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

The Saint rejoices at his having written to Rome. Comparison between Father Gradan and the Franciscan Visitor. The nuns of Seville. Elena de iroga and her daughter.

JESUS !

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

the attempt may be siiccessful and that opinions may not he divided on the siihjeól. I also told you how delighted I was with your letters to Father Mariano which he sent me at my request. The course of events made me thank God heartily. I do not know where you got the brains for such ta(5t and address. Blessed be He Who endowed you with them, for it is clearly His doing. Let your Paternity be careful to remember this and not become self-confident, as I assure you Father Buenaventura' is, to an extent that astonished me when I heard of it. He thought everything would be an easy matter for him to manage and consequently effected nothing at all. This great God of Israel desires to be praised in His creatures, so we must, like your Paternity, do all we can to forward His honour and glory, instead of our own interests of which His Majesty will take care in His own good time. Our duty is to acknowledge our own baseness and magnify His greatness. But how foolish I am, and how my Father will laugh when he reads this !

God forgive those butterflies'' of Seville who enjoy at their ease what cost me so dear when I was there. I cannot help envying them, yet I am delighted at seeing their efforts to bring PauP some comfort, and the secrecy with which it has been done. I gave them all sorts of foolish advice; they can laugh at me in return. Could I have deprived myself of the consolation of procuring some comfort for one who needs it so greatly and who is so hard worked? I know Paul's virtue is above such things, and he understands me better now than ever. But lest it should cause any offence, I beg of you not to establish yourself at the convent as chaplain, except in the case of which I speak. This is that case, and I assure you that if the only result of all I suffered in making this foundation were that it afforded you some help, I should count it as well endured, and I thank God anew that you find some place of refuge there instead of with seculars. The sisters give me great pleasure by writing to tell me all the details of what happens, for which I have to thank your Paternity as they say they do it by your order. I am sincerely glad to learn that you do not forget me.

Doña Elena has added her daughter's inheritance to the dowry she will give for herself if ever she enters. She says that she ought to bring with her two choir and two lay postulants and that after the convent is built, the money will suffice for a charity-fund as there is at Alba. However, she submits all to the decision of your Paternity, Father Baltasar Alvarez, and myself. It was he who sent me her request as he did not like to answer until he knew my opinion. I carefully considered your Paternity's usual line of aótion, and after much thought and consultation, wrote the enclosed reply. If you do not approve of what I have said, let me know about the matter, but take note that I do not wish houses founded in striól poverty to have revenues later on.

Mav God protect your Paternity for me. Your Paternity's unworthy daughter and servant,

Teresa de Jesus.