must not be increased, they must live in striót enclosure which they must not leave, must see no one without keeping their veils down, and their lives must be founded on prayer and mortification. I have already explained this to you more fully and will give further details in the letter to be taken to you by Antonio Moran when he leaves.

Señora Doña Guiomar, whose letter to you I enclose, is helping me in the undertaking. She was the wife of Francisco de Avila, of the Sobrelijo family, which you may remember: he died nine years ago, leaving a million a year. ' Besides her husband's entailed estate, she possesses another from her own family. Although a widow at twenty-five, she has not married again, but has given herself fervently to God and is far advanced in the spiritual life. For the last four years we have been closer friends than if we had been sisters, and although she has aided me greatly, giving me a large part of the income, for the moment she is without money, so that, with God's help, 1 must furnish the payment for what needs to be done and to purchase the house. With two dowries settled in advance, I have secretly bought a building but have no funds for the workmen required. However, relying solely on the trust that, since God wished the thnig done He would provide for it, I have made arrangements with them. It seemed folly, but His Majesty intervened and instigated you to defray the expenses. What surprises me most is that you added an extra forty dollars, a sum of which I stood in urgent need. I believe St. Joseph (to whom the convent is to be dedicated) would not let me lack them, and I know that he will repay you. The house, though poor and small, has fine views and grounds and the work is getting on.

The Bulls have been sent for from Rome, for though remaining in the Order we shall be under obedience to the Bishop. I trust God that the convent will render Him great glory if He allows the projed: to succeed, as I feel convinced it will because those who are to enter are fitted to give the best of examples, being chosen souls, distinguished for humility, penance, and prayer. Will you pray to God about it, for, with His help, by the time Antonio Moran leaves everything will be finished.

He came here and cheered me greatly by his visit; he seems loyal, straightforward, and exceedingly prudent. I was very glad to hear so many details about you, for indeed one of God's greatest mercies to me has been His making my brothers realise what this world is, so that they have chosen to live a quiet life. I know now that they are on the road to heaven : that is what I most longed to feel sure about and which has caused me constant anxiety. Glory be to Him Who has done it all ! May He grant you grace to advance continually in His service, for as the reward is unlimited so should be our efforts to serve Him. We ought to make some little progress and increase in fervour daily, in token that, as is the fad:, we are always at war, and must neither rest nor grow careless until viólory is won.

All those by whom you sent us money have behaved like honest men, but Antonio Moran has done best of all. Not only did he sell the gold at a higher price (as you will see) but he came back all the way from Madrid to bring the sum himself, although he was out of health. However, he is better to-day; his illness was the result of an accident. Evidently he is genuinely attached to you. He also brought the payment from Varon and fulfilled all his commissions with great care. He came here with Rodriguez, to whom he has done much good. I will give the former a letter for you, as perhaps he may be the first to start. Antonio Moran showed me the one you wrote to him. Believe me, such solicitude on my account comes not merely from your own goodness but has been prompted by God.

My sister. Doña Maria, sent me the enclosed letter for you yesterday ; she will write again on receiving the rest of the money. The sum reached her at an opportune moment. She is a good Christian and has been left with many difficulties. If Juan de Ovalle goes to law against her, it will ruin her children. His case is not as good as he imagines, though the property was sold very disadvantageously and was wasted. However, Martin de Guzman (may God keep him in heaven !) carried out his plans, and judgement was given for him, although unjustly. Now that they are asking for what my father sold (may he be in glory !) I have lost all patience. God deliver me from any share in a legacy, for one is bound to injure one's relatives ! Indeed, it is wonderful to see a father and son, or brothers, on good terms with one another, so I am not surprised at Juan de Ovalle's proceedings. In faót, he has behaved well, as for love of me he has desisted for the present. His charadier is a good one but it would be unwise to trust to that in this case : when you send him the thousand reales make him give a written pledge to hand over five hundred ducats to Doña Maria on the day he recommences proceedings.

Juan de Centura's houses are still unsold, but Martin de Guzman received three hundred thousand maravedís for them, which should in justice be returned to Juan de Ovalle, who with the thousand />íj"í?j' you sent will be relieved of his difficulties. He can now live in Malagon, where he is at present, as he really needs to do; before it was impossible for him; hitherto he could only visit the place from time to time and then with great inconvenience.

He is very happily married. Doña Juana is so respeóled and so good that we ought to thank God; she has an angelic soul. I have turned out worst of all; in fa6t, you ought not to acknowledge such a person as your sister. I do not know why people are so fond of me. I am telling the simple truth. Doña Juana has passed through severe trials and borne them exceedingly well. If, without missing it, you could send her some money, do so at once, even though only a little at a time.

The sum you forwarded has been distributed as you wished, as you will learn from the enclosed letters. Torribia being dead, her husband gave her share to her children which was a great boon for them, as they are very poor. The Masses have been said (I believe that some of them had been celebrated before the payment arrived) for the intention you named. I chose the best priests I could find: indeed, they are thoroughly zealous. I was touched by your having the Masses said for that objeit.

I am staying with Señora Doña Guiomar, from whose house I have despatched all this business. It has cheered me to be with people who talk about you. I came here by order of the Provincial as companion to a nun of our community, a daughter of my hostess, and I am the more glad to be here because I am at greater liberty for all I want to do than I should have been at my sister's home. We talk of nothing but God, and live in great retirement. I shall remain until I receive some fresh order, but this place is best for me on account of the matter I mentioned.

Now to speak of my dear sister. Doña Juana, who although last in the list is not last in my affeólions, I assure you, for I pray for her as heartily as I do for you. I kiss your hands a thousand times for all your kindness which I am at a loss as to how to repay except by obtaining many prayers for our little boy. The saintly friar, Peter of

Alcantara, about whom I wrote to you, has taken the child under his special protection, as have the Theatines and other persons whose prayers God will hear. May God make the boy better than his parents, for though they are good, I want something more for him! Write to me about him. Always tell me, when you write, how happy and united you and your wife are, for it is a great comfort to me.

As I said, when Antonio Moran leaves, I will give him a copy of the executary papers for you. I shall be most careful about them, but should they be lost on the journey, I shall continue to forward copies until they reach you. It was through the whim of a third person who was opposed to it that they did not leave before, so I will not explain the matter. I include in the parcel some relics in a reliquary of no great value. I kiss my brother's hands a thousand times for his present. If the medal had come in the days when I wore gold ornaments I should have coveted it very much, for it is extremely beautiful. May God preserve you and your wife to us for many years and give you a prosperous life ! To-morrow is the eve of the year 1562.

As Antonio Moran came to see me, I was late in beginning this letter, or I might have said more. As he wishes to start to-morrow, I will keep the rest for another letter to be sent by my dear brother, Jerome de Cepeda. The delay will be so short that I do not regret it. Be sure that you read my letters. I have been careful to use good ink, but

I am writing very hurriedly and the hour is late, so that I cannot revise this. My health is better than usual. God grant that yours, both of soul and body, may be as good as I desire! Amen.

For want of time, I am not writing to the señores Fernando and Pedro de Ahumada, but will do so soon. You must know that several very devout persons who are aware of our secret (I mean this affair) consider it miraculous that you should have sent me so large a sum at such a moment. I trust that, if more is needed, God may move your heart to help me even though you should be unwilling. Your Honour's very faithful servant,

Doña Teresa de Jesus.