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Leonie Martin: A Difficult Life
Leonie Martin was the least gifted of the four sisters of St. Therese of Lisieux. She was an emotionally disturbed child who suffered and caused anguish in her family. Her mother, the heroic Zelie Martin, suffered most of all. Marie Baudouin-Croix, well known French poet, has examined Zelie's correspondence with her daughters, her sister, her brother, and her sister-in-law. We see the backward child, the despair of many, who was the first to follow Therese's Little Way. It was only after three valiant but unsuccessful attempts that Leonie was finally accepted by the Visitation Order in Caen. She succeeded in conquering a 'tough' temperament, so that by the time of her death in 1941, at the age of seventy-eight, she was regarded as a saint and her convent at Caen was inundated with letters testifying to her posthumous aid.
128 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1993
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
November 11, 2021
Leonie is the balance to her saintly perfect sister Therese. She was the family embarrassment who caused her poor mother no end of worry and frustration. Whatever her sisters did well, Leonie struggled with and took twice or more times as long to do. Some of it was her own ineptitude, health problems, character flaws, emotional instability and problems at least partially due to early physical and mental abuse at the hands of a maid ... and the rest, who can say?
She could be the female counterpart to St. Jude, patron saint of Impossible Causes, because if anyone seemed impossible compared to her four successful sisters, it was Leonie. And yet, they stuck by her, encouraging her until the very end. A beautiful, moving tribute to the one Martin sister who rarely enjoyed an easy moment in her 78 years of life. And yet, she persevered and her struggles to overcome her weaknesses are valiant. She lived Therese's "Little Way" for challenged souls every day and may some day be a saint in her own right.
She could be the female counterpart to St. Jude, patron saint of Impossible Causes, because if anyone seemed impossible compared to her four successful sisters, it was Leonie. And yet, they stuck by her, encouraging her until the very end. A beautiful, moving tribute to the one Martin sister who rarely enjoyed an easy moment in her 78 years of life. And yet, she persevered and her struggles to overcome her weaknesses are valiant. She lived Therese's "Little Way" for challenged souls every day and may some day be a saint in her own right.
May 14, 2020
The life of Léonie Martin, also known as Sister Françoise-Thérèse in religious life (the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary), was such a different kind of read than what I was expecting. Because Léonie Martin was the sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (also a Doctor of the Catholic Church) and the daughter of two canonised parents (having been elevated in 2015 by Pope Francis), I was expecting a life story of effusive piety and overindulgent mawkishness. However, that was not the life story that greeted me. What I was met with was the story of a very flawed, if not disturbed young girl who was one of those kids who would make their parents rip their hair out at worst or make it go prematurely grey at best. Disobedient to the core, unfocused and thoroughly undisciplined, Léonie was not at the forefront when it came to beauty or brains. Quite honestly, if she were in a gym class, she would’ve been one of those kids who would’ve been chosen last, because her prowess-in almost everything-was rather nonexistent. I can understand why readers might believe she suffered from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). But I also think a probable behavioural pattern could be Middle Child Syndrome, because the behaviour pattern seemed to fit just as well. What a burden it would have been if it was a combo of the two.
In the book, the letters of Zélie Martin (mom) are reproduced, and they show her agony and constant worry over Léonie. She is not worried about any of her other kids. But even up to her dying breath, she offered up her prayers to God to straighten Léonie out. They were heartfelt and unending. You can really picture a wild, intense and reckless Léonie just getting into your face and draining you of your energy. But prayers and good influences surrounded her nonstop. Her aunt, Zélie’s sister, who was a Visitation nun in Caen, was a very good influence on her. And over time, Léonie developed an understanding of how her behaviour and attitude negatively affected others. But she seemed almost traumatised by how she had been in her earlier life. With that enlightenment, she began to try to master these different aspects of her flawed character. Oftentimes, she made a good leap forward only then to make three giant leaps backwards. And because of that she frequently fell into feelings of unworthiness, low self-esteem and isolation. When the five sisters were grouped together for activities or for just simple company, Léonie was often left out. I found that to be truly heartbreaking. And because she was kept back or left out, she more-often-than-not had to be her own best company. People really did not want her around them. And compounded with that isolation was the abuse that she silently suffered at the hands of a house maid.
