Fast Track



servant of God
sr. francoise therese
(marie leonie martin)
sr. franciscae teresiae
"god's little violet"
1863 - 1941


biography



Marie Leonie Martin was born on June 3, 1863 in the Martin family home at rue du Pont-Neuf in Alençon, located in the Normandy region of France. She entered this world with blonde hair and beautiful blue eyes but sadly, her physical health was not very good. Leonie was the third-born child of nine children of Louis and Zelie Martin. The proud parents named her Marie Leonie Martin. Louis and Zelie gave each of their children the first name of Marie in honor of Our Lady and each male child was given the additional name of Joseph in honor of St. Joseph. Her father was a watchmaker and her mother was a lace maker. On June 4, 1863, the Martin family brought their newly born child, Marie Leonie to the Cathedral of Saint Pierre-de-Montsort to be baptized by Father Lebouc. Mrs. Leonie (Gilbert) Tifenne, a very close friend of the family, was given the honor of being Leonie's godmother and Adolphe was given the honor of being Leonie's godfather.



Azelie gave birth again a year later on October 13, 1864, to Marie Helene who passed away on February 22, 1870, at the age of five. Louis and Azelie were blessed on September 20, 1866 with the birth of their first son, Joseph Louis Martin. It was with great sadness that he too passed away a year later on February 14, 1867. On December 19, 1867 the birth of their second son. Joseph Jean Baptiste was born, however, was taken away from them, on August 25, 1868. The life of Louis and Azelie's sixth daughter, Marie Melanie Therese was short from August 16, 1870 to October 8, 1870.


From the start of Leonie's life her physical health was very poor. Once Leonie reached the age of nine months old, she suffered from whooping cough. After surviving from whooping cough, she then contracted the measles with violent convulsions before her first birthday. Leonie's father and mother were very worried that their child would not survive. Azelie contacted Isidore Guerin, her brother, a pharmacist in Lisieux, asking him if he had any remedies to help aid in Leonie's recovery. His ability, as a pharmacist, to help his niece was very limited and a cure for Leonie was not be received. Azelie then contacted her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithee, who was a Visitation nun at a convent in Le Mans. Sister Marie-Dosithee wrote to Azelie and suggested that she make a novena to then Blessed Margaret Mary and made this statement during her novena: "If Leonie is to become a saint one day, then cure her." (GV) Leonie's father, set out for a pilgrimage to Notre-Dame du Sées (Our Lady of the Seas) for a cure to his daughter's illness. After the novena to then Blessed Margaret Mary, Leonie was cured and no longer suffered from chronic illnesses to this degree during her infancy. Azelie describes Leonie after she was cured: "Nine days after Leonie's illness, she was able to land on her feet again, running around the house like a little rabbit." (SF) It was a year and a half before Leonie learned to walk.


In 1871, there were two changes that were taking place. The first change was that the family was moving into their new home, which was previously owned by Azelie's father, at 36 rue Saint-Blaise in Alençon. The second change was that Leonie was going to attend the Visitation boarding school and finally become a student.


As Leonie started getting older, it became evident that it was getting more and more difficult to prepare her for school, her parents worked feverishly to tame her strong rebellious nature and to teach her to focus on learning. By the time Leonie was now old enough to attend school, Azelie wanted to send Leonie to the Visitation boarding school in Le Mans where her older two sisters were already studying. Azelie tried twice to get Leonie enrolled at the Visitation boarding school however, her attempts became fruitless. The Mother Superior had rejected Leonie's entrance both times. Azelie contacted her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithee, at the boarding school and asked her if she could speak to the Mother Superior about allowing Leonie to enter. The Mother Superior finally agreed, but I was only on a temporary basis to see whether or not Leonie was able to adjust to the rigors of her new surroundings.


Sister Marie-Dosithee took special care of Leonie while she was at the Visitation boarding school. She tutored Leonie in the subjects that she was being taught. One of Leonie's difficult subjects to master was math and she made every effort to resist learning this subject. Leonie was sent home again, due to her in ability to control her resistant nature to learn even though she had a very loving heart. A third attempt was made to send her back to the Visitation boarding school by her mother. Azelie wanted desperately for Leonie to learn the Catechism at the boarding school for her First Holy Communion, Leonie rejoined her two older sisters, Marie and Pauline, at the boarding school in January of 1874. Azelie looked to her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithee to change Leonie's character. Sister Marie-Dosithee used her strong character to persuade Leonie to align herself with her fellow students but it was not working at all. Sister Marie-Dosithee decided to try kindness as a method to control her sudden outbursts while she was around other students as she was not able to focus all of her energy on her work.

Azelie was contacted and told to pick up her daughter at the Visitation boarding school. When Azelie arrived in Le Mans, she spoke to her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithee. Azelie's sister felt that even though it was difficult to teach her, she felt she was a "child of destiny". She also thought that one day Leonie would join her as a nun in the Visitation convent.

