Letter (number unidentified). To Father Gracian, Valladolid, Avila, August 8 and 9, 1578

The Nuncio head of the Rejorm. Presentation oj his Brief at Avila. Benefts oj trials.

Jesus be with your Paternity, my Father

I WROTE to you yesterday via Mancera and sent the letter to the Subprior, asking hnn to inquire whether you were at Peneranda as you exped:ed to be. 1 begged hini to let no one else know, even the friars. 1 also enclosed two letters from Roque in which he lays much stress upon your going at once to Madrid. Though he says he has written diredtly to you on the subjedt, I tell you because I am afraid that letters are intercepted.

In case you should not have gone to the place you mentioned, I am despatching a messenger to Valladolid, advising the Mother Prioress how to answer, for Roque insists upon our replies being identical, otherwise our cause would be lost. He sent me a copy of what he wished said, which I am forwarding to her. I have told the other com-, munities the precaution may not be necessary.

It is very sad to see these souls in the hands of one who does not understand them. However, my anxiety and trouble are solely on Paul's account. If only I could see him at liberty! I do not know why, but even if I try, I cannot feel the same about the rest. God will watch over you, and if you are cautious there, I shall be content, as long as you do not go to that other place.

I am greatly alarmed, for there cannot but be danger in your going to and fro to say Mass. I am astounded at what is happening and heartily wish you would leave where you are and go to some place where we should be sure you were safe. For charity's sake, let me know your address, so that I may not be as completely at a loss when I want to tell you anything as I am at the ciphers, which you change without explaining them. I should be very glad if you had a companion, were he only a lay-brother.

The prior of Santo Tomas came to see me yesterday. He thinks that it would not be a bad plan if you waited for an answer from Joanes and deferred your visit to court until the business was settled. The Recftor/ and even my brother, were of the same opinion after I had told them of your letter to Joanes. Since your Briefs are to be delivered to the President, I do not know why they should press you to start at once. I wish you to go solely for two reasons: one is my terror lest they should seize your person at Valladolid, and it would be better to leave than that this should happen, (from which may God deliver you!) The other reason is that we should see how the Nuncio treated you before your interview with the king. In any case, the presence of His Majesty would be expedient.

This was written yesterday. It will prove to you that I believe that God will give you light by which to adt in this affair, as he gives you peace in bearing it, for I have witnessed His intercourse with you. The state of the matter is that last Sunday, the third instant, a Brief was notified to Father Mariano which, as far as I understand, was the same that was taken to Valladolid, but Roque gave me few details. According to him, the Brief is very long, and revokes the decrees of the last Nuncio. It must be the one mentioned by your Paternity, but little is known about it. No doubt it was written by the Pope and published by the Nuncio, as Fray Mariano declares in his answer that he submits to his Lordship's commands.

The Brief is said to ordain that the friars should no longer consider your Paternity as their superior, but should obey the Nuncio, and no one else. I was glad of this ; perhaps the Nuncio will not give those fathers as much authority as they exped:, for he will wish to gratify the king. I believe, as you say, that they long to have done with reforms : there is no doubt about that, nor would anything please me better than to see your Paternity set free. All will come right later on.

No notifications have been made either here or at Mancera. As the Provincial of the Calced has not left Avila, they must be awaiting something. Roque says that the Brief is to be notified in all the houses but does not state whether that means the friars or no.

I have written asking the Prioress of Alba to keep the sister, and to Teresa Laiz asking her consent. It is such a consolation to me that God gives you the grace to find some comfort among your trials that I do not know how I could feel sad.

I had reached this point in my letter when the Reverend Father Rioja arrived at the door with a lawyer to notify the Brief. They asked for the Mother Prioress, not for me, and as far as I can learn, it is the same Brief that was sent to Valladolid, which is said to be in the hands of the Royal Council. God forgive me! I could never have believed that the Nuncio would have given such an order — I mean, could have expressed himself in such a manner. Had you not followed the advice of so many learned men, I should not be surprised at your Paternity's feeling it keenly, but as you have always adled uprightly, and you suspended your Visitations for a year until you knew that the Nuncio had affirmed that he had never withdrawn your commission, I do not know how such things can be alleged now. Though I am exceedingly pained, yet, on the other hand, I am deeply touched, knowing how circumspedtly you acfled, yet with what infamies you are loaded. I assure you, my Father, that God loves you greatly and that you imitate Him closely. Rejoice that He gives you the crosses you ask of Him for He will defend you because He is just. May He be blessed for all things.

Oh, what rich treasures these sufferings are, my Father! No money could equal them in value, since they purchase you so rich a crown. Remembering that our Lord Himself and all the Saints travelled by this way, I cannot but envy your Paternity, for I am not found worthy of suffering myself now, except by witnessing the pain of one I love dearly — and that is far keener anguish.

Tomorrow we shall arrange together how to send Father Julian de Avila to Madrid at once to recognize the Nuncio as our superior, to make friendly terms with him and beg him not to deliver us over to the Calced. When Father Julian returns, I shall write to several persons, asking them to propitiate the Nuncio on your Paternity's account. I intend to state the fadis and to explain how long you refrained from using your commission until you learnt what he himself had declared. I shall add that you always obeyed him willingly until you discovered that Tostado had interfered in order to destroy the Reform. I can assure the Nuncio truthfully that I am pleased with his a(5tion, for anything is better than our subjediion to those of the cloth/

Father Julian de Avila must ask for what is required in our houses, such as leave for workmen to enter, and other matters of the kind, as I am told that the Nuncio becomes our superior diredily we render him obedience. May God prote<fl us all for no one can force us to offend Him. In any case, I shall still have St. Paul and nobody can withdraw me from the obedience I promised to that saint.'

The Brief has pained the sisters more than anything on account of its aspersions regarding your Paternity. The nuns commend themselves earnestly to your prayers and are praying much for you at my request. We need feel no fear, my Father; we should praise God for leading us by the way He walked. May His Majesty protect you for me and grant that I may see you freed from all these contentions.

To-day is the Vigil of St. Lawrence.

The unworthy servant and true daughter of your Paternity,

Teresa de Jesus.