EWTN is scheduled to broadcast live the Beatification Mass for Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, at 4:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (10:00 a.m. in France) from Lisieux. The broadcast, which will last about three hours, will be repeated at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Please see their schedule at http://www.ewtn.com/tv/NA_101908.asp

Jose Cardinal Saraiva Martins, prefect emeritus of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will preside over the Mass as the legate of Pope Benedict XVI. During the Mass he will read the Apostolic Letter of Beatification signed by the Holy Father, and the portrait of Zelie and Louis will be unveiled. Parents and their children will carry the reliquary containing the bodies of the newly beatified in procession from the crypt of the basilica to the foot of the altar. 

Surely this is the first time in the history of the Church that a couple has been beatified in a basilica dedicated to their youngest daughter! In January 1939, their oldest daughter, Marie, recalled Zelie's visits to the cemetery near the site on which the Basilica would later be built: " Recently, I was looking at the Basilica, and I was thinking of Mamma; when she came to Lisieux, Aunt always used to take her to the cemetery. It was on a beautiful site, and she had members of her family who were buried there. If anyone, at that time, had said to her: "Do you see this beautiful hill where we are? Well! in fifty years, a superb Basilica will be built here . . . and this Basilica will be in honor of your little Therese.' Poor little Mother! She would have said 'You're losing your mind!' Certainly, she wouldn't have believed it; she who had so many troubles! . . ." [Conversation of Sister Marie of the Sacred Heart, written down by Sister Marie of the Incarnation, from the latter's notebook, p. 228, cited in Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux, Volume I (Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 1982), p. 124.]

Two of the Martin daughters, Pauline (Mother Agnes of Jesus) and Celne (Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face) lived in the crypt of the basilica, where the reliquary of their parents will be venerated from now on, during the summer of 1944. All the Carmelites and some townspeople took refuge there during the bombing of Normandy. The Carmelites lived toward the front of the crypt on the right, in the section near Our Lady's altar. See more about the festivities and ceremonies of the beatification of Louis and Zelie Martin.

 The reliquary of St. Therese will make its first visit to England and Wales next year, from September 16 to October 16, 2009.  The bishops have planned a year of catechesis to prepare for the visit, with a special invitation to young people, the sick, and those of any faith who are seeking their way in life.  See the Web site of the bishops' conference.  I am honored to report that it lists thereseoflisieux.org as

Far and away the best website about St. Thérèse, it is the work of Maureen O’Riordan from Philadelphia. This well-organised and attractively presented site contains a huge amount of information about every aspect of St. Thérèse’s life and mission.

To see this acknowledgment in context, visit the resources page of their site and scroll down to "Web sites."  I thank everyone who has contributed to the site. Please pray that the time of preparation and the visit of the reliquary will bring many graces not only to Catholics but to all the people of both countries.  May we celebrate the feast of St. Therese by being partners with her in fulfilling her desire:  "I shall desire in Heaven the same thing I do on earth: to love Jesus and to make Him loved."

September 30, 2008 - On the anniversary of St. Therese's "entering into life," please see the marriage medallion Louis Martin designed and gave to Zelie during their marriage ceremony.  This medallion will be on exhibit in Alencon on October 18, the vigil of the  beatification.  I have the honor of displaying this photograph thanks to Father Antonio Sangalli, O.C.D.  Medallions commemorating the beatification of Louis and Zelie Martin, adapted from the medallion Louis designed, are available to the faithful.

Thanks to the Archives of the Carmel of Lisieux and to Father Antonio of the Mother of God, O.C.D., I have the joy of sharing with you the recently discovered photograph of Venerable Zelie Martin, the mother of St. Therese, undated, but believed to date from about 1875, so that it reflects Zelie's face as Therese saw it.  It was recovered thanks to Mme. F. Besnier, a member of the photographer's family.  I am grateful to all who made this possible.

Why has the Church called these spouses blessed?  What difference do their lives make for the women and men of today?  How can they accompany us on our own pilgrimage?  In honor of the beatification of the father and mother of St. Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face, I wrote a short article to explore these questions:  "Blessed Zelie and Louis Martin, Companions on Our Journey."