#stlouismartin — Public Fediverse posts

12 July: Saints Louis Martin and Marie Azelie Guerin (Not observed in 2026)

July 12
SAINTS LOUIS MARTIN AND MARIE AZELIE GUERIN
SPOUSES

Optional Memorial

Pastoral note: In the year 2026, this Optional Memorial gives way to the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Louis Martin was born in Bordeaux, on August 22, 1823. While he was a master watchmaker in Alençon, he met Marie Azelie (Zelie) Guerin, a lacemaker, born in Gandelain (St-Denis-sur-Sarthon), on December 23, 1831. They were married on July 13, 1858, and had nine children, including the future Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus. Model spouses, devoted parents, workers, attentive to the poor, always nourishing a missionary spirit, they found their strength and hope in regular attendance at Holy Mass and in deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin. After a long illness, Zelie died in Alençon on August 28, 1877. Louis, in retirement, went to Lisieux near his in-laws to ensure a better future for his five children (the other four having died in infancy). This patriarch of the family, after offering all his children to God, knew suffering and illness. He died near Evreux on July 29, 1894. They were beatified in 2008 and canonized in 2015.

From the Common of Holy Men, with the psalms of the day.

Office of Readings

The Second Reading
(Zelie et Louis Martin, Correspondance Familiale [1863 – 1885].  Paris, 2004, L1, 72, 130, 81, 110, 147, 179, 204)

From the Letters of St. Zelie Martin

We must be willing to accept generously the will of the good God

My dear friend, I am really worried about you.  Every day my husband makes sad prophecies. He knows Paris and told me that you will be exposed to temptations that, because you are not pious enough, you will not be able to overcome.  He told me that he experienced them himself, and that he needed a lot of courage to come out victoriously from all the battles. If you only knew what trials he had to go through … I beg you, my dear Isidore (Zelie’s brother), to do as I did; pray, and you will not be carried away by the current.  If you succumb once you will be lost. On the road to perdition as on the road to salvation the first step is all important; afterwards you will be carried away by the current.

When I closed the eyes of my dear little children and buried them, I really felt the pain.  It is a pain to which I have always been resigned. I do not regret the pains and the anxieties I have had to endure on their account.  Many people have said to me: “It would have been better if you had never had them.” I cannot tolerate these words.  The pains and anxieties of this life cannot be compared to the eternal happiness of my children.  After all, they have not been lost forever, life is short and full of suffering, we shall find them in heaven.

Little Therese is always well and looks very healthy.  She is very intelligent and we have very amusing conversations.  She already knows how to pray to God. Every Sunday, she goes for some part of Vespers and if, by mistake, the family forgets to bring her there she cries uncontrollably.

My sister has spoken to me a great deal about your business… I told her not to break her neck because of this, that there is only one thing to do, pray to God, because neither she, nor I, can help you in any other way.  However, He, who is never embarrassed, will rescue us from all this when He sees that we have suffered enough, and then, you will recognize that your success is not due either to your ability or to your intelligence, but to God alone, as it happens with my lace making; this conviction is very beneficial, I have experienced it myself.  You know that we are all inclined to be proud and I notice often that those who have made their fortune are, for the most part, unbearably self-important. I am not saying that I would have been like this, nor you either, but we would have been somewhat tainted by pride; it is a fact that constant prosperity leads one away from God. He never led his chosen ones along this path, they had to pass first through the crucible of suffering in order to be purified.  You are going to say that I am preaching, but no matter I don’t wish to. I think of these things very often and I share them with you; now, call that a sermon if you like!

My dear children, I must go to Vespers to pray for the intention of our dear deceased relatives.  The day will come when you will do this for me, but I must make sure that I do not have so great a need of your prayers.  I would like to become a saint but this will not be easy; there is a lot of wood to burn but it is as hard as stone. It would have been better if I had begun earlier, when it was less difficult, but anyhow “it is better late than never.”

Today is then Wednesday, the feast of the Immaculate Conception which is a great feast for me!  On this day, the Blessed Virgin truly gave me many very special graces… This year, I will go again to find the Blessed Virgin early in the morning… my only prayer will be that those that she has given me will all be saints and that I shall not be too far behind, but they must be much better than me.

Doctor Notta is very sorry that they did not operate at the beginning, as by now it is too late.  However, he seems to be saying that I can go on for a very long time like this. But more than that we put ourselves in God’s hands, who knows better than us what we need, “it is He who wounds but also heals.”  I will go to Lourdes on the first pilgrimage, and I hope that the Blessed Virgin will heal me, if that is what is needed. Let’s remain calm while we wait.

Before leaving, I will assist at the first Mass here, arriving in Le Mans at nine o’clock, still in time to attend the High Mass, after that I will come for you… At the beginning, your father was not happy that I took all three of you, but he wishes it now, and says that we cannot make enough sacrifices to obtain so great a miracle.  Even if I do not obtain it, I will never regret taking you there. We must be willing to accept generously the will of God, whatever it is, because it will always be what is best for us.

Responsory

R/.  Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, * So that you may be able to discover what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.
V/.  You must be renewed in mind and spirit, and put on the new man. * So that you may be able to discover what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.

Prayer

O God,
who gave to Saint Louis and Marie Zelie
the grace to lead a life of holiness
as Christian spouses and parents,
grant that, through their intercession and example,
we may be able to love and serve you faithfully,
living worthily our own vocation.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Catholic Church 1993, Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Rev. and augm.), Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome.

Quote of the day, 23 May: St. Zélie Martin

My dear Pauline,

Today is the beautiful Feast of the Ascension and I’m taking the opportunity to write to you. This will be the last time I write before you leave since Mademoiselle Pauline will bring you home May 31. We only have to go eight more days without seeing each other. Marie talks about it nonstop, but she’s ready to cry when she thinks of you going back to school. However, we must resign ourselves to it. Happiness can’t last forever.

Your vacation comes just at the right time. At the moment, they’re getting ready for some big celebrations in Alençon for the occasion of an Exposition. They’ll begin on Pentecost Sunday, that is, the day after your arrival. There will be fireworks, balloons, a torchlight procession every night for a week, and a thousand other things that I don’t have time to tell you. You’ve never seen anything like it in Alençon. As for me, all this doesn’t amuse me, but for you, it will be different.

Marie went to the eight o’clock Mass this morning. She was a little tired when she returned. I just made her lie down. Now we don’t prevent her from eating any more. However, we mustn’t move too quickly yet. She stays up almost all day.

The whole family is celebrating your arrival. We make Céline do everything we want her to do by saying to her, “If you do this, Pauline will come.”

A week from Monday we’ll go by carriage to see little Thérèse. She’s very strong now. I saw her last Thursday. Her wet nurse brought her, but she no longer wants to stay with us. She let out piercing screams when she didn’t see the wet nurse anymore. So Louise had to take her to the market where “little Rose” was selling her butter. There was no other way of handling it.

