Martin Sisters - Mother Agnes of Jesus page II (Marie Pauline Martin)

Pauline had the enormous task of telling her father of her intentions to enter the Carmelite monastery. Concerned
over how he would react, Pauline confronted him after he finished praying. To Pauline’s surprise, he took the
news very calmly. His only apprehension for her entering the monastery was the concern of her frequent
headaches which made her sick. However, later that day, he approached her lovingly and said: “My Pauline, I
have given you permission to enter Carmel for your own happiness, but do not think that there is no sacrifice on
my part, for I love you so much.” (SF)

On the other hand, Pauline never had to opportunity to tell Thérèse herself about going to Carmel. While Pauline
and Marie were talking about her entrance, Thérèse overheard the entire conversation between the two girls and
she took it very hard. She ran to her bedroom and started crying. She felt betrayed that Pauline was going to leave
for Carmel without her. Previously, they discussed about wanting to be “two hermits living in the desert” and
Carmel was going to be Pauline’s desert. Thérèse had held true to Pauline’s word. However, at the time when she
told her, Pauline was not being serious. It was the first realization for Thérèse that yet again she was going to be
losing a mother. Later that day, Pauline explained to Thérèse her reasons for leaving home in order to calm her
fears.

Prior to entering Carmel in October, Pauline and her family went on a trip together to Alençon for the last time.
There they stayed with Pauline’s godmother Pauline Romet. As a sign of respect for her beloved mother, as well
as, her brothers and sisters, she went to the cemetery and prayed before her mother’s grave. Pauline wanted to
say her last goodbyes to her mother before she entered. Upon arriving back to Lisieux, Pauline spent time putting
all of her things in order before the big day.

On October 2, 1882, Pauline entered the Carmelite monastery as a postulant. Louis, uncle Isidore and Marie
escorted her to the Carmelite chapel for Mass. After Mass was over, Pauline said goodbye to her family and then
was greeted at the cloister door by Mother Geneviève. Escorted by one of the sisters, she was given a tour of the
monastery. She then was taken up to her new cell where she changed her clothes and dawned on “a long blue
dress covered with a black cape and a dark bonnet.” (TOL) The initiation in the traditions of the Carmelite Order
had commenced for Pauline. Later that day, she was given the opportunity to see her younger sisters Céline and
Thérèse for about thirty minutes while she was positioned behind the grille in the reception area.

Thérèse was still in a state of sorrow over the departure of Pauline by saying: “I was weak, so weak that I
considered it a great grace to have been able to support a trial that seemed to be far above my strength.” (ST)
Pauline comforted Thérèse by explaining to her why she entered the Carmelite monastery in the reception area.
“My vocation is not where I live or who I live with or how many different prayers I pray. It's simply “a call from
the Lord, an invitation to draw me closer to him in a life of total consecration.” (ST)

A mysterious illness came upon Thérèse, lasting for several months after Pauline’s entry. It was thought by the
family that she would not be able to attend Pauline’s Clothing ceremony in April. But Thérèse regained her
strength enough to be there at her sister’s ceremony. Later, Thérèse remarked about her mysterious illness
during this time stating that it was caused by the devil himself. The devil did not want Pauline to enter the
Carmelite monastery and was angry over the future reprisals that the Martin family would inflict on him.

On April 6, 1883, Pauline officially became a novice and was christened with the new name of Sister Agnes of
Jesus. Pauline left the cloister and was reunited with her father as he promptly met her at the cloister door.
Escorted by her father, she went to the reception area to see her family. As Pauline was reunited with her family,
Thérèse approached her and placed herself on her knees and gave her a few
kisses to comfort her. After their brief reunion, it was time for the ceremony
to begin. Pauline, in her beautiful bridal gown, dressed in white satin and her
head covered by a laced veil, was escorted by her father down the aisle to the
altar. Father Ducellier, Pauline’s spiritual advisor was the officiant for the
ceremony. The family sat nearby in the chapel. After the ceremony, Pauline’s
father escorted her back to the cloister door where she was received by the
prioress. Pauline walked into the choir room where she removed her bridal
gown and replaced it with her new religious clothing donning a white veil.
Pauline was allowed to see her family once more but this time she would be
hidden behind the grille. In honor of Pauline’s ceremony, her father, gave the
Carmelite monastery two gilded bronze candle holders lined with crystals.

