Chronicles of Notre Dame du Lac
Edward Sorin, CSC -- Translated by John M. Toohey, CSC, 1895

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1854

pg 205            It is true that the sentiments of faith and of piety 
             displated by him contributed not a little to console the community 
             for the new loss; but the fears as to the impression that would be 
             made by the death of a professor of the college so soon after the 
             plague that had devastated it, were but too well founded.  Mr. 
             Devos was highly esteemed and loved by all the pupils, who greatly 
             felt his loss.
                  To make matters worse, he had hardly expired when one of the 
             best Brothers--John of the Cross, bootmaker and head of his 
             department--one of the most able, most exemplary, and best known 
             [religious] in the country, was attacked, and followed closely in 
             the footsteps of the deceased.  It was the same malady with all 
             the same symptoms.  The result was not long doubtful, and in eight 
             days the good Brother died, carrying with him the sincerest 
             regrets of the whole house, but especially of the apprentices, 
             whose chief director he had been for several years.
                  To give a correct even though incomplete view of the 
             impressions made by this unexpected death, it is necessary to 
             bring together here several considerations which, examined in