Léonie would visit the Carmelite monastery on a daily basis to get an update on her
sister’s condition. On September 30th, as the hours for Thérèse were drawing to
a close, Léonie and her aunt Céline and uncle Isidore went to the Carmelite chapel
to pray for her. Pauline wrote a small note and gave it to a lay sister, which in turn
handed it to Léonie in the chapel that told her that her sister’s soul had ascended to
heaven. A few days later, Léonie led the funeral procession at the Carmelite chapel.
Thérèse’s body was laid to rest at the local cemetery in Lisieux.
During this course of time, Léonie continued to stay in contact with the sisters at the
Visitation monastery. She would visit them periodically in Caen when she went to
stay with her cousin Jeanne. Between Léonie’s second departure from the monastery
and her final entrance, a lot of the sisters at the monastery had passed away. This led
the Visitation monastery, in Caen, to accept a couple of sisters from the Visitation
monastery in Boulogne-sur-Mer. A few months later, one of the new sisters from
Boulogne-sur-Mer was elected Mother Superior. Mother Jeanne-Marguerite
Decarpentry brought a different adaptation to the Visitation Rule, which in turn allowed Léonie and her fellow sisters that
left previously an opportunity to come back.
Weeks prior to Thérèse's death, Thérèse had a conversation with her sister Marie. She stated that after her death, Léonie
would be reunited with her sisters at the Visitation in Caen. She also stated that Léonie would be there serving God until her
death. This vision that Thérèse had stated to Marie had came true years later on January 28, 1899.
Léonie, escorted by her uncle Isidore, entered the doors of the Visitation monastery after her religious ceremony took place
and she entered the monastery for the final time on January 30th. Léonie stated to her new Mother Superior: “I am here for
always, this is my sole ambition: to hide myself like a humble violet under the leaves of perfect submission, so that my
superiors can do with me whatever the wish.” (GV)
On June 30,1899, Léonie received her holy habit and took the name Sister Françoise-Thérèse. The ceremony took place
under the direction of Canon Levasseur. She then continued on with her novitiate under the direction of Sister Louise
Henriette Vaugeois. Léonie was very attached to her due to her humility, simplicity and gentleness towards her.
Unfortunately, Sister Louise was requested to return back to her old monastery in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Sister Marie Aimée de Songnis took over the reins of Léonie’s training. Sister Marie Aimée was much different than her
predecessor. She was more stringent on following the Visitation Rule. This in return led Léonie into a depressed state of
mind. It was very difficult for Léonie to learn the Rule quickly enough so that she would not fall into the dismay of her
directress. Léonie’s sisters Marie, Pauline and Céline were once again alarmed and dreaded the thought of history
repeating itself. They were fearful that Léonie would be forced to leave the monastery once more. Through the
encouragement of her sisters at Carmel and the intercession through her beloved aunt Sister Marie-Dosithée and her sister
Thérèse, Léonie survived this trial. Léonie stated in a letter to her sisters at Carmel: “Surviving the pressures of the earth:
To win heaven, it is necessary to suffer and to suffer greatly. True peace is the acceptance of each trial given. After we
have completed our exile, there will be heaven eternally, while we wait, it is necessary that we attach ourselves to the
cross. From the cross to heaven is only one step.” (GV)
Sister Marie Aimée decided that Léonie was ready to become a professed nun. On July 2, 1900, Léonie’s novitiate ended
and she professed her final vows. The ceremony took place under the direction of Canon Levasseur. Léonie received her
profession cross, the cross that cost her so many tears, however, Léonie was content on living the rest of her life as a
Visitation nun.
It was decided by the Mother Superior of the community that Léonie’s jobs would be to assistant Bursar, nurse, to
assistant in the refectory and assistant in the sacristy. Léonie’s duties to assistant Bursar were to ensure that everything in
the convent was arranged accordingly. Her nursing duties in the infirmary were taking care of the needs of the sick and
aged nuns. She assisted the sisters in the refractory who prepared the two meals that the community received daily. Léonie’
s duties in the sacristy were prepping the linens, corporals, palls, and purificators for Mass.
Léonie lent her support and attention to the needs of the new postulants who were, as she did, having difficulties in
adhering to the Visitation Rule. Even though her duties were not always in a leadership role, she accepted her tasks joyfully.
Léonie was forced to make many sacrifices in her work. With great humility, she used these opportunities to offer them to
God and use them for the opportunity of saving souls, in particularity for priests.
Léonie was given a brief opportunity to see her sister Pauline in 1902. Pauline and Mother Marie de Gonzaga were
traveling to a city called Valognes located in the northwestern part of Normandy on business. This was a special gift for
Léonie because she thought she would never see her sister ever again after she entered the Visitation.
During the early part of the 1900’s, Thérèse had come to be well known by many people in France. The book “Story of a
Soul” was widely read by many people and they had sought out her protection and intercession. The process for Thérèse’s
canonization for sainthood had started. In 1910, Léonie was asked by Bishop Lemonnier of Bayeux and Lisieux to prepare a
deposition on the virtues of Thérèse. On November 27th, Léonie and her Mother Superior Jeanne-Marguerite Decarpentry
traveled to Bayeux to see the Bishop. Léonie testified on her account of Thérèse’s virtues. During this event they both
stayed at the Benedictine Monastery.
The interest in Thérèse also brought interest in Léonie as well as her surviving sisters. People would come to the Visitation
monastery and ask to see Léonie and see if she would pray to her sister Thérèse for intercession on their behalf. Léonie
would always honor their requests.
As 1914 approached, the threat of war was eminent. As World War I started it had major effect on the Visitation
community as well as other religious communities. The Germans advanced into France through Belgium’s border and
occupied the northeastern half of the country. Even though during this time, Léonie and her sisters were miles away from
the front lines, they were asked to make sacrifices for the war effort. Food was rationed for everyone as well as medicines
and other much needed supplies. The majority of the supplies were sent to the front lines for the support of the French
soldiers. Léonie was very concerned about the health and safety of her sisters Marie, Pauline, and Céline at the Carmelite
monastery in Lisieux due to the rationing of supplies. Her sisters reassured Léonie, that they were all right. When the war
came to the end, all of them survived the horrors.
On September 30, 1912, while Léonie was chanting the Holy Office, an apparition of her sister Thérèse’s hands appeared
to her on her book. This apparition affirmed to Léonie that her sister was always with her. Léonie and Thérèse had a very
close relationship. She looked upon Thérèse as being a guiding light to the way of perfection. This experience encouraged
Léonie to work harder at becoming a saint.
