Letter 162. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Toledo, January 3, 1577

Expressions of affection. Paterna. Father Gradan and Lorenzo.

Jesus be with your Reverence, my daughter.

DOUBTLESS you have had a happy Christmas and nevs year since our Father is with you, as would have been the case with me. His difHcuhies do not seem as though they would be very easily overcome and I am depressed by our solitude here. Oh, how it freezes! It is almost as cold as Avila. Still, I am in good health, though longing to see a letter from Seville for it seems a long while since I read one. However, the couriers take some time travelling from Seville to Toledo, as they do on the return journey. Indeed, everything seems slow to one who waits.

You wrote on the envelope of your letter that you were better since you had been bled, but what I want to know is whether the fever has left you. I was very glad to see your letter, but should be far more glad to see you. It would give me special pleasure just now, for I think we should be close friends. There are few with whom I like to talk on many matters as I do with you, for you really suit me exactly, so that it delights me when I realize from your letters that you have realized it too. Therefore, if God is pleased that we should meet again you will not be so foolish as before, knowing how I love you, and that is the reason I feel such deep sorrow for your illness.

Nobody seems to understand about the Prioress of Malagon's complaint. They say she is rather better but she has very high fever and cannot get up. I heartily wish she were well enough to be brought here. Be sure that you all pray much for her; I do not remind you every time I write, as I know it is unnecessary.

Do you notice that, in spite of all my work, I always like to write to you whenever I am sending my Father a letter? I assure you that I am astonished at it myself. I should like to find time to write to my Gabriela sometimes. Remember me affeftionately to her, to Beatrice, and her mother, and to all the nuns. I am telling my Father that since they are in much want of lay sisters at Paterna, it would be a very good plan to send them some of ours ; they would be of great use to the others who I must say are very few in number. Give them kind messages from me and be sure to let me know how they are getting on. Fray Ambrosio says that our Father is in excellent health; I have already thanked your Reverence, as I believe that it is largely due to your providing him with meals. Thank God for all the mercy he shows us.

Give my best wishes to Fray Antonio; as he never answers me, I do not write to him. Keep him, as far as possible, from knowing how many letters pass between us, and ask our Father not to