Brief Biography
Sister Françoise-Thérèse
(Marie Léonie Martin)
June 3, 1863- June 17, 1941
“God’s Little Violet”
By: R. Hannan
Entering this world on June 3, 1863, with beautiful blonde hair and beautiful blueeyes, the third-born daughter of Louis and Azélie Martin was born. The proud parentsnamed her Marie Léonie Martin. Louis and Azélie gave each of their children thefirst name of Marie in honor of Our Lady and each male child was given theadditional name of Joseph in honor of St. Joseph. The Martin family home was onrue du Pont-Neuf in Alençon, located in the Normandy region of France. Her fatherwas a watchmaker and mother was a lace maker. On June 4, 1863, the Martin familybrought their newly born child, Marie Léonie to the Cathedral of SaintPierre-de-Montsort to be baptized by Father Lebouc. Mrs. Léonie (Gilbert) Tifenne,a very close friend of the family, was given the honor of being Léonie’s godmother.
Azélie gave birth again a year later on October 13, 1864, to Marie Hélène who passedaway on February 22, 1870, at the age of five. Louis and Azélie were blessed onSeptember 20, 1866 with the birth of their first son, Joseph Louis Martin. It waswith great sadness the he too passed away a year later on February 14, 1867. OnDecember 19, 1867 the birth of their second son, Joseph Jean Baptiste was born,however, was take away from them, on August 25, 1868. The life of Louis and Azélie’s sixth daughter, Marie Mélanie Thérèse was short from August 16, 1870 to October 8, 1870.
From the start of Léonie’s life her physical health was very poor. Once Léonie reached the age of nine months old, she suffered from whooping cough. After surviving from whooping cough, she then contracted the measles with violent convulsions before her first birthday. Léonie’s father and mother were very worried that their child would not survive. Azélie contacted Isidore Guérin, her brother a pharmacist in Lisieux, asking him if he had any remedies to help aid in Léonie’s recovery. His ability, as a pharmacist, to help his niece was very limited and a cure for Léonie was not to be received. Azélie then contacted her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithée, who was a Visitation nun at a convent in Le Mans. Sister Marie-Dosithée wrote to Azélie and suggested that she make a novena to St. Margaret Mary, then blessed, for a cure for Léonie’s illnesses. Azélie made a novena to then Blessed Margaret Mary and made this statement during her novena: “If Léonie is to become a saint one day, then cure her.” (GV) Léonie’s father, set out for a pilgrimage to Notre-Dame du Sées (Our Lady of the Seas) for a cure to his daughter’s illness. After the novena to then Blessed Margaret Mary, Léonie was cured and no longer suffered from chronic illnesses to this degree during her infancy. Azélie describes Léonie after she was cured: “Nine days after Léonie’s illness, she was able to land on her feet again, running around the house like a little rabbit.” (SF) It was a year and a half before Léonie learned to walk.
In 1871, there were two changes that were taking place. The first change was that the family was moving into their new home, which was previously owned by Azélie’s father, located a 36 rue Saint-Blaise in Alençon. The second change was that Léonie was going to attend the Visitation boarding school and finally become a student.
As Léonie started getting older, it became evident that it was getting more and more difficult to prepare her for school, her parents worked feverishly to tame her strong rebellious nature and to teach her to focus on learning. By the time Léonie was now old enough to attend school, Azélie wanted to send Léonie to the Visitation boarding school in Le Mans where her older two sisters were already studying. Azélie tried twice to get Léonie enrolled at the Visitation boarding school; however, her attempts became fruitless. The Mother Superior had rejected Léonie's entrance both times. Azélie contacted her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithée, at the boarding school and asked her if she could speak to the Mother Superior about allowing Léonie to enter. The Mother Superior finally agreed, but it was only on a temporary basis to see whether or not Léonie was able to adjust to the rigors of her new surroundings.
Sister Marie-Dosithée took special care of Léonie while she was at the Visitation boarding school. She tutored Léonie in the subjects that she was being taught. One of Léonie’s difficult subjects to master was math and she made every effort to resist learning this subject. Léonie was sent home again, due to her in ability to control her resistant nature to learn even though she had a very loving heart. A third attempt was made to send her back to the Visitation boarding school by her mother. Azélie wanted desperately for Léonie to learn the Catechism at the boarding school for her First Holy Communion. Léonie rejoined her two older sisters, Marie and Pauline, at the boarding school in January of 1874. Azélie looked to her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithée to change Léonie’s character. Sister Marie-Dosithée used her strong character to persuade Léonie to align herself with her fellow students but it was not working at all. Sister Marie-Dosithée decided to try kindness as a method to control her unruly temperament and it worked but for only two weeks. However, Léonie’s stay at the school was only going to last for three months. It was difficult for Léonie to control her sudden outbursts while she was around other students as she was not able to focus all of her energy on her work.
