Letter 149. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Toledo, December 13, 1576

A cure for the fever. Death of the good old woman. Affairs of the convent at Seville, The sisters at Paterna,

Jesus and the Holy Spirit be with your Reverence, my daughter!

woman died. May our Lord take her soul to Himself as we have asked Him here! I think there is no need to condole with lier sister and niece, to whom I send my kind regards, for they have reason to be glad that she has gone to enjoy the presence of God. But Beatriz has no reason to wish she had gone with her: let her beware lest she commits some sin with such nonsense. It was very charitable of you to give me a detailed account of what happened and I am extremely glad that you have received so large a legacy.

The devil does not seem to have rendered you so cowardly as he made me while I was at Seville. I see now that it was his work, as I am the same as I was before now that I am at Toledo. What is this that the kind prior of las Cuevas writes to Father Mariano about procuring you a spring of water? I do not know how, though I should be very glad if he succeeded. Really he interests himself about it as if it were for his own use. Thank God, he is well. I am enclosing a letter for him. Remember me affectionately to every one and to my Gabriela whose letters delighted me. Does she make a good portress? Never forget to remember me to Delgada and let me know how Fray Bartolomé de Aguilar is. I do not know how you can be ill when you have our Father so near you. In fadl, God gives us graces with both hands every day.''

My brother is in Peru, but I think that by this time he has travelled still farther off. Lorenzo will tell me. As he is not married, he is not settled in one place, so that he could not see to your affair: he is here to-day and gone tomorrow, as they say. I sent your letter to my brother Lorenzo. If Augustin were told where the man lives, he might know some one who would look after him. Enquire about the matter and let me know.

It would be well for Beatriz to pay for the house since I believe it was partly through her that we entered it. Always tell Gabriela to let me know how they are getting on at Paterna to save tiring yourself. I am not surprised at the sisters there not feeling quite at peaco yet; they are very isolated. Ask our Father whether it would not be a good plan to send Margarita to join them, if she has the courage. I think she might make her profession but I do not remember when she took the habit.

It would be very hard if one of the sisters at Paterna fell ill, and you are in no want of lay sisters. God be with you ! Amen.

Written on the feast of Saint Lucy, 1576. Yours,

Teresa de Jesus. The enclosed letter from the doftor will tell you about the health of the Prioress of Malagon. Read the other two letters which I leave open lest you should do what I ask of Sister San Francisco; fasten them up afterwards. If Father Prior sends you the printed pictures for me, do not keep any for yourself; he will give you as many as you want.