Page 19 - Emailing SANTITA FAMIGLIE_ENG

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PEARLS OF HOLINESS
Where God’s power emerges

«Louis and Zélie understood that they could become saints
not in spite of marriage, but through and with marriage, and that
marriage itself had to be considered as the starting point of an
upward climb for two.
Today the Church not only admires the sanctity of their lives,
but recognizes in this couple the sanctity of the institution of conjugal
love, as it was envisioned by the Creator Himself. The conjugal love
of Louis and Zélie is a pure reflection of Christ’s love for His Church.
The Martins, had no hesitations about putting God first in their
lives. In their home, God was always the first to be served. When
their family was put to the test, the spontaneous reaction was always
acceptance of God’s will. If Mrs. Martin often said that “God is the
Master and He does what He wants”, Mr. Martin echoed her by
repeating “God is the first to be served”.
Louis and Zélie are a gift for young engaged couples because of
the courage they showed in obeying the Church even when the Church
PEARLS OF HOLINESS
asked them to go against the tide, against the trend. They were not
afraid of words such as purity, chastity or virginity, they did not skip
any steps, they lived, even if for a short time, an engagement that
respected the will of God and the teachings of the Church.
Louis and Zélie are a gift to spouses of any age for the esteem,
respect and harmony with which they loved each other for 19 years.
Both heroically lived out their marriage promises of faithfulness to
their commitment, indissolubility of the bond, and fruitfulness of love,
in happiness and in trial, in health and in sickness» .
7

7 From the homily of Card. José Saraiva Martins for the beatification of Louis and Zélie Martin,
Lisieux, October 19, 2008.