Letter 424. To Mother Mary of St. Joseph Prioress of Seville, Burgos, July 6, 1582

The plague at Seville. fourney of the nuns from Seville to Granada. The Burgos foundation finished.

Teresita’s virtues.

JESUS! May the grace of the Holy Spirit be with your Reverence. Amen, Amen.

WAS very glad to receive a letter from your | Reverence yesterday though it only contained a few lines, as I have felt extremely anxious on account of the many deaths occurring at Seville. I pray much for all of you; the other convents will also, because I am writing to-day to ask them. I live in a state of constant terror on account of the dangers that surround you. I had already heard of the death of Fray Diego and thank God for having spared Fray Bartolomé as you would have felt his loss severely. May God be praised for all He does! I wish I had had your news earlier but I only received it just as the messenger was starting so that as I had been writing all the afternoon, my head was too tired for another letter. However, I want to send you these few lines though they are not in my own handwriting.

I have not told your Reverence how I sympa-

TO MOTHER MARY OF ST. JOSEPH 33° thized with your complaint about the Mother Prioress at Granada—which you might well make! She ought to have thanked you for what you did for her and for sending the nuns so suitably, instead of mounted on mules for God and all the world to see! Supposing you had sent them in a litter! But I should not have blamed you even then if there had been nothing else. God preserve you for me, my daughter, for you have done extremely well, and if some one else does not think so, never mind; she is punétilious and must be disappointed because her plans for the foundation are not all being realized. However, I believe it will succeed, and though there may be trouble at first, it will be none the worse for that.

The house here is very satisfactory; it is well established and paid for: no repairs will be required for many years so that I think I shall soon start on a roundabout route for Avila. Will you all pray for me. My throat and other maladies are as usual. Remember me most kindly to Fray Bartolomé and all the sisters. Teresa and the nuns here ask your Reverence to pray for them. Pray for Teresa who is quite a little saint and very anxious to be professed. May God proteét her and your Reverence for me and make you holy.

The convent of St. Joseph, Burgos, July 6. The servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.

? The Ven. Anne of Jesus. Mary of St. Joseph had sent some nuns to the foundation at Granada in a coach.

CECEXETES