Letter 377. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Villacastin, Sept. 5. 1581

News of the Saint's journey to Avila, of Father Gracian and of Father Nicolas. Don Lorenzo’s legacy - for a chapel at Avila.

Jesus be with you, my daughter! ARRIVED last night, the fourth of September, _ | at this town of Villacastin, very tired with my - journey. I have come from making a foundation at Soria, which is more than forty leagues distant from Avila, my destination. We have met with a great many troubles and dangers. I am in good condition, glory be to God, and so is the new convent. May He be pleased to draw glory from so much trouble and then it will have been well spent!

Father Acacio Garcia called on me here at the

I am very glad to hear that the plague is over and that the nuns are all well. God’s love stands you in good service. Our Father is well and is at Salamanca. Father Nicolas awaits me at Avila. Much to my sorrow he is going to Rome by the king’s wish to settle our affairs more securely. He has been ill with a high fever but has recovered. Pray for Father Nicolas, for you owe all to him.

My daughter, the two hundred ducats have not been paid me. I am told they are in the hands of sefior Horacio Doria: if so, they are safe.’ I have already asked you to send them to me via Medina because I wish to begin building my brother’s chapel (may he be in glory!) as they say I am in conscience bound to do. Will your Reverence give orders for the sum to be delivered to me, otherwise it will not be put to my credit.

May our Lord have all the sisters in His keeping, and make you as saintly as I pray He will. Amen, amen—and may He allow me to see you.

The servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus. He was the nun’s brother. In her letter of Jan.6, 1581, St. Teresa had told Mary of St. Joseph not to give the money to Father Nicolas Doria. She disobeyed and Fray Nicolas handed the sum to his brother Horacio, who kept it as payment for what he had lent the delegates sent by the Discalced to Rome. The Saint was never paid the two hundred ducats, sage get eS

RASS Sara as eae