The two blesseds will be the first couple ever to be canonized at the same ceremony, which will be held Oct. 18 at the Vatican. The event will take place less than three weeks after the Oct. 1 feast of their daughter, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, a Doctor of the Church.

The Pope Francis approved the decrees for the Martins’ canonization during a June 27 consistory of bishops at the apostolic palace.

On March 18, the pope had recognized a miracle attributed to the couple.

Married in 1858, just three months after meeting each other, Blesseds Louis and Zelie lived in celibacy for nearly a year, but eventually went on to have nine children. Four died in infancy, while the remaining five daughters entered religious life.

Zelie died from cancer in 1877, leaving Louis to care for their five young daughters: Marie, Pauline, Leonie, Celine and Thérèse, who was only 4 at the time. Louis died in 1894, after suffering two strokes in 1889, followed by five years of serious illness.

Louis and Zelie were beatified on Oct. 19, 2008 by Benedict XVI. . . .

Pope Francis venerated the relics of Blesseds Louis and Zelie ahead of the 2014 Synod on the Family, along with those of another married couple: Blesseds Luigi and Maria Beltrame Quattrocchi.

. . . Louis and Zelie Martin will be canonized alongside two others: Blessed Vincenzo Grossi, an Italian priest and founder of the Institute of the Daughters of the Oratory, and Blessed Maria of the Immaculate Conception, Spanish superior general of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross.