Letter (number unidentified). To Father Gracian, Seville, Toledo, October 6, 1576

Supernatural peace enjoyed hy the Saint and Father Gradan. Her cell. Comparison between Moses and Father Gradan. The Book of Foundations, Affairs of the Order,

JESUS !

May the grace of the Holy Ghost be with your

Paternity, my Father.

UNLESS I had received your letter sent via Madrid, I should have been feeling very anxious. This is the day after the feast of St. Francis, and Father Antonio has not yet arrived.

Until I read your letter, I did not know that you had reached Seville in good health; God be praised for it; and may He be blessed for having blessed Paul who is in a state of interior peace. It is a genuine supernatural favour, since Paul is making such progress. No doubt nature needs these graces which humble us deeply and give us self-knowledge. I have been praying fervently to God ever since I reached Toledo that He would bestow tranquillity of soul on Paul who has trouble enough externally. Will your Paternity tell him so.

As for me, I am free from suffering now; I do not know what the future will bring. They have given me a cheerful cell, solitary as a hermitage, and I am far from my relatives though their letters reach me. My only care is as to what may be happening at Seville. I assure you that you have provided me with a pleasant home by bidding mc stay at Toledo and I feel less anxious about Seville.

Yesterday evening I was reading the history of Moses and the trials he inflicted upon the king and the whole kingdom by plagues which never touched himself I was astonished and delighted at seeing that when God so chooses, nothing can harm us. I felt glad at what is told about the Red Sea for I thought that we were asking for much less. How consoling to record the conflicfls which by the divine decree the Saint passed through. I rejoiced at seeing my Eliseus in the same position, and offered him anew to God. Then, as I recalled the graces bestowed on me and how Joseph had said: Thou wilt witness far more for the honour and glory of God', I was consumed by a longing to undergo a thousand dangers in His service. In such ways as this my life is spent — yet I wrote the nonsense you will find in this letter!

I am about to resume the history of the foundations which Joseph says will help many souls With God's grace, I believe it will, but even before Joseph had told me this I had resolved to continue the task by order of your Paternity.

I am sincerely glad that you gave such a detailed explanation to the Cathedral Chapter: I cannot understand their not being ashamed at what they wrote to the contrary.

It is very fortunate that those religious left of their own accord, otherwise compulsion might have been needed: our Lord seems to be removing all our difficulties by degrees. God grant they may bring Him glory in the end and do good to these souls !

You do well to give your injundlions to the Calced Carmelites from your own priory so that they may not notice whether you attend choir or not. This hint is given in order that all may pass off successfully. Our prayers are unfailing and are better arms than these fathers use.

The head-courier took you a long letter from me. Until I hear that you have received it, I shall send to you via Madrid instead of by him.

As for our David, I think he will end by persuading Father Esperanza as he generally does when they meet, and his brother is there to help him. No doubt Father Buenaventura could do much for us if he intervened; he is very glad that you and he have been told of the matter. God forgive me ! but I wish that father would stay in the Order to which he was called, for I fear he will be nothing but a trouble to us. I have heard no more about the matter since I arrived.

Your Paternity's daughter and subjed:, Teresa de Jesus.