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Coming to the sanctuary of Alençon is go to school of the holy spouses Louis and Zélie Martin, parents of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus. It is also 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 life completely impregnated with the Gospel.
It is here, in Alençon, that the holy husbands Louis and Zélie Martin lived, in the second half of the XNUMXth century.e century, the nineteen years of their married life.
These ordinary saints, first couple canonized together by the Church, became the companions of the many people who came individually or in groups to Alençon.
Contact – In charge of pilgrimages
pilgrimages@louisetzelie.com
Several proposals
To be adapted to the number of pilgrims in your group, to the age groups represented within it, to the time you have on site and to the themes you wish to address in depth (family, couple, work, life of faith, suffering, education…)
The person in charge of pilgrimages at the sanctuary (pelerinages@louisetzelie.com) is at your disposal to help and advise you.
Visit of the Martin House
50 rue Saint-Blaise 61000 Alencon
The tour of the house includes: the gallery of portraits of the Martin family, the exhibition gallery of objects that belonged to the family, an 18-minute film based on the family correspondence of the saints, the visit of the rooms of the house which ends with Sainte-Therese chapel, overlooking the marital chamber of Saints Louis and Zélie.
- November to March: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 14 p.m. to 17 p.m.
- April to October: 9 a.m. to 30 p.m. and 12 p.m. to 14 p.m.
- The house is closed on Mondays (except from June to September), Sunday morning and the month of January.
Introductory conference
Un exposed exciting on the Life of Saints Louis and Zélie Martin and their children (the meeting of the saints on the Sarthe bridge, a family life with a great shared love, the life of the children…) and on the message that they can pass on to us today (life of faith, married and family life, education of children, work and social life, sense of suffering…).
Mass and/or prayer time
Mass can be celebrated by your accompanying priest at the Sainte-Thérèse chapel. The prayer time can be led by yourself or if you wish by the priests or the sisters who welcome you.
You can also participate in the sanctuary mass, from Tuesday to Saturday at 12 p.m. at the Sainte-Thérèse chapel (within the limit of 25 people from Tuesday to Thursday and 15 people on Fridays and Saturdays).
City tour "In the footsteps of the Martins"
Discover the places where the Martin family lived: the meeting bridge, Louis' watchmaking and the Martin family's first home, the Saint-Pierre de Montsort church and the Pavilion (a small tower he had bought before his marriage and where he liked to hang out). withdraw to meditate, read and rest)…
For children, young people, families etc, the course can be adapted in the form of a rally.
Visit of the Notre-Dame Basilica
Visit the parish church of the Martin family, where Saints Louis and Zélie were married and where their daughter Thérèse was baptized.
Lunch
Picnic rooms are available with volunteers to welcome you.
If you prefer, you can eat at thePilgrims hostelry. A hot meal will then be served.
Visit of Rose Taillé's house
6km north of Alençon, visit the Rose Taillé's house in Semallé, nurse of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
Pilgrimage through the Alençon countryside
Visit of the church of Saint-Denis-sur-Sarthon where Saint Zélie was baptized, walk through the forest of Ecouves where Louis Martin went on pilgrimage, discovery of Saint-Céneri, visit of the Basilica and the cathedral de Sées… You can make many pilgrimage according to your desires through the Alençon countryside.
Their testimonies
Contact the pilgrimage service
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.
