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A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Episode 11
In this episode, after the death of her sister Thérèse and inspired by her witness and teachings. Léonie attempts for a fourth time to enter into religious life.
Her sisters, Pauline, Marie, and Celine, along with her Uncle Isodore and Aunt Celine Guerin, offer Léonie letters of encouragement, joy, and hope as she begins again an attempt to enter into religious life at the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen. She desires to be a little “violet” in order to love and live as Sister Françoise-Thérèse, a new name she has selected to honor St. Francis de Sales and her sister Thérèse.
Her perseverance inspires, but will she finally make it to final vows?
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
- Perseverance in Faith: How does Léonie Martin’s repeated attempts to join the Visitation Monastery inspire you to persevere in your own faith journey?
- Role of Family Support: In what ways can you provide or seek support from your family in your spiritual endeavors?
- Impact of Spiritual Guidance: How has the guidance of spiritual mentors influenced your faith, similar to Léonie’s connection with her sister Thérèse?
- Finding the Right Environment: Reflect on the importance of finding a nurturing environment for your spiritual growth. Where do you feel most supported in your faith?
- Joy in Vocation: How can Léonie’s joy and contentment upon professing her vows encourage you to find joy in your own vocation or life path?
- Power of Correspondence: Consider the role of communication in Léonie’s journey. How can you use communication to strengthen your faith and support others?
- Faith and Maturity: How does Léonie’s maturity and resolve in her letters inspire you to approach challenges in your own faith with maturity?
- Role of Prayer: How can you incorporate prayer into your daily routine to draw strength and perseverance, as seen in Léonie’s life?
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