The canonization process for Thérèse progressed rapidly on April 9, 1915. A second examination of Thérèse’s virtues was
required for the Apostolic Process. The examination of these virtues would take place at the Carmelite monastery in
Lisieux. To this great joy, Léonie and her Mother Superior Jeanne-Marguerite traveled to the Carmelite monastery. Léonie
had not seen her sisters in seventeen years. It was an exciting eight days for Léonie and what a blessing it was to see her
beloved sisters Marie, Pauline, and Céline. It was also a great joy to see where her sister Thérèse lived and worked.
Léonie remarked: “As we were sitting down together on the steps of Carmel, it was like nothing had changed. It was as if
we were together at Les Buissonnets once more.” The time came for Léonie to depart the Carmelite monastery and the
examination of Thérèse’s sisters was over. Léonie, yet again, had to say her goodbyes to her sisters. This time it was to be
forever until they all saw each other again in heaven. The Carmelite sisters arranged a song for Léonie’s departure, which
was a very touching gift for her to receive.
Once Léonie returned to the Visitation monastery in Caen, it was very difficult for her to adjust. The separation from her
sisters and the challenges of practicing the “Little Way” were taking a huge toll on her emotionally. She was fearful of
letting herself down as well as her sisters. Léonie remarked: “I belong to a family of saints and I must not blemish that
heritage.” (GV) Léonie always looked upon her sister Pauline as a saint. She revered the Carmelite prioress as a person with
such great virtues. Moreover, Léonie persisted and returned to the practice of being hidden, following the footsteps of her
sister Thérèse one step at a time. Léonie’s main objective was to be a living example of God’s love, the same love that he
has for each and every one of us. She sought out her own measure of obedience to God to further her practice of humility,
a virtue that was one of her favorites to practice. She devoted many of her prayers for the Pope, the Church, her
communities, and others that suffered.
Léonie constantly examined the progress of her way to perfection and came to the conclusion about where she was by
stating: “I am so poor, so little, so weak-but I rejoice in being so, for it makes me more open to His consuming and
transforming love and I could not be more self-abandoned. I believe I have reached the point where God wishes me to be,
for I love what He does above all else; I do not want to choose anything at all.” (L) However, Léonie continued to work
feverishly on her goals of becoming more humble. She made every opportunity to withdraw herself more and more from
the spotlight working harder to be counted as nothing. Described by her Visitation sisters, Leonie displayed pure gentleness,
exuberant joy, and great humility with much simplicity.
Reflecting back on her difficult childhood, there was one person who sought forgiveness from Léonie, Louise Marais, the
maid. She had inflicted both emotional and physical abuse on Léonie when she was a child. Louise was not allowed to have
any contact with Léonie. However, Louise was able to communicate to Léonie in an effort to receive Léonie’s forgiveness
through Marie. Léonie thanked her for helping take care of her mother when she had breast cancer and also forgave her
for the way she was treated by her.
On August 10, 1917, a second exhumation of Thérèse’s remains took place. Léonie had always hoped for a relic of her
sister Thérèse since her death. Thankfully, while her sister Céline was wrapping Thérèse’s relics in silk linens, a molar
had fallen out of its place. It was decided that the molar would be given to Léonie. The arrival of the relic, from Thérèse to
the Visitation monastery, was a joyous blessing for Léonie and her sisters in Caen.
On March 26, 1923, Thérèse’s relics were brought to the Carmelite Monastery in Lisieux. A beautifully decorated carriage
carrying her relics rode from the Lisieux cemetery in a procession down the streets of Lisieux to be interned at the
Carmelite chapel. Thérèse’s beatification was going to take place on April 29th. As a kind gesture to Léonie, the carriage
was brought to the Visitation monastery in Caen to include her in the ceremony and to show her the beautiful carriage
where her sister’s relics were placed.
Shortly after the beatification process, Thérèse’s canonization was taking place. On May 17, 1925, Léonie’s sister became
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. A beautiful ceremony took place in Rome to celebrate the newly canonized saint. Pope
Pius XI extended an invitation for Thérèse’s sisters Marie, Pauline, Léonie, and Céline to attend the ceremony in Rome.
The invitation was declined by all of them. The decision to decline the invitation was so that they could continue their work
in the monastery as a cloistered nun thus not interfering with community life. But in the place of their absence, two
Tourière sisters from the Visitation monastery went to Rome to represent them. Léonie had a special request for one of the
sisters. She asked the sister if she would kiss the foot of Pope Pius XI, a demonstration to the Pontiff a sign of her faith in
him.
On September 28th, Cardinal Vico, a representative of Pope XI, came to Caen to visit Léonie. Léonie knelt before him as an
act of her faithfulness to him and the Pope. Léonie, like her sisters, prayed in particular for the Pope, priests and also the
preservation of the sovereign Church. Cardinal Vico delivered a portrait of Pope Pius XI to celebrate Léonie’s twenty-five
years as a Visitation nun. The portrait contained an inscription of a blessing for her to honor this occasion. Pauline had
sent a statue of Thérèse to the Visitation convent, which was placed in the garden. Cardinal Vico had the honor of blessing
the statue while he was there.
Due to the overwhelming interest in Thérèse, many visitors came to the Visitation monastery to see Léonie. Léonie, being
an assistant portress, would answer the door without acknowledging to them that it was she who they were speaking to.
For Léonie, it was an opportunity for her to practice her humility. Most of them would request for her to pray to her sister
Thérèse for their intentions and she would always honor their requests. Léonie never sought out intercession from her
sister Thérèse for herself. She knew that all that she received was enough for what she needed. A visitor who wanted to
interview Léonie approached her at the monastery. He wanted to find out more information about her mother Azélie. Léonie
complied with his request and she stated that it was her mother, Azélie, who taught her humility, simplicity, and detachment
from worldly things. Léonie always viewed her as a saint. Léonie was then asked to write the forward to the book: The
Little Flower’s Mother. Léonie also wrote a message to the Little Flower Society: “If we must please the Little Flower, we
must be humbled as she was, and we will be humble if we will repeat frequently every day: Jesus, meek and humble of
heart, make my heart like unto thine.” (CW) Léonie vowed to pray every day for sister Thérèse to watch over them.
