From Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin to her brother Isidore.
V.+J.
From our Le Mans Monastery
February 2, 64
Very Dear Brother
I hasten to write to you before Lent, although if necessary, I can certainly do so with permission before Easter. First of all, I am certainly very sorry that you do not have enough to do, idleness is the mother of all vices and although you are by the grace of God in no way vicious, I would like you to be sufficiently busy. I don't know if all your projects have succeeded I neither desire nor fear it because I don't know what will be the most advantageous, I have totally abandoned it to God and whatever happens I will be happy, as long as you're a good boy, that's all I need, the successes of this world hardly affect me since I know their value.
*[1v°] Here we are about to enter Lent, I can't give you my recommendations, especially since you don't have much to do, you can very well go to all the sermons that take place. will do, and even at 2 or 3 masses a week because, you see, you won't always live and you have to do something for that time.
Today I received a letter from Zélie; the successes of this world almost suffocate her, the poor girl, she doesn't even have time to write to me, her business is going so well that she doesn't have the time to take a little rest, it's is a life of complete turmoil and while saying that she really feels that she would not be happy in my place because she is not called to it, she is already tormenting herself at not seeing any marks of vocation in their children. It's true that I have a lot of thanksgiving to give to the good God, I'm certainly the happiest in the family unless you're called to be a Missionary, but you don't think about that.
Zélie tells me to tell you that it is useless for you to go and see Captain de Lacauve (Henry de Lacauve (1826‑1889), first cousin of Mr. Martin. Their mothers, Sophie de Lacauve and Fanie Martin, were sisters, born Boureau In the acts of service of Captain de Lacauve, we note a campaign in Africa, from May 1864 to April 1868) he is no longer in Paris.
*[2 r°] You ask me what I want, to make a choice and tell you, alas when I tell you you wouldn't give it to me, so it's useless, I just tell the Good God, and I'll tell him so long that he'll finally give it to me to get rid of me, I'm quite sure of it.
Write to me and tell me many things because it interests me a lot, I love you so much!
My health is still very good and I'm not like you, I don't have time to stroll around, and although I don't do anything tiring, I don't have a moment to lose. I say a Remember to Saint Joseph every day for you. It's absolutely like the Remember to the Blessed Virgin, instead of Mary we say St Joseph, I would like you to say it too, I have great confidence in this Saint, it seems to me that it is a good father who cannot refuse anything, I am indebted to him for many signal graces, I am sure that he will obtain many spiritual and temporal graces for you.
I'll end there, I'm always afraid of boring you, you're not used to hearing people talk like that, it must seem strange to you.
Farewell my dear little brother,
I kiss you a thousand and a thousand times
Sr. M. Dosithee Guérin
of the Von Ste Marie
DSB
