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A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Episode 10
In this episode, Fr. Gallagher shares more letters exchanged between Léonie and her sister, Thérèse.
In this episode, Léonie has returned home after her second failed attempt to enter into religious life at the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen. Her father, Louie, has passed away, and her sister Céline has entered the Carmel with her three other sisters. Her aunt and uncle have warmly welcomed her into their home, but she feels uncomfortable and out of place given the family’s outgoing social nature. What will become of poor Léonie?
As Thérèse nears her death, she continues to write words of encouragement to Léonie. She reassures Léonie that she will be even closer to her once she reaches heaven and will never stop praying for her.
After reading and re-reading Thérèse’s writings, Léonie is more determined than ever to return to the Visitation Sisters, where major changes have occurred within the Monastery. The next chapter of Léonie’s story is about to begin.
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.
Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions:
- Léonie’s Struggles and Perseverance: How do Léonie’s repeated rejections from the Carmel reflect the challenges many face in pursuing their vocations?
- Thérèse’s Encouragement and God’s Mercy: In what ways does Thérèse’s assurance of God’s love and understanding resonate with our own experiences of doubt and despair?
- Embracing Little Acts of Love: Reflect on the significance of Thérèse’s emphasis on the value of small gestures of love in our spiritual lives. How can we incorporate this mindset into our daily actions?
- Finding Hope in the Face of Failure: Despite feeling like a failure, Léonie finds hope in the possibility of a new beginning. How can we draw inspiration from her perseverance in times of disappointment or rejection?
- Trusting in God’s Plan: Léonie’s journey reminds us of the importance of trusting in God’s timing and plan, even when faced with obstacles. How can we cultivate a deeper trust in God’s providence in our own lives?
Marie
Pauline
Céline
St. Thérèse
A resource used for this series
Images in this post of the Martin/Guerin family are used with permission from the Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux website for strictly non-commercial use. We encourage you to visit the website for more information on this remarkable family.
For more series Fr. Timothy Gallagher podcasts, visit here
Father Timothy M. Gallagher, O.M.V., was ordained in 1979 as a member of the Oblates of the Virgin Mary, a religious community dedicated to retreats and spiritual formation according to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Fr. Gallagher is featured on the EWTN series “Living the Discerning Life: The Spiritual Teachings of St. Ignatius of Loyola.” For more information on how to obtain copies of Fr. Gallaghers’s various books and audio which are available for purchase, please visit his website: frtimothygallagher.org