As soon as she saw her wet nurse, she looked at her and started laughing. Then she didn’t breathe another word. She stayed like that, selling butter with all the good women, until noon! As for me, I can’t hold her for a long time without getting very tired; she weighs fourteen pounds. She’ll be very good and even very pretty later on.

Your father leaves Tuesday on a pilgrimage to Chartres (this pilgrimage took place May 27-28). He won’t be back until Wednesday during the night.

Goodbye, my dear Pauline, I hug you with all my heart.

Saint Zélie Martin

CF102 from St. Zélie to her daughter Pauline
22 May 1873

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.

Featured image: A composite photo of Saints Zélie and Louis Martin, created from two separate photographs. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites (by permission).

Quote of the day, 30 March: St. Thérèse

“Look at Jesus in His Face … There you will see how He loves us.”

Thérèse is among that great crowd of witnesses—not eyewitnesses, but believers—who look upon Jesus as He dies on the Cross. She deeply understands that only Love can make sense of this event.

In a letter to her sister Céline on 4 April 1889 (LT 87), Thérèse writes:

“Your letter gave great sadness to my soul! … Poor little Papa! … No, the thoughts of Jesus are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways … He is offering us a chalice as bitter as our feeble nature can bear! … Let us not withdraw our lips from this chalice prepared by the hand of Jesus … Let us see life as it really is … […] To suffer in peace it is enough to will all that Jesus wills … To be the spouse of Jesus we must resemble Jesus, and Jesus is all bloody, He is crowned with thorns! … […] The canticle of suffering united to His sufferings is what delights His Heart the most! … Jesus is on fire with love for us … Look at His adorable Face! … Look at His eyes lifeless and lowered! … Look at His wounds … Look at Jesus in His Face … There you will see how He loves us.”

To better understand certain expressions in this letter, it is important to know that on that day, Thursday, 4 April, the liturgy celebrated the First Vespers of the Feast of the Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which at the time was observed on the Friday of the fourth week of Lent.

Thérèse experienced this liturgy in Carmel, where she had been for nearly a year. Her father, Louis Martin—the Poor little Papa—had been unwell for months, showing alarming signs of decline. It had begun with his disappearance on 23 June 1888, followed by a relapse on 12 August. From that point on, his condition only worsened. On 12 February 1889, he suffered another episode, this time with hallucinations, and was admitted to the Bon Sauveur Hospital in Caen, where he would remain for three years.

For all the Martin sisters, the shock was devastating. Thérèse was deeply affected but did not give way to depression. She faced the trial with astonishing courage, drawing strength and light from her faith.

This letter, like many others, bears witness to this. For several years, her correspondence frequently returned to the themes of suffering and the cross. The devotion to the Holy Face, which was deeply present both in her family and in the Lisieux Carmel, was something she lived fully; the face of the Crucified was ever present in her life.

Father Robert Arcas, o.c.d.

Carmelite Online Retreat, Lent 2025 — Holy Week meditation

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: The crucifixion of Christ is the central window in the Corona Chapel or Beckett’s Crown in Canterbury Cathedral. The window dates from 1200; the center panel was fully recreated in 1853 and the typological scenes are the original stained glass from the medieval period. Image credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. / Flickr (Some rights reserved)

Quote of the day, 17 March: The Virgin of the Smile

Did you know?

The statue known as the Virgin of the Smile is a copy of a gilded silver statue created for the church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris by Edmé Bouchardon, sculptor to the king, in 1734. The original statue had been fashioned from pieces of silverware donated by parishioners and was affectionately nicknamed “Our Lady of the Old Silverware.”

In 1735 the statue was reproduced in a painting on canvas by the artist Chevallier, and later in an engraving by the engraver Dominique Sornique in 1744.

After Bouchardon’s statue disappeared during the French Revolution, it was replaced in 1832 by a new silver statue made by the goldsmith Choiselat, modeled after the engraving.

The Virgin of the Smile that belonged to the Martin family is a cast made from this statue, with several additions, including the globe and the serpent.

The statue was given to Louis Martin by Mademoiselle Félicité Baudouin, a young woman of Alençon, when he established himself there as a watchmaker. It was placed along the central walkway of the Pavilion, Louis Martin’s place of meditation and leisure.

After his marriage to Zélie, the statue occupied a place at the very heart of the home, and the family prayed daily at its feet. During the month of May—the month dedicated to Mary—the statue received special honors and was placed at the center of a small oratory arranged in Marie’s bedroom. Zélie held this statue in particular devotion, for through its intercession she believed she had received many graces.

The Discalced Carmelite Nuns of Lisieux

Explanation by the Carmelite nuns of Lisieux, Facebook post, 13 May 2020.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: Les Buissonnets – Virgin of the Smile, Lisieux, France. Image credit: Jim, the Photographer / Flickr (Some rights reserved)

Quote of the day, 8 October: St. Louis Martin

My dear Friend,

I won’t be able to arrive in Alençon until Monday. It seems like a long time to me, and I’m longing to be with you.

Needless to say, your letter made me very happy, except I see that you’ve tired yourself out far too much. So I strongly recommend calm and moderation, above all in your work. I have some orders from the Compagnie Lyonnaise; once again, don’t worry so much. We’ll manage, with God’s help, to build a good little company.

I had the happiness of receiving Communion at Notre-Dame des Victoires, which is like a little heaven on earth. I also lit a candle for the intention of our entire family.

I kiss you with all my heart, while waiting for the happiness of being with you again. I hope that Marie and Pauline are being very good!

Your husband and true friend, who loves you for life.

Saint Louis Martin

Letter to St. Zélie Guérin Martin
From Paris, 8 October 1863

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.

Featured image: Saint Louis Martin at age 58. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites (By permission)

#familyLife #laceMaking #NotreDameDesVictoires #StLouisMartin #StZélieGuérin

Quote of the day, 16 September: St. Louis Martin

Dear Marie,

I have a moment and I’m taking advantage of it to send you a few lines, while Fr. Marie is walking in Scutari. We’re feeling very well and find ourselves wonderfully situated in this lovely private home which the Vincentian Fathers recommended to us.

We would have left for Smyrna today, but the boat service is disorganized, and we’ll have to wait until Thursday or Friday.

Now what can I tell you about the beautiful city of Constantinople? I’ve been all over the city, and the more I see, the more I admire it. There are some magnificent things, and we’ve visited several mosques, of which the most beautiful is certainly Saint Sophie’s in Stamboul; it was built by Constantine the Great in 325.

