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Story of the Saints
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“The good Lord does not do things by halves; He always gives what we need. Let us then carry on bravely." ~St. Zelie Martin
Sts. Louis & Zelie Martin
Feast Day: July 12th...their wedding day!
Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin are the parents of the "greatest saint of modern times."....
St. Therese of the Child Jesus. If her parents had a bad and selfish marriage....would St. Therese be who she is and loved for today? It took two selfless people, following the laws of God and accepting the sufferings, big and small, that God sent to them. They turned them into sacrifices offered back to God. By doing so, they lived a holy and blessed Catholic life. They suffered greatly and yet there was true joy in suffering. They were the first couple in the history of the Catholic Church to be Canonized together. Their marriage is an inspiration for us all to follow. We pray for their intercession as we dedicate this foundation and this work to them.
The Martin Family
Mr. and Mrs. Louis and Zelie Martin
Children who survived to adulthood:
Marie, Pauline, Leonie, Celine, and Therese
Children who died as an infant or toddler:
Marie-Melanie-Therese,
Marie-Joseph-Louis, and
Marie-Joseph-Jean-Baptiste
Child who died at the age of five:
Marie-Helene
Here is a little glimpse into the lives of, one could argue, the greatest couple of modern times! The sheer dedication to God’s holy will in their individual lives, their willingness to change, and to let God direct them is an inspiration for us all to follow. They were married and remained selfless through adversaries, poor health, sickness, and death. They buried four young children and kept trusting in God and kept having more children. And then after the death of his dear wife, when their youngest daughter was only 4 years old, Louis went on raising the remaining children and instilled in them a desire to give themselves back to God. This is a story that needs told more and more. And we hope through this organization to make them well known, but more importantly, to enable the greatest form of honor......imitation........ Let’s get to work! Souls are counting on us. Sts. Louis and Zelie are watching and counting on us all now as well to pick up the torch of holy family life that has been almost extinguished in the past 100 years, and they will help us every step of the way...... Onward Christian Soldiers !!!
Louie & Zelie Martin (July 12):
Populating Heaven with a Rose Garden of Saints
Sermon preached by unknown priest.
A beautiful sermon on the life of these two saints! A must see/listen!
History
Louis Martin (1823-1894)
Before Marriage:
1823-1858
Louis Joseph Aloys Stanislaus Martin was born in France on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (August 22nd) in 1823. He knew tragedy, as he was the only one of five children to survive past 30 years old. He also knew the pain of trying to give himself to God as a monk at the Augustinian Great St. Bernard Monastery, only to be rejected because he could not learn the Latin. Being rejected, as it were from serving God in the way that he chose, he then felt God’s calling to remain in the world. Having studied in various cities, he became a watchmaker by trade. At this time, he did not know where God would lead him, what his future held, how much impact on the world his watchmaking could possibly make...... but he was soon to find out......
Zelie Martin (1831-1877)
Before Marriage:
1831-1858
Azelie-Marie Guerin, also known as Zelie, was also born in France two days before Christmas in 1831. Having an older sister who had given herself to God as a Visitandine nun, Zelie decided to do the same and tried to enter the convent life as well, but she was rejected by The Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, due to health concerns involving headaches and migraines as well as respiratory issues. Like Louis, feeling rejected in her quest to serve God, she also left the religious life behind her. She began a business making Alencon Lace, which proved to be successful. Like Louis, she wondered how this service to others would really make an impact for souls and for God. But, the question would soon be answered as well........
Courtship - Marriage
Spring 1858 - July 12, 1858
One spring day in 1858, a beautiful 27-year old lace maker was walking over a bridge in Paris and walked past a man who she thought was handsome. After he went by, she turned around to see him again, and to her surprise, he was looking right back at her! They say the rest is history, and their history is fascinating!
Three months later, on July 12th, they were married, and having lived a holy and God-centered life beforehand, now together they began a holy and God-centered marriage and soon family as well. They were married for only 19 short years.
Family Life
Children
9 children born
4 died during infancy or childhood
5 girls survived to adulthood and went on to dedicate their lives to God as His Brides
At first, the new Mr. and Mrs. Martin decided to serve God, each other, and others while not sharing the privileges of the married state. They sacrificed these joys for God as they thought this was God’s will for them. After almost a year, while getting spiritual advice, they were told that they were meant to bring children into the world and to populate Heaven with saints. And so they got to work.....Nine children later, but with only five surviving past childhood, they had a beautiful family. Of the five daughters that made adulthood, all gave themselves completely to God in religion; one, as a Visitandine nun, and four as Carmelites. The youngest, and by far the most famous, known as ‘the greatest saint of modern times,” was our beloved St. Therese of the Child Jesus.
Placing her trust in God after the death of 4 children, Zelie chose God's will and hence St. Therese was born!
Zelie died from Breast Cancer at the age of 45 on
August 28, 1877
The children followed in their parents' footsteps and pursued God's will no matter what obstacles they faced.
Louis suffered from two strokes, lost his memory, and mind. His sufferings were that of humility and giving of one's self completely in a quiet and peaceful way. He died at the age of 70 on July 29, 1894.
Zelie was a mother on a level that can only be truly appreciated by diving deeper into her life and spirituality. Remember, she buried four very young children. Having four other children to care for still, she was told, “no more.” “Why don’t you just stop trying to have more children.” “You have enough.” But she refused as she had an ardent and great love of God and children. And what was the result? By choosing God and trusting in His guidance, she would bear to us and the world, St. Therese. Her love, dedication, selflessness, and perseverance in difficulties was that of a heroine, and who we now proudly call saint as well.
When little Therese was only four years old, having struggled for years, Zelie succumbed to the pain and suffering of breast cancer and passed out of this valley of tears and into Paradise on August 28th 1877. Her passing was a great loss for this little family and they suffered greatly. St. Therese, herself, almost died of her grief for her dear Mother but by the grace of God and a miracle of Our Lady smiling at her, she chose Mary has her Mother and dedicated her life to following God's will.
Louis loved nature and peace and quiet. He would often take St Therese fishing and for walks. He went on Pilgrimages to Chartres and Lourdes, and Rome twice. Once taking St. Therese along as well, where she, against orders, spoke with the Pope directly in the famous story of her attempting to get permission to enter Carmel at a young age...... Seems like this family had a knack for being dead set on finding and doing God’s will......... and who were also super blessed.......... wonder if there is a connection?
Louis, having suffered greatly the loss of his wife, his little children, and now giving several of his daughters to God, ended up having two strokes in 1889. He started loosing his mind and memory and spent three years in an insane asylum. After a time, he was taken back to their home where he was cared for until his holy death on July 29th 1894.
This amazing couple, who lived over 100 years ago really needs to be made better known....
They put their trust in God’s hands and let Him use them to make in impact on the world! They put four saints in Heaven, four of their daughters were known to be holy and devout nuns, and one known as she is, as one of the very best. And, they themselves went on to be the first in the history of the Catholic Church to be Canonized saints together, as a couple......... God knows what He is doing, we all just need to trust, listen, and follow more!
Louis and Zelie went on to be declared:
Venerable on March 26th 1994
Beatified on October 19th 2008
And Saints on October 18th 2015