MARIE RIVIER, woman of compassion
Marie Rivier was attentive to all situations of distress. Those who came into contact with her report that she lived the Gospel of mercy and compassion to the letter with a cheerfulness of heart that nothing could disarm. The poverty of her home did not prevent her from taking in orphan girls: "As long as I have a piece of bread left," she said, “ I will share it with my orphan girls.�
WORD OF GOD: Mt 15: 30 – 36
Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing.
WORD OF GOD: Mt 15: 30 – 36
... I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.”
WORD OF GOD: Mt 15: 30 – 36
... Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
Reflection: Marie Rivier loved the poor from childhood, and her happiness lay in bringing comfort to them. This love of the poor continued to grow in her heart and to become more perfect over the years. Never was she seen refusing help to the poor. She gave according to their needs
Reflection: Assist the poor according to their needs and your own meager means. Bear in mind that in our statutes we have committed ourselves to bringing solace to the poor, for these statutes read: “We look upon the savings of the Congregation as belonging to the poor.� (Marie Rivier: Her Spirit and Virtues, p.67 - 70)
MARIE RIVIER, woman of faith, woman of prayer, woman of action, Woman-Apostle who proclaimed the Gospel at the risk of your life during the French Revolution, intercede for us.