Letter (number unidentified). To Don Alonso Velasquez, Bishop of Osma, Palencia, May, 1581

State of the Saint’s soul. Its peace. Cessation of tmaginary visions. Locutions. Presence of the Blessed

Trinity in the soul. JESUS!

Oe that I could make your Lordship understand clearly the quiet and peace my soul has found!... The soul feels such certainty of the fruition of God that it seems to have been given possession of it already, though the joy is withheld. It is as though, by documents drawn out in due form, a person were assured of receiving a large property and its revenues by a certain date, but until then has nothing but the prospect assured to him.

TO DON ALONSO VELASQUEZ saat

My soul is so grateful that it does not wish for the fruition now, believing that all it deserves is to serve God even at the cost of severe suffering. Sometimes it feels that it would be making but a small return to Him Who gives it this possession if it served Him until the end of the world. In fa&, to a certain degree, it is no longer subject to the miseries of the world as it was formerly, for though it suffers more, the pain only seems to touch its garments. The soul, being like a lord enclosed in his castle, does not lose its peace. Yet this security does not prevent its feeling a great fear of offending God or a care of avoiding all that might impede its serving Him; in fact, it is more circumspect than ever. But it is so forgetful of its own interest that it hardly seems to exist, so oblivious is it of self. Its sole care is for the honour of God, the perfect fulfilment of His will and furtherance of His glory.

At the same time, I seem more careful as regards my health and body and less mortified respecting my food and penances; this is not the case with my desire for mortification, which appears to have increased. My one aim in this is to serve God better in other ways, and I often offer Him, as a great sacrifice, the care of my body, which wearies me exceedingly. Sometimes I prove myself by performing some penance, but as far as I can judge, I could not do more without injuring my health, and my superiors orders stand in the way. ‘There is probably much self-love in this and in my wish for health, yet I feel that it would please me better if I could practise mortifications. They used to be a joy to

Vol, iv, 12 me, for I felt that then, at least, I was doing something and giving a good example and I did not suffer the trial of rendering God no service. Will your Lordship consider what is the best plan to follow.

The imaginary visions have ceased but the intelle€tual vision of the Three Persons and the Sacred Humanity are continual: it appears to me to bea vision of a very high order. I think that I clearly perceive now that my former visions came from God in order to prepare my soul for its present state. God, seeing how miserable and how weak I was, led me in the manner I required. Still, in my opinion, such favours, when they come from Him, are to be very highly prized. Interior locutions continue, as our Lord gives me advice when required. But for that, we should have committed a great blunder in Palencia (where I am now), although there would have been no sin in it3

The acts and desires do not seem so keen as they were. Great though they are, my wish that the will of God may be done and that what wil] render Him greater glory may be accomplished far surpasses them. As the soul is convinced that His Majesty knows what is expedient, and it cares nothing for self-interest, these desires and aéts soon cease. I do not think they are strong. This makes me fear sometimes lest my soul should have become dulled and that I am doing nothing because I perform no penances, but the doubt does not disturb and grieve me as it used to do. As for aéts of desire some fathers of the Society of Jesus. Your Lordship’s opinion will be the last I shall seek because of my great reliance on you. Consider it carefully, for the love of God.

It is still made known to me that the souls of some of those connected with me go to heaven when they die, though I do not learn it of others.’

How solitary I feel at the thought that the meaning of which I spoke cannot be applied to Him Who sucks the breasts of my mother! The flight into Egypt.

I am at peace, and joys and sorrows have little power to rob me for long of that presence of the Three Persons of which it is quite impossible to doubt. It seems clearly the experience of which St. John speaks—that God will make His dwelling in the soul,’ not only by grace, but because He wishes that His presence should be felt. This brings with it benefits too great for words, especially that of being in no need to search for reasons to know that God is there.

This is habitual, except when I am very ill. Sometimes God seems to wish me to suffer without any interior consolation, but never, even in its first movement,does my soul shrink from the accomplish-