Letter (number unidentified). To Father Ordonez, S.J. Medina del Campo, Convent of the Incarnation, Avila

Concerning the foundation at Medina by Elena de luiroga of a girls school conncBed with the nuns and the entrance of her daughter 'Jeronima into the convent,

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

1WISH I had time and strength to discuss certain matters with you which I consider important,' but my health has been unspeakably worse since the messenger left than before. It will cost me dear to say what I can, and being so unequal to the task I am sure to be tedious, however brief I try to be. This convent of the Incarnation evidently injures my health; God grant I may gain some merit by it !

I am more anxious than ever now that this matter seems almost settled, especially since reading the letter to-day from the Father Visitor, who leaves the affair entirely to me and to the Father- Master Domingo to whom he has written, delegating all his own powers to us. I always feel nervous when any decision is left to me, being sure that I shall go utterly wrong. True, I have laid the matter before God as has this community.

It seems to me, my Father, that we must look well at all the drawbacks to the projedt, for if it turns out ill, no doubt God and the world will lay the blame on us. Therefore, never mind about a delay of a fortnight or so. I was very glad to learn from your letter that the Prioress is only concerned with the two matters you mention. Believe me, it is highly important, as you say, that one good work should not be sacrificed to another.

The idea of taking pupils in the way you mention has always been repugnant to me, for I know well that a number of girls are as different from boys to teach as black is from white. The obstacles to doing any good in a large girls' school are too many to mention here. It would be best to fix the number of pupils, which when over forty is far too large and results in nothing but confusion. The children disturb one another and no good can come of it. I am told that thirtv-five is the limit at Toledo and no more can be received. I assure you that so many girls and so much noise are in every way undesirable. If some people will give no alms because the number is small, then go on by degrees: there is no hurry. Make your community holy and God will help it; we must not injure the work for the sake of gifts.

It would also be well that two other persons besides the Prioress should vote on the choice and admission of the pupils. This is essential. The Prior of St. Andrew's or one of the regidors, or both of them, would be suitable; they should also keep an account of the expenses, with which the Prioress is to have nothing to do nor must she see or hear anything about them, as I said from the first. The character of the girls who enter the school and the length of their stay must be enquired into. This is to be arranged between you and the Father-Master: whatever relates to him must be discussed with the Father-Provincial of the Society and Father Baltasar Alvarez. Many other matters remain to be settled, some of which we considered together, particularly that of the pupils not going out of the house. But I think the first two questions are the important ones, for I know by experience what women are when a number get together: God deliver us from it!

As regards the redeeming of the annuity, of which I think the Prioress spoke to me, you must understand that the Señora Doña Jeronima could not enter, nor have I permission to allow her to enter, unless either the annuity has been paid off or Señora Doña Elena takes the matter upon herself, so that the convent may not have to spend money in paying annuities and may be completely free from them. I understand that leave was granted by the Father- Provincial solely on that condition and, in my opinion, to a¿t otherwise would be a fraud. In short, I cannot do it. I can quite understand that it is a great burden for Señora Doña Elena. Let her make some other arrangement; she could either defer building the church, or, which would be better, she could postpone Doña Jeronima's entrance until later on when she would be older.

I think that we must not depend very much for a foundation upon this plan which may fall through, as we do not know whether the candidate will persevere. Let your Reverence consider the matter very carefully. It would be better for the young girl to try her vocation for a few years and that it should prove lasting, than that we should make a laughing-stock of ourselves, though that would matter little unless we discredited what was good.

If we adopt this expedient now, we must consider with whom we have to deal. At present nothing seems certain, and the Father Visitor will ask whu is to sign the contradi. I need not have examined into the affair had he done so; as it is, I have to decide with authority though I possess none.

Please remember me to Señor Ascensio Galiano and give him this letter to read. He always shows me great kindness in every way, and I was extremely glad that my letter reached him so safely. My bad health makes me fall into many mistakes. Ana de Pedro' cares too much for her daughters to send them to VIedina, nor has such an idea ever entered her mind. I shall leave here the day after to-morrow unless I have a fresh attack, and it would have to be a severe one to hinder me. The letters have been sent to San Gil'" but no answer has arrived; we shall trv to get one to-morrow, Tuesday. I ask for the prayers of my friend the Father Redlor.

Your unworthy servant and daughter,

Teresa de Jesus.

XLIX

Prefatory note

For the foundation of Salamanca, see Found, xviii, xix. As the house proved very unhealthy and the Blessed Sacrament could not be reserved in it, Father Hernandez, the Apostolic Visitor, in pity for the nuns, sent St. Teresa there from the Incarnation in 1573. The nuns had arranged to buy a house from Don Pedro de la Vanda, 'a gentleman of noble birth, not very rich, and of an indigestive condition.' The house being entailed, the

' Syndic of the conj'ent at Medina.

King's licence was required, also, unless the community quitted their present dwelling before Michaelmas day they would be required to renew their tenure. On the eve of St. Michael's day, on account of the delays occasioned by Pedro de la Vanda the future convent was still unfinished, the church roofless, and torrential rain was falling. Through the Saint's prayers the rain stopped, the house was made ready, and the nuns entered next morning in procession with the Blessed Sacrament. 'Immediately afterwards came the nobleman, so excessively out of temper that I did not know what to do with him', says the Saint. {Found, xix, 8-10, and Father Julian's account). Pedro de la Vanda gave her constant trouble during her life-time as will be seen from the letters and after her death the community were obliged to take another house on account of his difficult temper.