Letter (number unidentified). To Father Gracian, Seville, Toledo, November 4, 1576

Profession of Casilda de Padilla, Valdemoro and his brother. The Sainfs retirement into a distant convent, Matusalem,

JESUS ! May the grace oí the Holy Spirit be with your

Paternity.

IHAVP2 written to you several times lately: God grant you receive my letters, for I am distressed at knowing how many I send and how few are delivered.

The enclosed letters came from Valladolid today. They announce the arrival of the dispensation from Rome for Casilda's profession, and her great delight at hearing of it. I thought we need not wait until your Paternity could give her the veil yourself as we never know what may happen in this life, and the safest is the best. I beg you, as a charity, to send leave at once by several messengers, so that the little angel may suffer no more delay, for it costs her dear. They have already told, or will tell your Paternity, to whom Casilda has sent her account of her life, — one of them is Fray Domingo, but if I have time to read her letters, and that she addressed to me contains more details, I will send it to you.

I must tell you that Perucho came here the day before yesterday. He reminded me that as St. Paul persecuted the Christians and was touched by divine grace, the same thing may happen to him, so that he may turn over a new leaf. I believe his conversion will last as long as suits his own ends. He feels absolutely certain that Paul will proceed against them all, but says he will be the first to welcome him. His brother was driven out by the owls though he was a great saint and preacher — in fad:, faultless. He was formerly a Dominican but now wishes to join the eagles. If he really is what Perucho says, it would do us no harm to receive him, for we are in need of preachers. The worst of it is that all this appears to me a fable. Oh ! what a great friend I have in this father ! God deliver us from him !

The man who gave us the site for the convent wishes us to have a weekly Mass said for him and he will build us six good cells. I told him your

Paternity would not consent to it. I fancy he will

VOL. II. 9 content himself with less or perhaps with nothing at all.

I am afraid we shall lose Matusalem. Whether or no, tell me what Angela is to do if he dies, for she will feel scrupulous about obedience if she goes anywhere of her own choice. The place mentioned is a long distance away and she would be worse off there than she is now, at least as regards her health. Still, she is more needed there and comfort is not the thing to be considered as it would be a mistake to care for that in this world. Certainly it would be best for her to be near her confessor Paul, and it would be the more suitable, except as regards the foundation in question, for evidently Toledo is a far worse place than even Avila for business matters. Will your Paternity send your decision to her as you know her well, because, if the nuncio died she might not be able to wait for your reply if she were told here to go to any particular place, which would be a great grief to her.

Will your Paternity also examine whether, if she is called upon to name or choose a place of residence, she ought to be ruled by what the former Visitor said, for unless necessity requires her to go elsewhere, perhaps it would be more perfeft than making her own choice. Consider the matter very carefully, my Father, for your decision, right or wrong, will be made public. I do not think the state of affairs would last long, for we should soon have another Matusalem; still, the thing might happen. God help me! What liberty of spirit this woman possesses amidst all these changing events!

It does not seem to her that any of them could be harmful either for her or for her Paul. Joseph's words work great things since they have brought her to this. But what learning and eloquence Paul possesses! It is a matter for which to praise God! Will your Paternity bring the affair to Paul 's notice and answer me for charity's sake, for we can lose nothing by that and much would be lost if the advice of others were followed.

We are praying earnestly for Matusalem and the great Angel, for, though I do not know why, I am most grieved about the latter. May His Majesty restore his health and preserve you to me for many years, making you very holy! Amen, amen. To-day is November 4.

Your Paternity's unworthy subjedl and true daughter,

Teresa de Jesus.