“Soon we’ll have the intimate happiness of the family, and it’s this beauty that brings us closer to Him.”

Louis was born into a military family in 1823 in Bordeaux, France. He desired to join a religious community but it went unfilled as he didn’t know Latin. He then moved to Normandy and trained to be a watchmaker.

Zelie was born in 1831 and was the 2nd of 3 children. Her parents had raised their children strong in faith and she attended the school of The Perpetual Adoration Sisters. She sought the religious life as well but was prevented due to her health issues. She became a highly skilled and sought after lace maker.

One day while crossing the Bridge of St. Leonard, she noticed Louis and heard a voice in her heart say, “This is he whom I have prepared for you.” They were married in 1858 after a 3-month courtship. At first they agreed to be abstinent but they were encouraged by a spiritual director to have children. They had 9 but 4 died in infancy. Louis managed the lace business while she took care of their 5 daughters.

Their rich family environment created a firm foundation for their daughters, all of which who would enter the religious life. The Martins were loving, but firm, in how they raised their family. They lived only for their children. They firmly believed that God was with them throughout every challenge that married life, parenting, and their occupations presented.

She died of breast cancer in 1877 and he moved the family to Lisieux to be near his brother’s family for assistance. He died in 1894. Their youngest daughter came to be known as Saint Therese of Lisieux, “Little Flower”.

Louis and Zelie were declared Venerable in 1994 by Pope John Paul II, beautified in 2008, and canonized in 2015.

“God gave me a father and mother more worthy of heaven than of earth.” – Saint Therese of the Child Jesus

For God’s Glory.