Letter 230. To Father Gracian, Avila, May 8, 1578

Fray Antofiio and the nuns of Malagon. Ana de la Madre de Dios as Vice-Prioress.

Jesus be with your Paternity!

TO-DAY, the feast of the Ascension, after having written the enclosed letter, I received yours, via Toledo, and they pained me deeply.

I assure you, my Father, that this measure is most imprudent. Tear up this letter directly you have read it or you know what will happen if my correspondence with you is added to the other grievances he has against me. I am weary of him, for though I like him very much, (in fadf, very much indeed,) and he is a saint, I cannot but recognize that God has not given him talents for a ruler. Now do you not see how he gives credence to these nuns, blinded with passion as they are, and without further inquiry seeks to abolish and introduce whatever he chooses.

I am aware that the Vice-Prioress is unfitted to rule; however, her faults are not such as to disgrace the Order but are confined to the convent. I had already written to the community, telling them that you will visit them and set matters right, and that they must consult their confessor about their temptations instead of the nun in charge. It is most unwise to wish to give Sister Isabel de Jesus authority over that community as Subprioress, for the two or three days during which she held that position while Mother Brianda was there furnished those same nuns with subjects for endless tales and jokes. They shall never have her for that office, for though she is a good nun she is unsuited for the charge. It would be folly to deprive Ana de la

Madre de Dios of her position for two days, by which time Mother Brianda may be back at Malagon, so eager is Father Antonio to take her home. For my part, I should be very reludlant to let her return unless she were soon to leave for another foundation, as I dread her being at Malagon while he remains there.

Fray Antonio accuses the Vice- Prioress of not helping the Discalced fathers, but that was on account of your Paternity's decree. His other accusations regarding her 1 do not believe, nor that she opposes what is done for me, because I know her character. She is not mean but very generous. Evidently the community make mischief of everything she says. Your Paternity knows that Mother Brianda wrote asking me to forbid Ana de la Madre de Dios sending any help to the Discalced friars, yet a nun complains to me that she has spent more on them than on all the invalids together, though the sick have been very numerous this year. My opinion is, my Father, that what with the priest who is there, and what with their own frame of mind, they would find plenty of faults in St. Clare if she went to the convent.

Their charge against the Vice-Prioress of neglecfling the sick is a gross slander, for she is most charitable. I found the former superior very closefisted, my Father. However, that matters nothing as long as the reputation of the community does not suffer, especially in a place visited by so many people as Malagon is. What they say about the honour of their house being tarnished by Brianda's going to Toledo is untrue, for she went there by the dod:or's orders on account of her health. I do not know what your Paternity can decide in such a case. I am glad Father Antonio forbade them to mention Mother Brianda; it was the wisest course he could have taken.

Will your Paternity be good enough to inquire into the matter seriously. The best plan would be to send them as Prioress such a nun as Isabel de San Domingo' with a good Subprioress, and to transfer some of the nuns to other convents. You ought to write to Fray Antonio promptly, dired:ing him to make no changes until you have investigated the affair thoroughly. I, for my part, will tell him that he can take no further steps until he knows your Paternity's orders. I will disabuse him on certain points.

I am sorry about the state of the house at Malagbn; it is a pity that no one should have come to the nuns' assistance. They must have started building some small part of the convent; I should like them to finish two floors and have the enclosure wall eredled, so that if no more can be done at present, all will not be useless. They would be better off in that way than they are now, however short their stay may be. Will your Paternity write and tell them.

I do not know, my Father, how you could have deputed Father Antonio as your delegate at Mala-gon without cautioning him on several subjed:s.

I am amazed; besides, it seems to me a disgrace to the convent that nuns should be deposed from or raised to the post of superior in so senseless a manner. If I thought it possible that N. . . would mend his ways, the best plan would be for him to return there and finish his priorate, but I have lost all hope of his improvement, and Fray Bartolome de Jesus, Fray Francisco de la Concepcion and Antonio Ruiz so insist upon his not going back that I think it 'ould be rash to allow it.

Will your Paternity investigate the matter and decide as God leads you to think best, which is the safest course. I will ask Him to enlighten you. But it is necessary to look to the affair at once and to prevent Father Antonio's martyrizing that saint — for a saint she certainly is. May God be ever with your Paternity.

Your unworthy subjed:,

Teresa de Jesus.

I do not think that Mother Isabel de San Domingo would be averse to going to Malagon and she could reduce that community to order. Then either Mother Brianda or Mother Maria de San Jeronimo could be sent to Segovia. May God remedy the evil! The warm climate would not suit Mother Isabel de San Domingo's health, but the nuns would not dare to complain of her on account of her high reputation.

I have opened this letter to cross out my words about Father Mariano, in case it should be mislaid. 1 am tempted to be very angry with him.