During the time of Pauline’s novitiate, she learned the practice of devotion
to the Holy Face under the direction of Mother Geneviève of Saint Teresa.
At the Carmelite monastery of Tours, a sister received revelations about the
mysteries of the Holy Face. After learning of these revelations, Mother
Geneviève then invoked the practice of the same devotion for their monastery.
Pauline faithfully followed the devotion to the Holy Face. When her sisters
came to join her later, she introduced this devotion to them as well. Later,
Thérèse stated: “It was Pauline who unveiled the depths of the treasures
hidden in the Holy Face of the Saviour to me.” (SG)                                                                              Carmel de Lisieux

The teachings of St. John of the Cross were an essential part in Pauline’s devotion. She practiced mortifications to
further relinquish her heart from earthly possessions, which would otherwise prevent her from serving God
wholly. Filling this void in her heart, she would in turn approach this void with God’s unconditional love. Pauline
would use prayer as her focus solely for her to seek Him and allow for Him to shape her heart. She did not use
prayer to seek what she desired for herself but what God desired for her. As an act of her devotion to God,
Pauline would do numerous penances in the wake of saving many souls.

Pauline’s talents of painting miniatures, as a child, transcended into her life at the monastery. She used her
extraordinary talents to paint religious images on cards, letters and statues. She wrote lovely works of poetry
promoting God’s unconditional love to the faithful. Pauline was also tasked with offering her services as the
Provisor of the community, organizing the dining area for each of the community’s meals.

Even though, Pauline was already living in the monastery, she continued to prepare Thérèse for her First Holy
Communion. Pauline gave her a blue velvet notebook, etched with her initials. She was to list all of her sacrifices
and acts of kindness each day and equating each act with the symbol of a flower. When she was to receive her
First Holy Communion, coordinated on the same day as Pauline’s profession, she could show Jesus just how
many sacrifices she made for Him, through the representation of flowers. Pauline encouraged her to love each act
of kindness and sacrifice that she made. In a letter, Pauline reinforced this view by saying: “Do you know, my
darling that your flowers need warmth in order to bloom under the feet of Jesus.” (TL) Thus, later in life, Pauline’s
sister would be known as “the little flower”, ultimately sacrificing herself for Jesus.

As the days came closer for Thérèse to receive the Holy Eucharist, Pauline sent her a black and white card. In the
card, there was a picture of Jesus behind a grille, underneath lay a flower with Pauline’s name etched at the base.
When Thérèse saw the picture of Jesus behind the grille, it gave her hope that one day she too would be that little
flower outside of the grille for Jesus to pluck.

On May 8, 1884, Pauline made her profession to the Carmelite Order. Clothed in the white veil of the novitiate,
wore a spree of roses around her head. She entered the Chapter room and walked before Mother Geneviève. She
knelled down before her and professed her vows which were witnessed by the Carmelite sisters. Due to the Rule
of the Carmelite Order, Pauline’s family was not allowed to view her profession ceremony. However, later that
day, her family came to visit her in the reception area where they congratulated and praised her on making her
profession. Pauline’s father remarked how “proud he was of her and how thankful he was to God for giving her
so high a vocation.” (SF)

On July 16, 1884, the Martin family went to the Carmelite chapel to witness Pauline’s veiling ceremony. Her father
was given the honor of assisting Father Ducellier during this special occasion. Pauline’s white veil was removed
from her head and replaced with a black veil. A spree of roses was then placed over her black veil. After the
ceremony was over, the family came to visit her in the reception area. Thérèse, seeing Pauline donned in her new
black veil, realized she is no longer her surrogate mother that she once was. “She always loved me, prayed for me,
but in my eyes my dear Pauline had become a saint.” (TL) Pauline had taken her final steps to giving her life wholly
to God.

Marie, Pauline’s older sister, showed interest in joining Pauline at the Carmelite monastery. She, too, had a
vocation with some reservations about the austerities of the order before she entered. On October 15, 1886,
Pauline opened her arms and welcomed Marie into the Carmelite monastery. She was given the privilege of
escorting Marie around the entire complex as well as initiating her with the traditions and rules. The two sisters
that were once inseparable while they were at the boarding school were now joined together once more.

