Letter (number unidentified). To Gaspar de Villanueva, Chaplain to the Nuns at Malagon, Toledo, during July, 1577

Resentment of Beatriz de Jesus because Ana de la Madre de Dios succeeded to her office as temporary President, Ana de Jesus. Opinions of theologians regarding Father Gradan s visitation,

JESUS !

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your

Reverence !

YOUR letters grieved me deeply, for it cuts me to the heart to think that matters in one of my convents are in a worse state than in any of the Calced Carmelites houses of Andalusia. The community at Malagon do me little credit. I do not know what harm the nun in charge does to the sisters that they should behave in the way described in your letter to the Mother Prioress. What was said to them by such a superior as our Father ought to have sufficed to pacify them. They soon showed how little they understand their duty and I cannot but blame your Reverence, knowing what influence you have over them. Had you interposed as you did when they complained of Mother Brianda, things would have been in a different state now. The result will be that they will see the latter no more, even if God should restore her health, and that they will be deprived of your Reverence as their confessor. That is how God repays those who serve Him badly. Your Reverence will see what comes of such contentious nuns, who have led me such a life from the first. I beg of you to tell Beatriz so from me; I am so angry with her that I do not wish to hear her mentioned. Will you say to her that if she opposes the sister in charge, or anything that is done in the house, it will cost her dear if I hear of it.

Will your Reverence teach them, as you have always done, for the love of God to unite themselves to Him, and not to make such disturbances if they wish for His peace. Are you afraid that there are others like Ana de Jesus .? Indeed, I would rather see them in a far worse state than hers than

• Ana de Jesus (Contreras) not the \enerable Anne of Jesus, but a nun who was possessed by the devil even before she entered at Mala-gon. (See letter of June 15, 1576.)

as disobedient as they are. I lose patience when I see any of them offending God, although it makes me recognize that He has given me a large store of patience.

I know that due examination was made before Ana de Jesus received Holy Communion, but I think that now she might be kept without it for a month to see how she goes on. However, I submit my opinion to what the Prioress writes to you on the subjedl. It was very wrong of them not to acquaint you with the matter; you were right in communicating her since you knew nothing.

The matter of the chaplain made me regret Fray Francisco's departure,' for the Provincial does not wish the nuns always to have the same confessor, nor does it seem well to me. As I have already told your Reverence, I do not like their frequent interviews with him. I will mention the matter to him as it requires looking into.

The sister in charge, when writing of a certain affair the other day, told me that you were no longer on your former good terms with her. She gave me to understand that you did not think that she was frank with you. If it were so, I should consider it very wrong. I am writing to her on this and on other subjects in such a way thatshe shall notsuspeft that I have heard anything about it. It would be well for you to speak to her plainly about it and also to complain of her condudt respeiling Ana de Jesus, for unless you unravel the snares the devil has begun to weave, things will go from bad to worse, and it will be impossible for you to retain your peace of soul. Although I should deeply regret that our sisters should lose you, I realize that you are more bound to preserve your peace of conscience than to do me a favour. May God give us this peace as He has the power to do ! Amen. I kiss the hands of the señores.

They tell me that, though the nuncio is dead, our Father's commission has not expired but he is still Visitor, for which in one way, I am exceedingly sorry.

The unworthy servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.