In her interview, she was asked why she too did not become a Carmelite nun like her sisters. Léonie replied she was where
God wanted her to be and one of the graces that her sister Thérèse gave her was to preserve her devotion to the Visitation
Order. Léonie's first affiliation with the Visitation Order was through her aunt, Sister Marie-Dosithée. There was a great
connection and admiration between Léonie and her aunt and she looked forward to following her in her footsteps, thus
initially taking the name Sister Françoise-Dosithée in one of Léonie’s early attempts at religious life. It was Léonie’s goal for
herself as she explains: “I want to be little, so little! This is the example I want to follow. I can feel that this is what Jesus
expects of me.” (L)
During the month of December 1930, Léonie was plagued by an acute contagious viral infection characterized by
inflammation of the respiratory tract and by fever, chills, muscular pain, and prostration. It is also called grippe. This in
return eventually led to her catching pneumonia. It was thought by her Visitation sisters that Léonie would not survive her
illness. As a result she was given the “Last Sacraments”. Pauline sent a telegram to a Carmelite brethren in Rome about
her sister’s condition. Unexpectedly, Pope Pius XI responded back to Pauline's telegram. In this telegram, he gave Léonie
his papal blessing as well as asking for her sister Thérèse’s intercession. Sister Marie Aimée, who was very close to
Léonie in the monastery, prayed before the statue of St. Thérèse in the monastery garden asking for
Thérèse’s intercession too.
Soon after Léonie received blessings upon her, she started to recover from her illness. Many of Léonie’s Visitation sisters
were impressed by Léonie’s continued devotion to the love of God and also by her ardent desire to be in His presence
throughout her difficult suffering. Sister Joseph Gabriel de Formigny, Léonie’s infirmarian, stated: “What edification Léonie
gave during her days of great suffering! I had of admiring her faith, her love of the good God, her profound delicacy of
sentiment; she does honor her sister Thérèse, whose virtues she reproduces…” (DL)
Throughout the rest of Léonie’s life, she was plagued with a number of illnesses. Her weak immune system did not help
her to fight against colds and influenza, which passed through the monastery each year. She also suffered from eczema, a
non-contagious inflammation of the skin, characterized chiefly by redness, itching, and the outbreak of lesions that may
discharge serous matter and become encrusted and scaly. This ravaged her entire body making it very uncomfortable for
her. Like her mother Azélie, Léonie too suffered from migraine headaches. She also lost many of her teeth causing her to
wear dentures. If not enough Rheumatism arthritis stayed with Léonie until her death leaving her body whittled and frail.
Should Léonie never be able to walk, she would, without any hesitation; crawl on her hands and knees to receive the
Blessed Sacrament. It was the true center of her religious life. (GV)
Prayer was an important part of Léonie’s life. It is prayer that Léonie’s heart desired constantly, because in prayer she
replies: “How I love the words, the good God operates in us; there is no need to see or feel Him! Happily for me, that is
true for I always have been and am increasingly a blockhead, a log, and I ask Jesus to set the log on fire with the Spirit of
Love.” (GV) Multiply the hours of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, Léonie states, “It is before the Blessed
Sacrament that our hearts and minds are prepared to receive Him. Let us also sow many “Hail Mary’s” for it is our
Immaculate Mother in heaven that will be there to save us all.”
In December of 1939, Léonie’s sister Marie contracted a cold with a very severe cough. Her illness continued on into
January and sadly her illness worsened to the point of no return. Léonie was notified, by her other sisters Pauline and
Céline, that Marie’s mortal life on earth was coming to an end. On January 18, 1940, Léonie’s beloved sister Marie
breathed her last breath on earth. As customary, two Visitandine sisters from Léonie’s monastery were sent to the
Carmelite monastery with flowers in hand for Marie’s funeral in Lisieux.
In April of 1940, Léonie wrote a letter to her dear sisters Pauline and Céline. In this letter she describes to her sisters how
she feels about herself approaching death: “I feel that I am approaching eternity. What joy! There is nothing sound in me
except for my eyes, my heart, and my head, thanks be to God! Complete abandonment is what I desire most... Let us, as
spouses of Christ, not fear death which we must undergo to find true life in Him.”(GV)
A ruthless German dictator named Adolph Hitler decided to invade France on May 10, 1940. The French army thought that
the Germans would attack them on the French and German border where they had a strong line of defense. But the
Germans decided to attack France through Belgium instead. The French army made an enormous effort to stop the German
army from penetrating the front lines. However, they were no match to the German arsenal of weapons. On June 22, 1940,
the French and German governments signed an Armistice agreement that called for two different zones. One zone occupied
by the Germans and the other zone occupied by the French. Unfortunately, Caen and Lisieux were both positioned in the
German occupied zone. Léonie and her Visitation sisters could no longer ignore what was going on outside the walls of
their monastery. The Germans setup outposts in most of the major cities in France, Caen being no exception.
Léonie made every effort to comfort her sisters who were fearful of the outcome of the German existence. Léonie would
pray ardently for the safety and security of their family members and ask her Sainted Sister Thérèse to protect them.
As 1940 was coming to a close, Léonie’s health had become ever more deteriorated. She was no longer able to roam the
halls of her beloved monastery on her own. Mother Jeanne Marguerite de Carpentry decided it was time for Léonie to be
moved into the infirmary after she contracted bronchitis. Léonie helped her other sisters that were also summoned to stay
in the infirmary especially the ones who were near death. Léonie was content on continuing her duties even though she was
hindered by her physical impairments as she states to one of her sisters: “Yes, I suffer much, but I don’t want to stop, I
wish to go on until the end.” (DL)
During May of 1941, Léonie contracted the grippe again. This time she was not going to be able to defeat it. She suffered
severely from the physical symptoms of the grippe along with the addition of rheumatism arthritis. Léonie writes to her
sisters Pauline and Céline: “I have become so little that I have the audacity to believe that I will not go to purgatory. I ask
my Jesus to prepare me Himself for His coming. I, though a great sinner, can have no fear of the good God. On the
contrary, it's my extreme need of Him that gives me such confidence in Him that I dream that when I leave the arms of our
beloved mother (Mother Superior) that I will fall quite naturally into the arms of Jesus and of my heavenly Mother. What
audacity!” (GV)
At the end of May, Léonie started to show signs of improvement in her health. It was a golden opportunity for her
Visitation sisters to celebrate Léonie's birth and profession. Mother Superior took full advantage of this opportunity and they
celebrated Léonie's birthday as well as her fortieth anniversary of her profession on June 3, 1941. Léonie joyfully celebrated
with her Visitation sisters.
One of the gifts Léonie received was a message that Pauline obtained from Pope Pius XII. In the Pope’s message he
states: “We are blessed with all of our hearts, on the occasion of her 40th anniversary of religious profession, our dear
daughter in Jesus Christ, Françoise-Thérèse of the Visitation of Caen, and through the intercession of her blessed sister
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, we implore for her the grace of the highest sanctification in the most fervent humility.”
