Saint Marie-Azélie "Zélie" (Guérin) Martin
Marie-Azélie Guérin was born on December 23, 1831 in Gandelain, France within St-Denis-sur-Sarthon Parish near Alençon; she was baptised on Christmas Eve. She was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. Her father had retired from the army and was a member of the local police force. Her mother had given birth to her first child, Marie Louise, two years previously and the family was completed with the birth of a son, Isidore, ten years later.
Zélie's mother was a good woman with a strong faith but she was very austere in her treatment of her daughters. Although she cared for them she did not show them affection and they were never allowed to have dolls. Her father was strict too but he showed them more kindness; indeed he sold his house and land in the country in order to send them to school.
The family moved to Alençon when Zélie was 13 and together with her sister, she attended the school run by the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. She was both intelligent and religious; she held first place for style and composition in her French essays. She was very close to her sister, but her childhood was not happy. She was later to write that her youth was "as sad as a winding-sheet." After the move to Alençon her mother ran a café for a short time and her father tried his hand at woodwork. Later Isidore, who was a bright child, was sent to the Lycée. In adult life after studying medicine in Paris he became a pharmacist at Lisieux. Zélie suffered severe headaches in her childhood as well as respiratory problems, and it was probably on account of her poor health that the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul would not accept her as a postulant when she applied to join them.
Her sister entered the Visitation Convent at Le Mans at the age of 29, and became Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin.
Zélie had decided that if God did not want her as a religious she would marry and have many children who would all be consecrated to Him. She turned to Our Lady and asked her how she should earn her dowry. On December 8, 1851 she received her answer in the form of an interior voice which said, "Make Alencon point lace". Zélie went to a professional school to learn her craft; she quickly excelled and left to start her own business.
One day when she was crossing the Bridge of St Leonard, Zélie noticed a man passing by and again heard that interior voice. It said, "This is he whom I have prepared for you." The man was Louis Martin, whose mother had noticed Zélie at the lace making school. On July 13, 1858 Zélie and Louis were married; she was nearly 27.
Zélie and Louis had 9 children, 4 died in their infancy, and 5 became contemplative nuns (4 Carmelites and 1 Visitandine). Zélie had decided to give all their children the name Marie in honour of Our Lady
In October 1876 the swelling in Zélie's breast increased and she consulted a doctor. "A fibrous tumour" he said and advised an operation. "And what chance of success, 1%?" asked Zélie. The doctor shrugged and began to write a prescription. Zélie smiled and said, "What would be the use of remedies?" "None," replied the doctor, "it is in order to please the sick people, that is all". Zélie left him without anything. She knew there was no hope from medicine.
After recieving the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, on Tuesday, August 28, 1877, at 12:30am, Zélie died with her husband and her brother beside her. The three older girls were there, but they did not waken the two younger ones. Two days later, Zélie was buried with the four little ones. It was not until 1894 when Louis died that Isidore Guérin had the family grave moved to Lisieux.
In 1994, Zélie and her husband were both declared venerable by Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI approved the beatification of Louis and Marie Zélie (Guerin) Martin, the parents of St Thérèse of the Infant Jesus, and on October 19, 2008, they both were declared blessed in Lisieux, France, by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, retired prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints. It was only the second time in history that a married couple has been beatified. On October 18, 2015, Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized as saints by Pope Francis.∼Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 19 October 2008, Basilique de Sainte-Thérèse by Pope Benedict XVI
Feast
was a French laywoman and the mother of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux. Her husband was Blessed Louis Martin.Marie-Azélie Guérin was born in Saint-Denis-sur-Sarthon, Orne, France and was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. She had an older sister Marie-Louise, who became a Visitandine nun, and a younger brother, Isidore, who was a pharmacist.
Zélie wanted to become a nun but was turned away by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul due to respiratory difficulties and recurrent headaches. Zélie then prayed for God to give her children and that they would be consecrated to God.
Later, she decided to become a lacemaker, making Point d'Alençon lace. She later fell in love with a watchmaker, Louis Martin, in 1858 and married only three months later.Although Zélie and Louis had led a celibate marriage for almost a year, they had decided to have children. They would later have nine children, though only five daughters would survive infancy. Eventually all of Zélie's daughters would become nuns:
Marie (22 February 1860 - 19 January 1940), as a nun, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Pauline (September 7, 1861 - July 28, 1951), as a nun, Mother Agnès of Jesus, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Léonie (June 3, 1863 - June 16, 1941), as a nun, Sister Françoise-Thérèse, Visitandine at Caen.
