In the middle of the ancient village of Moselweiss, a little half an hour from Coblenz on the Rhine, a beautiful monastery building has been rising for some years now, surrounded by a small grove, to which a large garden adjoins. Walls surround the whole estate, and where they merge into the churchyard wall of the parish village, a small cemetery is demarcated, on which only a few moons ago a grave was closed over a dear corpse. — It was the venerable superior and builder of the convent, Maria Regis Döpfer, who died on November 3, 1867 returned a noble, faithful soul into the hands of its Creator.
A concise sketch of the rich life, whose consecrated, beneficent reign continues to have an effect even over the grave in the circle of the pious sisters, will not only be a welcome gift to those who had the good fortune to enjoy the mild spiritual nature of the deceased in life, it will also be able to edify in wider circles because of the basic trait that inspires trust in God. who goes through the simple story of this life. May the simple wreath thus bound by the hand of a devotee who is far from the quiet convent on the Moscl from the blooms of this noble life, may be all the dearest consolation to the mourning sisters, the more heartfelt is the sympathy with which it is to be laid on the grave of the noble mother, whose gentle blessing also rests on these leaves!
Maria Regis Döpfer was born on March 16, 1803 in Kempten in Swabia and was baptized with the name Auguste. Of three children, the youngest, she lost early Father, who had been employed in the administration of a cash register. Her mother was a modest, simple Christian woman. How strict and serious Auguste’s upbringing was, is probably confirmed by a memory of the deceased from her childhood. When, in her earliest youth, she was seriously ill, and the good mother’s concern for the life of the dear child had understandably changed her stern and serious nature to loving tenderness, the child was so strangely touched by it that she asked her mother, “Why am I now the Gustele?” The good mother, who would have liked to make a good housewife out of her Auguste, could hardly find her way in the direction of her daughter, and it is understandable that the simple woman, when she saw her child looking at the starry sky for hours, and the child sometimes forgot about the housekeeping, exclaimed: “No! what will become of you, Auguste?” The Lord has probably answered this question to the comfort of the good mother.
After Auguste had brilliantly passed her examination as a teacher at the age of twenty and had received the most prestigious patents, she came to live with a family friend in Regensburg in order to educate herself in all domestic knowledge. It was here that she won the respect and friendship of such high men as Sailer, Widman, Schwäbl, von Schrenk, whose favor came in handy to her in later years.
If it was surprising in those uneducated times to see a girl so outstanding in a spiritual respect, the urge for a clerical vocation which was so little represented at that time, and yet stirred so vividly in the heart of the highly educated girl, may be astonishing. The train of her soul drove her to the noble and sublime, which she did not find in the planes of ordinary life. As she knew no other order, she immediately entered the congregation of the English Miss at Altötting, where she worked for 7 years in self-sacrificing activity as a class teacher. Happy as she was to be removed from the hustle and bustle of the world, her soul did not find full satisfaction. Her longing was for a more hidden, more inner life, for a cloistered monastery. Then it happened that some of the sisters from the Visitation were passing through Altötting, and on this occasion all their longings and doubts were dissolved at once. It was only after a hard struggle that she parted from her fellow-sisters, who loved and honored her so much that they had already thought of electing her as president at the next election, and, undeterred by all objections, and following only the desire of her heart for a religious life, she entered the convent of the Visitation of Dietramszell in September, 1833. After being clothed on November 25, 1833, and receiving the name of Maria Regis, she united herself to her divine Bridegroom by perpetual vows on November 26, 1834, after the expiration of the year and the day. Her eminent qualities and abilities, her varied knowledge, made her one of the ablest members of the Order, while her great goodness of heart won her the love and veneration of all those around her. She adored and loved her pupils with enthusiasm, especially when she soon became their chief master, an office she exercised with unparalleled devotion. From early morning to late evening, devoting all her energies to the instruction and education of the children, she surrounded them with motherly love even at night, watching over their slumber like an angel, and like the education of the heart and mind, the care of the physical development of the children was the object of her most conscientious care. She was devoted to weak, sickly children with the most self-sacrificing love. Love for God, for the Holy Church, fidelity and conscientiousness in the performance of duty, reverence for parents and superiors, kind affection for one’s neighbour, these were the chief things which she sought to awaken in the youthful minds; and who, like Maria Regis, knew how to bind the hearts of the children with love and reverence? The flourishing of the boarding school, whose pupils increased considerably, was the consequence of their beneficial work. .
