Letter 126. To Mother Mary Baptist, Prioress of Valladolid, Toledo, Novcrnbcr 2, 1576

Health of the prioress. Matters of the Order and the convent of Vallado lid.

JESUS! May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with you.

IF you would believe what I say sometimes, we should avoid a great deal of trouble. It is true I did not insist strongly in my letter a few days ago that you should not allow yourself to be bled any more; I do not know how you can be so foolish, even if the dod:or advised it. I am very sorry to hear of your headaches. And how about Catalina? lam most anxious that you should have prayers offered for her although she wishes to go elsewhere, knowing how fond the sisters are of her there. I assure you that she is a grand woman and I hope you will not have to pay for your overwhelming affedlion for her. The thought has occurred to me, and I warn you so that you may repent of it.

I have received all your letters which reach me safely by this means. You need not send me the cost of the messenger as my brother defrays it; I owe him much in every way. The Father Visitor' told me that he was well, when writing to me a few days ago. He is very regular in sending me news and is on satisfactory terms with the people of the place. He is discreet and mild in his behaviour.

The Franciscans' affair happened some days ago: they did not kill the Visitor. We are really delighted about Bishop Quiroga because he is on the best of terms with our Father. The bishop and the nuncio are both extremely ill. Pray for them in your community, for the death of the bishop would be a great loss, not only to us but to the whole kingdom. You must also pray for Don Juan of Austria who has gone incognito to Flanders, disguised as the servant of a Flemish nobleman.

Oh, how glad I was to hear from you that Fray Pedro Hernandez was well! I knew he was ill, but not that he had recovered. I assure you that he is not so ungrateful as his friend,' but however busy he may be, always takes care to write to me; indeed he owes me that, though as far as debts go, the other owes me more.

You may be sure that a certain person will behave well to you until he finds some one else he likes, and then he will leave you at once, however much you trust him. Unless God had withheld me, I should have done long ago what you wished to do, but He prevented me and I realize that he of whom you speak is God's servant and that he and all who live on this earth deserve that we should love them. We shall be very foolish if we ever expeót more from others; yet that is no reason why we should imitate his condud:. However, let us always be grateful to him for the services he has rendered us. Do not be so over critical, but write to him and try by degrees to gain liberty of spirit. Thank God, I have a great deal, though not so much as people say. May He be praised, for He is always our true friend when we seek His friendship.

The letter shall be sent to Luis de Cepeda '°; I have told you of his father's death and of how much we prayed for him during his illness.

Send me the account you have for my brother, as I have already given him the one from Doña Maria de Mendoza; let me have the rest as well and the memoranda. If you have one, let me have a notice of Stephany" like the one you gave me which was very good, but let it be clearly written so that I am not obliged to copy it out. Do not give the task to Juliana,' for the exaggerations in her statement about Beatriz de la Encarnación were intolerable. When you are quite well, will you write what you know as the Provincial has asked for it.

I am in good health, thank God. I have never been able to persuade you to take the 'jalap of the King of the Medes'' when you require medicine. It was life to me and can do you no harm. Do not forward money to me by the ordinary courier or dream of doing so, for nothing would reach me. Send it by the muleteer even if you have to wait for him.

Take no notice of the interior troubles you mention; the greater they are, the more you ought to despise them. They arise from a strong imagination and a disordered body, and the devil, seeing this, contributes his share. But do not be frightened, for ' God will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able', and though you may fancy that you consent, you do not, but are acquiring merit. For the love of God get well, eat enough, and do not be alone or think much. Occupy yourself with what you can and how you can. I wish I were with you; I should have a number of amusing tales to tell you.

Why did you not tell me of Don Francisco's troubles? I would have written to him for I owe much to him. When you see the Countess de Osorno, remember me very kindly to her, also to

Juliana de la Magdalena. {Ibid. ch. xii, lo.) A drug.

my Maria de la Cruz, Casilda, Dorotea', the Subprioress and her sister. I do not know what is to be done about the blind novice; I assure you it is an embarrassing dilemma. Father Pradanos ' is a very faithful friend; you are right in keeping up with him although there may be a change of superiors. If Father Domenek' returned to Valladolidl should be glad if he were appointed confessor of your convent. Let me know soon how you are, and abide with God. The Mother Prioress was grieved at hearing of your illness. All here are praying for you. Always send my kind regards to Fray Domingo' when you write to him, and tell me about his health.

To-day is All Souls' Day. Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.

' The first four have been already mentioned. The sister of the Subprioress, Ana de San José (de Menao), was clothed at Medina at the age of thirteen and professed in i 569 at Valladolid where she died in 161 8. She was very contemplative and had a special devotion for the Child Jesus, conversing continually in her cell with the statue of the divine Infant given her by St. Teresa. One day, when her attention was distracted, He said to her: 'Take care; you are leaving Me alone.' Before her death, she became blind. {(Euvres, iii, p. 394.)

'•' Juan de Pradanos, S.J.

' Domingo Bafiez.