Saint María Bernarda Bütler
Religious Sister, Foundress
(1848 – 1924)

Saint’s Life Story

Her Early Life

Verena, also known as Maria Bernarda Butler, was born on May 28, 1848 in Auw, Aargau, Switzerland. She was the fourth of eight children born to a family of farmers. On the day she was born, she was baptized with the name Verena. On April 16, 1860, Verena made her First Communion. Even from a young age, Verena was known for her piety and devotion to the Eucharist, showing a strong inclination toward religious life. Despite economic hardships and the early loss of her father, Verena remained firm in her devotion and was drawn to a life of service and contemplation.

Having completed her elementary studies at the age of 14, Verena dedicated herself to farm work and experienced affection for a worthy young man with whom she fell in love. On feeling the call of God, she broke off the engagement in order to turn completely to the Lord.

During this period in her life, Verena was granted the grace of enjoying the presence of God, feeling Him very close. She herself said: “To explain this state of soul to someone who has never experienced anything similar is extremely difficult, if not impossible” and “The Holy Spirit taught me to adore, praise, bless and give thanks to Jesus in the tabernacle at all times, even at work and in real life.”

Sister María Bernarda

At age 19 on November 12, 1867, Verena entered the Franciscan Capuchin convent of Mary Help of Christians in Altstätten, Switzerland. On May 4, 1868, she took the Franciscan habit and took the religious name Maria Bernarda of the Sacred Heart of Mary. On October 4, 1869, she made her vows with the firm proposal of serving the Lord until death in the contemplative life.

Missionary Call

Maria was very soon elected Mistress of Novices and Superior of the Community on three occasions, positions she served for nine consecutive years. Her zeal and love for the Kingdom of God had prepared her to begin a new missionary experience.

When Bishop Pedro Schumacher of Portoviejo, Ecuador, wrote describing the total abandonment in which the people of those lands lived. Offering his diocese as a missionary field, María Bernarda was convinced that this invitation was a clear call from God to proclaim the Gospel and to found a branch house of the Altstätten monastery in Ecuadorian lands. Eventually, María Bernard overcame the initial resistance of the ecclesiastical authorities and obtained papal permission to leave the monastery. So, on June 19, 1888, Maria Bernard and six companions traveled to Le Havre, France, where all seven embarked for Ecuador.

Foundress of New Congregation

Only their light of faith and zeal to announce the Gospel sustained the Blessed and her companions in the difficult separation from their beloved Monastery and Sisters. In her intentions, María Bernarda thought of giving birth to a missionary foundation dependent on the Swiss Monastery. Instead, The Lord, made María Bernarda the foundress of a new Religious Congregation, that of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Sinners.

María Bernarda was entrusted with the community of Chone, in Ecuador, which presented a distressing spectacle because of the total lack of priests, scant religious practice and rampant immorality. María Bernarda became “everything to everyone”, placing prayer, poverty, fidelity to the Church and the constant exercise of the works of mercy at the base of her missionary work. Together with her daughters, Maria began an intense apostolate among families, deepening their knowledge of the language and of the culture of the people. The first fruits did not delay in maturing. The Christian life of the people blossomed again as if by magic.

The new Franciscan Congregation also grew in number and two filial houses were founded in Sant Ana and Canoa. Her missionary work endured many sufferings that included: absolute poverty, torrid heat, uncertainty and difficulties of every kind, risks to their health and security of their lives, and misunderstanding on the part of ecclesiastical authorities. Maria underwent all this with heroic fortitude and in silence without defending herself or nourishing resentment towards anyone. Instead, María Bernarda forgave them from her heart and prayed for those who made her suffer.

Fled to Columbia

Political tensions during the anti-Catholic revolution eventually forced Maria and her 14 Sisters to leave Ecuador. On August 2, 1895, Maria and her 14 Sisters, reached Cartagena, Columbia where there were received by Bishop Eugenio Biffi. They found hospitality in a female hospital, commonly called a “Pious Work”. The Lord had led María Bernarda by the hand towards that asylum. Here, María Bernarda would remain to the end of her life. After the house in Cartagena, the Foundation was extended not only in Columbia but also in Austria and Brazil.

With a compassionate heart, María Bernarda engaged above all in relieving the spiritual and material needs of the poor, whom she always considered to be her favorites. María Bernarda used to say to the Sisters: “Open your houses to help the poor and marginalized. Give preference to the care of the indigent over all other activity”. For over 30 years, María Bernarda guided her Congregation. Even after resigning from the Office of Superior General, María Bernarda continued to animate her dear Sisters with feelings of true humility, especially through the example of her life and her words and writings.

Her Death

María Bernarda died on May 19, 1924. She was 74 years of age, 56 years spent in the consecrated life and 38 years in missionary life. News of her death spread quickly. The Pastor of the Cathedral of Cartagena announced her passing away, saying to the faithful: “A saint has died in this city, this morning: the reverend Mother Bernard!”. Her tomb immediately became a center of pilgrimage and a place of prayer. As a Franciscan, Saint María Bernarda Bütler cultivated the same veneration which Saint Francis of Assisi nourished for “Holy Mother Church”.

Today, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Sinners continue their work in schools, colleges, kindergartens, hospitals, nursing homes in Switzerland, Colombia, Brazil, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy and some African countries.

Born:                  May 28, 1848 in Auw, Aargau, Switzerland

Died:                  May 19, 1924 age 75 in Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia

Beatified:          October 29, 1995 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized:       October 12, 2008 by Pope Benedict XVI

Feast Day:         May 19

Patron Saint:    Missionaries

Sources:

• • CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Verena Bütler
  • Saint Verena Bütler – Saint for a Minute: Saints & Blesseds
  • María Bernarda (Verena) Bütler (1848-1924) – Biography – Vatican
  • Maria Bernarda Bütler – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

Saint of the Day for May 19 – Saint Verena Bütler – YouTube (Street Catholic)