But after only 3 years, her powers were to develop further in a new, more difficult sphere of activity. The monastery of Pielenhofen near Regenöburg was founded, and Maria Regis was appointed to work as an assistant in the arduous work of a new settlement. A cheerful story should not be forgotten here. On her way from Dietramszell to Pielenhofen—it was still the time of hired coachmen and post-coachmen—Maria Regis and her two companions had to spend the night in an inn. As they were about to perform their night prayers together, they surveyed the walls of their room to see some image of a saint before which they could worship. The lighting was bad, but when they thought they had finally discovered a picture of the Virgin Mary, they knelt down and prayed. It was not until the next morning, laughing heartily, that they realized their mistake, since the supposed image of Mary represented itself as a goddess Diana.
Difficulties of all kinds, as with every new undertaking, arose in the monastery of Pielenhofen, to which, moreover, an army of infirmities was added for Maria Regis. In addition to the office of assistant, she also accompanied that of the head master. Her unconditional devotion to the service of the Lord made her victorious over all obstacles and gave her courage and strength for an untiring life of sacrifice. Soon an excellent boarding school flourished here as well, and as in Dietramszell, Maria Regis won the hearts of her pupils. A friendly gentleness that aroused love, coupled with the stern earnestness which was constantly vigilant for discipline and order, these ^were the qualities which made her the model of a governess.
For five years she had been a blessing in this house, when she was elected Mother Superior at Dietramszell, and was thus torn from the circle of faithful sisters and children who loved her most dearly, and who hardly knew how to console themselves for the pain of separation. But the same love which left her in her sorrow at Pielenhofen awaited her joyfully at Dietramszell, where, at the side of the worthy Mother of Buchstetten, a soul equal to her and most intimate friend, she rendered imponderable services to the Order by her spirit and mind, as well as by virtue and practical wisdom. It is true that the urge for a hidden life had led her into the Order of Visitation, but God had called her to ever increasing work and ever more lively effort and creation, and so we see the vigorous worker in the vineyard of the Lord again after only three short years in full activity at the foundation and building up of a new foundation at Beuerberg,
At the foot of the Bavarian Alps, a few hours from Dietramszell, rose the stately Augustinian convent, which had fallen prey to the calamity of secularization, was now to be established as a nursery for religious female education, and was to be converted into a new home for the Sisters of the Visitation.
Without fortune, burdened with debts, the new work had to be begun, but Maria Regis, then at the height of her life, found in trust in the Almighty that admirable strength with which in a few years she raised Bcuerberg to the most flourishing and praised school and educational institution. Infinite pains, unspeakable difficulties, and sacrifices were required to bring this outstanding work to completion, and though the unparalleled activity with which Maria Regis directed the management of the sisters, the education of the children, and the management of the extensive domestic affairs, ensured the good progress of the family.It took a wonderful blessing to overcome all the material obstacles that had to be removed in order for this beautiful great monastery to become as it now stands.
For a long time, a part of the monastery building was in the possession of the rural community, so that the construction of the cloister, as prescribed by the Rule of the Order, was not possible. Clearing up this matter had a lot of difficulties. The monastery had to build a new schoolhouse, and the plans, expert opinions, reports and resolutions seemed to be coming to an end. But Maria Regis had turned to God with a vow, and while all the others in the house were sleeping, she was kneeling through three long passages with a heavy wooden cross on her shoulders. The Almighty saw the hidden work of “horse-strong love, and the matter was soon happily solved. But the creative spirit of the active Mother Superior immediately set itself a very difficult task, the solution of which, although far exceeded the means at the disposal of the new foundation, did not seem unattainable to the trust in God of this strong woman. The aim was to create a dignified house of the Most High, a monastery chapel that would meet the needs. In this undertaking, too, her courage prevailed with God’s help. It was in 1848 that the Vau was run. A large number of workers were employed by it. The spirit of disorder and insubordination, which was alive in all places at that time, was also manifested among the workers in the otherwise quiet, peaceful Beuerberg. There were quarrels and quarrels of the old kind, so that even wounds had occurred among the workers. Then the courageous Mother Superior, a weak woman, stepped in among the excited crowd and declared gravely and emphatically that she would discontinue the Vau if any quarrel should arise. Their determination had the best success. Silently they listened to the agitated, and the construction was completed peacefully. Sometimes the day approached when the workmen would have to receive the week’s wages, without knowing where the necessary money would be found. Once, the day of payment had already arrived, and there was no money in the whole house, but look, just on that day a little peasant came to the gate with a request, and when he was asked, he declared his wish to give the monastery 600 fl. on a handbook.
