St Zelie and St. Louis

Quote from a book regarding their marriage ceremony.

These saints came into my life at the opportune time. I was introduced to them by my dear sister who had come to learn about them and their story the summer when her sweet boy Ignacio passed away into God's arms. We both needed something to keep us uplifted and going, to keep our hearts up. I feel that these saints helped us through our own difficulties and crosses at the time. St. Louis and Zelie Martin, (the parents of the well-known St. Therese of Lisieux) feast day is today. How much my sister and I admire them!

My sister says she resembles St. Zelie in many ways. She would say it's through St. Zelie's personality, her demeanor, her perseverance and her strong sense of self and faith. I see myself more in St. Louis. He was milder mannered, had a deep interior and faith life, and was slower to contemplate. He was academic and motivated intellectually, and liked studying. 

What is so interesting is that they both desired and discerned religious life before they met. But of course, that didn't work out and wasn't part of God's plans. St. Zelie's sister who she was close to, entered the convent. It was hard for Zelie to see her leave because entering religious life as a nun was something that she wanted for her life as well. St. Louis was discerning and studying for the priesthood, but he wasn't getting the grades academically in Latin. However, he would still continue to study on his own and visit and pray in the church he loved. 

I was so encouraged and inspired from reading the books about their lives, their vocation story, family and faith life from the books my sister bought. The pure rawness and difficulties I was experiencing at that time shattered through like glass when I read. I felt like they were just the witnesses and examples I needed for my journey.

I would visit the church to make a visit after work. Those days felt like pure isolation and emptiness but also openness for what may lay ahead, though I had no idea. I remember reading from one of the books that St. Zelie would often pray to Our Lady of Guadalupe of what she was meant to do. It was through Our Lady that her prayer was answered. She felt her prayer answered when she felt called to start up lace making as her profession and heard Our Lady's voice tell her. I would always say some prayers in front of the big, framed image of Our Lady of Gudalupe in the church as well and think of St. Zelie's question and discernment, and know for myself that Our Lady would answer mind as well.  

It was that time when I would start going to daily Mass throughout the week. I could only make it to the very early one due to my schedule and what felt like a big sacrifice, slowly became a necessity, and more of a regular habit. Waking up early wasn't so bad, and I realized how much I needed that time to pray and receive those graces in all that I was going through. I also was inspired by it and attending early daily Mass when the world seemed like it was still sleeping and the sky was dark, the moon bright yellow. I thought of St. Zelie since she would wake up early to go to Mass with her family, and that made me feel close to her even if somedays felt harder or more like a sacrifice. 

It was also through St. Zelie and St. Louis that I was inspired to pick up French. I had learned some in High School but it had been many years since I had touched any language books or felt interested to study again. There was a dose of inspiration and knowing they were French themselves, lived in France, I felt immersed in their world. And also reading about the names they chose for their children- of course their 5 daughters who all grew up to be nuns, but also their other 4 children who either died in infancy or as toddlers. 

It was also around the time where I became immersed in writing my own story, a family tree. I had learned so much about the Martins, their family, relatives, that I was inspired to create my own. I used some French names and while at work when it was slow, the details of the story, the characters all seemed to come together seamlessly. I had fun looking up different kinds of French names, some I liked and others I had never really heard of. 

These ideas really helped me pull through those long weeks of loneliness. I then had goals, ideas to keep me going, even if I felt like I wasn't doing much. I felt like St. Louis when he didn't really know where his life or talents were going after he wasn't accepted into the priesthood. He was a bachelor in his mid 30's, but he kept pursuing things he loved and his faith. God revealed to him His plan and timing. This continued to uplift my heart on those many days when I felt like nothing was happening, and I didn't know what lie ahead. 

I am grateful for Saints Zelie and Louis Martin for helping me in my own way, on my journey of faith, trust, and perseverance. They have inspired me so much in different ways, and I know they will continue to intercede for me. I even have a picture of them on my desk as a reminder. Though they are not smiling (it was back in the early 1900's so probably wasn't the norm), I can tell they have a deep interior, peaceful and joyful hearts, and ready to do God's will. For example, Zelie went to Lourdes to receive a cure from her ailment of breast cancer, but to no avail. It was a tiresome trip, and many things went wrong. In the end, she didn't receive the cure, but she still accepted God's plan.

 I look forward to continuing learning more about them and their family and uniting my life and ways to theirs. (I already have a devotion to St. Therese and was fascinated with her sister's story, (Servant of God?) Leonie, I have a devotion to the Carmelites- which was the convent order 4 of the sisters joined, and I love St. Frances de Sales- which was the Visitation order that Leonie and her aunt (Zelie's sister) joined.) There really are many branches to it all, and its a wonderful family tree, a tree of inspiration, life and God's ever green branches. 

St. Zelie and St. Louis Martin, pray for us!