Bernarda Heimgartner

The heart of the life of the Venerable Bernarda Heimgartner is intimately linked to the foundation and development of the Institute of the Sisters of the Holy Cross of Menzingen (Lehrschwesterninstitut vom heiligen Kreuz). On October 17, 1844, the day after her religious profession, Sister Bernarda settled in Menzingen (canton of Zug) with two companions, Sister Feliciana Kramer and Sister Cornelia Mader, to open a school there and establish the motherhouse of the new congregation. She was appointed the first Superior General of the institute. Mother Bernarda's work responded to a crucial need of her time: to offer a Christian and comprehensive education to young girls, particularly those from rural and modest backgrounds. By raising the level of women's education, she sought to improve their position in society and to deeply root the Christian faith within families. Under her attentive and prudent leadership, the congregation experienced rapid growth, opening a total of 59 schools and homes throughout Switzerland. However, tensions arose between 1854 and 1856 with the co-founder, Father Theodosius Florentini, regarding the orientation of the institute. While Father Florentini wished to engage the sisters in large-scale hospital and industrial works, Mother Bernarda defended the priority of the educational mission and more prudent growth. This conflict led in 1856 to the separation of the community into two autonomous branches: the Teaching Sisters of Menzingen on one hand, and the Sisters of Charity of the Holy Cross of Ingenbohl on the other (the latter being led by Mother Maria Theresia Scherer). Mother Bernarda firmly maintained the pedagogical and spiritual identity of Menzingen. Afflicted with pulmonary tuberculosis from 1859, her health declined progressively. She resigned her office as Superior General on September 21, 1863, in favor of Sister Salesia Strickler. Mother Bernarda passed away on December 13, 1863, in Menzingen, at the age of 41.

The reputation of holiness of Mother Bernarda Heimgartner was maintained well after her death. Her beatification process opened in 1952 under the pontificate of Pope Pius XII, with investigations conducted in the dioceses of Basel and Lugano. The informative diocesan inquiry took place from 1952 to 1955. After the examination of the cause by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, the validity of the diocesan inquiry was decreed on June 18, 1993. On March 26, 1994, Pope John Paul II recognized the heroic nature of her virtues and authorized her to bear the title of Venerable.

Bernarda Heimgartner is currently recognized as Venerable by the Catholic Church. For her beatification to be pronounced, the official recognition of a miracle attributed to her intercession is required. A diocesan inquiry into an alleged miracle was opened, and its validity was confirmed by a decree of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints on February 24, 2006. To this day, no decree of beatification or canonization has yet been promulgated.

The spirituality of Mother Bernarda Heimgartner rests on an absolute trust in Divine Providence, which she described as the "source of life" for her community. Deeply Franciscan through her affiliation with the Third Order of Saint Francis, she united contemplation with vigorous apostolic action. She exhorted her sisters to courage and humility: "Be courageous and begin anew each day to love God... Do what you can, give glory to God, be humble and ask for His blessing." Mother Bernarda's legacy is global today. The Sisters of the Holy Cross of Menzingen have spread far beyond Swiss borders, notably by establishing themselves in South Africa in 1883 (marking the first missionary activity outside of Europe for a Swiss congregation), then in the United Kingdom, Lesotho, India, Sri Lanka, Chile, and Zambia. They continue to work in education, social advancement, and healthcare.