Sts. Louis and Zelie Martin, are the first married couple to be canonized together, and they were not initially drawn to married life. In fact, marriage was the least idea from their minds.
Both were drawn to the religious life and each of them tried to join a community that would facilitate their hunger for holiness.
However, for so many reasons both of them were denied entrance to the religious life and with disappointment they returned to the world without knowing what would happen next in their lives.
As the years moved by, Louis and Zelie started growing feelings and they were called to the married life. As the case maybe, no eligible suitor arrived for either.
Then, only a day changed their lives forever.
As Zelie was taking a walk down a small, narrow medieval bridge in her hometown of Alençon, she noticed a tall handsome young man walking toward her. Though Zelie had never seen this young man before but she couldn’t help but smile. Then as they were about to walk pass each other, Zelie heard within her heart, “This is he whom I have prepared for you”.
Louis in the same vein, was attracted by this beautiful young woman. One can imagine where the two lovestruck hearts were looking back at each other as they walked forward to opposite ends of the bridge.
Providence has it that, Louis’ mother had been taking some lace classes with Zelie and had already wanted to play a matchmaker, and set up her son(Louis) with the young woman (Zelie).
When they met each other, they knew immediately that God had set them on a path to be united in the sacrament of Matrimony.
They didn’t in anyway waste any time and just after three long and painful months of engagement, the two were brought together in marriage on July 13, 1858. When they got married, Zelie was 27 years old and Louis 35.
And That was just the beginning of a beautiful marriage that bore many children, which includes the popular St. Therese of Lisieux and Servant of God Leonie Martin.
And certainly not every marriage begins this way, it reminds us that God is romantic at heart, he is always ready to surprise us with his plan for our lives.
