May 24, 2014: Stained-glass window dedicated to the Martin family to be blessed by Mgr Jacques Habert, bishop of Seez
/The stained-glass window dedicated to the Martin family in the church of St. Symphorien des Bruyères in the province of Orne, France.
On Saturday, May 24, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., Mgr Jacques Habert, bishop of the diocese of Séez, will preside at a Mass of thanksgiving for the restoration of the Church of St Symphorien des Bruyères in the province of Orne. Then he will bless the three new stained-glass windows in the church, including the window pictured above, dedicated to the Martin family. The window shows a scene from the life of the Martin family. At left, Zelie is teaching her two youngest daughters to pray: Therese is on her lap, and Celine kneels in front of her. One of the older Martin daughters looks on. The other two are near their father, who looks on. At the top of the window can be seen the words "Martin Family" and, at the bottom, the words "All Called to Saintliness."
A family at prayer
The Shrine at Alençon informed me that the window is based on the painting above, which represents the Martin family at prayer.
The family of Louis and Zelie Martin was chosen as a subject of the window not only by the Church but also by the mayor and the people of the commune of St Symphorien des Bruyères, a small municipality about an hour northwest of Alençon. We congratulate the commune and the Association for the Conservation of the Heritage of the commune for completing the restoration of this fifteenth-century church after ten years of work.
You may see other photos of the church on the Web site of Atelier Touchard Architectes, which accomplished the restoration.
May the life of the Martin family be a true icon for us. May we see their hardships and joys all now illumined by the light of Christ. May the light of their lives shine through ours so that they may obtain for us from God the same grace of seeing God in everything and everything in God.
I thank the Shrine at Alencon (http://www.louiszeliemartin-alencon.com/eng/), which permits me to share with you the photographs and the story.