Bl. Leonie Martin--the Lesser Known Sister Of St. Therese

[InHisLove726]

I have been doing a lot of reading on Bl. Leonie Martin, partly because I have a friend that is interested in the Visitation and Carmelite orders, so I thought it would be really neat to know a little more about this lesser known sister of St. Therese. In the past day, she has really captivated me! I find it so beautiful that many writers of the shorter autobiographies call her one of the "first disciples of the Little Way." Reading her stories have really brought peace in my own vocation journey because I can really relate to her. I'm looking to acquire the book called "Leonie Martin: A Difficult Life" by Marie Baudouin-Croix to learn more about this little saint. I'm thinking of starting a novena to her, asking for assistance in my vocation and ask her to help me figure out which order God is calling me to.

For those who don't know about Bl. Leonie Martin, also known as Sr. Francoise-Therese, she was a Visitandine nun in the monastery of Caen, France. She entered and left twice, but entered for the third and final time in 1899, after the death of her father and St. Therese. Here are some websites with more information:

[url="http://martinsisters.org/sister_francoise_therese.html"]http://martinsisters.org/sister_francoise_therese.html[/url]
[url="http://www.helpfellowship.org/Sr_Francoise-Therese.htm"]http://www.helpfellowship.org/Sr_Francoise-Therese.htm[/url]

[Lilllabettt]

Leonie is my favorite.

I don't believe she has been beatified though.

Maybe soon!

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Lilllabettt' post='1904573' date='Jun 28 2009, 08:13 PM']Leonie is my favorite.

I don't believe she has been beatified though.

Maybe soon![/quote]

IMHO, all of the Martin sisters, along with their parents, should be recognized as saints.

[Lilllabettt]

I think Leonie made 4 attempts at religious life. That's perseverance.

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Lilllabettt' post='1904614' date='Jun 28 2009, 08:55 PM']I think Leonie made 4 attempts at religious life. That's perseverance.[/quote]

Yep, you are correct.

[b]1st attempt[/b]--Poor Clare Nuns (left due to poor health and not being able to follow strict observance)

[b]2nd attempt[/b]--Visitation Monastery in Caen (her sisters claimed her impulsive attitude drove her to enter the Visitation Monastery almost 8 months after leaving the Poor Clares)

[b]3rd attempt[/b]--second entrance in Caen Visitation (entered and despite her good will and observance of the Rule, she was asked to leave after a new Prioress desired even greater observance)

[b]4th attempt[/b]--her final attempt after Louis Martin's and St. Therese's deaths. She stayed until her death in 1941.

I loved reading about her stubborn nature. I laughed when I saw how headstrong and impulsive she was because I am like her in that regard. It brought peace and joy to my heart when I read that she was able to curb her desires and live the "Little Way" so patiently.

[PrayerSupporter]

[quote name='InHisLove726' post='1904560' date='Jun 28 2009, 08:09 PM']Reading her stories have really brought peace in my own vocation journey because I can really relate to her. I'm looking to acquire the book called "Leonie Martin: A Difficult Life" by Marie Baudouin-Croix to learn more about this little saint. I'm thinking of starting a novena to her, asking for assistance in my vocation and ask her to help me figure out which order God is calling me to.[/quote]

Another book about her is God Made the Violet, Too by Albert H. Dolan. It's an older book (1948) but Dolan was a biographer who wrote about all of the "Martin girls"

And, yes, it is true that Leonie tried her vocation four times -- once with the Poor Clares and three times with the Visitations. St. Therese said before she died that Leonie would re-enter the Visitation order and persevere after her (St. Therese's) death.

Leonie is a great role model for those of us who are perhaps a bit of the odd-man-out, or feel overshadowed by others, or feel less capable. And she gives us great confidence in her sister's Little Way. Most of all she gives us great confidence in and love for Our Lord.

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='PrayerSupporter' post='1904650' date='Jun 28 2009, 09:18 PM']Another book about her is God Made the Violet, Too by Albert H. Dolan. It's an older book (1948) but Dolan was a biographer who wrote about all of the "Martin girls"

And, yes, it is true that Leonie tried her vocation four times -- once with the Poor Clares and three times with the Visitations. St. Therese said before she died that Leonie would re-enter the Visitation order and persevere after her (St. Therese's) death.

Leonie is a great role model for those of us who are perhaps a bit of the odd-man-out, or feel overshadowed by others, or feel less capable. And she gives us great confidence in her sister's Little Way. Most of all she gives us great confidence in and love for Our Lord.[/quote]

Thank you for listing that second book! I really wish there was more about this beautiful little violet of God. It's a shame that there isn't much known about her.

I really feel like the "odd man out" sometimes, because, like Leonie, I thought I knew where I was going, but discovered that it was my impulsive nature that caused me to react instead of God's will. Now, two of my friends are entering this September, and another has found her vocation to the contemplative life--either the Carmelites or Visitandines. I still don't know where my true home is, although I would love to visit the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal in NY. I'm thinking about doing a "Desert Experience" retreat with the Visitandines of Mobile, AL when I'm able to (when I have a job). Hopefully, with waiting comes clarity. I know it's already bringing great lessons in humility.

[Gemma]

The owner of the Martin Sisters site has been in touch with Cloister Outreach due to our proposed charism of the Hermits of Blessed Herman Contractus and Leonie Martin. He has listed that one, which is to be the prayer support of our now-emerging Sisters for the Autistic, and two other proposed charisms of ours--the Servants of St. Agatha and Blessed Zelie Martin; and the Sons of Blessed Louis Martin. The latter is to be the prayer support of the former.

