Marthe Robin (1902-1981)

This was first posted on April 14, 2006. I thought I would reprint it for this Easter holiday, when there is so much debate in France over illness, end-of-life issues and religion.

"La France tombera très bas. Plus bas que les autres nations, à cause de son orgueil […]. Il n'y aura plus rien. Mais dans sa détresse, elle se souviendra de Dieu et criera vers Lui, et c'est la Sainte Vierge qui viendra la sauver. La France retrouvera alors sa vocation de Fille aînée de l'Eglise, elle sera le lieu de la plus grande effusion de l'Esprit Saint, et elle enverra à nouveau des missionnaires dans le monde entier." (Marthe Robin en 1936)

"France will fall very far. Farther than the other nations, because of her pride...Nothing will be left. But in her distress, she will remember God and will cry out to Him, and the Holy Virgin will come to save her. France will then rediscover her mission as Eldest Daughter of the Church, and become the place for the greatest effusion of the Holy Spirit, and will once again send her missionaries out into the world."

A French reader sent me the above quote in a comment. I have to admit I didn't remember who she was. A Google search provided some biographical information. It seems appropriate for the Easter holiday.

She was born on Thursday March 13, 1902 in Châteauneuf-de-Galaure, Quartier des Moïlles and baptized on April 5,1902 at the parish church of Saint-Bonnet de Galaure. She received her religious education in her home town (her house is pictured above) . Beginning in 1918 she had the first symptoms of encephalitis, the illness that would confine her to her bed for over fifty years. By 1939 she was paralyzed and blind. Every Friday she relived the mystical experience of Christ's Passion. She left letters, diaries and notes. Her greatest mission was the foundation, along with Monsieur l'Abbé Finet, of the Foyers de la Charité, communities dedicated to spiritual retreat and open to the laity. From 1943 to 1964, these communities grew in number and spread to the rest of Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. She died on February 6, 1981.

Another website provided information on her possible canonization.

During her lifetime, Marthe Robin received almost 100,000 Christian visitors in her room in Châteauneuf-de-Galaure, in the department of Drôme. A fervent believer who was handicapped from the age of 25, she impressed all who came to see her by her spiritual force. Every weekend she relived the Passion of Christ, but always remained discreet about the stigmata she had received...

Still, 24 years after her death, Marthe Robin has still not been canonized. Rome takes its time: gathering the testimony, a detailed examination of her writings and her words...The road to sainthood follows a precise procedure, similar to a police investigation and is often very long.

The beatification process began in 1986, at the request of Monsignor Didier-Léon Marchand, bishop of Valence. A postulator was chosen...This man's job...is to edit a critical biography of the believer and her work...The first step of the canonization process is called "diocesan"...An appeal is launched to all those who met the person or who feel she had an influence on their life. The investigating commission has received more than 1200 letters since 1991, testifying to the graces received through Marthe's intercession before or after her death.

The dossier or "Positio", 17,000 pages long, was sent to Rome in 1996...It is still being studied.

Her life of prayer and of faith speak in favor of sainthood, as does her intuition, before Vatican II, of the importance of the role of the laity in the Church. She contributed to the education of laymen by creating the Foyers de la Charité: her beatification would mean a greater recognition by Rome of these institutions. Marthe would also become a symbol of hope for all sick people: though bed-ridden, she carried out a world-wide mission.

The only problematic issue concerning her are the "demonic assaults", that she claimed to have been subjected to. "The Congregation is calling in a demonologist to examine how the Adversary was revealed to Marthe", explains Marie-Thérèse Gille.

Note: The Foyers de la Charité are open to men and women who have been baptized. The importance of the laity in her work resides in the fact that deep religious instruction is provided without any obligation to actually become a priest.

I found it fascinating that she had predicted the fall of France four years before the "official" fall in 1940. But she also predicted recovery through faith. What would she say today? Probably the same thing.

Update: March 22, 2008 - The link to the information about her canonization no longer works. As far as I know there has been no definitive decision by Rome.

French readers can read more at Wikipedia. Her case is very strange. She is supposed to have received the stigmata and it is claimed that she was "inedic", meaning she had no metabolism and did not ingest food or water for many decades. Her only food was the Sacred Host which was administered twice a week, and which (it is said) dissolved instantaneously on her lips.

Needless to say, one must remain cautious about such things.