tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14694569088382206382024-03-04T21:43:46.903-08:00Mother Franziska LechnerSister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-28238925097497723352011-04-07T05:17:00.000-07:002011-04-07T05:19:43.338-07:00SERVANT AND INSTRUMENT Chapter eleven<div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;">CHAPTER XI The Purchase of a New Mother House, Foundation in Szt. Ivan. For a long time Mother Franziska had been thinking of obtaining for the Congregation a new Mother House which would really be suited to its needs and which could again house the novitiate within itself as the nature of things required. If space was gained by the purchase of the Heart of Mary Convent, it also made its lack at the Marienanstalt all the more noticeable especially during retreats and Clothing celebrations. Therefore, Mother Franziska had already exerted great effort during 1888 to buy what she considered a suitable building site near the Botanical Gardens from the Commune of Vienna, but according to the ways of the Lord this was not to be the site of the planned Mother House. Let us listen to Mother Franziska’s words in a circular to her spiritual daughters, how the Congregation unexpectedly came into possession of one: “To my Spiritual Daughters! Wonderful are the designs of Divine Providence and inscrutable are the ways of the Lord. For more than twelve years we were wishing and hoping to enlarge the Mother House through purchase of the neighboring garden. God alone knows how many prayers were said, how many Holy Masses were celebrated and offered for this intention. You, dear Sisters, know that we, as we saw that our hopes in this regard were in vain, were dealing with the Vienna municipality concerning a building site near the Botanical Gardens and did everything to come into possession of this site in order to build a Mother House there which was suited to the needs of our beloved Congregation. During these dealings a man came and offered us, under the best conditions imaginable for sale, a house which is even more beautifully situated than the planned building site. This house is bordered on the north and west side by the Botanical Garden, cannot be obstructed by other buildings on three sides and is so high that one can see distinctly all of Vienna, even the suburbs surrounding it for a distance of two hours. The house has 32 rooms, hot-air heating, water and gas piping, an elevator from the cellar to the attic, etc. and was built only four years ago. We can move in without making one stroke of paint. One hundred sixty square ‘Klafter’ land from the Botanical Gardens were given Mr. Kerstan as an option for purchase by the Court Office for enlarging his garden, and this piece will surely be given us by our good Emperor. The house is in Jacquingasse nr. 4. The sale took place on the Feast of the Mother of Mercies (September 24) and we will probably be able to move in as soon as our Foundation Feast (November 21). What do you say, my dears, to this new Mother House? Don’t you recognize here the actions of Divine Providence? God tests our patience and perseverance in prayer, but you see that these were not useless. The All-Good gave us something much better for this. We must take this lesson to heart. God wanted us to receive such a fitting Mother House after twenty years of our existence. The year 1888 was in every way meaningful. God sent us much bitterness in this year, but much good has also come about in the Congregation.” Then Mother Franziska recounted the already mentioned enlarging of the foundations in Troppau, Krakow, Prague, Dolnja-Tuzla and St. Andre and closed with the words: “I have many worries about whether we can meet all the obligations we have incurred with the purchase of the new Mother House. Pray with great trust to our holy father, Joseph that he may send benefactors to us. The convent will bear the name “Mater ter Admirabilis” (Mother three-times admirable) and will be placed under the special protection of this good Mother; She will not abandon us. Pray also that the Lord may send workers into His vineyard. We have far too few candidates. Now I commend you to the protection of the Holy Angels and am, in faithful love, concerned about your spiritual and physical well—being. your, Franziska Lechner. Mother House, on the Feast of the Holy Archangel Michael, 1888.” From this letter we see how happy Mother Franziska was about obtaining the new Mother House, but her beautiful words also show how she related every event to God in order to heighten the joy of her spiritual daughters with this reference to the goodness and providence of the Lord. On October 31 the ownership of the Kerstan house was transferred to the Congregation and some sisters immediately moved in. On November 2 Mother Franziska took leave of the Marienanstalt in order to move with some additional sisters to the new Mother House. With emotion and gratitude to God she left the house which was so dear to her and had been the cradle of the Congregation and within which she had lived so many years alternating in joy and trouble. As once with the entrance into the Marienanstalt, so now her dear possessions, a crucifix, a statue of Mary and one of Joseph, accompanied her as she took possession of the new Mother House. She herself carried the cross, while two other sisters carried the statues of the Mother of God and of the holy Foster Father of Jesus in their arms. These were the actual statues which she had purchased twenty years before. Contrary to her own expectations Mother Franziska felt herself immediately at home in the new Mother House. Even today the sisters themselves like to tell of these early times. Mother Franziska helped with the unpacking, gave instructions about arranging things, lent a helping hand, cooked for the sisters while these were busy in the house or collecting alms, and when the sisters returned from their trips, sat with them, asked them how things went, recounted various things, in short, she lead a life with her little family as only a faithful, caring and loving mother can. One of her first concerns was to furnish a chapel in the new Mother House. Mr. Kerstner’s artists’ studio which stood attached to the house on the site where now stands the novitiate building, provided a suitable space for this. To the joy of Mother Franziska, this chapel was blessed by Msgr. Dr. Anton Horny on November 21, the Feast of the Presentation of Mary and Founding Day of the Congregation. He then immediately celebrated the first Holy Mass and reserved the Blessed Sacrament. Then followed the Clothing of three postulants and the blessing of the house. In this month the Congregation, through the graciousness of the Holy Father, received a new Cardinal Protector. In a letter dated November 26, 1888, His Eminence the Secretary of State, Cardinal Rampolla, informed Mother Franziska that His Holiness had, at her request, entrusted this office to Cardinal Serafino Vannutelli (earlier the Apostolic Nuntio to Vienna). Mother Franziska was overjoyed at this and soon shared the news with her spiritual daughters. On January 24, 1889 she received a very beautiful and fatherly letter from the newly-appointed Cardinal Protector. Soon the new Mother House would enjoy a visit from this honored guest. In March, 1889, Cardinal Vannutelli was sent by the Holy Father on business to Salzburg. When Mother Franziska heard of this she sent her General Assistant, Sister Ignatia Egger with Sister Helene Bonard there on March 30 to greet His Eminence in her name and to ask him to visit on an eventual trip to Vienna. The Cardinal cordially received the sisters and agreed to their request. On April 10 he came to Vienna and on the 12th he celebrated Mass in the Marienanstalt. He promised Mother Franziska to do all that was possible for the Congregation. Mother Franziska was all the more overjoyed to hear this promise because in a request dated March 7, 1889, she had asked from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII the second Roman approbation, the actual recognition of her Congregation and its Constitutions, and therefore asked Cardinal Vannutelli to once more place this request at the feet of the Holy Father. It was a great desire of Mother Franziska to receive this second approbation, and before sending the request she once again paid a visit to all the Bishops under whose jurisdictions her institutes were operating, to receive from them letters of recommendation. On April 24, the Cardinal Protector celebrated Mass in the Mother House chapel and immediately thereafter viewed the house, guided by Mother Franziska. The house pleased his Eminence extraordinarily well. This exalted visit was a great joy and encouragement for Mother Franziska and the sisters. Now an event that happened in between must be brought to the fore. Soon after the blessing of the new Mother House, Mother Franziska had to take a trip to Budapest on December 3, 1888 on a matter regarding construction. Not many peaceful days, like those first ones in the Mother House, were granted to her. The Marian Institute in Budapest, which Mother Franziska had to enlarge as early as the year 1886 through the purchase of a neighboring house on Knezit Street, had long ago become once again too small. Therefore she decided to enlarge it with the addition of a side wing and a chapel tract. This was begun in February, 1889. In April of the same year Mother Franziska had the additional house purchased in 1886 demolished and replaced with a three story building which would be called the “Margaretinum” and would house the pupils of the Institute. These buildings were possible only with the help of noble benefactors and through the inheritance left from the estate of Mr. Konstantin Rokk in the amount of 17,200 florins. The blessing of the same took place on December 7 in the presence of Mother Franziska and countless guests. The terrible blow suffered by the Imperial Family, and with them all Austria through the unexpected death on January 30, 1889 of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Rudolf, was also a deep sorrow for Mother Franziska, more so in view of His Majesty being the greatest benefactor of the Congregation, of Her Majesty, the Empress as the exalted protectress of the same, and of the exalted Crown Princess, Archduchess Stephanie, the protectress of the Marian Institute in Prague. Mother Franziska prayed much and ordered prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased and. for strength for the severely tried Imperial Family. On February 3, she went to the Supreme Office of the Court and asked if she and the sisters couldn’t alternate spending holy hours by the body. Although on this day only the most exalted persons were allowed admittance, her request was granted, giving her great consolation. Not long after, another suffering touched Mother Franziska, whose grateful soul was always very touched at the death of her benefactors. On May 17, 1889 died the noble and much-tested Queen Mother Marie of Bavaria, who had also been so kind to her and took such a gracious interest in the growth of her Congregation. On May 31 Mother Franziska appeared before the exalted Archduchess Adelgunde in order to respectfully express her sympathy on the death of the Queen Mother. When she was announced to the exalted Lady, her brother, who was at the time in Vienna, His Royal Highness, the Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria, was also present. Mother Franziska was immediately admitted. The exalted personages graciously accepted her sympathy and spoke with her in the most familiar and kindly way. His Majesty was pleased at the mention that many Bavarians were members of the Congregation and was overjoyed at Mother Franziska’s promise that she and all the sisters would pray in a special way for him and for the deceased Queen Mother. The Exalted Archduchess Adelgunde soon returned Mother Franziska’s visit by unexpectedly coming to the Mother House on June 10, Pentecost Monday, just as the sisters were assembled on the veranda for supper. The exalted Lady felt that she had to bid Mother Franziska adieu before her departure for her summer residence, and conversed with her in the most kindly way. In fact, her Royal Highness often deigned to grant Mother Franziska the honor of a visit. For a long time now Mother Franziska had been preoccupied with a plan for building a Novitiate house next to the Mother House, and especially, to build a church, which she intended to meet an urgent need of this neighborhood because of the great distance of other churches. The space next to the Mother House with its artist studio-turned chapel was, however, too small to allow this plan to be carried out. Therefore, her fervent wish, which she had already expressed in the previously mentioned circular of the Feast of St. Michael, 1888, was to receive a piece of the Botanical Gardens as a building site through the graciousness of the Emperor. In case this wish should be fulfilled, she had the intention to build a church in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mother Most Admirable in gratitude for the favor of His Majesty and as a lasting memorial of the coming marriage of her Royal Highness the Archduchess Maria Valeria with the Archduke Franz Salvator. In His wise providence God saw to the fulfillment of these wishes. How this happened will be shown in the following letter in which Mother Franziska gives her spiritual daughters the joyful news: “To My Dear Spiritual Daughters, Good children are always happy when their Mother receives a pleasant surprise, and all the more must you rejoice when the entire Congregation receives special graces! Five weeks ago we made the decision to turn with our request for a gift of the piece of the Botanical Garden that borders on the Mother House to the exalted Bride, the Archduchess Valeria so that she could ask this of our much loved Emperor. In the request, which was warmly supported by our good Cardinal (She means the Rev. Dr. Ganglbauer of Vienna) we stated that we are asking to receive this building site because a church is urgently needed for our Mother House as well as for people in the surrounding streets. This church is to be dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Mother Most Admirable and the cornerstone of the building will be laid on the day before the wedding of the exalted Bride and that, upon its completion, special daily prayers will be offered at Holy - Mass for the exalted Imperial Family. The exalted couple was so overjoyed with this request of ours that the good Archduchess went straight to her Imperial Father and asked His Highness to grant the request immediately. We had a plan made so that the exalted lady could see how the church and the connected convent eventually would look. The good Archduchess succeeded so that our beloved Emperor immediately gave the order that as much of the Botanical Gardens as we need would be transferred to us by the Court Steward’s Office. Yesterday the Secretary of the Court was here and we will receive a gift of 900 square meters-besides the church there will still remain a nice garden. You will understand what an act of extraordinary graciousness this is on the part of His Majesty. May you, dear sisters, see this as a happy and extraordinary event for our Congregation. The Mother House will be enlarged and the church will be attached to the novitiate building. I am so happy that God has made us worthy to build a church in His honor and I hoped also that, according to God’s will, the Mother House will soon be brought to its completion. God is infinitely good to us! All these signs of grace oblige us to show our gratitude to God by faithfully keeping our Holy Rule. Pray that you may always recognize your election to the religious life as one of the greatest graces. Only then will you constantly live and work as good religious women. May the Precious Blood of Jesus which is to be specially honored this month not have been poured out in vain for any one so that someday we will all see one another again in Heaven! God bless all! Your, faithful mother, Franziska Lechner. Mother House, July 11, 1889” From now on the lively spirit of Mother Franziska was often occupied with the building of the church and this was also the favorite topic of conversation. Before it could be started, however, she took over a new foundation. The Archabbot of Martinsberg, Claudius Vaszary now Cardinal and Primate of Hungary, asked Mother Franziska to send sisters of the Congregation to direct the school which he had built in Szt. Ivan near Raab in Hungary on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Emperor’s reign and which was given a capital grant by Canon Vitus Molnar. This last named, also joined in the plea of the Archabbot. On August 21, 1889 Mother Franziska therefore traveled to Szt. Ivan and found the house to be very nice and suitably built, and the school and kindergarten well equipped with useful learning materials. From there she traveled to Martinsberg to thank the Archabbot for his trust and was received in a very friendly manner. On September 25 six sisters moved into the house, and Mother Franziska also traveled again to Szt. Ivan to arrange the house with them and to be present for the blessing set for the 29th. This last was solemnly celebrated by the Archabbot and Mother Franziska had opportunity on that day to be convinced that the people of Szt. Ivan were very happy to have sisters in their town. On November 4, 1889 Mother Franziska expressed to the Emperor the humble gratitude of herself and the entire Congregation for the extraordinary graciousness signified by the gift of the church building site and His Majesty showed himself most gracious toward her. With the same kindness she was received on January 9, 1890 by the exalted Archduchess Valeria to whom she respectfully expressed her thanks for the intercession with His Majesty. On February 19 Mother Franziska gave Archduchess Immakulata, for herself and her son, Archduke Franz Salvator, a picture of the future church and the connected convent, and on the next day she went for the same reason to the Archduchess Adelgunde. Their royal highnesses took the sketches kindly and deigned to express pleasure at the beautiful work planned. </span></div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-68255214764529919072010-04-29T07:36:00.000-07:002010-04-29T07:51:04.766-07:00SERVANT AND INSTRUMENT Chapter ten<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;">CHAPTER X<br /></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Founding of the Convent St. Joseph’s Home in Dolnja—Tuzla, the Foundations in Crakow and Hirschtetten, enlargement of various branches of the Congregation.<br /></em></div></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Besides the three foundations in the year 1885 already mentioned, the way was prepared for a fourth at the same time. Namey, the congregation received, thanks to His Excellency the Imperial Finance Minister von Kallay, a gift from the Bosnian government of a piece of land of outstanding quality, measuring two hundreds yoke, only about 25 minutes distant from Dolnja—Tuzla. Its reclamation, however, cost much money and even more effort because the ground was uneven and partly cut by deep gullies and the brush was only removed with untold difficulty. The sisters commissioned by Mother Franziska to do the clearing had to take their meals in a miserable clap—board hut. Since the cooking was done in the same hut, the heat was nearly unbearable. After the strenuous work of the day they still had to make their way to Tuzla to enjoy there a short night’s rest. When Mother Franziska came to Tuzla on April 17, 1886 she found about seventy yoke cleared and cultivated. She was immensely happy over this industriousness and zeal of the sisters, but more so over the joyful self—sacrifice with which they accepted every strain and difficulty. During this stay Mother Franziska also gave the order to build a house on this property which she intended to call “Joseph’s Home”. She wanted to develop a model farm here as in Slatina near Sarajevo and in Breske, intending it also to help with the upkeep of the house in Tuzla.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">April 28 was the day set as the opening of the Doboy—Dolna—Tuzla railroad line, planned with great festivities, because the presence of the Imperial Finance Minister von Kallay and many important persons from Vienna and Budapest were expected. The sisters in Tuzia had to decorate the church, school and convent and Mother Franziska arranged these things with her usual taste. She also went with some sisters to the railroad station for the welcome of the Ministers. Their Excellencies, von Kallay, and the Regional Governor Baron Appel with their wives, greeted Mother Franziska in the most cordial way. The next day these personages visited the sisters in their little residence and also the school where they received a respectful greeting from the children. They also visited the sisters in Joseph’s Home and in Breske in order to see everything and Mother Franziska received unanimous praise for her arrangements. On May 3 she continued her trip to Sarajevo where the visit of the Archduke Albrecht was announced for the 15th. The important guest was most solemnly received by the entire population. The pupils and students of the sisters were also lined up for the greeting. Mother Franziska who was also present, received a greeting from the Archduke as soon as His Highness caught a glimpse of her. On the 25th the Archduke and many important persons made a visit to the festively decorated St. Joseph and Marian Institutes. After the formal greeting and a visit to the house chapel, His Highness, guided by Mother Franziska, visited the school and other places, expressing high praise for the practical arrangement of the institutes and especially over the great number of orphans. As a special sign of graciousness the Archduke Albrecht deigned to take along some samples of the children’s needlework as a souvenir. The day after this visit Mother Franziska returned to Tuzla to make the arrangements for Archduke Albrecht’s visit there which was planned for May 29, and also to inspect the work already begun on the Joseph’s Home Convent. On the 28th she started her return trip to Vienna. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">The solemn blessing of the Joseph’s Home Convent took place on September 19, 1886 the Feast of Our Sorrowful Mother. Mother Franziska could not be present on that day, but on October 1 she made another trip to Bosnia and found, to her pleasure, that the new convent was very beautifully completed.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">His Excellency, the Archbishop and later Cardinal Dunajewski of Crakow had expressed the wish to Mother Franziska that there might be a “Marian Institute” erected also in Crakow. Therefore, on July 17, 1886, she sent the, until then, Superior of the house in Biala, Sister Josefa Kock, with Sister Hedwig Skrobanek to Crakow to prepare the way for such an institute. They first rented a small apartment to take in servant girls, but this proved impractical. On August 30 Mother Franziska arrived in Crakow and made untold trips for five days looking for a suitable dwelling, unfortunately, in vain. Only later they found shelter in the house of Princess Sanguska in the “Franziskanergasse”, which provided space for twenty servant girls. The institute remained there until Mother Franziska, as will be recounted later, could purchase a suitable house for it in the year 1888, because until then, all her efforts during various trips to Crakow, had remained as unsuccessful as the first time.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">On October 26, Mother Franziska gave the Imperial Councilor, von Feifalik, secretary to Her Majesty Empress Elizabeth, an album, in which the practiced hand of a sister had beautifully drawn all the institutes and asked this man, very inclined toward the Congregation, to personally give it to her Majesty as the exalted protectress of the same. Thereafter, during the following month, Mother Franziska received from the Councilor von Feifalik a letter containing the following:<br />uWith regard to the request of the 26th of the month, I received the exalted command to transmit to the revered Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity the gracious gratitude of Her Majesty the Empress and Queen for the album with the views of the Congregation placed at her exalted feet and asked me to add that Her Majesty was very pleased with this offering and with true and honest satisfaction was informed of the report about the universally, richly blessed activity and the beautiful success of the Congregation under her exalted protection.<br /></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:arial;">Feifalik<br />Royal Government Councilor<br />Gldoll, November 12, 1886.”<br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">February 28, 1887 brought Mother Franziska a great sorrow and the Congregation a great loss. On this day the Reverend Cardinal Protector Jakobini, the fatherly friend of the Congregation, who always took the liveliest interest in its work and flourishing, passed away. Mother Franziska truly mourned the death of the noble Prince of the Church and without delay ordered common prayers and Holy Masses throughout the entire Congregation for the eternal rest of the deceased. At her request the Reverend Apostolic Nuntio, Vannutelli celebrated a Requiem for the departed in the Mother House on March 2, an, on March 5, the Auxiliary Bishop Eduard Angerer in Heart of Mary Convent.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">During the course of the year 1887 Mother Franziska was forced to undertake an enlargement and renovation of the house in Troppau because of lack of and the bad roof there. At the same time she wanted to have a chapel built to honor St. Joseph. so many people, even from Prussia, came to the monthly meetings of the St. Joseph’s Association begun in the Troppau House and held separately in the German and Bohemian languages that the little chapel could no longer hold them and many had to take places in the corridor and adjoining courtyard. This condition determined Mother Franziska to make the above mentioned decisions in spite of the poverty of the Congregation, since devotion to her dear St. Joseph was very important to her. In March, 1887 she theref or traveled to Troppau to make the agreements concerning the construction and the cornerstone of the chapel was laid as early as the 24th of the same month. Mother Franziska made the trip to Troppau three times more that year to look after the construction, since this caused her much worry. The walls of the house, though thick, had no real foundation and so caused many difficulties and unforeseen expense. St. Joseph, however, made his help meaningfully evident. It was surely attributable to his intercession that six near accidents were avoided during the dangerous construction and that noble benefactors were found. A sufficient reward for Mother Franziska was the solemn blessing of the chapel on December 11, 1887 and that it was well visited, as she could see from the reports of the sisters and during later trips to Troppau.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">At the end of September 1887 Mother Franziska undertook another trip to Prague and from there wanted to go to the sisters in Brunn, but this last could not take place because frequent bouts of illness made it necessary for her to return directly to Vienna from Prague. The doctor called in diagnosed peritonitis. The news of this threw the entire Congregation into the greatest consternation and continual “storm novenas” were held by the sisters and their charges for the recovery of their beloved spiritual mother. During this illness, on October 22, Mother Franziska had the joy of receiving the visit of His Excellency, the then Apostolic Nuntio to Vienna and later Cardinal Luigi Galimberti. He had only that day at noon heard about her serious illness and came immediately to express his sympathy and to inform himself of her condition. On the same day the Reverend Bishop Dunajewski of Crakow, also in Vienna at the time, came to visit, too. These joyful events had a beneficial influence on the patient. God heard the fervent prayers for the preservation of Mother Franziska and she regained her health, of course, only slowly after such a serious illness.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">During her illness Mother Franziska again received a request for a foundation from Hirschstetten near Vienna. This township had been asking for two years that sisters of the Congregation would take over the direction of a Kindergarten there, but to Mother Franziska th field of work seemed too small, since she rightly believed that two to three sisters could not build a real community life as the Constitutions prescribed. She had therefor promised to send sisters to Hirschstetten if they could also give the manual arts instruction in the elementary school. After the town came to the point where they were able to do this Mother Franziska sent sisters to Hirschtetten on November 28, 1887. Besides the kindergarten and the manual arts instruction in the school, they conducted also a professional school set up by Mother Franziska. The house set aside for this foundation at first belonged to the civic community, but in 1893 Mother Franziska purchased it for the Congregation.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">December 31, 1887 was the day of the 50th Jubilee of the ordination to the priesthood of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII and Mother F’ranziska used this occasion to express the childlike devotion and respectful love of herself and her spiritual daughters for the Hoiy Father in a congratulatory telegram. Also, the Congregation did not neglect to send some home made pieces to add to the gifts for ecclesiastical use that came at that time from everywhere to the Holy Father. On January 2, a telegram of gratitude with the following message arrived:<br /><br />“Expressing his gratitude to the Congregation for the wishes and the gifts sent to him, the Holy Father cordially sends the desired blessing.”<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Mother Franziska was very pleased about this and took it as a great grace to be able to begin the new year with the blessing of the Holy Father. At the beginning of the same she placed her Congregatidn under the protection of the Holy Family to whom she had great devotion, and to promote this devotion she ordered that from then on a Prayer of Offering to the Holy Family chosen by her be recited each Sunday in common in all houses of the Congregation. She also had 20,000 copies of this prayer printed for distribution. The blessing for this devotion was not lacking since the year 1888 would be forever a memorable one for the congregation because of the purchase of a new Mother House. Before this event, however, there are still to be recounted further enlargements of existing houses by Mother Franz iska.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">In February, 1888, her greatest wish, to gain her own house for the foundation in Crakow, was fulfilled when she purchased a building in the “Bischofsgasse” from Mr. Von Wisocki. The cost for this was 25,000 guldens. Unfortunately, Mother Franziska did not have this money. On the advice of the Reverend Bishop Dunajewski she turned to Countess Potocka with the request to help her make the purchase with a loan and this noble lady gladly lent her 6,000 guldens for the down payment. So the deal was closed on February 11. Mother Franziska could now pursue her long—held plan of adding a boarding facility and school, especially for the children of the German military and civil personnel, to the section for the servant girls. Because of the lack of German Catholic schools, the children mentioned had to attend a Protestant school if their parents wanted them to receive instruction in their native language, so this decision was welcomed by the Bishop as well as by the German inhabitants of Crakow. On September 9, 1888 the house, which Mother Franziska named “Marieninstitut” was blessed by the Reverend Bishop Dunajewski. After this solemn act he turned to Mother Franziska in a talk which emphasized that he felt a special joy in having sisters from her Congregation in his diocese and what a good fortune it was for the fathers in the military to know, when they were called by the Commander—in—Chief to fight for their country, that their daughters were in such good hands. After the blessing the school was opened with sixty children. The numbers grew so quickly in such a short time that the rooms were overflowing within the first year.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Since the Marian Institute in Prague had also become too small Mother Franziska had to have a third floor built that year. In April, 1888 she made the agreement with the builder and on October 1 the blessing was undertaken by Bishop Count Schonborn with Mother Franziska present at the celebration.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">As for the sisters in Crakow, so Mother Franziska was also able to acquire a house for those in Dolna—Tuzia during the year 1888. This had also been a preoccupation of longer duration for her since, for variow reasons, the building assigned by the township could no longer be used a a school and the little building that served as residence for the sisters was not suitable. On the advice of regional Governor Councilman Vukovic she purchased a suitable building site as early as February, 1887 and traveled to Tuzla on April 12, 1888 to make arrangements for the construction. She did this, of course, with a heavy heart since, as usua1 she had no money while at the same time she had the most fervent trust in the kind providence of God. On April 17, the blessing of the cornerstone. took place. The Mass celebrated on this occasion by the Pastor, was attended, besides by the sisters and their students, -by all the wcrkers involved in the building, including even the Turks and Serbs. To the joy of Mother Franziska, in a sermon, the Pastor encouraged the workers to work hard so that the building could soon fulfill its purpose. Of course, Mother Franziska also visited the sisters in Joseph’s Home and in the Emmus Convent in Breske and had the joy of seeing that the neighbors, even the Turks, had already begun to imitate the methods of the sisters in cultivating the land. The Turks said that the presence of the sisters was a blessing for the entire valley. As these had won the love of the inhabitants from the very beginning, so Mother Franziska enjoyed in Bosnia the very special respect of the inhabitants of every confession. When she came to those places where she had foundations, they called to her from all sides “Casna majka!” (Reverend Mother!) and each one wanted to greet her. She knew also, how to communicate lovingly with everyone, regardless of the station or nationality or confession they belonged to, and they were able to read her kindness and love in her face and were attracted to her, even when she could not speak the Bosnian national language and had to use a sister as translator.