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 handicapped. Her mother, a woman of great faith, carried Marinette to the statue of the Pieta each day. 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 everything through Mary's intercession.
By the age of eighteen, Marie was devoting herself to evangelization and the care of the poor, sparing no effort. She even opened a school despite the reluctance of the pastor, who was soon reassured. Marie's zeal to make Jesus known extended beyond the classroom to the adults. When the French Revolution broke out and any religious action was suspicious, Marie Rivier secretly held Sunday assemblies. 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 experienced.
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 house was poor, welcoming the most destitute was sacred.
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, 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, 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.
This prediction came true in 1853 when the Sisters arrived in Canada. Then in 1873, the first foundation in the United States was established in Glens Falls, New York. Today, the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary serve in eighteen countries of the world: Canada (St. Hyacinthe, Montreal, Sherbrooke, Prince Albert), United States, Peru, Brazil and Ecuador. In the United States we have two Provinces - Manchester, New Hampshire and Methuen, Massachusetts.