Read online a short reflection by Dr. Frances Renda about the lives and marital spirituality of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin

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Louis and Zelie's marriage medallion; photo courtesy of Fr. Antonio Sangalli, O.C.D.Dr. Frances Renda, editor of A Call to a Deeper Love: The Family Correspondence of the Parents of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus, 1861-1885, wrote a brief and powerful reflection on the lives and marital spirituality of Louis and Zelie Martin as her introduction to that book. It reflects Dr. Renda's intimate and delicate understanding of the relationship and spirituality of Louis and Zelie and what it means not only for spouses but for all Christians.  I have seen no better short introduction in English.  If you have not yet treated yourself to the book, please read the introduction online courtesy of the Web site of the Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux.

Film of the visit of the relics of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin to Metz

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The relics of Blessed Louis and Zelie Martin are venerated at Sainte-Therese Church in Metz, northeastern France.  The first two minutes of this film shows a priest speaking in French about the Martin spouses; the rest shows the music, the prayer, and the visit of the reliquary to a Carmelite monastery. 

Go behind the scenes of the showcase of Natasha St.-Pier: About "Vivre d'Amour," the album of the poetry of St. Therese of Lisieux set to music, to be released April 22, 2013

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Canadian singer Natasha St. Pier at the Chapel of St. Therese of the Foundation of the Apprentices in Auteuil, FraAfter offering her seventh album, "Bonne nouvelle" ("Good News") on April 16, 2012 to her fans, Natasha St Pier is back with a brand new project.  On April 22 the interpreter of "Tu trouveras" is releasing an album which includes the poems of St. Therese of Lisieux, with music by Gregoire, produced by Roberto Ciurleo.  As she unveils in the video clip of the title song, "Vivre d'Amour" ("Living on Love"), she sings a duet with Anggun.  Natasha St Pier was in Paris last night, at the Chapel of St. Therese of the Foundation of the Apprentices of Auteuil for an exceptional showcase. She was accompanied by other artists participating in this event, namely Sonia Lacen (The Voice season 1), Elisa Tovati, The Stentors, Gregory Turpin, and Gregoire. Other personalities were present at the party. We were on site and ...

 .. we were able to gather some evidence.

First, producer Roberto Ciurleo (who also handles the musical Robin Hood with M Pokora) explained how such a coming-together was created: "I am the originator of the project because in my deep religious convictions I have been praying to St.  Therese for years.  What interested me about her is the fact that she was a girl, a teenager, who died very young and who wrote incredible texts.  Now they can speak to anyone. These texts are very modern.  They are full of love.  They speak to young and old alike.  When I discovered the text "Vivre d'Amour" ("Living on Love"), I suggested to Gregoire to make music under this title.  Living Love text, it was proposed to Gregory to make music on this title here. And the fact that it is Natasha St Pier who does it was just a dream. I loved all hier songs. She has a great voice. This album is different, but it will be good ... "

Sonia Lacen, the young woman working on a solo album for the end of the year, told us:  "The producers of the album called me to ask me if I wanted to participate in a project from the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux. I was immediately overwhelmed by the texts. It fascinated me. I admire the very difficult journey of St. Therese.  Also, the artist found the painting in the church very beautiful and loved being in this church. 

The producer and host of Chabada (France 3), Daniela Lumbroso, was also present, an opportunity for us to learn more about her visit: "I came to this event because I've known Natasha for a very long time. I love her.  I made probably one of her first TV appearances at the time on TF1.  I had probably one of his first TV at the time on TF1. And then I also came because I knew the project well, and I wanted to see a little better how it would go in this church.  I think it is quite mesmerizing. I love this album."

In the audience one could also see the singer Quentin Mosimann, winner of Star Academy 7, who is now is currently a coach on "La Voice Belgique" (a Belgian reality-TV singing competition).

Note: This article, written by Pierre Giacometti, appeared on April 11, 2013 at Télé Star, which kindly permitted me to translate and post it here.

