Portions of a letter to Queen Amelia of France(In the spring of 1843, Mother Theodore and Sister Mary Cecilia Bailly traveled to France to seek funds for the fledgling community that was devastated by the October 1842 fire. Thanks to Queen Amelia the visit was a success and money was donated to the sisters’ cause. This letter was dated April 28, 1844.)
“Before leaving my beloved country I wished to tell you the pleasure it gave me to receive the portrait of Your Majesty. I was writing to you when the Commissary General came to say that the ship was waiting for me. I was thus obliged to hasten to embark, as the Nashville was already under sail. In a few minutes we had left France.
“The voyage was long and perilous. On the twenty-second of December, beginning at two o’clock in the morning, there was a frightful tempest. At one time the ship was turned on end by angry waves. In this moment of danger, after the example of one of our Kings, we invoked the God of the Queen. We asked Him sadly why He let us find favor with her, if we were to perish now. He heard our supplications and reversed the ship to natural position in manner quite miraculous.” (“Journals and Letter,” p. 130)
For quick facts about the life of Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, click here.
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