Letter (number unidentified). To Mother Mary of St. Joseph Prioress of Seville, Toledo, May 15, 1577

Thanks for presents. A debt. Burial of Sister Bernarda. Good news of Father Gradan.

JESUS !

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with you, my daughter.

our present wants. Fortunately it was packed by you and so arrived without breakage.

My one desire is to repay you in some way for all your presents, which are a genuine proof of love. But never in my life did I see any place so devoid as Toledo of anything artistic, which is the more noticeable after having come from Seville. I have given orders here that the hundred ducats for which Ascensio Galieno gave me a receipt in Seville should be paid immediately. I do not know whether you remember that fifty ducats of this sum are for Father ¡Viariano, owing to him for what he spent on your convent when we went to Seville. The other fifty are for the rent. As Señor Galieno died I have been feeling anxious about the settlement of this debt, as I shall feel about the rest of your debts until I see you freed from their burden. God sends you burdens enough, and I deeply regret that both you and the Subprioress should be ill just as spring is beginning. May He cure you, for I do not know what is to be done.

I wrote to you by the courier asking you to receive the lay sister and to leave the body of the little saint where it is in the choir, though the rest of us must be buried in the cloisters, not in the church. I also told you that as the saints parents are living, they inherit the property, although she left it to the convent. Had they died first, the money would have gone to your house. However, her relatives are obliged to pay her full dowry. Try to arrange it as best you can. You must give up the perfe(ftion you mention, for though we were to do more than that, people would never say we did not covet the money. You must ad: as our Father orders. Write to him, and for the love of God, take care of yourself for my sake.

I am very much concerned about Mother Briandas health, although it seems better since she came here. I enjoy her company. As she says she is going to write to you, I will say no more about her.

You will have heard that the nuncio has sent for our Father. Matters seem to be going on well; pray about them. May His Majesty watch over you for me and make you a saint ! I envied our good Sister Bernarda. We have prayed much for her soul here, although I do not think she needed it.

To-day is the eve of the Ascension, in the year

Í577-

Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.

Remember me affeótionately to the Mother Subprioress, to my Gabriela and the rest.

Will your Reverence send me the prescription for Sister Teresa's jalap, as her father wants it. On no account forget it. I mean the syrup she took frequently during the day.