Thérèse, Pauline’s youngest sister, also showed an interest in joining the Carmelite order. Pauline questioned her
whether or not she wanted to join because she was there or whether Thérèse really had a vocation to be a
Carmelite. Thérèse reassured Pauline that she really wanted to be a Carmelite. Pauline explained to her about the
rigors of being a Carmelite. However, it did not convince her sister to relinquish her thoughts on joining the
monastery. Pauline then prompted her sister to speak to the prioress and relay her ambitions of becoming a
Carmelite.

The prioress agreed and told her that she needed the permission of the Bishop in order for her to enter at a very
early age. This obstacle was not the only obstacle she was going to face. Thérèse’s uncle Isidore was opposed
to the idea of her entering the monastery. Pauline interceded on her sister’s behalf by writing a letter to their uncle
and convincing him to give her his permission. After receiving Pauline’s letter, their uncle agreed to her entrance.

When Thérèse went to see Bishop Hugonin, he was against her entry because of her age. There was only one
option for her and that was to see the Pope himself and ask for his permission. Before the family went on the
pilgrimage, Pauline insisted that Thérèse not to speak to the Pope about her entry. But she recanted after the
family had already left Lisieux. Pauline instructed Thérèse what to say to the Pope in a message she sent to her
while she was in Rome. Canon Deatroëtte heard what was happening in Rome. He went to see Pauline and the
prioress. He became very caustic in his speech towards both of them and was still adamantly opposed her entry.
Pauline received a relic from the Church of St. Agnes from Thérèse and Céline after they came back from their
pilgrimage in Italy. It was a small piece of marble from a mosaic that had fallen while they were there. The mosaic
was original from the time the church was built.

Thérèse wanted to find out whether Bishop Hugonin had changed his mind about her entering the Carmelite
monastery. Early December of 1887, Pauline helped Thérèse compose a letter to Bishop Hugonin. Pauline edited
Thérèse’s letter and painted a beautiful card that accompanied it. On December 15th, Thérèse finally sent the
letter to him.

In the latter part of December of 1887, Bishop Hugonin recanted his earlier decision and granted Thérèse entrance
into the Carmelite monastery. Pauline suggested that her younger sister enter after Easter. Not only because of
Lent but also to give Canon Deatroëtte time to get over his opposition to her entry. Later, Thérèse would recall
this event and stated to Pauline: “There was only one person who encouraged my vocation and that was you
Pauline…your heart is a faithful echo of my own. But when the moment of crisis came, it was you who pointed
out to me the road to follow.” (SS)

After all of the obstacles to Thérèse’s entry into the Carmelite monastery had disappeared, she writes to Pauline a
month before her entry and stated: “Oh Pauline, I am so happy that the good God has given me a sister like you; I
hope you will pray for your little girl, that she may correspond to the graces that Jesus in His goodness loves to
give her. She has great need of your aid for she is only very slightly what she wants to be.” (CL)

One tradition of the Carmelite Order was for the professed nuns to take an annual retreat each year. During the
month of May, Pauline would take her retreats which were also her anniversary as a professed nun. Pauline’s
yearly retreat was used as an opportunity to be an offering to God. She would spend ten days in seclusion from
the other nuns. When she was obligated to be in the presence of the other nuns she would hide her face. If there
was a necessity for any communication with the other nuns it was always communicated in written form and only
after the prioress consented to it.

In January of 1889, Pauline became very ill. She constantly suffered severe headaches which made it difficult for
her to perform her duties. Thérèse was very worried about her and thought that she might die as a result.
Thérèse’s novitiate ceremony was to take place on January 10th and she wanted Pauline to be there to witness
her taking the veil.

This meant a lot to Thérèse especially in the wake of so many obstacles which were placed in her path upon her
entry into the Carmel. Thérèse sent Pauline a note stating: “I know you have a bad headache!…This grieves me
because I have great fear that the dear Jesus may cause you to sprout your wings…Do not die!…Wait for me to
follow you.” (CL)