After Leonie rejoined her family in Alençon, Azelie found her two retired teachers to tutor her, in her studies, at their home. The two retired teachers appeared to be on the surface very respectable and religious, however, that was not to be the case. After Azelie spoke with Leonie about an event, which occurred with the two teachers, Azelie decided to end Leonie's tutoring with the teachers. Azelie then decided to take upon the task of teaching her daughter herself and also teaching her the Catechism for her First Holy Communion.

Leonie was very receptive in learning the Catechism from her mother. Azelie took Leonie on a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in a town just outside of Alençon called Sees, in preparation for her First Holy Communion. When the day came, Leonie was ready to take her First Holy Communion. Azelie decided that one poor girl, in Leonie Catechism class, would be given a beautiful white communion dress, as her family could not afford one for her. The Martin family also gave her a place of honor in the festivities that the family had planned for after the event. On May 23, 1875, Leonie and her friend took their First Holy Communion at the Church of Notre-Dame (Our Lady) in Alençon. Later in life, Leonie would remark by saying: "My First Holy Communion was not the greatest day of my life because during my childhood I spent my time suffering from many trials set before me by God. Right after Leonie took her First Holy Communion, she went to Lisieux to spend some time with her uncle and aunt.


Leonie was still a little rebellious and strong willed against her parent's authority. However, her heart towards them was just as loving and strong. Leonie loved to entertain and take care of her younger sister, Therese. She would sing to her a little lullaby until she went to sleep. Leonie did, however, spend a lot of time alone in her bedroom and a lot of time with the maid. Leonie's family suspected something was bothering her but they could not figure out what it was. Leonie's behavior would change drastically from being a pleasant child to being an unruly child.


Azelie would bring Leonie with her to Le Mans when she went to see her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithee. She still felt that her sister had a great influence over Leonie and could possibly be able to help change her behavior. Sister Marie-Dosithee still held onto the fact that Leonie would someday become religious.





In the fall of 1876, Azelie found out that her sister had tuberculosis. In December of the same year, Azelie told her family that she had breast cancer. Leonie was devastated by the news of her mother's illness. In January 1877, Azelie went to visit Sister Marie-Dosithee for the last time. Azelie asked her sister when she went to Heaven, to please ask Our Lady for help correcting Leonie's behavior. Leonie wanted to write a letter to her holy aunt before she died. Leonie asked her sister, Marie, to help write her letter to her aunt. Leonie wrote: "My dear Aunt, when you get to Heaven, will you please ask the good God, if He pleases, to give me the grace to be converted and also to give me the vocation of becoming a true religious, for I think of that every day." (GV)


