LA SANTA JUANA, SEGUNDA PARTE

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REPARTO

I

Juana's Guardian Angel tells her not to worry about Luther's activities in Germany because Catholics are making many converts in the New World through men like Don Hernando Cortés and Alonso de Alburquerque.  Carlos V passes through on his way to fight against Luther and the heretics, and leaves his nephew Don Jorge de Aragón, Comendador de Santiago, in charge of the village of Cubas.  Although Jorge just recently married, he still likes to "play the field," a habit that his uncle warns him he must overcome.  Francisco's former servant, Lillo, now serves Jorge.

Shortly after his arrival Jorge spies Mari Pascuala, Crespo's wife, and is enamored of her.  When she goes for water he creates an opportunity to talk to her.  At first she rejects him, but later she encourages him, with Crespo arriving just in time to hear her say "yo a vos también."

In the convent, meanwhile, the Vicaria (the Maestra of the First Part) is still jealous of Juana and criticizes her for getting mixed up in a suit of the Archbishop of Toledo.  The Vicaria always chides Sor Evangelista because she cannot write, but the Guardian Angel tells Juana that Evangelista will be able to write and will, in fact, write Juana's story.  Juana, however, has much to suffer now, because the nuns are turning against her.  Soon Sor Evangelista brings to Juana the news that she suddenly knows how to read and write and that she is to write Juana's history.  Now the Vicaria can no longer make fun of her and call her stupid.

When the peasants all come to the convent for the baptism of the baby of Gila and the sacristán, Jorge orders Lillo and the other servants to take Mari Pascuala by force so that he can enjoy her.  Crespo and her father, Berrueco, swear revenge.

II

Mingo and the other villagers have taken Mari Pascuala from Lillo and the servants, and now Jorge threatens to burn their houses and torture them if they do not tell him where she is.  Finally, on threat of torture, Crespo tells Jorge that she is at the convent of La Cruz with Juana.  At this point Jorge receives a letter from the Vicaria saying that the nuns do not like Juana, that she is a fraud and that she has written Jorge's wife about his actions and that his wife has complained to the Governor.  She also says that the Padre Provincial of the order is at the convent and asks Jorge to help to get Juana removed as abbess.  She also makes reference to a young woman being held at the convent against her will.  Upon reading this, Jorge plans to avenge himself on Juana, and upon being asked by the villagers that he remove the soldiers that they have to quarter, he tells them not to complain because he is their master and all they have is his to command as he sees fit.

At the convent, Juana tells Mari Pascuala that she has to go home, but Mari Pascuala is inspired by Juana and, saying that she is no longer tempted by Jorge, vows to be good.  Juana is told by her Guardian Angel that her troubles are now to begin but that she will be honored in the end.  The Vicaria now comes to tell Juana that she (the Vicaria) is the new abbess, because Jorge has talked against Juana to the Padre Provincial.  Jorge has left without seeing Juana, but she is to be beaten and locked up in her cell, and no one is to speak to her.  Juana believes that she deserves all this, that it is small punishment for her many sins.

Jorge continues his highhanded ways with the villagers, greedily taking for himself what used to be reserved for widows and the poor.  Mari Pascuala meets him, and in spite of her resolutions she yields to him.  He then drives her away, but Tello claims her for himself.  She complains bitterly, although she recognizes how she has sinned after having promised to be good.  She is about to hang herself when Juana intervenes and reminds her of God's forgiveness.  Mari Pascuala now resolves to go to the convent and become a nun.

III

The imprisoned Juana makes a sermon to the birds and animals that appear to her as in a vision.  San Antonio de Padua, the Christ child, and her Guardian Angel appear and tell her that the abadesa is dying.  She prays to them to forgive her, and Jesus promises forgiveness, saying he cannot refuse her.  Sor Evangelista takes Juana to the dying Abbess, who wants to beg Juana to forgive her.

In the meantime, Mari Pascuala, who is now a nun, receives a note from Jorge instructing her to meet him by the convent wall that night or he will reveal what he knows about her past.  Bewildered and frightened, she does not know what to do.  That night when Jorge comes to the convent wall Lillo is also there, drunk and asleep.  Jorge ponders whether he should jump the wall of a convent, and Lillo, in his sleep, predicts a bad fate for him if he does.  Fearful at first, Jorge then realizes that it is only Lillo who is talking and he decides to go over the wall.  At this moment Juana appears, saying that he will die the next day and that he had better think about how he will be judged.  Her saintliness exerts such a strong influence on him that he repents, entrusting his soul to God as he dies.  Mari Pascuala says he died repentant, thanks to Juana.  San Francisco and the Crucified Christ appear to Juana, and at Christ's request she embraces Him and receives the stigmata.  The Emperor Carlos V comes and once again everyone marvels at Juana's saintliness.