Letter 8. To Doña Luisa de la Cerda, in Andalusia, Avila, June 23, 1568

Further request that the Life ' may be sent to Blessed yohn of Avila. The nuns at Malagon.

Jesus be with your Ladyship!

THE messenger is in such haste to leave that I do not know what I am writing: nothing but my longing to do so makes it possible. O Señora, how often I think of you and of your trials and pray earnestly for you! May His Majesty cure you and your friends quickly so that I may not be long apart from you! I think I should be satisfied were you only at Toledo. I leave Valladolid after St. Peter's day.

Since I have entrusted my 'soul' to you, will you return it safely as soon as possible, but not without a letter from that saintly man giving me his opinion of it, as you and I arranged. I tremble lest the Presentado, Fray Dominic, should arrive and find me in the a¿l, as they say he is coming this summer/ For the love of our Lord, send me the manuscript as soon as that saint has seen it for you will have time to read it when I go to Toledo. Do not trouble about Salazar's' examining it, unless opportunity occurs: its return is more important.

They write saying that the nuns of your convent are getting on well and making great spiritual progress, as I can quite believe. Every one here thinks it a great blessing for them to have such a confessor:' the people here know him and, like myself, are astonished at the wonderful manner in which God has guided him to Malagon. I believe it was for the sake of souls, for they say he is doing great good there, as he has done wherever he has been. You may feel assured that he is a man of God. The neighbours have a very high opinion of the convent at Malagon and the friars are greatly pleased with it. May God allow me to return there with you ! The sisters here have made extraordinary progress in perfection. They all kiss the hands of your Ladyship as I do those of Don

Juan and the ladies. I have no time to say more. To-morrow being St. John the Baptist's day we shall pray very fervently to him for our patroness and foundress, as well as for our patron/ Your Ladyship's unworthy servant,

Teresa de Jesus.

Kindly address your letters and the manuscript here, unless vou prefer enclosing them to the Mother Superior.