She was, in a way, a wounded mutt to be pitied. And when she was given attention, she was given it with that attitude and view in mind. With that kind of an approach to somebody, it’s no wonder her choice of ‘me-time or alone-time” was more preferable. Yet, it allowed her to grow in contemplation, for when you feel “let down” by people, God will always be there and only lift you up if you permit HIm. She allowed Him to the hilt, even to her dying breath. In the modern-day era with this attitude or mindset towards her and the trajectory she was on, I could actually envision her evolving into a goth kid or a defiant youth with a chip on her shoulder or even something worse. But her saving grace really was her faith, and that was instilled into her with much love, nonstop discipline and conviction; she latched onto it like a lifeline and developed a heroically unshakable faith that could not be toppled no matter what. That was the light in the darkness. When she pursued religious life for herself only to leave it on more than one occasion (which I thought was stunning), she never quit. And Thérèse’s influence, especially her doctrine of the “Little Way” was of immense help to her in taking her final vows and staying in religious life for forty plus years. She truly was the very first disciple of the Little Way. But it was not an easy journey, not by any stretch of the imagination. I really appreciated this story and admired her perseverance, a very Christlike characteristic. Her earthly existence was her Calvary. And now we can all say for her sainthood cause: Servant of God Sister Françoise-Thérèse, pray for us.
In the book, the letters of Zélie Martin (mom) are reproduced, and they show her agony and constant worry over Léonie. She is not worried about any of her other kids. But even up to her dying breath, she offered up her prayers to God to straighten Léonie out. They were heartfelt and unending. You can really picture a wild, intense and reckless Léonie just getting into your face and draining you of your energy. But prayers and good influences surrounded her nonstop. Her aunt, Zélie’s sister, who was a Visitation nun in Caen, was a very good influence on her. And over time, Léonie developed an understanding of how her behaviour and attitude negatively affected others. But she seemed almost traumatised by how she had been in her earlier life. With that enlightenment, she began to try to master these different aspects of her flawed character. Oftentimes, she made a good leap forward only then to make three giant leaps backwards. And because of that she frequently fell into feelings of unworthiness, low self-esteem and isolation. When the five sisters were grouped together for activities or for just simple company, Léonie was often left out. I found that to be truly heartbreaking. And because she was kept back or left out, she more-often-than-not had to be her own best company. People really did not want her around them. And compounded with that isolation was the abuse that she silently suffered at the hands of a house maid.
She was, in a way, a wounded mutt to be pitied. And when she was given attention, she was given it with that attitude and view in mind. With that kind of an approach to somebody, it’s no wonder her choice of ‘me-time or alone-time” was more preferable. Yet, it allowed her to grow in contemplation, for when you feel “let down” by people, God will always be there and only lift you up if you permit HIm. She allowed Him to the hilt, even to her dying breath. In the modern-day era with this attitude or mindset towards her and the trajectory she was on, I could actually envision her evolving into a goth kid or a defiant youth with a chip on her shoulder or even something worse. But her saving grace really was her faith, and that was instilled into her with much love, nonstop discipline and conviction; she latched onto it like a lifeline and developed a heroically unshakable faith that could not be toppled no matter what. That was the light in the darkness. When she pursued religious life for herself only to leave it on more than one occasion (which I thought was stunning), she never quit. And Thérèse’s influence, especially her doctrine of the “Little Way” was of immense help to her in taking her final vows and staying in religious life for forty plus years. She truly was the very first disciple of the Little Way. But it was not an easy journey, not by any stretch of the imagination. I really appreciated this story and admired her perseverance, a very Christlike characteristic. Her earthly existence was her Calvary. And now we can all say for her sainthood cause: Servant of God Sister Françoise-Thérèse, pray for us.
