Maria Hueber
Maria Hueber (1653-1705) was a Tyrolean religious sister, foundress of the first free school for girls in Tyrol and the congregation of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis of Brixen.
Contemporaries
Figures and markers around the normalized period for this entry.
Guided reading
5 reading sections
Biography
The youth of Maria Hueber in Bressanone, marked by poverty, early domestic work, and her commitment to the Third Order of Saint Francis.
Maria Hueber was born on May 22, 1653, in Bressanone (Brixen), in South Tyrol (then part of the Holy Roman Empire, today located in northern Italy). She was the youngest of five children of Nikolaus Hueber, the city tower guard, and Anna Tapp, a seamstress and nurse. Her father died when she was still very young (at the age of three months or five years, according to divergent sources), leaving her mother in great precariousness. Unable to afford school fees, Anna Tapp taught her daughter reading, sewing, and arithmetic herself, while Maria learned to write on her own as an autodidact.
From her childhood, Maria worked to support her family. Starting in 1667, she engaged as a domestic servant and nanny, working successively in Bolzano, Bressanone, Innsbruck, and Salzburg. During her years of service, she formed friendships with several religious communities, notably the Order of the Servants of Mary in Innsbruck. In 1677 (or 1679 according to other sources), she joined the Third Order of Saint Francis under the spiritual direction of the Franciscan father Rufinus Laxner.
She then returned to Bressanone to care for her sick mother, who passed away in 1696. Maria then entered the service of Baroness Maria Catharina de Enzenberg, who granted her free time for prayer and penance. Endowed with mystical gifts and discernment, she was sometimes persecuted and even accused of witchcraft after predicting the death of Prince-Bishop Paulinus Mayr, but the episcopal consistory declared her innocent in 1685.
Life and Work
The foundation of the first free school for girls in Tyrol and the congregation of the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Brixen.
The heart of Maria Hueber's work lies in the foundation of the first free school for girls in Tyrol and the congregation of the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Brixen. Inspired by her confessor, the Franciscan Father Isidor Kirnigl, who had observed nuns instructing poor girls in Rome, Maria decided to dedicate her life to the education of marginalized young girls. On January 23, 1700, she made her religious profession in the Church of the Poor Clares in Brixen. On September 12, 1700, with her companion Regina Pfurner, she opened a free school for poor girls in Brixen, teaching them reading, writing, arithmetic, and sewing. In 1701, this initial core gave birth to the congregation of the Franciscan Tertiary Sisters of Brixen (Tertiarschwestern des hl. Franziskus). Maria Hueber categorically rejected the class and dowry distinctions, which were customary in convents of the time, in order to welcome all women desirous of serving God and the poor.
Journey toward holiness
The end of Maria Hueber's life, her death in 1705, and the birth of her reputation for holiness.
After a life marked by long physical sufferings borne with patience, Maria Hueber died in Bressanone on July 31, 1705, at the age of 52. She was buried, according to her wish, near the Poor Clares' church in Bressanone. Her reputation for holiness and the testimonies of graces obtained through her intercession spread rapidly among the local population.
Beatification and canonization
The process for the recognition of the heroic virtues of Maria Hueber by Pope Francis in 2019.
The cause for the beatification of Maria Hueber was officially opened at the diocesan level in the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone between 1996 and 1998.
On March 19, 2019, Pope Francis authorized the Congregation for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree recognizing the heroic nature of her virtues, thereby conferring upon her the title of Venerable.
Spirituality and legacy
Maria Hueber's spirituality of abandonment to the divine will and the endurance of her educational and social work.
Maria Hueber's spirituality is deeply rooted in trusting abandonment to the divine will, which she summarizes in her writings as follows: "I firmly believe that without the will of God, nothing can happen to me, neither good, nor sweet, nor bitter. May God be praised eternally for everything." Her intimate relationship with Christ, contemplated as a child or crucified, guides her charitable action.
Today, the congregation of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis of Bressanone continues her educational and social work. It manages several educational and health institutions (such as the Herz-Jesu-Institut in Mühlbach, the Pädagogisches Gymnasium, and the Marienklinik in Bolzano) and has expanded internationally, notably through missions in Bolivia and Cameroon.
Frequently asked questions about Maria Hueber
Who was Maria Hueber?
Maria Hueber (1653-1705) was a Tyrolean religious sister, foundress of the first free school for girls in Tyrol and the congregation of the Tertiary Sisters of St. Francis of Brixen.
Which saints were contemporaries of Maria Hueber?
Contemporaries include: María de Jesús López Rivas, Mariana de Jesús de Paredes, Blessed Mariana de Jesús (de Paredes y Flores) and Saint Francis de Sales (Bishop and Prince of Geneva).
When did Maria Hueber die?
Maria Hueber died around 1653.
Who are the relatives of Maria Hueber?
Relatives of Maria Hueber: Nikolaus Hueber (father) and Anna Tapp (mother).
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Era / death: 1653-1705
- Decree of venerability by Francis
Quotes
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I firmly believe that without the will of God, nothing can happen to me, neither good, nor sweet, nor bitter. May God be praised eternally for everything.
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