Letters from María Verónica Masiá
10th of October 1920, to her mother
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J M J
[Jesús María José]
Capuchins of Agullent 10th October [1920?]
Dearest Mother in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
I hope you receive this letter in good health. As I mentioned before, I am well, thanks to our Lord.
This letter is to congratulate you on the feast day of your holy patron, the seraphic Mother Teresa of Jesus. I pray that it will be a very happy and blessed day for you, with the Lord showering upon you abundant graces and heavenly blessings, granting you a taste of the divine sweetness you will enjoy in Heaven.
For my part, although my prayers are so humble, I always remember you and will do everything I can to honour you on this day. I hope that you will remember me, especially right after receiving Holy Communion, as that is the happiest and most blessed moment for the soul to ask the Lord for all that it desires.
Please receive the regards and congratulations from the Community, especially from Reverend Mother Abbess and the Vicar, along with Mother Manuela and Sister Asunción. On our behalf, please give our regards to the aunts and the rest of the family. Tell Aunt Antonia that the ducklings she gave us have grown so big and are so beautiful that it is a joy to see them. Receive a warm embrace from this daughter who loves you so much and never forgets you before the Tabernacle.
Sister María Verónica
28th of October 1934, to her siblings
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Long live Jesus!
Capuchins of Agullent, 28 – 10
Dearest in the Lord, my brothers and sisters, Purificación and Bautista,
It is impossible to express the joy your postcard brought us. The sorrow of seeing Bautista’s condition was immense, but in the midst of it all, let us thank God that he is here to tell the tale.
We have shed many tears night and day, always raising our prayers and supplications to heaven for his complete recovery. Take good care of him and yourselves as well, for both you and María Vicenta are in great need after all you have endured. The wound from the death of your kind and holy mother was still fresh, and before you could recover from that sorrow, Bautista’s illness occurred. Blessed be God. Though we are far from your company, we are very close in spirit, sharing in your sorrows and joys. I repeat, take good care of yourselves.
Please extend the greetings of the Community, especially from Sister María Rosario, to María Vicenta, Consuelo, and little Vicentica. A very tight embrace for everyone, not forgetting our dear mother. Kisses for Juanito and many for you both, with all the affection of this sister who never forgets you.
Sister María Verónica Masiá
1st of February 1935, to her siblings
Dearest in the Lord, Purificación and Bautista,
These few lines are to extend my heartfelt congratulations to Purificación on the feast of Our Lady of Purification. I wish you a day filled with health and joy. May the Blessed Virgin grant you many graces and complete health to enjoy little Juanito. Take good care of yourselves and look after our mother. We will write again before Lent.
Many greetings to everyone, especially to our mother, Mª Vicenta, and Consuelo. Kisses for the little one, and many more for you, with the affection of this sister who never forgets you before Jesus.
Sister Mª Verónica Masiá
July 1935, to her mother and sisters
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Long live Jesus!
Capuchins of Agullent
July
Dearest mother and sisters in the Lord: These lines are to let you know that we received the small basket along with your letter and the two pieces of cheese, the chocolate, eggs, fried meat, mantillas, the shawl, and everything else. May God repay you for it all and grant you good health. Since we’re running low on rice, could you kindly send us a little more, or whatever amount you think best, just in case. Keep in mind also that, with the heat, it gets infested with warms when stored. May our Lord reward you for your immense kindness both in this life and the next.
I’m sending this small box with two cushions or little hats for you, in case you need to thank someone for a favor or service. I promised María from Agullent that I would make her something, but if you or the girls like the hats, you’re welcome to keep them. If there’s something else at home, you could give that to María instead, or I can make her something else when she comes to Agullent.
As for the flannel fabric that Sister Felicidad mentioned you have for us, and the other clothing we have at home, please don’t send anything for now, in case something happens and we need to leave the convent. If we need anything, I’ll let you know, but for now, just a bit of rice would be enough, and God will bless your charity.
Many greetings to everyone, especially Bautista, Purificación, Sister Felicidad, Josefa Ramona, María Vicenta, and lots of kisses for Juanito and you, dear mother. Receive a warm embrace, and the same for my sisters, from this daughter who loves you dearly and longs to see you.
Sister María Verónica Masiá
21st of April 1936, to her mother and sisters
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Capuchins of Agullent, 21st of April
My dearest mother and sisters in the Lord. It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from you and the rest of the family. I hope you are all in good health. How are things over there? Is there much unrest and persecution, or is it peaceful and well? Here, for the time being, things are fine and remain the same as before. And you, are you feeling any better with the leg pain? Has the medicine helped or not? And how is Sister Felicidad? Is she any better? Please let us know. And Josefa Ramona, how is she? Those who have seen her say she looks very thin. Could you also let us know if you’ve heard any news from her convent, and whether they managed to retrieve each sister’s belongings, or if everything remains inside the convent? Poor sisters—thinking of it brings us such sorrow. God has allowed it, and we don’t know what may lie ahead for us. May His will be done in all things, and may we find joy in pleasing Him everywhere.
Since everything is so dangerous right now, leaving the house is frightening. We’ll see if Brother Pedro wants to go and bring the things we have prepared. He intended to go during Holy Week, but he wasn’t feeling well, and the weather was bad.
