"33. It was said to her that she should lead those who were trying her spirit to look into the Scriptures, and that they would not find that any soul desirous of pleasing God had been so long deceived." 2. See Life, ch. xxix. §§ 9-13. 3. De la Fuente thinks she means the religious state. 4. See Life, ch. xxiv. § 8, and ch. xxxi. § 22. 5. See Life, ch. xxiii. § 19. 6. See Life, ch. xxxv. § 2. 7. See Life, ch. ix. § 6, and ch. xiv. § 7. 8. See § 3, above. 9. St. Matt. vi. 31: "Nolite ergo solliciti esse, dicentes: Quid manducabimus. . . . aut quo operiemur?" 10. See Life, ch. vii. § 2. 11. See Life, ch. ii. § 2. 12. § 2, above. 13. See Life, ch. xx. § 29. 14. See Life, ch. xxxi. § 17. 15. See Life, ch. xxv. § 20. 16. See Life, ch. xxv. §§ 18, 22. Relation II. To One of Her Confessors, from the House of Doña Luisa de la Cerda, in 1562. [1] Jesus. I think it is more than a year since this was written; God has all this time protected me with His hand, so that I have not become worse; on the contrary, I see a great change for the better in all I have to say: may He be praised for it all! 1. The visions and revelations have not ceased, but they are of a much higher kind. Our Lord has taught me a way of prayer, wherein I find myself far more advanced, more detached from the things of this life, more courageous, and more free. [2] I fall into a trance more frequently, for these ecstasies at times come upon me with great violence, and in such a way as to be outwardly visible, I having no power to resist them; and even when I am with others--for they come in such a way as admits of no disguising them, unless it be by letting people suppose that, as I am subject to disease of the heart, they are fainting-fits; I take great pains, however, to resist them when they are coming on--sometimes I cannot do it. 2. As to poverty, God seems to have wrought great things in me; for I would willingly be without even what is necessary, unless given me as an alms; and therefore my longing is extreme that I may be in such a state as to depend on alms alone for my food. It seems to me that to live, when I am certain of food and raiment without fail, is not so complete an observance of my vow or of the counsel of Christ as it would be to live where no revenue is possessed, and I should be in want at times; and as to the blessings that come with true poverty, they seem to me to be great, and I would not miss them. Many times do I find myself with such great faith, that I do not think God will ever fail those who serve Him, and without any doubt whatever that there is, or can be, any time in which His words are not fulfilled: I cannot persuade myself to the contrary, nor can I have any fear; and so, when they advise me to accept an endowment, I feel it keenly, and betake myself unto God.