From Sister Marie‑Dosithée Guérin to Mrs. Martin.
From our Le Mans Monastery
August 25, 1868.
My dear sister,
How your heart must be broken by this new blow (on August 24, Mrs. Martin lost her second son); Oh ! yes the designs of God are impenetrable! I thought He would leave you this child but he knows better than us what we need, let him do it. This life is so full of miseries. . you, dear friend, you know something about it, because since your childhood until now what pains of all kinds, have you not suffered! But the end will come and the measure of your joy will be that of your afflictions.
So believe it without a doubt - you are now sowing in tears, but you will reap in the abundance of the joy of the Lord, when at the end of this miserable life you will see your two beautiful little Angels coming to meet you and tell the mercies of the Lord to their
respect, for did he not rescue them from the filth and corruption of the world before they were defiled?
Dear Sister, I would like to say a few words of consolation to you, but that is not possible for me. . . Although I find what the Lord has done very well and I adore his holy will with all my heart, my poor soul is very distressed, I miss this dear little one! And then, your pain and that of my brother-in-law weigh heavily on my heart, I would like to take it all and leave you none, but there's no way, we'll each keep ours. I would like Isidore to go and console you.
Dear friends, the words of our holy Founder came to mind: - "When the master of the dovecote goes to take the young doves, they make no resistance, but if it were another they would lament » Now, it is indeed the Master of the dovecote who has come to take his little dove to put it in his Paradise, so let us acquiesce with all our strength to his wishes. .
I advise you, poor dear Sister, never to ask God for anything; if he gives you other children you will take them, if he takes them from you, you will submit to him. Only try to bring up your daughters so well that they give as much glory to God as the greatest Saints. Do you believe, for example, that our Bse Marguerite-Marie has not saved more souls than many missionaries? God uses what is weakest to serve his purposes.
Finally, perhaps the Lord, content with your resignation, will give you what you desire. But in the meantime, try not to place any obstacle to grace; be faithful to whatever God asks of you.
(....) greater affection and devotion if possible.
I kiss you dear little sister
your loving sister
Sr. Marie Dosithee Guérin
From the Von Ste Marie
DSB