(DL) As the celebration came to a close, Léonie was taken back to the infirmary. Her sisters filled the halls of her beloved
convent with the verses: “By thy sweet way, Guide us we pray, Thérèse to heaven, to heaven, to heaven.” (DL) Léonie
was filled with joy and happiness from the celebration. Mother superior took the opportunity to escort her “living relic”
back to her room.
Due to the occupation of the German army in France, the message from the Pope was delayed by almost a year.
Léonie’s 40th anniversary was in 1940. After the celebration, Léonie sent a reply to Pope Pius XII’s message and thanked
him for his gift. But the greatest gift Léonie was to receive was from her beloved sister Pauline. Years ago, Pauline sent
Saint Thérèse’s profession cross to Léonie upon the condition that the cross would be returned after
Léonie’s death. Pauline decided to allow the Visitation convent to keep Saint Thérèse’s profession cross. She also
provided a reliquary to house the cross in so that it could be venerated.
Pauline, knowing her beloved sister was nearing an end to her life, contacted the Pope and requested permission to allow
Léonie’s body to be interned at the Carmel in Lisieux. It was an expression of faith for all the sisters to be buried side by
side in the crypt next to their beloved sainted sister Thérèse. But Léonie wanted to be buried in the crypt of her Visitation
convent. Léonie’s feeling on this issue was that after her death that there would no longer be any communication between
the Visitation and the Carmel. Mother superior felt this same fear because the Carmel was helping them in several ways
during the German occupation of France. Pauline reassured her sister in a message sent to Léonie: “Fear nothing, my little
Léonie, if you fly to heaven, I will not fail to fly often to your Visitation; besides, I myself will feel the need of it.” (DL)
As the weeks in June progressed, Léonie’s eyes were solely on heaven. In a conversation between her and her mother
superior she said: “The divine thief is at the door, dear mother, but do not be troubled if He takes me in the middle of the
night for I am ready; all is given, abandoned.” (DL) It was painful for some of Léonie’s sisters to see her while she was in
an enormous state of agony over the complications from her illness. Léonie reassured them, “That it was necessary to
suffer a lot before dying because there was still more for her to climb to Calvary.” (DL) She wanted to ascend to heaven
like infants do.
On June 12th, as she did each day, Léonie started to rise for Morning Prayer. She was met with a sudden weakness and
numbness in her arms and legs on one side of her body, which caused her to collapse onto the floor of the infirmary. When
Léonie’s infirmarian arrived to help her change into her clothes, she found her lying on the floor unconscious. The
infirmarian summoned other sisters to help her place her back into her bed. A doctor was called to examine her condition
and a priest came to deliver her the “Last Rites”. Hours after Léonie collapse, she woke up and saw her infirmarian and
other sisters beside her. Léonie immediately realized that she was paralyzed on one side and was not able to speak anymore.
Mother Superior sent an urgent message to Pauline and Celine about their sister’s dire condition. Later that afternoon,
Pauline sent two Tourière sisters to the Visitation convent bearing flowers with prayers and blessings. When the sisters
entered into the infirmary, Léonie was visibly overjoyed to see them. They went over and sat at her bedside giving the
messages from her sisters Pauline and Céline. Mother Superior gave Léonie her sister Marie’s rosary and her sainted
sister Thérèse’s profession cross. Léonie bore each relic in both of her hands. She then took a rose, removed the petals
from it and scattered them over her sister’s profession cross.
Léonie’s condition slowly deteriorated for the next five days. She was very week, however, she clasped onto her sister
Marie’s rosary and Thérèse’s cross close to her heart. Every day the priest would come and give her the “Last Rites”.
On the 16th of June, Léonie held out her hands with a weak smile on her face, when her Visitation sisters brought in a
replica of the statue of Our Lady of the Smile. They recited to her some verses her sainted sister Thérèse echoed: “To die
of love, what martyrdom more sweet, I long for it, my heart’s desire! Soon is my exile over, Oh, I entreat, Ye Cherubim,
tune, tune your lire.” (DL) That evening it became more evident that there were only hours left of her life, as the physical
signs of death were visible. Mother Superior gave Léonie a blessed candle to hold in her hand as they prayed to Our Lady
of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of the Visitation and to St. Thérèse.
A few hours before she ascended to heaven, on the 17th of June, Léonie again scattered rose petals that Pauline and
Céline had gathered in the Carmelite garden. She placed them over Thérèse’s profession cross. Mother Superior brought
Léonie up into her arms and hugged her twice, once for Pauline and once for Céline. She placed Léonie’s head back on
her pillow. Léonie sighs a couple of times as her soul was starting its ascension to heaven. The Lord she loved called her
home.
Léonie’s Visitation sisters gathered around her bed and sang the “Magnificat”. They prepared her body for her funeral.
Léonie’s hands were placed together clutching St. Thérèse’s profession cross and her head laid upon a white pillow. The
sisters placed a ring of white roses around her head and wrapped a garland of flowers all around her body.
Léonie’s beautiful smile still encompassed her face as she lay peacefully. Her body was carried to the chapel choir where
those that came to pay their respects could see her in all her splendor.
As news spread throughout the world of Léonie’s Holy Ascent, people came from all over the world. As the days leading
up to her funeral came, more and more people turned out to pay their respects, even though the Germans occupied Caen.
Numerous letters of condolences were sent to the Visitation monastery and also to the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux
where Pauline and Céline lived.
The funeral for Sister Françoise-Thérèse, Marie Leonie Martin was held on June 21, 1941 conducted by Monsignor
Germain. A large crowd of mourners surrounded Léonie’s coffin and followed the procession to the end, as the Visitation
sisters looked on. Léonie’s body was then carried into the Visitation monastery and placed in an interior crypt where her
body still lies today.
by: r hann
Bibliography
Abbé Combes, ed. Collected Letters Of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux . (CL)
New York: Sheed & Ward, 1949.
Dolan, Albert H. Rev.. Collected Little Flower Works. Chicago: Carmelite Press, 1929.
---. The Little Flower’s Mother. Chicago: Carmelite Press, 1929. (CW)
---. God Made The Violet Too: Life of Léonie, Sister of St. Thérèse. (GV)
Chicago: Carmelite Press, 1948.
Piat, Stéphanie Fr. The Story Of A Family: The Home of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (SF)
Trans: Benedictine of Stanbrook Abbey. Rockford, Ill.: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1948.
Death Announcement of Sr Francoise-Therese Martin, UnpubIished transcript from the Monastery of the Visitation in Caen, France. 1941 (DL)
sister’s condition. On September 30th, as the hours for Thérèse were drawing to
a close, Léonie and her aunt Céline and uncle Isidore went to the Carmelite chapel
to pray for her. Pauline wrote a small note and gave it to a lay sister, which in turn
handed it to Léonie in the chapel that told her that her sister’s soul had ascended to
heaven. A few days later, Léonie led the funeral procession at the Carmelite chapel.
