Letter 385. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph, Prioress of Seville, Avila, November 8, 1581

Expressions of affection. Poverty of the convent of St. Foseph. Virtues of Teresita. Father Garcia at Seville. Father Nicolas and Don Lorenzo’s legacy. Rules for enclosure. Wish that Father Rodriguez Alvarez would read Mansion vit of <The Interior Castle’. Praeét of taking a new house at Seville.

JESUS!

I wrote you a very long letter from Soria. I am not sure whether Father Nicolas sent it to you: I fear you never received it. We pray very much here for all of you. What astonishes me is not that you are well and peaceful but that you are not saints already, considering how many prayers we have made for you in your difficulties. Now you are freed from them, pray for us here in return, for we have many, especially in St. Joseph’s house at Avila, where they made me prioress from sheer hunger. Considering my age and work, you can imagine how fit I am for it!

You must know that a gentleman of the city” left a legacy to the nuns. I do not know the amount but it is not a quarter of what they need, and will not be paid until next year. Almost all the alms given by the townsfolk ceased at once, and I do not know what will become of the sisters, laden with debts as they are. Pray for them and for me too, for nature is wearied, especially by the office of prioress.;combined with such straits. I am sorry you resemble me in any way, for everything about me is bad—very bad—especially my health. I do not mind so much about your heart ailment, as though it is trying when it reaches such a pitch, it prevents other diseases, and after all, it is not dangerous. Indeed, as I was told you had dropsy, I thought it was an advantage. You must not try too many cures at once, although it is necessary to mitigate the attacks. The enclosed recipe for pillsis approved by many doétors and was recommended to me by an eminent physician, I am sure they will do you Francisco de Salcedo,

TO MOTHER MARY OF S. JOSEPH 235 much good, even though you only take one once a fortnight. They have benefited me greatly so that I feel much better, though I am never well, what with my sickness and other attacks. However, the pills have done me much good and have no unpleasant effeéts: be sure to try them.

I already knew that my Gabriela was better; I had heard of her severe illness from our Father who was here when he received your letter. I was very sorry about it and so was Teresa, who is still exceedingly fond of all of you. She asks your Reverence and all the nuns to pray for her. Those who see her praise God for her grasp of what perfection means, and for her understanding and virtue. Of your charity pray that she may still progress, for, as the world goes now, no one can be trusted. We pray much for her. God be thanked for having left her here with me! Intercede with Him for her and for the rest. Tell Sister San Francisco that I enjoyed her letter, and mention that Father Acacio Garcia? is dead, so that she may pray for his soul.

I was extremely glad to hear that my good Father Garcia was at Seville. God reward you for all your good news; although I had been told, I could not believe it, for it was too good to be true. I ask you all to show him every kindness, because he is the founder of this Order through all the help he rendered me. Therefore, you need not put down your veil when you talk to him though you must do so with every one else, especially with our Discalced fathers, since it is the rule in our convents.

Nothing has come from the Indies. Just as they were about to send some money, news arrived there of my brother’s death (may he be in glory!) We must forward an order from Don Francisco to obtain remittance. Lorenzo is married and is in avery good position: they tell me he has an income of over six thousand ducats. No wonder he did not write to you, for he had only just learnt of his father’s death. Oh! If he only knew what trouble his brother is in and how I suffer from all these relations! As far as possible, I avoid having anything to do with them, That is why I made the arrangement with Father Nicolao. While I was at Palencia he sent to ask me whether I would consent to the two hundred ducats being paid to him, as the other convents could subscribe the debt to St. Joseph’s later on.’ I said I would by no means agree to it. That was why I wrote telling you on no account to forward the sum to Madrid, for I dreaded what has since come to pass, which does not seem at all right to me for I like straightforwardness. Father Nicolas has written again, promising to send me a hundred ducats and asking me to reclaim the second hundred from a person who will not pay them until later

Seville. I will not tire myself by looking through the will again to see whether the thirty ducats are mentioned ; you will know about it. You understand very well that if they were for me, or at my disposal, I should say nothing about them. If you could only see the state of affairs into which the property has fallen! It is a pity, for that boy was only fit for God. I should like to have nothing to do with his affairs, but they tell me I am bound in conscience to look after them. The loss of such a good brother was nothing in comparison with the trouble given by the survivors, and I cannot tell how it will end.

