A recently discovered photograph of Venerable Zelie Martin, c. 1875

Thanks to the Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux and to Father Antonio of the Mother of God, O.C.D., I have the joy of sharing with you the recently discovered photograph of Venerable Zelie Martin, the mother of St. Therese, undated, but believed to date from about 1875, so that it reflects Zelie's face as Therese saw it.  It was recovered thanks to Mme. F. Besnier, a member of the photographer's family.  Please see it at /photos/  I am grateful to all who made this possible.

"Blessed Zélie Guérin and Louis Martin, Companions on our Journey"

Why has the Church called these spouses blessed?  What difference do their lives make for the women and men of today?  How can they accompany us on our own pilgrimage?  In honor of the beatification of the father and mother of St. Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, I wrote a short article to explore these questions.  Please see it at /press-kit-for-the-beatificatio/

a film of the celebration of the feast of St. Therese at Lisieux

This film of the candlelight processions of the reliquary of St. Therese that take place for the feast every year at Lisieux was generously contributed as a feast-day gift by its producer, Susan Ehlert.  Please view this four-minute film at /celebrating-st-thereses-feast/

New resources in English about the soon-to-be-Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux

Several generous translators have contributed to thereseoflisieux.org English translations of the conference "The Martin Couple: A Path to Sanctity that Imparts Faith" and the homily "The human charm of Christian sanctity" delivered by Cardinal Saraiva Martins at the celebrations at Alencon and Lisieux, July 12-13, 2008, of the 150th anniversary of the marriage of the Venerable Zelie and Louis Martin, the mother and father of St. Therese of Lisieux, when the Cardinal announced that they are to be beatified on Mission Sunday, October 19, 2008.  To read the conference and the homily, please visit /press-kit-for-the-beatificatio/

To read the article "Louis and Zelie Martin: A Marriage of Love," by Guy Gaucher, O.C.D., auxiliary bishop emeritus of Byeux and Lisieux and distinguished scholar of St. Therese, please visit /their-lives/ and click on the first link on the page, directly underneath the video.  This was published in French by Feu et Lumiere, July/August 2004 issue.  I thank the authors, publishers, and translators.

"The Parents of St. Therese" by Fr. James Geoghegan, O.C.D.

Fr. James Geoghegan, O.C.D. kindly permitted me to post his 1974 conference about Louis and Zelie Martin, "The Parents of St. Therese of Lisieux."  This conference, one of the few modern articles on this topic in English, has not dated since 1974.