Quote of the day, 24 November: Blessed Anne of Jesus

To the Reverend Father Fray Diego de Guevara, of the Order of St. Augustine, in Salamanca:

May the Holy Spirit, through His grace, strengthen Your Reverence, my lord and Father.

If Your Reverence could see how poorly they treat our good God in these lands, what is suffered there would seem like nothing. We do not consider what pertains to His Majesty, for if we truly felt it, we would forget ourselves and cease to notice whether people approve or disapprove of us.

I would desire that they would treat me with all the contempt and scorn they reserved for the One whom they neither knew nor wanted to know, and that we pay no attention to anything except what brings us closer to His Majesty, who was considered worse than Barabbas—and still is.

These days I no longer have the strength to remain where such public offenses are committed, and I long for the hour of my return there [to Salamanca]. My only desire is to first leave the governance of our Order to these convents, for through divine mercy God is greatly served in them.

I have given much thanks to His Majesty for placing my Father Fray Basilio de León in the Chair of Theology [Cátedra de Prima]. May Your Reverence remind him of his intention to print the book of our Holy Mother in Latin.

Oh, how it would console me if Your Reverence could see her heart [the relic of St. Teresa’s heart preserved in the conventual church in Alba de Tormes], which endured such great afflictions to please our Lord! With that, she persevered, for there is no balm like suffering for the love of God.

May Your Reverence always commend me to His Majesty, for I am much in need of it. I ask the same of our Father Maestro Antolínez, who now enjoys his peace. The same will be true, I hope, of the Señor Maestro Curiel, though I do not know if he will let him rest. I am not writing to him until I have a resolution on what Father Fray Íñigo de Brizuela is negotiating.

I ask Your Reverence to pass along my regards to him and to accept those of the Mother Subprioress, along with her prayers and those of all. Without Your Reverence, I cannot forget to offer my own prayers for all, both living and deceased, whom I hold in particular affection.

May God enkindle His love in our souls, and with it, may Your Reverence remain, as I humbly pray.

In Brussels, July 4, 1609
Ana de Jesús

P.S. Since I am commanded to send something of mine, I send this baby Jesus.

Blessed Anne of Jesus

Letter 25 to Father Diego de Guevara, O.S.A.

Note: Fray Diego de Guevara (1567–1633), a Spanish Augustinian friar and spiritual writer, maintained a significant connection with the Carmelites, particularly through his relationship with Blessed Anne of Jesus. His extensive correspondence with her reflects a deep spiritual and intellectual engagement, offering guidance and theological discourse. Notably, Guevara authored the Deposición original acerca de la vida, virtudes y milagros de Santa Teresa de Jesús, providing key insights into St. Teresa of Avila’s sanctity. As prior of several prominent convents, including Salamanca, Guevara played an influential role in the spiritual life of his era and engaged closely with Carmelite reformers.

de Jesús, A & Torres Sánchez, C 1995, Ana de Jesús Cartas (1590–1621): Religiosidad y vida cotidiana en la clausura femenina del Siglo de Oro, 1st edn, Ediciones Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca. Available at: https://archive.org/details/anadejesuscartas0000anad [Accessed 23 November 2024].

Translation from the Spanish text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: The Infant Jesus of Beaune, “the Little King of Grace”, is one of the four main miraculous “Infant Jesus” statues. This is a painted, articulated wooden statuette, 58 cm. in height, dressed in sumptuous garments. It was presented to Venerable Margaret of the Blessed Sacrament for Christmas 1643 by Baron de Renty, Normand Gaston, in gratitude for their spiritual friendship. Image credit: melina1965 / Flickr (Some rights reserved)