As for the affair with Father Nicolas, he thought that the Castilian convents would pay the money at once to settle the debt. What disgusted me was his resolute opposition to my wishes and, in short, that he and your Reverence should have acted as you did, knowing my objection to it. In faé, I still object, for I donot know which of our houses could pay me such an amount, though some of them must. They are now sharing the expenses conneéted with the separation of the provinces: some are paying now, some cannot give just yet, others have already colleéted largesums. It would have been better that the brother of Father Nicolas should wait than that the building of the chapel with which my brother © charged me should be stopped. If I die, nothing more will be done about it as Francisco is so poor that he would probably spend the legacy: in fa@, as far as I can see, we may be certain that he would.

Be sure to tell me about the state of your soul, for it will give me pleasure as, after the trials you

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TO MOTHER MARY OF S. JOSEPH 239 have gone through, it cannot but be satisfactory; let me have your poems as well. I was very glad to hear you are trying to cheer the sisters, for they need it. Tell me whether the health of the Subprioress is quite re-established. Since God has left her with us, may He be praised for all the rest !

Compline and recreation are arranged as before. I have consulted theologians on this point, and told them of the drawbacks, also that the Rule orders that silence should be kept until the Pretzosa only, but that at Avila we keep it all day. Our Father thought that it was not a bad plan.

The doors of the sacristy leading to the church must be walled up: you must never go out by them, or, since the Motu proprio, you would incur excommunication. The same rule applies to the street door. When there is accommodation for her, the woman who serves you should live in the convent and shut the outer door. As it cannot be managed here, we have a fastening which can be locked and unlocked on either side. The servant closes it from the outside at night and opens it in the morning and we have another key for ourselves so that we could go out in case of accident. The church will not be kept very clean in future; it is a pity, but it cannot be helped. You must have a turn in the sacristy and a good sacristan, for the Papal excommunication refers to this and to the door of the enclosure, therefore there is no choice in the matter. It should be enough that it is ordered by our Constitutions. It is now declared to be dangerous not to obey them, and habitual disobedience to a Constitution is a mortal sin.$

I think it is more than a fortnight since I began this letter. Since then I have received another from you and one from my Father, Rodrigo Alvarez, to whom I am deeply indebted for the help he has rendered your convent. I should like to reply to him but do not know how, for some questions he asks cannot be answered ina letter, though if I saw him I should hold back nothing, for he knows my soul well. If God brought Fray Garcia here, it would be a great favour to me in the present case. Oh! how annoyed I was at your not mentioning him when you wrote! He must have gone to Madrid as I was told he would. That is why I did not write to him though I should much like to do so and to receive an answer from him too. He would be astonished if he knew how much I owe him.

To return to the subje@t. Our Father told me that he had left with you a book in my handwriting which perhaps you may not care to read. If you think well, when Fray Rodriguez Alvarez calls at your convent will you read to him the last Mansion under seal of confession, as he prudently stipulates.’ Let this be kept secret between you. Tell him that the person he knows® has reached this point and to us and a greater to you. God be with your Reverence, my daughter, and with all the nuns, and may He make them saints for me.

To-day is November 8.

Before receiving your letter, such an account of that house had been given me that I was astounded. You must know that I have given away so much of the carafia that I have little left, and nothing does so much good to me and the others. Be kind enough to send me more when you can find a messenger. You must all pray that these nuns may have something to eat or I do not know what will become of them. They all beg earnestly for your prayers.

The servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.

CCCCY.