The basilica was completely destroyed by fire in 532. Emperor Justinian I rebuilt it, and it is to him that this building owes its current form. Justinian wanted this monument to be the most enduring and the most magnificent of all time. The entire Empire was stripped in order to decorate it.

The Grand Bazaar in Constantinople is a curious thing. This complex labyrinth forms a city within a city with its streets, alleyways, passageways, and intersections.

Each street is assigned a specialty. The Grand Bazaar closes every evening before sundown and doesn’t open until nine o’clock in the morning.

On Fridays, the Turkish shops are closed, on Saturday, it’s the Jews’ turn, and on Sunday, it’s the same thing for the Christians.

We visited the Cistern of Asparis; it rests on 64 columns and was built under Leo the Great.

Now, my first, my big girl, my diamond, let’s talk a bit about our little affairs. In rereading your last letter, I see that what you’re doing couldn’t be better while I’m not there. So continue, and you’ll make me happy. My poor big girl, how I would like to have you with during my entire beautiful journey!…

Tell my dear “little Paulin” [Sr. Agnès, Pauline Martin] that I think of her often, too, and I thank God for having given her such a lofty vocation. Thank her well for me for her lovely letter, and also don’t forget to pay my humble respects to Madame Marie de Gonzague [the prioress].

We expect to be in Athens on Sunday, and from there we’re going to Naples. Only then am I intending to go look for news from all of you at the Post Office General Delivery.

Give a big, big hug for me to my Léonie, Céline, and my Queen [Thérèse]. As for my beautiful little Pearl [Pauline], sadly, it’s impossible to pass through the grille! Finally, say many kind things to your uncle and aunt [Isidore Guérin and his wife Céline], as well as to Jeanne and Marie [cousins, the daughters of Isidore and Céline]. A little pat on Tom’s head, the brave, faithful dog. Is he still crying for me?

Your father who loves you.

P.-S. You did well to give some pears. Give, give always and make some people happy.

Saint Louis Martin

Letter to Marie Martin
Sent from Constantinople, 16 September 1885

Note: On this date in 1885, St. Louis Martin wrote to his daughter Marie from Constantinople, where he was traveling on pilgrimage with a priest to Constantinople, Athens, and Rome. In his letter, he praised Marie for her excellent management of the household during his absence and shared detailed descriptions of the remarkable sights he had witnessed.

Learn more about the members of the Guérin and Martin families

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.

Featured image: Detail from Deësis (Christ with the Virgin Mary and John the Baptist), c. 1261, mosaic, imperial enclosure, south gallery, Hagia Sophia, Istanbul. Image credit: Myrabella / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain).

#familyLife #HagiaSophia #MarieMartin #StLouisMartin #TomTheSpaniel

12 July: Saints Louis Martin and Marie Azelie Guerin

July 12
SAINTS LOUIS MARTIN AND MARIE AZELIE GUERIN
SPOUSES

Optional Memorial

Louis Martin was born in Bordeaux, on August 22, 1823. While he was a master watchmaker in Alençon, he met Marie Azelie (Zelie) Guerin, a lacemaker, born in Gandelain (St-Denis-sur-Sarthon), on December 23, 1831. They were married on July 13, 1858, and had nine children, including the future Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus. Model spouses, devoted parents, workers, attentive to the poor, always nourishing a missionary spirit, they found their strength and hope in regular attendance at Holy Mass and in deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin. After a long illness, Zelie died in Alençon on August 28, 1877. Louis, in retirement, went to Lisieux near his in-laws to ensure a better future for his five children (the other four having died in infancy). This patriarch of the family, after offering all his children to God, knew suffering and illness. He died near Evreux on July 29, 1894. They were beatified in 2008 and canonized in 2015.

From the Common of Holy Men, with the psalms of the day.

Office of Readings

The Second Reading
(Zelie et Louis Martin, Correspondance Familiale [1863 – 1885].  Paris, 2004, L1, 72, 130, 81, 110, 147, 179, 204)

From the Letters of St. Zelie Martin

We must be willing to accept generously the will of the good God

My dear friend, I am really worried about you.  Every day my husband makes sad prophecies. He knows Paris and told me that you will be exposed to temptations that, because you are not pious enough, you will not be able to overcome.  He told me that he experienced them himself, and that he needed a lot of courage to come out victoriously from all the battles. If you only knew what trials he had to go through … I beg you, my dear Isidore (Zelie’s brother), to do as I did; pray, and you will not be carried away by the current.  If you succumb once you will be lost. On the road to perdition as on the road to salvation the first step is all important; afterwards you will be carried away by the current.

When I closed the eyes of my dear little children and buried them, I really felt the pain.  It is a pain to which I have always been resigned. I do not regret the pains and the anxieties I have had to endure on their account.  Many people have said to me: “It would have been better if you had never had them.” I cannot tolerate these words.  The pains and anxieties of this life cannot be compared to the eternal happiness of my children.  After all, they have not been lost forever, life is short and full of suffering, we shall find them in heaven.

Little Therese is always well and looks very healthy.  She is very intelligent and we have very amusing conversations.  She already knows how to pray to God. Every Sunday, she goes for some part of Vespers and if, by mistake, the family forgets to bring her there she cries uncontrollably.

My sister has spoken to me a great deal about your business… I told her not to break her neck because of this, that there is only one thing to do, pray to God, because neither she, nor I, can help you in any other way.  However, He, who is never embarrassed, will rescue us from all this when He sees that we have suffered enough, and then, you will recognize that your success is not due either to your ability or to your intelligence, but to God alone, as it happens with my lace making; this conviction is very beneficial, I have experienced it myself.  You know that we are all inclined to be proud and I notice often that those who have made their fortune are, for the most part, unbearably self-important. I am not saying that I would have been like this, nor you either, but we would have been somewhat tainted by pride; it is a fact that constant prosperity leads one away from God. He never led his chosen ones along this path, they had to pass first through the crucible of suffering in order to be purified.  You are going to say that I am preaching, but no matter I don’t wish to. I think of these things very often and I share them with you; now, call that a sermon if you like!

My dear children, I must go to Vespers to pray for the intention of our dear deceased relatives.  The day will come when you will do this for me, but I must make sure that I do not have so great a need of your prayers.  I would like to become a saint but this will not be easy; there is a lot of wood to burn but it is as hard as stone. It would have been better if I had begun earlier, when it was less difficult, but anyhow “it is better late than never.”

Today is then Wednesday, the feast of the Immaculate Conception which is a great feast for me!  On this day, the Blessed Virgin truly gave me many very special graces… This year, I will go again to find the Blessed Virgin early in the morning… my only prayer will be that those that she has given me will all be saints and that I shall not be too far behind, but they must be much better than me.

