Adrienne von Speyr, 1902-1967

By Sister Irene Hartman, OP

Adrienne von Speyr was born into a Swiss Protestant family; her father was an ophthalmologist, and her mother a descendant from a family of watchmakers. She was the second member of the family with an older sister and two younger brothers. Her childhood was not happy as her mother scolded her more than necessary, but this moved Adrienne to place greater trust and devotion in God. She also learned the meaning of sacrifice and renunciation. Her father treated her with great respect and understanding, sometimes taking her to visit children who were his patients. Even in her primary school years, Adrienne began working with the poor and she formed a children’s society to assist the poor.

In the religion classes she attended, Adrienne came to sense that Protestantism held little meaning for her. When she was six, she said that she had a mysterious encounter with St. Ignatius. At the age of nine, she told her classmates that the Jesuits whom she had come to know were people who loved Jesus and that the truth about God was greater than that of man. In high school, she asked her religion teacher why other religious beliefs, especially Catholic teachings, were not discussed.

Adrienne was often sick; constant headaches forced her to rest for long periods of time. It seemed that she suffered especially right before Easter; Good Friday was a day of great pain. But even in spite of her illness, she focused on helping those who were suffering; she frequently visited the sick in hospitals. That gave her the idea that she should devote her life to the sick by studying to become a doctor. Her father encouraged Adrienne in her wish. But she was opposed by her mother who feared that her studies would place her in too much association with boys. She was sent to finish school in a girls’ school.

In 1918, Adrienne suffered a total physical collapse brought on by tuberculosis in both lungs; her doctors said she would die within a year. At this time, her mother ceased all interest in her daughter. Sent to a sanatorium in Leysin, Switzerland, to be treated, Adrienne spent much time studying Russian and frequently praying in a cold Catholic chapel. In a time of recuperation, her mother arranged a job and possible husband for Adrienne. But her daughter resisted and continued her studies to become a physician. She was the first woman in Switzerland to be admitted to the medical profession. There in her medical studies, she learned to seek the God whom she had not yet successfully found by the way of service to neighbor.

In 1927, Adrienne married Emil Durr, a widower with two sons. He died suddenly in 1934. In 1936, she married Werner Kaegi.

During the next few years, she made several attempts to contact Catholic priest to inform them of her desire to become a Catholic. Finally on Nov. 1, 1940, Adrienne was baptized and was confirmed soon after. Her family was shocked and there were years before reconciliation was possible. In the meantime, Adrienne’s practice was very successful. Often she saw from 60 to 80 patients a day. Her spiritual life kept pace with her medical practice, and she received many graces in prayer. Her devotion to Mary was intensified. But her physical condition grew worse and she suffered much pain as she battled heart problems, diabetes, arthritis, and eventually blindness in 1964.

Adrienne studied and wrote Scriptural commentaries on the evangelist John and St. Paul, on the Catholic epistles and the Apocalypse, and the Old Testament, dictating 60 books between 1940 and 1953. By 1954 she was too ill to continue her medical practice, but she spent hours in prayer while knitting clothing for the poor. Her illnesses she bore with great patience. Adrienne von Speyr died on Sept. 17, 1967.

Her special traits were joyousness, courage, and a childlike clarity and wonder of the greatness of God.