Letter 433. To Mother Tomasina Bautista, Prioress of Burgos, Valladolid, August 27, 1582

Advice about the community at Burgos. Messages to friends.

Jesus grant His grace to your Reverence and prote@ you for my sake, and give you strength for all the trials God may send you.

ASSURE you, my mother, that He is treating you like a strong woman; may He be praised for all things.

I am fairly well and in better health than I was. I do not expect to remain here more than a few days; I am waiting for a messenger and shall start when he arrives. Pray for me. I was very sorry to leave your convent and your Reverence. Do not be anxious about Catalina de la Madre de Dios ;? it is a passing temptation. Do not allow her to write toany one except myself or Sister Anne, which would not matter. If you let her write to any one else as a consolation to her, be sure not to send the letters. Iam glad the Father Reor called on you;? be very polite to him. Let him hear the nuns’ confessions sometimes and ask him to preach occasionally.

Do not be surprised at Catalina de Tolosa: she

TO MOTHER BAUTISTA 355 is so harrassed that you must try to comfort her. One day she will want one thing, and the next day something else. The licentiatet shows me kindness in every way. May God prosper him! Why do you not tell your nuns what you know about our Father? The Mother Subprioress writes saying she wishes to know where he is. I send my kindest regards to her and to all of you. I am sorry that Maria is ill. Thank God, you have another sister to help: tell me how the latter goes on.

I am not sure whether I shall be able to write to the licentiate; I like him so much that it would be a pleasure to me, if I had time; give him very kind messages from me. Tell the doctor’ that I am being tried in a thousand ways, and ask him to pray for me. I assure your Reverence that, even though I did not know some of your community were ill, I should still have many crosses. When I have time, I will tell you about some of them.

Remember that I shall probably leave here after the feast of our Lady of September, so that you must send the books at once to the Prioress of Palencia who will forward them to me here. May God have you in His keeping for me. I have only time to ask your Reverence always to be very careful not to over burden the novices with work until you know how much courage they have. For instance, Catalina was so hard-worked that I am not surprised she thought she could not bear it. And you must speak kindly. You imagine that every one has your spirit, in which you are mistaken. Believe me, though you have more virtue, I have more experience, so I do not wish you to forget the warnings I have given you. God preserve you for me. Since I have spoken to you soul to soul, I want you to understand that there was reason for it.

As I said, I give you full leave to send any messages to my friends from me.

To-day is August 27. The servant of your Reverence, Teresa de Jesus.

CCCCLVII Prefatory note.

St. Teresa’s sojourn at the convent of Valladolid was embittered by great exterior and interior sufferings. Old age had been telling on her for some time, she still suffered from her broken arm, from heart disease and from an attack of paralysis. An open wound in her throat rendered her speech indistinct, especially before Communion. Then her family turned against her on account of her brother Lorenzo’s will in favour of the convent of Avila, and accused her of wronging her brother’s children ; even the prioress, Mother Mary Baptist, sided strongly with the family and prejudiced Teresita against her saintly aunt. The tamily lawyer called on the Saint and told her that no lady would have behaved as she did. Her answer was: ‘May God reward you, Sefior, for the favour you have done me.’ (B.Z.)