SHRINE FOR FAMILIES AND COUPLES

Alençon: a unique place to make love grow in my family

Pray with Louis and Zélie Agenda

Discover the history of the shrine of Alençon

Welcome to the shrine Louis & Zélie

To come to the Louis and Zélie d'Alençon shrine is to discover the source of their marital and family happiness : the love that unites them, their unshakeable faith in God, through the joys and trials of their daily life. their whole life steeped in the gospel.

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PREPARE YOUR VISIT

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Do you want to come and discover the shrine alone, as a couple, with your family, in a group or even as a Notre-Dame team? Discover now our spiritual proposals and contact us to organize your visit.

Pilgrim

Family

Couple

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Our next events

Agenda

18/05/2024 — 20/05/2024

Singles session (30-45 years old)

Rediscovering joy at the heart of our encounters in the fire of the Holy Spirit and under the gaze of Saints Louis and Zélie.

12/07/2024 — 13/07/2024

Feast of Saints Louis and Zélie

Pilgrims, couples, families... you are all welcome this year at the patronal feast of the sanctuary of Alençon.

12/08/2024 — 18/08/2024

Holidays for single mothers with their children

"Come apart to a deserted place, and rest a little." (Mark 6, 31)

05/10/2024

Rain of Roses day with Saint Thérèse

A spiritual time with God and Saint Thérèse to ask for her intercession in favor of our intentions, through a letter.

26/10/2024 — 27/10/2024

Family Day

Upcoming registrations

Lodging

Pilgrims hostelry

A place of accommodation and catering for families and pilgrims, the Hôtellerie des Pilgrims is located at the foot of the Basilica of Notre-Dame d'Alençon, where Saints Louis and Zélie were married and where Saint Thérèse was baptized, in 300 meters from their family home.

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In the footsteps of the Martin family

Discover the places of family, professional and sacramental life of the Martins around the city of Alençon

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testimonies

Their testimonies

A member of the Chemin Neuf community residing in Port-Louis

In a formation center of the Chemin Neuf Community, in Zaragoza, Spain, during a period of presence of the relics of Saints Louis and Zélie two things happened. The healing of marital sterility for a couple and, in another family, that of a very sick embryo having caused contamination for its mother. Today, the mother and child are doing well although the medical diagnosis was very pessimistic. This reminds us that the miracle chosen for the canonization of Louis and Zélie is the healing of little Carmen, in the diocese of Valence, in Spain.

Father Louis Menvielle

“I think very deeply that if Thérèse of the Child Jesus is what she is, it is because she lived 4 years in Alençon in a family and an atmosphere of love, of loved ones and of God. This synthesis of love which enveloped this child is the foundation of his “little way”. Alençon seems to me to be a capital Sanctuary for understanding Saint Thérèse. The visit to the family home is very touching. There is a whole spirituality of the family at the Sanctuary and even a theology of the family which deserves to be developed here. Very close to these places which marked Thérèse's life, there is the Hôtellerie des Pilgrims, this spiritual center that I discovered, which is a place of peace, of beautiful family welcome, very well maintained. »

Father Jean Burin des Roziers, Saints-Pierre and Paul parish (diocese of Vaud, Switzerland)

"With a group of 15 people, we left Switzerland in the footsteps of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and her family. We are arrived on October 16 in Lisieux then we went on October 17 to Alençon. We were well received in the Martin family home where a passionate nun accompanied us during the visit. We were thus able to discover in which environment Thérèse lived her childhood. In the chapel adjoining the house, we took a time of prayer. We then went to eat at the pilgrims' hostel. In the afternoon, deacon Guy Fournier joined us and allowed us to experience the jubilee process. We went to the Notre-Dame basilica to discover this church that Thérèse and her family attended. We finally celebrated mass in the hotel chapel. Thank you to all the people who allowed us to experience this beautiful pilgrimage which pleased each participant."

Father Benoît Stemler, Saint-Michel parish of Paris

"With 85 pilgrims from the parish, we spent a day at the Sanctuary of Alençon as the first stage of a 3-day pilgrimage on the theme of holiness. A guided tour allowed us to discover the family home as well as the different places that were important in the city of Alençon for Saints Louis and Zélie. By delving deeper into the story of this couple, and their daughters, we better discovered how holiness is lived every day in the little things, in a job well done and a family life made of concrete love. Many discovered this sanctuary for the first time and were able to place their prayer intentions near the holy spouses."

Pilgrims of the diocese of Grenoble-Vienne

“During Teresian week, a group of pilgrims from the diocese of Grenoble-Vienne came to Lisieux and Alençon to follow in those footsteps. of Thérèse. For six of us, this pilgrimage was part of a journey with Thérèse begun a few years ago at the Theological Center of Meylan-Grenoble. Great was our joy to discover all the places where Thérèse lived after having imagined them while reading History of a Soul. A big thank you to Guy Fournier, deacon, our guide for the day in Alençon. The evocation of the Martin family, the love of the parents, the birth of Thérèse, 9th child and yet welcomed as a gift, the difficulties with Léonie... All of this ties in with our own family life with today's concerns. today. Our pilgrimage will remain an important step in our journey following Christ with Thérèse.”

