Léonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
  • Home
  • About the site
  • Léonie's life
  • Zelie Guerin Louis Martin before his marriage Sites of the Martin family at Alencon Louis and Zelie Martin's house and watch-shop at Rue Pont-Neuf Léonie's childhood at Alençon St. Pierre de Montsort, Léonie's parish church until 1878 Notre-Dame Church, where the Martins were married and Therese was baptized Rue Saint-Blaise, Zelie's girlhood home and the Martin family's home 1871-1877 Photos of Blessed Louis Martin Louis Martin's Pavilion on the outskirts of Alencon Léonie's youth at Lisieux Les Buissonnets Les Buissonnets, where Louis Martin lived from 1877 through 12 February 1889 Cathedral of St. Pierre, exterior The Cathedral of St. Pierre Photo Album of those who knew the Martins at Lisieux Photos of various members of family of Louis and Zelie Martin and St. Therese Photographs of family of Isidore Guerin, Zelie Martin's brother, Therese's uncle Countryside around Lisieux Léonie's life as a laywoman with the Guérin family, 1889-1893 and 1895-1899 7 Rue Labbey, Lisieux, the Guerin house, Rue Paul-Banaston Photos of Louis Martin at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux, his home 1892-1894 Dedication of a plaque at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux Chateau La Musse, Evreux, where Leonie vacationed with the Guerins The death of Louis Martin, July 29, 1894 Death and funeral documents for St. Therese Léonie at the Visitation of Caen Léonie's room at the Visitation Monastery in Caen Photographs of the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway
  • Toward sainthood
  • "The hidden life of Léonie Martin," Famille Chretienne, June 8, 2013
  • Virtual Tour of Leonie's new shrine
  • Leonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Therese of Lisieux Blog
  • "Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: A Gateway"
  • "Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, The Parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux""
  • E-mail me
  • Notices and Policies
  • Search the Site
  • Join our mailing list

Léonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

  • Home/
  • About the site/
  • Léonie's life/
  • Photo Gallery/
    • Zelie Guerin
    • Louis Martin before his marriage
    • Sites of the Martin family at Alencon
    • Louis and Zelie Martin's house and watch-shop at Rue Pont-Neuf
    • Léonie's childhood at Alençon
    • St. Pierre de Montsort, Léonie's parish church until 1878
    • Notre-Dame Church, where the Martins were married and Therese was baptized
    • Rue Saint-Blaise, Zelie's girlhood home and the Martin family's home 1871-1877
    • Photos of Blessed Louis Martin
    • Louis Martin's Pavilion on the outskirts of Alencon
    • Léonie's youth at Lisieux
    • Les Buissonnets
    • Les Buissonnets, where Louis Martin lived from 1877 through 12 February 1889
    • Cathedral of St. Pierre, exterior
    • The Cathedral of St. Pierre
    • Photo Album of those who knew the Martins at Lisieux
    • Photos of various members of family of Louis and Zelie Martin and St. Therese
    • Photographs of family of Isidore Guerin, Zelie Martin's brother, Therese's uncle
    • Countryside around Lisieux
    • Léonie's life as a laywoman with the Guérin family, 1889-1893 and 1895-1899
    • 7 Rue Labbey, Lisieux, the Guerin house, Rue Paul-Banaston
    • Photos of Louis Martin at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux, his home 1892-1894
    • Dedication of a plaque at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux
    • Chateau La Musse, Evreux, where Leonie vacationed with the Guerins
    • The death of Louis Martin, July 29, 1894
    • Death and funeral documents for St. Therese
    • Léonie at the Visitation of Caen
    • Léonie's room at the Visitation Monastery in Caen
    • Photographs of the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen
    • Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway
  • Toward sainthood/
  • "The hidden life of Léonie Martin," Famille Chretienne, June 8, 2013/
  • Virtual Tour of Leonie's new shrine/
  • Leonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Therese of Lisieux Blog/
  • "Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: A Gateway"/
  • "Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, The Parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux""/
  • E-mail me/
  • Notices and Policies/
  • Search the Site/
  • Join our mailing list/
Back door to the Guerin house

Léonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

A disciple of the way of confidence and love

7 Rue Labbey, Lisieux, the Guerin house, Rue Paul-Banaston

When Louis Martin was discharged from the Bon Sauveur hospital in Caen in May 1892, he joined Leonie and Celine, for a few weeks, at the Guerin home on Rue Paul-Banaston.  Then a small house across the back alley from the Guerins, 7 rue Labbey, was leased for him.  Leonie and Celine lived here with him and took care of him together.  Leonie lived at rue Labbey from early July 1892 until she re-entered the Visitation in 1893.  When she left the Visitation in 1895, her father had died, and Celine had become a Carmelite, so Leonie lived with the Guerin family from then until she entered the Visitation definitively in 1899.

Léonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

  • Home/
  • About the site/
  • Léonie's life/
  • Photo Gallery/
    • Zelie Guerin
    • Louis Martin before his marriage
    • Sites of the Martin family at Alencon
    • Louis and Zelie Martin's house and watch-shop at Rue Pont-Neuf
    • Léonie's childhood at Alençon
    • St. Pierre de Montsort, Léonie's parish church until 1878
    • Notre-Dame Church, where the Martins were married and Therese was baptized
    • Rue Saint-Blaise, Zelie's girlhood home and the Martin family's home 1871-1877
    • Photos of Blessed Louis Martin
    • Louis Martin's Pavilion on the outskirts of Alencon
    • Léonie's youth at Lisieux
    • Les Buissonnets
    • Les Buissonnets, where Louis Martin lived from 1877 through 12 February 1889
    • Cathedral of St. Pierre, exterior
    • The Cathedral of St. Pierre
    • Photo Album of those who knew the Martins at Lisieux
    • Photos of various members of family of Louis and Zelie Martin and St. Therese
    • Photographs of family of Isidore Guerin, Zelie Martin's brother, Therese's uncle
    • Countryside around Lisieux
    • Léonie's life as a laywoman with the Guérin family, 1889-1893 and 1895-1899
    • 7 Rue Labbey, Lisieux, the Guerin house, Rue Paul-Banaston
    • Photos of Louis Martin at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux, his home 1892-1894
    • Dedication of a plaque at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux
    • Chateau La Musse, Evreux, where Leonie vacationed with the Guerins
    • The death of Louis Martin, July 29, 1894
    • Death and funeral documents for St. Therese
    • Léonie at the Visitation of Caen
    • Léonie's room at the Visitation Monastery in Caen
    • Photographs of the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen
    • Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway
  • Toward sainthood/
  • "The hidden life of Léonie Martin," Famille Chretienne, June 8, 2013/
  • Virtual Tour of Leonie's new shrine/
  • Leonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Therese of Lisieux Blog/
  • "Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: A Gateway"/
  • "Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, The Parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux""/
  • E-mail me/
  • Notices and Policies/
  • Search the Site/
  • Join our mailing list/
Back door to the Guerin house

Back door to the Guerin house

The back entrance of Isidore Guerin's house on Rue Paul-Banaston, leading to the garden where Louis Martin often spent his afternoons in 1892-1894.  Today this house is a "parish house" and used for parish activities, including the religious education of children.

Rear entrance to Guerin house

Rear entrance to Guerin house

The back door to Isidore Guerin's house on Rue Paul-Banaston in Lisieux.  Isidore Guerin bought this house on April 20, 1889; the street was then called Rue Chaussee. The Guerin family moved here sometime in 1889, perhaps on their return from their summer vacation at the chateau La Musse.  Leonie and Celine lived with the Guerins from then until Louis returned to Lisieux in May 1892.

The back garden of the Guerin house

The back garden of the Guerin house

A few weeks after Louis returned, in July 1892, Louis and his daughters moved into a rented house on Rue Labbey, directly across from Isidore's garden.  Louis lived on the ground floor, and often he was wheeled across the alley to the Guerin garden, where he spent many afternoons.

7 rue Labbey

7 rue Labbey

At a door to Rue Labbey.  This door did not exist in Louis Martin's time.  This house was given up after Louis's death.  Between her attempts at religious life, Leonie lived with the Guerin family until she definitively entered the Vistation Monastery at Caen in January 1899.

 

 

 

front door of 7 Rue Labbey

front door of 7 Rue Labbey

This door dates back to Louis Martin's time.  Directly across from the door are the gates leading to the garden of the Guerin house.

Louis Martin in his wheelchair in the garden of Rue Labbey

Louis Martin in his wheelchair in the garden of Rue Labbey

From left, Celine; the Le Juifs, a married couple who worked for the Martins; and Leonie surround Louis in his wheelchair in the garden of 7 rue Labbey.

Window where Louis Martin was photographed, 7 Rue Labbey

Window where Louis Martin was photographed, 7 Rue Labbey

With Mme. Anne-Marie Hervieu, gracious hostess.  This is the window before which Louis Martin was photographed in his wheelchair.  Today the window is right up against that wall because part of the garden of his time now belongs to the next-door property.

Mme. Anne-Marie Hervieu

Mme. Anne-Marie Hervieu

The lovely and gracious Mme. Anne-Marie Hervieu, left, in the garden at 7 Rue Labbey.  She and her husband, M. Jacques Hervieu, received us with such genuine kindness that I understood the grace of Louis Martin's spirit infused those who live where he once lived.

at the window in the garden of 7 Rue Labbey

at the window in the garden of 7 Rue Labbey

The upper garden of 7 Rue Labbey

The upper garden of 7 Rue Labbey

From the front 7 Rue Labbey seems to be what we would call a "row house," but its back door opens onto a lovely, long garden running far down to a stream.  M. and Mme. Hervieu maintain the garden beautifully.  They told me that the trees date back to Louis Martin's time.