<br /></div></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">In October 1888 the building in Tuzia was completed and, to the joy of Mother Franziska, the sisters and the population, was consecrated to the Divine Heart of Jesus and the Queen of the Holy Rosary on the twenty—fifth of the month. The Convent of Maria Loretto in St. Andr also experienced a valuable enlargement through Mother Franziska. It was not through building, but through the purchase of a neighboring house and 43 yoke of land (called Fuchsenhube). This house and lands were the earlier “Meierhof” of the previous Dominican Monastery, and through this purchase on June 6, 1888, were returned to the monastery, to the great joy of the inhabitants of St. Andra. For them the purchase was a real benefit, since, before there was only a courtyard and now the pupils had a garden with a playground. The farm was intended to help with the support of the convent. Since the building on the Fuchsenhube, which Mother Franziska named “Joseph’s Rest”, was in bad condition, she later, in 1893, had a new farm building erected. she always had a special joy with this property and every time she came to St. Andra she asked penetratingly about the progress on the farm and made a tour of the barns and fields. In this area she had knowledge and experience also and was able to give practical orders. During such tours of the Congregation’s farms she never missed giving a friendly word to the hired workers, encouraging them, praising them for good work and giving them a small financial gift. Such kindness was not without results, and if she here and there had to say a word of reprimand, it was usually well accepted, since the employees were convinced of her maternal kindness.<br /></span><br /> </div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-42337144981256218982010-04-07T08:01:00.000-07:002010-04-07T08:18:35.110-07:00SERVANT AND INSTRUMENT Chapter nine<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>CHAPTER IX<br /></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><em>Foundations in Biala and in Zone XVIII of Vienna,<br />Foundations in Foherczeglak, Trip to Rome.<br /></em></div></strong></span><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Soon after the arrival of the Decree of Recognition from Rome, Mother Franziska, who never allowed herself rest and was always considering how to spread more and more the work of the Congregation for the greater glory of God and the good of neighbor, again undertook the founding of another branch. A woman with the name Bachmann, had encouraged her to erect a foundation in Biala in Galizia. For this reason she sent the Superior of the Troppau house, Sister Stanislai Fu13 and Sister Magdalena Horacek, to the above named city, to inform themselves of the conditions there. The sister informed Mother Franziska that a beautiful field of work would present itself in Biala, as well as the fact that the palace Lipnik, not far from the city, owned by His Majesty Archduke Albrecht, and inhabited only by clerks, would be a suitable building for this purpose. Mother Franziska immediately took hold of this idea and with her own quick decisiveness, entered a request to His Highness that he would deign to turn over the Lipnik Palace to the Congregation for educational purposes. God blessed this request. On September 17 the courtier Jesse shared with Mother Franziska that his Royal Highness most graciously granted the requested permission with the remark that he was happy to give the palace to the Congregation because of its richly—blessed work. On September 18 Mother Franziska, who was overjoyed at the fulfillment of her wish, had the written permission in hand allowing the Congregation to take over the palace on May 1, 1885. therefor, on September 22 she traveled with sister Stanislai to Krakow to ask the Reverend Bishop Albin Dunajewski’s permission to make a foundation in his diocese. He received her in the most friendly manner, was happy that the Congregation would begin a field of endeavor in his diocese, informed himself of everything in detail, and promised to introduce the sisters into Biala himself. Mother Franziska used this time of her stay in Krakow to visit a number of the many churches and convents found there. Then, with her companion, she traveled to Biala. The first day there was very painful for her. As she wanted to view the palace the people living there, hearing the reason for her coming, were angered that they would have to leave their apartments on account of the sisters. Mother Franziska and Sister Stanislai had to make them understand that His Royal Highness can do what he wants with his property and only then were they somewhat friendlier. The palace with its 25 rooms and halls, situated in a beautiful park more than three yoke large, seemed to Mother Franziska to be very suitable for an institute. Mother Franziska enjoyed a friendly reception from the district chief, the mayor and the clergy, as well as the promise to support the planned work. After she called at the Dukal Properties Office in the nearby little town of Saybusch, she returned, via Troppau, to Vienna, where she arrived on September 29. Here Mother Franziska found a letter with the joyful news that His Royal Highness had graciously allowed that the future institute in Biala be named, after his wife, Archduchess Hildegard, “St. Hildegard”. On December 1 Mother Franziska visited the Governor of Biala who was then in Vienna. His Excellency received her in a most friendly way and told her to bring her petition the very next day so that he, himself, could look it over and advise her of any necessary changes. When Mother Franziska brought the petition, His Excellency was completely satisfied with it and expressed his joy over the fact that the Congregation would also branch out into Galizia and promised to visit the Biala institute in the coming Spring. After everything which was necessary had been arranged Mother Franziska sent Sister Josefa Kock, destined to be the Superior of the new foundation, to Biala with two sisters on January<br />23, 1885. She had especially chosen the Feast of the Espousal of Mary as the travel day because, with her childlike trust she wanted to ask Mary to be the Superior and Joseph to be the master of the house. On March 9 Mother Franziska traveled to Biala to arrange the adaptations of the house which his Royal Highness had deigned to allow. These began immediately after the tenants had departed on May 1. On April 4 Mother Franziska received the joyful news that Her Royal Highness the Archduchess Isabella had deigned to be Protectress of the educational institutions to be set up in Biala. Therefor she traveled to Prel3burg to thank the Archduchess for this kindness. This lady received her most graciously. On June 5 Mother Franziska had an audience with Her Royal Highness, Archduchess Adelgunde, the Duchess of Modena, who also received her very kindly and gave her a large copper engraved portrait of Archduchess Hildegard. Naturally this portrait was placed in the convent of St. Hildegard in Biala. In the meantime the renovation work there had been completed and so on June 8 Mother Franziska went to Krakow to talk with the Rev. Archbishop Dunajewski, who wanted to carry out the dedication himself, to discuss some things with him in this regard. Then she went to Biala to undertake the proximate preparations for the dedication. This took place on June 14 in the most solemn manner and became a festival for the entire Biala because the city did everything to give its very beloved Shepherd a worthy reception. He stayed at the convent. From early morning on into the night people streamed in crowds to see him and the arrangement of the palace—turned—to—convent. Mother Franziska soon had the joy of learning that the school and kindergarten in St. Hildegard convent were well attended, and that many boarders were registering for the boarding school. So this institute soon flourished and even now is a blessing for the inhabitants of Biala.<br />Some months after the first steps regarding the branch in Biala were made Mother Franziska also enlarged the Congregation’s activities in Vienna. In every way, when we consider foundations, the year 1885 was a busy one for Mother Franziska because it brought the Congregation three new branches. Since, through God’s blessing, the number of sisters, happily increased from year to year, and also many students and servant girls registered for acceptance, the space in the Vienna Marienanstalt had long ago become too small. Therefor, Mother Franziska, although she had no wherewithal, was forced to think about calling forth another such institute in Vienna, in order to house there the novices and the servant girls seeking employment. To this purpose she looked at various houses in January, 1885 and found a suitable house belonging to the St. Joseph’s Savings and Credit Union, in district XVIII, Johannesgasse Nr. 13 (now Lacknergasse 87). As early as January 30th, Mother Franziska verbally closed the sales contract trusting in God’s help and gave the Union as down payment the emergency fund of 175 florins she had deposited with them. On March 31 the written contract was made and Mother Franziska again had an opportunity to experience the help of St. Joseph in whom she had taken refuge. As late as the 30th a considerable sum of the amount she was to pay at the closing of the sale was still missing, and on the 31st she not only was able to meet the amount due, but even had something left over. The trust of Mother Franziska was rewarded through income whose arrival was totally unexpected. In May the tenants vacated the premises and the renovation and building of an additional floor was begun. The boarders were able to enter their new home which Mother Franziska gave the beautiful name, “Heart of Mary Convent” on July<br />16. On August 20th the same was solemnly dedicated by the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Dr. Colestin Ganglbauer in the presence of countless clergy and other guests. In a beautiful talk His Eminence pointed out the blessed work and self—sacrificing activity of the sisters and expresse<br />the wish that the new Institute would bring forth much fruit for the honor of the Congregation, the edification of the faithful, the consolation of the poor and to the moral perfection of all who would dwell therein, through the blessing of God and the protection of Mary. This wish of the Cardinal did not remain unfulfilled for much good has been done in Heart of Mary Convent since that day for the servant girls seeking employment, as well as for the youth in the boarding school, grade school and kindergarten. Those sisters received on August 18, 1885 immediately began their novitiate there and Heart of Mary Convent remained the Novitiate of the Congregation until 1890.<br />Now we must mention the taking over of the third foundation of this year. It is the kindergarten established by His Royal Highness Archduke Albrecht on his estate Bellye (Foherczglak in present day Slovakia) for the children of his servants.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">His Excellency the Apostolic Nuntio Serafino Vannutelli (now Cardinal), whom Mother Franziska admired and who was very much in favor of the Congregation thanked His Royal Highness Archduke Albrecht that he had turned over the Lipnik castle to the Congregation and at the same time asked that His Highness would deign to give over to the Congregation also the administration of the institute at Foherczglak. The Archduke said that he would gladly do this if the Bishop at Funfkirchen, in whose diocese Foherczglak was situated, would agree. As Mother Franziska learned this from His Excellency she sent her General Assistant, Sister Borgia Un and Sister Immaculata Prillinger to Funfkirchen on May 30, 1885. The Bishop Dulansky received the sisters very kindly and said it would make him very happy if the Congregation would come also to his diocese. Thereupon Mother Franziska received a letter as early as mid—June informing her in the name of Archduke Albrecht, that the administration of the Institute in Foherczglak would be turned over to her Congregation. Therefor, she went there on July 7 to speak with the manager about the furnishing of the house. It and the garden pleased her extraordinarily well. To the satisfaction of Mother Franziska, her Royal Highness Archduchess Isabella accepted the title of its protectress. The dedication took place on October 4, 1885. Mother Franziska of course went to Fdherczglak for the celebration, on the way there visiting the Bishop of Funfkirchen to thank him for accepting the Congregation into his diocese and ask for his blessing on the new foundation. Prelate Dobzay from Funfkirchen undertook the dedication. All Foherczglak took part in the celebration. When Mother Franziska came again on November 3 to Foherczglak she saw to her great joy that seventy children were already attending the kindergarten. In 1892, on the orders of Archduke Albrecht the sisters were also given the administration of the girls’ school there.<br />Whenever God grants a rich blessing, He usually tests also. This happened to Mother Franziska also. The year 1885 in which, to her joy, the Congregation experienced a swift growth, did not spare her a harsh trial. In July six sisters in the foundation in Dolnja—Tuzla became ill with typhoid and two of these died. Two employees also caught the disease and had to be taken to the military hospital. The house and the street were therefore sealed off. In any case, the disease was caused by the bad water. Before the conditions in Bosnia became more ordered through the Austrian government the Turks buried their dead just anywhere, even right next to houses and so it happened that the water often flowed through these graves and became polluted. It is not easy to describe the worry and care that Mother Franziska’s loving heart endured during this time and how many fervent prayers she sent to Heaven, since the sufferings of her spiritual daughters were always her own. The letter, written on </span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">September 4, 1885 to all the sisters gives us the best insight:<br /><em>“To my spiritual daughters,<br />A holy, but painful duty urges me to address these lines to you.<br />You all know how severely God has visited our poor Congregation since July through sickness and death. The sisters in the house dedicated to the Queen of the Holy Rosary had much to suffer. Sister Augustina found them in a pitiable state when she went there to visit. She did everything possible to get help for the sick. The trip was to have been a vacation for her, and now she had to care for her sick sisters which she also did with a self—sacrificing love.<br />Our Director Canon Jeglic, without any idea of the misery in which the sisters found themselves, had arrived days before as a God—sent consoling angel. He immediately administered the Sacraments of the Dying to the mortally ill Sister Luitgardis who received them with full consciousness, love and devotion. She was very happy to be able still to receive this consolation from the Reverend Director. On July 16 she succumbed to her great pain and was quietly buried the next day. The other sick were deeply moved by this swift death. Sister Leokadis who was summoned from Emmaus (the convent in Breske) to nurse also became ill and died in nine days of abdominal typhoid.<br />To this sister, too, the Director was consolation and spiritual physician. As he came again, with his fatherly care, to Tuzla on his return trip to Sarajevo, to uplift the downcast sisters, he found Sister Leokadia near death and immediately gave her the Last Sacraments. From August 11 to August 19 the sick sister received the Food of Angels three times with great devotion as food and strength for the journey to eternity. She died peacefully and with resignation on the 19th. She was buried on the 20th at 9 in the morning.<br />Four priests, many school children and others accompanied the coffin. You can imagine the worry about the poor sisters who are still ill. The sisters had to be brought immediately to Emmaus to allow the entire house to be disinfected. All precautions were taken to clean the plague—stricken house and well.<br />The poor employees, Mathias and Michael, who also had to suffer the typhoid and were cared for in the military hospital, are now the custodians of the house in Tuzla.<br />The last day of June Sister Theodora in Sarajevo vomited blood. She was immediately brought to Bethania and everything was done to save the life of this good, noble sister. Unfortunately, this pious sister was also to be taken from me by death. On August 29 at 11:30 in the night, peaceful and<br />64<br /><br />surrendered to God, she died. Theodora gave edification throughout her days in her holy vocation and during her entire illness by her love, patience and true piety. She was valued and respected by all, a true Daughter of Divine Charity. Now this noble soul has received the reward which every holy religious may count on. On the 30th she was buried in our cemetery in Bethania next to Sister Ferdinanda. So soon had she followed the dear Sister Gregoria (Theodora’s blood sister). In this great pain about my spiritual daughters I am consoled by the thought that all three were so beautifully prepared and resigned when they left this life and that we certainly have in them intercessors before the throne of God. The Lord is harvesting, for Sister Aloisia and Sister Ruperta are now also seriously ill and the doctor has given up hope for Sister Mathaa.”<br />To this account Mother Franziska added in maternal care the admonition that all the sisters should take reasonable care of their health as a gift of God, thinking of being useful for the ever—growing field of activity of the Congregation. After giving some more details about the latest foundations mentioned, she closed in her accustomed cordial manner with the words, “God bless you all. Recommending you to the care of the holy Angels, I am, in love.<br />your<br />faithful mother,<br />Sister M. Franziska Lechner.<br /></em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Actually, Mother Franziska’s life was richly blessed with sufferings and trials. It may seem, of course, because of the rapid succession of foundations, that luck was constantly lending her a hand and that everything was always going smoothly, but this was not so. We have often told of the countless money worries of Mother Franziska and these were multiplied by the interest payments to be made on loans needed to build or buy her houses. Besides these cares and the worries entailed in the direction of so many institutes, Mother Franziska had to endure all kinds of suffering——persecution of her person and the congregation by misinformed or ill—intentioned parties, painful ingratitude from those whose benefactor she had been, the various obstacles in the way of the foundations, etc. The greatest part of these sufferings can only be hinted at with a few general words without being told in detail, however, to protect the honor of those persons who caused Mother Franziska these afflictions or of their descendants, who are still living. Her greatness of soul during these hours of suffering was truly worthy of admiration. No matter how great the trials, she constantly bowed to God’s adorable will and never wavered in her trust in His help. She often told her spiritual daughters that God sends these sufferings to draw us closer to Himself and encouraged them also to a patient endurance of all hardships. Her revenge toward those who brought suffering to herself or to her Congregation consisted in praying for them. So, upon hearing of his death, she ordered prayers in all the houses for the repose of the soul of a man who was not at all well—intentioned toward the Congregation and had caused Mother Franziska several bitter hours, just as if he had been the greatest friend and benefactor of the Congregation. This is one beautiful indication of the measure in which the noble heart of Mother Franziska practiced love of her enemies.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Now there is another event to add which Mother Franziska always considered the most important of her life and of which she often movingly spoke with joy——her trip to Rome and her audience with the Holy Father, Leo XIII. The reason for the trip was to thank His Holiness for the lately received gracious Decree of Recognition and the appointment of a Cardinal Protector for the Congregation. On November 17, 1885 Mother Franziska had an audience with the Emperor in which she also reported to him the appointment of Cardinal Jakobini as Protector of the Congregation and of her coming trip to Rome. His Majesty was very interested in this and said to Mother Franziska, “Tell the Pope that I am not only pleased that the Cardinal Secretary of State is your Cardinal Protector, but that I thank His Holiness for everything that he has done for your Congregation and that I ask for his prayers for myself.” Mother Franziska was very happy about this assignment becuse she rightfully believed that His Holiness would give it much weight. Their Royal Highnesses the Archduchesses Elizabeth and Marie, the first the wife of Archduke Karl Ferdinand, the second the wife of Archduke Rainer, whom Mother Franziska also visited before her departure, asked her to lay their deepest respect at the feet of His Holiness.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">Before her departure, Mother Franziska sent the following letter to her spiritual daughters:<br /><em>“Before the year 1885, which was so rich in events, finds its close, I cannot neglect urging all of you to join me from the heart in fervently thanking our good Heavenly Father for His blessing.<br />Each Superior should read the beginning of the enclosed brochure (the account of the fifteen years of the Congregation’s activity), so that all the sisters may be reminded about the graces we have received. The latest of these is that His Holiness has had a brief prepared for twelve of our houses, according to which all the sisters and those in their care can gain the plenary indulgence in the house chapels on the Feast of the Portiuncula, August 2. This could not be included in the booklet which had already been at the printers. This extra—ordinary grace will certainly be the most beautiful Christmas gift for the houses concerned. Monsignor Cadaldi gained this special grace and honor for us from the Holy Father.<br />How happy I am to be admitted soon with my first General Assistant, Sister Augustiria to kiss the feet of His Holiness, not only to thank him for the Decree of Praise, as well as the appointment of a Cardinal Protector, but also to be able to request the apostolic blessing for each sister and the entire Congregation. This trip to Rome is of great importance for the Congregation. For the first time the Superior and two sisters, representing the Congregation, will approach the Holy See, the Cardinals and other dignitaries, who work at the Holy See, in governing the Church. We will encounter many things of which we now can have no idea and therefore we cannot prepare ourselves for them, so we are very much in need of the prayers of our dear sisters.<br />I ask the Superiors to have a Holy Mass offered in each of our Convent chapels on January 7, the day of our departure and ask each sister to receive Holy Communion, offering it for us, so that the Lord will grant us His special protection and blessing and that the Holy Spirit may enlighten us that we may bring about much good for our dear Congregation. We depart for the holy city trusting in the help of the Almighty, accompanied by your prayers, equipped with all kinds of written recommendations. We will certainly remember you at the various holy places.<br /></em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>During our absence Sister Borgia, second General Assistant will be called to the Mother House to guide the Congregation. All letters are to be addressed to her.<br />In closing I ask all the sisters again to thank the Lord for all blessings and to pray very fervently for us. Isn’t it true, dear children, that you will prepare yourselves very well for the birth of the Divine Child and at year’s end remember those of our sisters who have fallen asleep this year, as is our obligation.<br /></em></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Now I call upon Mary that she may call the blessing of her Divine Son upon all of you and be Mother, Protectress and Superior, guiding the Congregation along with St. Joseph. In addition, I wish each one truly happy holidays and a good year’s end. Then the beginning of the year 1886 will be richly blessed. God bless and protect all of you, dear children!<br /></div></em></span><div align="right"><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>With cordial greetings,<br />Your,<br />Faithful Mother,<br />Franziska Lechner<br />Mother House, December 17, 1885”<br /></em></span></div><div align="right"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span> </div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">On January 7, 1886 Mother Franziska in the company of her First General Assistant and Superior of the Mother House, Sister Ignazia Egger and the Superior of the institute in Sarajevo, Sister Augustina d’Armaille, began the journey to the Eternal City with the prayers and good wishes of her spiritual daughters and the pupils in the various houses. Recognizing its importance she wanted first to ask the protection and intercession of the Mother of God at the shrine of Loretto. On January 8 the travelers reached Padua, where they honored St. Anthony. On January 9 they arrived in Loretto and were deeply moved as they entered the holy house where the Incarnation of the Son of God took place and the three holiest persons had lived. Mother Franziska had so many intentions to present to the Holy Family that the day was too short. At 11 in the evening she and her companions arrived in Rome. The next day they went to the tomb of St. Peter to commend themselves to the protection of the Prince of the Apostles. The sacredness of the place as well as the grandeur of St. Peter’s made such an overpowering - - impression that they were moved to tears. On the 13th they attended Holy Mass at the tomb of St. Peter and received Holy Communion. Mother Franziska prayed in this place for her Congregation, for those in its care, for the entire Imperial Family, the Bishops in dioceses where her sisters were working, the benefactors, and so on, until here, too, the time was too short. From there, Mother Franziska and her companions went to the Cardinal Protector Jakobini who received them in a fatherly way, informed himself thoroughly of the Congregation, and was especially happy about the honor and graciousness constantly shown toward it by the Imperial Family. Here they also met the undersecretary Mocessi, who was also very kind. Oh the 14th the pilgrims visited the tomb of St. Paul, one hour distant from Rome, the Church of “Our Lady of Snows”, and other churches. On the 15th they attended a Holy Mass in the prison of St. Peter and saw the place where the Saint lay in chains. With emotion they also contemplated the well which sprang up there and the rock upon which a soldier threw the Prince of the Apostles and where the Saint’s face was imprinted. A reverent shudder took hold of them as they viewed these holy places. Then they visited the tomb of St. Frances of Rome, the patron Saint of Mother Franziska, the Coliseum, where many thousands of Christians suffered martyrdom for Christ, and the oldest church in Rome, the Lateran. With holy reverence and deep emotion they also climbed on their knees the 28 steps of the Holy Stairs upon which Christ stood before Pilate, and which is found near the Lateran. On the 16th they went to Cardinals Hergenrother, Melchers, Laurenzi and to Monsignor Lorenzell, the Rect6r of the Bohemian College, all of whom received them very kindly. The time from the 17th until the 30th of January was also spent visiting the sanctuaries of Rome, the Catacombs, various convents, institutes and such persons whose good will could be useful to the Congregation. In the meantime Mother Franziska informed herself through the Rev. Father Daum of the Holy Spirit Fathers and a Consultor of the Sacred Congregation for Bishops and Regulars, about everything that would be necessary for the petition, to be made within a few years, for the second recognition by the Holy See, the actual approbation of the Constitutions and the Congregation, and made some preparations in this regard. The 31st was to be the happy and memorable day of the audience with the Holy Father. In the morning Mother Franziska and her companions were present at His Holiness’ Holy Mass in the chapel in the Vatican and received Holy Communion from the hands of the Vicar of Christ. There followed a second Holy Mass, for which the Holy Father also remained and after this the pilgrims were admitted to the audience. The Reverend Andreas Frisch, Canon of St. Jerome’s in Rome accompanied them and introduced Mother Franziska to His Holiness as the Foundress and Superior General of the Congregation as well as the other two sisters. After Mother Franziska had expressed her most respectful gratitude to the Holy Father for his graciousness to the Congregation, His Holiness spoke in a gracious and truly fatherly manner with her as well as with Sister Ignazia and Sister Augustina, asked about the number of houses and very especially about the activity of the sisters in Bosnia. This last, and in fact, the general rapid and richly blessed spread of the Congregation pleased the Holy Father very much. Mother Franziska also transmitted the words of gratitude from His Imperial Majesty Franz Joseph, with which the Holy Father showed great pleasure. At this he remarked that the Austrian Imperial Family not only bore the title, “Apostolic” but also has become noted for its apostolic activities and added, “Tell His Majesty that you attended the Pope’s Holy Mass and that you received Holy Communion at his hands and had a little conference. Tell him also, that I will pray for him as he asked.” The Holy Father encouraged Mother Franziska and her companions to continued zealous work and especially challenged them to work in Bosnia for the Church and civilization, because there is a great and beautiful mission. Twice during the conversation, the Holy Father grasped Mother Franziska’s hand and held on to it for a long time, then he placed his hand in blessing on her head as she knelt before him. Mother Franziska was so moved by the fatherly kindness of His Holiness that she, completely forgetting herself in her joy and holy respect, kissed his hand causing him to smile. In conclusion Mother Franziska received the Apostolic Blessing for the members of the Imperial Household, for various highly placed friends and benefactors of the Congregation as well as for herself and all the sisters. His Holiness also blessed the medals Mother Franziska had brought. along, for this purpose. he audience had lasted more than half an hour. Deeply moved and filled with holy enthusiasm, Mother Franziska and her companions left the Vatican Palace. On February 2, the Feast of Candlemas, they were to receive another proof of the Holy father’s favor. In the afternoon His Eminence Cardinal Jakobini in the company of Undersecretary Mocessi arrived at the convent of the French St Joseph Sisters where Mother Franziska was staying and gave her, as a present from His Holiness, a ca!.dle, 1 meter, 25 centimeters tall, decorated with an image of the Mother of od, the Papal Arms, flowers and scroll work, as well as some large silver medals in cases and beautiful rosaries. His Eminence remarked that receiving a candle on Candlemas Day, delivered by a Cardinal was an honor reserve for sovereigns and very highly placed persons. Mother Franziska also received a candle and two photographs of himself as a gift from Cardinal Jakobini. Of course she and her companions were overjoyed at these gifts. Upon her return from Rome, Mother Franziska had a glass case made for the candle from the Holy Father, and it was hung up in the chapel of the Vienna Marienanstalt. Later this and the candle were brought to the sisters’ choir in the church of the new Mother House. Mother Franziska gave the candle from Cardinal Jakobini to the St. Joseph Institute in Sarajevo. She kept the medals and a mother of pearl rosary from the Holy Father as precious souvenirs. In the same way, she carefully preserved the veil she had worn at the audience and upon which the hand of the Holy Father had rested. His Eminence, Cardinal Jakobini and other important persons with whom Mother Franziska spoke before her departure for Rome were overjoyed as only good friends could be, at the honors the congregation had received from the Holy Father. On February 3rd she, with her companions, began the return trip to Vienna where she arrived safely on the 7th and was joyfully received by the sisters and the pupils. By singing the hymn of praise, the “Te Deum” they thanked the Almighty for the safe return as well as all the graces granted to their spiritual mother as well as the entire Congregation through this trip. Mother Franziska, who always was glad to share her joys with her spiritual daughters had already sent news from Rome in the form of detailed reports of the experiences they had there. These reports were, at her request immediately duplicated in the Mother House and sent to the other houses. The second report, written immediately after the audience with the Holy Father, closed with these words, “Our young Congregation is greatly respected here, and much is expected of us. We are obliged to measure up to these hopes and not to disappoint them. Let us use this good will to confirm ourselves in good and to be true Daughters of Divine Charity and faithful children of Holy Church. May the blessing of the vicar of Christ be for all the sisters a stimulus for conscientious fulfillment of our obligations.” Many more times Mother Franziska told of the happy days of the Rome journey and usually, added similar encouraging and admonishing words, as those presented from her account. Just as recognition and honors were for her not an occasion of vanity but a stimulus for good, for work for God’s glory and the good of neighbor, so she wanted her spiritual daughters to receive them in the same spirit.<br /></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">On February 11, 1886, during an audience with His Majesty , the Emperor, Mother Franziska fulfilled her noble mission by giving him the Holy Father’s Apostolic Blessing which pleased him very much. Upon her request, Mother Franziska was also immediately admitted to the honorable Archduchesses Adelgunde, Marie and Elizabeth and they were also overjoyed with the Blessing of the Holy Father as well as with the greetings from Cardinal Jakobini. With an equal joy Mother Franziska was received by the other important persons to whom she was assigned to bring the news of the Apostolic Blessing and everywhere she found the friendliest sympathy with the favors and good will which she and her Congregation received in Rome.