For this 1 year anniversary of St. Therese’s Vision for Disability Giftedness, I would like to introduce, with a special film, St. Therese’s older sister: Leonie Martin.  While Leonie was never formally diagnosed, her challenges with academics, emotions, and in her religious life have been regarded as manifestations of what would likely be identified today as on the autism spectrum.  In fact, Leonie was introduced to me by a gifted Franciscan brother, on the autism spectrum himself, who also believed that Leonie had been autistic. My own non-verbal learning disability is like a hybridization between a learning disability and autism, having the social, academic, and emotional challenges characterized by both, so I also relate to Leonie’s challenges.

Leonie’s success in religious life is remarkable, considering her obstacles. Her success seems largely due to perseverance in her goals, and in her love for God. Also, she was blessed with the help of a very accommodating religious sister, who later became her Mother Superior, and of course she was surrounded by a loving saintly family, including her sister, St. Therese of Lisieux.  

Leonie’s life and faith were characterized by St. Therese’s spirituality of the Little Way. The Little Way focuses on how God helps us in the little things and offers His mercy in our brokenness. While I am new to Leonie myself, I am convicted that Leonie models use of the Little Way in meeting academic and emotional challenges towards becoming holy.  With Leonie as my model, I hope to follow St. Therese’s Little Way more effectively, and I pray she may help others with autism, learning disabilities, developmental disabilities, mental health and emotional challenges to also turn with trust to Jesus’s Merciful Love and strive for holiness. Through the prayers and knowledge of Servant of God, Leonie Martin (Sister Francoise-Therese), and her sister St. Therese of Lisieux, I pray many may be able to experience the Lord’s salvation and grace in their lives.

It is my conviction that this marvelous film introducing Leonie is a great place to start. Please take the time to watch the film and get to know this blessed servant. Her whole vocation could be summed up by these words of St. Therese of Lisieux “What a sweet joy it is to think that God is Just, i.e., that He takes into account our weakness, that He is perfectly aware of our fragile nature.  What should I fear then?”

If you would like to join a faith based support group for autism based on the life of Leonie Martin, please go online to the Leonie League for the Advance of Autistic Persons to participate in prayers and supports: http://cloisters.tripod.com/leonieleague/