Letter 22. To Diego Ortiz at Toledo, Toledo, August, 1570

The Saint asks him to excuse the nuns from singing certain Masses.

JESUS! May our Lord bestow His divine grace on you !

AS for some days I have been very anxious for an interview with you, I begged you to call on me. Since, however, you have not shown me that kindness and the time of my departure draws near (as I shall probably leave to-morrow), I should like first to settle the question of the Masses to be sung on Sundays and holidays which I mentioned to you the other day. Since I saw you, I have thought over the matter: not having considered it at the time I thought it unnecessary to make arrangements as the object I had in view seemed sufficiently clear when the contrad: was signed. But I am told that I ought to explain the matter. My intention was that the chaplains should be bound to sing the Masses on feast-days as our Constitutions prescribe, but not so the nuns, whom the Rule leaves free to decide whether they sing or not, for although the Constitutions require it, the obligation is not binding under any kind of sin. Will you therefore consider whether it would be right of me to constrain the nuns. I would not do so on any account, nor did you or any one else require such a thing of me, but I settled it thus for our own convenience. If there was an error in drawing out the deed, that is no reason for limiting the sisters' freedom, and since thev are willing to oblige you bv singing the Masses as a general rule, I beg vou to leave them at liberty should any ditiiculty arise. Will you kindly excuse mv writing bv the hand of another as I am weak from repeated bleedings and my head prevents my saying any more. Mav our Lord have you in His keeping ! Señor Martin Ramirez has given me great pleasure; mav God make him His servant and watch over you for the good of all ! You will do me a great favour bv making a clear statement about the Masses. Since the nuns will almost always sing them without being under any obligation, it would be only reasonable were vou to relieve us oí this scruple and to gratify the sisters and myself in a matter of so little real importance, as we are all desirous of serving you.

Your honour's unworthy servant,

Teresa de Jesus.