IP#374 – Mary Dudro – Salt and Light: The Spiritual Journey of Élisabeth and Félix Leseur on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast

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Mary Dudro – Salt and Light: The Spiritual Journey of Élisabeth and Félix Leseur on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor

Mary Dudro-Gordon and Kris McGregor discuss Salt and Light: The Spiritual Journey of Elisabeth and Félix Leseur by Bernadette Chovelon. Presenting the remarkable story of Elisabeth, a devout Catholic, and Félix, a staunch atheist; their marriage was grounded in deep love and mutual respect despite their spiritual differences. Their relationship illustrates the transformative power of sacramental marriage as Elisabeth devoted herself to silent prayer, sacrifice, and trust in God’s plan for Félix’s conversion. Despite her chronic illness and the sorrow of infertility, Elisabeth maintained her faith, believing in God’s mercy and grace while selflessly serving her husband and others around her.

Their story takes a poignant turn after Elisabeth’s death when Félix reads her spiritual writings and is deeply moved by the hidden sacrifices she made for his soul. Overwhelmed by her example of love and faith, Félix experiences a profound conversion and later becomes a Dominican priest, dedicating the remainder of his life to serving God. Elisabeth and Felix’s story provides a compelling testament to the quiet power of prayer, the enduring nature of true marital love, and the mystery of divine mercy. Elisabeth Leseur’s example serves as an inspiration for those praying for the conversion of loved ones, reminding readers to trust in God’s timing and the unseen work of grace.

Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. The Power of Silent Witness: How can we practice silent, prayerful witness like Elizabeth Leseur when sharing our faith with loved ones who struggle with belief?
2. Sacrificial Love in Marriage: What does it mean to work for the salvation of one’s spouse, and how can we embody selfless love within our own marriages?
3. Trusting in God’s Timing: How can we cultivate greater trust in God’s timing, especially when praying for the conversion of someone we love?
4. The Call to Spiritual Parenthood: How can we, like Elizabeth and Félix, extend the love we might reserve for our children toward others in our families and communities?
5. Faith in the Midst of Suffering: How can Elizabeth’s example of enduring illness with grace inspire us to trust God more deeply during our own trials?
6. Hope for the Lost Sheep: How does Elizabeth’s unwavering belief in Félix’s eventual conversion challenge us to maintain hope and perseverance in prayer for those who seem far from God?
7. The Ordinary Path to Holiness: What does Elizabeth and Félix’s story reveal about the potential for holiness within ordinary, everyday life?
8. Marriage as a Path to Heaven: How can the Leseurs’ understanding of marriage as a shared mission for one another’s salvation influence the way we approach our own vocations?
9. The Mystery of Divine Mercy: How does the unfolding of Félix’s conversion after Elizabeth’s death demonstrate the limitless and unexpected ways God’s mercy operates?
10. The Witness of Christian Love: In what ways can we love others as Elizabeth did—without pressure or argument—so that they may encounter the love of God through our actions?

You can find the book here

From the book description:

“Élisabeth and Félix Leseur began their life together in France as a carefree young couple with a bright future ahead of them. They were beautifully and compatibly matched, except for one major difference—Élisabeth was a devout Catholic, and Félix was a firmly decided atheist. As they faced the seasons of life together, their relationship was tested, and both were called to deep spiritual transformation.

Out of love for her husband, Élisabeth spent her life offering her many sufferings for the sake of his conversion. After her death, and in response to the profound love he encountered in her writings, Félix converted and offered the rest of his life to God as a Dominican priest.

This biography is a lovely narrative of their marriage and the transformative power of God’s love and grace in their lives. It also presents a charming picture of upper-middle-class French society at the turn of the last century. The cause for the canonization of Élisabeth Leseur has been opened by the Catholic Church.”