Letter 312. To Dona Juana de Ahumada, Alba, Malagon, probably about February 12, 1580

The Saint hopes to meet her sister at Avila.

JESUS!

May the Holy Ghost be with you, my sister. | ASSURE you that if I sought my own pleasure,

I should grieve over our separation from each other, but as we are in exile, we must suffer until our Lord takes us to the land where we shall dwell for ever.

I wrote ashort time ago telling you that I was free from fever, glory be to God. The letter, enclosed in one to my brother, was directed to the Prioress of Medina. It has Seon a trial to be unable to find a messenger more often in these parts. I have felt it very much. It appears, from what I am told by the Licentiate who brought me the enclosed, that I might have used him as the bearer and written to you often, but I have only just made his acquaintance through his sister-in-law, whom I have received into one of our convents. In any case, answer at once: the letter will be sent to me from here wherever I may be. God willing, I start on Ash Wednesday: I shall only stay a week at Medina, as I have no time to spare; I may even make a shorter visit, and shall spend another week

This letter was first published in the Sigh Futuro, Oct. 1882, the third centenary of St. Teresa’s death. The Spanish is given by Pere Grégoire in Vol. II of his edition of the Letters. 2nd. ed.

at Avila. It would be a great comfort if I could meet you there, were it only for a day....