Louis Martin
Louis Martin and Azélie-Marie "Zélie" Guérin Martin were a French Catholic couple, the parents of five nuns including Thérèse of Lisieux. They are the first couple in Catholic history to be canonized together.
- Feast Day
- October 18
- Century
- 19th century
- Country Or Region
- France
Key Facts
- ›Louis Martin was born on August 22, 1823, and Azélie-Marie Guérin Martin was born on December 23, 1831.
- ›Louis Martin intended to become a monk but was rejected for not learning Latin, later becoming a watchmaker.
- ›Azélie-Marie Guérin was turned away from religious life due to health issues and prayed for many children to be consecrated to God, becoming a lacemaker.
- ›The couple married on July 13, 1858, and had nine children, five of whom survived into adulthood as nuns.
- ›Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized together on October 18, 2015, by Pope Francis.
- ›Their letters were published in 2011 as "a Call to a Deeper Love: the Family Correspondence of the Parents of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, 1863–1885".
Louis Joseph Aloys Stanislaus Martin, Azélie-Marie Guérin, Zélie Guérin Martin
About Louis Martin
Louis Martin (1823–1894) and his wife, Azélie-Marie Guérin Martin (1831–1877), were a devout French Catholic couple who hold a significant place in Catholic hagiography as the parents of five nuns, most notably Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. They were canonized together by Pope Francis on October 18, 2015, a landmark event in the history of the Catholic Church.
Life and Background
Louis Joseph Aloys Stanislaus Martin was the third of five children. He initially aspired to join the Augustinian Great St. Bernard Monastery but was unable to learn Latin. He later pursued watchmaking, studying his craft in Rennes and Strasbourg. Azélie-Marie Guérin, born in Gandelain, France, was the second daughter of Isidore Guérin and Louise-Jeanne Macé. She had aspirations of becoming a nun but was turned away by the Sisters of Charity due to health issues. She then prayed for many children to be consecrated to God and became a successful lacemaker.
Marriage and Family
Louis and Azélie-Marie met in 1858 and married three months later. Following a period of celibacy, encouraged by a spiritual director, they consummated their marriage and went on to have nine children. Five of their daughters survived infancy and all eventually entered religious life: Marie-Louise (Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, Carmelite), Marie Pauline (Mother Agnès of Jesus, Carmelite), Marie Léonie (Sister Françoise-Thérèse, Visitandine), Marie Céline (Sister Geneviève of the most Holy Face, Carmelite), and Marie Françoise-Thérèse (Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face, Carmelite).
Louis Martin had a deep love for nature and a contemplative spirit, establishing a private space for prayer and meditation. He also traveled extensively. After Zélie's death from breast cancer in 1877, Louis sold their businesses and moved to Lisieux, where he was cared for by his daughters after suffering strokes and cerebral arteriosclerosis.
Canonization
Louis and Zélie Martin were declared "venerable" in 1994. They were beatified in 2008 after the Catholic Church recognized miracles attributed to their intercession, including the healing of an Italian child and a Spanish girl. Their canonization followed the recognition of a second miracle, leading to their official canonization in 2015.
Legacy
The Martins are remembered as a model of married holiness and Christian family life. Their lives and correspondence offer insight into their deep faith and devotion, serving as an inspiration for families and couples seeking to live out their faith together.
Source: Wikipedia ↗
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were Louis and Zélie Martin?
Louis Martin and Azélie-Marie "Zélie" Guérin Martin were a French Catholic couple and the parents of five nuns, including the famous Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. They are notable for being the first couple in Catholic history to be canonized together.
Why are Louis and Zélie Martin important?
They are important as a model of married life and parenthood within the Catholic Church. Their canonization emphasizes the holiness that can be found in ordinary family life and the spiritual legacy they passed on to their children.
What were their lives like before marriage?
Louis Martin initially aspired to be a monk but was unable to learn Latin. He then trained as a watchmaker. Azélie-Marie Guérin also desired to enter religious life but was turned away due to health issues; she became a successful lacemaker.
How many children did they have and what happened to them?
Louis and Zélie Martin had nine children, but only five daughters survived childhood. All five daughters eventually entered religious life as nuns: Marie-Louise and Marie Pauline became Carmelites, Marie Léonie became a Visitandine Sister, Marie Céline became a Carmelite, and Marie Françoise-Thérèse became the renowned Carmelite nun, Thérèse of Lisieux.
When were Louis and Zélie Martin canonized?
Louis and Zélie Martin were canonized as saints by Pope Francis on October 18, 2015. They had previously been declared venerable in 1994 and beatified in 2008.
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