Gabriel Rivat 1808-1881

First Superior General of the Marist Brothers

Gabriel Rivat (Frere François) was born on 22 January 1808 at Maisonettes, a hamlet near La Vallaen-Gier (France). His pious family recited the rosary every day. When Gabriel was five years of age, his mother consecrated him to the Virgin Mary during a pilgrimage to Valfleury.

Fathcr Marcellin Champagnat, newly ordained, was appointed to La Valla in 1816. Although Gabriel was only eight years old, he was one of the first children to attend the curate's early morning catechism lessons. At the age of ten he made his first communion an event that marked him for life.

Three weeks later he asked to join the young community that Marcellin Champagnat had founded on 2 January 1817. Although he was very young, Francois' fidelity was unfailing. In 1826, at the age of 18, he professed his perpetual vows; his joy was so radiant that Marcellin said to him, "I am jealous of your happiness!" He began his teaching career at the tender age of 12. During the morning hours he was in charge of the kitchen for the community and the day boarders, and in the afternoon he gave remedial lessons in reading, catechism and prayers.

Quite soon he was appointed director of a school. Marcellin, however, who had been struck by his exceptional qualities, called hirn to be his deputy and secretarv, as well as infirmarian of the community. In the latter task he showed special aptitudes. He treated the sick with medicinal plants that he collected or cultivated, he was skilled in counselling the sick, he prayed with them, and often obtained unexpected cures.

In 1839 when health was failing Marcellin asked the Brothers to elect someone to succeed him. Brother Francois was elected. When Marcellin died on 6 June 1840, Francois resolved to be "the living image of the Founder", and he asked the Brothers to witness to Marcellin in their lives. He remaincd Superior General of the Marist Brothers for twenty years. From Marcellin he had inherited a congregation of 280 Brothers. To Brother Louis Marie, his successor, he passed it on with more than 2000 Brothers.

From 1860 he lived at the Hermitage, the Marist sanctuary built by Marcellin. As Superior of the house he was for all a model of prayer and of the interior life. After he received communion one could observe the smile that lit up his face and revealed his joy at receiving the Lord.

He died on his knees as he was reciting the Angelus on 22 January 1881. The word that spread among the whole neighbourhood was, "The saint is dead."

Prayer to Ask for a Grace

You gave Brother François
the special gift
to care for and heal the sick,
or to prepare them
to accept peacefully the gradual failure
of their health.

Allow us to have recourse to him so that,
He may ask your Son Jusus
and Mary his holy Mother,
as he did during his earthly life,
to take care of the illness that we entrust to him.
Brother François, hear us,
and intercede for us.

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