Therese Martin from her birth in Alencon until her mother's death:

January 2, 1873 - August 28, 1877

 

 Marie-Francoise-Therese Martin, the youngest of the nine children of Louis Martin, a watchmaker, and Zelie Guerin, a lacemaker, was born on January 2, 1873 in Alencon, France.  She was baptized two days later in the church of Notre-Dame.  Before Therese's birth, two little boys and two little girls had died very young. 

"Pilgrimage visit to St. Therese's birthplace, Alencon."  This 4:45 video, produced by Susan Ehlert, shows Therese's birthplace at Alencon and glimpses of the family life of her parents, Louis and Zelie Martin, and their children at Alencon.  Note that i t was produced before the birthplace was restored and reopened.

Therese's parents were devout, energetic, and loving.  Her mother established a business manufacturingpoint d'Alencon lace.  Therese had four older sisters:  Marie, Pauline, Leonie, and Celine.  Several years after little Therese was born, Zelie developed breast cancer.  After a painful illness, she died on August 28, 1877.  Zelie and Louis Martin were declared "Venerable" in 1994 and "Blessed" in 2008.  A miracle is being examined for their canonization.  After his wife's death, Louis Martin decided to leave Alencon and move with his children to Lisieux, where Zelie's brother and sister-in-law, Isidore and Celine Guerin, could offer an extended family to the motherless girls.  Read about the Martin family's life at Lisieux.

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