Zélie Martin
1831-1877 19th century Feast day: July 12
Holiness in an overloaded daily life: work, children, bereavements, and a trust that holds everything together.
Who was Zélie Martin?
A lacemaker of Alençon and businesswoman, wife of Louis Martin and mother of nine children, four of whom died in infancy, she juggled orders, household and upbringing with an unshowy faith. Her two hundred and eighteen surviving letters tell the daily life of a funny, anxious, trusting woman, who died of cancer at forty-five. Her youngest daughter would become Thérèse of Lisieux.
In their own words
I want to become a saint; it will not be easy, there is a lot of hewing to do, and the wood is as hard as stone.
When our children came, our ideas changed a little: we lived only for them, they were all our happiness.
If the good Lord wants to heal me, I shall be very happy, for deep in my heart I want to live; it costs me much to leave my husband and my children.