Letters of Maria Celeste:

28 August 1623

Most Illustrious Lord Father

We are enormously disturbed to hear that you have not improved much as yet, Sire, that on the contrary your illness has left you bed-ridden and stripped you of your appetite, as we learned yesterday from Master Benedetto. Nonetheless we have firm hope that the Lord, through His mercy, is on the verge of restoring at least part of your health, I do not say all, as that seems almost impossible to me, considering the number of aggravations that continuously plague you, and which will undoubtedly earn you great reward and glory in the other life, since you tolerate all of this vexation with such patience.

I have searched everywhere to find you these four plums and I send them to you now, even if they are not at quite the level of perfection I would have wished; do please accept them, Sire, along with my best intentions. Let this serve to remind you that, whenever you receive a response from those gentlemen in Rome, you did promise you would allow me to look at the letter; as for those other letters, which I know you have been meaning to let me read, I will not bother you about them now, as I imagine you do not have them with you. Not wanting to overburden you, I will say no more, except that I send you all my love together with Suor Arcangela and the others. May our Lord comfort you and be with you always. From San Matteo, the 28th day of August 1623.

Most affectionate daughter,
S. M. C.