Letter 133. To Father Gracian, Seville, Toledo, November 19, 1576

Fresh regulations imposed by Fray Jesus de Roca on t he friars. The foundation at Granada.

Jesus be with Your Paternity.

YOU see what a burden Fray Juan de Jesus has laid on us by his ad:s of the visit, which in my opinion only add unnecessarily to the constitutions given by your Paternity. My nuns dread lest, in the future, severe superiors should trouble and overburden them. The thing is useless. It is extraordinary that Visitors do not think they have done their duty unless they have made new regulations. If the friars are to have no recreation on Communion days, are those who say Mass daily never to have recreation? Or if priests are not to keep his rule, why should the other poor religious do so? This father wrote to me saying that as that house had never been visited, rigid regulations were needed. It may be so: certain matters may have required putting in order. But if merely reading his afts tires me, what would it be to keep them? I do not think our Rule allows of severe superiors: it is severe enough in itself.

Father Salazar' is going to Granada, having been summoned there by his great friend the Archbishop. He is very anxious to establish a convent of our nuns there, which would not displease me as the foundation could be made without my presence. But first I want to know what Cyril thinks of the projeft, as I do not know whether the Visitors can give leave for convents as they can for priories. That is, provided the Franciscans do not forestall us there as they have at Burgos.

Santelmo is extremely annoyed with me for sending away his novice, but I could not in conscience do otherwise, nor could your Paternity. We have done all we could under the circumstances, and when the matter affeóts Gods service, the world must go to the wall. I have not let myself be troubled about it, nor need your Paternity. No good would come from afting against the will of our sole Good. I assure you that had it been the case of a sister of my Paul (and I can say nothing stronger than that) I would not have done more for the novice. Santelmo has ailed most unreasonably : he is angry with me because I believe what my nuns tell me: he fancies that the Prioress is prejudiced and that all they say against his novice is exaggerated. He is arranging with other persons attached to the Court for her entrance at Talavera : that is why he sent for her. God deliver us from standing in need of creatures! May He be pleased to let us see Him where we shall need no one but Him! Santelmo says that 1 have taken this course because I need him no longer — in fad:, he has been told that this is one of my tricks. But when have we ever needed him more than while we were arranging to dismiss his novice? How they misunderstand me! God grant that I may always understand how to carry out His will! Amen. To-day is November 19. Your Paternity's unworthy servant and subjeft, Teresa de Jesus.