<br /></span><br /><br /><br /> </div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-29869305282660731672010-02-11T08:03:00.000-08:002010-02-11T08:14:16.372-08:00SERVANT AND INSTRUMENT Chapter eight<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">CHAPTER VIII<br />Foundations in Bosnia, Recognition by Rome<br /></span></strong></div></span><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">When Bosnia and Herzegovina were occupied by Austria in 1878, the wish was awakened in Mother Franziska to spread the work of the Congregation there also where so much good could be done through the confirmation and spread of the holy religion and civilization. This seemed to her to be a partial fulfillment of the desire of her youth to be able to work in a mission la’nd. She often expressed this wish to the sisters, many of whom, offered to go to Bosnia in case it should come true. The insight into the situation in Bosnia, became, in the activity theoretically planned there, an occasion for various jokes. These jokes were to become reality sooner than expected. During Advent, 1881, the newly—appointed Archbishop Josef Stadler came to Vienna where he visited the Jesuit Fathers and expressed the wish to call sisters to the capitol of Bosnia, Sarajevo, at the very beginning of his new work. The Jesuit Fathers brought Mother Franziska and her Congregation to his attention and the Archbishop soon appeared at the MarienansLalt. Mother Franziska was overjoyed when she heard the reason for his coming. Naturally, nothing concrete could be agreed upon for the time being, because the Archbishop had, himself, yet to become acquainted with the circumstances of his new field of activity. On March 15, 1882 a telegram arrived unexpectedly with the following message: “I will buy a little house with a garden for you if you will agree to send sisters. Details in letter. Stadler, Archbishop”. On March 21 the greatly desired letter of the Archbishop arrived, wherein he recounted that he had purchased a little wooden house with barn and a rather large garden from a Turk for the price of 2,500 florins and would give the sisters an additional 500 florins for the furnishings. He was able to use the 3,000 florins from the Holy Childhood Association for this purpose. This letter of the Archbishop was worded so kindly that Mother Franziska and the sisters were moved to tears. On the next day, the 22nd, Mother Franziska requested an audience with His Majesty the Emperor, to share with him the Archbishop’s desire and ask if he would deign to grant this planned foundation his special protection. Since the 23rd was already determined as a day for audiences, Mother Franziska was afraid her request for one would be too late. It was granted to her, however, even though she really was the last on the list. On the next day, when she appeared at the Hofburg, the adjutant on duty said to her, “Now, Mother Superior, today you may come in immediately,” and she was the fourth person to come to His Majesty although many important persons were waiting. As she entered, His Majesty gave her a friendly smile and said, “I am happy to see you again. What do you wish from me today?” Mother Franziska then presented her desire and His Majesty listened with great interest and was happy that the Congregation wanted to make itself useful also in Bosnia where help was so very much needed. He promised his help to Mother Franziska and said he would take the sisters under his special protection. Overjoyed, she left the audience hall and, since it was known that the occupied territory stood under the Imperial Finance Office, went directly to the Imperial Minister of Finance, Slavy, who also received her graciously and expressed satisfaction with her decision. When Mother Franziska returned to the Finance Ministry on March 31, she heard that His Majesty had already talked with the Minister about a support for the planned foundation, which was again evidence of how much interest his Majesty took in it. With the sisters, who shared her enthusiasm for the work of the Congregation in Bosnia, Mother Franziska now was concerned with collecting the things that would be most necessary and indispensable for the beginning of the foundation. She, herself, as she liked to do at the beginning of a new foundation, searched the house to find what could be<br />47<br />dispensed with here and useful there. As soon as April 1, the first shipment, consisting of two crates with various articles necessary for the household, and four boxes, was on its way to Sarajevo. Mother Franziska also sent sisters to Croatia, on the one hand to collect funds for the foundation in Sarajevo, and on the other hand to acquire the Croation language so that they could then more easily make themselves useful in Bosnia. She herself wanted to travel to Sarajevo as soon as possible to inform herself directly of all the circumstances and to help with the beginning of the foundation. However, before she undertook this long journey, she made another trip on April 19, for a cause that also was very close to her heart.r This was the ecclesiastical recognition of her society as a canonical Congregation, since the secular authorities still saw it as merely an association. She had already applied for this earlier and now went to the Minister of Culture to speed the cause. He received Mother Franziska very kindly and said he was happy to be able to do something for the Congregation, adding that he had already arranged everything in the best way and thereby gave her a hope that the matter would soon be settled satisfactorily. This actually did come about, while Mother Franziska was in Bosnia a&, on May 13, 1882, according to a decision at the highest level, the Society received recognition as an ecclesiastical Congregation.<br />On April 22, Mother Franziska and Sister Helene Bonard who was appointed the Superior of the new foundation in Sarajevo, said good—bye to Cardinal Ganglbauer and the Auxiliary Bishop Angerer, both of whom expressed great pleasure over the new field of activity of the Congregation and promised to pray for it. On the 24th Mother Franziska went to the Ministry of Finance to Section Chief von Merey, who told her, to her great joy, that on the very day after her audience, His Majesty had called the Minister of Finance to himself and asked him to write to the governor and commandant in Bosnia, Baron von Dahlen, that it was his express wish and command that he give the sisters his very special protection. This great interest coming form all sides, toward Mother Franziska’s planned undertaking confirmed her in her resolve to work as well as possible through her Congregation for the good in Bosnia. As soon as April 24, with the prayers and good wishes of the sisters she began the journey there in the company of Sr. Helene Bonard and Sr. Richarda Spaniol. On the one hand, in the face of the largely unknown conditions in Bosnia and the predictable difficulties, they experienced a feeling of anxiety, but on the other hand, they were filled with courage and trust in God and ready for any sacrifice. With God’s help the long journey went well. At the border station, Bosnia—Brod, the railroad officials, who had been notified by the War Ministry, who had charge of the railroads and mail in Bosnia, of their coming and found them good places when they changed trains. At every larger station in Bosnia, the travelers noticed that the railroad officials had been notified of their trip and that all were happy about the arrival of the sisters. Since at that time the railroad went only as far as Zenica, a good coach was provided there for Mother Franziska and her companions. At five in the afternoon of April 28 they arrived safe and sound at Sarajevo and rode immediately to the Bishopts palace. After they had first greeted the Divine Savior in the Most Blessed Sacrament in the house chapel, they were most cordially received by the Archbishop. After a small refreshment they, with the Archbishop, immediately had to view the Turkish house purchased for the Congregation. Mother Franziska and her companions were especially happy about the beautiful garden attached. The next day they went to visit the important off icia1s of the city. They were consoled by the friendly reception they experienced everywhere. On April 30, the Archbishop appointed Canon Anton Jeglic, later Vicar General and Auxiliary of the Diocese of Sarajevo and Bishop of Laibach, as director of the new foundation. He always gave generously of himself<br />48<br />to this office and was a fatherly friend and counselor to the sisters and in his present position, to our great joy, still has great good will toward the Congregation.<br />On May 1, Mother Franziska and the two other sisters were invited to dinner by the sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, who also had a foundation in Sarajevo and found that here, too, they were cordially received. In the afternoon, some of the Sisters of Charity went with their guests to view the purchased Turkish house. The previous owners, two Turks name Turanovic and their sister, very good people, still resided in the house for the time being. The Turkish lady served coffee and, to drink it, the sisters had to sit, Turkish fashion, on a carpet in the garden. Later, Mother Franziska remarked that the Sisters of Charity, she herself, and her companions, the two Turks and their sister, must have formed an interesting group.<br />Since the things—beds, etc,——sent from Vienna had not yet arrived, Mother Franziska and the two other sisters lived in the Archbishop’s house. On May 8, the Feast of the Discovery of the Holy Cross, they moved into their house on Banjski brije, Nr. 8. They felt unique sentiments at this entrance. The Jesuit, Father Xaver Slavic, who had come with the Archbishop and his secretary, blessed the apartment. A part of the house was still temporarily occupied by the two Turks and their sister. These then moved to Constantinople, in order not to, as they put it, lose their faith among Christians, Mother Franziska felt great sympathy for these good, noble people. With her whole heart she would have liked to bring them to the true faith. The first days after they moved in were passed in making and receiving visits, since, according to the custom of the place, Mother Franziska had to make introductions and receive the same from all the better families of Sarajevo. On May 7 the two sisters summoned later, Amanda Eberl and Emerana Zweck, arrived.<br />At first Mother Franziska wanted to renovate the house, but she soon saw that this was not the way to meet the needs of the planned institute; so she decided to imediately build a decent building from the ground up. The demolition of the old building began as soon as May 8. On May 10 Mother Franziska rented an apartment consisting of two and a half rooms and a kitchen from a Turkish woman in a building across the street, at a cost of twenty guldens a month. Although this was, relatively speaking, not a small sum, the apartment was miserable and had an overabundance of mice. They built their nests in the cushions that circled the rooms according to Turkish custom, and which the sisters, lacking beds, used for sleeping. There was no possibility for a decent night’s sleep after the countless activities of the day. In order to have a little peace from the unwelcome guests who often used their freedom to run back and forth over the sleeping sisters, the cat had to be enticed in at night with the most delicate names, but then it was her hunting the mice which disturbed their rest. This continued for eight months until the completion of the building, while the sisters had to find their way in what were, from every point of view, the most primitive conditions. During her presence Mother Franziska shared all these difficulties with the sisters and encouraged them with her example.<br />On May 12 she bought the adjoining house from the Turk, Ibrahim Curcic for the price of 1,375 guldens. It was in very bad condition and good for nothing except demolition, but Mother Franziska felt the purchase was absolutely necessary to remove an unwelcome neighbor. It was her general practice to remove irritating or unsuitable neighbors from the vicinity<br />49<br /><br />of her convents, when at all possible, and she bought more than one house for this reason. Mother Franziska arrived at the idea to build, on the site of the first Turkish house, an institute dedicated to St. Joseph for boarders and day students, and to erect one dedicated to the Virgin Mary for orphans and other poor girls on the site of the second house. On May 24, the demolition of the two buildings began and Canon Jeglic also laid the cornerstone for St. Joseph’s Institute. Among the construction workers present at this solemn ceremony were many Turkish laborers who were visibly touched. Mother Franziska and the sisters were overcome with deep emotion on seeing this since on that very day the Church celebrated the feast of Mary, Help of Christians, the title by which she was honored since the glorious victory of the Christians over the Turks in 1683. Mother Franziska was often at the building site to supervise and arrange things. Sister Richarda, who understood the language of the country had to accompany her as translator. The remainder of the time Mother Franziska became a real servant to her sisters. While they were running errands or checking on the building, she cooked and did other household tasks for them. It often happened that she was occupied with cooking or cleaning or such things, when someone arrived asking for the Superior, and she had first to remove her work apron before going to the visitor. She did not think it beneath her to do humble work and she encouraged the sisters and candidates never to consider any work done for the Lord as inferior. She would not tolerate avoidance of work and insisted that the teachers also do some light household tasks which would not interfere with their other activities, for example, cleaning up the classroom, stoking its stove, etc, as well as taking part, according to their strength, in the so—called big cleaning which was often done during the school vacations. She considered such work to be very advantageous for the preservation of humility as well as for health. She also showed no preference for the sisters who taught over those who did only household tasks and did not even want them to be called “teachers”, but rather, “the sisters in the school”, “With us,” she often said, “all sisters are equal and all are teachers, whether they are in school, with the boarders, servant girls, in the kitchen, laundry or occupied with house cleaning.” In every activity the sisters come into contact with those we care for, must give them some instruction or other, and so relate to them as teachers. Besides this, before God, it doesn’t matter what one did, but how and with what intention it was done.” With these and similar words and orders she sought to confirm the sisters in the spirit of humility, which quality was hers in such a high degree.<br />Since food was so very expensive in Sarajevo, Mother Franziska decided to buy land near the city in order to more easily support the future convent with its produce; Although the sisters lived very simply, they already were in need of much money, especially now while they were so few. She thought, too, that the Bosnians could learn how to profitably work fields and pastures from a model farm, run by the sisters and so this would be also useful for the poor inhabitants and theref or a source of much good. On May 29 therefor, she looked at the property she thought suitable, and which was owned by a Turk. On June 5 she went once again with Archbishop Stadler, his secretary and Canon Jeglic, but it was to her regret not possible to agree with the Turk who demanded a very high price. Mother Franziska used the 8th, 9th, 11th, 14th, 18th and 21st of June to look at various properties to find something suitable and inexpensive. In these search forays she went in a circle two hours distant from Sarajevo and was on the go with the sister accompanying her for usually about four to six hours per day. Evenings they came home so tired that the next day they could hardly move. The roads were bad and often nonexistent, and their way could be described simply by the saying “through thick and thin”. One day Mother Franziska and her<br />50<br />companion had to climb over nineteen fences, which often separate fields and pastures there, cross eight streams which had only logs as bridges, and, in a carriage, cross a river that ran so swiftly that it almost carried wagon, horses and occupants away in the current. To top all these difficulties, Mother Franziska also fell into a swamp from which she was extracted only with difficulty. None of these efforts and difficulties could discourage her, however, or the sisters who were encouraged by her example. On the contrary, these adventures often gave them material for joking and laughter. On July 2 Mother Franziska looked again at a piece of land with a little house three quarters of an hour distant from Sarajevo in Slatina, which, to her seemed very suitable. On July 3 the Archbishop left for confirmation trips and Mother Franziska spoke with him before his departure, to say good—bye and to give him a full report about this last viewed piece of property. He strongly urged her to purchase it. On the evening of the same day the sale was verbally concluded, as Mother Franziska came to an agreement with the Turk to buy the property with harvest for 4500 guldens. As the woman did not speak German, a Franciscan priest, the Rev. Daniel, helped with the purchase. Mother Franziska immediately sent a telegram to Vienna to send her the necessary sum of money and the not less needed sisters. On the same day, July 3, they began with the excavations for the Marian Institute connected to the St. Joseph Institute, and as early as July 7, the Reverend Canon Jagadic blessed its cornerstone. On July 8 two of the sisters who had been summoned arrived and on the 13th another four came to Sarajevo. On the 10th Sister Richarda Spaniol and Sister Ferdinanda HeiB moved into the house in Slatina. In this regard Mother Franziska and the sisters had still before them some difficult struggle to endure with the so—called Kmet. This is a kind of co—owner of a property, having various territorial rights——a common arrangement in Bosnia, The Kmet was a Serb, who was instigated by his fellow believers and did not want to give his rights. All the persuading by Mother Franziska and the various men who were helping her in this and who talked with him for hours did not help. He would not sign the bill of sale. In any case he hoped to extort money from the sisters and the Turkish woman. Mother Franziska saw herself constrained on July 12 to word the contract in such a way that the woman was obliged to have •the Kmet removed by fall and therefor immediately undertake the necessary action against him with the authorities. On the following day Mother Franziska had eight Turks use all their persuasive powers for three hours to get him to sign the deed. Only after one of the Turks, whose property was larger than that at Slatina promised to take him on as Kmet, did he finally sign the contract. In spite of all this, it was only on May 4 of the following year and after the Congregation had paid 1,000 florins that they got rid of him, with the building in Sarajevo, also, Mother Franziska had incalculable difficulties. She and the sisters had to be on constant watch not to be cheated, since dishonesty seemed to be the order of the day. On July 18 the building of living—quarters and stable began because the existing house there was in extremely bad condition. On this and the following day Mother Franziska made her farewell visits since, now that the main work necessary for the beginning was arranged, she had to return to Vienna. Doing this, she again became convinced that the better classes, military as well as civil officials were well intentioned toward the sisters which was a great consolation in view of the many difficulties already endured and those still expected. On July 20 Mother Franziska alone began her journey to Vienna where she arrived safely. The sisters received her with the greatest joy and accompanied her to the chapel where they together prayed the Te Deum in thanksgiving.<br />On the 25th Mother Franziska paid a visit to Cardinal Ganglbauer to<br />51<br />give a report about the reception and future work of the sisters in Bosnia, and the great Prince of the Church expressed very great joy in this regard. On the 27th she had an audience with his Majesty for the same purpose and at the same time thanked him for the civil recognition of the society as an ecclesiastical Congregation. His Majesty also was very happy about the information given him. Mother Franziska brought joy also to the auxiliary Bishop and at the Imperial Ministry with this report.<br />In August 1882 Mother Franziska received 1,000 florins from the will of Countess Esterhazy who died in 1881 and this immediately went to Bosnia. In fact, everythingshe could possibly spare went to this latest foundation, as it was her custom to care for new houses in a special maternal fashion. In October Mother Franziska had a steer, four -cows and a calf shipped to Bosnia for the farm in Slatina, a farmhand from the Breitenfurt Refuge, who was assigned to help with the field work in Bosnia, brought them there. In September 1882 Mother Franziska again undertook the long journey to Bosnia because the new foundation was so close to her heart and she wanted to be present at the dedication of the almost completed houses. She again took four sisters and a postulant who were assigned there. On September 14 all arrived safely in Sarajevo and Mother Franziska remained there until mid—November. She herself wrote the report of this stay in the Congregation’s Chronicle so her own words can be added here. She recounts:<br />“On September 29 we moved into the St. Joseph Institute——with what feelings! On the 30th we began with the registration for the school. On October 1, the Feast of the Holy Rosary, the house in Slatina, called “Bethania”, was dedicated by the Reverend Archbishop. The celebration was very simple, with only the secretary and the sisters present. On October 4, the name day of our beloved Emperor, we opened the school in Sarajevo with sixteen children. We took them to the Imperial Office. On the eighth the first boarder, Hermine Kastner, a captain’s daughter, entered the St. Joseph Institute. On October 25 there was the solemn dedication of our Institute. It was undertaken by our Reverend Archbishop with the assistance of nine priests. The State Commander Baron Appel with his wife and all the staff officers, His Excellency Baron Nikolics with all the higher officials, the Mayor with all the magistrate clerks, the heads of the Greek, Israelite and Mohammedan cultural communities, the Consuls, etc. were present at the ceremony. Until now, Bosnia had not seen such a celebration. All the nations and creeds united to do it honor. On this day we already had 52 pupils. The parents brought their children as boarders and pupils. On October 12th we bought the neighboring Jewish house on Sarajevosmaila Street Nr. 3. We found it necessary to purchase this house because of its situation and because of the, for us, unwelcome neighbors. It cost 1500 gulden. The Jew absolutely did not want to sell it for this price and there was a terrible struggle with him. What I suffered from the moment of my arrival for the second time in Bosnia is not to be described. The workers, professionals and delivery men came from early morning until night, with advances, with bills, then again with a settlement, etc. It was terrible to think how some of these people wanted to cheat us. With each of them we had everything in written agreements and yet they tried to work behind our backs in every possible way. Only God knows the sleepless nights of worry and pain endured by Sister Helene and I. How often were we without money and the workers were due to be paid. On some Saturdays Sister Helene went to the Archbishop to borrow money and often His Excellency as well as the. Cathedral Canons gave us their last coin. The resources at the Mother House were completely used up; All the foundations did their best. The erection of the St. Joseph and the Marian Institutes, their furnishings, the purchase of Bethania, the building there, the renovation of the old<br />52<br />Turkish house, the implements for the farm, the furnishing of the riouse, etc. cost the poor Congregation the sum of 41,000 guldens, benefactors 7,000 guldens, the Reverend Archbishop 1,700 gulden (besides the house and garden which he purchased for 2,500 guldens), the State 600 gulens. To collect this money cost some tears. May God reward all those who helped us!”<br />This short account, even though far from complete, gives us at least a tiny insight into the many troubles and cares which the foundations in Sarajevo and Slatina caused. In spite of this, the Bosnian houses remained, so to speak, her pets, as parents often love their problem children most. The reason was the large field of work offered the sisters there and the fact that their work could, in many respects, be considered missionary work. The poor people of Bosnia are in very great need of civilization and instruction, especially in the holy religion even though the situation has improved in this respect compared to how they were at the time of the occupation. From the tears of which Mother Franziska speaks, grew truly glorious fruit. Since the foundation hundreds of boarders and poor orphans were raised and thousands of students educated in the St. Joseph and Marian Institutes. The orphanage, the Bosnian school for poor children, and the kindergarten proved to be special blessings for the Bosnian children, while the section for the boarders and the German school are useful to the children of the military and civil officials. The German school and the kindergarten were later transferred, as will be recounted in the proper, place to another house founded by Mother Franziska, St. Augustin, and this made room in the St. Joseph Institute for the Normal School founded by her in 1884 where hundreds of teachers have already received their training. Mother Franziska’s zeal for the effectiveness in Bosnia, her gratitude to God for being allowed to work, through the congregation, in a mission land, and her humility, with which she ascribed all success to the Almighty, have surely all won such great blessing for the effectiveness of these foundations, The following reflections are expressed in a circular which she sent to her spiritual daughters upon her return from Bosnia on November 27, 1882. She writes:<br />“To my spiritual daughters!<br />Since it was not possible to see and greet all of you after my return from Bosnia, I would like by means of this letter to greet you with these words: ‘The Lord has done great things for us!’ Although we are the youngest in His holy Church, He still has chosen us for such a great and sublime work. Come, let us in spirit fall before the Lord, the merciful, to thank and praise Him for His grace! Yes, dear Sisters, in Sarajevo we experienced God’s loving and fatherly care and have seen the wonderful ways of Divine Providence. We wanted to begin our work there in the poorest and most humble conditions because we were very conscious of the poverty of the Congregation. But the Lord had other plans for the least of His handmaidens, for He prepared a double field for the work of our sisters there. In the school for the poor and the Sunday School in the orphanage (Marian Institute) they try to serve the children and poor girls. In the Institute of St. Joseph they teach the children of the military and civil officials and from middle—class families. This is a great field of work for the sisters. The ignorance of the truths of our holy religion among the Bosnian children is unbelievable. If the sisters understand how to educate these children entrusted to them by God in a true love of virtue, genuine zeal in fulfilling the duties of our religion, and joy in work, they will have<br />53<br />fulfilled the duty given them in God’s wise plan, because these children will become a blessing for their own families and also edify others by their lives.<br />Where in May there stood two Turkish houses there are now two convents and we are so happy to have Holy Mass every day in our chapels —— still more —— the Most Exalted Lord of Heaven and Earth has taken up His residence there. The best care has been taken for the spiritual needs of the sisters. A third Turkish house with fifty yoke of land is the property of the Congregation. Next to this a house named “Bethany” was built. The main purpose of this is thai the sisters may teach the Bosnians to unite work with the service of God, how to cultivate a field and to plant a garden. There, too, the sisters have a little house chapel where Jesus can be enthroned in the tabernacle and where Holy Mass will be celebrated. Before my departure I was forced to buy another house. It is attached to the Marian Institute, takes a corner from our garden and, what determined me even more to the purchase was that the owner, a Jew, constantly harassed us. This house now has the name ‘Bethlehem’. Eighteen sisters are now divided among these four houses and in the spring others must join them. Now, my dear Sisters, has not the Lord done great things? Not only the special protection and blessing which we experienced in Bosnia, obliges us to give thanks to God, but today, as I write these words, all the good things the Lord has done are vividly before my eyes, since it is the day, on which I received, fourteen years ago, permission to found the Congregation. Poor, alone and helpless I stood with the document from the authorities in my hand, in my poor rented room, praying and considering what I should now begin to do with this permission. Today I praise the Lord and speak from the innermost part of my soul, ‘Lord, I thank you with my whole heart, because you have listened to the words of my mouth.’ Now there are 237 consecrated virgins at my side who want to serve God in the Congregation. May they all work in such a way as to be pleasing to God and of service to neighbor!<br />In closing I ask all to pray most fervently that our good God may always grant His Fatherly blessing to our Congregation and that in his fatherly goodness He may ordain that the collecting sisters may find sympathetic hearts who will support us with alms. May the Most Holy Trinity, God Father, God Son and God Holy Spirit bless you! May Mary be your Mother, St. Joseph you protector, God’s Angel your companion! If the Lord grants this petition no one will be happier than<br />your,<br />faithful mother,<br />Sister M. Franziska Lechner.”<br />On February 16, 1883 the foundation in Sarajevo, and therefore also Mother Franziska received a hard blow. At 6:30 in the evening, because of the open fireplace, a fire broke out in the house, named “Bethlehem” purchased in the Saramaila Street, and it and all it contained became victim to the flames. It is true that at the customary shots which constitute a fire signal there, officers, clerks——people from everywhere——came to help,<br />54<br />but as they opened the door to get into the building raging flames broke out so that in two or three hours everything lay in ashes. Shortly before the fire started the sisters had brought freshly laundered linens into the house for folding and besides this, eight beds were there also, making the damage even more painful for the poverty—stricken sisters. This news brought Mother Franziska great distress. One consolation was the way all Sarajevo shared a sympathy for the sisters stricken by this misfortune. A similar sympathy was expressed to Mother Franziska from all the friends of the Congregation who had been interested in the foundations in Bosnia, and od ordained that support came from various places to cover the cost of the damage. Soon after this accident Mother Franziska had to undertake a building project at the foundation in Brunn, where the lack of space demanded<br />it. She had decided to demolish and rebuild the front wing. Therefor she traveled to Brunn on March 2, 1883 and held the necessary consultations and signed the contract with the builder Arnold. As soon as end of August the building was completed and on the 31st Mother Franziska returned to make plans for the dedication of the new house. It was undertaken in the most solemn way by Bishop Franz Salesius Bauer on September 5, in the presence of many important guests.<br />On September 24, 1883 Mother Franziska again undertook a journey to her beloved Bosnia. This was the occasion for two additional foundations in this needy land. She received extraordinarily friendly greetings from the religious as well as the civil authorities. Archbishop Stadler and Baron Nikolics expressed the wish that Mother Franziska would also establish a foundation in Dolnja—Tuzla and the three—hours distant Breske. she immediately received this wish with enthusiasm, since Tuzla, the largest district town of Bosnia, having a salt mine, iron and coal mines, seemed to her to offer a good field of work, especially so because, though the inhabitants were mostly Roman Catholics, only Greek—Catholic schools existed. She felt the desire expressed was the finger of God and thought that such a promising field of endeavor had to be taken into consideration. Therefor, she resolved to stop in those places on her way back in order to see the conditions first hand. On October 11 she traveled with the Superior of the institute in Sarajevo, Sister Augustina d’Armaille and the Rev. Canon Jeglic to Dolna—Tuzia, where they arrived at 12 noon. Most of the inhabitants of the town had never seen nuns and so became very excited at the sight of Mother Franziska and her companion and asked one another what kind of persons these could be. The travelers found the friendliest welcome both with the Pastor Ikic as well as district chairman Horawitz, district leader von Wiener—Welten and other influential persons. All were overjoyed with the plans and promised to do their best to be helpfully supportive of the sisters. Of course this reception confirmed Mother Franziska even more in her decision. On the 13th she drove with Canon Jeglic and her companion also to Breske, only a few hours away from Dolna—Tuzla where news of her arrival and its purpose had preceded her. Mid—way the Pastor, six mounted members of the community and other inhabitants of the place met and greeted them in a most cordial manner. Some of the party were assigned to cut away the fences that separated the fields and pastures so that the guests could travel comfortably. At the border of the community of Breske they were offered Turkish brandy and wine in greeting. There were speeches and the greeters broke out in cheers. And so the journey continued. Since the road was bad the farmers invited the sisters to drive through their fields, even though this destroyed much corn. Seven fences had to be cut to make a comfortable path. Mother Franziska and her companion were very touched by this reception on the part of the poor Bosnians. At the cemetery about sixty women were awaiting them, who, at the sight of the sisters, did not know quite what to do. They thought they were in the presence of<br />55<br />superhuman beings, fell to their knees, crossed themselves, and followed them to the parish house. The first stop of the new arrivals was in the parish church to thank God that He opened for them the way to the hearts of these poor people. Here happened a touching interval which may not be omitted. While Canon Jeglic, Mother Franziska and Sister Augustina were praying in the church a child was brought in for Baptism. At first Mother Franziska took the poor woman who carried it to be a Gypsy because she, as well as the child, were wrapped in rags. Later she learned that she was Bosnian and the Godmother of the child. Immediately Canon Jeglic offered to baptize the child and as soon as it had received the Holy Sacrament, Mother Franziska whp did not take note of the poor exterior, but thought only of the child’s soul, radiant with the baptismal graces, made the sign of the cross on its forehead and kissed it. When the Bosnians saw this they were almost beside themselves with joy and gave Mother Franziska a gift of ten Kreuzers, although, for performing the baptism Canon Jeglic had received only four. This little episode caused much merriment in the party and was often enthusiastically retold on various occasions.