Letter 284. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Valladolid, July 22, 1579

SEVILLE

Congratulations on her re-eleBion as Prioress. Confessors to be chosen from the Disc alced fathers. Enrique Freyle's daughters.

JESUS!

THE grace of the Holy Spirit be with your Reverence, my daughter! What good reason I have for calling you so, for though I felt great love for you, it has increased so much that I am astonished at it, and long to see you and embrace you tenderly. Praise God from Whom all good comes, and Who won you the vicftory in so fierce a struggle. I do not ascribe it to your virtue but to the constant prayer made for you in our convents of Castile. May His Majesty enable us to make Him a fitting return for His favours.

always do this will and let Him choose for us.

I have asked Father Nicolas to advise you as he thinks best; as he is very prudent and knows you personally, I submit my opinion to his. I only ask that, so far as possible, as regards your soul's direction, your Reverence and the nuns should avoid consulting any one but our Discalced fathers. Do not be concerned if they fail you at times, or if you do not receive Holy Communion so frequently, for it is more important that we should not suffer from our former difficulties. Should the community or any of the nuns wish for a change occasionally, do not oppose it.

I am so pressed for time that I did not intend to write to you. Remember me very affectionately to all the sisters and thank them on my behalf for the good judgement they have shown, and for trying to please me. May the Blessed Virgin repay them, bless them, and make saints of them.

I do not think that you can refuse to admit Enrique Freyle's eldest daughter, as you owe much to him. In this case you must follow the advice of Father Nicolas, to whom I refer you. The youngest cannot possibly be received at present, both on account of her age and because it is not well to have three sisters of one family in any convent, much less in ours, in which the communities are limited. Put the question off by objed:ing that she is too young, but do not displease the parents.

It would be well for you to repay my brother when you are able, as I know he is in need of money, having had a great many expenses lately. You know what you owe him. Oh! How he has felt your trials! God give you such rest as will please Him. Write and give me all the details, especially about those two poor foolish little sisters,' about whom I am greatly concerned. Be kind to them, and do all you can to make them realize their fault.

God willing, I shall leave here on Saint Anne's day, and I shall stay a few days at Salamanca. You can send me letters by Roque de Huerta. All the sisters here commend themselves earnestly to the prayers of yourself and the community. You are deeply in their debt.

We owe thanks to God for the state of all these convents. Will you pray for Malagon, also for the business which takes me to Salamanca, and do not forget those who have helped us, especially in our recent troubles.

To-day is the feast of the Magdalen.

I am so busy that I do not know how I have managed to write this letter, which I have had to set aside several times. This has prevented my writing to Fray Gregorio as I intended. Will you do so instead, giving him very kind messages from me as I am exceedingly pleased with him because he has taken a large share in the battle, as he will in the spoils. Send me news about our kind father, the Prior of las Cuevas, so that I may know what to say to him about our affairs. The servant of your Reverence,

Teresa de Jesus.