Letter 390. To Don Pedro de Castro, Canon of Avila, Avila, November 28, 1581

The Saint’s prayers that he may help souls. Thanks Jor his sermon, Arrival of St. fohn of the Cross.

ESUS be with you, and may His Majesty reward ie for the pleasure and help you have given me to-day! To that I add another wish; and unless you comply with it to the best of your power, I think it would have been better for me never to

TO CANON CASTRO et have known you, so keenly would it grieve me. The trouble is that I am not contented at seeing you go to heaven alone but I want you to be a great power in the Church of God.? I have prayed much to-day that He may not allow you to use your fine intellect for any other object.

The nuns here kiss your hands and were greatly pleased by your sermon. Let me know whether you were tired, and how you are, but do not trouble to write, for delighted though I am to receive a letter from you, I wish to fatigue you as little as possible—and even then I shall weary you greatly. I was very glad to see a father of our Order this afternoon,’ although it prevented my sending a message to the Marquesa who is passing through Escalona. The letter will reach Alba most certainly and I am as certainly the daughter and servant of your Reverence,

Teresa de Jesus.