Letter (number unidentified). To A Confessor of the Nuns, Date and address unknown.

Begging him not to give up hearing the sisters confessions.

JESUS!

May the grace of the Holy Spirit ever be with you. Amen.

ASSURE you that this is a real mortification to me! Do you fancy that I am too far off to know what you are doing and to feel it keenly? No, indeed, it rather grieves me the more for I know what a consolation your favour is to the sisters and what a help it is to them to have you for their confessor. The Mother Prioress told me this and that she is much pained by your decision, and with good reason.

Though the Father Provincial is there and hears the nuns’ confessions, they will not all care to keep to one confessor, nor need your courtesy lead you to retire. I regret I was not there at the time you were confessor; and I trust you will pray for me. I am quite satisfied with any priest who is a Discalced Carmelite when the Father Provincial approves of him as chaplain: how much more am I contented with one who possesses your qualities!

I do not write more often because we have news of one another from the Mother Prioress, and I am so busy here that my life there was one of rest in comparison with this. But I never forget your Honour in my poor prayers and beg you to remember me in yours. The unworthy servant of your Honour, Teresa de Jesus,