1709. Carta de dona Pudenciana de Belém, religiosa, para frei João de Deus, religioso.

Courtesy letter written by the nun Dona Pudenciana de Belém to the monk frei João de Deus.

The author seems to be writing to send some offering with the letter; she speaks of it as "that small thing". She asks the addresseee to pray for her and is willing to help him if needed

Sister Ana da Encarnação, a Reverend Mother in the Convent of Santa Clara in Oporto, was prosecuted by the Inquisition. She defended herself by accusing a monk, frei João de Deus, of having affairs with several nuns. In order to prove it, she presented letters exchanged between him and two of the nuns. She also accused the monk of convincing her that, because she was a saint, she didn't need to follow religious precepts and she could commit "vile acts" with him.

«Dear father Brother João de Deus,

I write this to ask about your health and, at the same time, to offer you that “limitação”, for which I ask forgiveness. And I ask you to beg God to forgive my sins and to give me much of His love, so that I can live and die in His grace. And may He keep you in His grace to serve Him. And let me know if there is anything you need that I can provide. May God keep you as I wish.

Today, sixteen of April of 709. From the one who is much obliged to you, Pudenciana de Belém»