Doctor Notta is very sorry that they did not operate at the beginning, as by now it is too late.  However, he seems to be saying that I can go on for a very long time like this. But more than that we put ourselves in God’s hands, who knows better than us what we need, “it is He who wounds but also heals.”  I will go to Lourdes on the first pilgrimage, and I hope that the Blessed Virgin will heal me, if that is what is needed. Let’s remain calm while we wait.

Before leaving, I will assist at the first Mass here, arriving in Le Mans at nine o’clock, still in time to attend the High Mass, after that I will come for you… At the beginning, your father was not happy that I took all three of you, but he wishes it now, and says that we cannot make enough sacrifices to obtain so great a miracle.  Even if I do not obtain it, I will never regret taking you there. We must be willing to accept generously the will of God, whatever it is, because it will always be what is best for us.

Responsory

R/.  Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, * So that you may be able to discover what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.
V/.  You must be renewed in mind and spirit, and put on the new man. * So that you may be able to discover what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.

Prayer

O God,
who gave to Saint Louis and Marie Zelie
the grace to lead a life of holiness
as Christian spouses and parents,
grant that, through their intercession and example,
we may be able to love and serve you faithfully,
living worthily our own vocation.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Catholic Church 1993, Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Rev. and augm.), Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome.

#ChristianSpouses #DiscalcedCarmelite #LiturgyOfTheHours #optionalMemorial #StLouisMartin #StZélieGuérin

Sts. Louis & Zélie Novena 2025: “I always hope!”

Celebrating the Jubilee of Hope 2025
July 3–11, 2025

Introduction

“I always hope,” wrote Saint Zélie Martin in August 1868. This novena offers nine quotes from her family correspondence between 1865 and 1877 that demonstrate the virtue of hope at different moments in her life as wife of Saint Louis and mother of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.

Pope Francis proclaimed 2025 as a Jubilee of Hope. As he writes:

“In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring. Even so, uncertainty about the future may at times give rise to conflicting feelings, ranging from confident trust to apprehensiveness, from serenity to anxiety, from firm conviction to hesitation and doubt…. For all of us, may the Jubilee be an opportunity to be renewed in hope” (Spes non confundit, 1).

Through Zélie’s authentic words, we witness hope lived in ordinary family life marked by extraordinary trials: the deaths of four children and her own terminal illness. Her hope was never naive optimism but unshakeable trust that deepened through suffering—the same “little way” of trust she passed on to her youngest daughter.

Each day includes a quote from Zélie’s letters, a brief reflection, and the novena prayer seeking Saints Louis and Zélie’s intercession for our own growth in hope.

Novena 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.

Pray each day with Sts. Louis & Zélie
Join us each day as our novena unfolds

• Day 1
  Hope in Prayer and Intercession
• Day 2
  Hope Against All Odds
• Day 3
  Hope in the Midst of Loss
• Day 4
  Hope in Eternal Life
• Day 5
  Hope When Life Feels Uncertain
• Day 6
  Hope in the Darkest Trial
• Day 7
  Hope in the Cross
• Day 8
  Hope in God’s Timing
• Day 9
  Hope Beyond Death

Our novena prayer to Saints Louis and Zélie comes from the Shrine of Saints Louis and Zélie in Alençon, France (Imprimatur +Jacques Habert, Bishop of Séez, 26 May 2016).

All scripture references in this novena 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.

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.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

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.

Let us unite in prayer

#familyLife #hope #intercession #novena #prayer #StLouisMartin #StZélieMartin

Quote of the day, 13 April: St. Louis Martin

My incomparable Father,

What Céline tells us is so like you! Ah, what a father we have! Truly, you are one of a kind… and so I’m not surprised that God is calling all your children to Himself, this father who cannot be matched! You are so precious to His heart that He cannot help but look upon you—and all who are yours—with a love beyond compare.

How our dear mother [St. Zélie] must be smiling down at you. How joyful she must be to see her little boat so well steered by you, guiding us all toward heaven.

O best of fathers, how great our responsibility will be if we do not become saints—if we do not follow in the path of your generosity. Ah, how Jesus will repay you a hundredfold for the lily you offer Him today—barely opened, yet full of freshness and purity.

Oh, your crown in heaven! My beloved Father, I see it already—radiant and beautiful. Ah, pray that your diamond not be too pale beside such glory.

I can say no more. You fill my heart—I am entirely yours.
Our Mother [Prioress Marie de Gonzague, O.C.D.] couldn’t help but weep as she read Céline’s account.
Ah! What a father you are!!

Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, O.C.D.
(Marie Martin)

Letter from Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart to her father, St. Louis Martin, 9 April 1888

Note: St. Thérèse entered the Carmel of Lisieux on the Feast of the Annunciation, which was deferred to Monday, April 9 in the year 1888 because March 25 was Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord.

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. 

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: St. Thérèse outside the Lisieux Carmel. Image credit: Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. / Flickr (Some rights reserved)

⬦ Reflection Question ⬦
What can you offer God this Holy Week with purity, generosity, and love?
⬦ Join the conversation in the comments.

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Quote of the day, 9 February: St. Thérèse

It was December 25, 1886, that I received the grace of leaving my childhood, in a word, the grace of my complete conversion. We had come back from Midnight Mass where I had the happiness of receiving the strong and powerful God.

Upon arriving at Les Buissonnets, I used to love to take my shoes from the chimney corner and examine the presents in them; this old custom had given us so much joy in our youth that Céline wanted to continue treating me as a baby since I was the youngest in the family. Papa had always loved to see my happiness and listen to my cries of delight as I drew each surprise from the magic shoes, and my dear king’s gaiety increased my own happiness very much.

However, Jesus desired to show me that I was to give up the defects of my childhood and so He withdrew its innocent pleasures. He permitted Papa, tired out after the Midnight Mass, to experience annoyance when seeing my shoes at the fireplace, and that he speak those words which pierced my heart: “Well, fortunately, this will be the last year!”

I was going upstairs, at the time, to remove my hat, and Céline, knowing how sensitive I was and seeing the tears already glistening in my eyes, wanted to cry too, for she loved me very much and understood my grief.

She said, “Oh, Thérèse, don’t go downstairs; it would cause you too much grief to look at your slippers right now!”

But Thérèse was no longer the same; Jesus had changed her heart!

Forcing back my tears, I descended the stairs rapidly; controlling the poundings of my heart, I took my slippers and placed them in front of Papa, and withdrew all the objects joyfully. I had the happy appearance of a queen.

Having regained his own cheerfulness, Papa was laughing; Céline believed it was all a dream! Fortunately, it was a sweet reality; Thérèse had discovered once again the strength of soul which she had lost at the age of four and a half, and she was to preserve it forever!

On that night of light began the third period of my life, the most beautiful and the most filled with graces from heaven. The work I had been unable to do in ten years was done by Jesus in one instant, contenting himself with my good will which was never lacking.

