Letter (number unidentified). To Mother Mary of S. Joseph, Toledo, July 11, 1577

PRIORESS OF SEVILLE

Expressions of sympathy. Postulants. Carved cocoa-nuts from the Indies. Father Gradan. A letter for Father Gregorio.

Jesus be with you, my daughter.

I THINK I can easily bear all the rest since you tell me that your health is better. God grant that it may improve, and may He reward your doctor, to whom I offer my sincere thanks. It is a great blessing that the life of the Subprioress has been prolonged until now. Her Creator can easily restore her health since He drew her out of nothingness. He has exercised her and the rest of you so well in suffering that you are all quite fit to go to Guinea, or even further. Yet after all, I wish your trials were over for they grieve me deeply. As I have asked Mother Brianda to write and tell you all the news, I will only say what is stricflly necessary. I have received neither the pidlures nor the letter v/hich you said Doña Luisa was bringing with her, nor do you acknowledge the linen and crucifixes I sent you. Let me know about them when next you write, and pray for Mother Brianda. I am very glad to see how much better her health is.

You must certainly receive the postulant; her dowry is not a bad one. I should be glad to see the widow inside the convent. I wrote to you the other day asking you to take the little negress and her sister' which would do you no harm. You do not mention whether this letter reached you either. I am very sorry to hear that Garci Alvarez is ill; do not forget to let me know whether he is better and whether you continue to get stronger. The cocoa-nuts came in good condition: they are a sight. I shall send one to Doña Luisa. The one meant for me was very well carved; our Father is going to open it to-morrow.

He says that we can decide nothing about Pa-terna until he has been there: we discussed the subjed: fully to-day. He believes that it would disturb every one if they thought he was no longer Visitor, in which he is right.

God reward your Reverence for all the treats you give me. You must fancy that you are a queen! And you paid the porterage too! For charity's sake be very careful and treat yourself well, for this will be a treat for me. Both the nuns and I were very glad to see the cocoa-nuts. May He be blessed Who created them, for it is indeed a blessing to see them! I was delighted to see that in spite of all your troubles you had the energy to think of such things: God knows to whom He can send such trials.

I have just been talking to our Father about the postulant recommended to you by the Archbishop. I am extremely annoyed at the way the latter is importuned concerning a matter as to which he is quite indifferent. Our Father thinks she is a melancholic beata — such as we have suffered from before. As it would be still worse to be obliged to dismiss her, will you manage to see her occasionally and find out what sort of a person she is. If you see that she is unsuitable, I think it would not be a bad plan for Father Nicolas to speak to the Archbishop and tell him what we have endured from these heat as, ox else you could postpone your decision.

I wrote the enclosed letter a long while ago to Fray Gregorio and sent it to him by our Father who has just brought it back. It is not needed now, but be sure to read it lest you should again be tempted to be so foolish as to leave your present home.

I am sorry for all the trouble you must be enduring from this sister and grieved at what the poor little thing must suffer herself. May God cure her! Remember me kindly to all. It would be a great comfort to me to see you, for there are few who suit me so well and I love you dearly. All things are in Gods power.

Remember me most kindly to Father Garci Alvarez, to Beatriz, her mother and the rest. They ought to be very perfed: since God starts the foundation with them. I do not know how you are able to suffice for all, now that God has withdrawn their former aid. However, it would be worse if you had to govern Caked nuns, as has happened in other cases, for at least your daughters follow your dircólion. The worst of it is that you have much work and little health, and I know by experience what that means. Anything can be borne when we feel well. May God give you health which I wish and ask for you, my daughter. Amen.

To-day is July 11. Yours,

Teresa de Jesus.

As our Father was here, he opened the packet and gave me the letter but kept the pictures, and no doubt must have forgotten to return them. I only knew of them through overhearing him discuss them with Fray Antonio. The two I saw were very pretty.