Letter (number unidentified). To the Ven. Anne of Jesus and Her, Avila, towards the end of December, 1578

COMMUNITY AT VEAS

Praise of St. yohn of the Cross as a direSior.

... I declare to you that I should esteem it as a favour if my father, Fray John of the Cross, were here, for indeed he is the father of my soul and one

' Fragment of an autograph letter found in an account of the virtues of St. John of the Cross among the archives of the Order, written by Magdalena del Espiritu Santo, his spiritual daughter and foundress of the convent at Cordova. St. John was then at the Priory of the Calvary, two leagues off, and used to walk to Veas once a week, whatever the weather was, to hear the nuns' confessions.

of those from whom I have reaped most good by opening my heart to him. My daughters, imitate me with perfect frankness, for I assure you that you can look on him as standing in my place; you will be greatly pleased at the result for he is extremely spiritual, experienced, and learned. Those who were guided by him here miss him greatly. You should thank God for having brought him to your neighbourhood. I am writing to him, asking him to help you, as I know his great charity will lead him to do whenever you require it. . .