[1754]. Carta de Maria do Espírito Santo para Francisco de São Joaquim, frade.

Love letter from Maria do Espírito Santo to Francisco de São Joaquim, friar.

The author writes to her lover, but this letter was never delivered. She had written it at the time she was arrested, and then she said to the Inquisition that she had lost the will to send it. She speaks about her ailments, which could be related to her pregnancy.

Maria do Espírito Santo claimed to be haunted by the demon and was submitted to an exorcism more than once. During one of these supernatural episodes she was assisted by the friar Francisco de São Joaquim Bom Sucesso, who spend the nights with her, at her request. Maria do Espírito Santo was arrested and, while in prison, gave birth to a boy. She was condemned to being publicly whipped and sent to exile for four years, among other penances.

«My heart. I was very pleased to see you so close to give me that comfort, because I couldn’t have a bigger comfort. Praised be the Lord who favours me as He does, even though I don’t deserve it. However, since God listens to the prayers of the greatest sinners, and since I am that much of a sinner, He conceded me the will of talking to you because I most certainly came with a great pain and He didn’t want me to come with that pain. I’m very sick today, with a dizzy head and vomiting a lot. And Miss Teresa had already come here and she came back again. And she always tells me that I’m very arrogant because I don’t show her gratitude. And, when I talk to her, it’s no longer with that will that I used to. My little one, who is very [unclear] today misses you. I suppose he wants to [unclear], but I’m not in the mood for that. God, goodbye. My heart is a fool, it is not proper of a heart that carries another heart in it. Whose heart can this be other than a fool's or a madman's? Don’t distrust. Do the same yourself.»