the Carmel
From Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin to her brother Isidore – September 2, 1866

DE  
GUERIN Marie-Louise, Sr Marie-Dosithée
À 
GUERIN Isidore

02/09/1866

From Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin to her brother.
V. + J.
                                                                                             From our Mother of Le Mans
                                                                                             the 2 September 66
 
Dear Little Brother,
I can no longer resist my desire to write to you, although I would have liked to wait for a letter from you before doing so. Let me therefore speak to you with an open heart, dear friend, and remind you of the promises you have so often made to me; you have finally arrived at the time to hold them, if it is not now, assuredly it will never be.
You see the affection you have for your fiancée and what you do to please her; if, however, she only paid for all your attentions with coldness and ingratitude, your heart would be deeply hurt, and yet what is all this in comparison to what NS has done for you, and the countless kindnesses? with which he fills you unceasingly, in spite of your coldness and your ingratitude; for although you *[1v°] have done your Easter so far, what is that compared to what you should have done! Every day the Lord fills you with new benefits, so you must recognize them by leading a truly Christian life; if it costs a few sacrifices, well so much the better, the Lord well deserves them, and then everything costs, and even to arrive at this small position of Pharmacist, only care, solicitude and studies have - it was not necessary. If we did the same for eternity, we would be great saints!
So that's what I would like: you're going to go to confession to get married; one must give it all the attention required to receive a Sacrament; then I would like you to take communion on Saturday feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in order to draw down the blessings of heaven on your household, because finally it is your entry into social and serious life, so far it could not be such, but from now on it must be so and for that you must approach the Sacraments in order to obtain the help which will be so necessary to you, especially since I believe that you will need a good dose *[ 2 r°] patience, your character not matching that of your father-in-law; but here below God does it in such a way as not to make us find perfect happiness on earth, you would be too happy with your wife and your mother-in-law, there must be some thorns, and better better that it be on this side than on another.
I beg you, listen to these last advices that I give you because now I won't give you any more. If you knew the joy you would give me by doing this, I have no doubt that you would put no delay in it; and since you are pleasing everyone, don't forget your God and your poor sister and godmother who loves you so tenderly; don't forget our good Mother either, and may the day after your wedding be consecrated to her by having mass said for her and both of you attending.
When you come to see me, I would like to see you separately in order to give you my little recommendations.
I haven't had your reliquary bought yet I was afraid of seeing your marriage go to waste I'm waiting for a letter first, so write to me and tell me approximately when you'll be coming to Le Mans because it takes about 8 days to have this reliquary made and I am afraid that I will be late.
Farewell dear little brother, I kiss you with all my heart
Your devoted sister
Sr. Marie Dosithee Guérin
   From the Von Ste Marie
          DSB
 

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