The homage of Natasha St.-Pier to St. Therese of Lisieux

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"Therese: Vivre d'Amour" sung in concert at the Chapel of St. Therese of the Apprentices at Auteuil

At the St. Therese Chapel of the Apprentices of Auteuil, many artists gathered to pay tribute to St. Therese.

The young woman died at age 24; she was endowed with unusual kindness, but it is her maturity and her ideas in advance of her time that charmed Gregoire and all the artists who participated in the album.

It all started with the arrival of Gregoire, the emcee.  He explains the various reasons which led him to to set the texts of the saint to music.  A touching story and full of beautiful sacrifices.

"St. Therese was a model, she said something that struck us especially in view of her age and her epoch:  “We do not love to earn a salary.’  This sentence is instructive in the present context."  And the singer concluded his speech by thanking all the participants in this project.

Then we move to the first passage is that of Gregory Turpin. Natasha St.-Pier came to interpret “Vivre d’Amour” (“Living by Love”), the title song of the album.

Seven songs followed; Natasha sang them with all her heart and all her soul in the company of Élisa Dorati and Sonica Lacen for the song usually interpreted by Anguun, “Jeter des Fleurs” (“Strewing Flowers.”  For the fourth and sixth passages Natasha sang the song "Le petit papa" solo before being accompanied by Elisa again.

And finally for the last passage, Natasha is surrounded by a quartet of "stentors," amoving and touching ensemble for all those present in the chapel. The group presents a contrast both striking and toucing. 
Gregoire stayed in the shadows of the pillars, tense, hoping that everything would go well sr before all the cameras and journalists.

All the singers, the violinist, the cellist, and the pianist gathered under the applause to thank those present for their attendance and to take a break for photographers

Finally, at the end of the show, the singer of "Toi moi" remained discreet, leaving the beautiful singer from Quebec to play the game of questions and answers for TF1.

The album “Therese: Vivre d’Amour” will be released on April 22.  Notice to fans.

{Note: This is my translation of the French article "L'hommage de Natasha St-Pier à sainte Thérèse,"  published on the blog "Ninapeople" on April 16, 2013.  The translation appears at www.thereseoflisieux.org by the kind permission of Nina Saad, whom I thank for her generosity).

The Last Years of Saint Therese: Doubt and Darkness, 1895-1897, by Thomas Nevin, is available for pre-order.

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Thomas Nevin's first book about St. Therese, Therese of Lisieux: God's Gentle Warrior, drawing on previously unused material, was a major breakthrough in studies of St. Therese in English.  I am happy to announce that his long-awaited second book about St. Therese, The Last Years of Saint Therese: Doubt and Darkness, 1895-1897, will be published by Oxford University Press on July 15, 2013.  Pre-order it here ($29.66 and free shpping).  A big pre-order helps to launch a book successfully, so, if you plan to purchase the book, you can help it achieve a wider distribution by ordering it now. 

The editorial description:

For over a century, the Carmelite Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (1873-1897) has been revered as Catholicism's foremost folk saint of modern times. Universally known as "the Little Flower," she has been a source of consolation and uplift, an example of everyday sainthood by "the Little Way." This book puts aside that piety and addresses the torment of doubt within the life and writing of a saint best known for the strength of her conviction.

Nevin examines the dynamics of Christian doubt, and argues that it is integral to the journey toward selfless love which Thérèse was compelled to take. Thérèse's metaphors for doubt were "tunnel," "fog," and "vault," each one suggesting darkness, dimness, and enclosure. What, Nevin asks, did doubt mean to her? What was its source and nature? What was its object? He gives close attention to her reading and interpretations of the Old and New Testaments as pathways through her inner wilderness. Her Carmel of spiritual sisters becomes a vivid setting for this drama, with other women challenging Thérèse by their own trials of faith. One of Thérèse's indispensable lessons, Nevin concludes, is the acceptance of helplessness.

If you have not read Therese of Lisieux, God's Gentle Warrior, learn more about it here.