Letter 70. To Don Teutonio de Braganza, Salamanca, Valladolid, January 6, 1575

Postponement of the foundations at Zamora and Torrijos. Praise of the Valladolid nuns. Project of a foundation at Madrid. Affairs at Salamanca.

JESUS !

MAY the grace ot the Holy Spirit ever be with your Lordship, and may He grant you as many and as prosperous new years as I wish with the sanctity I ask for you !

I was very glad to receive your letter and to see that you were at Salamanca, as I did not know your address. Yet now perhaps I shall not have time to write as long a letter as I wish because it must go by this messenger who is very trustworthy.

Thank God, you are well. My health is and has been good, which is a great thing to say in this weather. May His Majesty reward you for having granted all my petitions! Our Lady the Virgin seems to have chosen you as the protestor oí her Order: it is consoling to feel sure that she will repay you better than 1 know how to ask, although I beg her to reward you.

There is no longer any question of founding a house at Zamora. For one thing, there is not time; besides, this season is more suitable for beginning work in a warmer climate ; also, the man who gave us the house seems difficult to agree with and is now away from home, but the plan is not abandoned. Still, I know how trying it would be to establish a convent without endowment and with a founder who would give little help, especially if he were the patron. It seems wiser to start in another way by buying a house, but this would require more time; however, God will provide the means when He wishes the thing done.

You rendered me great service by settling about the licence so successfully. Will you obtain it when a messenger goes there, as there is no need to send for it specially.

Do not be disappointed about Torrijos; the place is not at all to my taste. Nothing but a request from you would make me accept the foundation; and to admit postulants who, although they proved unsuited to the Order, could not be dismissed because their dowry was required, would soon become intolerable in our houses.

I am sorry that your own aifair has not succeeded very well; however, I trust God that your words will do much good eventually, although the effects may not be seen at once. God grant the negotiations in Rome may prosper! I pray heartily that they may if the matter will render God service, as I hope it will if He directs it in answer to all our prayers.

I do not know what to say about the foundation of which the Countess speaks, as the projeil has been discussed for a long while. When a new house is started, those who enter have only to imitate what they see done by the others, so that in a fortnight they know our way of life. But I assure you that I should prefer founding four houses with nuns to training pious ladies, however holy, in our customs. I met two at Toledo; I see that they are good and live rightly in their own way, yet I really do not know how I could venture to take charge of them, for as a rule I consider such persons more given to austerities and bodily penances than to praver and interior mortification. However, God willing, I will make further inquiries if you like.

It is a great thing that the Marquis should have taken your part so warmly, since the matter is very important: God grant we may have good news! I trust in Him that our affairs here will prosper now that you are taking part in them. This relieves me from writing letters obnoxious to Father Olea, since they must be addressed directly to you. I am sorry, for much is due to him: apparently my letter to him was given to the other persons: the Prioress of Segovia must have been careless about the missives, not realizing their importance. This is why I am glad to know where to send to you if necessary.

I am pleased to learn that you have had an opportunity of speaking about my journeys which are certainly one of the most fatiguing tasks of my life and my heaviest cross, and yet people take offence at them. I often think how much better it would be for me°to remain at home in peace with no order from the General to make foundations.

Yet, when I see how God is served in our convents, all else seems of little consequence. May His Majesty lead me to do His will !

I assure your Lordship that some souls in this community make me continually, or at least very frequently, praise God on their account. Stephany has a great soul and I believe is saintly, but Sister Casilda of the Conception astonishes me, for I can find no fault in her, either interior or exterior. If God upholds her she will be a great Saint, for He is evidently working in her. Her abilities seem incredible at her age, and since she took the habit God has bestowed on her a great gift of prayer. She is full of joy and humility: it is wonderful. They both say that they will pray for your Lordship specially. I did not allow Casilda to write to you : for one reason because we behave as though we did not think much of her, although she is too simple to need it, for she is a thorough 'Brother Juniper', as far as outside matters go, and also because I do not wish your Lordship to pay attention to what we foolish women say, for she has a kind Father to encourage her' and a good God Who loves her,

I do not know what to say about Madrid, for though I recognize the advantage of our having houses there, I feel an extraordinary repugnance to it which must be a temptation. I have not heard yet from President Covarrubias. It would be difficult to make the foundation without the licence of the Ordinary, because this condition is required both by the patent I hold and by the Council: however, I think we shall obtain it unless fresh difficulties should arise. May God overrule the matter!

I am to leave here for Avila after Kingstide, calling at Medina, and expedt to stay a day or two in both places; I shall then go straight to Toledo. I wish to settle about the foundation at Veas. Wherever I may be, when a courier can be found I shall write to you. For charity's sake, pray to our Lord for me.

May He reward you for your kindness to the sisters at Salamanca; it has been a real charity, for they do not lack trials. I should like to call there, but I regret to say that Salamanca is not on the road to my foundation. I shall not go there unless I am told to, for theologians tell me I ought not to do more than I am bidden.

I think that the owner will be satisfied if a higher price is paid for the house, which is in a fine position, could be enlarged, and has a splendid church. I believe that the house you mention is rather out of the way. In fad:, site is the chief consideration, and I should not care if the present building were pulled down. If you and the Father Redlor examine the matter as a question which concerns our Lady, we will obey your decision. I should prefer keeping the matter open in one way but in any case the person meant is Don Diego deCovarrubias y Leyva, President of the Council of State and Bishop of Segovia. Madrid was under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Toledo, then a prisoner in Rome.

or another until my return from Veas. If possible, I shall be back in April.

I am not surprised at your imperfections as I find many in myself, although I have had much more spare time here than I have enjoyed for a long while which has been a great comfort; may our Lord comfort your soul too, as I beg of Him. Amen. You exaggerate your imperfediion; I have experienced something of the sort myself as well as of the rest you mention, but my naturally grateful nature and your zeal make me pass for a very different person from what I really am. And yet I am on my guard!

Mother Prioress earnestly begs for your prayers and regrets, now that she knows you better, the low value she set on the grace God showed her by your visit. To-day is January 6.

Your Lordship's unworthy servant,

Teresa de Jesus.