November 10, 2021
Before reading this book, all I knew about Leonie Martin was that she was one of St. Therese's sisters. From this book I learned so much about Leonie and the particular struggles she faced that were different from those of her sisters, but throughout I also learned a lot about the other members of the Martin family. One of my favorite aspects of this book was the large number of letters that the author included, as you get get greater insight into people's personalities when you can read what they write.
March 24, 2022
Leonie was and perhaps still is the least understood of the Martin sisters. Even the blurb for this book calls her "emotionally disturbed" instead of a victim of long term physical and emotional abuse at the hands of one of the household servants which her parents were too busy with other things to perceive until she was 12--and then only because her older sister told them about it. Traumatised, learning disabled, yes. Disturbed, no. If Leonie had been "emotionally disturbed" she wouldn't have been kept on at the Visitation convent, just as more than one Carmelite of Lisieux of the period was sent away due to true mental illness. She had the strength of faith and character to make 4 attempts to enter religious life, 3 in the Visitation order, and remained there at last for the rest of her life.
I've always felt so sorry for Leonie Martin. The "difficult" learning disabled child who couldn't grasp the purpose of mathematics and had trouble reading, in the end took her sister Therese's birth name as her own religious name and used photographs of her as commemorative prayer cards, almost as if she wanted to somehow become her beloved, beautiful little sister. Even after she was a fully professed nun, her uncle Guerin says in a letter, "I share in your joy because I feel that part of the honor that is bestowed on you reflects on us." Having read the family correspondence I know M. Guerin was pompous and self-satisfied in his position as "family guardian", but that takes the proverbial biscuit! As an adult and prioress, even her sister Pauline (Mother Agnes) writes to her: "I shudder to think of your childhood, you were a cuckoo in the nest"! I can't even put that down to a bad translation, as French has the same idiomatic phrase to describe an unwanted person taking up resources that rightly belong to someone else. Apparently all her years in religion didn't teach Pauline much in the way of compassion for her sister who was already so terribly aware of her own shortcomings. Poor Leonie indeed.
I had hoped this book would throw more light on Leonie's life, as we are told that there are many of Leonie's letters in existence, but the authoress was content to give us a line here and a phrase there. The greatest portion of the text focusses on her family and of course her famous sister, St Therese. I know that there are several photographs of Leonie in existence, taken at different periods of her life, which appear in books on Therese, from Leonie's school days, the period when she lived with the Guerins, or clothed with the Visitation habit; yet only the cover photograph of this book is of Leonie herself. The rest of the illustrations are pictures of Therese, their parents, the house they grew up in, the Visitation convent, and a single blurry, poorly reproduced photo of Leonie with her Carmelite sisters after Therese's death, which shows them so far in the distance that they are nearly indistinguishable one from the other.
The text itself has its problems: one moment the authoress says that Leonie's cousin Jeanne was unable to attend her profession ceremony due to illness, but a few lines later states that both she and her husband François attended. At one moment we are told that Leonie "sought refuge from the most perfect of mothers, her Mama Mary" which would give the impression that she tried to hide from the Virgin! The "prophecy" Therese supposedly made to a Benedictine friend that Leonie would remain a Visitandine and take Therese's birth name in religion is apocryphal; I read French, have studied theresiana for years, and have never heard this from any other source. But then Badouin cites no sources whatsoever in her text for any quotations, letters etc.
