Brigitte König

What experiences have formed you as a woman?

Experiences that have formed me as a woman are rather ordinary but nevertheless significant:

For me, to be allowed to be a woman also means “to be allowed to be weak”. For example, I don’t have to know about technical things. Therefore I am happy when I can get help in this area.

On the other hand, you also tackle some things that are normally not expected from a woman. You have planned and built your own house. How did that come about and what was it like for you to carry out such a big project on your own?

I guess I more or less “stumbled into” this “farm”. Originally I did not plan to build a house alone, but through a number of circumstances, I couldn’t get the idea out of my head. The property, formerly a family-owned garden, was part of a newly developed construction area. My plans, along with finding a place to live, also included finding ways of investing money.  Dissatisfied with my living situation at the time, I was torn between the two sides of the issue. On the one hand, there was the longing to finally settle down: “To be at home”, on the other hand, there was also the challenge of daring to try something new, in which long-term financial aspects also played a role.

Looking back on it now, the project was a big deal, which of course also pushed me to my personal limits. I was not familiar with building applications, heating systems, construction plans, financial contracts, etc. What gave me new motivation during this time was a saying of Father Kentenich: “Difficulties of all kinds are tasks”.

In retrospect, it was probably anything but self-evident that this project went so smoothly. I was also able to experience God’s support in certain people!  But I also had to come to terms with critical voices and reactions of incomprehension: “How can a woman build a house by herself”?

Where have you experienced God in your life?

Faith has always played a major role in my family, so I came into contact with it very early in my childhood.

Later, when it came time to make professional decisions, I was able to find strength and orientation in the nearby Schoenstatt Shrine (Barnberg, near Mögglingen in the Ostalbkreis). Of course also in the events of the Schoenstatt Youth (e.g. Night of the Shrine)

By profession you are a nurse specializing in intensive care. What role does God play for you in this field?

I often experience a marginalization of death in the intensive care unit. Next to ultra-modern high-tech medicine, death and dying just doesn’t seem to fit. However, in hopeless situations, I am personally concerned with enabling those affected and their relatives to die/take their leave in a humane, dignified but also personal way. Conversations and discussions about the limitation of therapy goals or changes within the framework of the clinical ethics committee are a valuable help and support for me in my daily work.

What do you see as the challenge for women today?

I see one of the challenges for women today in…

… finding a good balance between self-realization and surrender. Today, women are able to build their own existence, which seemed unthinkable several decades ago. Women earn their own money and can thus secure their own financial security.

I personally find it more beautiful when the two sexes complement each other in a more traditional distribution of roles.

What do you want to change through your life in this world?

How can I change small things in my environment through my life?

My motto: “Make the world a little bit of Schoenstatt”, means:

• to fulfill the necessary tasks in one’ s professional life as thoroughly and joyfully as possible (unfortunately, ???? one doesn’t always succeed)
• Always try to see the human being and not be blinded by any prejudices.
• Take a stand, express your own opinions/attitudes and then, if necessary, express them through actions.