Zelie

Patron saint of marriage, working mothers, child loss - Feast day July 12

Our Zelie pendant is a coin-shaped medallion with a delicately polished floral motif, taking its design straight from one of St. Zelie’s own works of lace. Sts. Zelie and Louis had nine children, five of whom survived to adulthood. Look closely and you’ll see that one of the floral designs on the pendant has nine small flowers in memory of their children. 

Dimensions: 20 mm

Materials: 14k gold vermeil

Born in France in 1831, Zelie was an intelligent and faithful girl with dreams of a religious vocation. God had other plans for her; Zelie found her true vocation in marriage and motherhood. Zelie and her husband Louis embraced married life and had nine children, of which five daughters survived to adulthood. All five daughters entered religious life- the youngest, Therese, became a saint and Doctor of the Church.

Zelie Martin was a lacemaker and a devoted mother and wife. She and Louis raised their children with love and a strong Catholic foundation. Zelie died in 1877, most likely from breast cancer. She and her husband were canonized together in 2015.