Letter 117. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Toledo, October 13, 1576

Advice about health. The sending of letters. Father Gradan s sermons. A profession and a clothing. Advice about prayer. The purchase of la Serna by Don Lorenzo. Affairs of the convent.

JESUS !

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your

Reverence, my daughter.

I AM exceedingly sorry to hear of your illness: I do not know how to console myself for the sufferings of my prioresses. Thank God the one of Malagon is better. Let your Reverence be careful of your health and allow no one to take sarsaparilla water on any account. For the love of God do not negleót your fever, even if you cannot take purgatives. It is some comfort to me to remember that occasionally the nuns thought you were feverish when I could see that they were mistaken. God keep you for me and grant you good health as I entreat of Him. Amen.

The letters came very satisfad:orily as they always will by Figueredo, and the payment for the messenger arrived safely too. You may state on the envelope to what the porterage amounts and may always enclose it as well. You must let me know how you receive my letters, for I doubt whether those I despatched have reached you. They run no risk with Figueredo who is a cautious man, which is a very good thing. I cannot remember in which of my letters I mentioned him to you although you have answered several of them. God proted: you, for you do your work well. But I do not think you need enclose the other letters with your own, which must give you a great deal of trouble.

Oh, how I envy you for hearing those sermons and how I should like to be with you now ! The nuns here say that I like the sisters of Seville best. I do not know why, but I have always loved them, and am not surprised at your Reverence's feeling the same aifeftion for me that I have always had for you. Still, it delights me to hear you tell me of it, and we need say no more about the past for I believe that it did not depend at all upon you. I am glad you show such courage and trust that God will help you. May He be pleased to restore your health in answer to my prayers.

I was pleased to hear of the clothing and profession.' Remember me very kindly to the two sisters and also to Sister San Francisco' whose letters give me great pleasure, as do those from the other nuns. Will they excuse my answering them, for my correspondence at Seville was nothing compared with what I have had here ever since I came; it is terrible.

You must judge what you think best concerning Garci Alvarez's relatives ; he will tell you the truth and no one connefted with him could be bad. If I can find an opportunity, I will write asking him not to cease hearing the sisters' confessions as I have been vexed about the matter. Should I not have time for a letter, will your Reverence kindly give him the message from me. I am very sorry to hear of our good Father Prior's illness; we are praying for his recovery. I will not write to him as I am afraid the muleteer is on the point of starting. The prior's loss would be a severe one to you, but God, Who is eternal, would remain.

I will write to our Father about the prayer of these two sisters; he will speak to you about it, and if anything happens to Sister San Jerónimo let me know There is no need to consult Father Rodrigo Alvarez on the subjedl, but you may mention it to Father Acosta. Give him very kind messages from me for we are on the best of terms and we owe much to him.

I was very glad to hear that you had settled about the rent, for my brother has bought an estate of freehold land near Avila, called la Serna, rich in meadows, corn and coppice, which costs fourteen thousand ducats, and as he has not that sum by him at present, this is not the time to keep him waiting for the third of the money he lent you. However, I trust in God that he will not require it. It would be a great thing if you could pay off your debts by degrees.

You tell me nothing of the deputy's wife. Remember me kindly to them both, to the sisters, to any one you meet, to Delgado and Bias. God be with you. Give my kind regards to Fray Gregorio and always let me know about his health. May God make you strong, for I am delighted with the work you are doing: but you must not spin when you have the fever or you will never get rid of it, for you move your arms about so violently in spinning and are so energetic. Remember me kindly to Margarita. If you want a lay sister, a relation of our Father's is beseeching us to receive her, so let me know whether you will take her. The Prioress of Valladolid who has seen her considers that she will make a goo.d lay sister, but apparently she cannot read. Our Father will say nothing on the suhjeft. His little sister is really astonishing, sweeter in disposition than Teresa and wonderfully clever. I am highly pleased with her. To-day is October 13, 1576. Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.