Pauline was a major instrumental figure in helping Thérèse reach her highest point in faith during her novitiate. In
May of 1889, Pauline was given permission, by the prioress, to write to her during her retreat. Thérèse alludes to
this by responding to Pauline’s letter: “Thanks to my dear lamb for having let baby lamb hear once more the music
of Heaven. It was a gentle breeze for the little reed…its heart, rather than its eyes, was able to hear the music of St.
Cecilia. It did not lose a single word.” (CL) Pauline's dream of living as a hermit in the desert still resonated in both
her heart and mind. Pauline sensed that the purpose of her existence would not be a martyr and shed her blood for
Jesus. But the fruit of her existence would be by giving her sole love for Him and Him alone. Pauline’s severe
headaches which caused her to be nauseated and vomit profusely were of great concern for her sisters. They
would try to keep a close eye on her even though she was in seclusion. Her sisters would send her little notes
encouraging her to endure her suffering for the love of Jesus. Thérèse wrote: “The baby lamb begs the Lamb not
to go bounding onto Heaven. If your place is already prepared in Heaven, than please wait for me so that we may
both go together to our Homeland. I pray that you will stay a little longer here on earth in exile.” (CL)

Pauline’s father suffered from several strokes and was sent to Caen to be taken care of. During this time of
suffering for the entire family, both Léonie and Céline stayed behind in Caen and kept a close eye on him. On
April 27, 1890, Pauline painted a picture of five lilies supporting a cloth of the Holy Face for Céline’s birthday.
Each lily represented each of the five girls. The buds were symbols of their brothers and sisters who departed at a
very young age. The stem itself represented their mother and the thorns which wrapped around the lily symbolized
their father’s plight. Pauline stated to Céline: “You are the beautiful white lily whose petals support the Holy
Face.” (TOL) The Holy Face had become symbolic for the Martin family in all of their suffering.

Thérèse was continually humiliated in front of the other nuns during her novitiate period for no justifiable reason.
It hurt Pauline to see her sister treated so unjustly. Pauline approached the prioress about her harsh treatment
towards her sister. Pauline thought that the prioress had taken it beyond the scope of teaching her lessons in
humility and wanted her to stop treating her that way. However, the prioress disagreed completely and responded
to Pauline by saying: “Well, that’s one of the disadvantages of having sisters!…She has more pride than you think
and needs to be constantly humiliated.” (SG)   Pauline wrote several notes to Thérèse supporting and comforting
her through this period of humility.

In May of 1890, Pauline took her annual retreat within the monastery. Thérèse was given permission to write to
her due to the fact she was still in her novitiate. With being inundated with the constant humiliations suffered at
the hands of the prioress, Thérèse alluded to Pauline the need of some spiritual enlightenment by her to help her
endure it. Thérèse wrote: “Dearest Lamb, do you understand? Even when my heart cannot express what I am
feeling…You, who are a flaming torch that Jesus has given me to light my steps in the dark pathways of exile,
have pity on my weakness; hide me under your veil that I may share your light.” (CL) In turn, Pauline sent
numerous notes to comfort Thérèse to give her hope and enlighten her spirit of faith. Pauline reiterated the need
to her sister to focus solely on Jesus and Jesus alone. Thérèse replied back to her and told her how blessed she
was that she is her “surrogate mother” as well as telling her that it was “you who taught me to love Jesus, to seek
only Him.” (CL) Pauline also stressed to Thérèse that we must always remain hidden and not let ourselves be the
only source of enlightenment to others. We must seek Jesus to be our sole source of enlightenment. “Let us say
no word that might make others think more highly of us.” (CL)

Pauline maintained her focus solely on Jesus. John 12:23-25 “Jesus answered them, saying: The hour is come,
that the Son of man should be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the
ground die, itself remaineth alone. But if it dies, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and
he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal.”(B) He was the true and only source of her love for
enduring many obstacles while she was in exile here on earth.

At the end of her retreats, Pauline would reunite herself with her sisters once more and return back to carrying out
her day-to-day duties in the monastery. Most importantly, Thérèse was always excited to have her “surrogate
mother” back in her sights. Thérèse remarked to Pauline in May of 1890: “The poor baby lamb will have it’s
mother again; at last…I thank Jesus for having given you to me and for understanding the needs of my soul.
Silence, that is my language which will tell you all that passes in my soul.”(CL)

In August of 1890, Pauline was verbally attacked by the prioress and was told many things which cut deep into
her heart. To add to the negative attack, Pauline was also suffering from bronchitis, which the doctor had
prescribed for her to take a tonic of quinquina. She was forced to temporarily stay in the infirmary during her
illness. It was a difficult period of time for Pauline both emotionally and physically. Thérèse attempted to comfort
her in a note she wrote: “Yes, joys for us will be suffering…Yesterday’s grace requires a crowning and Jesus
gave it to you. Oh! You, who are my light, ask Jesus to allow souls not to be deprived and let the darkness
enlighten them.”(CL) Thérèse also encouraged Pauline to use each humiliation and physical suffering as a means of
saving more souls.

