From Sister Marie‑Dosithée to Mr. and Mrs. Guérin. May 18, 1873.
V. + J.
From our Mother of Le Mans
the 18 Mai 73
My dear brother and my dear sister,
I come a little late to reply to your good letter; I see that despite your misfortune you have still been very lucky, it is clear that God is visibly protecting you, because although he does not spare you the trials, they are accompanied by so much help that it is clear that it is It's a Father's hand that's hid in there. You still didn't tell me anything about your disaster, I don't think you really knew the loss you had experienced, but Zélie sent me a letter from Isidore which told me about it; I end up believing that it is a stroke of Providence for you which will be known to you later, in the meantime you have had and you will still have a lot of [lv°] hassle to get back on your feet. But you above all, my dear friend, don't torment yourself so much, really you use up your life and your health by this prodigious activity, it's a family illness, we are all three alike, I have the same activity as at 18 years old, and yet I will soon be 44 (May 31.)
For my part, I had a lot of worries, Marie's illness worried me a lot, thank God I think she's out of trouble, she has to go to mass next Thursday (for the Ascension), there again, the Lord spared us, she could have been much sicker than she was and had to stay here which would have been no small pain for the parents I was fortunately inspired to send her straight away, she only stayed sick for two days at the Visitation, it seems that the next day she wouldn't have been able to make the trip. If she had stayed with us, she would have been perfectly cared for and I would not have to fear the imprudences which will certainly take place in her house; she starts to cry when she wants to get something and the Father immediately gives in, the other day he gave her [2r°] two mouthfuls of cheese, if unfortunately she had a relapse, it would be fatal. I have to say here all the gratitude we owe to our good Mother and to the whole community. Marie would have been the daughter and the niece of all our sisters that we would not have taken more part in her illness than we did; they were prayers, novenas for his healing, our sisters constantly besieged me to hear from him, they never arrived soon enough for their liking and our good Mother sent him oranges and green grapes thinking that would make him happy! Pauline, as you know, didn't have a holiday at Easter, her mother (wanted her?) it was very imprudent on her part, in the end she was forced to surrender, it would have been only a voice on his account to (blame her?), he was promised to give him his Pauline as soon as Marie would be cured, and she surrendered (but) as she said, reluctantly; now she wants to have it for (Pentecost?).
I'm happy with my little girl; she loves her sister very much she wrote her charming letters of candor, she regretted having argued with her, because when they are together, they only tease each other, much like you do with their mother, then they have some regret; life passes thus to regret and to begin again.
And you? How are you ? Health and courage? Is the heart under the press of fear? Are you still tormenting yourself, my dear sister? I wish you great peace, this peace that Our Lord gave to his Apostles after his Resurrection (Luke 24, 36), this peace which keeps our souls in joy despite the vicissitudes of life, [2v°] this peace which makes that 'one abandons oneself entirely into the arms of Providence. And how are the little ones? Is Jeanne still as lively and whole? my little Jeanne must be good, very docile and very gentle; and Marie must have grown up a lot, this little one is my love. Kiss them well for me and tell them that their aunt from Le Mans is fond of them; I want them to love me too.
My health is good, I'm fine this year. I kiss you with all my heart.
Sr. M. Dosithee Guérin
From the Von Ste Marie.
DSB
