Letter 79. To Father Gracian, in Castile, Seville, September 27, 1575

On the office given him by the Nuncio and the difficulties conneSied with it. 'Teresita. Laurencia can no longer Jind comfort in her former confessors.

JESUS!

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your

Paternity, my Father!

AS you will probably be on your way here, this letter will not find you at Madrid, so I will not say much. Yesterday the Father Provincial of the Calced friars called here with a Dod:or of Divinity; the Prior' arrived later on, and finally another Doctor of Divinity. Father Gaspar Nieto had been here the day before. I find that they are all determined to obey your Paternity and to assist you in suppressing any abuse as long as you are not exad:ing in other matters. I reassured them, saying that, as far as I understood your intentions, you would adl leniently, and I gave them my opinion on the question.

Their answer to the Motu propria was fairly satisfadiory ; I trust God that all will go well. Father Elias" is more calm and courageous. I advise your Paternity to begin quietly and gently and then I believe that you will accomplish great things, but you must not try to do it all in a day. Some among the religious seem very reasonable, which will be the case in Castile. From what I hear, Macario is so terrible that I fear greatly for his soul. People write telling me that he is going to Toledo. I wonder whether, as the visitation has already been made there, he wished to retire to his lair so as to avoid meeting my Eliseus. I should not be sorry if he stayed there until he has become more rational. I tremble when I see good souls so deluded.

Dod:or Henriquez, one of the most learned theologians of the Society of Jesus, has been consulted about Teresita's case. He says that, among other decisions of the Congregation of Cardinals, it has been laid down that the habit cannot be given to a girl under twelve, but she can be brought up in the convent. Fray Baltasar, the Dominican, is of the same opinion. She is already in the convent wearing her own dress and seems the sprite of the house. Her father cannot contain his joy and all the nuns are very fond of her. Her little charaóler is angelic and she knows how to amuse us at recreation, telling us about the Indians and the sea voyage better than I could. I am delighted to see that she will trouble nobody. I wish your Paternity could see her: God has shown her much favour and she may well be grateful to you. I believe that to train her soul free from contamination with the world will render Him service. I realize what charity your Paternity has shown me, all the more because it has been so managed as to free me from all scruple.

It seems that I really do possess some little charity since, deeply as I feel your absence, I should be willing for you to stay away another month on condition that you were able to help the Incarnation and were given charge of that house. Even eight days would sutHce were you able to leave Fray Juan there as Vicar. I know the state of things there and that when the nuns see some one in control they soon surrender although they make a great outcry at first. I pity them deeply; the Nuncio ought to avail himself of this means to accomplish a great work. May God provide a remedy as He can do!

Laurencia'" cannot remain on her former terms with her confessors, and as this was her sole comfort she has none left. How delicately our Lord mortifies the soul ! She fears there will be little opportunity for obtaining consolation from the confessor given her, on account of his many business affairs.

The heat is as great at Seville now as it is in June at Madrid; your Paternity did well to postpone your visit. I wrote what I have mentioned to you about the Incarnation to the worthy Padilla. Will you kindly repeat it to Father Olea, giving him my very kind regards. I sent him three letters; please ask him whether he received them.

O Jesus ! How little is needed to help so many souls ! I am astonished at myself for wishing to see you undertake the work, when but a short time ago my greatest dread was of seeing your Paternity bear this burden. It is lighter for me now — may God lighten it for you and proted; you !

To-day is September 27. Your Paternity's unworthy servant and subjed:,

Teresa de Jesus.