#isidore-guerin — Public Fediverse posts
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Sts. Louis & Zélie Novena 2025, Day 4: Hope in Eternal Life
READING
I have the hope, and even the conviction, that our dear father was well received by God. I want my death to be like his. We’ve already had three Masses said for him. We intend to request a great number of them so that, if he has anything to atone for, he’ll quickly be delivered from Purgatory. His grave will be very near that of my two little Josephs.
Saint Zélie Martin
Letter CF 38 to her sister-in-law Céline, 3 September 1868REFLECTION
Zélie demonstrates the mature Catholic understanding of hope that navigates between presumption and despair. She can declare both her “conviction” that her father was well received by God and her intention to request many Masses “if he has anything to atone for.” This isn’t contradiction—it’s theological maturity.
What makes this spiritual balance even more remarkable is the timing: Zélie wrote this letter just ten days after burying little Joseph. In the depths of compounded grief—losing her infant son and her father within days of each other—she still maintains this delicate hope that avoids both presumption and despair.
Zélie’s hope holds both spiritual confidence and practical humility. She trusts in God’s mercy while honoring the Church’s teaching about purification. Her hope works through love, expressed in arranging Masses for the repose of her father’s soul—the same love that will soon lay him to rest near her “two little Josephs.”
PRAYER
Saints Louis and Zélie,
you who in your life as a couple and as parents
have borne witness to an exemplary Christian life,
by putting God first,
by fulfilling the duties of your state in life
and practicing the evangelical virtues,
we turn to you:Help us to have unshakable trust in God
and to abandon ourselves to His Will,
as you did through the joys,
as well as the trials, grief, and suffering
that marked your lives.Help us to love God with all our hearts,
to persevere through our daily difficulties,
and to abide in the joy and hope
that a living faith in Christ gives us.Intercede for us
(Mention your intentions here)
that we may obtain the graces we need
today and every day of our lives.Our Father…
Glory be…
Saints Louis and Zélie, pray for us.
Martin, Z & Martin, L 2011, A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885, trans. Hess, AC, ed. Renda, F, Society of St. Paul, New York.
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
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SCRIPTURE
While he was still speaking, another came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came across the desert, struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; I alone have escaped to tell you.”
Then Job arose, tore his robe, shaved his head, and fell on the ground and worshiped. He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
READING
Your letter did me good. I’m truly grateful for all your concern for me, and I thank you for it. I’m resigning myself to the will of God, although it’s very hard to lose such a pretty little girl [Hélène died 22 February 1870 at the age of five years and four months, on Marie’s tenth birthday].
Saturday night she still came downstairs to be with us. We always gave her meat broth with a little vermicelli [pasta] and barley water. She was so tired of it that the maid said to me, Friday night, that it would be better to give her a light bread soup. I listened to her. The little one ate some twice on Saturday, and she liked it so much that I gave her some again on Sunday, at noon. That’s what I regret and what I will regret my entire life. However, I don’t think that was the cause of her death because she passed away from weakness.
Sunday night she had trouble breathing, and I sent for the doctor right away, He wasn’t there and didn’t come until Monday morning. He told me the child had a mucous fever [inflammation of the mucous membranes in the digestive tract and lungs] with congested lungs, that she was in very great danger and that I shouldn’t give her anything but broth. However, he gave me permission to add a little vermicelli or semolina when I told him that she didn’t want to drink clear broth.
After he left, I looked at her sadly; her eyes were dull, there wan’t any more life in them, and I began to cry. Then she put her two little arms around me and consoled me the best she could. All day she had been saying to me, “My poor little mother’s been crying!” I spent the night with her, a very difficult night. In the morning, we asked her if she wanted to take some broth. She said yes, but she couldn’t swallow it. However, she made a supreme effort, saying to me, “If I eat it, are you going to love me better?”
Then she took it all, but afterwards she suffered terribly, and I didn’t know what was happening. She looked at a bottle of medicine the doctor had prescribed and wanted to drink it, saying that when she had drank it all, she would be cured. Then, around a quarter to ten, she said to me, “Yes, in a moment, I’m going to be cured, yes, soon….” At that moment, while I was holding her, her little head fell onto my shoulder, her eyes closed; then five minutes later she didn’t exist anymore….
That made an impression on me I’ll never forget. I didn’t expect such a sudden end, nor did my husband. When he came home and saw his poor little daughter dead, he began to sob, crying, “My little Hélène! My little Hélène!” Then together we offered her to God.