I could say to Him like His apostles: “Master, I fished all night and caught nothing” [Lk 5:5]. More merciful to me than He was to His disciples, Jesus took the net Himself, cast it, and drew it in filled with fish. He made me a fisher of souls.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Manuscript A, folio 45 r°–v°

Note: St. Thérèse mentions “the strength of soul which she had lost at the age of four and a half.” Saint Zélie Martin died when St. Thérèse was aged four and a half. “After she had a hemorrhage, it was at the very beginning of Tuesday, August 28, 1877, at exactly thirty minutes after midnight, after a very short agony, that Madame Martin died gently.” Our thanks to expert Maureen O’Riordan for providing these details of St. Zélie’s precious death.

Thérèse & Foley, M 2005, Story of a Soul: The autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Study edn, translated from the French by Clarke, J, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: Photo 3 in the series of photographs of St. Thérèse was taken by Monsieur Poupet in February 1886, when Thérèse was 13 years old. Her Christmas conversion occurred several months later, on the night of December 25, 1886. This photograph was donated to the Carmel of Lisieux in 1917 by the family of Mr. Poupet, a photographer from Alençon. The photograph had been retouched by Céline in gouache and pencil but was later returned to its original state by professional restorers. Image credit: © Archives, Carmel of Lisieux via Discalced Carmelites (All rights reserved)

#CélineMartin #charity #Christmas #conversion #saveSouls #sinners #soul #StThérèseOfLisieux #StZélieMartin #StLouisMartin #tears

Quote of the day, 3 December: Céline Martin

My dear little Jeanne,

You can write to my uncle (he’s in Evreux) that the day really wasn’t bad. This morning, there was the same restlessness as yesterday—no shouting, but laughter for one or two hours, crying, clapping, and conversations as if I were in his room and he was responding to something I said. This afternoon a complete calm, even sleep, he said that of course, I had made him take something to make him sleep. He wanted to be alone. There were loud shouts and again he was having conversations with himself.

Dear little Sister, the Cross is heavy, but Jesus is there. He carried it for us—why shouldn’t we carry it for Him?

Our Lord told Blessed Margaret Mary [Alacoque] that the Cross is the most precious pledge of His love that He can give us in this life.

St. Francis Xavier said: The absence of the Cross is the absence of life!

How vile the earth seems to those who see it from Heaven!

Dearest little sister, life is short.

Our little boat is being rocked by a violent storm right now; furious waves are submerging it and threatening to swallow it whole. But the dear Captain—Jesus—will not let it sink. Soon—the port… Soon—joy, rest, happiness! …

Right now, we’re not giving Jesus pearls, but diamonds and jewels of every kind. It’s up to us to draw from the inexhaustible source—and that source is suffering, bitterness. This treasure is the Cross!

Your little sister who loves you,

Céline

Céline Martin

Family correspondence, 21 or 22 January 1889

Note: In February 1889, Saint Louis Martin was committed to the Bon Sauveur Mental Hospital in Caen, France. This challenging chapter in the saint’s life was preceded by difficult days and months for his family. Much like dementia patients today, St. Louis wandered away from home and disappeared, causing great concern. This letter from Céline Martin to her cousin Jeanne Guérin, asking her to contact her father—Saint Zélie’s brother, Isidore—provides a glimpse into the struggles Céline faced while caring for her saintly father during this trying time.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: Lost memories … is the title of this haunting photo by Czech photographer Tomas Vimmr in Prague. Vimmr excels in black-and-white street photography. Image credit: Tomas Vimmr / Flickr (Some rights reserved)

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October 31 [1887] was the day set for the trip to Bayeux. I left alone with Papa, my heart filled with hope, but also rather scared at the thought of meeting the bishop. For the first time in my life, I was to make a visit unaccompanied by my sisters and this visit was to a bishop! [Flavien-Abel-Antoinin Hugonin, Bishop of Bayeux].

I had never had any reason to speak unless in answer to questions addressed to me, and now I had to explain the purpose of my visit, to develop the reasons that made me seek entrance into Carmel; in a word, I was to show the firmness of my vocation.

Ah! what that trip cost me! God had to give me a very special grace to overcome my timidity. It’s also very true that “love never finds impossibilities, because it believes everything is possible, everything is permitted” [The Imitation of Christ, III, 5:4]. It was surely only love of Jesus that could help me surmount these difficulties and the ones that followed, for it pleased Him to have me buy my vocation with very great trials. …

The bishop was walking on the balcony with two priests. I saw Father Révérony [the diocesan Vicar General] say a few words to him and return with him to where we were waiting in his study. There, three enormous armchairs were set before the fireplace in which a bright fire was crackling away.

When he saw His Excellency enter, Papa knelt down by my side to receive his blessing; the bishop had Papa take one of the armchairs, and then he sat down facing him. Father Révérony wanted me to take the one in the middle; I excused myself politely, but he insisted, telling me to show if I knew how to obey.

And so I took it without further reflection and was mortified to see him take a chair while I was buried in a huge armchair that could hold four like me comfortably (more comfortably, in fact, for I was far from being so!).

I had hoped that Papa would speak; however, he told me to explain the object of our visit to the bishop. I did so as eloquently as possible and His Excellency, accustomed to eloquence, did not appear touched by my reasons; in their stead, a single word from the father superior would have been much better, but I didn’t have it and this did not help me in any way.

The bishop asked me if it had been a long time since I desired to enter Carmel.

“Oh! yes, Bishop, a very long time.”

“Come, now,” said Father Révérony with a smile, “you can’t say it is fifteen years since you’ve had the desire.”

Smiling, I said: “That’s true, but there aren’t too many years to subtract because I wanted to be a religious since the dawn of my reason, and I wanted Carmel as soon as I knew about it. I find all the aspirations of my soul are fulfilled in this order.” …

The bishop, believing he’d please Papa, tried to have me stay with him a few more years, and he was very much surprised and edified at seeing him take my part, interceding for me to obtain permission to fly away at fifteen.

And still, everything was futile. The bishop said an interview with the superior of Carmel [Father Delatroëtte] was indispensable before making his decision. I couldn’t possibly have heard anything that would cause me more pain than this because I was aware of his formal opposition.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Manuscript A, 53v, 54v

Thérèse & Foley, M 2005, Story of a Soul: The autobiography of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Study edn, translated from the French by Clarke, J, ICS Publications, Washington DC.

Featured image: Dall-E depicts Normandy in the 19th century on a rainy October day. Image credit: Carmelite Quotes (AI artwork)

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Louis and Zélie Martin were beatified and canonized purely as a married couple, not as individuals. A married couple canonized whose daughter moreover has been declared a saint is a scenario unique in the history of the Church.

