[1] She joined the Catholic resistance group Kölner Kreis [de] ("Cologne Cross").

Under the Nazis, she found refuge in the Olper Franziskanerinnen Franciscan Hospital in Arnsberg-Hüsten and lived there incognito.

From 1923 to 1965, she was the chairwomen of the German National Association of Catholic Girls' Protection Societies in Freiburg im Breisgau.

In 1945 she joined the Christian Democratic Union, and was elected party leader for the British occupation zone after the Second World War.

She was appointed Minister of Culture of North Rhine-Westphalia on 19 December 1947, which post she retained until she retired from it in 1954.