Letter 338. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Seville, Valladolid, November 21, 1580

Payment of the debt owing to Lorenzo. Father

Gractan’s visit to Seville.

JESUS! May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your

Reverence, my daughter. | AM longing for news of your health. For the love of God take care of it as it makes me ve anxious. T’ell me how you feel and how glad you are to have our Father Gracian at Seville, as Tam at knowing what a relief his presence must be to your Reverence in every way. I am better, thank God, and beginning to be myself again, though I am not without trials, what with my continual ailments, and never endin g cares.

Pray for me and write to say what I am to do about the bills of exchange you sent me, which are worthless. Consider how the matter can be set right and try to find a postulant who can pay the sum required for my brother’s chapel, as it must be begun at once. I can do nothing for you here, much to my regret, and can only put the matter in the hands of God Who ¢an dire& it.

There is nothing fresh to tell about the affairs of the Order. You will learn from Father Gracian when news comes. I entreat all the sisters to pray

TO MOTHER MARY OF S. JOSEPH 87 for me. God grant them the good health I wish them !

As I told you, your debtor at Toledo is procrastinating, and as he is the Bishop’s auditor, I do not know how we can get the money from him against his will. If Father Nicolas could manage to break his journey for a few days at Toledo and discuss the matter with him, something might be done. If Francisco had persevered in the religious life, I hoped to be able to help you, but all my plans fail. May God remedy the matter as He can do, and give you the health I ask of Him! As you havea service of messengers for Valladolid, do not leave

-me without letters. Ask our Father to write, and tell the Mother Subprioress to let me know whether he is well and how the nuns like him. She must give me all the details to save you fatigue.

For charity’s sake, you must all be very prudent, for there is a person in the house who makes much out of nothing. Let me know about that poor creature and the Prior of las Cuevas. Ask our Father to call on him; give very kind messages from me to him and to Father Rodrigo-Alvarez, whose greeting delighted me. My head prevents my writing more. Tell me how San Jeronimo is going on and give my kind regards to her and Sister San Francisco.

Feast of the Presentation of our Lady, 1580.

The unworthy servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus. Let the community pray much for the affairs of the Order. Beatriz de la Madre de Dios.