Letter (number unidentified). To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Malagon, June 15, 1576

PRIORESS OF SEVILLE

News and messages. Meals in the convent parlours. The Saint urges her to take care of Father Gradan, The journey to Malagon. Tere sit a is Prioress.

JESUS!

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with you, my daughter!

OH, how I should love to write you a very long letter, but I cannot as I have others on hand. I begged Father Gregorio to give you a detailed account of the journey. The fad: is, there is little to say about it, for we had a verv pleasant time and the heat was not extreme, thank God! We arrived on Whit Monday in good health.

I found the Mother Prioress much better although she has not quite recovered: be sure that none of you forget to pray for her. I was very glad to be with her again although I recalled the luxury in which you live! God grant that you are in want of nothing! For charity's sake, I implore you to write to me by every possible means that I may know how your affairs are going on. Do not stop writing to Toledo for I shall ask the Mother Prioress there to forward your letters from time to time; indeed, I may go there for a few days. I am alraid there will be a great deal of trouble about settling this business with Doña Luisa. Will you all pray about it; I commend myself earnestly to the prayers of the Subprioress and all the nuns. Be very kind for my sake to Sister San Gabriel who grieved deeply at my departure. Remember me kindly to Garci Alvarez. Tell us the news about the lawsuit and the rest, especially about our Father, if he has reached Seville.

I have been writing to him, begging him on no account to let visitors have their meals in the parlour. Take care that the custom is not begun, except as regards our Father himself, who stands in urgent need of food. It might be managed for him without any one's knowledge; besides, there is a great difference between a superior and a simple religious. His health is so important to us that nothing we could do for him is to be reckoned. The Mother Prioress sends some money by Fray Gregorio for this purpose and for any other need that occurs. She offers it gladly, as she has a genuine and deep affedlion for our Father. It would be well for him to know of the gift for, as I say, you receive but scanty alms and if you were to give to one and the other you might be left with nothing yourselves.

I wish you to feel no anxiety but to serve our Lord faithfully : may His Majesty grant this favour I ask of Him! Tell Sister San Francisco to send me a full account of all that happens regarding the friars.

After leaving your convent, this house suffered by contrast with it. The sisters have much to bear here. Teresa was very sad at leaving Seville, especially on the first day: she said it was on account of parting with the nuns. When she arrived here, you would have thought she had lived in this community all her life; she was so delighted that she could eat no supper. I was glad as I believe that her love for the sisters is very deeply rooted.

I shall write to you again by Fray Gregorio so will say no more now. May God watch over you and make you holy so that all your daughters may be holy too! Amen. To-day is the Friday of Whitsun week.

Send the enclosed letter to our Father with great

■ Isabel de San Francisco (de Vega), professed at Toledo and taken by St. Teresa to Veas and Seville. From thence Father Gracian sent her to reform the Calced Carmelites of Paterna. She returned to Seville where she was elected Prioress in 1585. She founded a house at San Lucar la Major in I 590, w-ent to Lisbon, and took a very active interest in the establishment of the Discalced nuns in France. She died at Alba. {(Euvres, iii, p. 426.)

caution. If he is at Seville, give it to a thoroughly trustworthy messenger — this is important.

The year 1576.

Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.

Teresa is not writing to you because she is busy: she says she is Prioress and sends you her love.

I have written to the Mother (Prioress) about the entrance of Beatriz' mother: she ought to send us our Father's licence and should write to Mala-gon about the profession trousseau.