Blessed Maria Caridad Brader

Biography

Blessed Maria Caridad Brader, also known as Caritas Brader, Karolina Brader Zahner, Maria Josefa Carolina Brader, Mary Charity of the Love of the Holy Spirit, Mary Josephine Caroline, María Caridad of the Holy Spirit, María Charitas of the Holy Spirit, and Mother Caritas, was born on 14 August 1860 in Kaltbrunn, Switzerland. She was the only child of Joseph Sebastian Brader and Maria Anna Carolina Zahner, and she was raised in a devout and pious family.

Even as a child, Blessed Maria Caridad Brader displayed exceptional intelligence, and her parents provided her with the best education possible. Many had high expectations for her future, but she felt a calling to the religious life. On 1 October 1880, she joined the Franciscan convent at Maria Hilf in Alstatten, Switzerland, taking the name Mary Charity of the Love of the Holy Spirit. She made her final vows on 22 August 1882.

Initially, Sister Caritas was assigned as a teacher within the convent. However, when the opportunity arose for cloistered nuns to work as missionaries, she eagerly volunteered to be one of the first six sisters to work in Chone, Ecuador, in 1888. For five years, she served as a teacher and children's catechist in Chone, dedicating herself to spreading the faith and educating the local community.

In 1893, Sister Caritas was transferred to T√πquerres, Colombia, where she faced challenging conditions. However, she fearlessly continued her mission of teaching the faith, particularly to the poor and outcast members of society. To further prepare and train missionaries, she founded the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate in Tuquerres, Colombia, on 31 March 1893.

Initially comprised of young Swiss girls with a calling to missionary work, the Congregation soon welcomed Colombian and other local women. Blessed Maria Caridad Brader served as the Superior General for the Congregation from 1893 to 1919 and again from 1928 to 1940. Under her guidance, the Sisters emphasized the importance of education and deep prayer lives, not only for themselves but also for those under their care.

The Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate received papal approval in 1933, and their mission expanded to Central and South America, Mexico, Switzerland, Mali, Romania, and the United States. Today, the Congregation continues its important work in these regions and stands as a testament to the tireless efforts and dedication of Blessed Maria Caridad Brader.

Blessed Maria Caridad Brader passed away on 27 February 1943 in Pasto, Colombia, in her eighty-third year. Her grave immediately became a site for pilgrimage and popular devotion, as her life and works inspired many. She was venerated by Pope John Paul II on 29 June 1999 and beatified by the same pontiff on 23 March 2003, solidifying her place as a blessed and revered figure within the Catholic Church.