Céline (April 28, 1869 - 25 February 1959), as a nun, Sister Geneviève of the Holy Face, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Thérèse[2] (January 2, 1873 - September 30, 1897), as a nun, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Carmelite at Lisieux, canonised in 1925.
After Zélie's death, Pauline, Marie, Thérèse and Céline all became Carmelite nuns one after another along with a cousin, Marie Guérin. Léonie became a Visitandine nun after being rejected by the Poor Clares.
Death
Marie-Azélie died of breast cancer on 28 August 1877 in Alençon, Orne. She was survived by her husband and daughters.
Beatification
Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin were declared "venerable" on 26 March 1994 by Pope John Paul II. They were beatified on 19 October 2008 by Jose Cardinal Saraiva Martins, the legate of Pope Benedict XVI in Basilique de Sainte-Thérèse, Lisieux, France.
Marie-Azélie Guérin was born on December 23, 1831 in Gandelain, France within St-Denis-sur-Sarthon Parish near Alençon; she was baptised on Christmas Eve. She was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. Her father had retired from the army and was a member of the local police force. Her mother had given birth to her first child, Marie Louise, two years previously and the family was completed with the birth of a son, Isidore, ten years later.
Zélie's mother was a good woman with a strong faith but she was very austere in her treatment of her daughters. Although she cared for them she did not show them affection and they were never allowed to have dolls. Her father was strict too but he showed them more kindness; indeed he sold his house and land in the country in order to send them to school.
The family moved to Alençon when Zélie was 13 and together with her sister, she attended the school run by the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. She was both intelligent and religious; she held first place for style and composition in her French essays. She was very close to her sister, but her childhood was not happy. She was later to write that her youth was "as sad as a winding-sheet." After the move to Alençon her mother ran a café for a short time and her father tried his hand at woodwork. Later Isidore, who was a bright child, was sent to the Lycée. In adult life after studying medicine in Paris he became a pharmacist at Lisieux. Zélie suffered severe headaches in her childhood as well as respiratory problems, and it was probably on account of her poor health that the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul would not accept her as a postulant when she applied to join them.
Her sister entered the Visitation Convent at Le Mans at the age of 29, and became Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin.
Zélie had decided that if God did not want her as a religious she would marry and have many children who would all be consecrated to Him. She turned to Our Lady and asked her how she should earn her dowry. On December 8, 1851 she received her answer in the form of an interior voice which said, "Make Alencon point lace". Zélie went to a professional school to learn her craft; she quickly excelled and left to start her own business.
One day when she was crossing the Bridge of St Leonard, Zélie noticed a man passing by and again heard that interior voice. It said, "This is he whom I have prepared for you." The man was Louis Martin, whose mother had noticed Zélie at the lace making school. On July 13, 1858 Zélie and Louis were married; she was nearly 27.
Zélie and Louis had 9 children, 4 died in their infancy, and 5 became contemplative nuns (4 Carmelites and 1 Visitandine). Zélie had decided to give all their children the name Marie in honour of Our Lady
In October 1876 the swelling in Zélie's breast increased and she consulted a doctor. "A fibrous tumour" he said and advised an operation. "And what chance of success, 1%?" asked Zélie. The doctor shrugged and began to write a prescription. Zélie smiled and said, "What would be the use of remedies?" "None," replied the doctor, "it is in order to please the sick people, that is all". Zélie left him without anything. She knew there was no hope from medicine.
After recieving the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, on Tuesday, August 28, 1877, at 12:30am, Zélie died with her husband and her brother beside her. The three older girls were there, but they did not waken the two younger ones. Two days later, Zélie was buried with the four little ones. It was not until 1894 when Louis died that Isidore Guérin had the family grave moved to Lisieux.
In 1994, Zélie and her husband were both declared venerable by Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI approved the beatification of Louis and Marie Zélie (Guerin) Martin, the parents of St Thérèse of the Infant Jesus, and on October 19, 2008, they both were declared blessed in Lisieux, France, by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, retired prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints. It was only the second time in history that a married couple has been beatified. On October 18, 2015, Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized as saints by Pope Francis.∼Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 19 October 2008, Basilique de Sainte-Thérèse by Pope Benedict XVI
Feast
was a French laywoman and the mother of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux. Her husband was Blessed Louis Martin.Marie-Azélie Guérin was born in Saint-Denis-sur-Sarthon, Orne, France and was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. She had an older sister Marie-Louise, who became a Visitandine nun, and a younger brother, Isidore, who was a pharmacist.
