Letter 289. To Don Lorenzo de Cepeda, Avila, Valladolid, July 27, 1579

A chalice. Francisco de Cepeda. Good news from Seville and Rome.

JESUS!

May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your

Honour.

THIS relation of ours really tired me very much by his visit. Such is life! Since those who are separated from the world have to show so much regard for it, you will not be surprised to hear that, long as I have stayed in this house, I have not been able to talk to the sisters (privately, I mean), though several of them desire it extremely.

God willing, I start without fail next Thursday. I will leave a note, however short, to be given you by the messenger who is accustomed to take you the money. They tell me that they have three thousand reales ready for you, much to my joy, also a very handsome chalice: indeed there is no need of a better one. It weighs twelve ducats and one real, I believe, and the workmanship costs forty realeSy which comes to sixteen ducats minus three reales. It is of solid silver and I think will please you. The nuns showed me a chalice they have here of the metal you mentioned. Though it has only been used a few years and is gilt, it already shows what it is, as the foot has turned black inside, which is disgusting. I at once decided not to buy one of the sort; it seems to me that as you take your own meals off a silver service, you could not possibly get a cheaper metal for God. I did not expedl to get so fine and cheap a chalice, but that huckster of a prioress made arrangements with a friend to purchase it as though it were for this convent. She wishes to be very kindly remembered to you, but does not write as I am doing so. We ought to thank God for the state in which she keeps this house and for her talents.

My health is as good here as at Avila, and even better. It is wiser to take no notice oi what you mention. It is better for melancholia (for it can be nothing else) to take this form than a worse one. I was glad to hear that Avila is not dead: in fad:, as he is an upright man, God has been merciful enough to let him fall ill in a place where he would be carefully looked after.

I am not surprised at your being annoyed, but I am surprised that you, who are so desirous of serving God, should take so light a cross for a heavy one. You will say that you dislike it because it prevents your serving God better. O brother, hov\ little we understand ourselves! for all this consists in a little self-love. Do not be alarmed at Francisco's vagaries: they are natural to a boy of his age. But even were this not the cause of them you must not exped: every one to be as pundlual in his duties as yourself. Let us thank God that He has no other faults.

I shall not remain at Medina for more than three or four days and less than a week at Alba. The journey from Medina to Alba will take two days, after which I shall start at once for Salamanca. By the enclosed letter you will learn how the prioress was reinstated at Seville, to my great joy. If you wish to write to her, send your note to me at Salamanca. I have told her to pay the money she owes you by degrees as you require it. I will see that she does this.

Fray Juan de Jesus has reached Rome. Our affairs are prospering here and will soon be settled. Canon Montoya came here to bring the Cardinal's hat to the Archbishop of Toledo. Our affairs are in the Canon's hands and he will not fail us.

Will you pay a visit for me to Francisco de Salcedo and tell him my news. I am very glad to hear he is well enough to say Mass. God grant he may recover. The sisters here are praying for him. God be with you!

You can speak with perfect frankness to Sister Maria de San Jeronimo if you Uke. I wish sometimes that Teresita were here, especially when we are in the garden. May God make saints of both of you. Remember me affedlionately to Pedro de Ahumada.

Yesterday was the feast of St. Anne. I remembered that you are very devoted to her and either intended to build, or have already built a church dedicated to her, of which I am glad. Your Honour's servant,

Teresa de Jesus.