Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin: A Perfect Model for Marriage, the Family, and Suffering

Many have heard about St. Therese of Lisieux, but there is less knowledge of her parents, Louis and Zelie Martin. They are saints as well, canonized in 2015 by Pope Francis, and their feast day was celebrated on Wednesday. They are only the second married couple to be canonized by the Church, and they show a wonderful example for married couples and families, their influence evident in the fact that five of their nine children, which was all of their surviving children, entered religious life. They were patient and loving toward each other and their children, and they both embraced suffering for the love of God toward the end of their lives.

Louis and Zelie lived as a celibate couple for the first year of their marriage, but on the advice of a priest began trying to start a family. This proved to be very fruitful advice, as the couple had nine children, four of whom died young, while the remaining five daughters, including the future St. Therese of Lisieux, entered the service of the Church. The couple worked hard to instill the virtues of God into their children, correcting their faults and rewarding their good works and displays of virtue. They would also encourage them to make sacrifices daily for the love of God and to help them become less selfish. When Zelie was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer, she bore her sufferings with great grace and resigned herself to the will of God. She died on August 28, 1877. Louis continued to raise his daughters in the Faith and after they had all been given to God in His service, he asked God for the grace to suffer something for Him, since he felt that he was too happy after having given his daughters to Jesus. Two months later, he began suffering debilitating strokes and after six years of suffering, he died on July 29, 1894.

Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin show us the perfect model for marriage and raising a family, doing all for the glory of God and devoting their lives to helping each other and their children get to heaven. This is needed in our society today, where divorce rates are high because of selfishness and wanting to live only for oneself instead of the other person in a marriage. Couples are also choosing not to have children, ignoring the purpose of marriage as a means to give life and raise families for the glory of God. Louis and Zelie also teach us to bear our sufferings out of love for God. Louis’s prayer even shows us how to make an offering of ourselves and willingly choose suffering in order to conform ourselves to Christ. We can ask for their prayers and intercession when we are going through suffering and they can also help those who are newly married to live a fruitful and holy married life.

Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, pray for us!