I've always felt so sorry for Leonie Martin. The "difficult" learning disabled child who couldn't grasp the purpose of mathematics and had trouble reading, in the end took her sister Therese's birth name as her own religious name and used photographs of her as commemorative prayer cards, almost as if she wanted to somehow become her beloved, beautiful little sister. Even after she was a fully professed nun, her uncle Guerin says in a letter, "I share in your joy because I feel that part of the honor that is bestowed on you reflects on us." Having read the family correspondence I know M. Guerin was pompous and self-satisfied in his position as "family guardian", but that takes the proverbial biscuit! As an adult and prioress, even her sister Pauline (Mother Agnes) writes to her: "I shudder to think of your childhood, you were a cuckoo in the nest"! I can't even put that down to a bad translation, as French has the same idiomatic phrase to describe an unwanted person taking up resources that rightly belong to someone else. Apparently all her years in religion didn't teach Pauline much in the way of compassion for her sister who was already so terribly aware of her own shortcomings. Poor Leonie indeed.
I had hoped this book would throw more light on Leonie's life, as we are told that there are many of Leonie's letters in existence, but the authoress was content to give us a line here and a phrase there. The greatest portion of the text focusses on her family and of course her famous sister, St Therese. I know that there are several photographs of Leonie in existence, taken at different periods of her life, which appear in books on Therese, from Leonie's school days, the period when she lived with the Guerins, or clothed with the Visitation habit; yet only the cover photograph of this book is of Leonie herself. The rest of the illustrations are pictures of Therese, their parents, the house they grew up in, the Visitation convent, and a single blurry, poorly reproduced photo of Leonie with her Carmelite sisters after Therese's death, which shows them so far in the distance that they are nearly indistinguishable one from the other.
The text itself has its problems: one moment the authoress says that Leonie's cousin Jeanne was unable to attend her profession ceremony due to illness, but a few lines later states that both she and her husband François attended. At one moment we are told that Leonie "sought refuge from the most perfect of mothers, her Mama Mary" which would give the impression that she tried to hide from the Virgin! The "prophecy" Therese supposedly made to a Benedictine friend that Leonie would remain a Visitandine and take Therese's birth name in religion is apocryphal; I read French, have studied theresiana for years, and have never heard this from any other source. But then Badouin cites no sources whatsoever in her text for any quotations, letters etc.
April 24, 2008
There were five Martin sisters. Four of them were healthy and pretty and well-behaved and smart. One of those four, Therese, was canonized only twenty-eight years after her death.
And then there was the fifth sister. Even the family called her "poor Leonie!" Leonie wasn't pretty. She had little or no common sense or impulse control, and probably had what we would today call learning disabilities. Her behavior as a child could be atrocious, upsetting the otherwise near-perfect family life. (It was later learned that much of this was caused by a maid who abused and threatened her.) She tried to enter convents three times before her successful fourth attempt.
And despite her learning disabilities, she was certainly smart enough to know that she wasn't pretty, smart, etc., like her sisters.
Poor Leonie! And yet . . . while the title of this book is certainly accurate -- she did have a difficult life -- she overcame it all. The only criticism I have of this book is that it is too short, it's just an overview. I hope that someday a more definitive biography will be published, as well as her letters to and from her Carmelite sisters.
And then there was the fifth sister. Even the family called her "poor Leonie!" Leonie wasn't pretty. She had little or no common sense or impulse control, and probably had what we would today call learning disabilities. Her behavior as a child could be atrocious, upsetting the otherwise near-perfect family life. (It was later learned that much of this was caused by a maid who abused and threatened her.) She tried to enter convents three times before her successful fourth attempt.
And despite her learning disabilities, she was certainly smart enough to know that she wasn't pretty, smart, etc., like her sisters.
Poor Leonie! And yet . . . while the title of this book is certainly accurate -- she did have a difficult life -- she overcame it all. The only criticism I have of this book is that it is too short, it's just an overview. I hope that someday a more definitive biography will be published, as well as her letters to and from her Carmelite sisters.
June 22, 2026
Great book. I laughed a bit, and was very inspired, because for Léonie it was extra difficult.
