Letter (number unidentified). To Fray Mariano, Madrid, Toledo, February 6, 1577

Saint Teresa ohjedls to the title of ''Santa', Father Gradan and the Discalce J. Tostado and the Caked. Manner of treating them.

JESUS !

May the grace of God be with your Reverence, my Father.

FOR mercy's sake, do not give me the title of Santa when you address your letters; that is no language for us. It is a great pity you should do such things out of charity.

Our Father tells me nothing except that he is well, although slightly indisposed at times. The waters near Antequera will cure him. I cannot understand about Fray Buenaventura, for I thought your Reverence wrote telling me that they had taken him from his office. It would be right if they deprived him of it as a lesson to the friars, but they ought to restore him to it. God be praised for having enabled our Father to bear things so patiently; he will succeed better in his endeavours if they do not tie his hands. I trust in His Majesty that it will be the case.

' This letter is translated by kind permission of P. Grcgoire from the Spanish copy found by him at the mother house, Rome. A few alterations were made by him in the copy written by P. L Hostc, in 165 i, at Louvain, which appeared defective. See Lettres, Tome II, letter 168, 2nd edition.

My Father, do not be disturbed about Tostados coming. Leave our Lord to aól; it is His affair; He will bring much good out of it all. It does not distress me, for I see that when our affairs seem going against the stream, they make quicker progress than if they went with the current, for God is manifesting His power. What seems hard is best.

When you visit the nuncio, do not forget that he sent for our Father, whose commission is nearly over. For some time, the fathers of the cloth here seem to have been exasperated to madness. I believe they will send a messenger to Tostado if they have not already done so. They declare that their mistake has been in not having deputed some one to fetch him here. Let him come and welcome; we shall see what the result will be. If the King and the rest of our friends are in the same mind, the Calced can do little; if they change their plans, so much the better. Do not be distressed, my Father, at my advising you to remain in the house that has been given you; look for no more sites for foundations. I cannot bear this intercourse on the subjed: with those of the cloth. You are losing the substance for the shadow. Changes always come, so remain as you are. I think it would have been wiser to try to make a foundation of nuns than to look for a better place for the friars . . .

I saw this for myself during the week I spent at Madrid. Let us beware of those fathers and not be deceived; matters are serious and as your Reverence says, our opponents' strongest weapon is persecution, which perhaps might benefit us at the present moment.

I am very glad that our Father is not in Seville, and as your Reverence says, it would be better for him to come to this part of the country though the Discalced have a house at Granada where he might stay. At all events, if his commission expires and Father Tostado remains in power, it would be well that they should not meet. The Calced fathers here all say that the latter is to go straight to court by order of the nuncio: they add, which is true, that it is by the royal mandate. They seem to have examined the subjed: more thoroughly, but their opinions do not agree.

Don Pedro Gonzalez told me yesterday that he had read in a letter sent from Rome that an internuncio had been named. I expedt, my Father, that this dignitary would be very prejudiced against us, but, If God be for us,' etc. The Father Master, Pedro Hernandez, is at Seville and has called on me. I do not think he will go to court for another month. Believe me, my Father, the aóts of the Apostolic Visitors will not be contravened. Submit to and obey Tostado in all else except this which would ruin us completely. Therefore, if he comes, keep on the alert, however bland he may be. Let no one be persuaded to the contrary on this point. This does not affeft the Father General, for we are under obedience to him and ought to be held as his daughters, as the Calced will consider us. It would be life for us, were he to protcd: the Reform, which will do much good. I fear, my Father, that God will not grant us this favour. May His Majesty direft these matters to His greater service and then — come what may!

I enclose a letter to Father Julian Diaz, begging him to take charge of an affair at Caravaca/ as you will see. I send the statement and petitions for the Bishop of Caravaca . . . beg him to ask the Duquesa on my behalf to send a servant . . . which is not much . . . considering their trouble . . . and ask him for the love of God, not to postpone the business. May His Majesty ever be with your Reverence. Amen.

To-day is February 6.

Your Reverence's unworthy servant, Teresa de Jesus.