Foundation of the Teresa of Avila's House of Valladolid.
Monastery called the Concepción de Nuestra Señora del Carmen.
Four or five months after the monastery of Saint Joseph had been founded in Malagón...
a young gentleman of quality [Don Bernardino de Mendoza, brother of Álvaro, bishop] told me, that if I wanted to build a monastery in Valladolid, he would very willingly give me a house, with a most handsome and spacious garden attached to it, there was a large vineyard also inside, and he wished to give me possession immediately.
As it was of great value, I accepted it, though I had not resolved to found a house there, because the place [Rio de Olmos] was about a mile from the city. But I thought we might easily go to the city afterwards, when possession had been taken. And as he made the offer so very willingly, I did not wish to refuse accepting so good a work, nor to check his devotion.
About two months later, a little more or less, he fell so suddenly ill, that he was deprived of the use of his speech, and was unable therefore to make his confession, although he gave many proofs of being sorry for his sins. He died in a short time, a great distance from where I was.
Our Lord told me, that his salvation had been in great danger, but that He had Mercy on him, on account of the service done to His Blessed Mother, in giving that house to found a monastery of Her order; and that he should not be delivered from purgatory, until the first mass was said there, and that then he would be freed.
The grievous sufferings of this soul were so continually present to me, that though I wished to found a house in Toledo, I left it at that time and hastened to found (as well as I could) one in Valladolid.
This work could not be effected so quickly as I desired...
because I was oblied to remain in Saint Joseph's of Ávila, which was under my charge, and afterwards I stopped for some time in Saint Joseph's of Medina del Campo.
Being one day ther in prayer, our Lord told me to make haste, because that soul suffered greatly. Upon hearing these words, I commenced my journey immediately, though without any preparation, and entered Valladolid on the day of San Lorenzo.
When I saw the house, I was exceedingly afflicted [buitengewoon gekweld], because I perceived it would be madness for the nuns to remain there without very great expense [much costs]; and although it was great for recreation, because the orchard was so delightful, it could not be but very unhealthy, since a river ran close by it.
Though I was exceedingly fatigued, yet I wished to go and hear Mass in a monastery of our Order, which stood at the entrance of the city; but as it was so far away, it only increased my pain the more. However, I did not tell my companions, so as not to discourage them. For, although weak, I had some faith that the Lord would provide a remedy for the accomplishment of what He had told me. Accordingly, I privately employed workmen to commence building the walls (that so we might have enclosure) and to do whatever else was necessary.
The clergyman I mentioned before was with us, called Julián de Ávila, and one of the two friars who wanted to become discalced, and made acquainted with our manner of living in these houses. This license could not be obtained as soon as Sunday, but leave was given for mass to be said in the place we had prepared for a chapel, and accordingly it was said.
I had not thought that then would be fulfilled what I had heard concerning this soul: for although I was told it would be 'at the first mass', I thought it would take place at that mass in which the Blessed Sacrament would be exposed.
When the priest came to where we were to commune, with the Most Sacred Host in his hands, as soon as I approached to receive it, that same young gentleman I have spoken of appeared to me, with a shining countenance, by the side of the priest, looking very glad and cheerful, and with his hands joined together. He thanked me for what I had done in freeing him from purgatory, and then that soul flew straightway to heaven.
Indeed, as soon as I understood that he was in the way of salvation, I was very glad, because when I had heard of his sudden death, I had been in a manner hopeless, fearing lest his soul might be lost, for it seemed to me that another kind of death was necessary for his manner of living, since (though he had many good qualities) he was given to the vanities of this world.
True it is, he told my companions he thought his death very near. Wonderful indeed it is, how pleasing to our Lord any service is which is done to His Mother, and great is His Mercy. May He be praised and blessed by all men, Who thus rewards woth eternal life and glory our mean and miserable actions, and make them great who are of themselves so worthless.
[bron]
