The Book of the Foundations of S. Teresa of Jesus

OF THE MEANS WHICH LED TO THE PLANNING OF THIS AND THE OTHER FOUNDATIONS

1. | REMAINED five years after its foundation in the house of S. Joseph, Avila, and I believe, so far as I can see at present, that they were the most tranquil years of my life, the calm and rest of which my soul very often greatly misses. During that time certain young persons entered it as religious, whose years were not many, but whom the world, as it seemed, had already made its own, if we might judge of them by their outward manners and dress. Our Lord very quickly set them free from their vanities, drew them into His own house, and endowed them with a perfection so great as to make me very much ashamed of myself. We were thirteenin number, which is the number we had resolved never to exceed.” I took my delight in souls so pure and holy, whose only anxiety was to praise and serve our Lord. Huis Majesty sent us everything we had need of without our asking for it; and whenever we were in want, which was very rarely, their joy was then the greater. I used to praise our Lord at the sight of virtues so high, especially for the disregard of everything but His service.’