We already know from LL. 36 and 49 that Bro. Dominique often complained about his fate. According to Bro. Avit (Annales de Charlieu, p. 20), His standard procedure was always to ask for the contrary of what he wanted. For four years [this was 1844] he had been constantly complaining about his assistants, who gave as good as they got; he had often asked for either their transfer or his own. He was given the latter, which he did not want, in 1844. As a matter of fact, he had been requesting his transfer, not for four years, but since he had been in Charlieu, as the above-mentioned letters testify.

J.M.J.

Notre Dame de lHermitage, 28th December 1838

My very dear brother,

Your information about the establishments of Sémur, Perreux and Charlieu was consoling. May God continue to pour out on them his most abundant blessings.

As for you, dear friend, we will always be ready to please you and even to obey you. Show us a task at which you can remain constant and content, and we will entrust it to you right away.

It is a very sad illness, to be happy only in places where one is not. It is also a terrible mistake to go looking for any other way to do good than the one which has been entrusted to us.

Goodbye, dear Dominique; put all your confidence in Jesus and Mary and be sure that everything will work out for the glory of God and for the salvation of your soul.

As for the financial aid we are expecting for the school for the poor in Charlieu, keep praying and ask others to pray. Well- said prayers are all powerful.

Nothing new at the motherhouse, except that we have a lot of novices. All the establishments are getting along.

I have the honor to be your most devoted servant in the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Champagnat

Edition: Translation from: Lettres de Marcellin J. B. Champagnat (1789-1840) Fondateur de l?Institut des Frères Maristes, présentés par Frère Paul Sester,1985.

fonte: Daprès lexpédition autographe AFM, 111.51