Saint Zélie Martin
Letter CF 52 from Zélie Guérin to her brother Isidore and his wife, Céline
24 February 1870PRAYER
Saints Louis and Zélie,
you who in your life as a couple and as parents
have borne witness to an exemplary Christian life,
by putting God first,
by fulfilling the duties of your state in life
and practicing the evangelical virtues,
we turn to you:Help us to have unshakable trust in God
and to abandon ourselves to His Will,
as you did through the joys,
as well as the trials, grief, and suffering
that marked your lives.Help us to love God with all our hearts,
to persevere through our daily difficulties,
and to abide in the joy and hope
that a living faith in Christ gives us.Intercede for us
(Mention your intentions here)
that we may obtain the graces we need
today and every day of our lives.Our Father…
Glory be…
Saints Louis and Zélie, pray for us.
Martin, Z 2011, A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885, Society of St. Paul, New York.
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/07/lzmnovena24-6/
#CélineGuérin #children #death #familyLife #HélèneMartin #illness #intercession #IsidoreGuérin #novena #prayer #StZélieMartin #StsLouisMartinAndZélieGuérin
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SCRIPTURE
A capable wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.READING
You know all that glitters is not gold. The main thing is to look for a good woman whose interests center on the home, who is not afraid of dirtying her hands with work, who devotes time to her appearance only as much as she has to, and who knows how to raise children to work and be holy.
Saint Zélie Martin
Letter CF 10 from Zélie Guérin to her brother Isidore
14 July 1864PRAYER
Saints Louis and Zélie,
you who in your life as a couple and as parents
have borne witness to an exemplary Christian life,
by putting God first,
by fulfilling the duties of your state in life
and practicing the evangelical virtues,
we turn to you:Help us to have unshakable trust in God
and to abandon ourselves to His Will,
as you did through the joys,
as well as the trials, grief, and suffering
that marked your lives.Help us to love God with all our hearts,
to persevere through our daily difficulties,
and to abide in the joy and hope
that a living faith in Christ gives us.Intercede for us
(Mention your intentions here)
that we may obtain the graces we need
today and every day of our lives.Our Father…
Glory be…
Saints Louis and Zélie, pray for us.
Martin, Z 2011, A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885, Society of St. Paul, New York.
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/04/lzmnovena24-3/
#children #familyLife #holiness #home #intercession #IsidoreGuérin #marriage #novena #prayer #StZélieMartin #StsLouisMartinAndZélieGuérin #work
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SCRIPTURE
He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he is ever mindful of his covenant.
He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the heritage of the nations.READING
When I think about what God has done for me and my husband, God, in whom I’ve put all my trust and in whose hands I’ve put the care of my whole life, I don’t doubt that His Divine Providence watches over His children with special care.
Saint Zélie Martin
Letter CF 1 from St. Zélie Martin to her brother Isidore Guérin
1 January 1863PRAYER
Saints Louis and Zélie,
you who in your life as a couple and as parents
have borne witness to an exemplary Christian life,
by putting God first,
by fulfilling the duties of your state in life
and practicing the evangelical virtues,
we turn to you:Help us to have unshakable trust in God
and to abandon ourselves to His Will,
as you did through the joys,
as well as the trials, grief, and suffering
that marked your lives.Help us to love God with all our hearts,
to persevere through our daily difficulties,
and to abide in the joy and hope
that a living faith in Christ gives us.Intercede for us
(Mention your intentions here)
that we may obtain the graces we need
today and every day of our lives.Our Father…
Glory be…
Saints Louis and Zélie, pray for us.
Martin, Z 2011, A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, 1863-1885, Society of St. Paul, New York.
All scripture references are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America as accessed from the Bible Gateway website.
Don’t become discouraged and give up prayer, says St. John of the Cross. We offer varying novenas to Our Lady of Mount Carmel, as well as novenas to St. Joseph, St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, and St. Edith Stein.
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/03/lzmnovena24-1/
#DivineProvidence #familyLife #God #intercession #IsidoreGuérin #novena #prayer #StsLouisMartinAndZélieGuérin #trust
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After receiving Papa’s permission, I believed I’d be able to fly to Carmel without any fears, but painful trials were still to prove my vocation. It was with trembling I confided my resolution to Uncle. He showed me great tenderness but did not grant me his permission to leave. He forbade me to speak about my vocation to him until I was seventeen. It was contrary to human prudence, he said, to have a child of fifteen enter Carmel.
This Carmelite life was, in the eyes of many, a life of mature reflection, and it would be doing a great wrong to the religious life to allow an inexperienced child to embrace it. Everybody would be talking about it, etc., etc. He even said that for him to decide to allow me to leave would require a miracle.
I saw all reasoning with him was useless and so I left, my heart plunged into the most profound bitterness. My only consolation was prayer. I begged Jesus to perform the miracle demanded, since at this price only I’d be able to answer His call.
A long time passed by before I dared speak to him again [in reality, it was only two weeks]. It was very difficult for me to go to his home, and he himself seemed to be no longer considering my vocation. I learned later on that my great sadness influenced him very much.
