Letter 229. To Father Gracian, at Madrid, Avila, May 7, 1578

Dona Maria takes the habit at Valladolid. ProjeBs for the Reform. The Saint's arm operated on by a bone-setter.

Jesus be with your Paternity, my good Father.

TO FATHER GRACIAN gy way of arranging matters with our Father General : all other means seem to me very tardy. If this proved unsuccessful, we should still have time to try other measures. May God prosper the plan.

Should the Sicilian Father not come here, I should like you to have an interview with him. I think we ought to discuss the whole matter with him, though whatever your Paternity decides upon will be best.

As I wrote you a long letter a few days ago, I shall not say much now, for letters arrived from Caravaca to-day which I must answer and I am writing to Madrid.

O, my Father, I forgot ! The woman came to cure my arm, which cost not a little to both of us. The Prioress of Medina did well in sending her. I had lost the use of my wrist, and the pain and labour of restoring it were terrible as it is a long time since I had the fall. But after all, I am glad of it, for I have experienced some small degree of what was suffered by our Lord. I think the arm is cured, though on account of the agony I suffer, I can hardly judge. Still, I can move my hand easily and lift my arm to my head, but it will be some time before the cure is complete. Believe me, if the woman had delayed a little longer, 1 should have lost the use of my hand. To tell the truth, I should not have grieved much if it had been God's will. So many people went to the woman to be cured that my brother's house could not hold them.

I assure you, my Father, that since you left, I have undergone suffering of every kind. Sometimes, when one cross succeeds the other, the body becomes weary and the soul grows somewhat cowardly though it seems to me that the will remains firm.

May God ever be with your Paternity. Your daughters here commend themselves to your prayers.

To-day is the Vigil of the Ascension.

Doiia Yomar's' health is better : she is here now.

Your Paternity's unworthy daughter,

Teresa de Jesus.