From Sister Marie‑Dosithée Guérin to Mme Martin.
V+J.
From our Le Mans Monastery
the 17 mars 1861
My beloved Sister.
You are perhaps surprised that I am writing to you before Easter (According to the monastic custom of the time, correspondence remained exceptional during Lent. Cf. letter 8); but it is to ask you if you know Mr. Moreau, wine merchant, residing in Alençon; Mrs. Moreau came to the Visitation to put her 6-year-old granddaughter there and we would like to have some information about this family, which I have never heard of, it will be easy for you to find out who they are without however suspect that you are in charge of informing you about them, let us know as soon as possible.
I'm well, I really want the same for you, you're giving me some worries, I'm afraid you're worrying too much about your business, I'm praying*[v°] a lot for you, not so that your pains cease if it is not the will of the good God, but so that he may be glorified and that they work your salvation, and yet I love you well go, my dear Sister, courage, the Holy Church is much more persecuted than you (18‑9‑1860: defeat of Lamoricière at the head of the pontifical troops at Castelfidardo; 23‑3‑1861, the kingdom of Upper Italy becomes the kingdom of Italy. The “Roman question” therefore dominates, for 10 years, French politics, causing Napoleon III to stiffen with regard to Catholics) and yet NS likes him. I don't forget my brother either, I'm making a little war on the good Lord so that he makes it good for us. For my Father, I thank NS for all the virtues with which he wishes to embellish his old age (Mr. Guérin senior was then 72 years old. He lives in rue Saint-Blaise, in the house acquired by him in 1843) and conjure him to 'always increasing, finally I pray for you all, I can only do you good and I am not good at anything else.
Farewell my dear Sister, courage and confidence I will end there because we must not forget that we are in Lent: pray well for me so that I may be a good nun. I charge you to embrace the whole family for me; but more particularly my good Father.
I kiss you wholeheartedly.
Sr. M. Dosithee Guérin
From the Von Ste Marie
DSB (Bless God!)
[TV]. If you come to see me as soon as you promised me, I won't write to you before: some of our sisters have already asked me to see your little girl (Marie, born February 22, 1860). she is very cute.
