Lenten Reflections | women's history month | catholic mom | Holy Women's History Month
I first met Elisabeth Leseur on the pages of the Catholic monthly publication Magnificat, which published one of her writings as a daily meditation. When I learned about The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, I knew I had to buy it. As a lifelong journal-keeper, I felt an immediate kinship with her.
The more I learned about Elisabeth, the more humbled I was by her life. This upper-class Frenchwoman who died at 48 from cancer counted among her sufferings the atheism of her beloved husband, Felix. Although she grew in holiness and piety during their marriage, she maintained a gracious quiet about her convictions when interacting with her husband or his like-minded friends. She kept her own counsel and wrote in her private journal about her developing faith life — a life she could not share with the one she loved the most. Her spiritual isolation brought great suffering, which she offered for her husband.
When Felix discovered the journals after her death, he was moved to revisit the Catholic faith he had abandoned so many years before. He returned to the Church and later became a priest. He also published her beautiful writings and reflections on faith. By 1930, the book had sold 100,000 copies and had been translated into every major European language.
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The Value of Silence
From Elisabeth, now a Servant of God, I learned the importance of silence — gracious silence. Although I do not live with any atheists, it would be safe to say I am the most enthusiastic Catholic in my family. She, more than anyone, demonstrated to me that we do more for others by our own personal transformation than by any other means. This especially was relevant during my children’s teen years and is still helpful now that they are in their 20s.
It is not in arguing or in lecturing that I can make them know what God is to the human soul. But in struggling with myself, in becoming, with His help, more Christian and more valiant, I will bear witness to Him whose humble disciple I am. (The Secret Diary of Elisabeth Leseur, p. 10)
Seeking Holiness
It is notable that Elisabeth never sought fame but attained it. In fact, she valued the hidden life and wrote often about doing good so that God alone might see it. Her approach encourages me because I sometimes wonder if my average life as a wife and mother in Memphis, TN, is accomplishing God’s will. The impact of Elisabeth’s life on her husband offers reassurance that seeking to live a life of holiness is the highest goal for any Christian.
Although Elisabeth was bedridden at the end of her life, people came to her for conversation, consolation, and guidance. She made a life-changing difference simply by talking to people and writing letters. In this way, she lived out her belief that we must focus more on the individual than on humanity as a whole.
Her wisdom and humility set a beautiful example of the Christian witness for someone like me, who can sometimes be too enthusiastic and more of talker than a listener. Although she died more than 100 years ago, in 1914, I value Elisabeth’s counsel in a very opinionated and polarized world. And I am grateful to revisit her journal and listen to her guidance again and again, thanks to her husband, who made those words available to the world at large. It is comforting to think of them together again, both faithful Christians, in eternity.
During Women's History Month, Catholic Mom writers are celebrating the women who have inspired their faith journeys — whether canonized saints, saints in progress, or beloved women from Scripture. Through personal reflections and heartfelt stories, they share how these holy women have touched their lives, offering wisdom, strength, and a deeper connection to God. Join us as we honor the spiritual legacy of these remarkable women and the lasting impact they continue to have on our hearts and souls.
Copyright 2025 Leigh Ann Roman
Images: Holy Cross Family Ministries