Letter 9. To Alonso Ramirez, Avila, June, 1568

Plan for the foundation of a convent at Toledo.

JESUS! May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with you !

I HAVE lately been nearer your neighbourhood and therefore in a more favourable position for transacting this business than I now am, as I left Malagon in May to come here. Our Lord who decreed it must have known it was for the best. Let us place all things, my wishes and yours, in His hands. Since they are all directed to His glory He will grant them the success He sees is best.

I am sending a request to the licentiate, Juan Bautista,' parish priest of Malagon, who helped me in every way, both in spiritual and temporal matters, while I was there, for which our Lord has given him the capabilities. This priest will visit you on my behalf to consider your plans and to describe our mode of life, of which, having been our confessor, he knows all the details, so that we shall see what we are about in this important affair.

I believe he will not fail to render me this service. You can speak to him with perfed: freedom as he is acquainted with all my plans and will discuss and arrange things as my representative. May our Lord take the matter entirely into His own hands and make you serve Him as I shall always pray that you may do ! — indeed, I am bound to do this since learning from the Father-Guardian of what God has done through your means. You too are now under a stricter obligation to pray for the Father-Guardian.

Written at Avila, in the convent of St. Joseph, June, 1568.

•'Father Juan Bautista de Villanueva.

A LETTER