One of the Founders of our Congregation 

and the first member to die

Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Professor and Rosa Kuendig, was born in Switzerland in 1851. In the designs of Divine Providence, she was to be the youngest of the group of five Sisters who came to America from Maria Rickenbach in 1873 to found a convent of Perpetual Adoration in America.

The estrangement and separation of her parents in her early childhood cast a shadow over the little girl's life, though she was carefully reared by her maternal grandparents in a comfortable home. She loved her father dearly, and felt it keenly when he left for America without giving any information as to his future whereabouts.  It was not until she began taking lessons both in piano and voice that she really found joy and zest for life.

In 1868, at the age of seventeen, Elizabeth entered the convent of Maria Rickenbach. She endured severe internal conflicts during her novitiate, but persevered and made profession on May 12, 1870 as Sister M. Augustine. She took her religious life seriously, was zealous for the Office and for adoration by day and night, and despite her youth, never shirked any kind of work. She practiced remarkable self-denial, and secretly took for herself what was meanest and poorest, welcoming the opportunity to mortify herself.

Soon after her profession, Sister put in many strenuous weeks planting a young forest of ever-greens up on the mountain, and her tender hands often bled from the rough work. Later she was appointed to teach the children who were reared and tutored by the Sisters at the convent.

From the beginning, Sister had a premonition that God was going to ask a big sacrifice of her, and often prayed that He would give her strength to accomplish it when the time came. When, three years after her profession, the superior called for volunteers for a foundation in America, Sister generously offered to go, believing this to be her 'sacrifice.' To win souls for God was her ardent desire, even if it meant leaving her beloved convent and homeland. Deep in her heart she also cherished the hope that she might be able to locate her beloved father, but this hope was never realized.

Sister felt it a great privilege to be chosen for this mission, and was ready to give herself wholly to God, at whatever cost. From the chronicles we gather that she was a dedicated, hardworking religious, enduring with fortitude and generosity the many privations and hardships of those pioneer years at Maryville and then at Conception.

Being deprived of daily Mass and Communion was one of the keenest sufferings of the pioneers, as daily Communion was not in practice in the United States at that time, even among religious. This is revealed in the following excerpt from a letter written by Sister M. Augustine to their spiritual director and superior, Abbot Villiger of Engelberg:

Since our painful departure from our dear convent home, I miss very much the happy community life which we enjoyed there. But oh, how much I feel the privation of daily Holy Communion, for which I long with most ardent desire. It is more bearable for me not to have Mass than to see Father Adelhelm communicate and not give me Jesus, my Love." Hoping that as their spiritual Father he might be able to override this restriction, she continues: "Father... I beg of you, do not deny me this one consolation in this earthly exile... Furthermore, I feel very keenly the lack of perpetual adoration. Yet the star of hope gives promise that this will be introduced here as soon as possible.

Dear Father, I have only now begun to understand the words of the Rule: 'When, after the Novitiate, your REAL Novitiate begins...' Truly, I believe this time has come for me. All for Jesus and for love of Him! I am exceedingly happy when the holy will of God is accomplished in me and through me, let come what may. My soul is in continual darkness and aridity, yet that is what I desire, if only it is not tepidity. My dear Father, do remember in your prayers a poor little lamb wandering in the waterless wastes of the world, but which longs most ardently to be uninterruptedly with the Good Shepherd.

Mastering the English language in order to be able to teach was a formidable task for the pioneers—one of which they almost despaired in the beginning. Sister M. Augustine, though not the best student, was the first to be able to take up teaching at Maryville, and she loved it. She played the organ in the parish church, and devoted many hours to practice, often sacrificing her recreation time. She also taught music to children in the vicinity.

As time passed, evidently life in America agreed with her, for she grew "round and rosy," and was very happy. However, there were periods of great trial and suffering - so much so that she was tempted at times to leave. In the end peace was restored to her troubled soul, especially after she was transferred to Conception and relieved of some of her duties.

In her spirit of generosity, she had offered herself as a victim for the American mission, and it would seem God accepted her offer. One day, as she passed a group of Sisters, she heard them discussing who would be the first of them to die. "I'll be the one," she exclaimed, "and when I get sick you must promise not to say a single Our Father for me to get well." Just a week later, on the 14th of September, the feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, she became seriously ill and was put to bed with a high fever. Her condition worsened rapidly, and a large lesion appeared on her abdomen which became very painful. Treatment of this wound was a veritable martyrdom for the patient.

On the early morning of Oct. 27, 1879, Sister quietly breathed her last after a prolonged agony and martyrdom of suffering. She was only twenty-eight years old—the first fruit of our Congregation, ripened early in the crucible of heroic self-sacrifice.

We who are members of the congregation whose seeds were sown amid such sufferings and trials, owe to our founders a profound debt of gratitude and to God our deepest thanks for having called us to follow in their footsteps as Adorers of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Sacrament of His Love.