De V. R.
De nostre petite Maison de S. Ioseph au village d'Ihonatiria és Hurons ce 27. May 1635. iour auquel le S. Esprit descendit visiblement sur les Apostres.
Tres-humble & tres-obeyssant
seruiteur en nostre Seigneur,
Iean de Brebevf.
It is through this support, and not our own efforts, that we hope one day to see here a flourishing Christianity. Indeed, their minds are docile and flexible; I see only the liberty with which they change their wives at pleasure, and some superstitions, difficult to abolish, for in other respects they have no aversion to the Faith nor to the Christian Law. They turn willingly to God in their [204] necessities; they come to get their crops blessed, before sowing them; and ask us what we desire of them. All we have to fear is our own sins and imperfections, and I above all. In truth, I feel myself extremely unworthy of this employment; but send holy ones to us, or pray to God our Lord that we may be such as he desires. A thousand entreaties for the holy sacrifices of your Reverence and of all our Fathers and Brothers.
Your Reverence's
From our little House of St. Joseph, in the village of Ihonatiria in the Huron country, this 27th of May, 1635, the day on which the Holy Spirit descended visibly upon the Apostles.
Very humble and obedient
servant in our Lord,
Jean de Brebeuf.