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Feast Day: July 31
Birth: September 9, 1814
Death: July 31, 1867
Blessed Élisabeth Eppinger, also known as Mother Alphonse-Marie, Sister Alphonse-Marie, and by her birth name Alfonsa Maria Elisabeth Eppinger, was born on 9 September 1814 in Niederbronn-les-Baines, Bas-Rhin, France. She was the eldest of eleven children born into a poor farm family.
From a young age, Élisabeth showed remarkable piety and devotion. Despite her fragile health, she maintained a strong spiritual connection and demonstrated a deep love for God. In 1846, she began experiencing a series of visions, which included encounters with Jesus Christ. These profound mystical experiences had a lasting impact on her, shaping her understanding of suffering and its relationship to God's love.
Élisabeth came to believe that suffering could hinder a person from fully experiencing God's love, and that alleviating the sufferings of others could open their hearts to finding God more easily. This conviction led her to a calling to serve the poor and sick, specifically those who were impoverished and unable to access proper medical care.
Her encounter with Bishop Andreas Raess in July 1848 confirmed Élisabeth's calling, as he recognized her extraordinary spirituality and affirmed her mission to care for the sick and destitute. Inspired by this encounter, on 28 August 1849, Élisabeth founded the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer in Niederbronn-les-Baines, France. She dedicated the congregation to Saint Alphonse Maria Liguori and served as its first superior. Élisabeth took the religious name Alphonse-Marie and made her religious vows on 2 January 1850.
The Sisters of the Holy Redeemer, under Élisabeth's guidance, worked tirelessly to care for the impoverished sick in their own homes. In 1854, the congregation received approval from Emperor Napoleon III, and they soon began aiding victims of a cholera pandemic. The dedication and compassion of the Sisters garnered praise from Pope Pius IX in 1863. At this point, there were 700 Sisters serving in 83 houses.
The Congregation received full Vatican approval in 1866, further affirming the importance and legitimacy of their mission. Today, the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer continue their charitable work in France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Argentina.
Blessed Élisabeth Eppinger dedicated her life to caring for the sick and impoverished, following her profound spiritual experiences and the call she believed God placed upon her heart. She firmly believed in the transformative power of relieving suffering, allowing individuals to more readily encounter God's love. Her selfless devotion and the establishment of the Sisters of the Holy Redeemer exemplify her commitment to serving others, particularly those who were marginalized and in need.
Élisabeth Eppinger passed away on 31 July 1867 in Niederbronn-les-Baines, Bas-Rhin, France, during the reign of the Second French Empire. Her remains were re-interred on 8 November 1950 as part of the canonization investigation process.
Recognizing her extraordinary virtues, Pope Benedict XVI declared √âlisabeth Eppinger venerable on 19 December 2011. On 8 September 2018, Pope Francis beatified her, affirming her status as a Blesséd in the Catholic Church. The beatification recognition was celebrated in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France, with Cardinal Giovanni Angelo Becciu as the chief celebrant.