Letter 131. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Toledo, November 11, 1576

Precautions to be taken about letters. Health of the prioresses. Father Gradan, Postulants, Indiscreet mortifications of the nuns at Malagon,

Jesus be with your Reverence.

ALWAYS be careful to note on a scrap of paper the questions that you wish me to answer, for your letters are long and although the pleasure they give me makes them seem short, they contain too much for me to read when I am pressed for time. I wrote to you by the courier two, or three, or perhaps four days ago, saying that I should mark with two crosses the letters addressed to you which are meant for our Father. Let me know when you have received this notice as I shall not do so until then.

I assure you that I am much distressed about your fever. Why did you tell me that you were well ? I am annoyed with you about it. See whether the fever is caused by any obstrudlion and attend to it; do not let the malady become chronic. Hdwever, I fancy that it leaves you from time to time, which is a consolation. Perhaps fridtion or something of the kind might mitigate it; be sure to ask the doflor. I think you are accustomed to be bled once a year; as the Mother Subprioress' suggests, that might do you good. You must take precautions so that the malady may not become incurable. May God cure you!

I have not heard from Malagon for some time and feel very anxious concerning the health of the Prioress about which the do¿lors hold out little hope, for all the marks and symptoms point to consumption. God is life and can bestow it. Do not cease praying for her and for a person to whom I owe much.' Ask all the sisters to do the same and remember me kindly to them. Their letters give me great pleasure; I do not know whether I shall find time to answer them. I assure you that I envy you all very much on account of your happy and peaceful enjoyment of our Father's towards the payment of your rent; as for the inheritance of which you speak, it must he worthless. I do not wish you to wait until you do not know where to turn, but desire that you should see your way before you become overwhelmed with debt.

I have given the community at Salamanca leave to accept a postulant who, thev say, will bring her dowry with her. Three hundred ducats were meant to wipe off the debt you owe to Malagon, and a hundred more to pay what is due to Ascension Galiano,but the girl has not yet arrived; pray God to bring her there. I assure you that my wish to set you free from anxiety puts you under a great obligation to me. Why do you not tell Juana de la Cruz to give you her money at once, so that your burden may be lightened? It is not a thing to be careless about. Let Vanegas give vou at least enough to settle your debt to Alonso Ruiz. As I said, it is a matter of conscience to repay him without delay, for you know his need of the money.

I have just been reading about Don Pablo's affair again. Do not let him think that we are anxious to have his daughter but that we would rather the question should be dropped. Be convinced that this is the best plan for many reasons. Those who bargain as he does pretend to be rich to-day and tomorrow say they have lost everything. During their parents' life time they exaggerate their expedlations, but inherit little in the end. The best arrangement would he, if Iiis daughter's dowry would he fifteen hundred ducats, that he should pay oif what you owe for the house. Do not acxept any inheritance, nor allow him to arrange to give her less; but if you can get more, take it. Get some one to say to him: 'Why should you cause disunion among your children by making a convent co-heir with them?' It would not be much if he gave his daughter two thousand ducats.

As regards the Portuguese postulant, they say that her mother could pay her portion. I think she would be the best of any. After all, you will want for nothing, as, when least you think of it, God will give you a nun who brings more than you need. If the captain were to provide the chancel of your chapel, it would not be a bad plan. Send him presents sometimes to show your gratitude, although there may be no reason for it.

Before I forget it, you must know that I have heard of certain mortifications they practise at Mai agon. The Prioress tells one of the nuns to slap another sister suddenly; this invention has come from Toledo. '° The devil seems to be teaching such things under the pretext of perfection that souls may be put in danger of offending God. On no account order or allow the nuns to slap or pinch one another as they do at Malagon, or bring your daughters up with such rigour as they do there, for they are not slaves nor are useless mortifications to be practised. I assure you, my daughter, that there is need to watch very vigilantly over the inventions of these foolish prioresses, for I have learnt of things that have given me much pain. May God make you a saint. Amen.

My brother and Teresa are well. Your letter mentioning the four reales never reached him, but he has received the others. He is delighted with them and prefers your nuns to those of this part of the country.

To-day is November 1 1. Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.

I beg you to see that our Father answers me about the business affairs mentioned in my letter to him. I wish you to keep it before his mind lest he should forget.