March 6, 2018
With the exception of Jesus' mother Mary and St. John the Baptist, it is hard to say that any one saint is greater than any other saint. However, if you look at the Martin family, it's hard not to consider them sainthood celebrities. The two parents, Zélie and Louis, were canonized by Pope Francis. All five of their daughters that survived past early childhood went on to become nuns. Thérèse became a Saint and Doctor of the Church. Of the five daughters, Léonie has been unfairly described as a "lame duck," and the least impressive of the sisters. However, her cause for beatification was permitted in 2015 and she is currently granted the title "Servant of God." Ignatius Press recently published a book about her life called Léonie Martin: A Difficult Life. Let me tell you a little about it.
The book is divided into five chapters with the first four chapters arranged by different places important to her life. The first chapter begins with her place of birth Alencon. We see her parents worry over her, her learning difficulties, and the general unattractive nature of the girl. (Yes, this is covered extensively in the first chapter.) We also see how difficult her childhood was with the death of several siblings and death of her mother as well. The second chapter focuses on the family's time in Lisieux. This was a hard time for Léonie, because the two youngest daughters chose the two oldest daughters to be like mothers to them, and Léonie was left alone. However, Léonie was not the jealous type and bore this loneliness well. We also learn of the two setbacks Léonie had trying to enter the religious life and not finding an order she could stay in. The third chapter involves another failed attempt at the religious life for Léonie, her younger sister Celine being accepted into an order, and the death of Louis and Thérèse. The final chapters finally involve some joy for Léonie as her fourth attempt at religious life was successful. We also see what it was like for her to be the sister of a saint, and Léonie's ultimate health deterioration and death.
Reading through this book was hard at times, because it was hard to see someone suffer and go through so much hardship in their life. Léonie proved that despite there being trials and difficulties, if you live a life dedicated to God, you will be rewarded in this life or the next. Let her life of perseverance serve as an example for all of us, and pray for her sainthood.
The book is divided into five chapters with the first four chapters arranged by different places important to her life. The first chapter begins with her place of birth Alencon. We see her parents worry over her, her learning difficulties, and the general unattractive nature of the girl. (Yes, this is covered extensively in the first chapter.) We also see how difficult her childhood was with the death of several siblings and death of her mother as well. The second chapter focuses on the family's time in Lisieux. This was a hard time for Léonie, because the two youngest daughters chose the two oldest daughters to be like mothers to them, and Léonie was left alone. However, Léonie was not the jealous type and bore this loneliness well. We also learn of the two setbacks Léonie had trying to enter the religious life and not finding an order she could stay in. The third chapter involves another failed attempt at the religious life for Léonie, her younger sister Celine being accepted into an order, and the death of Louis and Thérèse. The final chapters finally involve some joy for Léonie as her fourth attempt at religious life was successful. We also see what it was like for her to be the sister of a saint, and Léonie's ultimate health deterioration and death.
Reading through this book was hard at times, because it was hard to see someone suffer and go through so much hardship in their life. Léonie proved that despite there being trials and difficulties, if you live a life dedicated to God, you will be rewarded in this life or the next. Let her life of perseverance serve as an example for all of us, and pray for her sainthood.
November 3, 2011
For those who are not familiar with the story of the Martin family, all the surviving Martin children grew up to become cloistered nuns. The most famous, of course, is St. Theresa who was canonized by the Church during her sister's lifetime and made a doctor of the church during ours.
The father of the clan wanted to be a priest, but was lacking in the classical education that was needed at the time. The mother of the clan wanted to be a nun, but was not accepted as a postulate probably due to the poor health she suffered. They married and lived a celibate life until their confessor convinced them their vocation was to have children for God.
Leonie was the third sister and the least gifted of the bunch. She had health issues and was not intellectually gifted. Apparently she caused difficulties for the otherwise happy Martin clan. This is her story and should give hope to many who feel they have nothing to give to God.
The father of the clan wanted to be a priest, but was lacking in the classical education that was needed at the time. The mother of the clan wanted to be a nun, but was not accepted as a postulate probably due to the poor health she suffered. They married and lived a celibate life until their confessor convinced them their vocation was to have children for God.