Zélie wanted to become a nun but was turned away by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul due to respiratory difficulties and recurrent headaches. Zélie then prayed for God to give her children and that they would be consecrated to God.
Later, she decided to become a lacemaker, making Point d'Alençon lace. She later fell in love with a watchmaker, Louis Martin, in 1858 and married only three months later.Although Zélie and Louis had led a celibate marriage for almost a year, they had decided to have children. They would later have nine children, though only five daughters would survive infancy. Eventually all of Zélie's daughters would become nuns:
Marie (22 February 1860 - 19 January 1940), as a nun, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Pauline (September 7, 1861 - July 28, 1951), as a nun, Mother Agnès of Jesus, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Léonie (June 3, 1863 - June 16, 1941), as a nun, Sister Françoise-Thérèse, Visitandine at Caen.
Céline (April 28, 1869 - 25 February 1959), as a nun, Sister Geneviève of the Holy Face, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Thérèse[2] (January 2, 1873 - September 30, 1897), as a nun, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Carmelite at Lisieux, canonised in 1925.
After Zélie's death, Pauline, Marie, Thérèse and Céline all became Carmelite nuns one after another along with a cousin, Marie Guérin. Léonie became a Visitandine nun after being rejected by the Poor Clares.
Death
Marie-Azélie died of breast cancer on 28 August 1877 in Alençon, Orne. She was survived by her husband and daughters.
Beatification
Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin were declared "venerable" on 26 March 1994 by Pope John Paul II. They were beatified on 19 October 2008 by Jose Cardinal Saraiva Martins, the legate of Pope Benedict XVI in Basilique de Sainte-Thérèse, Lisieux, France.
Saint Marie-Azélie "Zélie" (Guérin) Martin
Marie-Azélie Guérin was born on December 23, 1831 in Gandelain, France within St-Denis-sur-Sarthon Parish near Alençon; she was baptised on Christmas Eve. She was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. Her father had retired from the army and was a member of the local police force. Her mother had given birth to her first child, Marie Louise, two years previously and the family was completed with the birth of a son, Isidore, ten years later.
Zélie's mother was a good woman with a strong faith but she was very austere in her treatment of her daughters. Although she cared for them she did not show them affection and they were never allowed to have dolls. Her father was strict too but he showed them more kindness; indeed he sold his house and land in the country in order to send them to school.
The family moved to Alençon when Zélie was 13 and together with her sister, she attended the school run by the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. She was both intelligent and religious; she held first place for style and composition in her French essays. She was very close to her sister, but her childhood was not happy. She was later to write that her youth was "as sad as a winding-sheet." After the move to Alençon her mother ran a café for a short time and her father tried his hand at woodwork. Later Isidore, who was a bright child, was sent to the Lycée. In adult life after studying medicine in Paris he became a pharmacist at Lisieux. Zélie suffered severe headaches in her childhood as well as respiratory problems, and it was probably on account of her poor health that the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul would not accept her as a postulant when she applied to join them.
Her sister entered the Visitation Convent at Le Mans at the age of 29, and became Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin.
Zélie had decided that if God did not want her as a religious she would marry and have many children who would all be consecrated to Him. She turned to Our Lady and asked her how she should earn her dowry. On December 8, 1851 she received her answer in the form of an interior voice which said, "Make Alencon point lace". Zélie went to a professional school to learn her craft; she quickly excelled and left to start her own business.
One day when she was crossing the Bridge of St Leonard, Zélie noticed a man passing by and again heard that interior voice. It said, "This is he whom I have prepared for you." The man was Louis Martin, whose mother had noticed Zélie at the lace making school. On July 13, 1858 Zélie and Louis were married; she was nearly 27.
Zélie and Louis had 9 children, 4 died in their infancy, and 5 became contemplative nuns (4 Carmelites and 1 Visitandine). Zélie had decided to give all their children the name Marie in honour of Our Lady
In October 1876 the swelling in Zélie's breast increased and she consulted a doctor. "A fibrous tumour" he said and advised an operation. "And what chance of success, 1%?" asked Zélie. The doctor shrugged and began to write a prescription. Zélie smiled and said, "What would be the use of remedies?" "None," replied the doctor, "it is in order to please the sick people, that is all". Zélie left him without anything. She knew there was no hope from medicine.
