The Lacemaker: A Novel of St. Zélie Martin

by Anne Faye

St. Zélie Martin (1831-1877) is best known as the mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, one of the most-loved saints of modern times, but she is also a saint in her own right. In this work of historical fiction based largely on St. Zélie’s letters, a compelling portrait of a working mother who always put God first comes to life.St. Zélie is a saint many women can relate to. She suffered from anxiety, struggled with work-life balance, grieved the loss of children, cared for aging parents, had a child with special needs, and dealt with personal illness. Above all, she loved God and her family and had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother.In this intimate portrayal, you will come to know a complex woman who achieved holiness while living in the world and dealing with the stress of modern life.

Genres: Faith

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 2, 2021

Reviews

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to get a more personal look at a woman than by perusing her personal diary. That's what Anne Faye has given us - a fictional glimpse at the most intimate thoughts, fears, and desires of St. Zelie Martin, known mainly as the mother of St. Therese of Lisieux.

The entries read quickly and easily, and overall, I left with an appreciation for the suffering Zelie Martin endured, especially in the loss of four of her children. It's easy with our modern means of disease prevention and treatment to forget how precarious health and life were, particularly for children, in the not-too-distant past.

While study of the saints should inspire us to holiness (and it so often does), for me, it is a reminder of how human (100%) and relatable they are. The Lacemaker allows the reader to see that worry, family life, and work are not obstacles to sanctity but the means by which we can attain it.

I'm glad to have read The Lacemaker, which introduced me more fully to the life of a woman whose holiness is remarkable precisely because of the ordinary character of her life.

[Lisajulia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exactly the book I needed at exactly the right time..

I wish I could remember who recommended this book but God bless the person who did! I have had a lifelong love of the Little Flower but really didn't know much about her parents. I love the style of this book as it is written like a journal and it really gives you an inside glimpse of the Martin family and of the character of St Zelie. I have a new-found love for her and I can't wait to read more about her. This is a must read if you are a mom! It is a must-read even if you aren't. You will be delighted!

[Azalea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book took me awhile to finish, I wanted to make sure I treasured it, as I think it deserves to be treasured. I believe St. Zelie Martin is a saint, whom we can all strive to learn from. She is one of the prime examples of a great female saint. This is a woman who went through a great number of trials and tribulations in her life, and through it all, still managed to trust in God, and cling on to her faith, knowing, it was the answer through the pain. This book certainty pulled at my heartstrings. It made me smile, almost cry, etc. I can only pray and hope to be just as good a woman as her. Although St. Zelie did struggle with her own sins, she still made sure to please God, and never turn her back on him. I think we can all learn from her. St. Zelie Martin, Ora Pro Nobis!

[Esther Koncyk Mortensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Saint I can relate to

I wasn't sure I wanted to actually read this one. It was about a Saint after all. While I was interested, I was all I could think of is those syrupy biographies Saints are usually described in.

But wait - it's a memoir. Was it understandable. I've read St Theresa's a couple of times and skate has trouble understanding.

I took the plunge and am glad I did!

I was able to relate to Zelie totally. The memoir was a joy to read & gave me good foot thought.

Unfortunately, it's not Zelie Martin's own word but an interpretation based on Zelie's written word through letters since she was a prolific letter writer. It was a very good read.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this historically-based, fictional diary of Zelie Martin’s life was like meeting a new friend. I didn’t know much about her prior to reading this, except that she was the mother of several saints (including St Therese of Lisieux, one of my favorites!). This book shares Zelie’s faith struggles and worries as a mother of several children, and also her challenges of running a busy lacemaking business. If you’re like me, and not always able to get through a saint book without nodding off, you will enjoy being drawn into this intimate, enjoyable setting with St. Zelie Martin.

[Jill Noll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy read about an incredible female saint who not only was a wife and mother, but also juggled owning her own business. This is a fiction book however, it gives great insight to the reality of what her life would have looked like (based off of her diary, letters to family, and the historical times)

[Karen Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book written in journal form. It's about St. Zelie Martin, the mother to St. Therese of Lisieux. It's an easy read and the author gives great insight into a mother whose only desire was to have children who would serve God in Holy ways