Pope Francis is a great devotee of St. Therese of Lisieux. Her parents, Louis and Zelie were beatified back in 2008. Now, the saint's sister, Leonia is also being considered for sainthood. The priest leading her cause for canonization, talked about her life, in a video conference chat.
FR. ANTONIO SANGALLI
Postulator of the cause of Leonie Martin
'She was the third of nine children and probably the less talented among them. She was always put down and described as the one who didn't know how to do anything. If was hard for her to compete to her sister's accomplishments.â?
But she was actually the first one in her family who decided to embrace a religious vocation. But she wasn't able to reach her goal. She was clumsy and short tempered and her strength wasn't always a constant. She had to leave the monastery twice. Her sister Therese, helped her out, when her self esteem was low.
FR. ANTONIO SANGALLI
Postulator of the cause of Leonie Martin
'Her vocation is the result of her being close to her sister Therese. She helped her sister to embrace her vocation as a sister in the Order.â?
When Therese of Lisieux died and her book, 'A Story of a Soul' was published, her sister decided to try out her vocation again. For the third time, she went to the Monastery.
FR. ANTONIO SANGALLI
Postulator of the cause of Leonie Martin
'She took her sister's words very seriously, especially the phrase about the little path. She put this into practice with incredible loyalty.â?
Even as a teenager Leonie, recognized her shortfalls and limitations. This humility, led to a door of kindness. Now, if her beatification process moves along, she could become the fourth person in her family to be raised to the altars.
The Secret of Therese from ROME REPORTS on Vimeo.
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