She died at 24. She never left her Carmelite convent. She never went on a single date. And yet Saint Therese of Lisieux – the “Little Flower” – became a Doctor of the Church and one of the most powerful teachers on love the world has ever known. Her secret wasn’t dramatic or complicated. It was devastatingly simple: do small things with great love, and trust God with the rest. ...
In 2015, the Church did something it had never done before: it canonized a married couple together. Saints Louis and Zelie Martin weren’t monks or martyrs. They were a watchmaker and a lacemaker from Normandy who raised nine children, buried four of them, and loved each other through it all. If you’ve ever wondered whether ordinary, faithful love can make you a saint, the Martins are your answer. The Deeper Story Louis Martin and Zelie Guerin both initially felt called to religious life, but God had other plans. They met through providential circumstances in 1858, married quickly, and built a life together that was radically ordered toward God. Zelie ran a successful lacemaking business while Louis worked as a watchmaker. They attended daily Mass, practiced generosity toward the poor, and made their home a place where faith was the air their children breathed. ...