Libretto della Celebrazione - Vaticano

MARY BERNARD (Verena Bütler) was born in Auw, in the Canton
of Argovia, in Switzerland, on the 28 th of May 1848 and was baptised
on the same day. She was the fourth child of Henry and Catherine
Bütler, modest but exemplary country people, who educated the
eight children born of their marriage in the love of God and of
neighbour.
Gifted with excellent health, Verena grew up happy, intelligent,
generous and a lover of nature. She began to attend school at seven
years of age. The fervour and commitment with which she made her
First Communion, on the 16 th of April 1860, remained constant in her
for the rest of her life.
Devotion to the Eucharist would, in fact, form the foundation of
her spirituality.
Having completed her elementary studies at the age of 14, Verena
dedicated herself to farm work and experienced affection for a
worthy young man with whom she fell in love. On feeling the call of
God, she broke off the engagement in order to turn completely to the
Lord. During this period in her life she was granted the grace of
enjoying the presence of God, feeling Him very close. She herself
said: “To explain this state of soul to someone who has never
experienced anything similar is extremely difficult, if not impossible”.
And again: “The Holy Spirit taught me to adore, praise,
bless and give thanks to Jesus in the tabernacle at all times, even at
work and in real life.
Drawn by the love of God, she entered a convent in her region as
a postulant at 18 years of age. However, becoming aware that it was
not the place to which the Lord was calling her, Verena very quickly
returned home.
Work, prayer and apostolic activity in the parish kept her desire
for the consecrated life alive. At the suggestion of her Pastor, Verena
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