From Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin to her brother.
G+J
From our Mother of Le Mans
the April 10 1864
Dear and Beloved Brother
I congratulate you on your happiness (I. Guérin obtained, on April 1, his appointment as an intern in pharmacy, and enters Bicêtre, in the surgery department), and like you, not only do I believe, but I hold for certain that a good fairy presided over your birth; our good Mother took care at the birth of her children to find them protectors to help them walk the difficult path of life, she gave us to the Blessed Virgin in a very special way, and we have experienced the effects of a marked protection, but especially you, I know so many traits of it that it makes me hope for great graces for the future, and although out of 100 young people there are not 2 who succeed as you, I assure you, however, that this is only the beginning of your prosperity and that much greater ones await you, but do not be ungrateful towards* [v°] your benefactress (The Blessed Virgin).
The details that you give me please me enough and especially to know that you are thin, it will be at least a point of your mother's religion that you will keep. . .
You don't say a word to me about the Colleagues you live with, I think it's perhaps like most of the fashionable medical students of the day!
There is still one point that worries me a little, if you have to spend one night out of 5, I fear that your health will suffer.
You will have before your eyes sad pictures of poor humanity; death also with its supreme horrors will very often rise up in front of you, be careful to take advantage of it, I will tell you confidently that nothing in the world detaches me more from the earth, from its vanities and pleasures than death; I saw her twice during Lent come and take our sisters away from us during a short illness, and I assure you that no one would have suspected that she would have addressed herself to those, especially to one who was the strongest. from the community; but it is a warning to keep us always ready, we know neither the day *[2r°] nor the hour at which the son of man will come, for although they had received all the sacraments and would not have concealed their position from them, they could not believe it.
You give me great pleasure by telling me that you will write to me every month, you see you are the friend of the heart, my dear youngest child, these affections are sheltered from all vicissitudes and all changes. possible.
Zélie will come to see me with her little Pauline next May, she will leave her big one behind, it seems she doesn't want to come: let her stay, that's all!
I am delighted with the friendship that Mr. Romet has for you, he is a man whom I greatly esteem, unfortunately there are not enough of them like him, cultivate his friendship well.
I'm fine, I'm happy and content as much as possible, I don't want you more happiness than I have, I think you'd have enough on earth while waiting for heaven.
I am looking forward to seeing you again, I would have many things to tell you, in the meantime I pray for you.
I kiss you my dear little brother
Sr. M. Dosithée Guérin,
From the Von Ste Marie
DSB