The holiness of Zélie and Louis Martin can be said to be extremely well attested. Their daughter Thérèse, one of the great figures of the modern church, has been proclaimed a “Doctor of the Church” for her profound insights into the spiritual journey.

Because of Thérèse, her parents, and indeed her whole family, especially her elder sisters Pauline and Céline—Mother Agnès and Sr. Genéviève respectively—have become well-known figures in the Catholic world also. Odd one out Léonie has now joined her elder sisters in that role and even tends to outshine them. Léonie is now [a Servant of God] and her cause of Beatification was introduced on February 22, 2020 [date of the formal closure of the diocesan inquiry].

As Jesus says: “A tree is recognized by its fruits” (Cf. Mt 7:17–20). Thérèse herself led the movement to recognize the holiness of her parents when she wrote in her autobiography: “I was blessed in having saints for parents.” Again she wrote, “I have only to look at my father to see how the saints pray” (Cf. Ms A, 09v–11v).

Is this latest model of Christian family life too far beyond our reach? Perhaps. Certainly, many people will regard it so. And yet in an age where families are marked by frequent tension and domestic violence, an attractive alternative is all the more necessary.

Our age is not radically different from nineteenth-century France. The Martins would have been aware of the anti-Christian and anti-marriage ideas current in the France of their day. In the intervening 150 years, such attitudes have only hardened. The prevailing attacks on Christian family life have taken an even more revolutionary turn in our day.

In canonizing Zélie and Louis Martin the Church places before us the ideal of strong Christian family life. It’s a high standard. Yet we can reflect that if athletes never raised the bar above a certain height, no records would ever be broken and mediocrity would prevail all-round.

Timothy (Tadgh) Tierney, O.C.D.

Saints Zélie and Louis Martin: Parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Introduction

Featured image: Detail from the banner created for the canonization of Sts. Zélie and Louis Martin. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites

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Our family was what is called a patriarchal family. Our parents, who in their youth had both considered entering religious life, kept a very fervent practice of the Christian life in their marriage.

My father absolutely made it a law to close his jewelry store on Sundays—despite the practice of other merchants in this specialty to the contrary and despite the urgings of his friends, who pointed out that he was losing the business of Sunday shoppers.

He was, moreover, quite devoted to religious practices and willingly sought the company of clergymen; and, out of respect for the priesthood, greeted all priests he met, even those he didn’t know.

Our mother was very pious and had affiliated herself with the Third Order of St. Francis. She applied herself to the education of her children to form them in practices of piety and thoughts of the faith.

Servant of God Léonie Martin
Sister Françoise-Thérèse, V.H.M.

Witness 7, Question 11
Ordinary Process for the Beatification of Thérèse of the Child Jesus

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: This image of Saints Louis and Zélie Martin seated together is actually a composite image created from two different photographs of Louis and Zélie. Image credit: Discalced Carmelites

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The good God gave me a father and a mother more worthy of heaven than of earth.

St. Thérèse of Lisieux
Letter 261

On July 12, we celebrate the feast day of Saints Louis and Zélie Martin, the parents of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. Their lives exemplify the possibility of receiving the grace to lead a life of holiness as Christian spouses and parents. Through their intercession and example, they show us how to love and serve God faithfully, living worthily our own vocation.

Louis Martin was born on 22 August 1823 in Bordeaux. After settling in Alençon, he became a skilled watchmaker. In 1858, he married Azélie Guérin, a talented lace-maker born on 23 December 1831. The couple had nine children, five of whom survived to adulthood and embraced religious life. The surviving children were: Marie, Pauline, Léonie, Céline, and Thérèse.

The Martins’ home was a nurturing environment where faith was paramount. Louis and Zélie were dedicated to their children’s education and spiritual formation. Despite the loss of four children and Zélie’s battle with cancer, their faith never wavered.

Zélie was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1865 but continued to manage her business and care for her family. She passed away on 28 August 1877, leaving a lasting legacy of strength and devotion.

After Zélie’s death, Louis moved to Lisieux to support his daughters. He faced significant health challenges, including cerebral arteriosclerosis. Despite his struggles, Louis remained a pillar of faith for his family until his death on 29 July 1894.

The lives of Saints Louis and Zélie Martin continue to inspire us. Their unwavering faith, deep love, and dedication to their family are a testament to their sanctity. They remind us that holiness can be found in the everyday moments of family life.

As we honor Saints Louis and Zélie Martin, let us reflect on their example and seek to emulate their faith and love in our own lives. May their lives teach us to love and serve God faithfully, and to live worthily our own vocation. Join us in celebrating their feast day and drawing inspiration from their remarkable journey.

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 detail of the 1925 window in the baptistry of the Basilica of Notre-Dame of the Assumption in Alençon was designed and executed by the native Alençon stained glass artist Louis Barillet; it represents the baptism of the Servant of God.  Image credit: GFreihalter / Wikimedia Commons (Some rights reserved)

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July 12
SAINTS LOUIS MARTIN AND MARIE AZELIE GUERIN
SPOUSES

Optional Memorial

Louis Martin was born in Bordeaux, on August 22, 1823. While he was a master watchmaker in Alençon, he met Marie Azelie (Zelie) Guerin, a lacemaker, born in Gandelain (St-Denis-sur-Sarthon), on December 23, 1831. They were married on July 13, 1858, and had nine children, including the future Saint Therese of the Infant Jesus. Model spouses, devoted parents, workers, attentive to the poor, always nourishing a missionary spirit, they found their strength and hope in regular attendance at Holy Mass and in deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin. After a long illness, Zelie died in Alençon on August 28, 1877. Louis, in retirement, went to Lisieux near his in-laws to ensure a better future for his five children (the other four having died in infancy). This patriarch of the family, after offering all his children to God, knew suffering and illness. He died near Evreux on July 29, 1894. They were beatified in 2008 and canonized in 2015.

From the Common of Holy Men, with the psalms of the day.

Office of Readings

The Second Reading
(Zelie et Louis Martin, Correspondance Familiale [1863 – 1885].  Paris, 2004, L1, 72, 130, 81, 110, 147, 179, 204)

From the Letters of St. Zelie Martin

We must be willing to accept generously the will of the good God

My dear friend, I am really worried about you.  Every day my husband makes sad prophecies. He knows Paris and told me that you will be exposed to temptations that, because you are not pious enough, you will not be able to overcome.  He told me that he experienced them himself, and that he needed a lot of courage to come out victoriously from all the battles. If you only knew what trials he had to go through … I beg you, my dear Isidore (Zelie’s brother), to do as I did; pray, and you will not be carried away by the current.  If you succumb once you will be lost. On the road to perdition as on the road to salvation the first step is all important; afterwards you will be carried away by the current.