Before finishing this letter, we had the pleasure of receiving your postcard, and we were very happy to hear from you and all my sisters, who, thank God, are doing better. And Juanito, is he completely well? I’m keeping many things for him, and I’ll send them to him when I can.
Brother Pedro has gone to Valencia once or twice, but to save money, he only bought a round-trip ticket, so he couldn’t stop to see you. If he doesn’t go next week, please send us a small sack of rice—50 kilos, no more—because in these times, it’s unwise to keep too much in case something happens. Also, when he goes, please send us a small scarf for the neck and the mantilla that María Vicenta gave us when she visited with you last summer. That mantilla will work well for what we intend to do; we don’t need anything else at the moment.
May God reward you for everything. Please don’t worry and take good care of yourself. If we need anything else, we’ll let you know. We didn’t write sooner because we were waiting to see if a family from Algemesí, living in this town, would come by so we could ask them about you and send this letter along. Brother Pedro won’t go because things are so unstable and he’s afraid.
Please wait until after the first of May, as there are rumors of a major disturbance. If things get worse, don’t send what I’ve asked for, as we won’t need it. But if nothing happens, you can send the sack of rice, 50 kilos as I mentioned before, and nothing more. I’m sending the basket and a box with María. Sister Felicidad, who knows what’s there, can take whatever she likes, and she will find her small scissors there. The rest is for Juanito, and the jewelry box is for Purificación. For the rest, you may do as you wish. If we have to leave the convent, the things will be brought to the house where we’re to stay, as it’s unsafe for them to be taken along the roads now.If you write to us, please use two envelopes: one as usual, and on the outer one write “Doña Vicenta Belda, Calle Nueva, number 8, Agullent.” The lady there already knows and will pass the letters along.
22nd of June 1936, to her mother and siblings
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Long live Jesus!
Capuchins of Agullent, 22nd of June
My dearest mother and brothers in the Lord,
I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am well, thanks to God. Here, everything continues in peace and tranquility, as I assume it is with you there.
I received your two letters, and I was very glad to hear that you are in good health, especially Sister Felicidad, whom I remember so well, as she always helped me with the tasks in the office and did everything so well. I always keep her in mind, as I do you, dear mother, and the rest of the family, asking the Lord to give you all the health and grace you need. Sister Felicidad, now that she is with you, will do everything for you, care for you, and keep you company, so that you may feel better and not be alone, especially when you go out.
This letter also serves to wish Bautista and Juanito a happy saint’s day, which I hope they spend in good health. May the Lord grant them a blessed day full of grace, and may they celebrate it joyfully for many years to come, together with mother, sisters, and the rest of the family. I always remember them in my humble prayers, but especially on their special day, asking the Lord to bless them and grant them all the grace they need. I send them best wishes on behalf of the mothers and Community.
Many greetings to the whole family, especially Bautista, Purificación, Sister Felicidad, Josefa Ramona, María Vicenta, and many kisses for Juanito. May father and son enjoy the day joyfully. And to you, mother, and sisters, a big hug from your daughter.
Sister María Verónica Masiá
[Postscript at the top of the letter:] When María’s mother from here leaves, we will see if we can write to you again.
24th of August 1936, to her mother and siblings
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Long live Jesus!
Capuchins of Agullent 24th of August
My dearest mother and brothers in the Divine Heart of Jesus,
Since you left our Convent, we haven’t heard anything from you or from home. I am wondering if Sister Felicidad is feeling better and how everyone is doing. We have received two letters from Serafín and know that he is in good health. We have already carried out the tasks he entrusted to us. The larger harmonium is now at Aunt Ana María’s house, as she is the most trusted person we have. We have also moved out the two mattresses, and we sleep on the makeshift mat we set up ourselves. In this way, we are discreetly moving all the more valuable items that we don’t urgently need, so the townspeople don’t notice. There are 27 of us in total, and we’re managing quite well, although we’re uneasy, thinking about the disruption that could come if we have to leave again—unless God arranges otherwise by some miracle. If you get the chance to send something with a trusted person, could you send me the little watch key I left in a small box in the drawer of the table? Sister Felicidad will find it; she knows it.
Many regards to the whole family, especially to Bautista’s mother and sisters, to Purificación, Sister Felicidad, Juan Bautista, and everyone else whom I remember fondly. To you, dear mother, a warm hug from your daughter, who loves you all very much.
Sister Mª Verónica Masiá
PS:
Please kindly forward this letter to Serafín.
Incomplete, without a date
If you write a card, please send it here to the Convent, as usual. Regarding the little scarf and mantilla I mentioned, don’t worry about it; you can send them whenever there’s an opportunity. Right now, with the heat, they aren’t needed at all. And if we had to leave, we have the communion veil, which looks like a mantilla.
Many regards from the Mother and community, and from me, to Bautista, Purificación, Josefa Ramona, Felicidad, María Vicenta, and lots of kisses for Juanito. Take good care of yourselves and look after mother. Receive a warm hug from your daughter and sister, who loves you very much.
Sister María Verónica Masiá
If you write to Serafín, address it as follows: He has sent us two envelopes, one with his name as usual, and the outer one labeled:
“S. D. Pedro Garra apartado Nº 2 Totana” (address)
