Letter (number unidentified). To King Philip Ii, at Madrid, Seville, July 19, 1575

The Saint asks hi?n, as protestor of the Kefortn to constitute it as a separate province and to make Father Gracian Provincial.

JESUS !

May the grace of the Holy Spirit ever be with your Majesty !

WHILE praying in deep grief about the affairs of this sacred Order of our Lady and meditating upon the urgent need that the work begun in it by God should not be frustrated, the thought occurred to me that the best way of supporting it would be to prove to your Majesty the importance of its being firmly established, which would also be advantageous to the Calced fathers.

I have lived in the Order for forty years and, considering all things, I am convinced that unless the Discalced are constituted as a separate province without delay, serious injury will result to them; in fad:, I believe it will be impossible for them to continue to exist. As the matter rests in your Majesty's hands and I see that the Virgin, our Lady, has chosen you to protect and uphold her Order, I make bold to write, entreating your Majesty, for love of our Lord and His glorious Mother, to direól that the plan may be carried out. It is so much to the devil's interest to prevent it that he will raise numberless difficulties although none really exist, but on the contrary it would benefit every one.

It would help us greatly if the newly established Reform were given into the charge of a Discalced friar named Gracian. I have lately made his acquaintance, and, though he is still young, the singular graces bestowed on his soul and the great things God has worked by him for the good of souls have made me praise the Lord, Who I truly believe has chosen him to do much for the Order. May our Lord so dispose of matters that your Majesty may be pleased to render Him this service and to command that it may be carried out.

I kiss your Majesty's hands to thank you for the licence for a foundation at Caravaca. For the love of God, I entreat you to pardon me, as I know I have been very audacious. Yet, since God Himself listens to the poor, and your Majesty stands in His place, I do not think that you will be annoyed with me. May He grant your Majesty the peace and length of life which I constantly ask for you and the welfare of Christendom demands!

To-day is July 19. Your Majesty's unworthy servant and subje(5l, Teresa de Jesus, Carmelite.