[1] Streitel was trained to be a teacher, but at the age of seventeen, felt drawn to religious life.

Drawn to a life of contemplation and solitude, she went, with the consent of her local bishop to the Carmelite convent of Himmelspforten in Würzburg, but left the very same year, due to "a divine inspiration" and returned to her parents house.

According to the wishes of her confessor, she relocated to Rome in 1883, in order to work with Francis Mary of the Cross Jordan and the congrega†ion that he had established.

Jordan felt the strict regulations concerning fasting were a bit rigorous for a congregation destined for strenuous works of charity in hospitals, schools and missions.

Streitel's spiritual writings were approved by theologians on 26 February 1943, and her cause was formally opened on 13 June 1947 under Pope Pius XII, granting her the title of Servant of God.

The declaration of her life of heroic virtue was announced on 27 March 2010 which allowed for Pope Benedict XVI to confer upon her the title of Venerable.