Letter 233. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Avila, June 4, 1578

Thanks for presents. Community affairs. An insane nun,

JESUS!

May the Holy Spirit be with your Reverence, my daughter.

1HAVE received two letters from you — one via Madrid; the other came this week by the muleteer. But you delay so long in writing that I lose my temper. Everything you sent arrived safely and in good condition. So did the orange-flower water which is excellent, but we do not want more now: this is enough. I was delighted with the pretty little jugs: we do not require any others. As my health is better, I do not need so many comforts, for I must be mortified some day. My arm is recovering though I cannot dress myself yet:

' Fucnte 200. The original letter is at V'alladolid.

they say it will be well when the weather grows warmer. The box and the rest of the things were excellent. Do not fancy that I eat all the sweets you send; in fa6t I do not like such things. But as long as I live I shall never lose my liking for making presents, and as we are always in difficulties and every one is not so eager to help us as my Father the Prior of las Cuevas and Father Garci Alvarez, all those little gifts are needed.

The explanations about the small stove were so clear that I think mistakes will be impossible. It is now being made. Every one is astonished at your ingenuity; the sisters thank you very much indeed, as I do, for your efforts to please me in every way show how fond you are of me. I am confident of it, and can tell you that you owe me even more affedlion, for I am surprised at my love for you. You need not imagine that I prefer any one else, for some do not suit my charafter. The misfortune is that, though I pray much for you, my wickedness prevents my being much help.

I regret to hear that you are suffering with your heart. It is very trying but I am not surprised at it, considering how many trials, you have had to bear alone. Even though the Master gives us virtue and courage to endure them, yet nature suffers. But one thing should cheer you: your soul has made very great progress. Do not fancy that I say this to console you, but because I perceive the fadt, and this progress, my daughter, is never made without costing us dear.

I am deeply pained at what you tell me as it must

'The stove mentioned in the letter of April 15.

be very disturbing for every one. It is a great thing that the sister' has improved slightly; I hope our Lord will cure her, for many such cases recover. Her submission to treatment is satisfadlory. God will restore her; perhaps He means to give you this cross only for a short time and will draw much good from it, as I heartily beg of Him.

Attend to what I am about to say. You are to see as little as possible of the sister, for such things so injure the heart that it might doyou much harm. I enjoin this under obedience. Choose two of the bravest of the nuns to take charge of her and the rest need see little of her. The sisters must not feel unhappy nor more sorry for her than if she were suffering from any other illness. In one way she deserves less pity, for the insane do not feel their malady as they would any other disorder. We were reading, the other day, about the convent of our Order in which St. Euphrasia lived. Among the community was a nun afflidied in the same way as this sister; she would obey no one but the Saint, who finally cured her. Perhaps there may be some one in your house of whom the sister stands in awe. Unless we were tried by ill health in our convents, they would be like heaven on earth, and we should gain no merit. Perhaps the nun would leave off screaming if she were slapped: it would do her no harm. You are right in keeping her shut up. I have been wondering whether she suffered from an excess of blood, which, I believe, causes pains in the shoulders. May God cure her! You must know that, though such things are regrettable, I do not feel as sorry as though I saw imperfections or discontent in the community, and since there is nothing of the kind, bodily ills do not trouble me much.

You know that those who are to enjoy the companionship of the Crucified must bear the cross, and we need not ask for it, (though my Father, Fray Gregorio, thinks that we ought,) for those whom His Majesty loves. He treats as He treated His Son.

I wrote to my Father, the Prior of las Cuevas, a few days ago. Remember me very kindly to him and read the enclosed letter from me to Father Garci Alvarez: give it to him if you think well. On account of my head, which suffers from continual noises, (although it is a little better) I rarely write to either of them, much as I like them: you must always give them kind messages from me.

