Letter 216. To Father Gracian, Alcala de Henares, Avila, March 2, 1578

Father Gracian s prayer. Father Salazar. The journey to Rome.

JESUS!

May the Holy Spirit be with your Paternity, my

Father.

1HAVE received two letters from you; one dated the Carratolendas' the other enclosing one for the sisters about the good Shepherd. God grant our offerings to Him may be what you wish, but I believe He will give far more than we shall. The little manuscript, too, is good. I do not know why Paul says he understands nothing of (divine) union : what he writes about the obscure light and impetus proves the contrary; but as it passes quickly and is rare, it is not thoroughly realized. I feel very envious of the souls you are to help and sorry that I am here, doing nothing but eat, sleep, and discuss those fathers, our brethren, who always give us something to talk about as the enclosed paper will show. I have told Sister Catalina to describe what is happening, to save myself fatigue, as it is late and Master Daza will preach us a sermon this evening (a good one ! ) The

Dominicans are extremely kind; they preach once and the Society twice a week to us.

I remember your Paternity's sermons perfed:ly well.

I do not know what tempts you to travel from place to place to preach, for I am really grieved at the slander spoken against you. God proted: you, my Father, but these are dangerous times and it is very rash to move about when there are souls to be cared for everywhere. God grant that what seems zeal may not be some temptation which will cost us dear. A cat sufficed in that place (I believe there were Dominicans and Franciscans as well) though I cannot imagine that blessed ni2in?>[bendito) preaching well. Remember me kindly to him and let me know whether the people go to hear his sermons — But what curiosity! — Do not tell me, but tear up this letter lest, for my sins, he comes across it.

So you eat in the hospital ! Those nasty cod pies! How we laughed at them! But what they tell me about your Paternity makes me wish you were not so rash. Carillo may well say I am a coward. He has answered the first letter I wrote him telling him it was the devil's plot and a great many other things. He said I made him laugh, and changed his opinion neither much nor little, and that I am like a rat afraid of the cats. He declared he had held the Blessed Sacrament in his hands while swearing to carry out his intention, which the whole world could not force him to relinquish. I assure you I am terrified, for his brethren declare that he, and whoever gave him the habit, would be excommunicated. He states that he has his Provincial's permission and a letter from your Paternity, and that though you have a man's misgivings, you write like an angel. He is right, for your letter is angelic. It is hard that the Jesuits should ask us not to recive him; it must be because they believe it is not feasible. They are so energetic that they have probably written to your Paternity already, asking you to give notice to the priories. They urged it on me so persistently that I told them I had referred the matter to you.

Certainly if the thing is to be done and is lawful, as this father declares, it would be far better to have it over than to make such a disturbance by warning the friars. I do not know what you are to do, for if it is lawful, it seems to me against one's conscience not to admit Father Salazar. From what he says, I believe no one will prevent him, so it would be better to defer writing to the priories if you have not written. May God diredl the matter, for the more the Society opposes it, the more it seems to me that it would give God glory and the devil is trying to stop it. The fathers must be afraid that Father Salazar will not be the only one to leave them; but they are so numerous that it would make little difference to them, even if those you mention joined our Order.

TO FATHER GRACIAN 5

Regarding Paul's scruples as to whether he may use his power or not/ he seems to have been suffering from melancholia when he felt them and wrote to me on the subjed:. As it is evident from the reasons he gives, I made no further enquiries, for, according to Ardapilla, these doubts will be short-lived, as the memorial from the Archangel has been presented by Gilbert, and he is expefted from day to day.

I have shared the terrors of Elias at your absence ; there is everything to fear for people who go through those narrow lanes. May the Lord deliver Paul from those who are so blinded that I should not be astonished at anything they did. I am more astonished at him who does not dread them, but travels about without real necessity.

To return to what I was saying. I wrote to Paul long ago telling him that an extremely learned Dominican theologian, to whom I related what had passed with Mathusalem told me (I believe) that the latter had no power unless he showed on what authority he adied; so we need discuss that question no more.

I should have liked to send your Paternity the letter from the Prioress of Valladolid, describing the disturbances about Carillo's affair. She declares that the fathers of the Society are perfe(5tly satisfied with me and the Discalced; she suggests that theirs were empty threats. What preoccupies my mind and causes me misgivings, which I wish your Paternity to examine and state very clearly, is whether Father Salazar can do as he wishes without offending God or incurring excommunication. If what his brethren say is true, your Paternity cannot possibly receive him. If the Count de Tendilla goes to Rome, or even if he does not go there but only presents his petition, I believe that permission will certainly be granted.

I was delighted to hear the good news that the Count was going to Rome, as the friars can accompany him. May God direcft the matter and prote6l your Paternity for me. I do not know whether I have answered all your questions for want of time — but what a long letter considering I have no time! The nuns beg your prayers and are much pleased with the offices you gave them. I have not seen Dona Yomar, who rarely comes here, being in bad health.

To-day is March 2.

Your Paternity's unworthy and true daughter — and what a true daughter! How little I feel that for some of the other fathers !

Teresa de Jesus.

I am extremely sorry that Father Mariano is so delicate; make him eat well and on no account arrange about his going to Rome until he is stronger, for his health is most important. Oh, how long your Paternity's sister delays coming, and how we want her! They tell me my Isabelita is very well.

"■ She took the habit at V'alladolid two months later, under the name of Maria de San Jose.

'" i'aUicr Gracian's little sister, then at Toledo.