<br />Mother Franziska, upon returning to the parish house, conferred with the pastor about the setting up of a school, envisioning also a model farm such as at Bethania, obtained some parcels of land and returned, on the 14th to Dolnja—Tuzla, with the firm determination to send sisters to Breske soon. A similar escort as at the welcome accompanied them a good part of the way back. On October 15, the feast of St. Teresa, Mother Franziska discussed in greater detail with the Pastor and the authorities of Dolnja—Tuzla the foundation planned for there, and finally decided to send sisters by the end of November to begin a school. The municipality provided the building for this and Mother Franziska decided to rent a small house for the sisters to live in. This foundation would be named to honor the Queen of the Holy Rosary and placed under the special protection of St. Teresa and the holy Apostle of the Faith, St. Francis Xavier. On October 15 Mother Franziska began the journey home to Vienna. This trip to Bosnia was one of the most difficult for her. For seven nights she was unable to sleep, added to this, many stretches had to be traveled in miserable coaches since the network of railroads in Bosnia was by far not so extensive as it is today. As with the sleeping quarters during the trip, so also the meals gave opportunity for various acts of mortification. The furnishings in the Bosnian inns are rather primitive, and besides the poverty great uncleanliness reigns there. Mother Franziska often recounted that the food in the inns was often stored on the bare earthen floor, was prepared with soiled hands, and other such things. Once she and her companion watched as a Turk, preparing to bring them coffee, spit into the cups, wiped them with his soiled apron and halved the sugar cubes with his teeth. Naturally, Mother Franziska as well as her companion were not encouraged by these preparations, but to avoid giving offense, she calmly drank the coffee. In any case, the Turk meant well, someone other than the sisters might well have received “unwashed” cups. None of these difficulties were too much for Mother Franziska. Her heart was happy and at peace with the thought of once again being able to do something for the glory of God, whose unworthy instrument she considered herself to be.<br />On December 3, 1883 Mother Franziska sent three sisters from Vienna for the foundation in Dolnja—Tuzla, who were then followed by two more from the foundation in Sarajevo. On the 12th she received permission from the finance ministry to found, the schools in Dolnja—Tuzla and Breske and the news that the Ministry of the Interior was granting the Congregation a piece of 30 yoke of land for cultivation in Breske. Mother Franziska was overjoyed by this, all the more so because this piece bordered on a 20 yoke parcel<br />56<br />which the Regional Director of Wiener—Welton had purchased in the meantime for the sisters to facilitate the foundation in Breske. On December 17 the school in Dolnja—Tuzla was opened with 23 Bosnian and 6 German children. This school has brought a rich blessing up until now for the Catholic inhabitants of Dolnja—Tuzla who no longer must give their children to persons of different faith for their education. The German school for the better class, that is, the children of military and civil officials, as well as the Bosnian school for the poor and the kindergarten, enjoy good attendance. Even people of other faiths entrust their children to the sisters. As will be recounted later, after Mother Franziska had built a suitable building for the schools in Dolnja—Tuzla and, as living quarters for the sisters in 1888, she added quarters for boarders.<br />In mid—January, 1884 Mother Franziska had a visit from Archbishop Stadler of Sarajevo who told her that at the audience he had just had, the Emperor expressed great pleasure at the work of the sisters in Bosnia and encouraged him to do everything that the Congregation grow there more and more. When the Archbishop was invited to dinner on the 20th with His Majesty, he once again heard praise for the Congregation and soon Mother Franziska was to hear this honor and praise herself from the lips of the beloved Sovereign. She had requested an audience on February 18th, and on entering immediately heard His Majesty say, “It is a pleasure to see you.” Mother Franziska thanked for the grant received for the Marian Institute in Budapest from the State Lottery and presented a summarized report of the work of the Congregation, compiled on the occasion of its fifteenth anniversary of existence, whereupon His Majesty said, “You have an honorable history and beautiful accomplishments to show. You can be pleased.” Mother Franziska mentioned also that she planned to go to Bosnia in the coming week to begin the fifth foundation (she counted the foundation in Sarajevo as two, because it consists of two institutes), which pleased His Majesty who said, “Where do you get the means?” Mother Franziska responded that soliciting was done to support the foundations. This great recognition was for her a new impetus for continuing her activities in Bosnia, On the 23rd she left for Bosnia with her niece, Sister Gonzaga Rinauer, and Sister Eleonora Muller, destined to be Superior in Breske. In Dovoj she was met by Canon Jeglic and Sister Richarda Spaniol from Sarajevo. In Dolnja—Tuzla Mother Franziska had the joy of hearing that the sisters were well liked by people of all faiths and that the children gladly came to their schools. On February 28 Mother Franziska drove to Breske with Canon Jeglic and Sisters Eleonora and Richarda in order to introduce the latter into the little hut which a farmer had lent to them as a temporary home. She later often said that her feelings at this were indescribable. Her loving maternal heart well considered the sacrifices and privations the sisters here would have to endure before the completion of their house. On the other hand, it was surely a great consolation that they had joyfully declared themselves ready for anything. After a three- day stay, during which the site for construction of the school and farm building was selected, and the donated land was viewed, Mother Franziska returned to Dolnja—Tuzla and from there, with the Canon and Sister Gonzaga, back to Sarajevo in the most unfavorable weather. She said about this trip, “I will not easily forget this trip. It was the most difficult I have made until now”. The travelers reached Sarajevo on March 3. Mother Franziska had come with the determination to have the Marian Institute enlarged, so that so many children would not have to be turned away. Of coarse, the material circumstances of the Congregation would not permit this, but Mother Franziska trusted in God’s help and this was not lacking. The officials in Sarajevo were very friendly, since the finance minister von Kallay had asked them to be helpful in the construction of the building. Finally,<br />57<br />the district government also gave free wood, stones and sand, so Mother Franziska signed the contract with gratitude to God and trust in His continued help in closing the various agreements concerning the construction. The result was that the same year saw the completion of a two—story, double tract addition, gaining also a suitable and worthy space for the house chapel. On March 20 Mother Franziska and Sister Gonzaga arrived in Vienna.<br />The cornerstone for the convent in Breske was laid on April 7. In June Mother Franziska went there to check on the construction, and, unfortunately, had to admit that some unconscionably pocketed their high daily wages, doing very little to earn them, and she therefore had to dismiss some of the workers. ‘Of course, this caused great worry, but all the greater was her joy to hear, in the following month, about the completion of the building which was solemnly dedicated on July 17 by Archbishop Stadler. Mother Franziska named this convent “Emaus” and always had a special interest in it. She was always happy to hear how the boys there would make the two—to—three hour walk, even in the cold and dark of winter, to attend the sisters’ school. Actually, the school is intended for boys and girls, but the Bosnian farmers are of the opinion that girls don’t need education and so it is very difficult to persuade them to send them to school.<br />On June 21, 1884 Mother Franziska had the great joy to be granted, by His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII, for seven years, her request for a plenary indulgence for all the members of the Congregation on the Feast of our Lady of Snows. As she shared this with her spiritual daughters she added, “In order to show our gratitude to God and to His Vicar, will you, my spiritual daughters, upon receiving this joyful message, sing a Te Deum in the chapel and pray for His Holiness. May Mary ask for us the grace that our young Congregation may always redound to the glory of Holy Church, consolation for the Holy Father and the welfare of our fellow human beings. Mother Franziska always honored the Mother of God in a special way under the title of “Mother Most Admirable” (dreimal wunderbare Mutter) as she is very much honored in Ingolstadt in Bavaria through a miraculous copy of the Sacred Image of Our Lady of Snows in Rome. She dedicated her Congregation in a special way to Mother Most Admirable and made the Feast of Our Lady of Snows one of its main feasts, to be solemnly celebrated annually in all the houses of the Congregation. She also ordered the common recitation of a very beautiful Prayer for the Feast of Our Lady of Snows which she composed and in which the entire Congregation, each individual sister, all those in their care, and all the houses are again consecrated to our Mother Most Admirable and in which it is promised to do all possible to have her honored under the title, “Mother Most Admirable”. She wrote about it in the Congregation’s<br />Chronicle:<br />“On April 2, 1884 we sent the Holy Father a written request for permission to recite the title ‘Mother Most Admirable’ three times during the Litany of Loretto. We did this in order to be able to venerate Our Mother most Admirable in a very special way because we have made this a special obligation in order to give joy to our good Mother. A meeting of the Cardinals had to be called because of this unusual request. To the great joy of us all the permission arrived from Rome as soon as May 1. Our dear Reverend Archbishop was very happy about it. May this good Mother, for whose honor we strive, in spite of all our weaknesses, to contribute, show herself truly a Mother Most Admirable to us all. This pious wish of Mother Franziska has been fulfilled many thousand times over, because Our Mother Most Admirable, whose picture is found not only in the chapels, but also in most rooms of the individual houses, has consistently shown herself to be Mother and special protectress of the Congregation and demonstrated<br />58<br />her wonderful help in countless cases to it as well as to individual members and those in its care.<br />Still a third exceptional grace was granted the Congregation in this year, to the inexpressibly great joy of Mother Franziska. On August 11 she received a document dated July 26, 1884 from the Sacred Congregation for Bishops and Regulars, in which the purpose of her Congregation——as is stated literally—was, in the name of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, “praised and commended to the highest degree”. Concurrently there followed a few comments concerning changes to be made in individual points of the Constitutions. Mother Franziska was supremely happy about the contents of the Decree which was the same as the long desired approval from the Holy See. Her efforts of many years were finally crowned with success, since in 1883 she once again asked for letters of recommendation from the Bishops of the Dioceses where the Congregation was working and had made various trips for this purpose. As there happened to be retreat taking place in the Mother House, with the sisters from the various foundations present, Mother Franziska was able to share her joy immediately with her spiritual daughters. She had the decree read by the retreat master after the close of the Spiritual Exercises on August 14. Since it was dated on the Feast of St. Anne, she ordered that this Saint, in gratitude, should from that time on be revered as one of the patrons of the Congregation. She also made sure that the small changes in the Constitutions requested by the Holy See be implemented immediately. This great honor of recognition by the Head of the Holy Church gave Mother Franziska once again an occasion to admonish the sisters to take to heart the faithful observance of the Holy Rule as she so often recommended. In the same way she encouraged all to a great gratitude toward the Holy Father, whom she reverenced in a childlike way, and to express this gratitude in fervent prayer. In order to demonstrate her gratitude also to the Mother of God for her intercession in this intention so important to the Congregation she sent several sisters to Maria—Zell on September 29, 1884 to offer the enshrined Virgin a golden heart in which were inscribed on parchment the names of all the members of the Congregation.<br />Now that the recognition had come from Rome it was possible for the first profession of perpetual vows to take place, for up to now the sisters as well as Mother Franziska had made only temporary vows which were renewed annually. Mother Franziska and. the older sisters had long desired this grace. November 21, 1884 was chosen and the most beautiful celebration ever held in the sixteen years of the Congregation’s existence took place. The Reverend Cardinal C6lestin Ganglbauer himself presided at the celebration. At the High Mass, celebrated by His Eminence, Mother Franziska and forty of the oldest sisters who were deemed worthy to receive the grace of perpetual profession received Holy communion, after which His Eminence, drawing his theme from the beautiful celebration, gave a moving talk in. which he encouraged Mother Franziska and the sisters to work, so zealously in the future as they had until now for the glory of God and the good of neighbor. Thereupon Mother Franziska professed her holy vows for life. With what holy enthusiasm and fully radiant heart she did this can easily be imagined. It was, after all, the fulfillment of one of her greatest desires. Following her, the remaining forty sisters gave themselves as lifelong offerings to the Lord. Mother Franziska spoke often of this happy day, which remained unforgettable for herself and the sisters who were present.<br />Mother Franziska had the constant wish to have a dignitary of the Church in Rome as a Protector for her Congregation and directed a request in this<br />59<br />intention to His Eminence Cardinal Jakobini, Secretary of State. After he himself expressed his willingness to be Cardinal Protector of the Congregation, Mother Franziska sent through the Apostolic Nuntio a request strongly supported by His Eminence Cardinal Ganglbauer on January 22, 1885, to His Holiness Pope Leo XIII, containing a petition that His Holiness would deign to appoint Cardinal Jakobini as Protector of the Congregation. On March 2, 1885 Mother Franziska received an Italian letter from Cardinal Jakobini which, translated, reads:<br />Reverend Mother!<br />Since it is the Holy Father’s wish that the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity should have a public sign of the favor with which he views it and recognizing the good which the congregation does, he came to the decision to give it a special Protector in the person of a highly—placed dignitary. Not satisfied with this, he wanted also to agree with the request which you most humbly presented in the name of the Congregation, to the Papal throne, by appointing my poor person to this office. As I am notifying you of this, Reverend Mother, I can assure you that the prosperity of your so highly esteemed Congregation will always be close to my heart and that I, as much as my weak strength will allow, will make every effort to promote it in such a way that it may always give meritorious service and so become deserving of the gratitude of all good people.<br />Wishing you and your religious Congregation the fullness of heavenly graces, I sign this as one favoring you, Reverend Mother,<br />in the Lord,<br />Rome, February 27, 1885 Cardinal L. Jakobini<br />The joy felt by Mother Franziska over this letter and her grateful feelings over the honor given by the Vicar of Christ were indescribable. Now her Congregation had a powerful intercessor and protector of its rights in Rome. She immediately had all the foundations notified of the grace received. On March 5 the Vienna Newspapers carried the news and all the benefactors and friends of the Congregation rejoiced at the recognition given it. Highly placed Princes of the Church like His Eminence Cardinal Schwarzenberg, prince—bishop of Prague, Count Furstenberg, prince—bishop of Olmut, etc. members of the imperial family as well as her Royal Highness the Archduchess Adelgunde, Duchess of Modena, and Marie, wife of His Royal Highness, Archduke Rainer, congratulated Mother Franziska. She rejoiced in these honors, not for her own person, but for the sake of the Congregation. Her own heart remained as humble as ever and could not cease thanking God for the great graces received.<br />60</span></div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-56621376318032513802010-01-12T17:14:00.000-08:002010-01-12T17:26:39.223-08:00SERVANT AND INSTRUMENT<div align="center"><strong>CHAPTER VII<br /></strong><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Foundation of the Convalescent House in Breitenfurt, the houses in St. Andre<br />and Prague and other noteworthy happenings in the years from 1877 to 1882.<br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">On January 30, 1877 Mother Franziska with her niece, Sister Annunciata Vornberger, undertook a trip to Munich to try to get a soliciting permit for Bavaria. In spite of the nice references from various high places which supported her request, she was not granted the permission. From Munich Mother Franziska went to Ingolstadt to a very ill sister, Karoline in order to talk over some family affairs and then to Wasserburg to a relative. From there she went with her companion to her home village of Edling. At this time her parents had been long dead; and anyway, these sold their property and had not spent their last years in Edling. Of the rest of Mother Franziska’s family there remained no one except her old Godmother. Mother Franziska had told the Pastor of Edling of her arrival. The old Godmother and all who had known ‘Franzi’ were joyfully gathered in the churchyard to await her. Even gray—haired men and women did not neglect hurrying there; Each one wanted to see and speak to her. Mother Franziska and Sister Annunciata arrived in Edling after noon and were joyfully greeted by the Pastor and all those assembled. The old Godmother, seeing her God child again, as the Foundress of an order clasped her hands again and again and said that now she would be prepared to die, having seen “Franzi” again. The people said to each other, “We knew it, that something special would become of our Karrer Franzi!” (Karrer was, as we said before, the name of her family house.) The Pastor led Mother Franziska into the parish church, dedicated to the Holy Family, where she had been Baptized and received First Holy Communion. All the people came along and prayed with her before the painting of the Holy Family which decorates the main altar and which she still loved in a special way. They also all went together to the cemetery to visit the graves of Mother Franziska’s dear departed ones. Many old memories were reawakened on this walk. After they returned to the church yard Mother Franziska told of the Congregation which God founded through her and about the goals she had set for it. All were unanimous in thinking that god was with her and her undertaking. In the evening Mother Franziska continued her journey, first in order to visit a relative living near Edling. Before the departure the Pastor gave the benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. The farewell with “Franzi” was very difficult for these good people and they would have liked her to stay with them longer. Some tears were shed and the good wishes of the inhabitants of Edling accompanied her. Mother Franziska also did not forget, during her stay in her homeland, to visit the dear Blessed Mother in Altotting, and commend herself and the whole Congregation to her. On February 6 she again arrived in Vienna.<br />Now we must recount another event that demonstrates Mother Franziska’s care for the interior development of the Congregation.<br />In 1877 she summoned the first General chapter which lasted from July 20 to 24 and was attended by the superiors of the various houses and their assistants. Mother Franziska thought it necessary to consult with them about the interests of the Congregation, to take precautionary measures against abuses, and make such decisions which would preserve the zeal and spirit of sacrifice of the sisters. From that time on such a gathering was held at determined intervals for the good of the Congregation, and upon approval of the Constitutions by the Holy See, after every six years.<br />Since the house in Briinn had already proven to be too small, Mother Franziska had to think about tearing down the back wing to make room for<br />37<br />a new addition in its place. She therefore undertook a trip to Briinn in February, 1878 and, trusting in God’s help, made the necessary arrangements with the builder; it was decided to begin the work on April 1. On April 8 Mother Franziska went to Brunn again because the cornerstone laying was to take place on the twelfth. She took this opportunity to pay a visit to the Reverend Bishop Nottig, to show him the plans for the addition. He received her in a kindly and fatherly way. Unfortunately, the Pastor Kment was prevented from officiating at the cornerstone blessing. Therefore, at nine in the evening Mother Franziska went with all the sisters to the construction just begun, to pray there with them, that God would bring this beginning to a happy end and not permit that this house, built for His glory, ever be used for any other purpose. Then Mother Franziska made the sign of the cross on the cornerstone and sprinkled. the site with holy water; after which each sister did the same. With God’s help the building progressed so that the solemn dedication of the wing could take place on September 9, 1878 in the chapel found therein. Mother Franziska naturally did not miss the chance to be in Brunn on that day. All the guests, many from high circles, who were present at the dedication were visibly surprised as they entered the chapel; no one had imagined it to be so beautiful and all expressed greatest satisfaction with the celebration.<br />During the enlargement of the Brinn house, Mother Franziska again began a foundation. Soon after the foundation of the Refuge of St. Joseph in Breitenfurt she set up, besides the section for the lifelong care of old servants, a section for poor servant girls released from the hospitals. There they were accepted and cared for without cost so that they could convalesce in the good country air to regain their strength and be able once again to take on a position. The rooms in the Refuge soon proved to be too small and so Mother Franziska thought of caring for those convalescing in a house of their own, because it caused her heart pain, because of lack of space, to have to turn away these poor creatures who so badly needed a period of recuperation but could not afford one from their own means. Therefore on May 18 and 19, 1878 she viewed the beautifully situated house of Mr. August Schonwetter for sale in Breitçnfurt, which was only fifteen minutes away from the Refuge. It seemed to be very suited to her intended purposes, since it was in the best of condition and, with its twelve rooms and two kitchens, even if small, offered sufficient space. A stable, a hay barn, 15 yoke meadow and 15 yoke pastureland* also belonged with it. After careful negotiations with the owner the sale took place as early as May 21 for 15,500 florins. The house was taken over on May 24, the Feast of Mary, Help of Christians, and therefor was given the beautiful name, tMariahilft? (Mary—help). Mother Franziska made the note of this purchase in the Congregation Chronicle in her own hand and added the words: “Yes, good Mother Mary, do not abandon us”, remain always at our side with your powerful protection!” Mother Franziska surely didn’t sense as she wrote these words, that it would be in this house that Mary would grant her the last help, since, here, sixteen years later, her active life, lived for the glory of God and welfare of neighbor, would close.<br />On June 1 the necessary repairs in the newly purchased house were begun and as soon as the 22nd of the same month they were completed. On June 21, the Feast of St. Aloysious, the sisters assigned to the convalescent house moved in. Mother Franziska, who accompanied them, led them into the already furnished oratory where they prayed the Litany of Perpetual Help. Thereafter, the Spiritual Director of the Refuge, Father Leopold Endl, gave a talk in which he motivated the sisters to an exact fulfillment of duties. After this simple, yet beautiful introduction, they went happily to the setting up of the house. Only on January 2, 1879 was the dedication of<br />38<br />the convent of “Mariahilf”, celebrated by Rev. P. Alfons, former Definitor of the Capuchins and confessor for the sisters in the Mother House in Vienna. Mother Franziska had intentionally postponed this celebration so long to allow the soliciting sisters, so many of whom had never had the pleasure of being present at the dedication of a house, to attend. Since these sisters had to bring so many and often great sacrifices toward the foundation and maintaining of the houses Mother Franziska wanted them on this day to enjoy one of the fruits of their countless efforts. After the dedication of the chapel and the house, the first Holy Mass was offered to the Heavenly Father by the Rev. P. Alfons, during which the sisters of the convalescent house received Holy Communion. All present were moved to tears as the most high Lord of Heaven and earth descended for the first time to the altar in this newly dedicated house. The feelings of gratitude and joy made a deep impression on all. The altar of the little chapel was the same one on which the first Holy Mass was offered in the Mother House in Vienna. Since that happy January 2 the convalescent house has been shown to be a work richly blessed in that every year, in the most beautiful season, so many poor servant girls find recuperation and strength there, so that they can regain sufficient health to return to earning their living. The foundation of this house was really a work typical of the noble heart of Mother Franziska.<br />It was a big concern of Mother Franziska’s that the Rules of the Society, which had had the Episcopal approval since 1871, would also have Papal Approval and that the Society would be recognized as a canonical Congregation. Therefore she asked the Jesuit Fathers to look through and re—work the Rules so that her wish could be fulfilled. This request was gladly granted and as early as January 23, 1879 she received the revised Rule. Ever since its foundation, indeed, the Jesuit Fathers have earned much gratitude from the Congregation. Mother Franziska went carefully through each point of the Rule with the Reverend General Director, Monsignor Horny, and found that they were very well worked out, so that there were very few further wishes regarding changes or additions that she wanted to express in their regard. After the Jesuit Fathers had made these few changes Mother Franziska brought the Rules to His Eminence Cardinal Johannes Kutschker with the request that he study them and then send them, with his recommendation to Rome. His Eminence spoke with them for an hour and then sent them away with his blessing. The circumstances of the Papal approval gave Mother Franziska much work and concern during the years 1879 and 1880.<br />she had the Rules printed and beautifully bound in order to present them to all the bishops in whose dioceses the Congregation was active. At the same time, with some sisters she did a report about the general activity of the Congregation in the ten years of its existence. Then she traveled to each of these bishops to present them with the report and the Rule and to ask them to write the recommendations to the Holy Father which are necessary for receiving ecclesiastical approval. Mother Franziska was very graciously received by all the bishops and, in recognition of the great good already done by the young society, assured by all of their fulfillment of her request and later, of a very beautiful written recommendation. On November 3, 1880 things had progressed so far that Mother Franziska could complete and send to Rome the request to the Holy Father for approval of the Holy Rule as well as ecclesiastical recognition of the society. The efficient accomplishment of this request happened in July 1884 as we will recount in the appropriate place.<br />In the two years during which the work and traveling mentioned above concerning the approval of the Rule were going on, Mother Franziska was busy in many other areas also. In April 1879 the Silver Wedding Anniversary<br />39<br />of the Imperial Couple was being celebrated in all parts of Austria—Hungary in the most dazzling way. So Mother Franziska hurried to all her institutes to order a worthy celebration, because, although not born in Austria and loving her Fatherland, Bavaria, and its royal house above all, she still cultivated a great respect and devotion toward the great Imperial House of Hapsburg and always zealously worked to awaken and nourish patriotic feelings in all those committed to her care. The reason for this was found not only in the empathy which the Austrians and Bavarians, as peoples of related origins and subjects of two such intertwined ruling houses felt with each other, but this reverence counted mainly as an obligation of gratitude for the extraordinary respect and graciousness which their majesties, Emperor Franz Joseph I and Empress Elizabeth as well as other members of the Imperial Family deigned to show herself and the Congregation. Mother Franziska wrote in the Chronicle of the Congregation on the occasion of the Silver Wedding Anniversary of the Imperial Couple: “In all our houses, especially here, the Imperial Festival was celebrated in the most solemn way. In the mcrrning there was a Solemn High Mass and the sisters and candidates received Holy Communion, the house (she meant here the Vienna Marienanstalt) was hung with flags and the names of Emperor and Empress with their portraits and coats of arms to the right and left decorated the front. Beautiful songs were sung and grand poems were recited. All had the same sentiments, the same joy and each was striving to give it expression. God preserve, protect and bless our Imperial Couple! This was surely the prayer of every honest heart to God today. God hear our prayer, then we will all be happy!”<br />In the same year Mother Franziska received another proof of his good will from His Majesty, which was at the same time a wonderful reward for her trust in God, she had presented His Majesty with a request that a grant from the profits of the State Lottery would come to the Congregation. On September 12, 1879 the sum of 10,000 florins which Mother Franziska had borrowed six years before from the St. Joseph Savings and Loans in Leopoldstadt near Vienna, would come due for repayment and she had, unfortunately, no prospects for meeting this obligation, if the above mentioned petition were not granted. His Majesty had received the request very graciously, but September had come and the money was still missing. Mother Franziska hoped steadfastly that her trust in God’s help would not disappoint her, and so it was. On September 10, a servant from the Ministry of the Interior came with a note saying that Mother Franziska could at any time come and collect 10,000 florins from the Administration of the Imperial Lottery. As she opened it the seal on the note was still moist because the messenger was told to bring the note as fast as possible to the Marienanstalt because the sisters needed the money very badly. One can easily imagine Mother Franziska’s joy and gratitude, since she once again had a sign of the care of God and the power of a rock—stable trust. The money came exactly at the moment of greatest need. She immediately summoned all the sisters, charges and servant girls to the chapel where the Te Deum was sung and prayers offered for the noble Emperor, that God, through the intercession of Mary would reward him for this good deed. On September 11 Mother Franziska picked up the money at the Administration of the Imperial Lottery in order to immediately execute the repayment of the loan. The officials were very friendly and told Mother Franziska that a big exception had been made for her since none of the others for whom a sum from the lottery had been determined had yet been given any cash.