On many occasions the help of Divine Providence was thus manifested, in which Mary Regis rested safely as a child in the womb of her mother.
The beautiful chapel, in Gothic style, was finally finished, and a day full of joyful replacement for the anxious hours during its construction was the day when Cardinal Graf von Neisach, at that time still Archbishop of Müuchen-Freising, a faithful friend and patron of the Order of the Visitation, consecrated the new church to the great joy of the builder.
For some time, enough of her work and outward activity had taken place, and Maria Regis was now able to devote herself entirely to the high vocation within the convent. A circle of young enthusiastic nuns surrounded in faithful love the experienced mother, whose virtue, a bright shining star, led the younger hearts to a vigorous spiritual life. Maria Regis exercised an irresistible power over all who surrounded her, a power full of heavenly zeal of love, according to the violence with which she controlled herself; for therein lies the secret of the power which God bestows upon man over men, which is in proportion to the power which we have over our own lives.
But not only from a spiritual point of view, but also as head of the magisterium, Maria egis was a bright star to her sisters, so that soon the Pensionat Beuerberg, through the efficiency of its teachers, enjoyed a widespread Nufeö, who especially the nobility of northern Italy had many of his daughters brought to the Order for education.
Well educated, domesticated girls, good women, and caring mothers have come out of this nursery, all imbued with that genuine natural and healthy piety which St. Francis de Sales left with his spirit as a precious legacy to the Order of the Visitation.
Tired and active, keeping a watchful eye on everything, Maria Regis knew just as well how to promote music, painting, handicrafts, and scientific subjects. When there was domestic business, she took no less active part, and many a night six or seven letters flowed from her pen, deeply immersed in the spirit of the visitation, whose beautiful, strong writings so completely reflected the beautiful soul.
How deeply her loving heart was attached to her daughters was most comfortingly shown in those dark hours, when serious illness or the death of a sister or pupil led her sympathy and care, her pain and her love, in the most faithful care, in fervent prayer, to the bed of the suffering. No mother can be more intimate, more comforting, more loving to her child than Maria Regis to her own. So she was a loving mother in the most beautiful sense, but not only to the sisters and pupils, she was also a faithful mother to the poor and outside the convent. The innumerable generous bounties, which she bestowed with full hands, secure her a grateful memory in the hearts of many, and adorn her dear image as true pearls.
Not the least of the kindness is what she did to the poor negro children, whose Father Olivieri brought five hundred to various monasteries, especially to France and Italy. Maria Regis also took six of these black girls into her faithful care. The youngest of these, the most gifted of all, baptized Mary, a child of rare dispositions and deep minds, by the progress of her talent, as well as by the intimacy with which this child received the truths of religion into her pure heart, gave the loving nurse the greatest joy, which, of course, was soon followed by a bitter sorrow, as death, as four of the other black pupils, who could not endure the climate, so also this child, who justified such beautiful hopes, swept away. Only one of these Negro women returned to the mission in Cairo in recent times. It was a special consolation for Maria Regis that she had been granted the privilege of having her own mother, the good woman who had brought her up so strictly, until her death at the age of 86 in the convent, to which she had given her fortune and her possessions. If only she could give everyone a living example of filial fidelity and reverence.
Thus Maria Regis had a good spirit in the great house, and abundant blessings poured down upon all her works and undertakings. The boarding school expanded, the members of the order increased, so that after barely ten years of existence Veuerberg was able to establish a new foundation in Tyrol with a number of capable members.
sisters and to equip them well. A few years later, the Sisters of Veuerberg also went to a new foundation in Münster. Nevertheless, it was soon necessary to acquire extensive outbuildings, and again it was the creative hand of the active Mother Superior who, by means of a new building, transformed the monastery into a self-contained, complete whole. According to human calculations, the time should now have come when the good mother, approaching old age, would have been granted the privilege of rejoicing in the peace and quiet of the finished work, and ending her days within the walls of the convent, which she had grown fond of. But the Lord, who had not destined her to contemplative rest, decreed otherwise. At the age of sixty, already physically weakened and exhausted by a restless life of sacrifice, Mary Regis was still to be the strength of Providence. As a tool for a new foundation, she was to bear much suffering, privation and sorrow, in order to rest on the banks of the Moselle, far from her home, far from her beloved Veuerberg, which she carried so deeply in her heart.
A rich lady wanted to found a monastery of the Visitation on the Rhine and, after obtaining the consent of the most blessed Bishop Arnoldi, bought a beautifully situated property at Moselweiss, a village not far from Coblenz, consisting of a small house and a magnificent, partly park-like garden, formerly an inn and favorite place of the people of Coblenz. On the 2nd of January, 1863, Maria Regis, accompanied by some of her first and eldest daughters from Veuerberg, with her travelling-bags in her hands, received by no one, and desiring admission in vain, finally made her solemn entry into the new monastery through a back gate that only allowed them to slip through. The sisters spent the first night resting on their travelling-bags, for the most necessary arrangements from Veuerberg had been delayed. The next day a pious lady sent cooked food from Coblenz, on which the sisters lived for the first few days. Far from being faint-hearted or disgruntled by such misfortunes, Maria Regio, on the contrary, showed cheerful temper in spite of all privation, and thus steeled by her example the perseverance of those around her. Within a few weeks, she had transformed the little house into a convent, and on 19 March, Dean Krementz, now Bichof of Ermeland, held the ceremonial installation.
However, it soon became evident that the lady who had begun the foundation was not equal to the enterprise, and it came to the point that there was no way out but to abandon the foundation, or to assume a large burden of debt without assets. The reverend pastor of the village, one of the few but sincere friends whom God sent to the abandoned sisters, encouraged them to persevere, and so they decided to take on the burden of debt and, trusting in God, continue the work they had begun. A pious neighbor’s wife, who has remained a benefactor of the monastery to this day, put 100 thalers on the table one day with the words: “Since you nuns have money, either it should serve for your journey home, or you can live on it now.” The courage and determination required by such circumstances cannot be described. The trust in God which Mary Regis had in her heart remained unshaken, and winning every step with the power of prayer, and he, fighting, her expert hand immediately drew up the plan for the enlargement of the house. Human prudence and calculation seemed to reject the daring undertaking of a great and costly building, the best and most benevolent friends shook their heads anxiously, but courageously, because they were called by God, Maria Regis went forward, and success was on her side. God’s blessing was visibly upon the difficult work. The stately house was filled with pupils, the convent with zealous members, daughters of distinguished families, and soon the way was paved. It was still a painful thought to the God-loving heart of the worthy Mother Superior that she would not be able to build a more beautiful dwelling for the Most High, for the means of a church seemed to be completely lacking. But here, too, her creative spirit penetrated to the goal. After many prayers, she again drew up the plan for the church and choir, and in spite of all the objections and objections of patrons and friends, construction began at the beginning of 1866. Already the sisters were advised to be ready to flee, and just in those terrible days of anguish and distress Maria Regis lay down badly wounded in consequence of a fall on the foot. She had gone through many illnesses in her life, and had suffered especially from a great weakness in her feet. But her soul remained calm, courageous, and resigned in all danger, smiling, she said, smiling, “I cannot move, the good Lord will be my protection.” From this point on, her physical infirmities increased more and more, she could no longer walk a step without help, could not even get up from her chair. In spite of her sickness, nothing escaped her attention, her lively, clear mind, with which she arranged, supervised, and directed everything in the house, from the smallest to the greatest. And so, when peace had returned , she directed the continuation of the building from her room, and soon a beautiful Gothic church and a large friendly choir arose.
