Letter 107. To Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Toledo, September, 7, 1576

Persecution carried out by Tostado and the Caked fathers. The courier Figueredo, Tere sit as perfections. Finances at the convent of Seville, Discussion about some postulants. Illness of the Prioress of Malagon. Messages,

JESUS Be with your Reverence!

there. I am well, thank God, for the fever has changed into a severe cold in the head.

I foresaw the trouble that the words and actions of those fathers would cause you: they have not failed to annoy us here. But as God has delivered us from Tostado, I hope He will continue to favour us. You have not exaggerated Tostado's hostile dispositions towards the Discalced, and towards me, of which he has afforded ample proofs. We ought to pray fervently to God to free our Father from these men and to give them light so that peace may be restored in these matters, for as long as the most Reverend Father General is offended with us, I assure you that we shall have many opportunities of earning merit.

As our Father will keep you informed about all these affairs, I will say no more. I only beg you to be kind enough not to fail to write, telling me what happens when our Father cannot, and to give him my letters and forward his to me. You saw how terrified I was even at Seville, so what must I be now that I am far away.?

The head-courier here is a cousin of one of the nuns of Segovia and told me that he would perform wonders for her sake. His name is Figueredo. As I mentioned, he is head-courier of Toledo. We arranged together that if you take care to give your letters to the head-courier at Seville, I could have news from you nearly every week. What a boon that would be ! He states that if you wrapped up whatever is sent in a parcel addressed to Figueredo, head-courier of Toledo, however many letters it might contain, none would be lost. All this is troublesome for your Reverence, but I know you would take far more trouble for me as I would for you. I assure you it is true that my longing for you is sometimes so intense that I can think of nothing else.

Will you tell me whether I ought to address the head-courier as The Magnificent, or how? He holds a very high position. This makes me glad to be at Toledo, because it was very difficult to send letters from Avila; but there are other reasons as well. My sole regret is on account of my brother who feels my absence very keenly. It is wrong of you not to write to him sometimes. I enclose his letter; you will see how bad his health is, though, thank God, he has no fever.

I never remember to keep the letters in which Teresa is mentioned.' All the sisters tell me that her perfeftion and her fondness for menial work make them ashamed of themselves. She says that as the niece of the foundress they ought to esteem her less, not more. They love her dearly and tell me many tales about her. I write this to make you and the sisters praise God, for it is you who trained her. I am glad that you pray for her. I am very fond of both her and her father, yet I really feel happy at being kept apart from them. I cannot understand the reason, unless it is that the joys of this life are a weariness to me: perhaps my fear of becoming attached to anything in this world makes it better for me to avoid the chance of it. On the

' Teresita was then staying at St. Joseph's Avila.

other hand, I should like to be at Avila now to help him to settle some matters for which he awaits my presence, when I could prove my gratitude for all he has done for us.

Do not forget to let us both know about the payment of the rent according to the enclosed paper. I foresee that you will be in want of money, and have seen to the affair with Don Nicolas so that he may give you the four hundred ducats in time. I had sent away his postulant because they told me she had some sort of scar but Nicolas has written me the enclosed letter since. Our Father tells me she is unsuited to us. Considering all things, I did not dismiss her again, for you may be in such straits that it would be wise to receive her and try her: