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A Brief Biography of Marie Rivier
Foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary
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Blessed Marie Rivier
1768-1838
Beatified May23, 1982 |
Marie Rivier, fondly known as
Marinette, was born December 19, 1768 in Montpezat, France. At the end
of April, 1770, Marinette, then sixteen months old, had a bad fall
which left her severely handicapped. Her mother, a woman of great
faith, carried her each day to the statue of the Pieta
in a nearby chapel.
Soon the little girl, who watched her mother pray, was certain:
"The Blessed Virgin will cure me!" Left alone at the feet of
Mary holding her dead Son in her arms, Marie meditated. This mystery
of passionate love filled her heart. Finally, on September 8, 1774,
Marinette began to walk! These four years of "schooling" with Mary
marked Marie Rivier's life forever—she obtained every thing through
Mary's intercession.
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When the French Revolution
broke out any religious action was suspicious so Marie Rivier
held Sunday assemblies in secret. She was cautious but remained an
apostle with a heart of fire! In 1794, the village of Thueyts
beckoned her and she willingly responded. Soon four young women
joined her and allowed themselves to be set afire by the Gospel. At a
time when all the convents were being closed, Marie Rivier opened
hers. On November 21, 1796, feast of the Presentation of Mary in the
Temple, Marie and her four companions consecrated themselves to God.
The new community grew very quickly despite the poverty it
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For Marie Rivier and her
daughters, Christian education of youth was and will remain a
priority. However, religious education extended to adults as well.
The poor also held a special place in Marie's heart and she opened
her first orphanage in 1814. Even if the
community was poor, welcoming
the most destitute was sacred.
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Nothing would stop
Marie's apostolic ardor. Priests asked her to speak to their
parishioners, to assemble the women and girls of their parish,
to rekindle fervor. Marie spoke with a clarity, an energy, and
a gentleness that touched every heart. An inner strength gave
her support and caused her to cry out:
"Either make Jesus Christ
known or die!" When she died on February 3, 1838
at the age of 69, this
Woman-Apostle with a heart of fire had founded 141 houses and
had received more than 350 Sisters to continue her mission.
Marie Rivier, "a prophet for our time," was beatified in Rome by
Pope John Paul II, on May 23, 1982.
"My daughters will one day cross the seas!" This
prediction came true in 1853 when six Sisters arrived in
Canada. Today, the Sisters of
the Presentation of Mary serve in eighteen countries of the
world: France, Switzerland, Canada, United States, England,
Spain, Italy, Madeira, Portugal, Mozambique, Japan, Philippines,
Senegal, Gambia, Ireland, Peru, Brazil, Cameroon, Ecuador. Our Generalate is presently located at Castelgandolfo
(Rome), Italy.
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