St. Therese of Lisieux 's mother, Zelie's encounter with the devil

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I read in social media that St. Therese of Lisieux 's mother, St. Zelie Martin had an encounter with the devil while still bearing St. Therese (seems trying to stop her to bring forth a saint).

For those who know how it went, can you share to us the story?
 
Sounds interesting. I didn’t even know her mother was a saint!
 
That’s new to me, and I’ve read quite a bit on them. So if you find the documentation, please post it here.
 
I don’t remember reading that in St Therese’s autobiography. What I do remember from her book is an incident where her mother was frantically praying to Mary about her daughter who had just died without receiving some sacrament, I don’t remember which, first holy communion, confession, last rites, something. Anyway, the little girl died and Zelie was praying and crying to Mary, wanting to know if her daughter was OK. Suddenly she heard an audible woman’s voice saying, “She’s here beside me now.” Zelie knew her daughter was in heaven. I love that story. 🙂
 
AnneElizabeth said:
I know that, thanks… I was referring to the supposed incident the OP posted about.
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My guess is that the incident referred to is something that became distorted by the perception of others as it is passed on.
 
Dorothy said:
The parents of St. Therese, Louis and Zelie Martin, will be canonized on October 18th.
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That’s good to know. That you for the information. When I was little, and then a teenager, St. Therese was my favorite saint, but as I grew into adulthood and went to college, it became St. Teresa of Avila. I have a close association with Carmelites, having grown up with them. My aunt was Mother Superior of a cloister in France (not St. Therese’s, but not too far away). I grew up there, and the nuns, of course, spoke of both Therese and Teresa frequently. One might think I’d choose Therese as my confirmation name, but it is Francoise for St. Francis of Assisi, who I also adore. Well, St. Therese’s name was Marie Francoise Therese Martin, so I guess in a way, my confirmation name does honor her, too.👍

It’s hard to believe how much she progressed in her spiritual life for one who only lived to her mid-20s. She was so remarkable! I’m so glad we have actual photos of her.
 
Lily_Bernans said:
That’s good to know. That you for the information. When I was little, and then a teenager, St. Therese was my favorite saint, but as I grew into adulthood and went to college, it became St. Teresa of Avila. I have a close association with Carmelites, having grown up with them. My aunt was Mother Superior of a cloister in France (not St. Therese’s, but not too far away). I grew up there, and the nuns, of course, spoke of both Therese and Teresa frequently. One might think I’d choose Therese as my confirmation name, but it is Francoise for St. Francis of Assisi, who I also adore. Well, St. Therese’s name was Marie Francoise Therese Martin, so I guess in a way, my confirmation name does honor her, too.👍

It’s hard to believe how much she progressed in her spiritual life for one who only lived to her mid-20s. She was so remarkable! I’m so glad we have actual photos of her.
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I have very much the same thoughts as you of St. Therese and St. Teresa of Avila. St. Therese I became acquainted with when my cousin gave me a book about her to read when I was seventeen. It made a profound impression on me. Then, later in life I purchased some books on a book rack in my parish, and they were of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila. Also, “The Fioretti” with many anecdotal descriptions of the beginnings of the Franciscan order…nuggets of wisdom!

I love those saints! As I got older and learned about Third Orders I thought about both Carmelite and Franciscan. I realized I didn’t have to be “torn” between the two, as we are all in the same parade with different uniforms. 🙂

I am thankful for the good parenting of Louis and Zelie Martin. The Lord chose the best time for their canonization!

Peace and blessings to you!

Dorothy, Third Order Lay Carmelite

P.S. I too am glad that there are photographs of St. Therese available.
 
I don’t want to hijack this thread… but since we are talking about St. Therese’s parents, I thought I’d ask…

Does anyone have any more information about their marraige? An article I read said that they were married at midnight on July 13th, 1858 in the parish of Notre-Dame d’Alençon. I found that unusual that they were married at midnight. Was this a common practice back then? Why did they decide to do that? And did they have guests? Or was midnight Mass an everyday thing back then?

I have heard of couples marrying in the middle of, say, a regular everyday (or usually Sunday) Mass. In fact I was happy to be a witness to one such marriage- a surprise for me, which I am very proud to have been an unsuspecting guest! I wish more people would marry like that. It feels more like a community then. I did not know the couple, but because they married like this, it was endearing to me that they would include us parishioners in it. I think about how beautiful and simple it was, and how it really glorified that Sunday Mass!
 
AnneElizabeth said:
I don’t want to hijack this thread… but since we are talking about St. Therese’s parents, I thought I’d ask…

Does anyone have any more information about their marraige? An article I read said that they were married at midnight on July 13th, 1858 in the parish of Notre-Dame d’Alençon. I found that unusual that they were married at midnight. Was this a common practice back then? Why did they decide to do that? And did they have guests? Or was midnight Mass an everyday thing back then?

I have heard of couples marrying in the middle of, say, a regular everyday (or usually Sunday) Mass. In fact I was happy to be a witness to one such marriage- a surprise for me, which I am very proud to have been an unsuspecting guest! I wish more people would marry like that. It feels more like a community then. I did not know the couple, but because they married like this, it was endearing to me that they would include us parishioners in it. I think about how beautiful and simple it was, and how it really glorified that Sunday Mass!
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I just discovered this site with a lot of information, but haven’t read too much in it yet.

louisandzeliemartin.org/the-lives-of-blessed-louis-and-zelie-martin/

I will bookmark it now so I can read more later.
 
Lily_Bernans said:
Thank you for the link. I will read it soon, tonight or tomorrow. I must finish a lesson plan now.

I am a Benedictine Oblate! Aren’t Third Orders wonderful? 👍
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Yes, Third Orders are wonderful! I am so thankful to our Blessed Mother for using specific circumstances, through a friend, to get me to visit a Lay Carmelite Order meeting with her, who was already in the Order. I felt like a ton of gold bricks fell on my head. No discernment period was necessary that I was called to be there.

Another friend, a Benedictine Oblate, gave me and a few others a blessed St. Benedict Jubilee medal. It is hanging in my dining room on the side of the framed picture of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
 
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