Letter 86. To Diego Ortiz, Toledo, Seville, December 26, 1575

Messages. Cast titans and Andalustans. Business matters.

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

Amen!

THANK God for giving you and your household good health! I am especially anxious about that of Señor Alonso Ramirez whom I love tenderly in the Lord; I pray for him and for you and ask these sisters to do the same. I kiss his hands and ask him to consider this letter as addressed to him. Tell him that wherever I may be, he and Señora Francisca Ramirez have a faithful servant in me. As Mother Prioress gave me news of all of you, I omitted writing: indeed, I often have so much to do that I can find no time for letters. Glory be to God, this place agrees with my health. As for the rest, I prefer Castilians as the Andalusians and I do not understand one another.

I spoke to the Father Provincial about the affair as you wished. He answered that he must settle the question in the place itself, and that as his brother" has been very ill and confined to his bed for some days, he can do nothing just now. I have consulted people about it here and they say it is a difficult thing to manage so that, if there is any means of getting justice done on the spot (and delay would be dangerous), do not negled: it, for I have little influence at court in such affairs. God help us, for we need it ! I quite realize how important it is to us. It is a severe trial that this should be added to your other difficulties concerning the matter. May His Majesty proteól you and have you and Señor Ramirez in His care ! Amen.

To-day is the 26th.

Your unworthy servant,

Teresa de Jesus.