We are almost in the same situation as the Schiliro family.

On August 23, 2008, our son, Ezekiel Thane M. Ignacio, known as "Ethan," was born at 24 weeks, 12 weeks premature, with broncho-pulmonary dysplasia, a chronic lung disease.  He is still in the NICU of St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. They now have him on a "jet ventilator" since he requires more ventilation than what a conventional ventilator can provide.

We heard the story of Zelie and Louis Martin, and the healing of Pietro Schiliro, during Mass on October 19: coincidentally, the same day they were declared blessed.  At the same time we heard Mass that day at St. Augustine of Canturbury in Kendall Park, NJ. (However, we belong to the parish of St. Catharine of Sienna in Allentown, Pa.).  During the priest's sermon he talked about the healing of Pietro Schiliro.  We were touched by the priest's sermon that day, as if the mass was really intended for us.

We got the message of that was sent for us. 

 We continue to pray to St. Therese and her parents for our son. May they grant us the same miracle. We hope and continue to have faith.

 Carlo Ignacio

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This new film showing the renovations to the chapel of the Lisieux Carmel and the souvenirs of St. Therese's religious life on display in the new "parcours theresien" adjoining the chapel was produced by Susan Ehlert.  We thank her for contributing it to the site.  To see it, please view the first film on this page.

Venerate the reliquary of Blessed Zelie and Louis Martin online by viewing this three-minute film of the crowds venerating the reliquary at the Basilica of St. Therese in Lisieux on Mission Sunday, October 19, the beatification day.  The first detailed photos of both sides of the reliquary.  Produced by Susan Ehlert for thereseoflisieux.org.  To see the film, scroll down to link #5 on this page.

Please read the below letter from Father Antonio Sangalli, O.C.D., the vice-postulator for the cause of Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin.  When I saw him in Lisieux last week, he gave a special blessing to all the persons who visit thereseoflisieux.org.  Now he requests our prayers for Mariella Tesse, a young woman in Rome:

Dear friends, please read below the letter I have received. I ask you to pray and to invite other people to pray: your family, your friends, and your relatives. Please distribute to all of them the novena prayer below to the Blessed Spouses Louis and Zélie Martin.  Ask them all to distribute it and to bring more and more people together to ask the Lord, through the intercession of the incomparable parents of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, to heal Mariella or to give Mariella the strength and serenity to embrace with love the Will of God. 

"I am Lilliana Monroy, a consecrated lay person.  I live in Rome, and I am very devoted to St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and to her parents.  Here I have an apostolate with families.  In particular, I work with a young woman named Mariella Tesse, who has two wonderful children aged 10 and 13.  Mariella is suffering from liver cancer, and in recent days the doctors have realized that, humanly speaking, there is not much chance of her survival.  After three years of fighting cancer, now it seems that the final moment is coming.  But I really believe that the parents of St. Thérèse may help if that is God's plan.  I read about the miracle that saved little Pietro Schiliro, and I know that she has encouraged her family and friends to storm heaven.

 I ask for your prayers for Mariella, who is an incredible woman; her healing could help the conversion of many people.  I ask you (Father Antonio) to speak personally with Mariella by telephone to help her understand that miracles can happen even to her, but she must wait with confidence and detachment; explain to her that the parents of St. Thérèse have helped little Pietro in a unique way.  Mariella is now somewhat discouraged by the thought of having to leave her children and her beloved husband, and she needs much support."

 Thank you for praying for Mariella through the intercession of theBlessed Spouses Louis and Zélie Martin, and praying for their glorification. Please recite the prayer below:

God of eternal love,
You give us Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin,
the parents of St. Therese,
as an example of holiness in marriage.
They remained faithful to You and your commandments
in all the duties and trials of life.
They desired to raise their children to become saints.
May their prayers and example
help Christian family life to blossom in our world today.
If it be your will, grant us the grace we now ask of You,
through the intercession of Blessed Louis and Zélie Martin,
and let them be counted among the Saints in your Church.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

To report favors received or for more information, please write to me at:

Padre Antonio Sangalli
Vice Postulatore
Convento S. Maria delle Grazie
Padri Carmelitani Scalzi
via Cappella del Monte 17
80066 Montechiaro di Vico Equense (NA)

Fax 081 8028045, cell phone 338 4607070
E-mail: sangalli.antonio@tiscali.it

To share with everyone the joy of being present at the ceremony of beatification of Zelie and Louis Martin, the parents of St. Therese, in Lisieux, I have done my best to recreate the experience for you.  For

• link to an online film of the whole ceremony (three hours) courtesy of KTO TV, with French commentary
• link to a 52-minute special program online courtesy of KTO TV with highlights of the ceremony and interviews with Bishop Guy Gaucher, O.C.D. and other scholars and bishops; voices in French
• an English translation of Cardinal Saraiva Martins' homily "Witnesses of Conjugal Love"
• an English translation of the biographical profile read during the Mass by Father Antonio Sangalli, O.C.D., the vice-postulator for the cause of Louis and Zelie
• links to photo galleries of the beatification celebrations
• the first photo of the beautiful reliquary in which the bodies of Zelie and Louis now rest together
• a link to a slide show of the historic exhibit of objects belonging to the Martin family now on display at St. Jacques Church in Lisieux

please visit this page.