<br />On September 17, Mother Franziska traveled with some sisters to Mariazell in order to give thanks for the recently received help as well as all the other graces that had come to her and to her Congregation and<br />40<br />to recommend the Congregation to the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. After she had brought forth all her intentions in the shrine chapel, she returned home on the twentieth. Unfortunately, through the long time spent kneeling on the stone floor, Mother Franziska caught a cold so that she had to go to bed on the day she arrived home. The doctor who was called confirmed abdominal typhoid. The sisters were of course very shocked by this and prayed fervently for the recovery of their dear spiritual mother. God heard their fervent prayer and as soon as three weeks later Mother Franziska was restored to health to the extent that she could go to Breitenfurt for recuperation. In the good air she soon regained her strength and returned to the Mother House on October 27.<br />On November 27, 1879 Mother Franziska and Sister Ignazia Egger were received in audience by His Majesty. she had requested this audience to express her respectful gratitude for the substantial sum she had received from the State Lottery. As she began her thanks, however, His Majesty interrupted her with the question, “Now, how are you? I hear things are going well &ut there with you, are things progressing swiftly for you?” Mother Franziska tried again to hank, but His Majesty replied, “It gave me pleasure to be able to do something for you. I will always do my best for you.” Mother Franziska mentioned that it was exactly eleven years ago on that day that she received the written permission from the city authorities for the foundation, that she was at that time all alone, and that now there were already 155 sisters working in ten houses. His Majesty greatly admired this rapid growth of the congregation, and expressed his pleasure that the authorities are so well intentioned toward it.<br />Mother Franziska and her companion returned home deeply moved by the compliments of His Majesty and rejoiced over this gracious recognition of the work of the Congregation.<br />The concern about repaying the debt of 10,000 florins for the Refuge of St. Joseph in Breitenfurt was now over, but in the meantime, a new worry about the same house confronted Mother Franziska. The refuge, too, had long ago become too small. For this reason, Mother Franziska had an addition built on the north side in 1878, but still there wasn’t enough space. It seemed absolutely necessary to add two further wings on the east and south side to do justice to all the demands made on the house according to its purpose. Again, the irritating problem of money was the obstacle. Mother Franziska thought about receiving permission to solicit in the Tyrol to solve this problem, but the trip two sisters took on October 1, 1879 to Innsbruck, especially for this purpose remained without result. As often as she had tried, during two years, for the soliciting permit in the Tyrol, Mother Franziska had received a denial. Now, since she didn’t know where she should send the sisters to collect and how she should get the funds for building in Breitenfurt, she took refuge with the Patron of that house and promised St. Joseph, that if she received help through his intercession in this intention, she would immediately have it published it in the Messenger of St. Joseph.<br />Trusting in the support of the dear Saint, Mother Franziska went once more, on January 29, 1880, to the Ministry of the Interior to request the soliciting permit for the Tyrol. She told her companion, Sister Henrika Albrecht to put a tiny image of St. Joseph, the kind that come in little cases to carry in the purse, under her glove and open with it the door to the Ministry, so that St. Joseph would be leading them in. Wonder of wonders! Although it was usually said, “For the Tyrol, absolutely nothing!” now, her petition was graciously received. As Mother Franziska and her<br />41<br />companion left the building in joyful hope, the latter noticed that the image of St. Joseph had fallen out of her handkerchief and so was left behind in the Ministry, as though the Saint wanted to show that he would smooth the way for the request. It really happened immediately, as Mother Franziska received the permit on the very next day. St. Joseph had helped and at the same time given a sign that he desired the enlarging of the house dedicated to him.<br />On February 1, Mother Franziska signed the final contract for the addition in Breitenfurt with the builder, Mr. Friedl and the preparations began on February 9. St. Joseph helped also with the construction so that by October 1880 the Refuge stood there as a beautifully complete quadrangle Over the main entrance were placed statues of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Mother of God and St. Joseph with the Infant Jesus, just as Mother Franziska had promised would be the case if the addition would be realized. On October 9 the elderly residents could move in and on the 11th was the solemn dedication celebrated by the Rev. Msgr. Dr. Horny with many people present. As the addition in Breitenfurt was progressing, the foundation of a new house was in preparation. At the beginning of the year 1880 the sisters of the Congregation were soliciting in Carinthia and came to the beautifully situated town of St. Andra, in the Lavan valley. The St. Elizabeth Society had founded a kindergarten and vocational school there and the Jesuit Fathers, who had a foundation in St. Andra expressed the wish that sisters of the Congregation would take over the administration of this institute. Mother Franziska was ready, as the sisters brought this wish to her attention, to immediately extend the work of the Congregation to Carinthia if the conditions there were suitable. Therefore, she asked the rev. Father Patiss, S. J. on February 14, 1880 in a letter to inform her about these and on March 12 already traveled there with Sister Xaveria Egger to discuss the contract with the head of the St. Elizabeth Society. On the afternoon of the 13, they were cordially welcomed at the station by the head of the society, a Mrs. Vetter and Vice President, Mrs. Fischer. Upon closer examination, Mother Franziska saw that the conditions were not especially suitable because the house offered by the society seemed too small and they were able to give the sisters very little support. In spite of this, Mother Franziska intended to bring this foundation about because she thought this would be provide a good field of work if, besides the kindergarten and school, there could be also established an educational institute. Besides, she and all the sisters had a special preference for St. Andra because it was here that the Rules of the Congregation had been worked out by the Jesuit Fathers. The Jesuit Fathers also promised to be of help to the sisters in everything and to take over their spiritual guidance. Likewise, Mother Franziska received a friendly receptiveness for her plan from the district chief of the nearby little city of Wolfsberg, so she returned to Vienna with the decision to weigh the whole thing once more very seriously with the Reverend Director and her Assistants. These also agreed with Mother Franziska and so on March 25 she sent the petition for permission for a foundation in St. Andra to the district chief in Wolfsberg. On June 2 she traveled with Sister Josefa Kock, later to become the first superior of St. Andra house to Klagenfurt, to discuss details concerning the foundation with the Governor, Count Lodron, as well as the Diocesan Ordinary and then to continue the trip to St. Andra. There Mother Franziska looked at various houses, but found nothing suitable. After a long deliberation she decided to buy an old Dominican convent, dissolvedin 1782, which was attached to the Church of Mary of Loretto and was in<br />a beautiful location. This house was more like a ruin and it was not easy to believe that it could be made habitable. Doors, windows and floors were in terrible condition. m, however, knowledgeable in such matters, soon<br />42<br />noticed that the walls and roof were good and that there was hope to be able to bring the building back in order. Countess Herel from Wolfsberg promised to donate boards and door and window jams for this purpose and the royal Danish courtier von Schutt in St. Andra, promiseo lumber and tiles. Without these prospects Mother Franziska would hardly have dared to think about the purchase because of the large expenditures which the foreseeable repairs would require. Mother Franziska and her companion prayed to the deceased Dominicans interred in the crypt of the old convent under the Church of Loretto, that they would ask God that this ruin would once again be changed into a convent, and this prayer brought good results. On June 6, a Sacred Heart Sunday, Mother Franziska came to a happy agreement with the seller and on the very next day the deal was closed. This had hardly taken place than people came from everywhere to express their joy about it to Mother Franziska; the mayor and city council and a delegation of women came also for this purpose. There was a general joy that sisters would come again to St. Andra. On July 11, Mother Franziska moved into a room in the ruins with Sister Josefa and Sister Ferdinanda HeiB who had come in the meantime froru Vienna. It was the best one in the house, but even this had no window unbroken. Their feelings while moving in cannot easily be described. On the very same day the masons began their work; On the 13 Mother Franziska signed the contract with the professionals and on the 14 with the builder Urbani of Wolfsberg and then returned, after giving all necessary instructions, to Vienna, followed by the good wishes of the inhabitants. In the next few months Mother Franziska traveled four times to St. Andra to look after the construction work and often had to make some uncomfortable trips to Kiagenfurt because obtaining permission for the foundation also caused great difficulties. However, with her own decisiveness, Mother Franziska conquered all obstacles and, after the completion of the construction work, the opening of the institute, retaining the name, “Maria Loretto” which the convent had originally, could finally take place on November 3. On that day Mother Franziska was not present in St. Andra but on January 10, 1881, she went there and found the building and furnishing of the house beautiful beyond her expectations. The old ruin was unrecognizable in the now stately convent. After the permission for Holy Mass and reservation of the Blessed Sacrament had arrived from Rome on January 26, the solemn dedication could be held on February 9, for which Mother Franziska went again to St. Andra. This was undertaken in the presence of 24 participants, by the Reverend Monsignor Augustin Dudin, Abbot of the Benedictine Foundation in nearby St. Paul. The house was most beautifully decorated, since the inhabitants of St. Andra competed with one another in lending the sisters a hand. The Jesuit Fathers, especially, did everything to have the chapel and house beautifully decorated and fervently shared the joy of sisters. Everyone who attended the dedication was moved by the dignified celebration. Since then, in this house and in the boarding school and kindergarten, the vocational and Sunday school, much good has already been done.<br />The events, one happy and one sad, which were passed over in order not to interrupt the account of the St. Andra house, must now not remain unmentioned. On May 25, 1880 the manufacturer, Anton Lang, the good old friend of the Congregation who gave Mother Franziska the first contribution for her work and constantly stood by her with help and advice, died. The death of this noble man, mourned by the poor of Vienna, rightly, as one of the their greatest bençfactors, caused deep pain to Mother Franziska. She was present with many sisters for his funeral and ordered that Masses, Holy Communions and prayer should be offered for the eternal rest of the soul of this noble man. In any case, Mother Franziska was always filled with great gratitude toward all benefactors of the Congregation, and to<br />43<br />awaken like sentiments in the sisters and those in their care, talked about their noble qualities, presented lists of the benefactors and, above all, ordered daily prayer for them, which is surely the best expression of gratitude.<br />The second event was the visit of his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Franz Joseph I to the Marian Institute in Troppau, which took place in the afternoon of October 21, 1880. Mother Franziska had traveled to Troppau especially for the occasion and, with Count Attems, Mayor Martin Wojtech Edlen von Willfest, the Reverend Director Neumann, both confessors of the house, etc. awaited His Majesty at the entrance of the festively decorated building. At four o’clock loud cheers announced the arrival of the Monarch. His Majesty immediately greeted Mother Franziska with the respectful words, “Yes, you came from Vienna? I am pleased.” His majesty deigned to visit the chapel and the other rooms of the house, to graciously accept the<br />greetings of the pupils, and to inform himself extensively about the affairs<br />of the house. He also expressed gracious words of praise for the arrangement<br />of the Institute and addressed the highest praise for the rapid development of the Congregation in these words addressed to Mother Franziska, “I am pleased that your Congregation has made such great progress in such a short time. So much has happened in this time; you deserve an award! But in the beginning you also suffered much worry and care!” Mother Franziska responded to this, “Your Majesty, it is true, but I have also experienced much joy, the officials were always good to us and have consistently helped us.” Upon leaving the house, His Majesty repeated expressions of the greatest appreciation. Mother Franziska never forgot this joyful day. At the close of the detailed account written by one of her secretaries in the Congregation’s Chronicle she added, “As His Majesty left the house, many people poured into the place where our good Emperor had been. It was touching to see the holy reverence with which many kissed the places where His Majesty had stood. People kept coming for two whole days to look at everything. It cannot be described what a blessing this visit was for our house!”<br />Soon after this happy event Mother Franziska undertook another foundation. She had often received letters from Prague that she might also open a Marian Institute there and many friends of the Congregation had been looking for houses that would be fitting for this charitable purpose. After extensive deliberation Mother Franziska decided to go there with Sister Augustina d’Armaille on October 28, 1880, to see if the foundation were possible. In Prague she consulted with His Eminence Cardinal Schwarzenberg, Jiricek, the Reverend Monsignor Probst Stule, the Police Chief, Steyskal, the Mayor, etc. and found everywhere great joy at the reason for her coming and ready willingness to help. Encouraged by this, she looked at several houses, accompanied by the Bookseller Mr. Steinhauser and her companion. House number 527 in Gerstengasse would have been especially suitable because of its healthful, beautiful location, only the price 50,000 florins, seemed too high to Mother Franziska. In spite of this, all the men with whom she spoke advised her not to lose sight of this house. For the time being she rented, through Mr. Steinhauser, an apartment with three rooms and a kitchen in Salmgasse for the sisters until a suitable house could be found, and then, after a visit to the Brunn Marienanstalt, returned to Vienna. As soon as November 23, Sister Augustina d’Armaille, as superior, and two sisters traveled to Prague to take possession of the rented apartment. Befor.e their departure Mother Franziska said to Sister Augustina, “I can’t give you anything to take along except my blessing, five guldens and a kiss!” Even though this foundation also began in the direst poverty, God continued to help and added His blessing to that of Mother Franziska. The sisters<br />44<br />wrote her often that all the friends of the Congregation advised buying the house on Gerstengasse; if this happened soon, a percent of the registration fees could be saved because the house had changed owners not quite two years before. On December 8, Mother Franziska received word that the final date for gaining this advantage would expire on the 9th. So Mother Franziska traveled, quickly decided, to Prague on the same day with the evening train. Three thousand florins should have been paid as down payment, but she could gather only 2100 florins and therefore borrowed 800 florins before her departure, as well as telegraphing to the sisters in Brunn to bring the missing 100 florins to the train as she passed through. Unfortunately these had only 50 florins in their savings which they gladly gave to Mother Franziska. Arriving in Prague with a worried heart, she consulted once again with the friends of the Congregation and then, trusting in God, closed the sale for 50,000 florins. The transfer of the title took place on the 11th and was announced to the tenants. On this day the governor’s permit to establish the institute and the permit to solicit in Bohemia also arrived. After Mother Franziska visited various friends and patrons to announce the purchase of the house and to recomend the new foundation to their good will and protection, she returned home. On February 14, 1881 the sisters moved from their rented apartment into their new home to begin working there. On May 2 the renovations began, and on June 26 when Mother Franziska came again to Prague she was happily surprised to see the furnishing of the house so far advanced. She was especially happy about the beautiful chapel. The sisters did everything to have the house very beautifully arranged for the dedication. This was set for July 6th. Mother Franziska had entered a request on May 31st, through Countess Zitta Nostitz, to Her Imperial Highness, the Crown Princess Stephanie, that she take over the protectorate of the Marian Institute in Prague, and had received a favorable reply. Shortly before the dedication, on July 2, news also came from Countess Nostitz that the acceptance of the protectorate by her Royal Highness may be published in the newspapers. On July 6, the dedication of the Marian Institute took place in a solemn way, through the Master General of the Knights of the Cross——P. Schobel (now Bishop of the Diocese of Leitmeritz in Bohemia) in the presence of many exalted guests. Mother Franziska left the house open to visitors for three days and hundreds of people came to see the new institute. On July 12, Mother Franziska and the Superior of the institute, Sister Augustine d’ Armaille, were received in audience at 11 A.M. by Her Royal Highness Crown Princess, Archduchess Stephanie, who happened to be in Prague at the time. The exalted lady showed the greatest condescension and kindness to them both, informed herself in detail about the affairs of the Congregation and dismissed them with the gracious promise to visit the institute when she next came to Prague. This audience was a special privilege since, during this visit, her royal Highness had received no one except the ladies of the Bohemian nobility. Since its foundation, the Marian Institute in Prague has enjoyed a steady prosperity. Thousands of young women seeking employment found shelter, board and placement, as well as instruction in the Sunday School, many children have been educated and older girls trained in practical skills in the domestic science school contained therein, so that Mother Franziska really began a richly blessed work with this foundation. On August 27, 1881 she went again to Prague, to make arrangements with the Reverend Director Bauer, now Bishop of the Archdiocese of Olmutz, about the sisters taking care of the household in the Episcopal Residence in Prague as they had been requested to do. After all the necessary arrangements, Mother Franziska sent sisters to the seminary; for ten years these cared for the household there, but because of various conditions, the contract for this was dissolved in 1891.<br />45<br />At the close of this chapter is still to be mentioned the joy shared by Mother Franziska and the sisters at the visit of Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess, Archduchess Stephanie to the Prague Marian Institute. At 7:30 in the evening on January 9, 1882 a telegram brought the news that the exalted visit would take place on the next day at 10 A. M. In ten minutes Mother Franziska was ready to travel, hurried to the train and arrived at 9 A. M. on the 10th in Prague, where she quickly took charge of the proximate preparations. At exactly 10 A. M. Her Royal Highness drove up and deigned to greet Mother Franziska from the carriage, to offer her hand as she stepped out and to express joy at seeing her again. The exalted lady visited all the rooms, talked in the most condescending way with the sisters and pupils and expressed her total satisfaction with the practical arrangement of the house, and the order and cleanliness found therein. Her Royal Highness especially conversed with Mother Franziska in the most affable way, thanked her that she especially came from Vienna, promised to send her portrait to her and Sister Augustina and gave her most cordial farewell with the promise to come again soon. This mark of recognition again gives evidence of the love Mother Franziska enjoyed, even in the highest circles, because of her noble striving and her splendid qualities.<br /></div></span>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-53055887009328714572009-12-25T07:16:00.000-08:002009-12-25T07:22:13.187-08:00<div align="center"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>CHAPTER VI<br />Foundation in St. Georgental, Foundations in Toponar and Berzencze</strong>.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></div></span><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">In September of 1873 two sisters of the Congregation were on a soliciting trip in German Bohemia. When they arrived in St. Georgental the Pastor, Reverend Luttna, told them that a factory owner, Mr. Edward Wolf and his wife, Magdalena, wanted to make a foundation for the good of poor children in order to thank God for the blessing that had come to their businesses. Foreseen for this was a house belonging to Mr. Wolf which should become an institute to care for children and a vocational school, as well as a place for the education of orphans. The Pastor asked the sisters to intercede with Mother Franziska to send sisters to conduct the institute to be established in St. Georgental. Mother Franziska was not against these plans and, after repeated exchanges of letters with the Pastor and Mr. Wolf, she went in the company of Sister Xaveria Egger to St. Georgental on November 27, 1873 to see the house. On this occasion she traveled through the pilgrimage site of Philippsdorf. It was reputed that the Blessed Mother appeared there in 1868 to a sick girl named Magdalena Kali and healed her. During her stay in Philippsdorf Mother Franziska had opportunity to speak with the favored one. In the shrine chapel she recommended all her undertakings and intentions to the Mother of God with great devotion. Since now, as was often the case, she was lacking funds, she placed her purse on the spot where the Blessed Mother had stood during the apparitions and asked her fervently to provide through her intercession the necessary money so that many poor people could be helped. This request did not remain unheard, because, even if Mother Franziska often had to struggle with great money worries, she always received what was absolutely necessary, often in the last minute and in almost mysterious ways. Mother Franziska was completely satisfied with the absolute necessities and often admonished her spiritual daughters to wish for no more than that so that holy poverty would be preserved. She saw this as the protecting wall of the spiritual life and therefore often said, When I die I will constantly ask God that the Congregation remain poor." Money and possessions she saw as mere means to do good. They had no other value for her. Therefore, as soon as she received a larger donation she could think only of how to use it as soon as possible for some good work.<br />After successfully completing the journey to St. Georgental, Mother Franziska was greeted in a most friendly way at the station by the Pastor and Mrs. Wolf. After viewing the house, Mother Franziska came to an agreement with Mr. Wolf to first renovate it for the intended purpose since it was not in especially good condition. Mr. Wolf was very prepared to have this done. Upon his agreement to this, Mother Franziska, seeing how fervently the inhabitants of St. Georgental desired the opening of the planned institute, promised to send sisters as soon as the building was finished. She also thought that these, by a good education of the children with a firm foundation of instruction in the holy Faith, could limit the influence of the very widespread ‘Old Catholic’ sect in that populous region and so have a beautiful field of apostolic activity. For Mother Franziska, for whom the holy Faith was above everything else and whose greatest wish was to be able to save very many souls, this was the decisive reason for taking over the planned institute, even if various obstacles should present themselves. These did not fail to come, but Mother Franziska overcame them all with her determination’ and so, on July 25, 1874, the bill of sale in which Mr. Wolf gave the house to the Congregation for a nominal fee was signed. Mother Franziska had traveled again to St. Georgental to close this deal. After finishing the business involved in the purchase she went to Leitmeritz, the diocesan seat of St. Georgental to ask the Bishop to accept the Congregation there as well as to obtain permission to have a chapel and to have Holy Mass celebrated in the house at St. Georgental. This good shepherd received Mother Franziska kindly, agreed to her requests and to special protection for the Congregation and gave her and the new undertaking his blessing. Then Mother Franziska traveled on to Prague to obtain the civil permission for the foundation in St. Georgental and was received in a most friendly way by the Governor’s Assistant, von Adar. The request was most satisfactorily granted in a short time. After taking care of her affairs, Mother Franziska passed through Brunn, to their great joy, visiting the sisters there and then back to Vienna. On August 1 she sent the sisters to the new foundation and on the 31st of the same month she traveled there again herself to prepare for the dedication. The renovation was completed and so, after much effort and work, this celebration could be held on September 10. The inhabitants of St. Georgental participated enthusiastically. The day before they decorated the houses with wreaths and lighted the windows at night. After a Pontifical High Mass and moving sermon in the parish church there was a solemn procession to the convent which was dedicated in honor of the Queen of Angels. Thereafter the first Holy Mass was celebrated in the house chapel, at which the sisters received Holy Communion. The celebration concluded with the singing of the TE DEUM. Until evening the house was full of people who were very happy about the foundation by the sisters. As name for this new house Mother Franziska chose the one she had earlier wanted to give the Refuge in Breitenfurt, "Divine Providence". After all, she had great devotion to Divine Providence to which she completely handed over all her undertakings, but the action of Divine Providence was also wonderfully visible in the whole life of Mother Franziska and the success of her endeavors witnessed the truth of the saying: "Who trusts in God builds on sure ground."<br />On January 19, 1875 Mother Franziska again gave her permission to take over a foundation. Countess Festetics, by birth, Countess Zichy, had opened a Kindergarten and vocational school on her properties in Toponar in Hungary and turned to Mother Franziska to allow sisters to come and conduct the institute. Joyfully she grasped this opportunity to widen the field of the Congregation’s work and promised to send sisters to Toponar in the fall of the same year. On June 28 this was confirmed by contract.<br />In February of 1875 the Rev. Father Steiner resigned from his position as general director of Congregation. The loss of this deserving man so bound up with her noble work hurt Mother Franziska deeply. To get a substitute she asked the Reverend Monsignor Anton Horny, Cathedral Canon at St. Stephen’s in Vienna, on March 11, to take over this position. He gladly agreed, visited the Marienanstalt for the first time and expressed much praise of its arrangement and accepted on March 21. For many years Monsignor Horny filled this position as a blessing for the Congregation and, after the first approbation of the Constitutions by the Holy See when the post of General Director was dissolved he was appointed Vicar for the Congregation.<br />At the same time, to Mother Franziska ‘s great joy, the Congregation gained still another friend who, ever since, has worked with restless zeal for its welfare. This is Reverend Monsignor Friedrich Sixt, a priest of the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, who on March 15, 1873 took over the catechetical instruction of the pupils in the Vienna Marienanstalt and later, became confessor for the novices and still later for the professed sisters in the Mother House.<br />On April 20, 1875 Mother Franziska traveled with Sister Xaveria Egger to Paris to arrange some family business for Sister Augustina d’Armaille and at the same time to try to get permission to solicit in the French capitol. Mother Franziska and her companion had to endure much discomfort during the trip, especially suffering hunger and thirst because of the lack of money and they finally arrived in Paris without a cent. If Sister Augustina, who was already there, hadn’t picked them up at the station their situation would have been the worst imaginable. The efforts to obtain permission to solicit were, unfortunately, in vain. In order that the trip would not remain without profit for the Congregation, however, Mother Franziska visited various humanitarian institutes in Paris as well as in Strassburg on the way back, in order to learn how they were run. She was especially interested in the shelters for servants, though none of these met her expectations since none received the girls without charging for room and board, most charging them two Francs a day. This in no way satisfied Mother Franziska’s zealous love of neighbor. As on this trip, so otherwise, Mother Franziska liked to use the opportunities to visit charitable institutions to take what was good and practical to improve her own institutes. In general she used her trips to enrich her knowledge and experience and encouraged her spiritual daughters to do the same. She told these to buy maps and geography books on their collecting trips, to study them thoroughly, to visit the various places of interest, all for the purposes of learning something and to use that which was learned for the good of the Congregation. On such occasions she often said to the sisters, "Don’t travel like empty suitcases!" by which she meant, "thoughtlessly". One is immediately reminded of Mother Franziska’s father, who never allowed little Franzi to ride absentmindedly with him and we see the good fruits of his wisdom.<br />On the return trip from Paris Mother Franziska stayed one day in the orphanage of the School Sisters in Augsburg. There were her former teacher, Sister Margareta and many other sister acquaintances who had worked earlier in the convent in Munich. The sisters were very happy to see their former promising pupil, now a foundress of a religious Congregation, again, and not less, was the joy of Mother Franziska to be even a short time with her former teachers whom she so revered and of whom she always spoke with such respect.<br />June 16, 1875, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was a meaningful day for the Congregation as Mother Franziska, in union with the sisters in all the houses, consecrated the Congregation in a solemn way to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mother Franziska had a truly glowing devotion for this Most Sacred Heart as even the name she gave the Congregation demonstrates. He was the object of her most intimate love. In this Most Sacred Heart she placed all her cares and intentions, in Him she sought counsel and consolation and she believed firmly that a sister who did not honor the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus could not be a true Daughter of Divine Love. She designated the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the main Feast of the Congregation and it is annually celebrated in the most solemn manner.<br />In August, 1875 Mother Franziska obtained Austrian citizenship. This news was in the Vienna newspapers on the 27th of the month. Following this many people expressed their recognition of the many good things which had already come about through her work. So her noble work attacked at the beginning by enemies from various sides, now, after a few years received general public praise.<br />September 22, 1875 was again a joyful day for Mother Franziska because of the dedication of the institute honoring the Mother of God under the name "Maria Schutz" (Mary’s protection) founded by Countess Festetics in Toponar and given over to the direction of our sisters. Of course Mother Franziska traveled to Toponar for this. At the conclusion of the celebration the house was presented to the sisters. Unfortunately Mother Franziska became so seriously ill in Toponar that she thought she would not see Vienna again. This led to the great dismay of the sisters, but with God’s help she recovered since the life work given her by the Lord was still a long way from completion.<br />On November 21, the foundation feast of the Congregation, the Reception and Profession took place as each year, but now for the first time in the solemn way according to the prescribed ecclesiastical ceremonial to the great joy of Mother Franziska and making a moving impression on all those present and participating. The candidates for Reception also wore white dresses for the first time. After the conclusion of the celebration those received were led into the novitiate and those sisters who had pronounced their holy vows were conducted into the professed sisters’ room. In front of the procession were three girls dressed in white, one carrying a palm and the other two with candles. On this day all the sisters received the office books with the imprimatur of the bishop, containing not only the Marian Office to be recited daily but also all the rest of the prayers customary in the Congregation. Previously the sisters had not had all the prayers used daily all together in one book and therefore were very happy about the new books.