Saint Verena Bütler

Biography

Saint Verena Bütler, also known as Maria Bernarda of the Holy Heart of Mary or Maria Bernarda Butler, was born on 28 May 1848 in Auw, Aargau, Switzerland. She was the fourth of eight children born to a family of farmers. Verena was baptized on the day she was born and made her First Communion on 16 April 1860. Even from a young age, Verena was known for her piety and devotion to the Eucharist. At a young age, Verena felt a strong call to religious life and had a deep desire to serve God. She became engaged at one point but broke off the engagement to follow her true calling. In 1866, she attempted to join the Sisters of the Holy Cross of Menzingen, but soon returned home to pray and discern her vocation. On 12 November 1867, Verena joined the Franciscan Capuchin nuns at the convent Mary Help of Sinners in Altstätten, Switzerland. She took the name Maria Bernarda of the Holy Heart of Mary and made her solemn profession on 4 October 1871. Throughout her religious life, Verena served in various roles, including novice mistress and she was also three times a superior of her house. In 1888, Maria Bernarda was sent on a missionary assignment to Ecuador, where she worked in an area with limited religious resources. Recognizing the need for assistance, she founded the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, Help of Christians to support the work being done. Maria Bernarda served as the leader of the congregation for thirty years. Unfortunately, in 1895, Maria Bernarda and her sisters faced difficulties during an anti-Catholic revolution in Ecuador. As a result, they were exiled from the country and had to move their operations to Colombia. Despite these challenges, Maria Bernarda's dedication to her work never wavered. Today, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, Help of Christians continue their mission in various countries, including Switzerland, Colombia, Brazil, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy, and several African nations. They serve in areas such as schools, colleges, kindergartens, hospitals, and nursing homes, carrying on the legacy of Saint Verena Bütler. Saint Verena Bütler's tomb in Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia, immediately became a point of pilgrimage after her death on 19 May 1924, at the age of 75, from natural causes. Her life of virtue and devotion to God led to her being venerated on 21 December 1991, when Pope John Paul II declared her heroic virtues. She was later beatified on 29 October 1995 by Pope John Paul II, with the beatification miracle involving the reconstruction of the missing cranial bones of 15-day-old Liliana Sanchez in 1969. Finally, on 12 October 2008, Saint Verena Bütler was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI. The canonization miracle was the rapid, complete, and stable healing of severe respiratory distress and infection experienced by Myrna Jazime Correa on 6 July 2002 in Cartagena, Colombia. Though there is no specific patronage associated with Saint Verena Bütler, her life and works continue to inspire and guide many as a shining example of dedication, faith, and selflessness in serving God and humanity.