I was glad our Father ordered that the two nuns so much given to prayer should eat meat. You must know, my daughter, that I am distressed about them, for if they had been near me, they would not have undergone so many extraordinary experiences. The number of these experiences makes me doubtful of them, and though some may be genuine, I am certain that it is safest to pay little attention to them. Neither your Reverence nor our Father should make much account of them, but should depreciate them, for when they are genuine, nothing will be lost in this way. When I say 'depreciate them,' I mean you should say that God leads souls by different ways and that this is not the way of the greatest sanctity, which is the truth.

I am pleased with Father Acosta's account and that he has so high an opinion of the sister. I do not wish her to tell him many of the prophecies lest it should destroy his good impression if they are not fulfilled, as happened to me in her case. I do not mean that I lost my belief altogether, for I know well that when many such things may have been revealed by God, there may be others which are merely imagination. I forget the date at which the event foretold by the other nun was to take place; let me know whether her prophecy comes true or not, for letters arrive safely by this courier. It has just occurred to me that I had better not write to Father Garci Alvarez until you have informed me as to whether he knows about the matter so that I can speak to the point. Give him my very kind regards and say that I was delighted with his letter which I will answer.

Be very cautious about the two postulants who wish to enter. It is a strong point that Father Nicolao should be satisfied with them. God willing, our Father will go there in September or even earlier, as you know he has been requested to do, and you must a6l as he decrees. I feel very anxious

■• A saintly Jesuit at Seville.

about his being with those people: prayers are greatly needed for him.

All the nuns send kind messages. Oh, how Teresa jumped for joy when she got your present! It is wonderful how fond she is of you. I believe she would leave her father to go with you. As she grows older, she improves in charadler, and is very sensible. She already receives Holy Communion and with no little devotion.

My head is getting tired, so I will say no more except to wish that God may have you in His keeping as I beg of Him. Remember me kindly to all the nuns and to the Portuguese and her mother. Try to forget your troubles, and let me know how the pain in your heart is. The orange flower water is excellent. My heart has been better during the last few days, for after all the Master does not wish me to have so many trials at once. To-day is June 4.

Please attend to the favour or rather the request I make of you in the enclosed paper. For the love of God be most careful in the matter which is a service asked of me by some one to whom I am under the greatest obligation. I told him that if your Reverence could not succeed, no one could, for you are both clever and lucky in everything you undertake. You must take great pains about it, which will please me extremely.

result to the religious Orders of Spain if the Nuncios issued Briefs in contradiction to the commands of their superiors. These memorials had been handed by Philip to persons who had shown them to Sega. The Nuncio's indignation was so great when the decree came from the Pope, that he declared he would return to Rome unless Father Gracian were burned alive for having impeded his jurisdiction. {Peugrin., Dial, ii, 39-41.)

no ST. TERESA'S LETTERS

Perhaps Father Prior of las Cuevas may be of some help, but I rely chiefly upon Father Garci Alvarez. It seems a difficult task, but with God's favour, everything is easy. It would be a real consolation to me if the matter were carried out: indeed, I believe it would render great service to our Lord as it is for the good of souls and can harm no one. What is wanted is a complete set of sermons by Father Salucio of the Order of St. Dominic. Get the best copy that can be had. If you cannot obtain them all, purchase as many as possible of the best he preached. A year's sermons comprise those for Lent, Advent, our Lord's feasts, our Lady's and the Saints' commemorated during the year, the Sundays from the Epiphany until Lent, and from Pentecost until Advent. As this is a private commission, it must not be mentioned unnecessarily to any one. God give you good fortune in the matter. If you send them, let them go by this messenger and pay him well. As long as I am here, address your letters to St. Joseph's, which is better than dired:ing them to my brother, even when they are written to him, as he may be away from home. In short, if you cannot colledl all the sermons, get as many as possible.

It is a great comfort that Father Garci Alvarez and Father Gregorio speak so well of your Reverence and your daughters, though, being your confessors, the reverse was to be exped:ed. God grant they are telling the truth !

The servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.