Understanding of the Church

Understanding of the Church

The Servant of God was obedient to the Church, whose laws she faithfully observed. She venerated the Church in its visible head. She prayed a lot for Pope Pius IX, who was then ruling. She offered her sufferings for him. She had great esteem for the bishops; personally as well as in the administration of her Congregation she was especially loyal to Bishop Raess. She showed great respect for all priests, in whom she saw God himself.
“I would have gone down on my knees before anyone of them to ask them for their blessing.” And in a special way, during her whole life she had great respect for her spiritual director and was completely obedient to him, Father Reichard, who was called to found the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Savior. She called on her Daughters to be completely obedient to the ministers of the altar.  The Original Rule says: “They will always be obedient to the pastor, who, whatever his ministry may be, is to be regarded by them as the legitimate authority.”

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Resistance to Sin

Resistance to Sin

The Servant of God hated sin and everything that was opposed to faith. When she was a schoolgirl, she avoided children using bad language. She cried about it and disliked school for this reason. Later, at a dinner, where people had improper discussions, she preferred fasting. She stood up and went out in order to pray and cry. In her ecstasies, she saw the vices in general and particularly with their different causes. This sight was painful to her, almost unbearable. “She spent all the time of dinner in her room praying and crying, and as her room was next to the dining room, she made the precaution of blocking up her ears so that she was not able to hear through the partition what was said.” She was clearly shown how to correct vices.
“See, my daughter,” said our Lord, “all that must be corrected by you.” She sighed and said: “O, what a heavy burden! Your will be done!” She was troubled in her tender joys considering the many insults against God. She herself experienced moments of doubt and discouragement, when she realized that she was a sinner and unworthy of God’s grace. On the other hand, when the Servant of God saw in her visions the conversion of sinners, she felt great joy. Father Reichard testifies to this: “She witnessed many conversions among the enemies of Catholicism, the schismatic and unbelievers, through whom God shows His mercy […]. From this experience of mercy, of God’s might, again she received great consolation”. As a member of the Sacred-Heart’s Association, she had the concern to compensate for the sins of others through her prayers and the penance she took upon herself.

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A Teaching of Faith

A Teaching of Faith: The Truths She Believed

Devotion of the Servant of God to the Teaching of the Catholic Church was ardent and unwavering. She came from the family surrounded by Protestants and who struggled to keep Catholic Faith. Therefore, she was aware of happiness to be Catholic.

“When some Protestants visited me during my illness (in the age of 17) I felt pity for them that they do not live in truth. I thanked our Lord for being born to Catholic parents. I said often: ‘O how I am happy to be a child of the true Church!’”

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Thoughts And Expressions of the Virtue Faith

Thoughts And Expressions of the Virtue Faith
During the Life of the Servant of God

From the early childhood of the Servant of God, the spirit of Faith was shown which, in that age, was extraordinary. At the age of four she eagerly listened speaking about God. She took every opportunity to be explained the Christian teaching. At the age of six, she noted in her Biography, “I had a great desire to know God. Either I was alone or among people, I constantly thought about God.“ At the age of seven, “This desire was so strong that caused me a great suffering of mind.”

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