Alphonse-Marie Eppinger was a 19th-century French Catholic nun who established the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer. Born Elisabeth Eppinger in 1814, she grew up in a poor farming family and experienced various health challenges. Following spiritual visions in 1846, she founded her religious order in 1849 with the support of her local priest. She served as the first superior general, leading the congregation as it expanded to care for the sick and impoverished during times such as the 1854 cholera pandemic.
Life and work
After experiencing ecstasies that earned her the nickname "the Niederbronn Ecstatic," Eppinger received support from Bishop Andreas Raess to pursue her religious mission. She formally took her vows in 1850 under the name Alphonse-Marie. Her congregation grew rapidly, reaching hundreds of members across many houses by 1863. She dedicated much of her leadership to providing aid to those in need, eventually receiving pontifical approval for her order shortly before her death in 1867.
Veneration
The process for her recognition as a saint began in the mid-20th century. After being declared Venerable by Pope Benedict XVI in 2011, her cause progressed following the validation of a miracle. Pope Francis confirmed this miracle in 2018, leading to her beatification in Strasbourg. She is commemorated on 9 September, the anniversary of her birth.