Photo: Visitation monastery in Caen, (Center) Leonie



The next day, when her sister Marie reviewed the letter, Marie could not understand what she meant about being a true religious. Marie confronted Leonie asking her what she meant about being a true religious. Leonie replied: "A true religious is one who becomes a saint and I wish to become a saint." On February 24, 1877, Sister Marie-Dosithee ended her suffering with tuberculosis and was received by the Lord. The Martin family went to Le Mans to attend her funeral and to pay their last and loving respects to their holy aunt.
Azelie held out for hope that her sister would come through for her in Heaven and bring about a positive change in Leonie's behavior. A couple of weeks had past and the secret of Leonie's behavior was finally coming to the surface. Marie investigated the strange relationship Leonie had with Louise Marais, the maid. Marie could not understand why Leonie was very good when she was around Louise and then very bad when she was around her mother. She noticed that Louise had gained total control over Leonie and was terrorizing and beating her. The only person that Leonie was to obey was her and only her. After Marie found out what was happening to Leonie, she went straight to her mother and told her. Once Azelie was informed she became very upset and distraught. Azelie went to Louise and confronted her about her treatment towards her daughter Leonie. Azelie ordered her to leave the premises at once and to never return. Louise begged and pleaded with Azelie to stay because she had nowhere else to go. Azelie went to speak with Louis to decide on what action was to be taken with Louise. Azelie instructed Louise that she is not to have any contact with Leonie and upon her death she was to leave.
Once the secret had surfaced, Leonie's behavior quickly changed for the better. Azelie and Leonie's relationship had blossomed beautifully. Azelie described her new relationship with Leonie to her brother, Isidore, in a letter: "I cannot help thinking that this transformation is due to the prayers of our saintly sister, for all was altered two to three weeks after her death. It is she who has obtained for me the grace to know how to act so as to win Leonie's affections, and I hope God will let me finish my task, which is far from being completed as yet." (SF)
The breast cancer, taking an even harsher effect on her health, Azelie had a lot of work ahead of her, prior to her death. Bringing an end to her lace-making business and also reeducating Leonie was an enormous task for her to complete. Azelie was fearful that she would die before she finished helping Leonie to become more independent. She was also afraid that Leonie would go back to her previous behavior and there would be no one there to help her. Thankfully, Leonie was a willing and loving soul, allowed her mother to teach her everything about transforming her life for the better.
Their relationship blossomed so much that they became inseparable. Leonie helped her mother with the Point d'Alençon lace. Azelie taught Leonie about "gentleness, kindness, and then detachment from pleasure, the determination to give pleasure, not matter at what cost to the good Jesus." (CW) Leonie stayed at her mother's side all the way to the end.
Azelie realizing that her life was coming to an end, she decided to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes to seek out a cure for her breast cancer. Louis made reservations for the pilgrimage to Lourdes for Azelie and her three older daughters. Louis stayed behind to take care of Celine and Therese. Azelie and Leonie boarded the train in Alençon to Le Mans. They quickly stopped to pick up Marie and Pauline at the Visitation boarding school. All four of them boarded the train destined to Lourdes.
On the train their bad luck began. A few passengers on the train wanted to make some coffee and placed it over a spirit lamp. The lamp fell over, douching their clothes in oil. Upon arriving in Lourdes they were forced to leave the place they were originally suppose to stay at and look for another place to lodge. The bad luck did not stop there. To Marie's dismay, her aunt's rosary was lost, which was given to her after her aunt's death.
Each day, while they were at Lourdes, Azelie was taken into the frozen waters of Lourdes to be dunked and each time a cure was not to be received. She prayed earnestly that she would receive a cure. She asked if it is not the will of God to cure her, please cure Leonie and make her a saint. Azelie felt that she would gladly give her life up to God if her daughter Leonie was cured and made a saint. To the great dismay of Azelie's daughters, at their mother's attempt at receiving a cure for her breast cancer, they were greatly upset that she did not receive a cure. Azelie worked hard to change their minds about ever doubting God's plan for her.
It was time for them to leave Lourdes and head back home to Alençon. When the train arrived in Alençon, Louis, Celine and Therese were waiting there for them. When Louis saw their faces, he knew a cure was not received. Azelie approached Louis with great optimism and said God did answer one of her prayers instead. Leonie was so distraught over her mother's illness that she prayed a novena to ask God to take her in her mother's place.
Up to the months leading to Azelie's death, her main concern was still over Leonie's welfare after she was gone. Who will look after her? Azelie asked Louis to move to Lisieux after her death so that he and the girls would be around her family, the Guerins. Azelie felt that by moving to Lisieux, her children would be better taken care of and looked after by Isidore and Elisa-Celine. As the end of August approached, it was a matter of hours before Azelie would be taken into God's arms. Marie promised her that she would look after and take care of Leonie. On August 218, 1877, Azelie's soul ascended to Heaven. Azelie's funeral took place at the cathedral and she was buried in Cimetière Notre Dame (Our Lady's Cemetery).
Honoring the wishes of his late wife Azelie and conceding to the advice of his brother-in-law, Isidore, Louis decided to move the family to Lisieux. It was Isidore who found the residence called "Les Buissonnets" (The Woods) where the family was to live. The family packed up their belongings and paid their last respects to Azelie, at the cemetery, before setting off for their new home.
As soon as they arrived in Lisieux, Louis went back to Alençon to finish the lace-making business that Azelie had started. Marie and Pauline started organizing their new home while Leonie, Celine and Therese started school immediately at the Benedictine boarding school called Notre-Dame du Prè (Allied bombing raids destroyed the school in June 1944). Leonie became a boarder while Celine and Therese went to school during the day and came home at night. Leonie did still have difficulty with her schoolwork but not to the severity that she was having when she was at the Visitation boarding school in Le Mans.
After the death of her mother, Leonie's heart was developing into a greater love for herself and her family changes were taking place in all parts of her life. Everyone in the family saw this positive change in her and especially Marie. She felt that it was their mother who was helping Leonie's heart evolve into a beautiful young lady. Louis commonly referred to her as his "Good Leonie".
One of Leonie's teachers was surprised by how delicate her thoughts were when she wrote her compositions for class. She was very impressed by the love and compassion she put into her writings. Leonie made every effort to express her love for others and to continue to make small sacrifices on their behalf. Leonie completed her studies at the Benedictine boarding school to visit her former teachers who nicknamed her "The Abbey Lover".
Leonie's older sister, Pauline, took a big step in devoting herself fully to God and entered the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux, in October 1882. Leonie and her sisters went to visit Pauline often at the monastery.
In May of 1883, Therese, Leonie's youngest sister, became extremely ill. The doctor was called and he was not able to diagnose her illness. Expecting that Therese was going to die, Leonie and her sisters stayed with her day and night. On May 13, 1883, as Marie, Leonie, and Celine were praying at the foot of the bed, a miracle happened. An apparition of Our Lady appeared before Therese and she was cured. Leonie, praying with her eyes full of tears, was not able to see the apparition of Our Lady. However, she did notice that Therese was cured when she saw a major change in her physical appearance.







Martin Sisters Organization