Reflection on Mary Ward letter to Mary Poyntz, December 1632
Resilience, determination and friendship emerge from the letter composed by Mary Ward to ‘My dearest’ Mary Poyntz, at the close of 1632. Mary was in Rome, her Institute suppressed but freed from the accusation of heresy and living in common life with her remaining companions, under the tacit approval of church authorities. In the midst of the violent destruction of her work, she looked to the future, to possible opportunities and open doors.
The constancy of friendship opens Mary’s letter: ‘we have too much to effect togeather in deeds ever to wast aine words; therefore to busines for the rest you know my hart to be al if not more than you can wish and that for ever, ever.’