<br />Mother Franziska liked strong prayers, composed many of them herself or selected them with great care for the Congregation. She often reminded the sisters of the devotional and punctual recitation of the obligatory prayers and emphasized that these, because done in obedience, had far greater value than self-chosen personal devotions. She also liked to explain the Marian Office to the Sisters. She did this in such simple and yet enthusiastic words that thereafter all prayed with a redoubled zeal. On such occasions she usually let one sister after another read a psalm, asked what this or that verse meant, which psalm or which verse was preferred by the individual and such things. At that time the Office was prayed in German, not yet in Latin as later. Mother Franziska noted her favorite psalms as those which expressed praise to God or called upon creatures to do so, for example, the TE DEUM, the song of Praise of the Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace: "Praise the Lord, all you works of the Lord", etc., the Psalms 148, "Praise the Lord in the Highest Heaven", 149, "Sing a new song unto the Lord", 150, "Praise the Lord in His Holy Ones" among others. She also strictly insisted that prayer in choir be beautiful, in the correct even tempo, and exactly according to the prescribed ceremonial regulations. She did not tolerate a careless attitude at prayer, leaning on one’s arms and so on, neither did she accept an exaggerated piety. Her own piety was simple, without singularity, but deep, and this is what she expected of the sisters, and encouraged them to strive for the same among their charges. As with prayer, so with the rest of the spiritual practices, Mother Franziska placed great value on their exact and punctual performance, feeling rightly that it is here that the sisters must take the spiritual nourishment needed for the exact fulfillment of the obligations of their vocation. She valued meditative prayer very highly and was very careful that this was explained to the candidates and novices so that they could become practiced in it. She often did this herself. In the same way, when it was possible, Mother Franziska herself gave the spiritual reading to the sisters and candidates and in later years, when her time was much taken up by the constantly growing Congregation, she often held a so-called "reading without book". She usually read one or other point of the Holy Rule or a few sentences from a book appropriate for such reading and then began to explain that which had been read. At these times her extraordinary eloquence was a good help. She spoke fluently and easily, analyzed the point at hand with simple, clear words clarified it with examples, usually taken from her own experience, pointed out failures that had come about and showed how these could be avoided in the future. Such a reading said more to the sisters than many of the most beautiful thoughts found in a book, since Mother Franziska knew exactly how to touch the spiritual needs of her daughters and, as the saying goes, "What comes from the heart reaches hearts".<br />On special occasions, such as in Holy Week Or after times of especially distracting work as, for example, is caused by the renovation of a house, Mother Franziska liked to lead for this or other house or also for the candidates, a three day spiritual renewal or so-called "little retreat". As a foundation for this she used excerpts from the book of Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius Loyola, which consisted of loose pages, each one containing a meditation. These were not fully written, but gave only single points which the person meditating herself filled in. She jokingly called these pages her "wisdom sheets". She slowly read out the points and then completed them as she let her own thoughts intermingle with them. She did this with such warmth that all who listened felt themselves touched and at the same time became convinced about their spiritual Mother’s familiarity with meditative prayer and the intimate communion she experienced with God therein. In using these she knew, as with the spiritual readings, how to touch the needs of her children. She matched her conference and her words entirely to the meditation. These last were sometimes terrifyingly serious during the meditations about the goal and end of the human person, sin, death, judgment and hell, encouraging in considering the divine mercy, enthusiastic when she spoke of heaven, the call to religious life, working for the glory of God and salvation of neighbor. The sisters liked best to hear the meditation about the sufferings of Christ, since she knew how to present this with such warmth in the most glorious light of the love of the Savior, that no heart could remain untouched. After all, she had a most fervent devotion to the sufferings of the divine Bridegroom. The sisters and candidates always came from these little retreats inflamed with a new zeal and the best resolutions.<br />On February 15, 1876 during a fall in the hallway in the Mother House Mother Franziska seriously injured a hand and had to wear it in a sling for a long time, though she didn’t allow this accident to greatly interrupt her restless activity and, since she could not work with her hand, her restless spirit worked all the more. The Vienna Marienanstalt had long ago proved to be too small for all the unemployed servant girls and the pupils who were registered for acceptance. At the celebrations for Reception and Profession also, which were always attended by many relatives of the sisters, the lack of space made itself felt and so Mother Franziska thought about enlarging the house through an addition in the garden. Since the poor Congregation had no means for this, she decided to turn to the Emperor, Franz Joseph I, with a respectful petition to assign a sum from the income of the State Welfare Lottery. She requested an audience with His Majesty for this purpose. His Highness graciously received the request and Mother Franziska received 10,000 florins from the lottery for the planned addition. The cost estimate was 19,000, but the beginning was helped and for the rest Mother Franziska hoped in God’s continued help. So on April 3, 1876 she let the preparations begin and the cornerstone for the addition was laid on the 20th of the month. The Reverend Director, Dr. Horny gave the sermon on this occasion on the text: "If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do the builders labor". The Lord did build the house since Mother Franziska had placed Him in command as Master Builder by offering this up as she did every undertaking and the dedication of the wing could be held as early as September 11, 1876. Through this increased space Mother Franziska could now follow the impulse of her benevolent heart and open the doors of the house to more of the poor.<br />During the enlargement of the Mother House preparations were being made again to take over a new foundation. The Reverend Pastor Johann Kavulak in Berzencze in Hungary had the intention, using the capital carefully saved over long years, to found an educational institute. Since he had heard of the work of the Daughters of Divine Charity in Budapest, he went there to the superior, Sister Borgia Uri, and offered the Congregation the ownership and direction of the convent he would donate. When Mother Franziska heard of this she sent Sister Borgia to Berzencze on March 2, 1876 to get to know the situation there exactly. She reported to her that the house built by the Pastor would serve the purpose and it seemed to offer a beautiful field of work for the Congregation. Filled with the desire to work for the salvation of youth wherever the Congregation would be offered opportunity to do so, Mother Franziska gave her consent for accepting the institute to the Reverend Pastor Kavulak and sealed this in a contract with him on July 30, 1876. On September 22 she traveled to Berzencze for the dedication of the house which was held on the 24th. This was celebrated by the Most Reverend Auxiliary Bishop of Vesprem and the convent received the beautiful name, "The Divine Friend of Children". So now Mother Franziska had an additional foundation under her direction and this blossomed to her credit and the joy of the worthy pastor, later Monsignor, Kavulak. It contains an elementary school, vocational school and a kindergarten.<br />Mother Franziska never forgot the spiritual progress of her daughters during the visible development of the Congregation, but rather directed her efforts toward confirming them more and more in their religious life. Therefore, she entertained for a long time the thought of providing some substitute for the candidacy and novitiate that the circumstances of the time had not allowed to those sisters who had entered immediately after the foundation. In October, 1876 her plan was fulfilled in that Mother Franziska called the sisters concerned, twelve in number, together in the Refuge in Breitenfurt and had them begin a so-called Profession Novitiate. This was introduced by a retreat and the sisters had certain exercises to fulfill as novices must do. Mother Franziska spent as much time with them herself and gave them the necessary direction. This novitiate lasted four months and Mother Franziska had the joy of seeing that the sisters involved used this graced time given them very zealously. She would gladly have extended this to an entire year but it was impossible since the Sisters were needed in the various houses and for soliciting. Even so it was a great sacrifice to let them come to Breitenfurt for so long a time, but Mother Franziska wanted to bring this sacrifice because she knew well of the value of the novitiate and that the outwardly most glowing works of the Congregation would have no value and no endurance before God if at the same time there is no work done for the interior perfection and stability of the same. Mother Franziska considered it a holy obligation to provide them with the grace of a novitiate, since it was exactly these sisters who entered first who brought so many and so great sacrifices. Although much has already been told about the early years of the Congregation and the efforts and sacrifices involved, it will still be interesting to hear Mother Franziska’s own words, in the Chronicle of the Congregation in connection with the announcement concerning the Profession Novitiate. These are written down in 1884 as the events of the first years are once again and more thoroughly summarized. She says, "At the foundation of the Congregation during the first years, it was not possible to have a candidacy and novitiate and therefore those accepted could not be sufficiently evaluated. Also we could not be too selective in accepting those who really had enough courage and trust in God to enter a congregation whose continued existence was not yet assured! In this way some slipped in who were not really called and this was demonstrated only later. Therefore, in the early years some had to be dismissed. Those, however, who, filled with the best spirit, were called by God to help in this work, let nothing shake them in their holy vocation. Enough sufferings and persecutions came. Many told the sisters that the Congregation was not viable and would not endure; we had much opposition. The sisters, however, faithfully remained with me. It was a life of love in community. I comforted them by saying that God would surely help us and that our society would certainly become a religious congregation. For me the saying of Gamaliel was a constant comfort, ‘If it is God’s work no one can destroy it, if it is a human work it will fall apart of itself.’ The thought that no enemy could destroy the Congregation if God wanted it to exist strengthened me. I did as much as I could in my poverty to educate the sisters in the spiritual life and the purposes of the Congregation. I saw how concerned the sisters were to ennoble their hearts and spirits. When these arrived home, weary from soliciting, or worn out by some other work of the day, they still zealously studied, with an eagerness for knowledge like good children, catechism, Bible history, church history, geography etc. or also needlework. Spiritual counsels were accepted with joy. I did not have to give any command in a severe way, it was enough if I said, ‘I think this or that should be done or should be this way or that.’ I was very strict but the sisters knew that I loved them. The first sisters who helped with the foundation, tired themselves day and night and undertook the most difficult trips in order to prove themselves useful to the Congregation. How often the rail compartment was our dormitory, how often we wrote the whole night through to make the changes in the Statutes, to write soliciting letters, etc. It was a life of sacrifice and yet we did everything gladly. It was all meant to establish our dear Congregation or to win benefactors for it. All joys and sufferings were shared with the sisters because I knew how fervently they participated in these. In principle I told the first sisters of all events so that these could use these experiences if God would call them to be superiors.<br />When much bitterness came and I thought I would be crushed by worry and cares, I took my little niece Theresia Rinauer (later Sister Gonzaga), who came to me at age five as an orphan, with me to the chapel so that she could help me pray. How many tears were shed before the tabernacle are known to God alone. At night when I couldn’t sleep because of worry and pain I looked for comfort and help in the chapel. A glance at the crucifix which hangs in the chapel and the Sorrowful Mother strengthened me and then peace and resignation returned to my soul. This crucifix with the Sorrowful Mother was in our family for many years. We always had to say all our prayers before this crucifix, therefore I had it brought here as my dearest treasure.<br />God gave me from childhood a cheerful disposition. I treasure this as a special grace from the Lord. No matter how the storms blew, no one noticed it from the outside. The good God was visibly with us. We very often did not have even ten ‘Kreuzer’ in the house, but if a payment had to be made, the money also came at the right time. A hundred cases could be cited, all the sisters had an unlimited trust in our holy Father St. Joseph. He was and still is, after the Mother of the Lord, our best intercessor and protector. May this faith and this trust never become dormant among the sisters of the Congregation!"<br />Thus far we have the simple and yet eloquent words of Mother Franziska which have given us a glance into her noble heart and surely form a worthy conclusion to this chapter.<br /></div></span>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-9892925360859759442009-12-02T12:57:00.000-08:002009-12-02T13:14:41.077-08:00Mother Franziska Lechner Chapter Five<span style="font-family:arial;"><div align="center"><br /><br /><strong>CHAPTER V</strong><br /><br /><em>Events during the years from 1871 to 1874 and the founding of the Refuge St. Joseph in Breitenfurt.<br /></em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="justify"><br />In order not to interrupt the narrative, two events which were very painful for Mother Franziska were omitted and must now be recounted. On May 4, 1871 the Protectress of the Congregation, her Royal Highness, Archduchess Maria Annunciata who had been a protectress of the young community in the truest sense of the word, passed away. For the community and especially for Mother Franziska this was a hard blow; She and the sisters took turns during three days and three nights holding vigil at the wake. On the 29th of the same month Mother Franziska received a new hurt in the death of Sister Luzia Benda, who was her first spiritual daughter and co-worker in the founding of the Congregation, leaving it now to go into eternity. Unfortunately Mother Franziska did not have the consolation to see her before her death because Sister Luzia caught an inflammation of the brain as a result of overexertion during a collecting trip in Bohemia and was no longer able to be brought home. She died in Prague with the Elizabethans and was also buried there. Everywhere she went collecting, but especially in Moravia and Hungary, Sister Luzia was much loved and when, without the initiative of the Congregation, her death was announced in various newspapers many priests said Masses for her.<br /><br />Since the Congregation had lost its protectress so soon, Mother Franziska thought of requesting the Empress Elizabeth to deign to overtake the protectorate. Therefore she requested an audience with her Royal Highness the Archduchess Sophie, the Mother of His Majesty the Emperor, Franz Joseph I, to ask her intercession with Her Majesty. The great lady granted the request. Her Imperial Majesty spoke with Mother Franziska as with a friend and told her much about the Bavarian royal family and about the sad death of her son, Emperor Maximilian of Mexico. This respectful condescension was a great encouragement and special consolation for Mother Franz iska.<br /><br />On July 22, 1871 she had the grace of an audience with His Majesty, Emperor Franz Joseph I and requested a tax exemption for the Vienna MARIENANSTALT. His Majesty deigned to receive this request respectfully and expressed interest in the Congregation. At this opportunity Mother Franziska also told how the Congregation had been orphaned through the death of the Archduchess Maria Annunciata and she and the sisters had the joyful hope that Her Majesty the Empress Elizabeth would deign to take over the protectorate herself. His majesty mentioned then that he would be very happy if Her Majesty would agree because the Congregation does so much good for his people and works in a truly charitable way. He also would be very ready to help wherever he could. Mother Franziska left the audience hall very happy about this graciousness and respect. The request she made was granted promptly because His Majesty had deigned to affix his signature to it. The day after the audience Mother Franziska sent two sisters to collect in Ischl in upper Austria and told them to request an audience with Her Majesty, the Empress Elizabeth who was staying there. The next day at 10 o’clock Mother Franziska received a telegram from the sisters saying that Her Majesty had deigned to receive them and at the same time had agreed to take over the protectorate. This was a great joy for herself and her spiritual daughters and at the same time an encouragement which they really needed at that time. July 28, 29, and 30 had been very bitter days for Mother Franziska and the Congregation. Because of a loan against the Marian Institute, made to meet the obligations which became urgent in taking over the house in Budapest, something had to be changed in the Statutes of the Congregation and Mother Franziska had to go from one official to the other, to the governor, the police, to district and even the state judges with the most urgent requests in order to see this matter quickly and successfully taken care of. While she was received in a friendly way everywhere, one official was very tactless and rude and had only spiteful words for her presentation and requests. Mother Franziska was all the more sensitive to this since she had received several worrisome telegrams from Budapest saying that the former owner of the house would wait not one day longer for payment. In all this she did not lose her trust in God and was rewarded after these difficult days by having the loan come through successfully on August 2. A false alarm which brought two fire trucks to the Marienanstalt added to the excitement of these days.<br /><br />On August 20 Mother Franziska traveled with Sister Borgia Uri, her subsequent second General Assistant, to Wildbad-Gastein to solicit alms. In Hallein their travel funds ran out, however, and they had to ask a coachman who was going with an empty coach to Werfen to take them along free. He had compassion and did as they asked. From there another kind man let them ride along in his wagon with him as far as St. Johann. Now, however, Mother Franziska and her companion, who had been riding all night and not eaten anything in a long time, could go no farther because of weakness. But the Dean of St. Johann received them kindly and after they had recovered somewhat they solicited in that place the next day and were so blessed by God that they had gathered the necessary fare and could continue on to Wildbad-Gastein. His Majesty, the German Emperor, Wilhelm I was staying there and gave Mother Franziska 100 florins. All the men of the court also gave donations and the collection went well also in other respects. On August 27 she returned to Vienna and in spite of the difficulties that the trip had entailed, was happy to again have something with which to cover the many payments. Naturally, compared to the many obligations that had to be fulfilled it was only a drop in the ocean and Mother Franziska soon had to suffer money worries again. On September 1 a payment of 5,000 florins for the house in Brunn came due, but in spite of every effort, by August 30 only the sum of 3,800 florins could be gotten together. The former owner had explained that she absolutely had to have the money by September 1 because she wanted to take a long trip and wanted to buy a house before she left. Good advice was here expensive. Mother Franziska sent Sister Borgia on a trip to Brunn, to give the 3,800 florins to Mrs. Waniek and to ask her for a postponement. Just before Sister Borgia wanted to leave on August 30, however, came the news that Mrs. Waniek had died suddenly. So the difficulty was taken care of, naturally in a way that the sisters neither expected nor desired.<br /><br />In spite of the fact that Mother Franziska had so many worries with payments, she still had to think about getting a house for the foundation in Troppau in order not to have any obstacles in the way of its flourishing. There the sisters were still living in the rented apartment and because of the lack of space had to turn away many of the servant girls who applied for admission. A house across from the parish church on Pechring in a quiet spot was offered for sale to Mother Franziska; earlier it had been a Greek Catholic monastery. On December 15 she traveled to Troppau and looked at the one mentioned and a series of other houses. However, none was as suitable as the first. On December 18 the purchase took place for the sum of 29,000 florins. Mother Franziska again could close the deal only with trust in God’s help; she had no more than 1,000 florins for down payment. In this need Mother Franziska thought again about making a collecting trip, this time to Germany. Therefore on February 20, 1872 she traveled to Dresden to gain permission for collecting and to ask for a financial support from the nobility. At the time she was sick, having, as often in her life, severe headaches and also stomach discomfort, and only the zeal for her work and the needs of the Congregation would not let her rest. Mother Franziska had in fact an extraordinary self-control and unselfishness and considered concern for her own welfare the least and the last. This time, too, God visibly rewarded her for her sacrifice. Mother Franziska had only enough means that she and her companion could reach Dresden. They could not eat in the hotel where they had taken a room for they would not have been able to pay the bill. With God’s help they received permission to collect in Dresden. At court Mother Franziska was received with a condescension such as she had never expected. Their Majesties, the widowed Queen Marie, King Johann, Queen Amalie and Crown Princess Karola were extremely respectful to her and all the other nobles at court were very kind and all supported her noble work. Her Majesty Queen Marie also let Mother Franziska and her companion stay at the Josephine Institute at her cost, thereby removing the worry about paying the hotel bill. Then Mother Franziska sent for two more sisters to help with the collecting in Dresden. Before she left, Queen Marie came to the Josephinum to visit her. Mother Franziska could hardly trust her eyes and ears as she saw Her Majesty and heard that she had come especially to see her. Later she expressed it so, “I will never forget this blessed soliciting; I myself couldn’t understand why God had granted me so much joy. The nobility received me with such love and condescension as if I myself were a princess. This was a great embarrassment for me!” Though, to the joy, God sent a small drop of bitters in the fact that one of the sisters who followed became ill. Also Mother Franziska’s stomach troubles did not improve. The sisters in the Josefinum were from Westfalen and cooked only Wesfalen cuisine. They meant well with their guests, especially so since the Queen was paying the bill, and added much sugar and red wine to the meat soup and many raisins and plums in the sauce. Those coming from Vienna however were not used to this and suffered discomfort because of it. The later recounting of this often caused much laughter. Mother Franziska traveled from Dresden to Leipzig and from there to Weimar and Gotha, everywhere collecting alms for the foundation from the nobility with good result. From the last place Mother Franziska and her companion made a detour to Eisenach and the Wartburg to get to know these historically famous places. In Gotha Mother Franziska experienced a memorable night; It was from the 8th to the 9th of March. Directly under their window she and her companion heard lovely music and wonderful singing. At least forty times they opened the window and looked out but no one was to be seen on the street and everything around was in deepest peace. Mother Franziska who was far removed from any superstition, was forced to think at this occurrence that something must have happened in the Congregation and this intuition gave her no peace. On March 9 she was to have an audience at noon with the Duchess von Coburg-Gotha, but her worry would not let her wait any longer and she rode back to Leipzig. There was waiting the telegram with the news that Sister Monika Dichristin had died in the same night of small pox. Now the strange event was clear for Mother Franziska but now also, she was filled with the fear that all the sisters in Troppau would be infected with the illness and she traveled back to Vienna without delay to order appropriate measures to be taken immediately. The trip seemed endless to her. However, through God’s help further cases of illness were prevented. Sister Monika became ill on a collecting trip in Galizia; Her traveling companion, Sister Vincentia Seidl had brought her to Troppau where after the third day she passed away so beautifully and well prepared that her death became a source of the greatest edification to all the sisters. Just before her passing Sister Monika had asked those standing around her to step aside because she saw the lovely Mother of God in the company of angels nearing. For Mother Franziska this beautiful death of her spiritual daughter was a great comfort in the pain brought by her loss.<br /><br />On April 8, 1872 she traveled to Budapest to ask Her Majesty the Empress Elizabeth, who was staying there to pay a visit to the house in Pest. Her Majesty deigned to agree to the visit by her Royal Highness Archduchess Gisela in her stead and donated 200 florins. The visit took place on April 15; This was a great honor for Mother Franziska and her institute because it was the first visit Her Royal Highness had made since her engagement a few days before to His Royal Highness Prince Leopold of Bavaria. Her Highness remained an hour and a quarter in the Marian Institute, looked at everything thoroughly. When the sisters were introduced she had a friendly word for each one, and she praised the pupils on seeing their work. The Archduchess was especially condescending to Mother Franziska; She invited her to sit beside her on the sofa, expressed her satisfaction over the accomplishments of the sisters and cordially thanked for the festive welcome they had prepared for her. This visit was a great encouragement for Mother Franziska and the sisters.<br />On May 5 Mother Franziska had to again undertake a trip to Budapest, this time to get money from a Hungarian bank to cover the payment of 10,000 florins due on the house there. In Vienna she had gone from one bank to another but none wanted to lend money for Hungary. In Budapest, too, Mother Franziska made great efforts to get the needed sum without paying all too high an interest; unfortunately, she did not succeed. A bank lent her the money, but it was given out in mortgage bonds which had a value of only 87 florins, but which were recorded for the Congregation at the face value of 100 florins. Since the installments had to be paid absolutely, Mother Franziska could do nothing else than accept the money on these oppressive terms, but the thought that the Congregation which was so poor anyway would lose so much money was a terrible one for her. Without her great trust in God this trial would have been even harder to bear. A comfort during these difficult days was the kind reception granted her by the Prince-Primate of Graz, to whom she went from Pest for discussions concerning the school for the pupils there.<br /><br />On May 15, 1872 the congregation received a new little foundation in Dornbach near Vienna to which Mother Franziska gave sisters at the request of the Pastor there to direct a commercial school and child care institute which he founded. Unfortunately this foundation did not last long since Mother Franziska had to recall the sisters on October 15, 1873 because of various circumstances found there.<br /><br />September 4, 1872 brought Mother Franziska the joy of the dedication of the Troppau Marian Institute. About twenty priests, many important officials, countless citizens of the city and many people from the country took part. On this day, too, the first Holy Mass was celebrated in the chapel there. Mother Franziska could never participate in such an uplifting celebration without being greatly moved; For rightly, she considered it the greatest grace to be able to set up once again a dwelling for the Divine Savior and her heart, filled with fervent love for God and neighbor, had at such times so much to thank and intercede for that the time of the mass was too short. Her fervent prayers with which she always recommended the new house with all the sisters and pupils to the Divine Savior is surely reason to thank for the blessing which the good God so visibly bestowed on the houses of the Congregation.<br /><br />On November 20 Mother Franziska had an audience with Her Majesty the Empress Karoline Auguste, Grandmother of His Majesty Emperor Franz Joseph I. This was a very great joy for her since she had long wanted to approach Her Majesty before whom she had been calumniated by evil intentioned persons. Good projects usually have enemies; and so it was also for her work. The lie had been spread that Mother Franziska with her foundation wanted to destroy the “Marian Foundation for the Education of Good Housemaids” erected in 1850 in the Fornergasse in Wien-Gumpendorf. Mother Franziska had not even had knowledge of the existence of this Marian Foundation, much less had she any bad intentions toward it. The calumny that was circulated was very painful for Mother Franziska, less for her own person than for the young Congregation which suffered some damage because of it. This lie was brought even to Her Majesty in such a way that she had to believe it. Therefore Mother Franziska was deeply hurt by the refusal of her previous request for an audience, since she greatly respected Her Majesty, not only as the sister of King Ludwig I of Bavaria, but also because of her well known nobility of character. However, just as nothing is woven so tightly that it doesn’t sooner or later come to light, so after awhile, from other quarters, Empress Karoline Auguste was enlightened about this calumny and now granted Mother Franziska the requested audience without delay. Her Majesty received her with the most cordial words and asked Mother Franziska, among other things, if she knew she had thought badly of her. She responded in the affirmative and added that she had wept much over it because she had a special respect for Her Majesty as sister of King Ludwig. At this response Her Majesty embraced and kissed her and said, “Oh you are a good patriot!” I am happy to have gotten to know you and now on one may say anything against you. I would not believe it, or rather, not even listen to it”. Mother Franziska also told her of a new plan which her charity had conceived some time ago. She had heard of many old servants who, having worn themselves out for minimum wages for many years, were now abandoned in old age without a home. Even though she had so much care and worry to bear for the institutes already founded, at the sight of this misery her loving heart could not suppress the wish to found a refuge for the lifelong care of old, poor servant women. Empress Karoline Auguste was very interested in this plan and Mother Franziska had to explain exactly how she thought to go about it. Also, Her Majesty said that she herself wanted to set up with Mother Franziska the plans for the building and the daily schedule for the asylum, or refuge as the latter wanted to call it, and asked her to come again at a later time. With great joy and fervent thanks to God Mother Franziska returned home and soon thereafter received from Her Majesty a contribution of 1,000 florins toward the refuge to be founded. Unfortunately the above mentioned intentions of the noble Empress could not be fulfilled because soon afterward she became seriously ill and died on February 9, 1873. Mother Franziska always spoke of Her Highness with the greatest respect and gratitude and in her own last illness still asked that her biography be read. She also saved a simple embroidered purse as well as a book with the picture of the Immaculate Conception in petit point on the cover and containing many prayers and poems written in Her Highness’ own hand, as dear souvenirs of the royal lady; so she also had a framed copy of the death announcement of the Empress in her room. All of these items are carefully preserved in the Mother House even now. The signs of honor which Mother Franziska received from so many highly placed persons, even members of the ruling family, she considered given not to herself but to the Congregation whose representative she was and she was far from becoming vain about them. She often said to the sisters, “Lay people do not honor our own person but only because of our Habit and state”. That her own admirable qualities were likewise the object of the honor shown her did not occur to her. She did not like flattering praise and when such was given her she was more inclined to take offense than pleasure in it.