See two new online films about the life of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin and the family of St. Therese in Alencon

"Louis and Zelie Martin of Alencon" shows scenes familiar to the Martin family in Alencon, interviews in French, and the first film footage of the Pavilion, Blessed Louis Martin's watchtower and walled garden on the outskirts of Alencon.  Until the beatification of Zelie and Louis in October 2008, this property had been closed to pilgrims for decades. 

"The Inauguration of the Martin Family Home in Alencon" films the event in late April 2009 at which Louis and Zelie Martin's house on Rue Saint-Blaise, where St. Therese was born, was reopened to the press after having been closed for restoration.  Most of the film is interviews in French with Mgr. Jean-Claude Boulanger, bishop of Seez, and artists who worked on the restoration.  I thank the diocese of Seez WebTV for permission to post the films. 

"Pilgrimage to the Beatification of Blessed Zelie and Louis Martin: Alencon and Lisieux, 2008" - a film by Susan Ehlert

With thanks to Susan Ehlert, I am happy to present her seven-minute photo show of the events of the week of the beatification of Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese in October 2008.  Join us as we tour the places Louis and Zelie knew in Alencon.  Glimpse the historic exhibit of the belongings of the Martin family at St. Jacques Church in Lisieux.  See the renovated Carmelite monastery and the souvenirs of St. Therese.  Watch the events of Beatification Sunday.  Visit the garden of the house in Rue Labbey, Lisieux, where Blessed Louis lived for the last two years of his life.  Scroll down a little on the page to find the photo show.

Little Tessa Sale has entered into life

Little Tessa Sale entered into life on Saturday, February 7th.  Her funeral Mass is at eleven o'clock on Wednesday, February 11.  Please pray for her mother, father, sisters, and all her family.

Although Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin did not obtain Tessa's cure, I count on them to persuade God to work the miracle of consoling her family.  I can't help thinking of the letter Zelie's sister, Sister Marie-Dosithee, wrote her on February 23, 1870, after the death of her five-year-old Helene, the third child to die in three years:

"Sursum corda! Lift up your heart! Our angel is in Heaven, and without having undergone the trials of this world. Clothed in her white baptismal robe she has passed from the arms of her mother into those of our Lord. We would have liked to keep her with us; she was so promising, but who can foretell the future? Does she not possess true blessedness which she might have lost in the future? God is no less lovable when He takes away than when He gives to us.

* * *

I cannot help but think that you are happy to give to Heaven chosen souls, who will be your crown and joy. And then, too, your faith and your unshakable confidence will have their magnificent reward someday.

So be sure that the Lord will bless you, and that the measure of your trials will also be that of the consolations stored up for you. That is, will you not be completely rewarded if the good God, so pleased with you, will give you that great saint whom you have so much desired for His glory?"

Abandon them with me, if you please, to "the abysses of love and mercy of the Heart of Jesus."  Receive the gratitude of Tessa's family, and my gratitude, for accompanying them in your prayer.

Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin in Sri Lanka: homily of Archbishop Gomis of Colombo

His Grace, the Most Rev.  Dr. Oswald Gomis, Archbishop of Colombo, preached at a special Mass in honor of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin on November 30 at St. Theresa's Parish in Colombo, Sri Lanka.  Thanks to the kindness of His Grace and of Father Neil Dias Karunaratne, pastor of St. Theresa's, I have the honor of offering his homily on thereseoflisieux.org.  To listen to it, please click here or visit this page.

"Exposition: Story of a Family: Louis and Zelie Martin"

One of the highlights of my pilgrimage to Lisieux for the beatification of Zelie and Louis Martin, the parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux, was visiting the "Exposition: Story of a Family: Louis and Zelie Martin" mounted by the Pilgrimage Office at St. Jacques Church in Lisieux.  Hundreds of items from the everyday lives of the Martin and Guerin families were beautifully displayed.  As part of the beatification festivities, costumed guides representing Louis and Zelie Martin and Isidore and Celine Guerin conducted us through the candlelit exhibit on the evening of Thursday, October 16.