Letter 144. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Toledo, December 7, 1576

Praise of Father Gradan. Don Lorenzo's pious life. The Prior of Seville. Various subjects.

Jesus be with your Reverence.

TO-DAY, the Vigil of the Conception of our Lady, the muleteer gave me your letters and is in a great hurry for the answer; so, my daughter, you must forgive my being brief, as I should never wish to be, so deep is my affedtion for you; indeed, I love you dearly. Now that I am so indebted to you for the care our Father tells me you and your daughters take of him by providing him with meals, my love is deeper than ever. I am much pleased at your showing the prudence I advised in the matter, for I do not think we have, or shall have, another superior whom we can treat in this way. For, as God chose him for the beginning of our work, which we shall not have to commence over again every day, I suppose we shall never have any one like him, and it would be to open the door to greater evils than you can imagine if we were so to treat superiors who do not possess his sandiity. However, there will not always be the same need for it : now we live in times of war and must be cautious.

God reward you, my daughter, for having sent our Father's letters. They revive me. This week I received the three you said you had written to me, and though they arrived together, they were none the less welcome. I was extremely touched by the one from San Francisco which is good enough to print: the marvels it relates about our Father seem incredible. Blessed be He Who has given him such talents. Oh, that I could thank Him worthily for the mercies He bestows upon us, and particularly for giving us such a Father !

I understand, my daughter, how tired and lonely you must be feeling. God grant that the illness of the Subprioress may not be serious; I should be sorry if only because it brings you more work. I was exceedingly glad to hear that the bleeding had relieved your Reverence. Since this doólor understands your constitution, I hope you will keep to him: may God provide for you !

The enclosed letter came to-day from the Prioress of Malagon: it is a great thing that she is no worse. I do all in my power for her health and happiness, as, setting aside what I owe to her, I am very anxious about her health — yet I care far more for yours. Believe me, I am speaking the truth, so you see how I long for your recovery.

From the enclosed paper you will learn that Father Mariano has received your letter. The one from my brother that you mention must have been torn up with the rest as it was open; that must have been how it happened. 1 was sorry, and took great pains to find it, for it was a very good one. I have just heard from him that he has written to you by the Avila muleteer, so I will only say that he has made great progress in prayer and bestows generous alms. Will you all continue to pray for him. Abide with God, my daughter.

I was much more sorry to learn that the Prior of Seville' does not fill his office well than that he is timid. Our Father ought to remonstrate with him, pointing out how wrong it is; I hope he will. Remember me kindly to every one, especially to Fray Gregorio, to Señor Nicolas, if he has not left, and to my daughters, to Sister Gabriela when you give her the enclosed letters, and to the Subprioress. Oh ! if I could only send you some of the postulants we have to refuse in this part of the country! But God will bring you some. I have already recommended to your prayers the success of the fleet. I well understand, and am truly grieved about the troubles you are undergoing, but trust God will deliver you from them all and give you good health. May His Majesty preserve you for me and make you a great saint. Amen.

I am very glad that you understand more clearly every day how holy our Father is; I perceived it when I was at Veas. Letters have come to-day from there and from Caravaca. I send the latter for you and our Father to read ; return it to me by the same muleteer, as I shall need it on account of what it contains respedling the dowries. There are great complaints about your Reverence in the letter addressed from that convent to the Mother Prioress here.

I am just about to send the nuns of Caravaca an image of our Lady, a large and very beautiful statue, not robed. A St. Joseph is being made for them on my account; it will be a present.

You fill your office extremely well and were right in telling me about the pinches; it is a bad custom that came to us from the Incarnation.

I have already written the date of the day; the year is 1576.

Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.

Our Father has answered all my letters satisfaftorily and has given me the licences for which I asked. Kiss his Paternity's hands for me.

CLXIX