When I closed the eyes of my dear little children and buried them, I really felt the pain.  It is a pain to which I have always been resigned. I do not regret the pains and the anxieties I have had to endure on their account.  Many people have said to me: “It would have been better if you had never had them.” I cannot tolerate these words.  The pains and anxieties of this life cannot be compared to the eternal happiness of my children.  After all, they have not been lost forever, life is short and full of suffering, we shall find them in heaven.

Little Therese is always well and looks very healthy.  She is very intelligent and we have very amusing conversations.  She already knows how to pray to God. Every Sunday, she goes for some part of Vespers and if, by mistake, the family forgets to bring her there she cries uncontrollably.

My sister has spoken to me a great deal about your business… I told her not to break her neck because of this, that there is only one thing to do, pray to God, because neither she, nor I, can help you in any other way.  However, He, who is never embarrassed, will rescue us from all this when He sees that we have suffered enough, and then, you will recognize that your success is not due either to your ability or to your intelligence, but to God alone, as it happens with my lace making; this conviction is very beneficial, I have experienced it myself.  You know that we are all inclined to be proud and I notice often that those who have made their fortune are, for the most part, unbearably self-important. I am not saying that I would have been like this, nor you either, but we would have been somewhat tainted by pride; it is a fact that constant prosperity leads one away from God. He never led his chosen ones along this path, they had to pass first through the crucible of suffering in order to be purified.  You are going to say that I am preaching, but no matter I don’t wish to. I think of these things very often and I share them with you; now, call that a sermon if you like!

My dear children, I must go to Vespers to pray for the intention of our dear deceased relatives.  The day will come when you will do this for me, but I must make sure that I do not have so great a need of your prayers.  I would like to become a saint but this will not be easy; there is a lot of wood to burn but it is as hard as stone. It would have been better if I had begun earlier, when it was less difficult, but anyhow “it is better late than never.”

Today is then Wednesday, the feast of the Immaculate Conception which is a great feast for me!  On this day, the Blessed Virgin truly gave me many very special graces… This year, I will go again to find the Blessed Virgin early in the morning… my only prayer will be that those that she has given me will all be saints and that I shall not be too far behind, but they must be much better than me.

Doctor Notta is very sorry that they did not operate at the beginning, as by now it is too late.  However, he seems to be saying that I can go on for a very long time like this. But more than that we put ourselves in God’s hands, who knows better than us what we need, “it is He who wounds but also heals.”  I will go to Lourdes on the first pilgrimage, and I hope that the Blessed Virgin will heal me, if that is what is needed. Let’s remain calm while we wait.

Before leaving, I will assist at the first Mass here, arriving in Le Mans at nine o’clock, still in time to attend the High Mass, after that I will come for you… At the beginning, your father was not happy that I took all three of you, but he wishes it now, and says that we cannot make enough sacrifices to obtain so great a miracle.  Even if I do not obtain it, I will never regret taking you there. We must be willing to accept generously the will of God, whatever it is, because it will always be what is best for us.

Responsory

R/.  Be transformed by the renewal of your mind, * So that you may be able to discover what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.
V/.  You must be renewed in mind and spirit, and put on the new man. * So that you may be able to discover what is God’s will, what is good, pleasing and perfect.

Prayer

O God,
who gave to Saint Louis and Marie Zelie
the grace to lead a life of holiness
as Christian spouses and parents,
grant that, through their intercession and example,
we may be able to love and serve you faithfully,
living worthily our own vocation.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.

Catholic Church 1993, Proper of the Liturgy of the Hours of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel and the Order of Discalced Carmelites (Rev. and augm.), Institutum Carmelitanum, Rome.

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SCRIPTURE

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me
    to devour my flesh—
my adversaries and foes—
    they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war rise up against me,
    yet I will be confident.

Psalm 27:1–3

READING

I’m not sure if you know that the Prussians have been in our home since Monday morning, at seven o’clock. They marched in front of the house until one o’clock in the afternoon. There were 25,000 of them. I couldn’t describe our anxieties.

Monday, around three o’clock, all the doors were marked with the number of enemy soldiers to be housed. A big sergeant came to ask us to inspect the house. I took him up to the first floor while telling him we have four children. Fortunately for us, he didn’t try to go up to the second floor. Finally, they made us take in nine of them, and we can’t complain. In our part of town, small shopkeepers who have only two apartments are taking in fifteen, twenty, and even twenty-five. Those we have are neither mean nor looters, but they love to eat like I have never seen.

We’ve had to let them have the entire first floor and move to the ground floor. If I told you everything, I’d have to write a book.

All the livestock in the surrounding area were taken. Now there’s no more milk anywhere. What will my little Céline do? She drinks a liter a day! And what are the poor mothers who have only small children going to do? Nor is there any meat in the butcher shops. In short, the town is in desolation. Everyone is crying except me.

My husband is sad. He can neither eat nor sleep. I believe he’s going to get sick.

Saint Zélie Martin

Letter CF 64 from Zélie Guérin to her sister-in-law, Céline
17 January 1871

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 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.

Let us unite in prayer

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SCRIPTURE

Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

2 Thessalonians 3:6–13

READING

Needless to say, your letter made me very happy, except I see that you’ve tired yourself out far too much. So I strongly recommend calm and moderation, above all in your work. I have some orders from the Compagnie Lyonnaise; once again, don’t worry so much. We’ll manage, with God’s help, to build a good little company.

I had the happiness of receiving Communion at Notre-Dame des Victoires, which is like a little heaven on earth. I also lit a candle for the intention of our entire family.

I kiss you with all my heart, while waiting for the happiness of being with you again.

Saint Louis Martin

Letter CF 2a from Louis Martin to his wife Zélie
Paris, 8 October 1863

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 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.

Let us unite in prayer

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/03/lzmnovena24-2/

#business #familyLife #fatigue #happiness #letter #love #miracle #NotreDameDesVictoires #novena #prayer #StZélieMartin #StLouisMartin #work

I, also, would like to be a saint, but I don’t know where to begin. There’s so much to do that I limit myself to the desire. I often say during the day, “My God, how I would like to be a saint!” Then, I don’t do the work!

Saint Zélie Martin
Letter CF 154 to her daughter Pauline
26 February 1876

Introduction

Saints Louis and Zélie Martin are exemplary models of Catholic family life and holiness. Through their unwavering faith, trust in Divine Providence, and dedication to living out the theological virtues, they nurtured a spirit of faith and love in their family. Their commitment to God and their devotion to daily prayers, reception of the sacraments, and surrender to His will offer profound lessons for us today.

Pope Francis highlighted their sanctity during their canonization, stating:

“The holy spouses Louis Martin and Marie-Azélie Guérin practised Christian service in the family, creating day by day an environment of faith and love which nurtured the vocations of their daughters, among whom was Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus” (Homily, Holy Mass and Canonization, 18 October 2015).

