St. Therese and the Martin

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A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Episode 5

In this episode, we hear of the “remarkable change” that Zélie has seen in her daughter now that the maid’s terrible behavior toward Léonie has been exposed.  Their mother/daughter relationship has completely changed.  The heart of Leonie has opened up to her mother and  Zélie has the answer to her prayers…they are sharing a deeper, understanding bond of love.

As Léonie is absorbing her motherly love, Zélie sees her also absorbing more of God’s love and this is proving transformative for her daughter.  But Zélie’s illness is progressing as well. She prays to God for a healing of her breast cancer, so that she might be able to care for her younger children, especially her poor Léonie, who needs her mother now more than ever before.  She is greatly concerned, and asks “Who could help Léonie more than her own mother?” She turns to the Blessed Virgin Mary asking her to intercede with God for a miracle.

Zélie also ponders the reason why God would allow the bad treatment of her daughter by the maid to last so long.  Fr. Gallagher reflects on that mystery, as well as the forgiveness given to Louise, the Martin’s maid, by both Zélie and Léonie, which didn’t excuse the horrible behavior, but showed a great degree of grace-filled compassion.

Fr. Gallagher says, “Léonie’s life holds a very important story because she was the forgotten one; she was the one who was in the last place; she was the one who was less gifted than the others. Today we would call her a ‘problem child,’ and we’ll see that she certainly was the source of great anxiety to her parents, especially to her mother, Zélie, who loved her dearly.”

As a child, Léonie suffered from severe illnesses and physical maladies that would plague her entire life. She also struggled with understanding social clues and interactions and with behaving appropriately. Conventional educational models of the day failed to meet her particular needs, and she was labeled “developmentally delayed.” Yet those who knew her well described her as having a “heart of gold”.

Who was Léonie and what were her struggles? Why has her cause of canonization begun?  Father Gallagher, along with Kris McGregor,  answers these questions and explains why Léonie is “a bearer of hope” in this landmark series.

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A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Episode 6

In this episode, Zélie’s battle with cancer ends with her death.  Now a great time of transition begins for the entire Martin family, especially for Léonie.  The family moves from Alcon to Lisieux to be closer to Zélie’s brother, Isidore, and his wife, Celine.  Per one of Zélie’s dying wishes, Celine lovingly becomes like a second mother to the girls.

Something remarkable is beginning to occur at this time.  Léonie, over the course of several years, successfully attends a Benedictine boarding school located in Lisieux.  She begins to express herself with loving affection to others and expresses hope for the future.  Her family shares their belief that this “change” is due to Zélie’s heavenly intercession for her daughter.  However, this is also a time of uncertainty and some sadness for Léonie.  While her sister’s lives are moving forward, her life remains unclear.  What will become of poor Léonie as she begins adulthood.

Fr. Gallagher says, “Léonie’s life holds a very important story because she was the forgotten one; she was the one who was in the last place; she was the one who was less gifted than the others. Today we would call her a ‘problem child,’ and we’ll see that she certainly was the source of great anxiety to her parents, especially to her mother, Zélie, who loved her dearly.”

As a child, Léonie suffered from severe illnesses and physical maladies that would plague her entire life. She also struggled with understanding social clues and interactions and with behaving appropriately. Conventional educational models of the day failed to meet her particular needs, and she was labeled “developmentally delayed.” Yet those who knew her well described her as having a “heart of gold”.

Who was Léonie and what were her struggles? Why has her cause of canonization begun?  Father Gallagher, along with Kris McGregor,  answers these questions and explains why Léonie is “a bearer of hope” in this landmark series.

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A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Episode 8

In this episode, Fr. Gallagher begins to share more fully the letters exchanged between Léonie and her sister, Thérèse.

Léonie has returned home after a failed attempt of joining the Poor Clare’s and she eventually hopes to join the Order of the Visitation, founded by Saint Francis de Sales and Saint Jane Frances de Chantal.

Thérèse, 10 years younger than Léonie, proves to be a strong spiritual friend and companion for her sister.  Through this episode, we begin to get a glimpse of their tender, encouraging relationship. But as she has experienced in the past, this attempt to enter the Visitation Monastery in Caen will have its challenges and sufferings.

Fr. Gallagher says, “Léonie’s life holds a very important story because she was the forgotten one; she was the one who was in the last place; she was the one who was less gifted than the others. Today we would call her a ‘problem child,’ and we’ll see that she certainly was the source of great anxiety to her parents, especially to her mother, Zélie, who loved her dearly.”

As a child, Léonie suffered from severe illnesses and physical maladies that would plague her entire life. She also struggled with understanding social clues and interactions and with behaving appropriately. Conventional educational models of the day failed to meet her particular needs, and she was labeled “developmentally delayed.” Yet those who knew her well described her as having a “heart of gold”.

Who was Léonie and what were her struggles? Why has her cause of canonization begun?  Father Gallagher, along with Kris McGregor,  answers these questions and explains why Léonie is “a bearer of hope” in this landmark series.

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A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Episode 9

In this episode, Fr. Gallagher shares more letters exchanged between Léonie and her sister, Thérèse.

In this episode, Léonie has returned to the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen for a second time, hoping once again to enter fully into religious life.  Her beloved younger sister, Thérèse, who is now a Carmelite sister in Lisieux, sends spiritual words of encouragement during her time there.  Two years pass, and with great sadness, Léonie finds she must leave the Monastery. This marks her third failure to become a religious sister. Her family rally around her, but the question becomes once again, “What will become of poor Léonie?”

Fr. Gallagher says, “Léonie’s life holds a very important story because she was the forgotten one; she was the one who was in the last place; she was the one who was less gifted than the others. Today we would call her a ‘problem child,’ and we’ll see that she certainly was the source of great anxiety to her parents, especially to her mother, Zélie, who loved her dearly.”

As a child, Léonie suffered from severe illnesses and physical maladies that would plague her entire life. She also struggled with understanding social clues and interactions and with behaving appropriately. Conventional educational models of the day failed to meet her particular needs, and she was labeled “developmentally delayed.” Yet those who knew her well described her as having a “heart of gold.”

Who was Léonie and what were her struggles? Why has her cause of canonization begun?  Father Gallagher, along with Kris McGregor,  answers these questions and explains why Léonie is “a bearer of hope” in this landmark series.