Letter 116. To Father Juan de Jesus (Roca), at la Roda, Toledo, about October 5, 1576

On Fray Antonio's leaving the Order, The journey to Rome. Fray Gabriel's illness. Father Gradan and the Caked Carmelites,

JESUS!

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

YOUR house is so out of the way that, do what I would, I could find no one to take you my answer, so I waited until those fathers left.

Perhaps Fray Antonio's' having left the Order may be a divine favour for he suflfered from profound melancholia which with our diet' would have developed into something very serious. God be with him! He certainly appears to me to be more wanting in health than in courage, which he did not lack. His departure cannot fail to be known because another preacher must be found for Almodovar. God grant he may return to his own Order. Ours loses nothing by these comings and goings.

TO FATHER JUAN DE JESUS 6

I thought your Reverence would have returned via Toledo — you need not have gone far out of your way. You cannot have been very anxious to please me as I only talked with you for a very short time while you were here. I assure you that I have very little influence concerning the journey to Rome. Though I have made many efforts I have not even been able to get a letter sent to him who has so just a claim to one. However, let us do right, come what may.

The matter does not depend upon our Father Visitor, who would already have written to Rome; in faft, so many people give him different advice that my opinion carries little weight, and I regret that I cannot do more. I thought that the journey had been decided upon, as I was told. May God bring it about ! For charity's sake, do all you can to hasten it, for you have more power than I.

I sent the letters to Seville and Almodovar at once, although I think that the Father Prior had already reached Madrid, where he still is. The letter for Caravaca was also forwarded; fortunately a messenger was going there : few people travel in that direftion. I am exceedingly sorry about Fray Gabriel's illness; will your Reverence tell him so, give him i7iy kind regards, and say we are praying for him here. He is one of the fathers for whom I feel great affedtion and who feel little for me.

Our Father wrote telling me that he had arrived in good health, that several fathers of the cloth' had left, and that he had succeeded in satisfying the cathedral chapter. So far, all he has managed to effed: is that the Calced fathers are polite, and that they have sent some of their number to petition for them. If God preserves him to us, I believe he will do much good: I beg of you not to forget to pray for both of us, I present my compliments to all the fathers of your community as the Prioress does to your Reverence. May our Lord grant you the sandlity I ask for you. Amen.

Your Reverence's unworthy servant, Teresa de Jesus.