After recieving the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, on Tuesday, August 28, 1877, at 12:30am, Zélie died with her husband and her brother beside her. The three older girls were there, but they did not waken the two younger ones. Two days later, Zélie was buried with the four little ones. It was not until 1894 when Louis died that Isidore Guérin had the family grave moved to Lisieux.
In 1994, Zélie and her husband were both declared venerable by Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI approved the beatification of Louis and Marie Zélie (Guerin) Martin, the parents of St Thérèse of the Infant Jesus, and on October 19, 2008, they both were declared blessed in Lisieux, France, by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, retired prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints. It was only the second time in history that a married couple has been beatified. On October 18, 2015, Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized as saints by Pope Francis.∼Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 19 October 2008, Basilique de Sainte-Thérèse by Pope Benedict XVI
Feast
was a French laywoman and the mother of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux. Her husband was Blessed Louis Martin.Marie-Azélie Guérin was born in Saint-Denis-sur-Sarthon, Orne, France and was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. She had an older sister Marie-Louise, who became a Visitandine nun, and a younger brother, Isidore, who was a pharmacist.
Zélie wanted to become a nun but was turned away by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul due to respiratory difficulties and recurrent headaches. Zélie then prayed for God to give her children and that they would be consecrated to God.
Later, she decided to become a lacemaker, making Point d'Alençon lace. She later fell in love with a watchmaker, Louis Martin, in 1858 and married only three months later.Although Zélie and Louis had led a celibate marriage for almost a year, they had decided to have children. They would later have nine children, though only five daughters would survive infancy. Eventually all of Zélie's daughters would become nuns:
Marie (22 February 1860 - 19 January 1940), as a nun, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Pauline (September 7, 1861 - July 28, 1951), as a nun, Mother Agnès of Jesus, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Léonie (June 3, 1863 - June 16, 1941), as a nun, Sister Françoise-Thérèse, Visitandine at Caen.
Céline (April 28, 1869 - 25 February 1959), as a nun, Sister Geneviève of the Holy Face, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Thérèse[2] (January 2, 1873 - September 30, 1897), as a nun, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Carmelite at Lisieux, canonised in 1925.
After Zélie's death, Pauline, Marie, Thérèse and Céline all became Carmelite nuns one after another along with a cousin, Marie Guérin. Léonie became a Visitandine nun after being rejected by the Poor Clares.
Death
Marie-Azélie died of breast cancer on 28 August 1877 in Alençon, Orne. She was survived by her husband and daughters.
Beatification
Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin were declared "venerable" on 26 March 1994 by Pope John Paul II. They were beatified on 19 October 2008 by Jose Cardinal Saraiva Martins, the legate of Pope Benedict XVI in Basilique de Sainte-Thérèse, Lisieux, France.
Marie-Azélie Guérin was born on December 23, 1831 in Gandelain, France within St-Denis-sur-Sarthon Parish near Alençon; she was baptised on Christmas Eve. She was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. Her father had retired from the army and was a member of the local police force. Her mother had given birth to her first child, Marie Louise, two years previously and the family was completed with the birth of a son, Isidore, ten years later.
Zélie's mother was a good woman with a strong faith but she was very austere in her treatment of her daughters. Although she cared for them she did not show them affection and they were never allowed to have dolls. Her father was strict too but he showed them more kindness; indeed he sold his house and land in the country in order to send them to school.
The family moved to Alençon when Zélie was 13 and together with her sister, she attended the school run by the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. She was both intelligent and religious; she held first place for style and composition in her French essays. She was very close to her sister, but her childhood was not happy. She was later to write that her youth was "as sad as a winding-sheet." After the move to Alençon her mother ran a café for a short time and her father tried his hand at woodwork. Later Isidore, who was a bright child, was sent to the Lycée. In adult life after studying medicine in Paris he became a pharmacist at Lisieux. Zélie suffered severe headaches in her childhood as well as respiratory problems, and it was probably on account of her poor health that the Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul would not accept her as a postulant when she applied to join them.
Her sister entered the Visitation Convent at Le Mans at the age of 29, and became Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin.
Zélie had decided that if God did not want her as a religious she would marry and have many children who would all be consecrated to Him. She turned to Our Lady and asked her how she should earn her dowry. On December 8, 1851 she received her answer in the form of an interior voice which said, "Make Alencon point lace". Zélie went to a professional school to learn her craft; she quickly excelled and left to start her own business.
