Gabriele, or Gabi as her mother called her, was a pleasant and quite-often serious child She was happy at school and studied well.
Although she loved her younger brother, she was at times, jealous of him, and when her mother gave birth to another daughter, a real sunshine, it seemed that Gabi suffered.
She became difficult and moody. By the time she reached 15 Gabi would lock herself in her bedroom and by candlelight burn joss sticks and play loud music. It was about this time that she started to experiment with drugs.
The peace in the family was gone and Gabi could not wait to leave home – a most painful experience for the family to see her leave in the condition she was. Gabi lived in various communes, worked here and there, but stayed away from her family.
In 1987 Gabriele’s mother, Inge, heard of Medjugorje and decided to make a pilgrimage there to ask Our Lady for help, after all She was a mother, too, and would know.
At Medjugorje Inge was blessed with the grace of inner peace, hope and even joy, despite her concerns for Gabi. But even more graces awaited.
Three days after Inge returned home, Gabi also came back. For Inge and her family, this truly was a prayer answered – a miracle. Inge was able to forgive her daughter and love her just as she was – a grace she believes she received from Our Lady of Medjugorje.
Because Mary asks us to pray and to fast, Inge, her husband and youngest daughter started to do just this, imploring Our Lady for help – and the Lord answered their prayer!
Later, Gabi said to her mother about this reconciliation: “Mama, I could feel a change in you. All of you gave me so much love. Your faith and trust became my safety anchor.”
After a while Gabi informed her mother that she had begun to say one Our Father each day. And it was the prayer that Jesus taught us that gave Gabi the strength to return to Mass. “All because of one Our Father, the Lord gave me the grace to overcome my reluctance to go to Mass,” said Gabi.
Gabriele then started to study theology in Innsbruck, and it was there that she met with a community of sisters known as The Family Of Mary, The Co-Redemptress, who gave her much support and help. It was around this time she decided to give her life to God – she had what she had been looking for at last.
On July 8, 1974, Gabi entered The Family of Maria, The Co-Redemptress and took the name of Sr Maria Gabriele.
Her mission work took her to Kiev, capital of Ukraine. It was there she discovered she had breast cancer.
Despite returning to Austria for surgery, the family were informed that there was no hope of a recovery. However, the following year Sr Maria made an amazing recovery – a great joy for the family but Sr Maria expressed her disappointment. She had been looking forward to going to Heaven!
Sometime later the cancer returned and once more the family were plunged into sadness – they did not know that Sr Maria had offered her life to the Lord for the intention of the Holy Father and healing of priests.
A week before she died, Sr Maria said to her mother: “Mama, promise me not to be sad when I go to Heaven. I will help you.” And help she did.
Inge said: “After her death, I experienced such deep inner joy and peace, in the knowledge that she is home with God.”
And to her spiritual director, Fr Paul Maria, Gabi said: “When people hear of my death, tell them to rejoice.”
