Mgr Jean-Claude Boulanger, Bishop of Bayeux and Lisieux, and Leonie Martin, St. Therese's sister

                                mgr jean-claude boulanger, courtesy of the shrine at alencon

Mgr Boulanger is described as Leonie's "ardent advocate."  Geographically, his life in the last 13 years has followed a trajectory similar to Leonie's.  On April 25, 2002, he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Sees, which includes Alencon, where Leonie was born and lived till she was fourteen.   On March 12, 2010, he was appointed bishop of the diocese of Bayeux and Lisieux, where she spent the rest of her life.  The Monastery of the Visitation at Caen is located in his diocese, and a cause is usually opened in the diocese in which the candidate died.  (An exception was made for Louis and Zelie Martin).  Only two years after his appointment, he granted the imprimatur for the prayer that Leonie might be declared "Venerable."  Read his letter about Leonie in the booklet about Leonie prepared by the Visitation nuns.  This booklet mentions Leonie's "feeling a sharp pain on the day when a bishop of Bayeux, during a homily, named the Carmelite sisters of Thérèse and . . . completely forgot to mention her Visitation sister!"  How generously Mgr. Boulanger has made it up to her.  In the name of all the friends of Leonie, I thank him.