Azélie was contacted and told to pick up her daughter at the Visitation boarding school. When Azélie arrived in Le Mans, she spoke to her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithée. Azélie’s sister felt that even though it was difficult to teach her, she felt she was a “child of destiny”. She also thought that one day; Léonie would join her as a nun in the Visitation convent.
After Léonie rejoined her family in Alençon, Azélie found her two retired teachers to tutor her, in her studies, at their home. The two retired teachers appeared to be on the surface very respectable and religious, however, that was not to be the case. After Azélie spoke with Léonie about an event, which occurred with the two teachers, Azélie decided to end Léonie’s tutoring with the teachers. Azélie then decided to take upon the task of teaching her daughter herself and also teaching her the Catechism for her First Holy Communion.
Léonie was very receptive in learning the Catechism from her mother. Azélie took Léonie on a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in a town just outside of Alençon called Sées, in preparation for her First Holy Communion. When the day came, Léonie was ready to take her First Holy Communion. Azélie decided that one poor girl, in Léonie’s Catechism class, would be given a beautiful white communion dress, as her family could not afford one for her.
The Martin family also gave her a place of honor in the festivities that the family had planned for after the event. On May 23, 1875, Léonie and her friend took their First Holy Communion at the Church of Notre-Dame (Our Lady) in Alençon. Later in life, Léonie would remark by saying: “My First Holy Communion was not the greatest day of my life because during my childhood I spent my time suffering from many trials set before me by God.” Right after Léonie took her First Holy Communion, she went to Lisieux to spend some time with her uncle and aunt.
Léonie was still a little rebellious and strong willed against her parents’ authority. However, her heart toward them was just as loving and as strong. Léonie loved to entertain and take care of her younger sister, Thérèse. She would sing to her a little lullaby until she went to sleep. Léonie did, however, spend a lot of time alone in her bedroom and a lot of time with the maid. Léonie’s family suspected something was bothering her but they could not figure out what it was. Leonie’s behavior would change drastically from being a pleasant child to being an unruly child. Azélie would bring Léonie with her to Le Mans when she went to see her sister, Sister Marie-Dosithée. She still felt that her sister had a great influence over Léonie and could possibility be able to help change her behavior. Sister Marie-Dosithée still held onto the fact that Léonie would someday become religious.
In the fall of 1876, Azélie found out that her sister had tuberculosis. In December of the same year, Azélie told her family that she had breast cancer. Léonie was devastated by the news of her mother’s illness. In January 1877, Azélie went to visit Sister Marie-Dosithée for the last time. Azélie asked her sister when she went to heaven, to please ask Our Lady for help correcting Léonie’s behavior. Léonie wanted to write a letter to her holy aunt before she died. Léonie asked her sister, Marie, to help write her letter to her aunt. Léonie wrote: “My dear Aunt, when you get to heaven, will you please ask the good God, if He pleases, to give me the grace to be converted and also to give me the vocation of becoming a true religious, for I think of that every day.” (GV) The next day, when her sister Marie reviewed her letter, Marie could not understand what she meant about being a true religious. Marie confronted Leonie asking her what she meant about being a true religious. Léonie replied: “A true religious is one who becomes a saint and I wish to become a saint.” On February 24, 1877, Sister Marie-Dosithée ended her suffering with tuberculosis and was received by the Lord. The Martin family went to Le Mans to attend her funeral and to pay their last and loving respects to their holy aunt.
Azélie held out for hope that her sister would come through for her in heaven and bring about a positive change in Léonie’s behavior. A couple of weeks had past and the secret of Léonie’s behavior was finally coming to the surface. Marie investigated the strange relationship Léonie had with Louise Marais, the maid. Marie could not understand why Léonie was very good when she was around Louise and then very bad when she was around her mother. She noticed that Louise had gained total control over Léonie and was terrorizing and beating her. The only person that Léonie was to obey was her and only her. After Marie found out what was happening to Léonie, she went straight to her mother and told her. Once Azélie was informed she became very upset and distraught. Azélie went to Louise and confronted her about her treatment towards her daughter Léonie. Azélie ordered her to leave the premises at once and to never return. Louise begged and pleaded with Azélie to stay because she had nowhere else to go. Azélie went to speak with Louis to decide on what action was to be taken with Louise. Azélie instructed Louise that she is not to have any contact with Léonie and upon her death she was to leave.
