In French, an online retreat for Advent with Saints Louis and Zelie Martin offered by the Carmelite friars of Paris - November 28, 2015

Photo Credit: Carmelite Friars of Paris

If you read French, subscribe to a new online retreat to prepare for Christmas with Saints Louis and Zelie Martin.  It is the work of the Carmelite friars of Paris and includes reflections on the Sunday readings, meditations from the life of Louis and Zelie, suggested practices, and an Advent calendar for daily prayer.  See more information and register at the site of the Carmelite friars of Paris.   The friars have prepared online retreats for Lent and Advent for the past four years, and more than 10,000 persons have participated.  

A prayer for the victims and for France from the Shrine of Louis and Zelie Martin at Alencon

Attacks in Paris - Call to Prayer - Pray For Paris

translated from the Facebook page "Louis et Zelie Martin d'Alencon" with thanks

[Note that, although St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Joan of Arc are secondary co-patrons of France, the principal patron of France is the Blessed Virgin].

"Lord, we come to You in prayer and we entrust to You our brothers and sisters, victims of hatred, and their families.  We pray to You today through the intercession of the Queen of Peace, our Mother, for France.   Protect her!  Bless her!  Inspire our leaders! 

Lord, give us always especially to have trust in You, particularly in difficult situations, and never to doubt that you are the God of Love, our Father, who loves us and wants only our happiness!

Maranatha.  Come Lord Jesus! Amen !"

Saint Zelie: "The best thing to do is to put everything into the hands of God and to wait for events in peace and surrender to His will.  That's what I will try to do.". (CF 45)

Saints Louis and Zelie, pray for us, for our families and for France!

Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us!"

Canonization Day for Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, Sunday, October 18, 2015

 With the family of Pietro Schiliro, the young man whose healing of a respiratory disorder in 2002 was accepted as the miracle for the beatification of Louis; and Zelie Martin, after their canonization.  St. Peter's Square, Rome, October 18, 2015.  From left, Adele Schiliro, Pietro's mother; Pietro; Valter Schiliro, Pietro's father.

Icon of "Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin with St. Therese of Lisieux and Siblings" by Paolo Orlando now available from Trinity Religious Artwork and Icons - October 10, 2015

Thanks to the kindness of don Riccardo Brena and the parish of Marcallo in the Archdiocese of Milan, you can order reproductions of their icon of the Martin family through Trinity Stores Religious Artwork and Icons in Colorado.  

This icon by Paolo Orlando, shows Louis and Zelie Martin with their five adult daughters dressed as nuns.  From left, Marie and Pauline as Carmelite nuns; Leonie, whose cause was introduced in July 2015, as a Visitation nun; Celine and Therese as Carmelites.  Near the parents are the four little ones who died very young: Marie Helene, Marie-Joseph-Jean-Baptiste, Marie-Melanie-Therese, and Marie-Joseph-Louis.  

The icon is available in many sizes and formats: holy cards and prayer cards, magnets, framed desk art and wall art, giclee prints, and wooden plaques.  You may also order the icon on devotional candles, T-shirts, and sweatshirts.  Some of the available sizes are quite big enough to be installed in churches and monasteries; you may also order custom reproductions.  Purchases through this link support this Web site.  Thank you. 

To order:

• Please click on the image of the icon of the Martin family above or click on "Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin with St. Therese of Lisieux and Siblings."  
• At upper left, you will see a box that says "search for art."  Type in the name "Orlando" and press the search button.
• The icon will appear.  Choose among sizes and formats.  

Louis and Zelie and their children gathered every night to pray before the statue of the Virgin of the Smile.  I hope this icon of the Martin family will become a center of prayer in many homes, churches, and monasteries; will make the new saints known and loved; and will be a window to the holy.  Consider ordering it to celebrate the canonization; for the feast of Sts. Louis and Zelie; for a wedding or anniversary gift; or for a Christmas present.  

I hope that many churches dedicated to St. Therese will install this icon to honor Louis and Zelie and to remind the people that Therese did not fall out of heaven as a completed saint, but was brought up in a holy family.  I would also like to see donors appear to give the icon to many Carmelite monasteries and monasteries of the Visitation.  Please pray that God attracts many souls through this sacred art.  Thank you.  

Frequently Asked Questions About the Canonization of Bl. Louis and Zelie Martin on Sunday, October 18, 2015

Courtesy of the Web site of the Shrine of Louis and Zelie at Alencon - translated by Daniela Satalic.

ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ASKED BY PILIGRIMS ABOUT THE APPROACHING CANONIZATION OF BLESSED LOUIS AND ZELIE MARTIN

When will the Mass of canonization be celebrated?

At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 18, 2015, in St. Peter's Square.

Is it necessary for the individual pilgrims to have an acces ticket from the Pontifical Household for that Mass?

Yes. You can request this free ticket for the canonization by sending an e-mail to ocdpost@gmail.com.  You will receive a reply with instructions for picking up your ticket when you arrive in Rome.

You can get a ticket at  the General Curia of the Discalced Carmelites at this address:

Casa Generalizia dei Carmelitani Scalzi
Corso d'Italia, 38
00198 Roma - ITALIA

At this address, you can also get a "pilgrim’s kit" that is offered to those who want it. Your offering to contribute to the expenses of this "pilgrim’s kit" will be very welcome.

What time does the vigil scheduled in the Church Saint Louis of the French (Saint Louis des Français) on Saturday, October 17, 2015 begin?

8:30 p.m.  The church is at the Piazza di San Luigi de’ Francesi,  Everyone is welcome.  Note that the readings will be in French.

Are there any other planned activities for the pilgrims in Rome on the occasion of this canonization?

Yes.  

1. On Sunday, October 18 at 5:15 p.m., Mr. Emmanuel Houis of the Shrine at Lisieux will present a conference entitled "Les Martins a Rome en Novembre 1887" in the Basilica of St. Agnes Outside the Walls. 

2. On Monday, October 19 at 8:30 a.m., the international Mass in thanksgiving for the gift of this first married couple who were proclaimed saints together will be celebrated in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.  Cardinal Vallini , vicar of Rome, will preside.  Mgr Jean-Claude Boulanger, bishop.of Bayeux and Lisieux, and Mgr. Jacques Habert, bishop of Sées, will preside.

Is it still possible to sign up for one of the scheduled pilgrimages to Rome on the occasion of this canonization?

It is still possible to sign up at the Diocesan Office of the pilgrims of Bayeux-Lisieux on this telephone number: 02 31 29 35 08, Caen.  (This pilgrimage is conducted in French).