Before allowing any ray of hope to shine in my soul, God willed to send me a painful martyrdom lasting three days. Oh! never had I understood so well as during this trial, the sorrow of Mary and Joseph during their three-day search for the divine Child Jesus. I was in a sad desert, or rather my soul was like a fragile boat delivered up to the mercy of the waves and having no pilot. I knew Jesus was there sleeping in my boat, but the night was so black it was impossible to see Him; nothing gave me any light, not a single flash came to break the dark clouds. No doubt, lightning is a dismal light, but at least if the storm had broken out in earnest I would have been able to see Jesus for one passing moment.
But it was night! The dark night of the soul! I felt I was all alone in the garden of Gethsemane like Jesus, and I found no consolation on earth or from heaven; God Himself seemed to have abandoned me. Nature seemed to share in my bitter sadness, for during these three days the sun did not shine and the rain poured down in torrents. (I have noticed in all the serious circumstances of my life that nature always reflected the image of my soul. On days filled with tears, the heavens cried along with me; on days of joy the sun sent forth its joyful rays in profusion, and the blue skies were not obscured by a single cloud.)
Finally, on the fourth day, which happened to be a Saturday, the day consecrated to the sweet Queen of heaven, I went to see Uncle. What was my surprise when I saw him looking at me, and, without expressing any desire to speak to him, he had me come into his study!
He began by making some gentle reproaches because I appeared to be afraid of him, and then he said it wasn’t necessary to beg for a miracle, that he had only asked God to give him “a simple change of heart” and that he had been answered.
Ah! I was not tempted to beg for a miracle because the miracle had been granted; Uncle was no longer the same. Without making any allusion whatsoever to “human prudence,” he told me I was a little flower God wanted to gather, and he would no longer oppose it!
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Note: On 8 October 1887, St. Thérèse approached her uncle, St. Zélie’s brother Isidore Guérin to ask his permission to enter the Carmel of Lisieux. Thérèsian expert Bishop Guy Gaucher, O.C.D., describes this scene in his benchmark biography, Story of a Life:
All these plans came up against a major obstacle: Uncle Isidore. The Martin girls’ guardian put his veto on his niece’s desire. On Saturday, 8 October, six months after she had spoken to her father, Thérèse in trepidation entered the chemist’s study. Kindly but uncompromisingly he countered Thérèse’s tears with prudent reasoning: she was far too young for ‘that philosopher’s life.’ The whole town would be talking about it. A well-known person in Lisieux must avoid scandal. Let his niece—who undoubtedly did have a vocation—not mention it to him until she was seventeen. It would take a miracle to make him change his mind.
On the same day, Thérèse wrote to Sister Agnès [her sister, Pauline] (who had advised her to speak to him) to tell her about the failure of the interview. They had again become very close to each other. Pray for your Thérèsita. You know how much she loves you. You are her confidante. Pauline once again came to the fore and guided her young sister’s struggles. The postulant felt full of confidence, certain that God would not abandon her.
Nevertheless, for three days (from 19 to 22 October), for the first time, she experienced inner dryness, the silence of God. Night, the dark night of the soul like Jesus in his agony in the garden. I felt that I was alone, finding no consolation either on earth or from heaven. God seemed to have forsaken me!!! This was a new and bewildering experience for one who had known so much light since Christmas. She could no longer understand. Seeing her in this sad state in the parlour on Thursday, the 21st, Sister Agnès no longer held back: she wrote to her uncle. Naturally, she did not wish to argue with him, but to explain to him the situation as she saw it. In her opinion, it was much ‘more than childish fretting.’
[Uncle Isidore] Guérin had always had a high regard for his godchild. From that Saturday he changed his opinion. Let Thérèse enter Carmel!
Gaucher, G 1993, The story of a life: St. Thérèse of Lisieux, HarperSanFrancisco, San Francisco, CA.
of Lisieux, T 1996, Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, 3rd edn, translated from the French by Clarke J, ICS Publications, Washington, DC.
We always refer to the website of the Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux for the vast majority of our quotes concerning Saint Thérèse, Saint Zélie, and Saint Louis Martin. If you would like to purchase English translations for the collected works of St. Thérèse, please visit the website of our Discalced Carmelite friars at ICS Publications.
Featured image: This photo of the hands of St. Thérèse resting on her lap is a detailed image of a photographic portrait that was taken at the age of 15 in April 1888. The photo was taken in the studio of Madame Besnier, a photographer in Lisieux, not long before Thérèse entered the Carmel of Lisieux on April 9. Image credit: Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux (Fair use)
https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/06/22/tej-msa51r/
#calm #CarmelOfLisieux #darkNight #godfather #IsidoreGuérin #Jesus #miracle #permission #StThérèseOfLisieux #storm #vocation