Once the secret had surfaced, Léonie’s behavior quickly changed for the better. Azélie and Léonie’s relationship had blossomed beautifully. Azélie described her new relationship with Léonie to her brother, Isidore, in a letter: “I cannot help thinking that this transformation is due to the prayers of our saintly sister, for all was altered two to three weeks after her death. It is she who has obtained for me the grace to know how to act so as to win Léonie’s affections, and I hope God will let me finish my task, which is far from being completed as yet.” (SF)
The breast cancer, taking an even harsher effect on her health, Azélie had a lot of work ahead of her, prior to her death. Bringing an end to her lace making business and also reeducating Léonie was an enormous task for her to complete. Azélie was fearful that she would die before she finished helping Léonie to become more independent. She was also afraid that Léonie would go back to her previous behavior and there would be no one there to help her. Thankfully, Léonie was a willing and loving soul, allowed her mother to teach her everything about transforming her life for the better.
Their relationship blossomed so much that they became inseparable. Léonie helped her mother with the Point d’Alençon lace. Azélie taught Léonie about “gentleness, kindness, and then detachment from pleasure, the determination to give pleasure, no matter at what cost to the good Jesus.” (CW) Léonie stayed at her mother’s side all the way to the end. Azélie realizing that her life was coming to an end, she decided to make a pilgrimage to Lourdes to seek out a cure for her breast cancer. Louis made reservations for the pilgrimage to Lourdes for Azélie and her three older daughters. Louis stayed behind to take care of Céline and Thérèse. Azélie and Léonie boarded the train in Alençon to Le Mans. They quickly stopped to pick up Marie and Pauline at the Visitation boarding school. All four of them boarded the train destined to Lourdes.
On the train their bad luck began. A few passengers on the train wanted to make some coffee and placed it over a spirit lamp. The lamp fell over, douching their clothes in oil. Upon arriving in Lourdes they were forced to leave the place they were originally suppose to stay at and look for another place to lodge. The bad luck did not stop there. To Marie’s dismay, her aunt’s rosary was lost, which was given to her after her aunt’s death.
Each day, while they were at Lourdes, Azélie was taken into the frozen waters of Lourdes to be dunked and each time a cure was not to be received. She prayed earnestly that she would receive a cure. She asked if it is not the will of God to cure her, please cure Léonie and make her a saint. Azélie felt that she would gladly give her life up to God if her daughter Léonie was cured and made a saint. To the great dismay of Azélie’s daughters, at their mother’s attempt at receiving a cure for her breast cancer, they were greatly upset that she did not receive a cure. Azélie worked hard to change their minds about ever doubting God’s plan for her.
It was time for them to leave Lourdes and head back home to Alençon. When the train arrived in Alençon, Louis, Céline and Thérèse were waiting there for them. When Louis saw their faces he knew a cure was not received. Azélie approached Louis with great optimism and said God did answer one of her prayers instead. Léonie was so distraught over her mother’s illness that she prayed a novena to ask God to take her in her mother’s place.
Up to the months leading to Azélie’s death, her main concern was still over Léonie’s welfare after she was gone. Who will look after her? Azélie asked Louis to move to Lisieux after her death so that he and the girls would be around her family, the Guérins. Azélie felt that by moving to Lisieux, her children would be better taken care of and looked after by Isidore and Elisa-Céline. As the end of August approached, it was a matter of hours before Azélie would be taken into God’s arms. Marie promised her that she would look after and take care of Léonie. On August 28, 1877, Azélie’s soul ascended to heaven. Azélie’s funeral took place at the cathedral and she was buried in Cimetière Notre Dame (Our Lady's Cemetery).Honoring the wishes of his late holy wife Azélie and conceding to the advice of his brother-in-law, Isidore, Louis decided to move the family to Lisieux. It was Isidore who found the residence called “Les Buissonnets” (The Woods) where the family was to live. The family packed up their belongings and paid their last respects to Azélie, at the cemetery, before setting off for their new home.
As soon as they arrived in Lisieux, Louis went back to Alençon to finish the lace-making business that Azélie had started. Marie and Pauline started organizing their new home while Léonie, Céline, and Thérèse started school immediately at the Benedictine boarding school called Notre-Dame du Pré. (Allied bombing raids destroyed the school in June 1944). Léonie became a boarder while Céline and Thérèse went to school during the day and came home at night. Léonie did still have difficulty with her schoolwork but not to the severity that she was having when she was at the Visitation boarding school in Le Mans.
After the death of her mother, Léonie’s heart was developing into a greater love for herself and for her family; changes were taking place in all parts of her life. Everyone in the family saw this positive change in her and especially Marie. She felt that it was their mother who was helping Léonie's heart evolves into a beautiful young lady. Louis commonly referred to her as his “Good Léonie”.One of Léonie’s teachers was surprised by how delicate her thoughts were when she wrote her compositions for class. She was very impressed by the love and compassion she put into her writings. Léonie made every effort to express her love for others and to continue to make small sacrifices on their behalf. Léonie completed her studies at the Benedictine boarding school on October 1, 1881. Later on, Léonie would return to the Benedictine boarding school to visit her former teachers who nicknamed her “The Abbey Lover”.