From Sister Marie‑Dosithée to Mr. and Mrs. Guérin. February 8, 1874.
V. + J.
From our Mother of Le Mans
February 8, 1874
I have just received your kind letter and am hastening to reply to it since I will not be able to do so by Easter (Lent begins on February 18, and Easter will be April 5), the Holy Quarantine condemning us to silence and to penance. From what I see in your letter you have had enough illnesses. Your little Marie is so weak that I am almost worried; you know better than me but if I had this little one I would make her take cod liver oil it is so invigorating that it restores the temperament of children and usually they do not find it difficult to take it, not having the same repugnance that older people experience, I have even seen some who found it good.
Almost all our children have had colds here, among others Marie and Pauline had severe fevers, they had to stay in bed for several days, now they are fine, although weak; Marie never [lv°] recovered well from her typhoid fever; although she is not ill, she is not very well; Pauline is pale, all these little people are not strong, nor the mother either (. . .)
back and chest pains and coughs all winter long! If she's not careful, she won't grow old; however, it would be a great loss to his family. I would have liked her to have consulted the doctor before beginning the Lenten fast she intends to do, because although many people dispense with this obligation too lightly, I believe it would be prudent for her to ask her doctor who is a religious man and who can be trusted on this article.
You would like me to give you news of Léonie: it's no small matter I assure you that having three children to direct that gives me a lot of worries it is difficult to form children in virtue; you already feel it in your little Jeanne; you are not at the end you are just beginning you will need a lot of patience to reach the goal you want to reach, but above all, put all your trust in God, everything is there! the creature is only an instrument that God wants to use, but for it it must recognize its inability to make its efforts as if everything should [2r°] come from it and that it does not wait however for the success that of God and I assure you that by acting thus the Lord spreads his blessings and all goes marvelously; I have proof of this in my Léonie; as you know this poor child had many faults; the first month I scolded when she was not doing well and it happened so frequently that I could do little more than that...
(especially since her sisters always came to accuse her, I could see that I was going to make this little girl unhappy without (. . . ) and that's what I didn't want, I wanted to be a Providence of God to so I implored God's help and the light I needed because I only had good intentions. . so I began to treat her with the greatest kindness, avoiding scolding, and telling her that I I saw that she wanted to be good and to make me happy, that I had this confidence in her; this produced a magical effect on her that was not only temporary but lasting, because it supports each other and I find her quite cute, I am happier than with her sisters. It is unimaginable the desire she has to please me, it makes her overcome her laziness - she studies well now; she comes candidly to tell me of her misdeeds, I told her that I wanted it that way, she is very obedient. Here is the one we thought was heartless and who happens to be heartless. More than the others, I hope that the good Lord will bless our efforts [2v°] and that it will become very good, because all is not done and it will be necessary more than once to season the sweetness with firmness.
We are still as you say well in a sad time, we do not know when it will end, it is clear that the good Lord expected from us not only prayer but the reformation of our depraved morals which did not take place , because It seems that we are no better than in the past; for you, you give me many consolations, I see that you are sincerely devoted to God and to your duties and that you have no share with the corrupt world; so continue and progress because you must never be stationary in the work of salvation and I promise you that the Lord will bless you and your family, but pray a lot it is a very great duty in the times in which we live.
I am delighted to have the pleasure of seeing you this year, let's hope that nothing will happen to prevent it.
You forgot to give us the information we asked about this lady, if you could do it the first time you write, it would be a great service. Please kiss the dear little ones for me and tell Jeanne that the little letter she sent me made me very happy, that her aunt from Le Mans will like it if she wants to be obedient and wise. . I kiss you with all my heart.
Your loving sister
Sr. M. Dosithee Guérin
From the Von Ste Marie.
DSB
[2v°tv] My health is still very good.
[2v°] The name of this lady that you may have forgotten is Madame Vve Selles
at the Mouton manor
