Letter (number unidentified). To Father Caspar de Salazar, Avila, December 7, 1577

*Persecution of the Discalced. St. Teresa 's eleBion as Prioress of the Incarnation. The Life' and the Interior Castle*

JESUS ! May the Holy Spirit be with you, my Father.

A LETTER was brought to me from your Reverence to-day, the Eve of the Conception. May our Lord reward you for the comfort it gave me which I really needed as you must know that, for more than three months, hosts of devils seem to have leagued together against the Discalced friars and nuns. The persecutions and accusations raised against us nuns and Father Gracian have been so numerous and hard to bear that we could only seek refuge in God. I believe He heard their prayers (for in fa6l they are good souls) as those vsho presented the memorials to the King have withdrawn the scandalous tales they told about us. Truth is a great thing, for even before that, the sisters rejoiced. It was not much that I should be glad, for such things are so customary now that it costs me little to remain indifferent.

And now, as a climax, the nuns of the Incarnation have elected me as Prioress with a majority of fourteen or fifteen votes. But the Calced friars have been clever enough to place and confirm in the office the nun with fewer votes. It would have been a great blessing for me, had it been settled peacefully, but as the nuns of the opposition, over fifty in number, refused obedience to her except as Vice-Prioress, he excommunicated them. Theologians say that the excommunication was invalid; but these religious were prevented from hearing Mass or seeing their confessors for two months, being greatly harassed meanwhile, as they are still though the Nuncio has ordered that they should be absolved. What a life to witness all this ! The case is being tried before the Royal Council, but though this is a great trouble to me, it will be a far greater one if they take me back there. Pray about it for charity's sake, for until we are a separate province I believe we shall never be free from disturbances.

This the devil is doing all in his power to prevent. Oh ! How I should like to talk to you and tell you many things, for past and present events form a history, and I do not know how it will end. When anything fresh occurs, I will send you a full account, as you tell me letters travel safely. It would have helped me to know that you had such a friend in Madrid; perhaps even now it may be useful.

I wrote a long letter to your Reverence from Toledo; you do not say whether you received it. It would be just my luck if you were to go there now I have come here. To see you would have afforded some relief to my soul. Peralta was very

' 'Peralta' is evidently the Saint herself and 'Carillo' the addressee of this letter. The 'jewel' is the Life which had been brought before the Inquisition at Toledo and had there come into the hands of Cardinal Quiroga, the Grand Inquisitor, nominated as Archbishop of Toledo, who was delighted with both the book and the writer. The second 'jewel' was The Interior Castle which St. Teresa had finished writing on November 24 — a week before. The 'Jeweller's design' no doubt alludes to the plan of the book revealed to her by our Lord in her vision of the soul as a crystal. {Interior Castle Intr. p. i 7, 3rd edition.) The goldsmith is the Saint herself

Father Gracian wrote as a note to chapter vi, book iv. of P. Ribera's Fida de Santa Teresa: 'What passed between us about the Book of the Mansions was this : while she was at Toledo and I was her superior, we were discussing several matters relating to her soul, when she exclaimed: "Oh, how well I explained this in my Life, which is at the Inquisition!" I answered: "As we cannot get it back, note what you remember of this and other subjects and write another book. Let it be impersonal, so that people cannot tell to whom it refers." (Note, Jno Teresiano, vol. vii.) She replied: 'Why do they want me to write ? Leave it to theologians and learned men. I am silly and do not know what to say; I shall use the wrong terms and injure souls. Many books have been written about prayer. For the love of God, let me spin my flax, go to choir, and do the work of the house like the rest of the sisters, for I am not fit to write. I have neither the health nor the head for it.' (Dilucidario). Father Gracian insisted, and in order to persuade her, told the Saint to consult Doctor Velasquez, her confessor. The Doctor, grateful to Carillo for his kindness to her relative : not that she cares for her, but that it showed Carillo's good will. Tell him so if you meet him, forPeralta will never find such loyalty in any friend. It is easy to see under Whose auspices the friendship was formed.

Tell Carillo that the business about which she wrote to a certain person in Toledo has never been settled. Undoubtedly he has the jewel in his possession, in facfl, he praises it highly and will not return it until he is tired of it. He says he has a reason for examining it. But if Seiior Carillo came here, Peralta says he would see another gem which, she believes is much more valuable, as there is nothing outside to take from its beauty.

It is more delicately enamelled and wrought, as the goldsmith says he knows his work better than when he made the other. The gold is purer though the gems are not so conspicuous. It was made after the Jeweller's design, which people say is evident. I do not know why I have given you so long a message: I am always inclined to be prosy, even at my own cost; but as Carillo is your friend vou will not mind delivering it. Peralta says she did not send her letter to you by a certain person, as it could only have been a formal acknowledgement and nothing more.

Always let me know about your health. I am glad to hear that on the whole you are free from trouble: this is not my case and yet, I know not how, I enjoy peace which nothing disturbs, glory who carried matters with a high hand as her director, unhesitatingly ordered her to write the book.

be to God ! The noise in mv head troubles me as it is continual. Do not forget to pray for me and for our Order, as there is urgent need of it. May His Majesty preserve your Reverence and make you a saint as I ask of Him. Amen. These nuns beg for your prayers: they are very good souls. All of us, especially myself, consider ourselves your daughters.

The unworthy servant of vour Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.