Fr. Timothy Gallagher and Kris McGregor begin a new series that reflects on the life of the "forgotten" sister of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Servant of God Léonie Martin.
Fr. Gallagher says, "Léonie's life holds a very important story because she was the forgotten one; she was the one who was in the last place; she was the one who was less gifted than the others. Today we would call her a ‘problem child’, and we'll see that she certainly was the source of great anxiety to her parents, especially to her mother, Zélie, who loved her dearly."
As a child, Léonie suffered from severe illnesses and physical maladies that would plague her entire life. She also struggled with understanding social clues and interactions, and with behaving appropriately. Conventional educational models of the day failed to meet her particular needs, and she was labeled "developmentally delayed". Yet those who knew her well described her as having a "heart of gold".
Who was Léonie and what were her struggles? Why has her cause of canonization begun? Father Gallagher, along with Kris McGregor, answers these questions and explains why Léonie is "a bearer of hope” in this landmark series.
The post Ep. 1 – A Sister of St. Thérèse: Servant of God, Léonie Martin – Bearer of Hope with Fr. Timothy Gallagher – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.