There's hope for married churchgoers, who go it alone. I'm talking about a husband or wife, who pray by themselves. Their spouses don't go to church, aren't very religious, or are even atheists. This was exactly the case of Elisabeth and Felix Leseur.
Elisabeth Leseur learned soon after she married Felix, that he was an atheist. Why didn't he tell her before? Knowing how much her religion meant to her, she probably would have broken off the relationship. Felix probably was so sure of himself, that he figured he'd convince her of the foolishness of religion soon enough. But the opposite happened. Because Elisabeth had to defend the faith, she studied apologetics and stood her ground. She had a personal library that rivaled her husbands'. Only her library was filled with theology, whereas his was secular and atheistic. She held her own.
By the serenity and strength that I mean to acquire I will prove that the Christian life is great and
beautiful and full of joy. By cultivating all the best faculties of my mind I will proclaim that God is
the highest Intelligence and that those who serve Him can draw without end that blessed source
of intellectual and moral light. From Elisabeth Leseur's first journal 1899-1906
Besides knowing her stuff, she wasn't an "in your face" apologist. She dressed attractively--on purpose. She wanted to attract people. She wanted people to come to her and if it took fashion and makeup, so be it. After the dress, people were attracted to her joyful and happy spirit. This she attributed to her "interior secret." She was in love with Jesus and He loved her. She hoped she radiated this love and joy. And for all reports, she certainly did.
She was sickly. She suffered from intestinal problems and eventually cancer took her life, at age 48. But she said that her physical sufferings were nothing to the spiritual suffering she felt because the person that was closest to her, Felix--her husband, wasn't beside her praying, going to church, and sharing their spirituality. She actually lived the life of a Lay Dominican--without knowing it; she adopted a regular program of prayer, meditation, study, and sacramental participation. Her prayers for her husband are poignant.
O Lord, once more I implore thee to come to him, to come to them, and let them live,
let them live the interior life deeply, and also an outer life renewed by Christianity. The
harvest is plentiful; my God, let them be blessed laborers in it; let their life and mine be a
work of beauty and love, and let us labor together for the coming of Thy Kingdom in
the world and in souls. From the first journal
My God, wilt Thou give me one day the joy of this solitude for two, united in the same prayer
the same faith, and the same love? From the first journal
It wasn't until after Elisabeth died, that her husband converted. But she knew this. In fact, she offered her sufferings up for his conversion. Felix read this.
...I threw myself into reading of them; I read and re-read them, and a revolution took place
in my whole moral being. I understood the celestial beauty of her soul and that she had
accepted all her suffering and offered it -- and even offered her very self in sacrifice --
chiefly for my conversion...
Felix was blessed with grace. Like St. Monica, Elisabeth's prayers had touched the hard heart of their loved one. Felix turned into a prayerful, pious Catholic. He read not only Elizabeth's journals, but also the books in her library. He ended up becoming, not only a priest, but a Dominican friar.
And that's not the end of the story. In 1924, Fulton J. Sheen, who would later become an archbishop and popular American television and radio figure, made a retreat under the direction of Fr. Leseur. During many hours of spiritual direction, Sheen learned of the life of Elisabeth and the conversion of Fr. Felix. Sheen subsequently repeated this conversion story in many of his presentations, in particular in regard to the role that spouses play in the sanctification of each other.
One last note, Felix found, after her death, was meant for him to find. "In 1905, I asked almighty God to send me sufficient sufferings to purchase your soul. On the day that I die, the price will have been paid. Greater love than this no woman has, than she who lay down her life for her husband."
BTW, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen became a Lay Dominican.
By the serenity and strength that I mean to acquire I will prove that the Christian life is great and
beautiful and full of joy. By cultivating all the best faculties of my mind I will proclaim that God is
the highest Intelligence and that those who serve Him can draw without end that blessed source
of intellectual and moral light. From Elisabeth Leseur's first journal 1899-1906
Besides knowing her stuff, she wasn't an "in your face" apologist. She dressed attractively--on purpose. She wanted to attract people. She wanted people to come to her and if it took fashion and makeup, so be it. After the dress, people were attracted to her joyful and happy spirit. This she attributed to her "interior secret." She was in love with Jesus and He loved her. She hoped she radiated this love and joy. And for all reports, she certainly did.
She was sickly. She suffered from intestinal problems and eventually cancer took her life, at age 48. But she said that her physical sufferings were nothing to the spiritual suffering she felt because the person that was closest to her, Felix--her husband, wasn't beside her praying, going to church, and sharing their spirituality. She actually lived the life of a Lay Dominican--without knowing it; she adopted a regular program of prayer, meditation, study, and sacramental participation. Her prayers for her husband are poignant.
O Lord, once more I implore thee to come to him, to come to them, and let them live,
let them live the interior life deeply, and also an outer life renewed by Christianity. The
harvest is plentiful; my God, let them be blessed laborers in it; let their life and mine be a
work of beauty and love, and let us labor together for the coming of Thy Kingdom in
the world and in souls. From the first journal
My God, wilt Thou give me one day the joy of this solitude for two, united in the same prayer
the same faith, and the same love? From the first journal
It wasn't until after Elisabeth died, that her husband converted. But she knew this. In fact, she offered her sufferings up for his conversion. Felix read this.
...I threw myself into reading of them; I read and re-read them, and a revolution took place
in my whole moral being. I understood the celestial beauty of her soul and that she had
accepted all her suffering and offered it -- and even offered her very self in sacrifice --
chiefly for my conversion...
Felix was blessed with grace. Like St. Monica, Elisabeth's prayers had touched the hard heart of their loved one. Felix turned into a prayerful, pious Catholic. He read not only Elizabeth's journals, but also the books in her library. He ended up becoming, not only a priest, but a Dominican friar.
And that's not the end of the story. In 1924, Fulton J. Sheen, who would later become an archbishop and popular American television and radio figure, made a retreat under the direction of Fr. Leseur. During many hours of spiritual direction, Sheen learned of the life of Elisabeth and the conversion of Fr. Felix. Sheen subsequently repeated this conversion story in many of his presentations, in particular in regard to the role that spouses play in the sanctification of each other.
One last note, Felix found, after her death, was meant for him to find. "In 1905, I asked almighty God to send me sufficient sufferings to purchase your soul. On the day that I die, the price will have been paid. Greater love than this no woman has, than she who lay down her life for her husband."
BTW, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen became a Lay Dominican.
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