But the joy of seeing her work completed was not to be granted to the worthy mother. If the increasing physical sufferings of the dear mother could have suggested to the loving daughters the concern that their path through life was nearing its end, then the inner perfection of the dearly beloved, which was becoming more and more evident every day, and which manifested itself in ever-increasing clarity and peace, had to fill the hearts of her daughters with the that the noble soul would soon unfold to full maturity. In the month of August 1867 a loss of appetite set in, which soon increased to the fullest disgust before every meal, so that the woman, who was already suffering many times, could only enjoy liquids, and this also caused constant vomiting. Sitting in an arm-chair, unable to walk alone, she passed the days and sleepless nights in her room. Wherever her presence was needed, the faithful sisters carried her in a stretcher, and so she looked once again at the almost finished new building. Sensing the approaching death, the poor mother said with a sigh:
“I would still like to experience the parish fair, but I’m afraid I’m like St. Xaverius, who didn’t see China anymore either.” Such words filled the hearts of their daughters with great anguish and anxiety, but they still hoped for a speedy recovery. On the feast of Margaret Mary Alacoque, Maria Regis received Holy Communion, attending the Mass from her bed, and at noon she summoned all the sisters, each consoling with a heartfelt word and blessing each lovingly. When she was alone again, she wept bitterly, and she felt that for the last time she had seen all her daughters gathered round her. In the midst of the most intense pains that tormented her day and night, her lips spoke no words but words of resignation. “All out of love for You, O Jesus, as much, as long as You will, Your sufferings were much greater!” these were their lamentations. On the night of October 21-22, a violent crisis occurred. The doctor, who had not yet expressed any fear, declared the condition of the sick to be very dangerous, and deep sorrow seized the whole house. The faithful sisters, the pious children, wrestled in fervent prayers. The sufferer perceived the consternation of her daughters, and comforted them in a mild tone: “Oh, do not be so separate, leave something to the good Lord.” The next day the sick woman received Holy Communion as a viaticum with the most fervent and touching devotion. What joy came to the sisters when, that afternoon, the vomiting suddenly ceased, and the dear mother partook of some food with evident appetite. Already they thought they could thank God for the salvation of their dear, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, as when the sun shines again after a heavy thunderstorm — but it was a brief delusion. Although the apparent improvement lasted several days, the sick woman sighed sleeplessly through the nights with pious appearances and touching prayers, all of which bore witness to her full union with the will of God. All her kindness, the power of her virtue, her living faith, her godliness, were manifested in her last days in double loveliness, and a holy composure and resignation poured upon the grieving daughters. The sick woman still partook of everything, rejoiced in a beautiful gift of love sent by the monastery of Beuerberg, gave letters that had to be written, and received them with the liveliest sympathy. But the vomiting had come with renewed violence. Renewing her holy vows with a strong voice, Maria Regis had the Holy Sacraments administered to her on October 31.
Soon she fell into a lethargic sleep, which lasted with brief interruptions until her end. So the last hour came. It was on November 3rd. In silent prayers the sisters knelt around the bed of the slumbering mother, it was a deep, solemn silence. The funeral candle was burning, and the reverend confessor began the prayers for the dying—then, at half-past three o’clock in the afternoon, the mother bowed her head with the last sigh, and closed for ever the faithful, mild eye that had been opened once more.
Who can describe the pain that cried aloud throughout the house at that time? After two days, led by the children with lighted candles and fresh flowers, the grieving daughters carried the coffin, which enclosed their dear mother, into the quiet grave in the small monastery churchyard.
Here, after a long and toilsome journey, the faithful servant of God rests in peace, mourned by those who loved her, blessed by those whom she rejoiced with good deeds, honored by all who knew her.
It is true that the longing for hidden godliness had led the young soul into the Order of Visitation, but a life of far-reaching restless activity had enabled God to find it. It was not without a struggle that she attained the peaceful height of inner union with her Savior, and her loving, faithful, compassionate heart was not spared from misjudgment, blasphemy, and persecution. But even in moments of the bitterest insult she was not faint-hearted or angry, gentle and patient, completely devoted to God’s holy will, she always maintained her strong religious composure. Smiling serenely, her features were impressed with the deep gentleness and amiability which had pervaded her whole being. In benevolence, hostile to all anxious calculation, giving with full hands, she was full of patience and forbearance with the weak.
One heart, open to every complaint, sympathetic to every sorrow, sympathetic to every joy. As she knew how to arrange earthly things in the clearest and best possible way, so she knew how to direct and guide the hearts of the children, the hearts of her spiritual daughters, and if her patience in suffering, her gratitude for all love, was touching, so her simple heartfelt devotion was no less moved when she prayed or sang in the choir. To a true daughter of St. Francis de Sales, her trust in God, love and goodness had become natural qualities, which her simple nature blessedly manifested in everything. Courageously bearing the often very heavy burden of her profession, destined to work much and call into existence, but not to enjoy the fruits of her labor, she did not ascribe the success to her toil and care, but only to the loving kindness of her divine Bridegroom, to whom she owed everything—from whom she expected everything.
In mourning, like orphans, stand thine,
Only with flowers and prayers
are they able to send
you silent greetings And weep deep in melancholy on your grave.
Blessed, however, Thou mayest turn thy eye to the sun-pure
Transfigured Light,
To accomplish by Thy prayer the works
which seem to be abandoned only to the earthly gaze.
It is true that the mother departed from the circle of her daughters,
But in the values which Thou didst create here,
Thy gentle manner continues to work in blessing.
You were not granted rest in your thirst for life,
therefore love speaks softly at your grave:
“Now rest, dear mother, rest in peace!”
Source: Maria Regis Dopfer: A Sketch of Her Life