Marie Rivier

Who Is Marinette?

There is a small mountain village in France called Montpezat. A family by the name of Rivier, lived there.  The father, Jean-Baptist, was a distributor of fine wines, and the mother, Marianne, had her own little business selling salt to the villagers. Their house served as an inn to travelers. They already had two children, Cecile and Louis. They were waiting for the coming of a third child.  It was very close to Christmas, when at last, on December 19, 1768, little Marie was born. There was excitement in the Rivier home, when Cecile and Louis learned that they had a new baby sister.  The parents brought the new baby to church on December 21st, two days after her birth, to be baptized. She received the name of Marie. Her nickname was Marinette. She was a lively little girl, and as she grew a little older, she was able to run about the house. Cecile and Louis loved to play with her.  This child was the darling of the Rivier home. She brought joy to everyone.

The Crash Landing

In those days, people had very high beds. Children could not get in or out without help. Marinette’s mother had placed her in her own high bed, not thinking that Marinette was a bundle of energy. So what happened?  She rolled over and fell with a bang to the hard floor.  Marinette was in pain and in tears. The doctor was called and he found that Marinette had a broken hip.  At that time, the doctors did not have all the medicine and hospitals we have today and they declared that Marinette would never walk again. All she could do was drag herself on her back from place to place. Marianne, her mother, had  great faith in our Blessed Mother Mary. She often went to church to pray that her  little girl would walk and asked for a miracle.  One day she carried Marinette to church with her and knelt before a statue of the Pieta which was in back of the altar.  The Pieta showed the Blessed Mother crying over the dead body of Jesus after he was taken down from the cross. Marinette’s curiosity was aroused and when they got back home. She said to her mother:  

“I saw a lady who will cure me.”

Her mother responded: “Which lady?”

“The one behind the altar.” Marinette asked many questions about that lady, so her mother told her the story of Mary and Jesus.