The Lacemaker: A Novel of St. Zélie Martin

Laura Range reviews a unique novel written about a wife, business owner, and artisan -- and the mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.

Eight years ago, I flew by myself to Paris, intending to meet up with a couple of friends after landing, but a misunderstanding left me lost and alone at the huge airport and finding my way via Metro through a city where no one spoke my language. The anxiety was high during the rest of the trip but I was determined I would make my way to the hometown of one of my favorite saints, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and I did.

It was worth it. To walk where she walked, see her convent, pray at the basilica where her arm bone is kept as a first-class relic -- these tangible things were a gift that reminded me the saints are real -- people who once lived on this earth and now live in heaven.

We have been blessed in recent years by the canonization of many “modern” saints. Ones who have lived in the past couple hundred years. We can see photos of them (even videos sometimes!), look at their homes, read the letters they wrote, learn their likes and dislikes. Just like my trip to Lisieux, these things remind us that they were people just like us, so perhaps we really can become saints just like them.

St. Zélie Martin, the mother of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, is also one of those saints. Canonized just over five years ago, St. Zélie Martin has been rapidly gaining popularity in the Catholic world. A wife, mother, business owner, artisan -- her many roles make her relatable to the women of today. Also a prolific letter writer, some of her letters have been preserved and reprinted for reading and learning more about her. Author Anne Faye has done something unique after reading those letters and wrote a fiction novel titled The Lacemaker.

Written in a journal style, it reminds me of the “Dear America” historical fiction series I read as a young girl, sharing history in a personal way. The book begins with Zélie as a young adult before her marriage to Louis. It chronicles her relationship with her mother and her sister, the start of her lacemaking business, and continues through the story of her relationship and marriage to Louis, motherhood of nine children (five living, four who passed away in infancy and early childhood), and finally ending with her difficult battle with breast cancer while her girls were still young. Her story is one that would speak to so many mothers. She dealt with illness, child loss, cancer, breastfeeding issues, a child with special needs -- many topics we mothers struggle with today in our lives.

It was unique for me to read a fiction book about a saint that was written in first person. I enjoyed it, although it made me desire to read the actual letters written by Zélie and see if they had the same voice and personality. I was very impacted by the amount of struggles Zélie went through with her babies -- her troubles breastfeeding, having to send them to live with wet nurses, the many illnesses her children had. It made me reflect on that time period of raising children and how difficult that would have been without the modern medicine we are accustomed to.

Although many married women and mothers would be inspired by learning Zélie’s story, I also think teens and young adults would like The Lacemaker. It was inspiring, even comforting, to read the “ordinary” story of a wife and mom who persevered through love and loss, joys and sorrows, and to know that she was now living the extraordinary life of a saint in heaven. May we follow her example of living each day in surrender and faithfulness to God’s grace.

Copyright 2021 Laura Range
Image: Canva Pro