The profound joy of the previous day’s celebration was still in our hearts. Like the women of the first morning of the Resurrection, we could not contain the gladness within us. From the deepest of our beings, a joyful thanksgiving flowed to the Triune God for the gift of Saint Marie Rivier.

Early in the morning of May 16^th, from various parts of the city of Rome, the delegations arrived promptly at the Basilica of St. Mary Major for the thanksgiving mass at 8:00 am. The different delegations came with hasty steps and smiling faces in spite of the early rising that day. There were men and women who donned on their national costumes or clothing inspired by their national identity to mark the special day.  The security check was done and the mass began!

The Liturgy at the Basilica was very beautiful. St. Marie Rivier’s thanksgiving celebration manifested simplicity and beauty. Meaningful gestures and the prayerful yet quiet joy added to the solemnity of the occasion. The diverse songs, races, and cultures have confirmed the richness of the love and devotion which we have for The Little Woman of God, whom Pope Pius IX named in 1853, The Woman Apostle. All of these have added to the already vibrant culture of the spiritual family of Saint Marie Rivier. The presence of bishops and priests concelebrating at the altar, religious men and women from other Congregations and lay people emanated a strong bond of fraternal love. Saint Marie Rivier’s unifying charism was deeply experienced!

The Most Reverend Alberto Uy, Bishop of the Diocese of Tagbilaran, was the main celebrant of the Eucharistic Celebration. The miracle wrought by God through the intercession of St. Marie Rivier happened in his Diocese in 2015. Bishop Alberto has been involved and supportive since the beginning of the investigation and study for the Cause of the Canonization in the late 2018. In a nutshell, he pointed out in his homily the characteristic of our Foundress that made her a Saint. To sum up, the  holiness of Marie Rivier was in her smallness, her Evangelical childlikeness. She was not afraid to be like a child. It was her Gospel childlikeness and smallness that made her great and enabled her to accomplish great things for God!  

The Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration has ended in time and on time to proceed with joyful haste to the second part of the day! Joy, profound joy is a gift. It filled us as Jesus affirmed us: ‘I have told you these things, so that your joy may be complete.’

The Eucharistic celebration’s live streaming is available for viewing by clicking here.

Full text of the homily of Bishop Alberto Uy  St. Marie Rivier Homily for Thanksgiving Mass (1)