Barbara Maix
Maria Barbara Maix (born June 27, 1818 in Vienna , † March 17, 1873 in Catumbi near Rio de Janeiro ) was a Roman Catholic religious and founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Brazil.
Life
Barbara Maix was born to Joseph Maix and Rosalia Mauritz. Her father was an Imperial and Royal Courtroom cleaner at Schönbrunn Palace . At the age of 15 she lost both parents and worked as a tailor . Later she opened a women's salon and a home for apprentices in Vienna.
In 1843 she wanted to found a congregation of sisters in Vienna under the spiritual direction of the Redemptorist Father Johann Pöckl. As an opponent of the revolution of 1848 , however, the lack of customers caused economic difficulties. She therefore intended to emigrate to the United States with 21 companions . Barbara recognized the arrival of a ship from Brazil in the port of Hamburg on September 15, 1848 as a sign from God . She changed her plan and went to Brazil , where she arrived in Rio de Janeiro on November 9, 1848, and founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary there on May 8, 1849 ( Portuguese Congregação das Irmãs do Imaculado Coração de Maria ). She received the religious name Maria Bárbara da Santíssima Trinidade ( Maria Barbara of the Most Holy Trinity ).
The community was dedicated to working with street children and orphans and fighting slavery. During the Paraguay War from 1864 to 1870, the sisters also cared for wounded soldiers. In 1870 Barbara founded a school for orphaned girls in Rio de Janeiro.
She died in Catumbi on March 17, 1873. She suffered from asthma and heart problems. In 1957 her remains were transferred to the São Rafael Chapel in Porto Alegre .
Development of the Congregation
The congregation did not receive papal confirmation until March 24, 1947 and in 1952 it was divided into three provinces. Today the sisters mainly work in education and health. There are branches in Argentina , Bolivia , Haiti , Italy , Mozambique , USA, Paraguay and Venezuela , among others . The head office of the community is located in Porto Alegre.
Aftermath
The beatification process was initiated in 1993 by the Archdiocese of Rio de Jainero . On July 1, 2008, she declared Pope Benedict XVI. to the venerable servant of God and confirmed on March 27, 2010 a healing miracle. She was beatified on November 6, 2010 in the Gigantinho Stadium in Porto Alegre by the Prefect of the Congregation for Canonization , Archbishop Angelo Amato .
Web links
- Entry to Barbara Maix on medals online
- Irmãs do Imaculado Coração de Maria (Portuguese)
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Maix, Barbara |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Maria Bárbara da Santíssima Trinidade |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Roman Catholic nun, founder of the order |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 27, 1818 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Vienna |
| DATE OF DEATH | March 17, 1873 |
| Place of death | Catumbi near Rio de Janeiro |