Letter 397. To Father Gracian, Salamanca, Avila, December, 1581

Delight at the prospect of meeting him. Certain sanchities. Anxiety about Beatriz. Dottor Castro reads the Saint's books. Teresita’s postscript. JESUS!

Jesus be with your Reverence, my Father. | WAS delighted to receive your letter last night with the rest of the scapulars, and to learn that your Reverence was determined that I should see you soon. God grant you a prosperous journey, my Father. If the Constitutions are not all printed, please set some one to work at them, and for charity’s sake, if you preach on the first day of the Christmas season, do not start until next day lest you should injure yourself: I do not know where you get your strength from: may He be praised Who gives it to you! I was amused at your saying that you were getting rich: may God enrich you with eternal treasures!

I do not understand certain sanétities. I am referring to the person who does not write to your Reverence, and to the other who expects every one to follow his opinions. It has tempted me. O Jesus, how few people in this world are perfect! As the messenger is on the point of starting, I will not say much, as I have just written a long letter to the

Marquesa de Villena for which a special bearer is waiting.

I think it would be well for your Reverence to write to me while my sister is at Alba, if you advise me to invite her here. If the girl’ has to be admitted under such conditions, I do not at all wish her to enter here, nor doI see why she should come, unless it were to burden me. As for the plan of sending her to the Incarnation, it is absurd, for I do not think it would suit her and the expense would be terrible. God be with her and her mother! What a life they lead me!

Teresa has recovered, and I think we may feel sure of her for she has spoken her mind freely, as you know. I am in fairly good health. _

The Duchess‘ has written to me again by means of her chaplain. I answered her in a note, saying that I had sent you a long letter for her. I tell you this to make sure you forward it, for it is of little importance except that I say that you cannot accompany her on her journey.

Willyou give the enclosed letter to my sister if you approve of it. Perhaps God will inspire Beatriz with better dispositions on her return, ifshe will notcome here. I should not care if she were going to remain in the country permanently but when summer comes they will go back to Alba and all the trouble will begin again. |

On the day after to-morrow several people will be leaving for Madrid and I shall give them your commissions tocarry out. The scapulars are in good

®'The Saint’s niece Beatriz. ‘The Duchess of Alba,

TO FATHER GRACIAN 267 taste and will excite devotion. Don Francisco asked his sister for one: I feel sorry for him. I remind you once again to write to me if there is need for that family’ to come here. And now abide with God, for it is very late.

You must know that we have a small room ready for you, but I do not think that Doétor Castro will consent to your remaining in it. Iam on very good terms with him. I gave him what I have by me of that book: he is never tired of telling me how much good the other volume did him. As for me, it is enough to know that he is a friend of your Reverence to make us the best of friends. I think that there is no better way to make a confessor understand me and to remove his fears than to give him one of my manuscripts to read, which saves me a great deal of trouble. God grant your Reverence the rest I ask for you and may He have you in His keeping. Amen, Amen.

The servant and subject of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.

(Teresita’s postcript.) J am not writing to your Reverence as I am too delighted at the thought of seeing you, so I only thank you and kiss your hands repeatedly for your great care of my health and comfort. The hope of meeting you and the pleasure the diurnal gave me have made me well again. May God repay your Reverence as I ask of Him!

I am delighted with Teresa’s message: I believe now that love is the best remedy. May God give us His love and Himself with it.