One day when she was crossing the Bridge of St Leonard, Zélie noticed a man passing by and again heard that interior voice. It said, "This is he whom I have prepared for you." The man was Louis Martin, whose mother had noticed Zélie at the lace making school. On July 13, 1858 Zélie and Louis were married; she was nearly 27.
Zélie and Louis had 9 children, 4 died in their infancy, and 5 became contemplative nuns (4 Carmelites and 1 Visitandine). Zélie had decided to give all their children the name Marie in honour of Our Lady
In October 1876 the swelling in Zélie's breast increased and she consulted a doctor. "A fibrous tumour" he said and advised an operation. "And what chance of success, 1%?" asked Zélie. The doctor shrugged and began to write a prescription. Zélie smiled and said, "What would be the use of remedies?" "None," replied the doctor, "it is in order to please the sick people, that is all". Zélie left him without anything. She knew there was no hope from medicine.
After recieving the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, on Tuesday, August 28, 1877, at 12:30am, Zélie died with her husband and her brother beside her. The three older girls were there, but they did not waken the two younger ones. Two days later, Zélie was buried with the four little ones. It was not until 1894 when Louis died that Isidore Guérin had the family grave moved to Lisieux.
In 1994, Zélie and her husband were both declared venerable by Pope John Paul II. Pope Benedict XVI approved the beatification of Louis and Marie Zélie (Guerin) Martin, the parents of St Thérèse of the Infant Jesus, and on October 19, 2008, they both were declared blessed in Lisieux, France, by Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins, retired prefect of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints. It was only the second time in history that a married couple has been beatified. On October 18, 2015, Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized as saints by Pope Francis.∼Venerated in Roman Catholic Church
Beatified 19 October 2008, Basilique de Sainte-Thérèse by Pope Benedict XVI
Feast
was a French laywoman and the mother of Saint Thérèse de Lisieux. Her husband was Blessed Louis Martin.Marie-Azélie Guérin was born in Saint-Denis-sur-Sarthon, Orne, France and was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. She had an older sister Marie-Louise, who became a Visitandine nun, and a younger brother, Isidore, who was a pharmacist.
Zélie wanted to become a nun but was turned away by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul due to respiratory difficulties and recurrent headaches. Zélie then prayed for God to give her children and that they would be consecrated to God.
Later, she decided to become a lacemaker, making Point d'Alençon lace. She later fell in love with a watchmaker, Louis Martin, in 1858 and married only three months later.Although Zélie and Louis had led a celibate marriage for almost a year, they had decided to have children. They would later have nine children, though only five daughters would survive infancy. Eventually all of Zélie's daughters would become nuns:
Marie (22 February 1860 - 19 January 1940), as a nun, Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Pauline (September 7, 1861 - July 28, 1951), as a nun, Mother Agnès of Jesus, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Léonie (June 3, 1863 - June 16, 1941), as a nun, Sister Françoise-Thérèse, Visitandine at Caen.
Céline (April 28, 1869 - 25 February 1959), as a nun, Sister Geneviève of the Holy Face, Carmelite at Lisieux.
Thérèse[2] (January 2, 1873 - September 30, 1897), as a nun, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Carmelite at Lisieux, canonised in 1925.
After Zélie's death, Pauline, Marie, Thérèse and Céline all became Carmelite nuns one after another along with a cousin, Marie Guérin. Léonie became a Visitandine nun after being rejected by the Poor Clares.
Death
Marie-Azélie died of breast cancer on 28 August 1877 in Alençon, Orne. She was survived by her husband and daughters.
Beatification
Louis and Marie-Azélie Martin were declared "venerable" on 26 March 1994 by Pope John Paul II. They were beatified on 19 October 2008 by Jose Cardinal Saraiva Martins, the legate of Pope Benedict XVI in Basilique de Sainte-Thérèse, Lisieux, France.
Family Members
Children
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Sr Marie-Louise "Marie du Sacré-Cœur" Martin
1860–1940
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Sr Marie-Pauline "Agnès de Jésus" Martin
1861–1951
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Servante de Dieu Françoise-Thérèse Marie-Léonie Martin
1863–1941
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Marie-Hélène Martin
1864–1870
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Marie-Joseph Louis Martin
1866–1867
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Marie-Joseph Jean-Baptiste Martin
1867–1868
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Sr Marie-Céline "Geneviève de la Sainte-Face" Martin
1869–1959
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Marie-Melanie Thérèse Martin
1870–1870
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Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
1873–1897
