That Crazy Martin Family!

Published 1 day ago • 3 min read

THAT CRAZY MARTIN FAMILY

by Kristen West McGuire

More than one nun has confided to me that she was forcefed a spiritual diet of the “Little Way” of St. Therese during her novitiate. It’s an acquired taste, at least for some. Although St. Therese is a doctor of the church and widely invoked today, her wisdom is more readily apparent after life’s experiences buffet our complacency.

The Martins weren’t exactly your average Catholic family. Both Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin attempted to join religious orders in early adulthood, and were rejected. Louis lacked the Latin scholarship necessary for the priesthood, and Zelie’s fragile health disqualified her. They met in Alençon, and recognized one another as soulmates.

Louis Martin was a watchmaker by trade, and a happy bachelor. His mother had noted devout Zelie at Mass, a successful lacemaker. Zelie’s sister, a Visitandine novice, received a tearful visit from the bride as the wedding approached. Zelie mourned her dream of religious life and was fearful of the physical toll of motherhood.

Louis also was distracted by spiritual yearnings and shared Zelie’s misgivings. So, when the Martins married in 1858, they resolved to undertake a chaste lifestyle. After ten months of marriage, their parish priest ordered them to consummate the marriage.

The charm of their firstborn completely changed the couple. Louis reportedly told the priest at the baptism, “This is the first time you have seen me here for a baptism, but it won’t be the last!” Mmm-hmmm. They had eight more children in thirteen years, but only five survived to adulthood: Marie, Pauline, Leonie, Celine and Therese.

Louis Martin was a modern helpmate of a husband, long before it was fashionable. Zelie supervised a cadre of more than a dozen lacemakers, in addition to competently running the household. Louis sold his business in 1871 and often traveled back and forth to Paris, visiting buyers and suppliers. Zelie kept up the business pace, even as her health failed after 1873, a testimony to her amazing energy. She worked hard!

Zelie had no time for village gossip and frittering away time in useless frivolities. She did write many letters to her siblings, and from these, we can learn of the zeal with which she mothered her brood. Although her own childhood as a military brat was unhappy and marked with a rigor of religious practice, her children experienced her joy in life and obvious pride in their beauty and intelligence.

There were plenty of worries and tears. They hired wet-nurses and servants to help them handle the domestic load. In at least one case, the wet nurse failed in her duties, and the poor infant starved to death. Reading between the lines, both Leonie and Therese had sensitive ears and Leonie had a severe learning disability with allergies. (See the historical sketch on page eight.) This isn’t heaven.

After Zelie died in 1877 from breast cancer, Louis sold the lace business and moved to Lisieux to be closer to family. The voluminous correspondence among the girls testifies to his solicitous care of them after their valiant mother’s death. They didn’t just esteem heaven because Zelie was there. The family made heaven real in their love for one another.

All five girls entered religious orders. One might worry that the girls were coached to seek the religious life that had eluded their parents. But, “the joy of the Lord was their strength.” Louis and Zelie grounded their family in the confidence of God’s mercy.

The story of the “Little Way” has spread the Martin family’s joy to millions of people! That’s a pretty good earthly return on an investment of spiritual yearning.