<br /><br />At the beginning of the year 1873 Mother Franziska made a trip to Prague, Pressburg and Bavaria to obtain the permission to collect and thereby get the means to support her charitable institutions as well as for the construction of the Refuge already mentioned. Unfortunately, only in Prague was she successful. In April she undertook a similar trip with Sister Augustina to Berlin. She had received a recommendation for free travel on the Prussian railroad from the royal Prussian embassy in Vienna. Having arrived in Roderau, the border station between Saxony and Prussia, the stationmaster refused her the free travel; this was a new embarrassment for Mother Franziska since she did not have the money necessary to pay the trip. Only after long pleading did the stationmaster allow the continuing travel free. In Berlin Mother Franziska and her companion had to spend the first night in a hotel; although they had eaten nothing all day, upon their arrival they did not dare to eat anything before going to bed for fear that their meager funds would then not be enough to pay for the night’s stay. The next day they found a kind welcome with the Borromeo Sisters in the Hedwig Hospital. They went as soon as possible to His Excellency Duke Karoly, the Austrian Ambassador in Berlin, for whom they had a recommendation from the Austrian Foreign Minister. He, as well as his wife, received Mother Franziska with extraordinary kindness and friendliness. His Excellency personally took the steps necessary for obtaining the collecting permit and so this was granted to Mother Franziska. With her companion she also received audiences with Her Majesty Empress Auguste and the widow-Queen Elizabeth. Their Highnesses received them very graciously, conversed in the most casual way with them and gave donations. The Empress Auguste instructed Mother Franziska to visit the charitable institutions in Berlin and to say everywhere that it is the wish of Her Majesty that she be shown everything thoroughly. Mother Franziska and her companion also received the kindest reception and support from all the princesses of the Imperial family. Princess Friedrich Karl even introduced her prince and princesses and showed their rooms and their paintings. As the soliciting among the royalty was finished Mother Franziska returned to Vienna on April 29 and Sister Augustina continued the collecting in Berlin with Sister Gertrude Ridisser who had arrived in the meantime.<br /><br />In June 1873 Mother Franziska believed the time had come, trusting in the continued help from God, to be able to begin carrying out the beautiful plan regarding the foundation of the Refuge, especially since the number of the sisters had increased significantly. She wanted for this, a house in the country in a healthful situation so that the old people would have good air and opportunity for movement outdoors; and she thought, at the same time this house could be a place for recuperation for weak or sick sisters. On June 27 Mother Franziska drove to the region of Breitenfurt only a few hours distant from Vienna and looked at several houses there. Because of its good situation and beautiful surroundings, she liked Nr. 1 best, a mill for sale with some land attached to it. She immediately inquired about the price and all the conditions of the house. On July 3 the sale took place and on August 5 the renovation or rather, the construction of the house was begun, for only the foundation wall of the old mill could still be used. The construction brought many worries for Mother Franziska and many irritations for the sisters living there. Until November there were daily 50-60 workers in the house, and since they had to be working everywhere, the poor sisters had no corner where they could find peace. In the evenings when they were dead tired from work in the house or fields, they first had to find themselves a place where they could rest. Besides this they had a long way to go to the Church, which was especially difficult in winter. During the construction, Mother Franziska stayed as much as she could in Breitenfurt , supervised everything and with a wise insight gave necessary instructions here and there. She shared the deprivations of the sisters and encouraged them by enthusiastically speaking of the great good which could be done through this refuge for the glory of God and for the poor. In November the construction was completed and the dedication of the chapel and house by Monsignor Sebastian Brunner of Vienna took place on December 27. On that day there were already eleven charges in the house since Mother Franziska had begun with receiving them just as soon as it was at all possible. She named the refuge, “Refuge of St. Joseph”. In the beginning she wanted to call it “of Divine Providence” because it all came about through trust in Divine Providence, but the sisters asked her to name it after St. Joseph because this dear Saint had proved himself to be up till now such a specially protective patron and Mother Franziska agreed to the request.<br /><br />So now the plan that Mother Franziska had conceived in her generous love of neighbor had become a reality. Much good has since then come about in the Refuge where countless poor servants found a peaceful home and care in old age. This foundation remained a special care and favorite of Mother Franziska and she appeared as often as she possibly could in this place of charity. The old people always rejoiced at her visits because the good “Frau Mutter” came also to them, kindly asked each one how she felt, told them various things, comforted the sick and showed everyone her motherly love. The Refuge for aged servants also became a place of refuge for the sick sisters of the Congregation. Most of the deceased members ended their lives there and found their last resting place in the cemetery at Breitenfurt where a part is sectioned off especially for the sisters. Mother Franziska was filled with true motherly love for all her spiritual daughters but most especially for the sick. For this reason her first and last stop in visits to Breitenfurt were always in the sick rooms where she asked about the state and needs of her dear daughters, comforted and encouraged them to bear their sufferings patiently by pointing toward heaven and their divine Spouse. It was a special joy for her to bring some refreshments for the sick and to give it to them personally. The joy this tender love of their spiritual mother brought them can hardly be described. Since the Marienanstalt in Vienna did not have much room Mother Franziska moved the candidacy for the future members of the Congregation, especially for those candidates who would be employed in household and farm work, to the refuge in Breitenfurt. She often and gladly spent time in this candidacy, as she generally always showed special care for candidates as the future of the Congregation. Those that had talent and liked to learn she had educated for school and kindergarten and made sure that the others, too were trained, according to their ability, for some work, but she never permitted the candidates to be overburdened with work so that their strength would be destroyed in their youth. She liked it when the candidates were very cheerful during recreation, jumping around and playing happy games which she gladly watched. She believed firmly that young people must exercise themselves and Breitenfurt was the perfect place for this. For this reason, she had the candidates from the other houses of the congregation come there also when possible for vacation, especially the teacher training candidates. In general, Mother Franziska liked to recommend a cheerfulness consistent with religious life, not only to candidates but also to the sisters, since she herself was of a cheerful nature and so easily surmounted difficulties; she couldn’t stand hanging heads and sad faces, and one of the sayings she often repeated was, “The devil has good fishing in sadness”. On the other hand, she found cheerfulness in suitable limits to be an expression of inner peace and contentment. She recommended that the sisters and the candidates take sufferings that weighed them down in complaint to Our Lord in the tabernacle as the best comforter, but then to be calm and save themselves unnecessary tears and sighs. Mother Franziska also ordered that even those candidates who were not destined for teacher training must still be educated in the required school subjects, but above all, she was concerned about good religious education. She was equally concerned that the candidates would have the Holy Rule explained to them and that they would come to know the various temptations and obstacles which they could encounter, especially at the beginning of the spiritual life, and which could be dangerous for them. She often questioned them about their knowledge and gladly told them useful stories, some serious and warning and some with cheerful content. Much of this Mother Franziska drew from her own experience. She had, as was already mentioned in the account of her years at schools, a gift for telling stories; she knew how to present things in such a lively way and with such appropriate facial expression that her hearers were always spellbound. The sisters and candidates were always happy when Mother Franziska would tell them of the various things that happened concerning the Congregation or anything else. With children too, whom Mother Franziska loved very much, she often made use of this beautiful gift, to the great rejoicing of the young. When her visit was announced in one of the houses of the Congregation, the charges and students would happily cry out, “Frau Mutter is coming, she will tell us fine stories again!” If time permitted the children naturally had to earn this pleasure with a little test of their knowledge and, finally, the older ones received pictures from her and the little ones rings with pretty stones which naturally completed the fun.<br /><br />Returning to the main thread of our story after this little detour, we want to mention, at the end of this chapter, a joyful surprise which came to Mother Franziska and the sisters at the Mother House on March 8, 1874. About 12 o’clock noon a court messenger arrived with the message, “Her Majesty asks if there are any in the house who have the measles”. the portress thought Her Majesty Queen Marie of Saxony was meant as she often visited Baroness Sophie Stureder, a former lady in waiting at the court in Saxony who had been taken in and cared for in the Marienanstalt. After the response that all were well, the messenger left and after a while a carriage pulled up from which descended Her Majesty the Empress Elizabeth and chief lady of court, Countess Marie Goess. At the time Mother Franziska was in bed because she was very ill. Sister Augustina, whom Her Highness immediately recognized, made apologies when asked about Mother Franziska, and accompanied Her Majesty to the sisters’ quarters. In spite of her illness, Mother Franziska immediately got up and appeared in a short time to greet the important visitor and to express her pleasure. Her Majesty deigned to view the entire institute, to be introduced to some of the residents, and to express her greatest satisfaction with everything she saw. At her departure the charges sang the national anthem. The sisters, the pupils and the servant girls were very happy about the honor and condescension of Her Majesty and the day on which the royal protectress honored the house for the first time with her visit remained with Mother Franziska and the sisters as a most happy memory.</span></div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-71151806081854202332009-11-10T12:49:00.000-08:002009-11-10T13:15:54.368-08:00Chapter Four<p align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>CHAPTER FOUR</strong><br />Founding of Marian Institutes in Troppau, Brunn and Budapest.<br /></span></p><br /><br /><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family:arial;">On October 9, 1870 Director Father Steiner brought Mother Franziska a letter from Mr. Benda in Troppau in which he asked if and to what degree the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity is involved in the foundation of a Marian Institute in Troppau, if they had given a commission to do so to a certain Scholastica Vladar. She had come to him with the request for help in founding such an institute. The person mentioned had been taken on by Mother Franziska as a collector but after a few months had to be dismissed as incapable of this work. Thereafter she traveled to Troppau, began to collect alms for the establishment of a Marian Institute and rented a ground floor, three-room apartment in Poppen Street. Then she took in three servant girls, two of whom were to be her assistants and the third, novice directress. It was apparent from all this that Vladar wanted to imitate Mother Franziska although she lacked the necessary ability to do so. She soon recognized this herself and therefore had already written a number of times to Mother Franziska who was unable, however, to decipher the letters. As Mother Franziska heard of this situation it became clear to her that she would have to bring a halt to the events if the reputation of the young Congregation was not to be endangered and so she set out that same evening with Sister Aloisia Argauer for Troppau. After Mother Franziska consulted, with the Superior of the Order of German Sisters</span><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1469456908838220638#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1"><span style="font-family:arial;">[1]</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> and the honorable Mr. Benda she called Scholastica Vladar to herself. She was very happy that Mother Franziska had come because the three co-workers in her project had already retreated in the meantime and she had no idea what to do with the dream foundation already begun. She repeatedly asked for forgiveness and said she did not, anyhow, want to begin it for herself, but only for the sisters. “Everything begun by God, I nothing at all, everything by God!” she added in her broken German with Bohemian pronunciation. And truly it was permitted by God, since this insignificant beginning was the basis of the Marian Institute now working with such rich blessing in Troppau, where so many poor servant girls have already found free board, instruction and job placement, so many orphans and other pupils have received education and culture. Mother Franziska believed she saw here the finger of God and, in her zeal for His glory, her decision was soon made. She went to the State Government and to the mayor, explained everything, and these gentlemen asked her to take things firmly in hand and also did not fail to assure her of the necessary support. That same day Mother Franziska took possession of the apartment Scholastica had rented, left Sister Aloisia in Troppau and returned to Vienna. Having arrived, she sent Sister Bernardine Wank to the new post and the two Sisters, in the direst poverty, began their work. This was at first still small, of course, because the apartment had space for only a few servant girls and, for a time, Scholastica was also allowed to remain. Soon two more Sisters came from Vienna and now, because of the many girls who applied for admission, the little apartment was no longer sufficient, a larger one was rented at the so-called “kiosk” until it was possible for Mother Franziska to acquire a house of its own for the “Marian Institute”.<br />By November 1870 the young Congregation was again to receive another branch. Sister Luzia Benda, Mother Franziska‘s first co-worker told of the many requests she received during a soliciting trip in Brunn, that a Marian Institute should be established there also. Mother Franziska’s zeal was immediately enkindled for the new foundation and with her characteristic decisiveness she soon traveled to Brunn, to see if there was the possibility to fulfill the stated wishes. She was inspired by the principle of following every call of God immediately and wherever He wished, in order to work for His honor. Mother Franzjska consulted with the Reverend Bishop Nottig, the Mayor von Elvert, and the Chief of Police; Everywhere she was met with friendliness and encouragement for the foundation of a Marian Institute and assurances of protection. Now Mother Franziska was without all doubt that these things were the will of God. The Prelate Kaliwoda in the Benedictine Abbey at Raigern near Brunn, who had already helped the Sisters very much during the collections, now also took a great part in the foundation. He ordered his bookkeeper, Mr. Gerstner, to look for a suitable house and offered Mother Franziska an apartment for the Sisters in a house belonging to the Abbey in Petersberg near Brunn until she could purchase one. Mr. Gerstner soon found a fitting house with a nice, large garden in Neugasse 24. This belonged to the wife of a textile craftsman, Mrs. Marie Waniek. Mother Franziska walking around Brunn for this reason for four days, looked at many houses, but she found none more suitable for the purposes of the Congregation than the house mentioned above; also nowhere were the payment conditions arranged more practically, so she did not hesitate longer with the decision to buy. On December 16, Mother Franziska traveled for the second time to Brunn, this time accompanied by Sister Stanislai Fuss, the Superior designated for the new foundation, and Mr. Lang to finally close the sale of the house. The price was set at 20,000 florins though Mother Franziska could pay only 1,500 florins as down payment of which the greater part, 1,200 florins, was loaned by Mr. Lang, and in the final hours, Sister Luzia went collecting to some families to obtain the sum of 300 florins which was still missing. On March 1, 1871, the Sisters were able to move into a room, a bathroom and a kitchen in the purchased house; and, trusting in God’s help, they began the renovation of the house. Until this was completed, the ten sisters really crowded into the small apartment, had much discomfort to endure. Usually during the day they went collecting for contributions for the foundation. At this time Mother Franziska was sick in bed in Vienna, but the concern for the new foundations did not let her rest and she traveled again to Brunn just as soon as she had recovered just a little. This was on March 7. Of course, because of her weakened condition this trip brought her great discomfort but she paid it little attention and thought only about the necessity of her presence in Brunn because of the construction. On May 1 it was already possible to hold the solemn dedication which was attended by His Excellency the Governor, Earl Thun, many high officials and ladies of the aristocracy. Because of the Solemn High Mass in the St. Thomas Parish Church followed by a procession of priests, sisters and guests to the Marian Institute, a large crowd of people had gathered and fifteen guards had to maintain order. Mother Franziska wanted to give each of them a gulden but she had no money and had to borrow the sum from Director Steiner and the Lang brothers who had both come for the dedication in Brunn. In this way also this foundation began in the greatest poverty. On the day of the dedication there were already thirteen servant girls in the institute and the Sisters soon had a richly blessed field of activity. Later here, as in Troppau, a section for orphans and other pupils was also erected.<br /><br />Almost at the same time of the foundation in Brunn, Mother Franziska had begun erecting another Marian Institute, this in the capital of Hungary. She judged correctly that such institutes were needed especially in capital cities. On January 25, 1871 she traveled with Sister Augustina d’Armaille to Budapest to find out if the establishment of a Marian Institute were possible there, and, in case of the affirmative, to begin immediately with the steps to acquire a house. Mother Franziska and her companion were complete strangers in Budapest and knew no one, thus making this foundation doubly difficult. They lived fourteen days in the Hotel Tieger and looked in the meanwhile for a suitable house. During this time they had to live very frugally because their small sum of money allowed them to have only one meal a day, and that was usually mutton as the cheapest food available. After a long search they finally found the house belonging to Mr. Joppich on Soroksarergasse 36 which seemed suitable for the foundation. Even though without funds, Mother Franziska, trusting in God’s help, closed the deal for purchase of the house on January 28 for 58,500 florins. Naturally, as she herself often said, this morning was a frightening one for her in this position. Since no apartment in the newly purchased house would be available soon, Mother Franziska went in search of one and found it at Waaggasse 5 on the third floor. She immediately sent for four Sisters from Vienna who collected funds for the Marian Institute to be erected in Budapest because the other branches as well as the Mother House in Vienna needed her presence. She had to go here and then there, and since her time was too short, she used the nights for travel in order to have the day for work.<br /><br />On May I the Sisters in Budapest could move into a small apartment in their own house and the renovations began immediately. These, with furnishings, cost 12,400 florins and Mother Franziska had to send all the sisters that could in any way be spared in the houses soliciting to meet all the obligations entered upon for the new foundations. In these difficult times she herself collected contributions among the nobility in Budapest and shared in the privations of the sisters there. These, because they still had no kitchen, had to use an ironing stove for cooking, but, because of the collecting and the work in the house they had only very little time anyway for kitchen concerns. On July 2, 1871 the Marian Institute in Budapest was dedicated and opened. The City Supervisor Thaiss and Mayor Gempi and many other high officials and also Director Steiner and Mr. Lang from Vienna were present. During this celebration there were again various financial embarrassments for Mother Franziska in which, however, God helped her in noteworthy ways. After Mass the guests were to receive a breakfast, but the poor sisters were not able to buy the needed baked goods until some benefactors had placed some offerings in the box under the crucifix in the hallway. Through God’s providence they gave so much that not only the baked goods, but also the guards needed to maintain order, were paid for. But now there remained the payment for the carriage that had brought the Abbot Rath who had presided at the dedication, and Mother Franziska had nothing left. Just at the right moment Canon Pribek, later Auxiliary Bishop of Vesprem, approached her and gave her a gift of two ducats. So there was help for this embarrassment. However, in the evening, when Mother Franziska wanted to go back to Vienna, she again had nothing and Mr. Lang had to help her again by lending her the fare. She and her companions had to endure a fright on this trip because near Neuhause their train almost collided with another one. This misfortune was prevented in time by God’s special protection.<br /><br />Now the beginning of a third branch of the Congregation which was to become one of its largest institutes was made. Today, besides the busy section for servant girls, there is in the Budapest house also a boarding school, a section for orphans, an eight-grade elementary school, the last also for day students, a vocational school and a kindergarten. Some one who reads about the quick erection of this and also the other branch foundations of Mother Franziska might begin to think that she entered hastily upon such widespread and difficult-to-fulfill obligations. This was absolutely not so. Her quick, almost, so to speak, masculine, decisiveness was not hasty, but rather she always consulted God in intimate prayer before she began a new work and seriously weighed the reasons for and against. When she then, however, recognized something as the will of God, there was no hesitation and no more turning back and no matter what difficulties rose in opposition, she pressed on to the goal ahead. “All for God, for the poor and for our Congregation!” was the key which she later designated as the motto of the Congregation. As a matter of fact, even people who wished the Congregation well sometimes reproached Mother Franziska that she founded her institutes too quickly and thoughtlessly one after the other and thereby put too great a burden upon the Congregation. When she mentioned this she usually said, “I am doing it, after all, for the glory of God and for the poor; I cannot believe that this is wrong and that our loving God will punish me for that which is done for His glory!” She also liked to say, “Our loving God will surely help us to fulfill our obligations; He knows, after all, what we need and already holds the means in his hand. If He withdraws it, it is only we, with our limited trust who are to blame!” Love for God and neighbor, paired with a rock-like trust in God, was the motive of all her actions and the loving God showed with notable blessing how pleasing to Him her striving and working were.</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1469456908838220638#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Seems to be a title, translated literally.</div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><br /><div align="justify"></div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-1520323997127813002009-11-05T13:05:00.000-08:002009-11-05T13:09:50.288-08:00Servant and Instrument<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71JskISCNHzN1NrJsq-7OXqbaN9RLtueDZHtiNdppzamEUPw1Boml0MmMtdEifz7KHZat1IHdmO5XVQy-wR_3LKx9MuMvpmpFmJbpCvWEbZvTKvRlxNIHYI88Pq4Ieksnbd_dKAQKPzo/s1600-h/Franziska+Oval+no+frame+001.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400729491665441778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj71JskISCNHzN1NrJsq-7OXqbaN9RLtueDZHtiNdppzamEUPw1Boml0MmMtdEifz7KHZat1IHdmO5XVQy-wR_3LKx9MuMvpmpFmJbpCvWEbZvTKvRlxNIHYI88Pq4Ieksnbd_dKAQKPzo/s320/Franziska+Oval+no+frame+001.jpg" /></a><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>CHAPTER THREE<br /><br />Foundation of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity<br /></div></strong></span><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">On October 25, 1868, Franziska Lechner arrived in Vienna. Besides a firm trust in God’s help and the sincere will to work for God’s glory and assist poor serving girls as much as possible, she had only the small sum of 200 guldens. In these circumstances, the task Mother Franziska had set for herself was no easy one, and her trust would soon be put to a hard test. On her arrival she roomed at the Hotel of the Golden Lamb on Wiedner Hauptstrasse and took the necessary steps to insure for herself the promised help for her work. Unfortunately she learned that Dr. Wiedemann had been very misinformed and that no grant existed for an institute for serving girls; Likewise she soon saw her hopes for benefactors and co-founders disappointed and herself alone and abandoned in the large city. This affected Franziska so strongly that for two weeks she was severely ill and bedridden in the apartment she had in the meantime rented in the JohannesgasseNr. 13, in the First District. It wasn’t enough that she had insufficient care-her landlady, who apparently didn’t trust her, also mistreated her in various ways. To this was added the anxious thought that her efforts in Vienna might remain fruitless. Earlier, Franziska had asked God that He might allow her to die during the trip to Vienna or shortly after her arrival, if her work would lead her away from His commandments or not serve the salvation of others, and now she believed her last hour was near. God did not want Franziska’s death but only wanted to use her as an instrument, through which many would be saved from temporal and eternal downfall. He only wanted, as with all great souls, to educate her in the school of suffering, thereby showing her, by taking away at the beginning all human help, that the great and blessed work to be born through Franziska, was done only and alone thanks to Him.<br /><br />During this difficult probation she had not lost her trust in God’s help, however, and as soon as Franziska felt somewhat better, her thoughts were again occupied with the intended work. On November 12, as she was able to leave her bed for a few hours, her first task was to enter a request for permission to found the planned society, with which she included a draft of the statutes clarifying the purpose of the same, to the Ministry of the Interior. On the 13th and 14th of November, Franziska looked, as far as her weakened body would allow, for a suitable lodging and finally found this at Taubstummengasse 5, auf der Wieden with a police official’s widow. The apartment was on the third floor, consisted of a vestibule and one room and had its own entrance. It was furnished in the simplest way and was available on the next day, the 15th. The first things that Franziska purchased from her small savings were a crucifix, a statue of the Blessed Virgin and two candlesticks.<br /><br />On November 17 Franziska went to the Ministry with her request and was cordially received by Section Chief, Baron Rudolf von Breisky. This kind man immediately understood the significance of things and the value such an institute would have for poor servant girls in the large city, encouraged F’ranziska to found it, promised his help, and gave her a recommendation to the Governor, Baron von Weber. Consoled by this cooperation, she went to the gentleman named and was there too, received with great kindness. The Governor also promised to take her noble plan under his protection. He, as well as Baron von Breisky, stayed faithful to their word and remained also in the future, faithful friends and protectors of the Congregation.<br /><br />As soon as November 21st these two well-meaning gentlemen shared with Franziska the news that she would, within a few days, receive the permit to found the Congregation and the permission to collect alms for the new work. In this she saw that her trust in God was not disappointed and thanked Him with her whole heart for His help. she expressed this gratitude by determining November 21st the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as the birthday of the Congregation; As such it is celebrated annually and marked by the Sister’ renewal of vows as well as connected with Clothing and Profession celebrations. The fact that she received notice of permission for the foundation on a Marian feast, was for Franziska a comforting sign that the beloved Mother of God, under whose special protection she had placed her work, would always be Mother and Guide for the congregation, as the future also demonstrated. On November 27th the awaited permit for the foundation arrived as well as the permission to collect alms in Lower Austria, but collaborators were still missing. Franziska went, therefore, to various monasteries to ask confessors to send her those young girls that they might have among their penitents who had a call to the religious life and the necessary courage to help in the founding of the intended work. As early as December 5th , the first fellow worker, Katherine Benda, later Sister Luzia, born in Buckau in Bohemia, came requesting admittance. Mother Franziska accepted her with joy and gratitude to God and began collecting with her on December 7th in Vienna. The first benefactor was Mr. Anton Lang, manufacturer in Fünfhaus, Kranzgasse 14, who gave 20 florins. He and his brother later became trustees of the Congregation and showed themselves to be constant friends and benefactors. The Congregation owes much to these noble gentlemen.<br /><br />Franziska also tried to find a zealous priest with a known reputation who could intercede for the Congregation. She found this in the Reverend Anton Steiner, of the court parish church of St. Augustine. He was a good speaker, talented with the pen, and he, as well as his family (his father was Privy Councilor), were loved and universally respected. The Reverend Steiner very gladly agreed to be Director and Co-founder of the Congregation and was zealously concerned to be of service.<br /><br />Franziska was unable to continue the difficult work of collecting in Vienna because her body was still too weakened by the recently endured severe illness and climbing stairs was too strenuous. Since she had neither time nor means for the necessary convalescence, she decided to continue her collecting in the country, in the hope that the fresh air would strengthen her. So Franziska and her companion went to Kroneuburg, Stockerau, Brunn, Modling, Baden, Neunkirchen, Gloggnitz and other nearby towns. God strengthened her so much that she could collect all day even though her weakened stomach was able to take only little nourishment, and sometimes could not even digest this little. Those acquainted with the many efforts and sacrifices demanded by soliciting can imagine what self-denial was required to carry this out in this debilitated condition. Even at that time, Franziska, with almost manly courage and total self-forgetfulness, pursued the goal that she recognized as her God-given life task to advance His glory and the salvation of her fellow man. Both of the beautiful qualities, cited above and rooted in an unshakable trust in help from above, an intimate love for God, and a winning love for neighbor, were apparent during the remainder of her life and made it possible to bring so many richly blessed institutes into existence in the relatively short time of 26 years.<br /><br />In Stuppach near Gloggnitz Franziska was to find another collaborator. There she met a nice, dear girl named Juditha Kock, who taught younger girls knitting and sewing. Juditha was an orphan and had for a long time felt a preference for the religious life. She had hardly seen Franziska in the semi-religious dress, than she was attracted by her friendliness, asked for admittance and wanted to go with her immediately. Franziska told her to put her affairs in order first and then to come to enter upon her new situation. So, on January 27, 1869, Juditha entered and was a strong helper in the endeavor. She worked later with the name Sister Josefa as superior in various, especially new, foundations of the Congregation where there were usually still obstacles and difficulties to overcome, and she survived the Foundress by six years. Juditha’s entrance was tied to a disappointment which did not frighten her or the other Sisters. When she asked to be admitted, she hadn’t taken the time to ask about the circumstances in detail, and therefore expected to find a fully equipped convent with a number of members. When she arrived in the Taubstummengasse therefore, and asked about the presumed convent, she received no information. When she reached number 5 and repeated her question, she was told, “There’s no convent here, but on the third floor there lives a woman who wears a black dress and white bonnet. Maybe you want to go to her.” Juditha, half disappointed, half expectant, climbed the stairs and rang. As Franziska opened the door, welcomed her with a winning friendliness, and, while serving her a little snack, explained things in more detail, the newcomer’s courage and trust reawakened and she said determinedly, “If God wants that I should work along from the very beginning, so be it!” As Sister Josefa, so the other older sisters unanimously tell of the kindliness with which Franziska welcomed each one so that they forgot the anxiety they felt at this beginning religious life and the dire poverty and soon became totally inflamed with zeal for the work.