September 25, 2024

Dear John,

As I inch closer to my 50th, I am becoming a caretaker for my parents. Although they still enjoy good health and independence, they have reached a point where they require more assistance. I'm happy to do it, really. They cared for me; now it is my turn.

Today's saints are not household names, but their daughter is: St. Thérèse of Lisieux—the Little Flower herself! Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin, through their lives, showed their children the way of grace and prayerful obedience to God. This clearly rubbed off on their youngest daughter.

I wish we at Franciscan Media had the resources to spread the message of Louis and Zélie to even more people. And with your help, we can make it happen. Won't you consider a gift to Franciscan Media today?

With your support, we can provide more resources that celebrate our brothers and sisters in faith.

Peace!
Christopher Heffron
Editorial Director

SAINT OF THE DAY

Saint of the Day for September 25: Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin

Saint Louis Martin (August 22, 1823 – July 29, 1894) and Saint Zélie Guérin (December 23, 1831 – August 28, 1877)

Listen to Saints Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin’s Story

Born into a military family in Bordeaux, Louis trained to become a watchmaker. His desire to join a religious community went unfulfilled because he didn’t know Latin. Moving to Normandy, he met the highly-skilled lace maker, Zélie Guérin, who also had been disappointed in her attempts to enter religious life. They married in 1858, and over the years were blessed with nine children, though two sons and two daughters died in infancy.

Louis managed the lace-making business that Zélie continued at home while raising their children. She died from breast cancer in 1877.

Louis then moved the family to Lisieux to be near his brother and sister-in-law, who helped with the education of his five surviving girls. His health began to fail after his 15-year-old daughter entered the Monastery of Mount Carmel at Lisieux in 1888. Louis died in 1894, a few months after being committed to a sanitarium.

The home that Louis and Zélie created nurtured the sanctity of all their children, but especially their youngest, who is known to us as Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. Louis and Zélie were beatified in 2008, and canonized by Pope Francis on October 18, 2015. The liturgical feast of Saints Louis Martin and Zélie Guérin is celebrated on July 12.

Reflection

In life, Louis and Zélie knew great joy and excruciating sorrow. They firmly believed that God was with them throughout every challenge that married life, parenting, and their occupations presented.

MINUTE MEDITATIONS

As St. Francis Lay Dying

Francis knew he was dying. A doctor friend from Arezzo had come to visit him and told him that with God’s grace, all would be well. But Francis knew his friend was trying to make him feel better about his exhaustion and acute pain. So he said in return, “Please tell me the truth. Whether I live or die makes no difference to me. I only want to do God’s will.” “Well, then dear Brother Francis, as a doctor, I have to tell you that your illness is incurable, and as your friend, I need to say further that I believe you will die at the end of September or beginning of October.” Francis was ecstatic! He lifted his arms toward heaven and said, “Welcome, Sister Death.”

And when that moment finally came in early October, Francis called to Brother Angelo and Brother Leo to come to where he lay on the ground and sing for him “The Canticle of the Creatures.” Which they did, even as their voices broke with sobs. And when they came to the end, Francis, even in his weakness, sang a final verse he composed spontaneously.

Praise to you, my Lord, for our Sister bodily death,
from whom no living creature can escape.
How dreadful for those who die in sin.
How lovely for those she finds in
Your most holy will,
For the second death can do them no harm.
O praise and bless my Lord,
thank Him and serve Him
Humbly but grandly!

—from the book Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings from Saint Francis
by Murray Bodo, OFM

PAUSE+PRAY

Following the Path of Francis

Reflect

Ilia Delio writes, “The Franciscan path is different because it does not ask, ‘What would Jesus do?’ but, ‘How does Jesus live in me?’” Today, take some time to reflect on this profound question. How is Jesus living in you?

Prayer

Blessed St. Francis,
We thank you for showing us the way into our heart where God
Gloriously shines and shines.
Help us find the golden presence within.
The peace.
St. Francis, your gentle beauty leads us to Christ,
and we thank you for helping us fill our lives
as you filled yours—overflowing with grace and hope.
Flooded with light.

Act

Take a long, deep breath and know that it’s true: With every single breath, the light of Jesus lives in you.

Today's Pause+Pray was written by Maureen O'Brien. Learn more here!

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