Peter Fourier was born in Mirecourt, France, on November 30, 1565, two years after the closing of the Council of Trent. He was educated in this post-counciliar period, with an emphasis on the meaning of Church and its apostolic mission. In 1585 he joined the Canons Regular of Saint Augustine, an abbey that was more concerned with materialism than with serving people. By his example of holiness, he tried in vain to lead the monks from moral decadence to their gospel charism. When he became pastor at Mattaincourt, he engaged the parishioners in active awareness of and involvement in moral and justice issues. He tackled all the hardships and suffering of his people, inventing ways to improve living conditions amid poverty, ignorance and superstitions.

Drawn together by God's providence, Alix LeClerc and Peter Fourier created "The Congregation of Our Lady: Canonesses of St. Augustine" in 1597. Together they dreamed and helped transform unmet needs of their time by making Christian formation available to all. They believed that society can be changed for the better by empowering individuals, especially women, through Christian education. Peter and Alix frequently experienced opposition from the very church that they sought to serve, as well as civil and domestic persecution. Saint Peter Fourier died in exile in 1640.

St. Peter Fourier wrote:
"Anything truly sublime and uplifting comes to birth in agony and great labor, after much care and at heavy cost...I have a principle which I find admirable: In order to gain a lot we sometimes have to permit ourselves the chance of losing something. Those who wish to be too prudent, too careful, who never want to run the risk of losing, or leaving, or letting go of something that belongs to them: possessions, rights, just claims, their rest, their peace of mind, sometimes -- no, frequently -- miss fine occasions to do great service for God and neighbor and to enrich themselves."

A Reflection on St. Peter's life and words