The 19th Century - Beginning of a new era

Mother Bernarda lived in the 19th Century, a time of revolution. She took up the ideas of her time and implemented them in a response out of faith.

The 19th Century was a time which brought radical change both in Europe and many other parts of the world. The static, hierarchical, ordered world of the middle-ages either dissolved or was forcefully destroyed. A new era, strongly influenced by a sense of freedom, equality and brotherhood came into being.

This process of change began with the ideas of enlightenment and discoveries of technology. It broke in forcefully with the French Revolution, engulfed all areas of life and lead to a change from the pre-industrial into the industrial era.

Followers of this new ideas (liberals and radicals) regarded a comprehensive change as the salvation and moved unconcerned and uncritical into an uncertain future.

Others watched this new movement with mistrust. They withdrew into the old, proved ways and declared war on the new. The prevailing arguments were a great challenge to the church, especially the Catholic Church. For this reason the church too became a battle ground in a number of regions where the fight for a new society took place. The relevance of religion, faith and church were questioned and even attacked.

School Education in the 19th Century

"The liberal state used the introduction of school education as hope for a happy future. The function of schools should be to bring the ideas of liberation to all sectors of society. These ideas came best across in such as the following slogans: school education is national liberation, knowledge creates power, knowledge is money, knowledge creates enlightenment, knowledge makes good. In this way the state gradually gained power over the young generation in order to achieve its goal of an earthly happiness in the name of liberation."

Thoughts of Father Theodosius on school education

"Before 1839 I drew up a plan of a Christian-catholic-centred school education to counteract the prevailing anti-christian education."

To Bishop Caspar of Carl, Chur, he wrote on 26 April 1845: "Just as unbelief and radicalism uses school education to achieve its goals in a sure and quick way for destructive purposes so will a Christian education be the only and most reliable way to bring about a transformation of society for the better".

"It is an established fact that the poor education of women results in greater harm to society and church than that of men."

"It is not too daring an assertion to make that a renewal of the catholic church in Switzerland will take place quicker by a careful, Christian education of young women than by any other means."

Cantonal President Hegglin to Mother Bernarda

"Could there be a better means for the advancement of our nation than the formation of our young people? The young, these are the fathers and mothers of tomorrow."

Bishop Caspar of Carl to Father Theodosius
"...the most important purpose is the Christian education of female youth which is very important to us."