THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE VATICAN
'On Wednesday, March 18, 2015, during a private audience with Cardinal Amato, Prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the miracle of the healing of little Carmen (see below), attributed to the intercession of Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin.
In the process towards canonization, this recognition is a new stage, which, after the favorable opinion of the doctors, theologians, bishops, and cardinals concerned, should lead the Holy Father himself to announce, at an upcoming public Consistory, the decision to canonize Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin and the date of the Canonization.
THE MIRACLE AT VALENCIA
Louis and Zélie Martin were beatified in Lisieux on October 19, 2008.
Carmen was born on October 15, 2008, after 28 weeks of a very difficult pregnancy. "Prepare for the worst,” the midwife said when the baby was born. Complications that are common in very premature babies multiplied: among other things, respiratory distress, double sepsis, and a cerebral hemorrhage of the most serious kind. Since Carmen was born on the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, who was a Carmelite nun, Carmen’s father went to a Carmelite monastery outside Valencia. The nuns took this intention to heart. Carmen’s parents came to Mass at the monastery every Sunday and then left quickly for the hospital.
Late in November, the case seemed hopeless. For the first time the mother was allowed to touch her baby; the incubator was left open. The family began to think of the funeral. On November 23, the Prioress of the Carmelite monastery gave Carmen’s parents a card containing a prayer to Louis and Zélie in Spanish. Carmen’s mother and father had never heard of Louis and Zelie or of their famous daughter, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face.
Providentially, the next day, Carmen was transferred to a new hospital. Contrary to all expectation, Carmen sustained the transfer well, and her infection was suddenly under control. She began to recover, to the point of being able to leave the hospital on January 2, 2009.
One problem remained a serious concern: the cerebral hemorrhage expanded her skull and caused pain. A medical review was scheduled for February 19th. The doctors would probably operate. A new “offensive” of prayer to the Martin spouses was begun. Providentially, the reliquary of Blessed Louis and Zèlie Martin arrived at the Shrine of Llerida (also called Lleida) in January. Carmen’s father, her big brother Ishmael (born in 2004), and her grandparents came to the Shrine at Llerida to thank Blessed Louis and Zèlie Martin and to seek their intercession. At their monastery, the Carmelites join their prayer. Some days later, an ultrasound reveals that the cerebral hemorrhage has disappeared and scars are no longer visible. Even more surprising (to date the doctors cannot explain it) is the total absence of any neurological or motor difficulties.
This healing is the miracle for which the Pope authorized the decree of recognition this morning."
-from The Shrine of Lisieux and the Shrine of Alençon
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Shrine at Lisieux: telephone: 02 31 48 55 00; info@therese-de-lisieux.com - www.therese-de-lisieux.com
Shrine at Alençon: telephone: 02 33 26 09 87 Famillemartin-therese@diocesedeseez.org
www.louiszeliemartin-alencon.com
Please see the original communique in French on the Web site of the Shrine at Alencon
