Saint Marie Rivier

Biography

Saint Marie Rivier, also known by the names Marinette Rivier, Anne-Marie Rivier, and Marie-Anne Rivier, was born on 19 December 1768 in Montpezat-sous-Bauzon, Ardèche, France. At a young age of sixteen months, Marie suffered a fall that resulted in a broken hip, leaving her crippled. Her mother, unwavering in her faith, carried Marie to a local Pieta statue every day to pray. On 8 September 1774, after witnessing her mother's dedication to prayer, Marie experienced a sudden healing and was able to walk again. However, the effects of her early immobility and rickets remained, leading to her standing only four foot, four inches tall as an adult. At the age of seventeen, Marie sought to join the Sisters of Notre Dame but was rejected due to her poor health. She returned to her parents' home but was determined to devote herself to evangelization and caring for the poor in her parish. In 1786, she established her own school, which welcomed both the affluent and the impoverished. During the French Revolution, when religious expression was suppressed, Marie conducted covert Sunday prayer services in the absence of available priests. In 1794, her school, which was housed in a confiscated Dominican house, was sold by the government, and Marie, along with her teachers, was evicted. As they left, the convent's statue of the Virgin Mary appeared to smile and move, which they regarded as a sign from God. Taking this as confirmation, Marie and four like-minded friends decided to remain together. In the face of widespread convent closures, Marie and her companions established a new convent on 21 November 1796 near Thueyts, Ardeche, France. This marked the foundation of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary, also known as the White Ladies. The Sisters dedicated themselves to teaching, home evangelization, caring for orphans and the abandoned, and spreading the message of Jesus to all who would listen. They described their mission as "to pass on hope." At the time of Marie's death on 3 February 1838 in Bourg-Saint-Andéol, Ardèche, France, the congregation had grown to include 350 Sisters and 114 houses. Today, the order boasts over 3,000 Sisters serving in various countries, such as France, Switzerland, Canada, United States, England, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Mozambique, Japan, Philippines, Senegal-Gambia, Ireland, Peru, Brazil, Cameroon, and Ecuador. Marie Rivier's life and virtues were officially recognized on 13 June 1890, when Pope Leo XIII declared her venerable. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 23 May 1982, with the beatification celebration taking place in Saint Peter's Square, Vatican City, Rome, Italy. The beatification miracle involved the healing of a seven-year-old girl suffering from infantile acrodynia, a condition caused by mercury poisoning that leads to physical and neurological damage. Finally, on 15 May 2022, Pope Francis canonized Marie Rivier as a saint, with the canonization ceremony taking place in Saint Peter's Square. The canonization miracle involved the healing of a newborn baby girl in the Philippines who had been afflicted with "early generalized non-immunological embryo-fetal hydrops." Although Saint Marie Rivier does not have a specific patronage ascribed to her, her life and work continue to inspire and guide countless individuals in their pursuit of faith, education, and caring for the less fortunate. Her example of overcoming physical limitations and dedicating herself to the service of God and others serves as a model of resilience, compassion, and unwavering faith.