Letter 411. To Fray Mariano, Alcala, Burgos, March 18, 1582

Permission required from the Nuncio to celebrate Mass in the convent. Difficulties with Fray Antonio.

JESUS! May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with you, my Father.

WROTE to your Reverence a short time ago and our Father will have told you what has passed here with the Archbishop and how he stipulated that we should buy a house. Glory be to God, we have purchased one and a very good one, and we wish to leave the hospital where we are extremely crowded and to know how our affairs are to be settled. The Archbishop has declared that the house is suitable and he is satisfied with it, but every one expects that he will take no further steps in the matter. I want permission from the Nuncio to have Mass said in the convent and then we could bear these delays patiently. I have therefore written the enclosed note to the Duchess begging her to give us a letter of recommendation. Will your Reverence kindly read it and forward it, sealing it up first, and see that it receives an answer. This your Reverence should despatch to Madrid either to Father Nicolas or Juan de Lopez, directing them how to obtain the licence quickly. Remember that you will be showing us the greatest charity, for though we are near a church, it is hard to have to leave the house to hear Mass. If your Reverence thinks that the Duke himself? would undertake to obtain the permission, will you ask him in my name to do so; we should receive it sooner in that way. I think it could easily be arranged for, as I have told the Duchess in my letter that there is a chapel in the house which has never been used for any other purpose, besides which the Blessed Sacrament was reserved there for the fourteen years that it belonged to the Society of Jesus; yet the Archbishop will not consent to our having Mass telebrated there. But you should hear his kind speeches to us and how he says he longs for the foundation to be made; you would think we could wish for nothing better. He does not seem responsible in the matter; the devil is certainly very angry at the foundation but he cannot overthrow it as we have a house. Meanwhile we may have long to wait but the Archbishop will give us the licence when he gets tired of the affair.

I am most anxious to know whether your Reverence gave-my letters to those seflores and whether anything has been done. In any case, nothing has been lost through our effort. I beg you to be kind enough not to neglect doing me this favour.

Fray Antonio’s behaviour has so grieved me

'The Duke of Alba, “Fray Antonio de Jesus (Heredia).

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TO DONA MARIA VELA 301 that I determined to write him the enclosed letter. If you think it will not annoy him much seal this and the others and send them for me, as I know no other way of forwarding them. Give my very kind regards to the licentiate Padilla and to Fray Antonio of the Mother of God.

The nuns wish to be remembered to your Reverence. May God protect you and make you as holy as I ask of Him!

Burgos, March 18.

The servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.

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