Prior to Mother Geneviève's death, who was one of the founding sisters of the Carmel of Lisieux, saw great
leadership qualities in Pauline. She prophesied to her Carmelite sisters on her deathbed that Pauline's public life
would soon begin as a future prioress of the Carmel. On December 5, 1891, Mother Geneviève's soul ascended to
heaven. In tradition of the Carmelite Order a biographical account of the sister’s life was written and copies were
sent to the other Carmelite Orders. Pauline was given the task of writing a brief account of Mother Geneviève’s
life; however, the biography was signed by the current prioress and presented as being written by her.

The Carmelites used their skills to earn money to help support the monastery. In following with this tradition,
Pauline used her skills as a painter to paint miniatures to make money for the monastery. She also painted religious
quotes from the Bible on the walls of the monastery. In the prioress’s cell, she painted the religious quote from the
book of Wisdom 10:17 “And she rendered to the just the wages of their labors, and conducted them in a
wonderful way: and she was to them for a covert by day and for the light of stars by night.” (B)

On February 20, 1893, elections for a new prioress commenced. As the Foundress had previous predicted, Pauline
now led her Carmelite sisters as their new mother. When Pauline’s father heard of the news about his daughter
being elected prioress of the Carmel, he said: “They could not have made a better choice.” (FL) Thérèse alluded to
their mother’s feelings in a letter addressed to Pauline about how proud their mother must be in heaven over the
fact that she was now a mother too. Obviously, both Marie and Thérèse were overjoyed at seeing their sister
become prioress but suppressed their feelings to the others sisters so that they would not upset them. Instead,
Thérèse wrote her a note congratulating her by saying: “For a long time you have been my "mother", but it was in
the secret of my heart that I gave that sweet name to the one who was at once my "Guardian Angel" and my
sister, and now today God has consecrated you.” (CL)

Mother Marie de Gonzague, prioress before Pauline, was shocked by the results of the vote. She did not expect to
be voted out. But she conceded grudgingly and stated to Pauline: “If the majority of your sisters chose to give you
their votes, it was because they saw that you were trying to reproduce the virtues, which Mother Geneviève
practiced.” (CL)

As an act of humility, Pauline appointed Mother Marie, the title of “Mistress of the Novices”. Fearful of the way
the Mother Marie treated Thérèse during her own postulancy and novitiate, Pauline appointed Thérèse to be
Mother Marie's assistant. It was a strategic move on Pauline’s part so that there would be a slight barrier between
the novices and the former prioress.

Pauline’s new religious name became Mother Agnes of Jesus. But Pauline was never known as just “Mother
Agnes” by her Carmelite sisters, her nickname, was "Ma petite mère" (my little mother) or "La petite mère'" (the
little mother). They nicked named her that because Pauline was very thin and short in stature that most of her
Carmelite sisters were taller than her.

At the beginning of Pauline’s reign as prioress, Thérèse had prophesied to her that her reign would not go without
receiving many “crowns” for Jesus. Thérèse comforted Pauline by saying: “The vessels will be too small to
contain the precious perfumes you will want to put into them; but Jesus, too, has only very small instruments on
which to play His melody of love, yet He is skilled to use all those that we give Him.” (CL) The prophecy was not
far from being a reality for Pauline.

The former prioress thought that she could manipulate Pauline into doing what she wanted her to do, as it was
Pauline’s first time as prioress. She found out quickly that she could not manipulate Pauline. From the handling of
the novices to the handling of the finances of the monastery, each incident was a challenge to Pauline’s authority to
govern. Pauline was continually humiliated by her constant outbursts in front of the entire community. Through all
these misfortunes, Pauline’s soul radiated a constant response of calmness towards the former prioress as well as
to her other Carmelite sisters. Thérèse saw each of these acts of humility as an opportunity for Pauline to earn
another pearl in her crown for heaven. Witnessing herself several confrontations, Thérèse replied, “She is a
Saint”, this is why Pauline is not the least spared from the wraths of many. It values her soul greatly in the way of
humility.

