Letter (number unidentified). To Father Gracian, Salamanca Or Its. Suburbs, Avila, October 26, 1581

Discusses the profession of Ana de los Angeles. Canon Castro. The Subprioress of Villanueva. Rule for visits to the infirmary, Father Fulian at St. Foseph’s, Avila.

JESUS! ‘

OT only am I feeling lonely because I have not heard from your Reverence for so long, but it is a trial not to know where you are, in case any trouble should arise about which I had to consult you. But without that, it is a cross. God grant you are well, as] am. And I have been made a grand prioress,” as though I had nothing else to do. The little books are finished and everyone likes them.

You must know that, as I told Sister Ana de San

she was. Will your Reverence have the charity to pray for her. I sometimes wonder whether the devil is not teaching her to be cunning so as to deceive us and that we may be troubled with her and her mother later on. However, the mother is doing well now. She was pleased with the plan about the Incarnation —in fa&t, both of us were. Sister Anade los Angeles asked me for permission to see Doctor Castro without saying why. The reason was that she wished toalter her willand leave more money to our house. He told me, and said he had seen the document which was drawn up correctly. She sought his opinion which he refused to give, alleging that as he was a friend both of us and the Society, she must consult some one else. I replied that there was no need for more discussion, for we would neither take her for her fortune nor rejeé& her for want of it if she suited us: I added that all was satisfactory. To tell the truth, I spoke with caution. Will your Reverence tell me what sort of a man he is and whether he can be trusted, for I am charmed with his sense, his pleasant manner, and his candour. I do not know whether it is because he has had so much to do with your Reverence. He has called here several times, and preached to us one day during the Octave of All Saints. He does not wish to hear confessions but it seems to me that he would like to hear mine, which I suspect is out of curiosity as he so much dislikes the confessional. He declares that he is most strongly

I have made a rule here that when a sister is ill the nuns must not all visit her at once, but when one enters the room the other must leave it, unless the illness requires several attendants. There are many drawbacks to a number being together, such as breaking silence, disturbing the observance as the community is small, and there may even at times be grumbling. If you think well, will you make the same rule in the convent at Salamanca: if you disapprove, kindly let me know the reason.

O my Father! How annoyed Father Julian is!5 It is impossible to forbid Sister Marianna’s seeing him whenever she asks to: in fact I am obliged to ask her to speak to him. It is all holy, but God deliver me from old-established confessors! We shall be fortunate if we succeed in uprooting the abuse. What would it be if they were not such good souls? Since I began this letter something has happened with regard to one of the nuns which has thoroughly disgusted me. That is why I have mentioned the matter, of which I did not intend to speak. The remedy would be to send the two nuns to Madrid if the foundation is made there, for though what passes is holy it cannot go on. May God make your Reverence such as I ask of Him! Amen; and may He preserve you to us.

To-day is the vigil of San Vicente: to-morrow will be that of the two Apostles.

The unworthy servant and subje@ of your Reverence,

Teresa de Jesus. Father Julian of Avila was giving the same sort of trouble as Garci Alvarez had caused at Seville. Saints Vicente, Sabina and Cristeta, saints of Avila.

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Eh pda. eS

TO CARDINAL QUIROGA 229

Judging from what the Prioress of Toledo tells me in her note, the bearer of this letter will beg me to-morrow to ask you to give him the habit. I do so now. Wherever your Reverence may be, will you order prayers to be said for Sister Maria Magdalena’? whom God has taken to Himself, as you will see by the enclosed notice. Please make it known to the other priories.

CECE