Letter 87. To Mother Mary Baptist, Prioress, Seville, December 30, 1575

AT VALLADOLID

The Saint receives the order of reclusión. Lorenzo de Cepeda returns to Seville. A page boy for his sons. The foundation at Caravaca. Troubles at the Incarnation. Difficulties of the Reform.

Jesus be with you, my daughter, and grant you as many and as happy years as I ask of Him!

(DECLARE that you make me laugh when you say that you will tell me some day what you think of certain matters! Are you going to give me some advice ?

I received your letter by way ot Medina on the last day of Christmastide. The one enclosed in my Father's had already reached me but I had no messenger to take an answer. Your last, with the news of Doña Maria, was very welcome as the Bishop' having written saying she had the fever, I was very anxious about her. Tell her we have been praying much for her and give her my warmest congratulations. God be praised for restoring health to her and her daughter ! Remember me to all the sisters.

The letter of which you know was inspired more by devotedness than by a wish to please. I should like to be on such terms with him that some part at least of what I said might please him. It is strange that my affed:ion for our other Father Superior leaves my soul as fully at liberty as if he did not exist. He does not know that I am writing to you. He is in good health. Oh, what trials we are passing through with these reforms! His presence in Andalusia has caused me far more pain than pleasure: my health was much better before. Were I free to choose I should be with you now, for an order from the Most Reverend ( Father General ) has been notified to me which bids me seleót a convent in which to remain enclosed for ever, also to make no more foundations as, according to the Council, I must not go out again. I understand very well that this is the result of their annoyance at my having come here, and that they think it will pain me keenly, yet I am so glad of it that I fear it will never come to pass. I should choose your convent for many reasons which cannot be stated in writing, except that I should be near my Father and your Reverence. The Father Visitor has not allowed me to leave Seville, and for the present he has more power than the Most Reverend Father General. I do not know what the result will be. It would be a great relief to me to withdraw from all the tumult of the Reform, but God does not choose to deliver me from such crosses which are extremely painful to me. Our Father says that I am to go in the summer. As for

■" Father Gracian.

this convent — I mean as regards its foundation — it has no need of my presence; this place certainly suits my health better, and in a certain sense I am more at peace, as people here do not flatter my vanity as they do in Castile, yet for other reasons it seems better that I should be there again; one thing is that I should be nearer the other houses. May God dispose of the matter, for I wish to have no choice in it and shall be contented wherever I may be sent.

My brother has arrived ; he is very ill but is now free from fever. His negotiations at Madrid have come to nothing, but as his fortune is assured he has enough to live on. He will return to court in the summer; this is not a favourable time. He is very happy with his sister and Juan de O valle who show him great attentions and kindness, which he returns. As he has only been back for a very short time, I have not spoken of your affairs to him; however, I believe that I should only have to mention it and he would do it. As his sons require a page, the boy has appeared just at the right moment. My sister says that if he comes to Seville, his mother may rest assured that she will look after him. If he suits and is a good lad, he can study with my nephews at San Gil, where he would be better off than anywhere else. When I told Juan de Ovalle that your Reverence wished it, he answered that he should take a lively interest in the matter. I laughed, for if he fancies I want anything he is anxious to do it. I trust God that their great friendliness with Lorenzo will do them

'" The Jesuit college at Avila.

much good; meanwhile the latter loses nothing by it as it is a comfort to him.

Juan de Ovalle is exceedingly kind to him, and the children never cease singing his praises: the boy you speak of will learn nothing but what is good. If he comes here, in case they are not at Avila by April, I shall be very glad to arrange matters so as to save my Father the trouble. I am surprised, considering his condition, that he has taken the matter so much to heart: God must have so ordained because the parents have no other resource.

I deeply regret that mv Father is going to Toro. May God dispose of it all for His service which is the important matter! I do not know why he prefers it to Madrid: I am afraid his plans will never be realized. I shall feel sorry on your account when he leaves and shall not care so much about living in your house. As I said, I exped: thev will tell me to go where my presence is most necessary.

As for the question about the page's sister, we must not mention it until our Father returns to Valladolid: in fad:, I am afraid that we shall cost them more in the end by trving to save them expense. I do not know how any one who has always lived there could become used to this climate, and I suspeéled from what I heard, that she does not agree with her brothers and is rather self-willed: let us hope her sanólity is not melancholia. However, our Father will enquire into it, and till then there is no more to be said.

You will have already received my letter an-

' Fray Domingo Bañez.

nouncing that I had sent a Prioress from here to Caravaca. She received the obedience with great joy; the Prioress of Malagon where she stayed on her journey said that she was highly pleased; I assure you that she must be a good soul. She wrote asking for news of your Reverence and said a great deal of all the gratitude she owed you, speaking very affectionately of you. I fancy that the house must have been founded before Christmas/" but I know nothing about it.

I think it will be better not to mention the boy to my Father until I have spoken to my brother. Write and tell me the lad's age and whether he can read and write, as he would have to go to school with Lorenzo's sons.

Remember me very affedlionately to my dear Maria de la Cruz, to all the sisters, and to Dorotea." Why do you give me no news about the chaplain's health? Keep him with you, for he is a good man. How do you like the view from your window and does the room suit you as well in winter as in summer? I venture to assert that,

' Ana de San Alberto.

whatever you may say about the Subprioress," you do not obey her any better than you did.

if I can render Him any service: I wish I had many lives with which to serve Him. To-morrow is New Year's Eve. Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.

My brother's projed: of becoming a friar was not carried out, nor will it be.