In case anyone is interested, here are the links:

Sisters for the Autistic
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/sistersfortheautistic/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/sistersfortheautistic/[/url]
[url="http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sistersfortheautistic/"]http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sistersfortheautistic/[/url]

Hermits of Blessed Herman Contractus & Leonie Martin
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/blherman/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/blherman/[/url]

Servants of St. Agatha & Blessed Zelie Martin
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/stagatha/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/stagatha/[/url]

Sons of Blessed Louis Martin
[url="http://cloisters.tripod.com/louis/"]http://cloisters.tripod.com/louis/[/url]

The proposed charisms will emerge through group efforts on the yahoo group. There, they will discuss which rule is to be followed, and develop constitutions, formation program, and horarium. During this time of growth, they will become lay members of whichever rule they have discerned to follow, e.g. those following the Benedictine rule will become Benedictine Oblates, etc..

After they have been living the charism in their own homes, they will decide whether to stay in-diaspora, or to converge if a house is made available. Wherever the house is located will be the diocese in which they will work. They will have a spiritual director who will refer them to a canonist, who will in turn keep the bishop updated as to their progress. They will approach the bishop for the first stage of approval only after the canonist says they are ready to do so.

This method of making new foundations is based upon the experience and advice of Cloister Outreach's spiritual directors, and former members of emerging charisms. One of the biggest mistakes to be made is to go too fast.

Blessings,
Gemma

[Laudem Gloriae]

Another excellent book on Leonie Martin's life is: "Leonie Martin: A Difficult Life" by Marie Baudouin-Croix

Available at DeSales Ministries - excellent site for books on St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, St. Margaret Mary the Visitation order and has this book on Leonie for $11.95 which is NEW: [url="https://id210.chi.us.securedata.net/desalesresource.org/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=63"]https://id210.chi.us.securedata.net/desales...;products_id=63[/url]

It's also available at Amazon for but for $19.99 or so and then even more and may even be used: [url="http://www.amazon.com/Leonie-Martin-Difficult-Marie-Baudouin-Croix/dp/1853902810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246318030&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.com/Leonie-Martin-Diffic...8030&sr=1-1[/url]

[InHisLove726]

[quote name='Laudem Gloriae' post='1905609' date='Jun 29 2009, 07:32 PM']Another excellent book on Leonie Martin's life is: "Leonie Martin: A Difficult Life" by Marie Baudouin-Croix

Available at DeSales Ministries - excellent site for books on St. Francis de Sales, St. Jane de Chantal, St. Margaret Mary the Visitation order and has this book on Leonie for $11.95 which is NEW: [url="https://id210.chi.us.securedata.net/desalesresource.org/merchantmanager/product_info.php?cPath=5&products_id=63"]https://id210.chi.us.securedata.net/desales...;products_id=63[/url]

It's also available at Amazon for but for $19.99 or so and then even more and may even be used: [url="http://www.amazon.com/Leonie-Martin-Difficult-Marie-Baudouin-Croix/dp/1853902810/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246318030&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.com/Leonie-Martin-Diffic...8030&sr=1-1[/url][/quote]

That's the one I posted originally. I'm going to buy it soon. It's the only one I can find. I can't find the other one, "God Made the Violet, Too."

Thank you for posting the DeSales Ministries order page, though! I couldn't find it for less than $19.99 before.

Edited June 30, 2009 by InHisLove726

[VeniteAdoremus]

There was a timeline in the back of my copy of "Story of a Soul" (I should find it, I want to re-read it), and that also mentioned Leonie's coming and going. It really helped me to know that even "back then" monastery life wasn't about gates clanking shut behind you, but that discernment never ends, in a way.

[Laudem Gloriae]

"God Made the Violet Too" is available at Amazon for $105.00

[url="http://www.amazon.com/God-Made-Violet-Albert-Dolan/dp/B000NYLXTK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246455667&sr=1-1"]http://www.amazon.com/God-Made-Violet-Albe...5667&sr=1-1[/url]



I checked Alibris, Loome and Biblio for it. Anyone know of other sites specializing in old, out-of-print and hard to find books?

[Margaret Mary]

Hi everyone! This is a really neat topic. We have a friend that knows alot about making movies and was asked to make a movie on the life of Leonie Martin called Leonie! I play a Visitation nun in the movie.

Edited July 2, 2009 by Margaret Mary

[Vin]

Can someone please provide a good synopsis of the charism of the Visitation they seem to be a great group. I stop and pray sometimes at the Tyringham Visitation. I think the connections are fascinating too, Francis de Sales, Jane Frances de Chantal and Vincent de Paul. What a time for teh Church!

[Lilllabettt]

The Visitation was established by St Francis de Sales (and Jane de Chantal) therefore they are the original "Salesians." They were the last Order to be founded.

If the charism of Franciscans is poverty, and Dominicans have holy learning.. then Salesians have gentleness.

Kindness, meekness, love of neighbor are part of the charism. The Sacred Heart and First Friday devotions were born from Visitation spirituality.

Salesian spirituality empahsizes cultivating "little virtues" eg., simplicity, cheefulness, etc.

Salesian aseticism emphasizes interior renunciation instead of physical austerity or penance. According to St. Francis de Sales there are "two wills" of God ... the will which ordains and the will that permits ... and perfection is reached by total surrender to these two wills ... "holy indifference" in other words.