Leonie was the third sister and the least gifted of the bunch. She had health issues and was not intellectually gifted. Apparently she caused difficulties for the otherwise happy Martin clan. This is her story and should give hope to many who feel they have nothing to give to God.
July 7, 2022
Once I got more into the letters between the sisters it was better. I have to admit I cringed a bit with all the mention of Léonie being slow, difficult, etc. Of course, even in the 29 years since this book was written we have so much more information on OCD, autism, etc (while we can’t know definitively that Léonie may have had those, I saw some similarities with my own autistic/OCD daughter), which of course colors any discussion of such traits. What stands out to me most is Léonie never giving up, even when it was harder because of her differences (and how much harder to also not understand those differences!).
January 30, 2016
A saint for the middle child. Leonie was the "forgotten" sister of St. Therese of Liseux. Often referred to as "poor Leonie" in her childhood, she was the first to follow after her saintly sister's footsteps in the way of spiritual childhood. Her own cause for canonization is being considered...giving hope for any "problem-child" out there.
April 16, 2008
I read this very moving book in just a few hours. It was very worthwhile. I learned a lot about Leonie Martin, the older sister of St. Therese, and the black sheep of the Martin family. This is a must read, especially, for any parent who has a child who is a challenge to raise.
March 25, 2024
I wanted something more thoroughly researched; in parts, this became the story of St. Therese told from a different angle. And while I do love St. Therese, and found it fascinating, it also left a sour taste in my mouth--I felt bad for the "lame duck," for the least of her sisters, and since she is a candidate for sainthood, I wanted to hear her story--not to see her held up as a mirror for her more popular sister.
Leonie, pray for me, and for my students who would benefit from your intercession!
Leonie, pray for me, and for my students who would benefit from your intercession!
April 24, 2023
I really enjoyed learning all about Leonie Martin’s difficult life. It was made all the more interesting because I have read many books on her sister St Therese and their family so the contrast of her life compared to her sisters was enlightening. She sure suffered a lot and knows much about loneliness and struggles and yet preserved and so an inspiration to those who struggle. Grateful to have read this book and been enlightened on her life
November 11, 2023
Despite all of Leonie's hardships and struggles in her life, especially with her attempts to enter religious life, she was a beautiful person! Leonie stayed meek, humble, and little while the rest of her sisters, especially The Little Flower of Lisieux gained the attention of countless pilgrims by the many graces that she's poured forth. Leonie reminds us to be patient and to bear our struggles with love, grace and fortitude.
June 13, 2024
I found this book very inspiring. It truly did good to my soul. You get a deep glimpse into the holiness and charity in not only Leonie but her sisters as well. I loved reading all the correspondences between them—very touching. You can’t help but want to befriend them all as your heavenly friends. This is a good companion to “The Story of a Soul”: how the “little way” is exemplified and lived out in another soul that is Leonie.
January 13, 2020
interesting life, everyone knows Therese and her sisters who were in Carmel with her, but few know Leonie, she tends to be the forgotten sister. she had a difficult childhood, and suffered skins problems that she had to deal with all her life. she had a hard time entering religious life, but was the first to live Therese' little way.
April 16, 2022
Another beautiful Martin
I think many people can relate to Leonie personally or in someone they know. Holiness was a life long struggle for this brave Martin sister. I'm glad she was recognized as a Servant of God.
I think many people can relate to Leonie personally or in someone they know. Holiness was a life long struggle for this brave Martin sister. I'm glad she was recognized as a Servant of God.
November 6, 2022
Much of the content was known to me through the podcasts of Fr. Gallagher. This amplified it. Very moving at the end-the power of simple, hidden lives to do good in this world in life and significantly more in the next.
March 9, 2018
Love this little book, a great grace for those of us struggling to be what we want to be
April 29, 2018
Sainthood?