Thérèse’s body was laid to rest at the local cemetery in Lisieux.
During this course of time, Léonie continued to stay in contact with the sisters at the
Visitation monastery. She would visit them periodically in Caen when she went to
stay with her cousin Jeanne. Between Léonie’s second departure from the monastery
and her final entrance, a lot of the sisters at the monastery had passed away. This led
the Visitation monastery, in Caen, to accept a couple of sisters from the Visitation
monastery in Boulogne-sur-Mer. A few months later, one of the new sisters from
Boulogne-sur-Mer was elected Mother Superior. Mother Jeanne-Marguerite
Decarpentry brought a different adaptation to the Visitation Rule, which in turn allowed Léonie and her fellow sisters that
left previously an opportunity to come back.
Weeks prior to Thérèse's death, Thérèse had a conversation with her sister Marie. She stated that after her death, Léonie
would be reunited with her sisters at the Visitation in Caen. She also stated that Léonie would be there serving God until her
death. This vision that Thérèse had stated to Marie had came true years later on January 28, 1899.
Léonie, escorted by her uncle Isidore, entered the doors of the Visitation monastery after her religious ceremony took place
and she entered the monastery for the final time on January 30th. Léonie stated to her new Mother Superior: “I am here for
always, this is my sole ambition: to hide myself like a humble violet under the leaves of perfect submission, so that my
superiors can do with me whatever the wish.” (GV)
On June 30,1899, Léonie received her holy habit and took the name Sister Françoise-Thérèse. The ceremony took place
under the direction of Canon Levasseur. She then continued on with her novitiate under the direction of Sister Louise
Henriette Vaugeois. Léonie was very attached to her due to her humility, simplicity and gentleness towards her.
Unfortunately, Sister Louise was requested to return back to her old monastery in Boulogne-sur-Mer.
Sister Marie Aimée de Songnis took over the reins of Léonie’s training. Sister Marie Aimée was much different than her
predecessor. She was more stringent on following the Visitation Rule. This in return led Léonie into a depressed state of
mind. It was very difficult for Léonie to learn the Rule quickly enough so that she would not fall into the dismay of her
directress. Léonie’s sisters Marie, Pauline and Céline were once again alarmed and dreaded the thought of history
repeating itself. They were fearful that Léonie would be forced to leave the monastery once more. Through the
encouragement of her sisters at Carmel and the intercession through her beloved aunt Sister Marie-Dosithée and her sister
Thérèse, Léonie survived this trial. Léonie stated in a letter to her sisters at Carmel: “Surviving the pressures of the earth:
To win heaven, it is necessary to suffer and to suffer greatly. True peace is the acceptance of each trial given. After we
have completed our exile, there will be heaven eternally, while we wait, it is necessary that we attach ourselves to the
cross. From the cross to heaven is only one step.” (GV)
Sister Marie Aimée decided that Léonie was ready to become a professed nun. On July 2, 1900, Léonie’s novitiate ended
and she professed her final vows. The ceremony took place under the direction of Canon Levasseur. Léonie received her
profession cross, the cross that cost her so many tears, however, Léonie was content on living the rest of her life as a
Visitation nun.
It was decided by the Mother Superior of the community that Léonie’s jobs would be to assistant Bursar, nurse, to
assistant in the refectory and assistant in the sacristy. Léonie’s duties to assistant Bursar were to ensure that everything in
the convent was arranged accordingly. Her nursing duties in the infirmary were taking care of the needs of the sick and
aged nuns. She assisted the sisters in the refractory who prepared the two meals that the community received daily. Léonie’
s duties in the sacristy were prepping the linens, corporals, palls, and purificators for Mass.
Léonie lent her support and attention to the needs of the new postulants who were, as she did, having difficulties in
adhering to the Visitation Rule. Even though her duties were not always in a leadership role, she accepted her tasks joyfully.
Léonie was forced to make many sacrifices in her work. With great humility, she used these opportunities to offer them to
God and use them for the opportunity of saving souls, in particularity for priests.
Léonie was given a brief opportunity to see her sister Pauline in 1902. Pauline and Mother Marie de Gonzaga were
traveling to a city called Valognes located in the northwestern part of Normandy on business. This was a special gift for
Léonie because she thought she would never see her sister ever again after she entered the Visitation.
During the early part of the 1900’s, Thérèse had come to be well known by many people in France. The book “Story of a
Soul” was widely read by many people and they had sought out her protection and intercession. The process for Thérèse’s
canonization for sainthood had started. In 1910, Léonie was asked by Bishop Lemonnier of Bayeux and Lisieux to prepare a
deposition on the virtues of Thérèse. On November 27th, Léonie and her Mother Superior Jeanne-Marguerite Decarpentry
traveled to Bayeux to see the Bishop. Léonie testified on her account of Thérèse’s virtues. During this event they both
stayed at the Benedictine Monastery.
The interest in Thérèse also brought interest in Léonie as well as her surviving sisters. People would come to the Visitation
monastery and ask to see Léonie and see if she would pray to her sister Thérèse for intercession on their behalf. Léonie
would always honor their requests.
As 1914 approached, the threat of war was eminent. As World War I started it had major effect on the Visitation
community as well as other religious communities. The Germans advanced into France through Belgium’s border and
occupied the northeastern half of the country. Even though during this time, Léonie and her sisters were miles away from
the front lines, they were asked to make sacrifices for the war effort. Food was rationed for everyone as well as medicines
and other much needed supplies. The majority of the supplies were sent to the front lines for the support of the French
soldiers. Léonie was very concerned about the health and safety of her sisters Marie, Pauline, and Céline at the Carmelite
monastery in Lisieux due to the rationing of supplies. Her sisters reassured Léonie, that they were all right. When the war
came to the end, all of them survived the horrors.
On September 30, 1912, while Léonie was chanting the Holy Office, an apparition of her sister Thérèse’s hands appeared
to her on her book. This apparition affirmed to Léonie that her sister was always with her. Léonie and Thérèse had a very
close relationship. She looked upon Thérèse as being a guiding light to the way of perfection. This experience encouraged
Léonie to work harder at becoming a saint.
The canonization process for Thérèse progressed rapidly on April 9, 1915. A second examination of Thérèse’s virtues was
required for the Apostolic Process. The examination of these virtues would take place at the Carmelite monastery in
Lisieux. To this great joy, Léonie and her Mother Superior Jeanne-Marguerite traveled to the Carmelite monastery. Léonie
had not seen her sisters in seventeen years. It was an exciting eight days for Léonie and what a blessing it was to see her
beloved sisters Marie, Pauline, and Céline. It was also a great joy to see where her sister Thérèse lived and worked.
Léonie remarked: “As we were sitting down together on the steps of Carmel, it was like nothing had changed. It was as if
we were together at Les Buissonnets once more.” The time came for Léonie to depart the Carmelite monastery and the
examination of Thérèse’s sisters was over. Léonie, yet again, had to say her goodbyes to her sisters. This time it was to be
forever until they all saw each other again in heaven. The Carmelite sisters arranged a song for Léonie’s departure, which
was a very touching gift for her to receive.
Once Léonie returned to the Visitation monastery in Caen, it was very difficult for her to adjust. The separation from her
sisters and the challenges of practicing the “Little Way” were taking a huge toll on her emotionally. She was fearful of
letting herself down as well as her sisters. Léonie remarked: “I belong to a family of saints and I must not blemish that
heritage.” (GV) Léonie always looked upon her sister Pauline as a saint. She revered the Carmelite prioress as a person with
such great virtues. Moreover, Léonie persisted and returned to the practice of being hidden, following the footsteps of her
sister Thérèse one step at a time. Léonie’s main objective was to be a living example of God’s love, the same love that he
has for each and every one of us. She sought out her own measure of obedience to God to further her practice of humility,
a virtue that was one of her favorites to practice. She devoted many of her prayers for the Pope, the Church, her
communities, and others that suffered.
Léonie constantly examined the progress of her way to perfection and came to the conclusion about where she was by
stating: “I am so poor, so little, so weak-but I rejoice in being so, for it makes me more open to His consuming and
transforming love and I could not be more self-abandoned. I believe I have reached the point where God wishes me to be,
for I love what He does above all else; I do not want to choose anything at all.” (L) However, Léonie continued to work
feverishly on her goals of becoming more humble. She made every opportunity to withdraw herself more and more from
the spotlight working harder to be counted as nothing. Described by her Visitation sisters, Leonie displayed pure gentleness,
exuberant joy, and great humility with much simplicity.
Reflecting back on her difficult childhood, there was one person who sought forgiveness from Léonie, Louise Marais, the
maid. She had inflicted both emotional and physical abuse on Léonie when she was a child. Louise was not allowed to have
any contact with Léonie. However, Louise was able to communicate to Léonie in an effort to receive Léonie’s forgiveness
through Marie. Léonie thanked her for helping take care of her mother when she had breast cancer and also forgave her
for the way she was treated by her.
On August 10, 1917, a second exhumation of Thérèse’s remains took place. Léonie had always hoped for a relic of her
sister Thérèse since her death. Thankfully, while her sister Céline was wrapping Thérèse’s relics in silk linens, a molar
had fallen out of its place. It was decided that the molar would be given to Léonie. The arrival of the relic, from Thérèse to
the Visitation monastery, was a joyous blessing for Léonie and her sisters in Caen.
On March 26, 1923, Thérèse’s relics were brought to the Carmelite Monastery in Lisieux. A beautifully decorated carriage
carrying her relics rode from the Lisieux cemetery in a procession down the streets of Lisieux to be interned at the
Carmelite chapel. Thérèse’s beatification was going to take place on April 29th. As a kind gesture to Léonie, the carriage
was brought to the Visitation monastery in Caen to include her in the ceremony and to show her the beautiful carriage
where her sister’s relics were placed.
Shortly after the beatification process, Thérèse’s canonization was taking place. On May 17, 1925, Léonie’s sister became
St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus. A beautiful ceremony took place in Rome to celebrate the newly canonized saint. Pope
Pius XI extended an invitation for Thérèse’s sisters Marie, Pauline, Léonie, and Céline to attend the ceremony in Rome.
The invitation was declined by all of them. The decision to decline the invitation was so that they could continue their work
in the monastery as a cloistered nun thus not interfering with community life. But in the place of their absence, two
Tourière sisters from the Visitation monastery went to Rome to represent them. Léonie had a special request for one of the
sisters. She asked the sister if she would kiss the foot of Pope Pius XI, a demonstration to the Pontiff a sign of her faith in
him.
On September 28th, Cardinal Vico, a representative of Pope XI, came to Caen to visit Léonie. Léonie knelt before him as an
act of her faithfulness to him and the Pope. Léonie, like her sisters, prayed in particular for the Pope, priests and also the
preservation of the sovereign Church. Cardinal Vico delivered a portrait of Pope Pius XI to celebrate Léonie’s twenty-five
years as a Visitation nun. The portrait contained an inscription of a blessing for her to honor this occasion. Pauline had
sent a statue of Thérèse to the Visitation convent, which was placed in the garden. Cardinal Vico had the honor of blessing
the statue while he was there.
Due to the overwhelming interest in Thérèse, many visitors came to the Visitation monastery to see Léonie. Léonie, being
an assistant portress, would answer the door without acknowledging to them that it was she who they were speaking to.
For Léonie, it was an opportunity for her to practice her humility. Most of them would request for her to pray to her sister
Thérèse for their intentions and she would always honor their requests. Léonie never sought out intercession from her
sister Thérèse for herself. She knew that all that she received was enough for what she needed. A visitor who wanted to
interview Léonie approached her at the monastery. He wanted to find out more information about her mother Azélie. Léonie
complied with his request and she stated that it was her mother, Azélie, who taught her humility, simplicity, and detachment
from worldly things. Léonie always viewed her as a saint. Léonie was then asked to write the forward to the book: The
Little Flower’s Mother. Léonie also wrote a message to the Little Flower Society: “If we must please the Little Flower, we
must be humbled as she was, and we will be humble if we will repeat frequently every day: Jesus, meek and humble of
heart, make my heart like unto thine.” (CW) Léonie vowed to pray every day for sister Thérèse to watch over them.
In her interview, she was asked why she too did not become a Carmelite nun like her sisters. Léonie replied she was where
God wanted her to be and one of the graces that her sister Thérèse gave her was to preserve her devotion to the Visitation
Order. Léonie's first affiliation with the Visitation Order was through her aunt, Sister Marie-Dosithée. There was a great
connection and admiration between Léonie and her aunt and she looked forward to following her in her footsteps, thus
initially taking the name Sister Françoise-Dosithée in one of Léonie’s early attempts at religious life. It was Léonie’s goal for
herself as she explains: “I want to be little, so little! This is the example I want to follow. I can feel that this is what Jesus
expects of me.” (L)
During the month of December 1930, Léonie was plagued by an acute contagious viral infection characterized by
inflammation of the respiratory tract and by fever, chills, muscular pain, and prostration. It is also called grippe. This in
return eventually led to her catching pneumonia. It was thought by her Visitation sisters that Léonie would not survive her
illness. As a result she was given the “Last Sacraments”. Pauline sent a telegram to a Carmelite brethren in Rome about
her sister’s condition. Unexpectedly, Pope Pius XI responded back to Pauline's telegram. In this telegram, he gave Léonie
his papal blessing as well as asking for her sister Thérèse’s intercession. Sister Marie Aimée, who was very close to
Léonie in the monastery, prayed before the statue of St. Thérèse in the monastery garden asking for
Thérèse’s intercession too.
Soon after Léonie received blessings upon her, she started to recover from her illness. Many of Léonie’s Visitation sisters
were impressed by Léonie’s continued devotion to the love of God and also by her ardent desire to be in His presence
throughout her difficult suffering. Sister Joseph Gabriel de Formigny, Léonie’s infirmarian, stated: “What edification Léonie
gave during her days of great suffering! I had of admiring her faith, her love of the good God, her profound delicacy of
sentiment; she does honor her sister Thérèse, whose virtues she reproduces…” (DL)
Throughout the rest of Léonie’s life, she was plagued with a number of illnesses. Her weak immune system did not help
her to fight against colds and influenza, which passed through the monastery each year. She also suffered from eczema, a
non-contagious inflammation of the skin, characterized chiefly by redness, itching, and the outbreak of lesions that may
discharge serous matter and become encrusted and scaly. This ravaged her entire body making it very uncomfortable for
her. Like her mother Azélie, Léonie too suffered from migraine headaches. She also lost many of her teeth causing her to
wear dentures. If not enough Rheumatism arthritis stayed with Léonie until her death leaving her body whittled and frail.
Should Léonie never be able to walk, she would, without any hesitation; crawl on her hands and knees to receive the
Blessed Sacrament. It was the true center of her religious life. (GV)
Prayer was an important part of Léonie’s life. It is prayer that Léonie’s heart desired constantly, because in prayer she
replies: “How I love the words, the good God operates in us; there is no need to see or feel Him! Happily for me, that is
true for I always have been and am increasingly a blockhead, a log, and I ask Jesus to set the log on fire with the Spirit of
Love.” (GV) Multiply the hours of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, Léonie states, “It is before the Blessed
Sacrament that our hearts and minds are prepared to receive Him. Let us also sow many “Hail Mary’s” for it is our
Immaculate Mother in heaven that will be there to save us all.”
In December of 1939, Léonie’s sister Marie contracted a cold with a very severe cough. Her illness continued on into
January and sadly her illness worsened to the point of no return. Léonie was notified, by her other sisters Pauline and
Céline, that Marie’s mortal life on earth was coming to an end. On January 18, 1940, Léonie’s beloved sister Marie
breathed her last breath on earth. As customary, two Visitandine sisters from Léonie’s monastery were sent to the
Carmelite monastery with flowers in hand for Marie’s funeral in Lisieux.
In April of 1940, Léonie wrote a letter to her dear sisters Pauline and Céline. In this letter she describes to her sisters how
she feels about herself approaching death: “I feel that I am approaching eternity. What joy! There is nothing sound in me
except for my eyes, my heart, and my head, thanks be to God! Complete abandonment is what I desire most... Let us, as
spouses of Christ, not fear death which we must undergo to find true life in Him.”(GV)
A ruthless German dictator named Adolph Hitler decided to invade France on May 10, 1940. The French army thought that
the Germans would attack them on the French and German border where they had a strong line of defense. But the
Germans decided to attack France through Belgium instead. The French army made an enormous effort to stop the German
army from penetrating the front lines. However, they were no match to the German arsenal of weapons. On June 22, 1940,
the French and German governments signed an Armistice agreement that called for two different zones. One zone occupied
by the Germans and the other zone occupied by the French. Unfortunately, Caen and Lisieux were both positioned in the
German occupied zone. Léonie and her Visitation sisters could no longer ignore what was going on outside the walls of
their monastery. The Germans setup outposts in most of the major cities in France, Caen being no exception.
Léonie made every effort to comfort her sisters who were fearful of the outcome of the German existence. Léonie would
pray ardently for the safety and security of their family members and ask her Sainted Sister Thérèse to protect them.
As 1940 was coming to a close, Léonie’s health had become ever more deteriorated. She was no longer able to roam the
halls of her beloved monastery on her own. Mother Jeanne Marguerite de Carpentry decided it was time for Léonie to be
moved into the infirmary after she contracted bronchitis. Léonie helped her other sisters that were also summoned to stay
in the infirmary especially the ones who were near death. Léonie was content on continuing her duties even though she was
hindered by her physical impairments as she states to one of her sisters: “Yes, I suffer much, but I don’t want to stop, I
wish to go on until the end.” (DL)
During May of 1941, Léonie contracted the grippe again. This time she was not going to be able to defeat it. She suffered
severely from the physical symptoms of the grippe along with the addition of rheumatism arthritis. Léonie writes to her
sisters Pauline and Céline: “I have become so little that I have the audacity to believe that I will not go to purgatory. I ask
my Jesus to prepare me Himself for His coming. I, though a great sinner, can have no fear of the good God. On the
contrary, it's my extreme need of Him that gives me such confidence in Him that I dream that when I leave the arms of our
beloved mother (Mother Superior) that I will fall quite naturally into the arms of Jesus and of my heavenly Mother. What
audacity!” (GV)
At the end of May, Léonie started to show signs of improvement in her health. It was a golden opportunity for her
Visitation sisters to celebrate Léonie's birth and profession. Mother Superior took full advantage of this opportunity and they
celebrated Léonie's birthday as well as her fortieth anniversary of her profession on June 3, 1941. Léonie joyfully celebrated
with her Visitation sisters.
One of the gifts Léonie received was a message that Pauline obtained from Pope Pius XII. In the Pope’s message he
states: “We are blessed with all of our hearts, on the occasion of her 40th anniversary of religious profession, our dear
daughter in Jesus Christ, Françoise-Thérèse of the Visitation of Caen, and through the intercession of her blessed sister
Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, we implore for her the grace of the highest sanctification in the most fervent humility.”
(DL) As the celebration came to a close, Léonie was taken back to the infirmary. Her sisters filled the halls of her beloved
convent with the verses: “By thy sweet way, Guide us we pray, Thérèse to heaven, to heaven, to heaven.” (DL) Léonie
was filled with joy and happiness from the celebration. Mother superior took the opportunity to escort her “living relic”
back to her room.
Due to the occupation of the German army in France, the message from the Pope was delayed by almost a year.
Léonie’s 40th anniversary was in 1940. After the celebration, Léonie sent a reply to Pope Pius XII’s message and thanked
him for his gift. But the greatest gift Léonie was to receive was from her beloved sister Pauline. Years ago, Pauline sent
Saint Thérèse’s profession cross to Léonie upon the condition that the cross would be returned after
Léonie’s death. Pauline decided to allow the Visitation convent to keep Saint Thérèse’s profession cross. She also
provided a reliquary to house the cross in so that it could be venerated.
Pauline, knowing her beloved sister was nearing an end to her life, contacted the Pope and requested permission to allow
Léonie’s body to be interned at the Carmel in Lisieux. It was an expression of faith for all the sisters to be buried side by
side in the crypt next to their beloved sainted sister Thérèse. But Léonie wanted to be buried in the crypt of her Visitation
convent. Léonie’s feeling on this issue was that after her death that there would no longer be any communication between
the Visitation and the Carmel. Mother superior felt this same fear because the Carmel was helping them in several ways
during the German occupation of France. Pauline reassured her sister in a message sent to Léonie: “Fear nothing, my little
Léonie, if you fly to heaven, I will not fail to fly often to your Visitation; besides, I myself will feel the need of it.” (DL)
As the weeks in June progressed, Léonie’s eyes were solely on heaven. In a conversation between her and her mother
superior she said: “The divine thief is at the door, dear mother, but do not be troubled if He takes me in the middle of the
night for I am ready; all is given, abandoned.” (DL) It was painful for some of Léonie’s sisters to see her while she was in
an enormous state of agony over the complications from her illness. Léonie reassured them, “That it was necessary to
suffer a lot before dying because there was still more for her to climb to Calvary.” (DL) She wanted to ascend to heaven
like infants do.
On June 12th, as she did each day, Léonie started to rise for Morning Prayer. She was met with a sudden weakness and
numbness in her arms and legs on one side of her body, which caused her to collapse onto the floor of the infirmary. When
Léonie’s infirmarian arrived to help her change into her clothes, she found her lying on the floor unconscious. The
infirmarian summoned other sisters to help her place her back into her bed. A doctor was called to examine her condition
and a priest came to deliver her the “Last Rites”. Hours after Léonie collapse, she woke up and saw her infirmarian and
other sisters beside her. Léonie immediately realized that she was paralyzed on one side and was not able to speak anymore.
Mother Superior sent an urgent message to Pauline and Celine about their sister’s dire condition. Later that afternoon,
Pauline sent two Tourière sisters to the Visitation convent bearing flowers with prayers and blessings. When the sisters
entered into the infirmary, Léonie was visibly overjoyed to see them. They went over and sat at her bedside giving the
messages from her sisters Pauline and Céline. Mother Superior gave Léonie her sister Marie’s rosary and her sainted
sister Thérèse’s profession cross. Léonie bore each relic in both of her hands. She then took a rose, removed the petals
from it and scattered them over her sister’s profession cross.
Léonie’s condition slowly deteriorated for the next five days. She was very week, however, she clasped onto her sister
Marie’s rosary and Thérèse’s cross close to her heart. Every day the priest would come and give her the “Last Rites”.
On the 16th of June, Léonie held out her hands with a weak smile on her face, when her Visitation sisters brought in a
replica of the statue of Our Lady of the Smile. They recited to her some verses her sainted sister Thérèse echoed: “To die
of love, what martyrdom more sweet, I long for it, my heart’s desire! Soon is my exile over, Oh, I entreat, Ye Cherubim,
tune, tune your lire.” (DL) That evening it became more evident that there were only hours left of her life, as the physical
signs of death were visible. Mother Superior gave Léonie a blessed candle to hold in her hand as they prayed to Our Lady
of Mt. Carmel, Our Lady of the Visitation and to St. Thérèse.
A few hours before she ascended to heaven, on the 17th of June, Léonie again scattered rose petals that Pauline and
Céline had gathered in the Carmelite garden. She placed them over Thérèse’s profession cross. Mother Superior brought
Léonie up into her arms and hugged her twice, once for Pauline and once for Céline. She placed Léonie’s head back on
her pillow. Léonie sighs a couple of times as her soul was starting its ascension to heaven. The Lord she loved called her
home.
Léonie’s Visitation sisters gathered around her bed and sang the “Magnificat”. They prepared her body for her funeral.
Léonie’s hands were placed together clutching St. Thérèse’s profession cross and her head laid upon a white pillow. The
sisters placed a ring of white roses around her head and wrapped a garland of flowers all around her body.
Léonie’s beautiful smile still encompassed her face as she lay peacefully. Her body was carried to the chapel choir where
those that came to pay their respects could see her in all her splendor.
As news spread throughout the world of Léonie’s Holy Ascent, people came from all over the world. As the days leading
up to her funeral came, more and more people turned out to pay their respects, even though the Germans occupied Caen.
Numerous letters of condolences were sent to the Visitation monastery and also to the Carmelite monastery in Lisieux
where Pauline and Céline lived.
The funeral for Sister Françoise-Thérèse, Marie Leonie Martin was held on June 21, 1941 conducted by Monsignor
Germain. A large crowd of mourners surrounded Léonie’s coffin and followed the procession to the end, as the Visitation
sisters looked on. Léonie’s body was then carried into the Visitation monastery and placed in an interior crypt where her
body still lies today.
by: r hann
Bibliography
Abbé Combes, ed. Collected Letters Of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux . (CL)
New York: Sheed & Ward, 1949.
Dolan, Albert H. Rev.. Collected Little Flower Works. Chicago: Carmelite Press, 1929.
---. The Little Flower’s Mother. Chicago: Carmelite Press, 1929. (CW)
---. God Made The Violet Too: Life of Léonie, Sister of St. Thérèse. (GV)
Chicago: Carmelite Press, 1948.
Piat, Stéphanie Fr. The Story Of A Family: The Home of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. (SF)
Trans: Benedictine of Stanbrook Abbey. Rockford, Ill.: Tan Books and Publishers, Inc., 1948.
Death Announcement of Sr Francoise-Therese Martin, UnpubIished transcript from the Monastery of the Visitation in Caen, France. 1941 (DL)
Copyright © 2005-10 by r hann All Rights Reserved
| "Touching someone's heart in just a little way makes the day go by much brighter" |
| Our Lady of the Smile |
| Sister Francoise-Therese Marie Leonie Martin June 3, 1863-June 17, 1941 "God's Little Violet" |
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