The lower garden, 7 Rue Labbey

The lower garden, 7 Rue Labbey

At the foot of this long, narrow garden a stream runs.  M. Hervieu told me that although Louis Martin, paralyzed, could no longer fish, he loved to sit near the stream to hear it flowing. 

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Back door to the Guerin house
Rear entrance to Guerin house
The back garden of the Guerin house
7 rue Labbey
front door of 7 Rue Labbey
Louis Martin in his wheelchair in the garden of Rue Labbey
Window where Louis Martin was photographed, 7 Rue Labbey
Mme. Anne-Marie Hervieu
at the window in the garden of 7 Rue Labbey
The upper garden of 7 Rue Labbey
The lower garden, 7 Rue Labbey
  • Home/
  • About the site/
  • Léonie's life/
  • Photo Gallery/
    • Zelie Guerin
    • Louis Martin before his marriage
    • Sites of the Martin family at Alencon
    • Louis and Zelie Martin's house and watch-shop at Rue Pont-Neuf
    • Léonie's childhood at Alençon
    • St. Pierre de Montsort, Léonie's parish church until 1878
    • Notre-Dame Church, where the Martins were married and Therese was baptized
    • Rue Saint-Blaise, Zelie's girlhood home and the Martin family's home 1871-1877
    • Photos of Blessed Louis Martin
    • Louis Martin's Pavilion on the outskirts of Alencon
    • Léonie's youth at Lisieux
    • Les Buissonnets
    • Les Buissonnets, where Louis Martin lived from 1877 through 12 February 1889
    • Cathedral of St. Pierre, exterior
    • The Cathedral of St. Pierre
    • Photo Album of those who knew the Martins at Lisieux
    • Photos of various members of family of Louis and Zelie Martin and St. Therese
    • Photographs of family of Isidore Guerin, Zelie Martin's brother, Therese's uncle
    • Countryside around Lisieux
    • Léonie's life as a laywoman with the Guérin family, 1889-1893 and 1895-1899
    • 7 Rue Labbey, Lisieux, the Guerin house, Rue Paul-Banaston
    • Photos of Louis Martin at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux, his home 1892-1894
    • Dedication of a plaque at 7 rue Labbey, Lisieux
    • Chateau La Musse, Evreux, where Leonie vacationed with the Guerins
    • The death of Louis Martin, July 29, 1894
    • Death and funeral documents for St. Therese
    • Léonie at the Visitation of Caen
    • Léonie's room at the Visitation Monastery in Caen
    • Photographs of the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen
    • Saint Therese of Lisieux: A Gateway
  • Toward sainthood/
  • "The hidden life of Léonie Martin," Famille Chretienne, June 8, 2013/
  • Virtual Tour of Leonie's new shrine/
  • Leonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Therese of Lisieux Blog/
  • "Saint Thérèse of Lisieux: A Gateway"/
  • "Saints Louis and Zelie Martin, The Parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux""/
  • E-mail me/
  • Notices and Policies/
  • Search the Site/
  • Join our mailing list/

Léonie Martin, Disciple and Sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Léonie  Martin, the sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, became Sister Françoise-Thérèse of the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen in northern France.  Léonie led a challenging life: ill from childhood; abused by a maidservant; expelled from school; isolated within her family.   She tried religious life three times before she  succeeded: in 1899, at the age of 35, she entered definitively the Monastery of the Visitation at Caen, where she died in 1941 at the age of 78. 

How did the troubled child and unhappy teenager turn into the sister everyone remembered as so kind, so serene, and so happy that they could not believe she had had a difficult childhood?  As a laywoman, Léonie lived at the margins of her family and her society.  She found Christ there and made him the center and the source of her life.  She discovered God within herself, in her woundedness, and she became the first disciple of Thérèse's "way of confidence and love."

After her death, Léonie was almost forgotten for a long time.  But, about 1960, the nuns of her monastery began to receive letters from all over the world asking them to pray that Léonie might obtain graces for those who wrote.  Many of these letters came from the parents of special children, from families in conflict, and from persons who, like Léonie, struggle to find and to fulfill their vocations.  These were followed by letters of thanksgiving.  Pilgrims come to pray at her tomb, to ask for graces and to give thanks.  Now she is being considered for beatifcation.  Mgr Jean-Claude Boulanger, bishop of Bayeux-Lisieux, the diocese where Léonie lived most of her life and where she died, has granted the imprimatur for a prayer asking that Léonie might be declared "venerable" (that is, declared to have practced heroic virtue).  

Léonie's mission is to draw souls, especially the wounded, the broken, and those who have not found a place in the world, to God.  Invite her to accompany you and to lead you to surrender yourself, as she did, to God's "consuming and transforming love."

 

Copyright Maureen O’Riordan 2013-2023. All rights reserved.

Copyright Maureen O'Riordan 2013-2016. All rights reserved.