She should be a saint after everything she went though. The Martin had 5 daughters become nuns. What an amazing family.
She should be a saint after everything she went though. The Martin had 5 daughters become nuns. What an amazing family.
May 4, 2026
“Human language is utterly powerless to express what happens within the soul, so silence alone is fitting.”
August 24, 2019
This was an Excellent booked well recommended
January 19, 2021
I'm surprised by how much I loved this book! I have things in common with Leonie that I never dreamed of and her story of how she never gave up is so encouraging and remarkable in and of itself. An interesting read for anyone devoted to St. Therese (Leonie's sister).
May 13, 2026
It’s hard to know how to rate this book, which in many places was so movingly beautiful, but in others was very dated in terms of its treatment of people with disabilities. Written in the 80s, there is a lack of empathy towards Léonie’s struggles, which we now suspect was caused by disabilities such as autism, and even trauma from the abuse she suffered at the hands of the family maid.
The book (and even the more recent back cover) places a lot of emphasis on how difficult she made life for her family, and how she can be an inspiration for parents with “difficult” children, painting Léonie more as a moral tale rather than someone who had to struggle even more than her sisters to become the holy woman she became. It was also written before her cause for canonisation was opened, so there is no sense of victory for those who struggle to live virtuously. All in all, it’s quite judgmental towards her and lacks sensitivity.
Thankfully, Léonie’s life and triumphs are still able to shine through as a brilliant example to anyone who has ever felt that holiness was unlikely for them and for all those who, like Léonie, have too quickly been written off as hopeless. Her life exemplifies perseverance through difficulties and witnesses to the power of grace in overcoming our weaknesses.
If this book were updated for the 21st century, with all the sensitivities that entails, it would be an easy five stars.
The book (and even the more recent back cover) places a lot of emphasis on how difficult she made life for her family, and how she can be an inspiration for parents with “difficult” children, painting Léonie more as a moral tale rather than someone who had to struggle even more than her sisters to become the holy woman she became. It was also written before her cause for canonisation was opened, so there is no sense of victory for those who struggle to live virtuously. All in all, it’s quite judgmental towards her and lacks sensitivity.
Thankfully, Léonie’s life and triumphs are still able to shine through as a brilliant example to anyone who has ever felt that holiness was unlikely for them and for all those who, like Léonie, have too quickly been written off as hopeless. Her life exemplifies perseverance through difficulties and witnesses to the power of grace in overcoming our weaknesses.
If this book were updated for the 21st century, with all the sensitivities that entails, it would be an easy five stars.
October 27, 2020
This is a lovely book that discusses the live of Leonie Martin, the third Martin daughter and one of St. Therese's older sisters. As the title suggests, her life was difficult--she tried religious life three times before the fourth time finally "took", she had emotional and intellectual problems as a child (partially due to the fact that she was emotionally and physically abused by the family maid), and her mother's letters show how hard the family tried to help her. But Leonie managed to become quite a holy woman , through her relationships with her sisters and by following Therese's "little way." It's a great story of perseverance and trust in God.
October 16, 2011
I enjoyed this book very much. Not very much has been written about Leonie Martin. This book gives a broad overview of her life. It gives insight into the whole Martin family. And you learn how the family reacted to their sister becoming a saint. In reading other books about St Therese of Lisieux, Leonie is barely mentioned. But now I understand her place in the family.
May 28, 2019
Lovely book about a much misunderstood sister of a saint. Online I read the circular that went out after her death and was moved by a sense that she loved and suffered far more than is known. I believe today she would be diagnosed with ADHD and that she probably just had a different temperament than her sisters.
January 12, 2018
Beautiful- will post review at CatholicSistas.com
May 26, 2018
Very educational and well researched. I literally could not put it down. Thanks to the author for bringing this hidden Martin Servant of God to the forefront.
May 17, 2012
This book is very interesting and inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews