The Story of a Family

Book excerpt: Meet the family where the Little Flower took root. In her Story of a Soul, St. Therese relates how influential her family life was in forming her spiritual life. Now, the canonization of her parents Louis and Zelie and the cause for the beatification of her sister Léonie speak volumes for the robust sanctity of the Martin family. The Martins took no smooth path to sanctity. They endured the loss of four children, financial troubles, and the cancer that caused Zelie’s death. The key to their success was simply this: love. With love, they endured both great sorrows and the countless little troubles of everyday life. This is the story of a husband, wife, and five daughters who formed a close-knit, thoroughly Catholic family. Their lives set an example for anyone who seeks to raise a family in love, and to live the Faith in daily life.