Letter 108. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Toledo, September 9, 1576

Community matters. Postulants. An agreement is better than a lawsuit. The Sainfs joy at receiving letters from Seville, Tere sit a. Serge tunics,

JESUS !

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

TO tell you the truth, your letters give me such pleasure that when, after having read what I thought was the only one, I found another, I was as delighted as though I had not seen the first, and felt quite astonished at myself. That will show you what a treat they are to me. But be careful always to note on a list what questions you want answered, lest I should forget anything.

As to the postulants, I believe that, to my great joy our Father has already decided to admit Beatriz' mother, therefore you may receive her and give her the habit. She is very welcome and I am particularly pleased about it. Tell her I should be very glad to be in the same house with her. I have already written saying that Beatriz is to make her profession'; I will let our Father know about it. Give her very afFeótionate messages from me and ask her not to forget me on her profession day.

In regard to the cousins of Garci Alvarez, I do not know whether you remember my being told that one of them had had such a severe attack of melancholia as to lose her reason. I do not think it was Doña Constanza. Speak plainly about the matter. I know nothing of his niece; but any one connedled with him would have a special claim on us if she were suitable. Make careful enquiries and if you are satisfied, write to our Father for permission. Fortunately he is now at Almodovar where, as you are aware, the Discalced fathers are holding their chapter.

Why do you say nothing about Fray Gregorio's illness concerning which I feel very anxious?

As for the postulants, I told you that the one with the fine voice never returned. There is another whom Nicolas very much wishes to enter, and she would do much for your house, Father Mariano tells me. She would bring a trousseau and rather over four hundred ducats to be given at once, which is what I want. You could then discharge the rent and would be free from anxiety; you might even pay off part of the duties as we agreed. I am sorry the afliair was not settled before that person died; however, perhaps it is all for the best.

Remember this: in all cases an agreement is best: never forget that. Our Father wrote telling me that a very learned man at court had informed him that the right was not on our side. But, even if it had been, 'lawsuits are bad things': recolle(ft that.

They tell me that the postulant I mentioned is very good: I have begged Juan Diaz to interview her. If, as they declare, she has some sort of mark on her face, do not take her. Still, I long for the dowry that would be paid down whenever you wanted it. I do not want you to touch the money brought by Beatriz' mother nor Pablo's daughter, as it is reserved for paying the principal debt and if you deduct some for other things, you will be left with heavy arrears, which is a truly terrible fate. That is why I wish the nuns of Toledo to help you. I will make minute enquiries about the young girl; She is highly praised and comes from this part of the country; 1 will try to see her.

As for the sermons you mention, they are all very well under the present circumstances. Yield to what is asked now; later on, they cannot be permitted. Keep to the agreement, however it may annoy people.

I repeat once more that I do not wish you to sell the sisters' annuity. Seek some other means, or we shall be left with a heavy debt which we could not pay off with Pablo's money. It would be a relief to you to be freed from it.

Oh, how delighted we were to receive my daughters' letters. I assure you that they came in the very nick of time. Give the sisters my best love, for I cannot answer them as I must write to the good Garci Alvarez. I am very glad he is in such a frame of mind, but you must be cautious, as he is so perfed: that perhaps what you think would edify might scandalize him. This is not the country for plain speaking. I am pleased that the Bishop is well, and thank God for it. Tell his Lordship so when you see him, but never mind about it if you do not often meet. The nuns' letters are capitally written now: each one gives me an account of some different subjefl and I have enjoyed them extremely.

Teresa goes on extremely well. We ought to praise God for the perfection she showed on the journey, which astonished us. She did not like spending a single night outside the convent. I assure you that if she has cost you trouble, she does you great credit. Neither I nor her father will ever be able to thank you enough for having trained her so well. He is in good health. I have torn up a letter from her which made me laugh. Have the charity to continue praying for her: I ask this especially of her former teacher. They tell me that she is still home-sick for Seville and is always praising you.

I intend to forward severalletters for the Assistant with this. If not, they will go later on. I wrote to Madrid to-day so that Count Olivarez might send a letter there. It would be a great thing for us. God grant he may. I will do all I can. May His Majesty assist me.

I am glad to hear that your house at Seville is cool: I willingly bear the heat of Toledo in payment for it. For charity's sake send me nothing more, for the cost exceeds the value. Some of the quinces ( but very few ) arrived in good condition ; the dogfish were fresh. The tunny remained at Malagon, and a good thing too ! As the nuns there will write to you, I will say nothing of their trials nor of the ill health of the Prioress, though, thank God, she no longer has hemorrhage. May God proted: you for me, my daughters, and make you holy. Amen.

I think they are afraid to answer your letter. Still I say that as you already wear serge tunics it would be no imperfediion to change them for sack-cloth; personally, I would much rather they were not cloth.

To-day is September 9. Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.

When the muleteer takes the letters you can enclose the price of the messenger's payment, otherwise, you know what usually happens. I warn you for the future, as you would run the risk of losing the letters.