Their example is particularly relevant today, as families navigate the complexities of contemporary life. As Saint John Paul II profoundly stated, “The family is the domestic church… the future of the world and of the Church passes through the family” (Homily, Apostolic Pilgrimage to Australia, 30 November 1986). This highlights the vital role of the family as the foundation of society and the Church.

Let us ask Saints Louis and Zélie to intercede for us, helping us grow in faith, hope, and charity. May we trust in God’s providential care, persevere in our daily challenges, and abide in the joy and hope that a living faith in Christ brings. May this novena encourage us in our spiritual journeys and remind us of the sanctity and beauty of family life, providing points of reflection on the lives of Saints Louis and Zélie as we present our needs to them, begging their intercession.

Saints Louis and Zélie, pray for us.

Pray each day with Saints Louis and Zélie

• Day 1
  His Divine Providence
• Day 2
  Calm and moderation
• Day 3
  A good woman
• Day 4
  Léonie’s illness
• Day 5
  Real life
• Day 6
  The death of Hélène
• Day 7
  The Prussian army in Alençon
• Day 8
  Life is not a bed of roses
• Day 9
  God takes care of me

Novena 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.

Our novena prayer to Saints Louis and Zélie comes from the Shrine of Saints Louis and Zélie in Alençon, France (Imprimatur +Jacques Habert, Bishop of Séez, 26 May 2016).

All scripture references in this novena 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.

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.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

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.

Let us unite in prayer

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/07/03/lzmnovena24-intr/

#familyLife #intercession #novena #perseverance #prayer #StLouisMartin #StZélieMartin #StsLouisMartinAndZélieGuérin #trust #virtues

Thursday the wet nurse brought little Thérèse. She did nothing but laugh. She especially liked little Céline, who made her scream with laughter. You could say she already wants to play. That will come soon. She holds herself up on her little legs, stiff as a post, and I think she’s going to start walking early.

Now she’s eating well, and I assure you she finds my porridge [bouillie normande] good! I made a lot on Thursday so little Céline could also have some, but Thérèse didn’t think it was too much. All that was left was the part stuck to the pot.

We decided that we won’t go to see her until next month when you’re here. We don’t want to have that pleasure without Pauline…. I wouldn’t be able to go so long without seeing the baby, but the wet nurse brings her to me on Thursdays.

Your father just told me to give you a big hug for him. He’s leaving to go fishing, his favorite pastime.

Saint Zélie Martin

Letter CF 104 to Pauline Martin (excerpt)
1 July 1873

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.

Featured image: Pixabay photography captured this grayscale photograph of a baby holding a finger. Image credit: Pixabay / Pexels (Stock photo)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/06/30/zelie-ltr104/

#baby #CelineMartin #familyLife #hungry #joy #motherhood #PaulineMartin #StLouisMartin #StThereseOfLisieux #StZélieMartin #wetNurse

Dear Friend,

I won’t be able to get to Alençon until Monday; the time seems so long, I can’t wait to be near you.

I don’t need to tell you that your letter gave me great pleasure, except to see that you were tiring yourself out far too much. I would therefore recommend calm and moderation, especially in your work. I have a few orders from the Compagnie Lyonnaise; once again, don’t worry so much, we’ll manage with God’s help to make a good little home.

I had the pleasure of receiving Communion at Our Lady of Victories, which is like a little paradise on earth. I also lit a candle for the whole family.

My heart goes out to you all, and I look forward to being reunited with you. I hope Marie and Pauline are well-behaved.

Your husband and true friend, who loves you for life.

Saint Louis Martin

Letter to his wife, 8 October 1863

Note: Saint Louis Martin writes while on a business trip in Paris, promoting St. Zélie’s Alençon lace business. He mentions doing business with the Compagnie Lyonnaise, a fashion retailer in Paris. Louis loved the Church of Our Lady of Victories so much that from the outset of his grand pilgrimage to Rome with Thérèse and Céline in 1887, he took the girls to see that beloved parish. St. Thérèse described their arrival: “We reached Paris in the morning [Friday, 4 November 1887] and commenced our visit without any delay. Poor little Father tired himself out trying to please us, and very soon we saw all the marvels of the Capital. I myself found only one which filled me with delight, Our Lady of Victories!” (Ms A 56v).

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. 

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.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: The statue of Notre-Dame de Victoires stands tall in the Chapel of the Virgin in the Paris Archdiocese church that bears her name. Image credit: Fr Lawrence Lew, O.P. / Flickr (Some rights reserved)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/05/19/mdj2024-ep20/

#Alençon #BlessedVirgin #business #candle #family #France #HolyCommunion #NotreDameDesVictoires #OurLadyOfVictories #paradise #Paris #StLouisMartin #StThérèseOfLisieux #StZélieMartin

My father and mother had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin. That’s why they gave the name Mary to all their children, both boys and girls.

Before he married, my father placed a statue of the Blessed Virgin on a path in his garden, and later it would become very dear to the whole family. It was this very statue that was in Thérèse’s childhood bedroom and which came to life and smiled at her when she was very sick.

Praying at the foot of the same statue, my mother was granted very great favors.

Sr. Marie of the Sacred Heart, O.C.D. (Marie Martin)

Witness 7 for the Apostolic Process

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: The gold vermeil statue of Our Lady, nicknamed “Notre-Dame de Vieille Vaisselle” (Our Lady of Old Silverware), graces the choir of the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris. Image credit: JFBRUNEAU / Adobe Stock (Stock photo)

https://carmelitequotes.blog/2024/05/14/mdj2024-ep15/

#bedroom #familyLife #garden #MarianDevotion #MarieMartin #miracle #prayer #StLouisMartin #StThérèseOfLisieux #StZélieMartin #statue #VirginOfTheSmile

St. Zélie believed that God's Divine Providence was at work in her marriage to St. Louis Martin. God can work in your marriage, too!

READ MORE 👇
http://carmelitequotes.blog/2023/02/11/zelie-1jan1863/

#CatholicChurch #WorldMarriageDay #StZelieMartin #StLouisMartin #Catholic #saints #Carmelite #quotes

After Pope Leo XIII's encounter with St. Thérèse on 20 November 1887, her sister Céline wrote to Marie in the Lisieux Carmel to explain everything. Pauline then wrote to her father, St. Louis Martin on 23 November, saying: the Pope “saw the halo that already circles your forehead.”

Read the exchange of letters between Céline, Marie, Pauline and her father on our blog:
http://carmelitequotes.blog/2022/11/22/pauline-23nov1887/

#carmelite #catholic #StLouisMartin #StThérèseOfLisieux #PopeLeoXIII
#Vatican