Letter 276. To Mother Mary Baptist, Prioress of Valladolid, Avila, June 21, 1579

The Sainfs visits to Valladolid and Medina. Casildas dowry.

Jesus be with your Reverence.

MUCH as I tried to despatch this letter quickly, it will be late in leaving, as there is a Mass of obligation to-day and I have had a visit from Father Nicolas, whom I was very glad to see.

I am forwarding your letter to our Father Vicar and stating the apparent advantages and reasons for his granting you the permission, also why you did not receive Ana de Jesus. I always feel misgivings about those large fortunes, though from what you tell me about the girl, she seems really called by God. May it render Him good service. Amen. Greet her warmly from me, and say I am very glad that I shall see her soon.

I am exceedingly sorry to hear of Dona Maria's illness. God grant her health, as I beg of Him; for when I am separated from her, I realize how tenderly I love her.

You must know that on the feast of Corpus Christi I received a formal order to visit your convent under such pains of censure and disobedience as to ensure that the Bishop's wish and the request he made of his Paternity should be carried out. Therefore, I intend leaving here a day or two after St. John's feast.

Will you be kind enough to forward to Medina a letter that our Father Vicar is writing to you, as I must see it when I arrive there. Tell the sisters of that convent not to make a ceremony of my reception. I ask the same of your Reverence, for I assure you it mortifies instead of pleasing me. This is the facfl, for I feel confounded at thinking how undeserving I am, and the more they do, the more deeply I feel it. Remember, you must do as I wish unless you wish to humiliate me severely.

I do not answer your other questions, as, God willing, I shall see you soon. By order of our Father Vicar I shall not stay more than three or four days at Medina, as I am to call there again on my way to Salamanca. He says my visit to Valladolid must be a short one. Kindly tell these plans to Dona Maria and the Bishop. They have reason to be pleased at our Father's having been put in his present position, as he naturally wishes to please them. This is why he has overcome the many obstacles to my journey. Your Reverence also has gained your end. God forgive you ! Pray that my visit may result in your being less bent on getting your own way. This seems to me impossible, but God can do all things. May His Majesty make you as good as I beg of Him. Amen.

I have not given your message to the nuns yet. As for Casilda's affair, settle nothing until I see you. When we know what her mother intends giving her, we can tell his Paternity. Since her attacks of tertian ague are not severe, we need not trouble about them. Remember me to her and the rest.

To-day is Sunday within the 06lave of Corpus Christi. The bearer of this letter arrived at five o'clock in the morning and is being sent off a little before mid-day.

The unworthy servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.