Heimgartner founded this order alongside Theodosius Florentini OFMCap in 1844 and served as its mother superior until three months before her death.

Pope John Paul II confirmed Heimgartner had lived a life of heroic virtue and named her as venerable on 26 March 1994.

[2][3] In 1840 – on the advice of her confessor Theodosius Florentini – she received training as a teacher from Capuchin nuns.

The congregation of the Sisters of the Holy Cross Menzingen was later aggregated to the Third Order of Saint Francis.

Heimgartner was named venerable on 26 March 1994 after Pope John Paul II recognized that she had lived a life of heroic virtue.