Nathalie

It was a grace for our family, which was going through a big crisis, to come and celebrate my parents' wedding anniversary. This crisis was worse than we had had, with brothers and sisters who hadn't spoken to each other for months. This ended a bad scenario. And pardons will take their time, but they have roots there to grow.

Marie

This weekend brought me joy: after 35 years of marriage, it allowed me to find a lot of hope for the future. tor__text--top js-generator-text"> This weekend brought me joy: after 35 years of marriage, it allowed me to find a lot of hope for the future and the joy of all that was experienced before. It is a renewal to pursue.

Catechumens of the Diocese of Le Mans

Every year, we offer our catechumen brothers and sisters the opportunity to experience a one-day pilgrimage. This is an opportunity to discover different ecclesial realities nearby from the Mans. In 2022, we went to meet the Benedictine abbeys of Solesmes. On October 28, we met at the Louis & Zélie sanctuary in Alençon. This day first of all allowed us to get to know each other a little better and to gradually build brotherly bonds. Welcomed to the birthplace of Saint Thérèse, we entered the life of the Martins through the presentation of a sister, the film retracing the life of the family and the visit to their house. The day continued with a time of personal prayer in the basilica then with a tour of the city. During this pilgrimage, everyone was marked by the closeness of God in the daily life of the Martin couple. Through Zélie's epistolary correspondence, we were able to taste the way in which God was at the heart of this family in their joys as well as in their trials. Many of us were struck by the abandonment of Louis and Zélie to the will of God. Thank you to the entire sanctuary team for the warm welcome on the occasion of this pilgrimage. Amaury de La Motte Rouge Parishes Cathedral - Saint Benoît - ND de la Couture

Julie and Remi

Having been blessed by the relics of Saints Louis and Zélie Martin, on the occasion of our 10 years of marriage, made us realize that living holiness as a couple was possible, that it was not just an inaccessible utopia.

Group of Catechists of Changé

The group is delighted with this pleasant day. The sisters gave us a very warm welcome. The children enjoyed the visits. A big merci!

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Our latest news

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Sanctify yourself in the world

Louis et Zélie show on RCF - April 21, 2024

Coming from Brazil, to give thanks for the birth of their daughter

Louis et Zélie show on RCF - April 14, 2024

Easter and the paschal mystery at Thérèse, Louis and Zélie

Louis et Zélie show on RCF - April 7, 2024

The Carmelite brothers, messengers of the Holy Spirit

Newly installed in Alençon to be at the service of the Sanctuary, we, the Carmelite Brothers Messengers of the Holy Spirit, arrived there last November (the official installation having taken place on December 17). It is, for...

Valentine's Day Pilgrimage 2024

February 17 and 18, 2024

The Martin family

By discovering the life of Louis and Zélie Martin who lived in the XNUMXth century, we realize that their examples still speak to us today. Indeed, each of us will be able to find ourselves in this or that aspect of our lives.

The holiness of Louis and Zélie is a holiness that suits all times, all situations, and all living conditions.

Discover the family history

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Support the shrine

The generosity of donors helps us carry out the projects of the shrine:

• Spread the message Saints Louis and Zélie Martin and Saint Thérèse

• To welcome a growing number of pilgrims

• Organize about ten events per year at the service of couples, families, people with diverse life realities, and to make them accessible even to the most modest incomes.

Alençon: a unique place to make love grow in my family

Welcome to the shrine Louis & Zélie

You are ?

Pilgrim

Family

Couple

Group

Our next events

Singles session (30-45 years old)

Feast of Saints Louis and Zélie

Holidays for single mothers with their children

Rain of Roses day with Saint Thérèse

Family Day

Pilgrims hostelry

In the footsteps of the Martin family

Their testimonies

A member of the Chemin Neuf community residing in Port-Louis

Father Louis Menvielle

Father Jean Burin des Roziers, Saints-Pierre and Paul parish (diocese of Vaud, Switzerland)

Father Benoît Stemler, Saint-Michel parish of Paris

Pilgrims of the diocese of Grenoble-Vienne

Nathalie

Marie

Catechumens of the Diocese of Le Mans

Julie and Remi

Group of Catechists of Changé

Our latest news

Sanctify yourself in the world

Coming from Brazil, to give thanks for the birth of their daughter

Easter and the paschal mystery at Thérèse, Louis and Zélie

The Carmelite brothers, messengers of the Holy Spirit

Valentine's Day Pilgrimage 2024

The Martin family

Support the shrine

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