Letter 222. To Dona Maria de Mendoza, Avila, March 26, 1578

Consolation in trials.

JESUS !

MAY the Holy Spirit ever be with your Most Illustrious Ladyship and give you strength to bear such trials, for you have indeed received a heavy blow, and I grieved deeply over your sorrow. Yet the favours that our Lord shows you convince me that He will not fail to console you in this sorrow and to recall to your memory what His Majesty and His glorious Mother suffered in this holy season. If we realize this as we ought, we shall bear all life's trials easily.

I should much like to be with you so that I might share your grief, though even here I have borne no light part of it. My only comfort has been to beg St. Joseph and our Lord to be with you. Besides our other prayers, we have not neglected to intercede for that holy soul, which I hope God has already taken to Himself, since, before it learnt more of the world's evils, He drew it to Him. All things pass so quickly that, if only our minds faced this truth, we could not weep for those who die and go to gaze on God, for we should rejoice in their gain.

As far as appearances go, I too was very sorrv for the Count, but God's judgments are wise and His secrets inscrutable; perhaps the Count's salvation may have depended upon his losing his position. I believe that His Majesty watches over all your interests with special care, for He is a most faithful friend. Let us feel confident that He has considered what is best for souls — all else matters little in comparison. Eternal weal or woe is what signifies; so I beg of you, for love of our Lord, not to brood over your reasons for sorrow but to think about what is consoling. Thus you will gain greatly, but by the other course you would lose. Besides, you might injure your health of which you are bound to take care because of its importance to all of us. God grant you a long life as we beg of Him.

The sisters and the Mother Prioress kiss your hands repeatedly, as I do those of my senora. Dona Beatriz.

To-day is Wednesday in Holy Week. I did not write before, thinking you would not wish for letters.

The unworthy servant and subje6t of your most illustrious Ladyship,

Teresa de Jesus,