Thérèse tried to comfort Pauline by writing to her and stating that if others refuse to do what is asked by you, I
will without a doubt be obedient to your desires without one refusal. She stated: “When you are tired of plucking
the strings of the harps, you can pick up your tiny lyre, hardly touching it, and it will give forth the sounds you
desire.” (CL)

In December of 1893, Pauline once again was faced with another illness. Her “Godfather” sent her some medicine
to help relieve any discomfort she was facing from her illness. She used her suffering as an opportunity to save
more souls. She soon recovered from her illness and resumed her duties as prioress.

On January 21, 1894, Pauline celebrated her first year as prioress. For this special occasion of Pauline’s feast day,
Thérèse presented her with an oil painting that she had painted and titled it: “The Dream of the Child Jesus.” The
oil painting showed the baby Jesus resting upright on his left side. He was holding white lilies in his right hand
with pink roses lying beside him in a cave. Outside of the cave, an image of the Holy Face rests on the center of a
cross planted on a hilltop. At the base of the cross lays a chalice.

Thérèse described to Pauline the poetic meaning behind her painting. She reflected from her heart back to her
what she had previously learned from her to focus solely on Jesus and Jesus alone. We are not to be fearful when
you are met with adversity, focus solely on the love He has for you. Even though, Jesus sees that we are given a
cross to bear, a crown of thorns to wear around our head, and speared on our side by a lance from unfaithful
servants of God, we must not let the fear of that suffering overwhelm our attention of the love that Jesus has for
us. Each flower that is given by you will be placed in his hands and rests against his breast each representing the
sweet virtues that you have acquired through all adversity. These flowers will be returned to you by Jesus in
Heaven. Enviously, we will see, the sweet virtues that you have acquired are for Jesus and for Jesus alone. Only
in heaven will it be seen by all, the sweet virtues that you have acquired while living here in exile on earth and we
can only hope to obtain the same sweet virtues that you have acquired so that we may be at your side for all
eternity.

Later in 1894, the signs of life were fleeting from Louis Martin’s eyes. Heaven bound was becoming more of a
reality for Pauline’s father than ever before. Constant reports from her sister Céline were forecasting the
inevitable death of their beloved patriarch. Gossip had spread throughout the social circles in the small town of
Lisieux about the cause of their father’s suffering. They were saying it was brought on by his four daughters
entering into the monastery. Obviously, his suffering was not a result of their entrance. However, they had to
endure this trial when it was addressed to them by visitors that met them in the reception area of the monastery.

Louis’s health deteriorated for the worse as July approached. He suffered many small strokes and as a result was
bedridden. Pauline continuously wrote letters of encouragement to Céline to encourage her to seek the Lord to
ease her pain concerning their father’s poor health. Pauline wrote to her: “Let us be saints. Jesus is asking that of
us…He must have it.” (SF) Even through all of the misfortunes that we endure, we must focus on Jesus and Jesus
alone. We must surrender at all costs His divine will for us even though we may passionately feel otherwise. Allow
Him to enter your heart and ask Him to fill it with His love. Do not let your own will go against what Jesus has for
you. Is Jesus such a burden that you cannot simply ask for his companionship in this trial for you? Do we not
praise Jesus when we receive what we desire? But will we keep Him in our hearts when our desires are not met.
The daily pains we endure only strengthen our love for Him, keeping Him ever so close to our hearts. Invite our
Lord into your heart and allow him to bear your burdens as you are a witness to our Lord’s love.

Written by: R. Hann

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Martin, Pauline. Little Counsels of Mother Agnes of Jesus, O.C.D. (LCM)
Lisieux, France, Office Central de Lisieux- distributed by Carmelite Monastery of Ada, Michigan
Helmuth Nils Loose, Pierre Descouvemont. Thérèse and Lisieux (TOL)
Trans: Salvatore Sciurba, O.C.D. and Louise Pambrun, Grand Rapids, Michigan Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1996
Gibbons, James Cardinal. Holy Bible (Douay-Rheims) 1899 Edition. (B)
Baronius Press Unlimited, London, United Kingdom, 2005

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Mother Agnes of Jesus
Marie Pauline Martin
"The Pearl of Lisieux"

"God is all gentleness, and we should realize that everything He sends us which may seem hard will in fact be sweet to us throughout eternity"
- Mother Agnes of Jesus

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