Letter 232. To Father Gracian, Avila, May 22, 1578

Esperanza. Father Mariano and the Jesuits. Imprisonment of St. John of the Cross. 'Journey of the Discalced friars to Rome. College at Salamanca. That no extra burdens should be laid upon the nuns.

Jesus be with your Paternity.

AS the father who is to take you this letter is about to start, I cannot write much. I am very sorry that I was not told last night of his departure. I am in better health and my arm is recovering. I was astonished at hearing that, in his interview with you, the cat' had spoken so strongly against Esperanza.' God forgive him, for if Esperanza had been as bad as they declared, they would certainly not have striven so strenuously to keep him. I am very glad you did not forward the letter to Seville, as I think it would be better to behave towards them with the deepest humility, for we owe much to them in the past and a great deal to many of them still. As far as I have seen, this father is wanting in prudence, so I hope you will not have much to do with him.

I have heard from Toledo that they are exceedingly displeased with me there. Yet the truth is that I have done all I could for them and even more than was just. Apparently their ground for complaint against your Paternity and myself is that we have taken such pains not to annoy them. I believe that, had they looked only to God and tried solely to serve Him as so good a projed: required, they would be at peace and better pleased, for God would have smoothed the way. When we ad: from human resped, we always fail to attain our objed, as we see in this case. Any one might have supposed our plan was heresy, as I remarked to one of these fathers. They are hurt because the matter became public. Certainly, my Father, both they and we have been influenced by very mundane motives in this matter. On the whole, I am glad that things have resulted as they have ; I hope our Lord will be satisfied.

I have already told you how anxious the fathers of the Society are that Father Mariano should call and examine their spring of water. For some time past they have been asking him to do so and he has answered that he will be passing through Avila during this month. However, I beg your Paternity to write telling him on no account to omit visiting them: do not forget this.

I am astounded at the conjuring trick they have played with Fray John of the Cross and at the

' Fray Mariano was a most skilful engineer. By the king's appointment, he had rendered the Guadalquiver navigable from Seville to Cordova and had planned a system of canals by which the Tagus might water the adjoining fields.

TO FATHER GRACIAN way our business has come to a stand-still. May God redlify it! We hear from Toledo that Tostado has already left, but I do not believe it. He is reported to have made Fray Angel his delegate. I do not know what to think about your Paternity's not coming to Avila. I see that you have good reason for it, yet time is passing without our sending to Rome, and we are losing all by depending on hopes which will not be fulfilled for the next thousand years. I cannot understand it, nor do I know why Nicolao' does not go there, for it would not impede the other plans.

I realize that your Paternity is more solicitous than any one else in the affair; still, to perform our duty to the Father-General could do no possible harm, and this is the right moment for it. Unless this is done, I believe that nothing else will be of lasting good. Harm never comes of having several strings to one's bow.

It is an excellent idea to call that college St. Joseph's.' May God reward your Paternity for that and for your part in its establishment which would be of great advantage to the Order. Your decision about Toledo is quite right, for the nun is very narrow-minded, and the prioress must be extremely silly to tell your Paternity that if you wish they can go to law about the case, as it concerns the convent and a large sum of money.

" Fray Angel de Salazar. Tostado had gone to Portugal. ' Fray Nicolao Doria, who being an Italian was specially suited for the commission.

Dona Yomar is delighted witli your letters to her as I am with mine, at which I am not surprised.

That father feels the difference which no doubt is made at Guadalajara between him and Paul.'° The two persons are very different. The father is overcome by natural feeling; I wish your Paternity would overcome yours by being kind to him. I think he speaks rather impulsively, but it is a great thing to be able to bear with every one's weakness. May God give us the strength we need in order to please Him. Amen.

I do not know what answer to give your Paternity about those nuns." Four hundred ducats for twenty! I should not like to accept six hundred. We must wait and see what Dona Maria de Mendoza decides about it; she is sure to manage matters well. I dislike the question of incomes extremely.

We were all shocked at what Mother Antonia' told us about the new regulations laid down by Father N. . . I have written to him to inquire about it. Believe me, my Father, our communities are going on well and there is no need to cumber the nuns by more rules. Whatever was added would be burdensome: let your Paternity not forget that, for charity's sake. Always insist on the sisters' obeying the Constitutions and no more; they will do much if they do that. You may rely on me as regards whatever relates to the nuns, for I can judge of that community by this one. Trifling as it might be, any addition would be oppressive and I should be the first to feel it unless it were imposed by your Paternity in God's name. May He preserve you to us for many years.

To-day is May 22. Your Paternity's unworthy servant and daughter,

Teresa de Jesus.