<br /><br />Mother Franziska now had to think of acquiring her own house for the Congregation; but where would she get money? The Reverend Director Steiner and the Lang brothers advised her to buy the house belonging to Privy Councilor, Mr. Friedrich Raimann, in the third district of Vienna on Fasangasse Nr. 4. This purchase actually did take place on January 24, 1869. As down payment, Mother Franziska could pay only the negligible sum of 1,000 florins and even this wasn’t all from her own means. She had only the little gained through the collecting, so that the Lang brothers willingly lent her an amount needed to complete the 1,000 florins. The feelings of Mother Franziska therefore, as she closed the sale and signed the contract, can hardly be described. It was no small thing to buy a house without money. With God’s help it was later possible to get the amount of the sale as a bank loan. Then there was, of course, the great worry about paying the interest on the capital, but it was a help for the time being. With the purchase of the house the beginning was made and God continued to help. On the day the sale was completed, Mother Franziska was with His Eminence, Cardinal Rauscher, Archbishop of Vienna, who received her kindly, encouraged her in her work and gave her 100 florins.<br /><br />On February 1st, the sisters could move into a small apartment in the purchased house which was to be the Mother House of the Congregation for twenty years. The remaining space was still occupied by the tenants who only little by little moved out. The entire property of the sisters when they moved in consisted of a crucifix, a statue of Mary and one of St. Joseph, two glass candlesticks, a hand-held candlestick, two old suitcases, two sheets, two blankets, a pillow, a hot-plate, three spoons, two knives and two forks. The two statues mentioned, of Mary and of St. Joseph, are still preserved in the community room of the present Mother House as precious souvenirs of the blessed Foundress and the first days of the Congregation. In addition to these few things, Mother Franziska bought, at a very good price, the furniture belonging to the military chaplain who had lived in the apartment and was forced to dispose of the things because of being transferred. The sisters considered themselves fortunate to now have two beds and some furniture. It was exactly at the time of the move that Mother Franziska heard the news that a newspaper had accepted an article written against her. This seemed to her to be a hard blow to herself and the new work only just begun. With God’s help the things were soon calmed down because His Eminence, Cardinal Rauscher and the Auxiliary Bishop Kutschker came strongly to Mother Franziska’s aide.<br />The newly purchased house was called “Marienanstalt” (tr. Marian Institute) to point out that it was placed under the special protection of Mary. In March, when another apartment was vacated, the renovations could be begun. In order to promote the collections, Mother Franziska took on women as collectors. The sisters, also, whose number had now increased by three, diligently continued collecting to gain means for the work begun. A few words from Mother Franziska were sufficient to rekindle their zeal, and they would gladly have gone to the ends of the earth, as the sisters now often say, to gather together something to promote the beautiful undertaking. Evenings, the sisters went out one-by-one to buy for a few cents, wood and the most necessary food, and Mother Franziska, because there was no kitchen available yet, cooked a wine soup on the hot-plate for them. As a reminder of these early days, she later, on the eve of Candlemas day, for many years, cooked a wine soup on a hot-plate and each sister received a spoonful, while she told them of the beginnings of the Congregation and the sacrifices entailed in it. Although tired herself, Mother Franziska, during these meager suppers tried to cheer everyone and with her kindness rekindled the courage of her companions. During the evening recreations and on Sundays and holidays, she also instructed the sisters in reading, writing, arithmetic, etc. After supper, in spite of fatigue, they also were often busy with washing and ironing of their own and other people’s laundry, which they accepted in order to earn something. It was often 12 midnight before they got to rest. Mother Franziska helped, supervised, encouraged, and occasionally returned pieces to the wash tub which to her did not seem done properly enough; For her goodness to the sisters did not infringe upon her authority or the strictness she could show when necessary. Always, however, in such moments, her motherly love was felt and made obedience easy.<br /><br />From Holy Thursday until Easter Sunday, Director Father Steiner held the first retreat, at which the soliciting ladies also were present. All were very happy about it, especially Mother Franziska, for whom it was very important that her little community resemble more and more convent living and be introduced to the spiritual life. Even then, every day, besides morning and evening prayer, they prayed some short liturgical hours out of the book “HIMMLISCHER PALMGARTEN” and a litany in common. The Litany of St. Joseph was assigned to Wednesday because Mother Franziska had a special devotion to this Saint. she considered him the “Father of the House” and brought him all her intentions, especially the financial worries. They tell the story that, long before the Marian Institute was paid for, she carried the statue of the Saint from room to room and, in a childlike way, showed him everything that was necessary here and there, and presented all her needs. She said to him, “look, St. Joseph, you are our father; You know what we need and you will help us. I promise that I will place all the houses of our Congregation under your special protection, and that all the sisters will give you special honor”. In the company of the sisters she promised him also that his litany would be prayed every Wednesday in the entire Congregation, in gratitude for the help that was sure to come. This promise is kept right up to today and St. Joseph has consistently shown himself to be a faithful protector and father for the Congregation. In the meantime Mother Franziska chose for herself and her companions a religious-type uniform dress, that is, a simple black dress, with a white bonnet worn in the house and a black hat for going out. Later, the hat was discarded and the bonnet, with a black veil added, was used also for going out. Even later the veil was worn also in the house. During the early years, because of the great poverty that reigned, it often happened that the sisters had to lend each other the better clothes for going out.<br /><br />On Easter morning 1869, Mother Franziska had a great shock. As she wanted to wake the sisters in the morning, she found that they were all unconscious because gas had leaked out during the night. God had sent the caring Mother in time as a guardian angel. By the time they had to go to Mass they were all pretty much recovered.<br /><br />On April 30th the Statutes of the Congregation received the approval of the royal Governor which was a very important and joyful step toward its continuing existence. In May all the remaining tenants except the former owner, who stayed in his apartment until August, moved. The renovations began immediately and the rooms were ready to be blessed on May 26th. Unfortunately, at that time Mother Franziska had been ill for a month, but, because of the renovations, was able to spend very little time in bed even though rest would have been necessary. Recovered with God’s help, her first care was to furnish a room on the courtyard side as a chapel and an adjoining room as a sacristy. Girls seeking employment were also already accepted, cared for and provided with suitable positions, as is still the main purpose of all Marian Institutes of the Congregation. The great number of girls who soon came demonstrated how correctly Mother Franziska had recognized the need for such an institute in the metropolis. The girls, like the sisters, felt themselves attracted by the charming kindness of the Foundress. Soon she was generally addressed by all simply as “Frau Mutter” because, in her modesty she would not let herself be addressed as “Reverend Mother, and this dear title she kept among her own as well as others with whom she came into closer contact, until the end of her life. Mother Franziska had a special gift, the ability to communicate with all, whether within the highest circles or the lowest classes. Her simple, natural charm attracted all. In contacts with those who were higher placed she was modest, yet unconstrained and was able to say some candid words or make some requests that others would not have dared so easily to do. Toward simple and poor people she showed a motherly kindness and had a friendly, consoling word for the poorest little old lady. She quickly understood hearts and could adapt to their moods, rejoicing with the joyful and giving heartfelt sympathy to the sorrowful and depressed, whom she encouraged, consoled and helped with advice and deeds. All kindness and charity had become as second nature to her. Therefore, it often happened that outsiders, even important persons, sought counsel and comfort with Mother Franziska and poured out their troubled hearts to her.<br /><br />In the meantime, God’s providence had sent once again, new members to the young Congregation, among them the present Superior General, Sister M. Ignazia Egger. Since the permit for soliciting alms had come for other imperial territories of Austria such as Moravia, Salesia, Upper Austria, etc., Mother Franziska could send partly sisters, partly soliciting ladies, there to receive charitable donations to promote her work. In the early years she wrote herself to the sisters who were away soliciting, and her letters were as loving as she herself was in her manner. The sisters were always happy with them and forgot all efforts and sacrifices in the face of the encouraging and cordial words.<br /><br />On August 9 Mother Franziska traveled to Ebersberg in Bavaria, in order to turn the institute she had founded over completely to Miss Karoline Tschofen, now that the future of the work in Vienna was almost assured. After a short stay, she returned to Vienna.<br /><br />On October 9, 1869, in the presence of the Father Director Steiner and all the sisters, Mother Franziska made the Solemn Promises of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, as well as that she would do everything to promote the goals of the Congregation. It is easy to imagine with what fervor she did this. October 10 was a great feast day for the sisters. The first clothing and profession was held. Five candidates received the religious dress and six sisters made promises of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Vows were not yet permitted since His Eminence, Cardinal Rauscher at first allowed only promises to be made. Only the following year were real vows made. Clothing and profession were made in the greatest simplicity. The sisters received the dress and bonnet without ceremony and only the prayer, “Under your protection...” was recited. In spite of this, all were filled with the greatest happiness and firmly strengthened in their courageous offering. This was necessary for the first sisters of the Congregation who had not yet any postulancy and no real novitiate, but usually had to be sent out soliciting the day after clothing. At about this time, at the request of Mother Franziska, the Director, Father Steiner, began to write a rule for the sisters which, under the title, “House Regulations” was approved in 1871 by the Archbishops of Vienna, Gran and Olmutz. Upon completion this rule was read and explained to the sisters every Sunday and holiday. From the time of their clothing all the members made an annual retreat and Mother Franziska did everything with the Reverend Father Steiner, to help the sisters be introduced into and confirmed in the spiritual life.<br /><br />December 29 was another day of great happiness for Mother Franziska and her own. Holy Mass was celebrated for the first time in the house chapel and all the sisters as well as the soliciting ladies received Holy Communion. Later Mother Franziska talked about that day in this way: “What we felt then is not to be described. These feelings, as at the Consecration, for the first time, Jesus descended to the altar in this house in which the members of the Congregation would be formed, in the chapel where they would say their prayers and receive the holy sacraments, cannot be understood except by those who were witnesses to this happiness.” Shortly before this happy day the sisters had received from the bookstore of Mr. Mayer a Missal and altar picture, representing the adoration of Jesus in the crib by Mary and Joseph, as gifts. At the sight of this latter, the sisters jumped for joy. Later, when a larger chapel was furnished in the Mother House, this beautiful picture came as altar picture to the “Zufluchtshaus” St. Joseph in Breitenfurt and is still there as such today.<br /><br />On January 8, 1870 the sisters were surprised and gladdened by the exalted visit of her royal Highness the Archduchess Maria Annunciata, wife of the Archduke Karl Ludwig, brother of His Majesty, Franz Joseph I. the royal lady inspected the institute carefully, expressed her pleasure at its furnishing and the work of the sisters and deigned to agree to accepting the protectorate of the Congregation. As Her Majesty inquired how large the foundation fund was, Mother Franziska responded in her straightforward way, “We have a very large fund, that is, Divine Providence!” The great lady, a very pious woman, smiled, and agreed that God would certainly help. From this day onward, her Imperial Majesty proved herself a true protectress of the Congregation. On March 9 she sent a contribution of 300 florins as well as two valuable Mass vestments and was influential that the Marienanstalt receive the profits from a charity presentation given by the ladies of the nobility.<br /><br />The rooms of the Marienanstalt soon proved themselves too small, as the stream of girls seeking employment steadily increased and Mother Franziska had already taken in some children to be educated. In her burning zeal for the glory of God and the good of neighbor she thought of enlarging the institute through the construction of a right wing. Trusting in God’s continued help the cornerstone for this was laid on June 15, 1870. The sisters were most happy about this progress, the more so, because it was foreseen to erect a larger chapel in this addition. In the short recreations granted them, they carried stones for the building and Mother Franziska led them all, even climbing aboard the wagon to unload stones and tiles. Just as her example on the one hand encouraged the sisters, so also was she very consoled by their willingness to sacrifice. With the advance of the work, the concerns also grew and often they worked all night through, some at desks, some with handicrafts, some in the laundry with the wash taken in. There were so many requests to be made to authorities, the compilation of the Rule, the house schedule, and the program for the erection of a section for boarders, all required great work and then they had to care about working to earn means of support. Through all these efforts, the health of Mother Franziska, already weakened from the last illness, suffered and the Countess Friess offered her a convalescence and use of the baths at Voslau and gave her the use of an apartment in her palace there. Care for the growth of the Congregation allowed Mother Franziska only six days in Voslau, then she returned to Vienna, and allowed another sister who needed recuperation to use up the rest of the offered time.<br />In July three sisters took the examination as handicrafts teachers, since Mother Franziska was concerned to have sisters educated for schools as soon as possible in order to enlarge the work of the Congregation and make it useful in this area also. This was all the more possible because the number of members increased rapidly. For this reason also, from August 1870 on, almost all the alms collecting could be taken care of by the sisters and soon thereafter, the help of the secular solicitors was no longer necessary.<br /><br />On September 8, 1878 two statues, one of the dear Mother of God and one of St. Joseph, were placed over the door of the house to give it a convent appearance even from the outside. In the meantime, the addition was visibly advanced and nearly completed to the greatest joy of Mother Franziska as well as the sisters. In October preparations could already be begun for the dedication of the rather spacious chapel, outfitted with a choir. Of course, some parts of the furnishings were still missing, primarily an altar picture because that from the old chapel was too small and in their poverty they could not even imagine purchasing one of fitting size. Father Director often asked, “Frau Mutter, where are you going to get an altar picture?” Mother Franziska always replied with confidence, “One will come, God will provide!” She gave the same assurance also to the sisters. And it happened! God helped in a wonderful way. On October 2 Mother Franziska learned through Mr. Lang that a large altar painting representing the Glory of St. Joseph, painted by Johann Michael Rolssma in the year 1727 would be available from the parish of “St. Josef ob der Leimgrube” on Mariahilferstrasse, if Cardinal Rauscher and the Governor would give permission to move it. Without hesitation, she went to both gentlemen with her petition and was granted the gift, not only willingly but also even joyfully, because now the beautiful painting, no longer necessary in the parish church which was receiving a new one, would once again find a worthy place. The Pastor also was very happy about this circumstance. It is easy to imagine the joy of the sisters; They saw the trust of their spiritual mother not only rewarded, but surpassed beyond all expectations. That the picture just happened to be of St. Joseph, seemed also to be this Saint’s confirmation of his kind acceptance of the promises made and the office given him as the “Father of the House” by Mother Franziska. He also immediately showed his providence. On October 23 Mother Franziska received a monstrance and a lamp for the sanctuary light from benefactors, and on the 26th Mr. Lang donated a small organ, which was very old, but for the sisters, nevertheless, a treasure. The solemn dedication of the chapel could be held on November 4. This was undertaken by the Rev. Auxiliary Bishop Dr. Kutscher. Countess Goss, private tutor, came as representative of the Protectress, Archduchess Maria Annunciata. Members of the Community Council and police officers were also present. The pupils of the Institute for the blind beautified the uplifting ceremony with their singing. Mother Franziska and the sisters, who numbered 27, received Holy Communion from the hand of the Auxiliary Bishop during the Holy Mass. All were filled with the most blessed joy. Interesting is the circumstance by which the sisters came on this day to the happy possession of the Blessed Sacrament. The permission for permanent reservation in this chapel had not yet been given. Accidentally, however, the sister who had charge of the sacristy prepared more hosts for consecration than there were communicants and so, after the distribution of Holy Communion, some consecrated Hosts remained, which the Auxiliary Bishop then had to place in the tabernacle. After the celebration he jokingly told Mother Franziska that she and the sisters were very clever to have captured the Lord in this way. This intention of course, had not been present, but still, Mother Franziska and the sisters were most happy about this unexpected grace, and saw the oversight that had occasioned it, not as a simple coincidence, but rather as a providential arrangement of God and a sign that the Divine Savior gladly wanted to dwell with them under their poor roof. Following this Mother Franziska often knelt before the tabernacle, in order there to bring all her intentions and cares, and to beg in fervent prayer, God’s blessing for herself and her own and where she drew power and strength to continue her work. This last she also needed because Mother Franziska had many struggles to withstand and the young Congregation had some crosses and trials ahead of it, as we will hear in the following. A visitation came as soon as November 27. A terrible wind storm tore the tin roof off the chapel and shattered the windows in the glassed-in half of the house, which, considering the poverty of the sisters, was a hard blow. However, God once again helped so that Mother Franziska was soon able to let the damage be repaired.<br />Now we must go back a little in our narrative to share the founding of the first branch of the Congregation, which took place in the meantime. The occasion showed very pointedly that the good God willed the continuation and spread of the work begun by Mother Franziska and to confirm her words which she so often told the sisters, “If it is not God’s work it will collapse, but if it is God’s work, it will continue!”<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-66107299542622596852009-11-05T12:51:00.000-08:002009-11-05T12:56:53.914-08:00Servant and Instrument<div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>CHAPTER TWO<br /><br />Franziska’s Activities after Completing her Education until the Founding of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity.</strong></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong><div align="justify"><br /></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"> Unfortunately not as many dates as we would like to have are available from this part of Franziska’s life. Especially unknown is the length of time she spent in this or that employment. What is available, though, also gives witness to her noble character, to her restless striving for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, and shows by what wonderful ways and through how many trials the Lord often leads those whom He has chosen as special instruments for His purposes and to fulfill His plans.<br /> After a short stay in the home of her parents, Franziska returned to Munich to the Institute of the School Sisters to work there as a teacher. She soon had the total love of her students and achieved the best results as a teacher. Gladly would Franziska have been accepted in the Congregation of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, but in spite of her preference for religious life, she could not make up her mind to enter.</span><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1469456908838220638#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1"><span style="font-family:arial;">[1]</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> As she herself often mentioned later, it was as if an inner voice were saying that this is not the destiny to which God had called her. Of course, she did not as yet know where this destiny would be found. The desire she had since childhood to work with poor pagan children, and which still inspired her, was to be at least partially fulfilled. At that time, as already noted earlier, public examinations were the practice in schools. On the occasions of such examinations, His Majesty King Ludwig I of Bavaria often came to the Institute of the School Sisters. His Daughter-in-Law, Queen Marie, also frequently honored the Institute with her visits. Both soon noticed the young, talented teacher so gifted with many wonderful qualities and deigned to show her special favor. King Ludwig cherished the intention of buying a number of black children at his own expense, bringing them to Europe, and letting them be educated and instructed in the Catholic Faith by the School Sisters in Munich. No one seemed more suited to take charge of the education of these little black children than Franziska, more so after he knew of her wish to work with the poor pagan children. Black children actually were bought in Khartoum, brought to Munich through a priest, and then entrusted to the overjoyed Franziska. The exact number of children is unknown but it must have been about 24 girls of various ages. Franziska devoted herself with complete attention to her little black ones; Her time belonged to them, she sacrificed even rest and recreation for them. Above all, she strove to achieve a knowledge of their mother tongue, as well as to give them the most necessary minimum of the German language in order to make possible an understanding and instruction. It was no small task to civilize these little ones for, initially their inborn wildness often broke through. Franziska often mentioned later, that she was her most pious at this time, since she, in the fear that her charges could attack her, kept herself constantly prepared for death. In spite of this, she spared no effort and so, after a while, was richly rewarded, as she won the love and attachment of the children. These soon called her nothing but “Mamma”. In later years Franziska frequently and gladly told of her dear black children who so appreciatively opened their unspoiled little hearts to the holy truths of the Faith. The following little episode is an example of this. Some of the older European born students of the Institute had become guilty of a lie; so the little black children came very shocked and upset to Franziska and said, “Mamma, Mamma, eating Jesus and making lies!” It was simply incomprehensible to these simple children of nature that one could lie with the same tongue that had touched the Holy Body of Jesus. With longing and holy joy Franziska awaited the day when her little darlings would be reborn in the water of Holy Baptism as children of God. This day was for her one of the greatest happiness and purest heavenly delight. Unfortunately, Franziska was not to have her dear Black ones very long; It was soon obvious that these could not tolerate the European climate. One child after the other became ill and almost all pined away in spite of the best medical efforts and the most careful nursing. If Franziska had been a mother to the little ones before, now, in illness she was even more so and cared for them until the last moments with the sacrifice of her own strength. How painful it was for her heart as an unrelenting death once again took one of her charges! And yet she felt comfort and joy at the thought that these had gone into eternity enlightened with the true Faith and in the white dress of Baptismal grace. How many blessings for her later work will these little black ones, in Heaven shining white angels, have interceded for their loving foster mother! Of the few black girls who remained alive, one entered the Congregation of the School Sisters; One married, but, unfortunately, unhappily. This former pupil often wrote to her former foster mother in order to seek consolation in her troubles.<br /> <br /> After the death of most of her dear black children, Franziska took a position as teacher in the Deaf and Dumb Institute in Munich and stayed there some years. This position gave her again a fitting outlet for her charity and she gave of herself to the poor deaf and dumb with the same devotion as she had earlier to her little black children. Here also Franziska enjoyed general love and respect, though this position also did not seem to be the one to which she felt herself innerly driven. More and more she was confirmed in the thought of founding her own congregation for the honor of God and the welfare of the poor. How and where this was to happen she, of course, did not yet know. Then a priest with the name Depozzo from Sett in the Canton Graubunden in Switzerland came to know Franziska. He had a similar intention as she and therefore encouraged her to found jointly with him, a Congregation which would actualize her ideas. So Franziska decided to give up her position in Munich and traveled to Illanz in Switzerland, where, in July, 1865, with the Reverend Depozzo, she founded an educational institution. Here Franziska was employed as directress, since only by and by would they attempt to organize a Congregation with the members who joined them. The Institute, also, flourished under Franziska’s leadership and in August, 1867 she already founded a branch in Dornbirn in Vorarlberg, which opened on September 6 of the same year with 64 students and gave reason for the most beautiful hopes. At the wish of Rev. Depozzo, Franziska was also supposed to found a similar educational institution in Ebersberg in Bavaria and it seemed to promise a beautiful field of activity. Unfortunately, the above named priest was very inconsistent and had once this, another time that, idea which were obviously not realizable. Convinced that she would not achieve the desired results in this situation, Franziska, after mature deliberation decided to give it up and to follow independently the goal that hovered before her. Still, she wanted to weigh carefully how she could reach this in conformity with the will of God. In order not to be idle during the time she clarified this for herself, she rented an apartment at the carpenter Kerschels and began a private school attached to a kindergarten and vocational school. She did not want to do this for herself, but for Miss Karoline Tschofen (died as a member of the “Englischen Fraulein” Institute in Brixen on September 23, 1897) who was employed with her as a teacher in Dornbirn and had come to Ebersberg. By the time this institute was functioning, she expected to have achieved clarity concerning her own plans. With God’s help the above named school, conducted by Franziska as Principal, made a good start. She employed some teachers and wore with them a kind of religious habit. In the meantime her spirit worked uninterruptedly on her ideas and in continual fervent prayer she pleaded for enlightenment from above. Her prayer was not in vain, the goal which she would follow stood with increasing clarity before her eyes. During her sojourns in larger cities she had had the opportunity to see the many dangers to which unemployed girls were exposed; how these, during their time of unemployment often not only had to use up their meager savings, but also could be ruined in body and soul. This touched her heart profoundly and she regarded it as absolutely necessary that institutes be brought into existence, especially in large cities, which would help remedy this evil by accepting without cost and providing care and employment services for unemployed girls. At the same time, these institutes should provide them with useful work and give them opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge and skills for their position, as well as confirming them in their holy religion and instructing them in their duties as Christians and good servants. Franziska wanted to found such an institute, and, if it thrived, to found various branches. Since she rightly recognized that servants had much influence on the children in the families and therefore on the coming generations, she saw the education of good servants as necessary as their protection during their time of unemployment. She therefore conceived the further intention of accepting poor orphaned girls and educating them as worthwhile, good servants who later could find an honest advancement in the world and do good in families. If God would bless these undertakings, her institutes would later be devoted to the education and instruction of youth generally, but the main goal of caring for poor servant girls would always be kept in view. Franziska wanted to name the congregation to be founded: “Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love,” because the members whom she hoped to receive through God’s help, besides striving for Christian perfection and personal holiness, would, for the love of God, devote themselves to works of charity. It is easy to see how well Franziska recognized the needs of the times and how deeply the carrying out of her plans would penetrate the social question. Queen Marie of Bavaria to whom Franziska traveled from Ebersberg to inform Her Majesty of her plans, also grasped this. The noble Queen, who herself had such a kind heart for the poor and who still had good memories of Franziska from Munich, recognized immediately that here was a work of great significance and did not miss giving Franziska lively encouragement to fulfill her plans. Even later, her Majesty retained a lively interest in her and her undertakings and when, on occasion Franziska’s spiritual daughters made short trips to Bavaria to collect alms and asked for an audience with Queen Marie she always received them most graciously, gave them gifts and treated them, so to say, as friends. Her Majesty showed them the palace, entertained them, and finally let them be taken by carriage to the next place that they wanted to visit. Queen Marie always sent gracious greetings to Mother Franziska and once even sent, after she had personally signed her name under each picture, her portrait taken in two different poses. These same are still preserved as precious souvenirs of the noble Queen as well as of Mother Franziska.<br /> <br /> Franziska was now indeed herself clear on the purpose of the Congregation to be founded, but did not yet know where its birthplace would be. On a trip she made in 1867 to Hungary, to collect alms for her institute in Ebersberg, she went through Vienna and met Dr. Theodor Wiedemann. As he heard of Franziska’s plans, he told her that His Highness Archduke Albrecht had reserved a sum of 300,000 florins for the foundation of an institute for servants, and only the capable hand to carry out the project was missing. This was a ray of hope for Franziska. After she had corresponded with this man for a longer time and he had given her hope of support from important people, she decided to go to Vienna in the spring of 1868 in order to convince herself personally whether or not there was a possibility of a foundation; But the time determined by God had not yet arrived. As she went, totally prepared for departure, to the coach in Ebersberg at dawn, she neglected to notice a stone in her path, fell and sprained her hand so badly that the thought of the trip had to be put temporarily aside. Therefore she returned home. The sprain caused her much pain and it was a long time until the hand was again completely sound. Meanwhile, her thoughts were often on the intended foundation and in continual prayer she pleaded with God that His holy will might be fulfilled in and through her. After healing was completed, Franziska traveled to Innsbruck in September, 1868, to strengthen herself with a retreat before beginning her work, and at the same time, to weigh everything once again with the assistance of the Holy Spirit. She made the Spiritual Exercises with Father Jung, a priest of the Society of Jesus, to whom she also revealed her plans and who strengthened her in this intention. After finishing the retreat, she returned to Ebersberg, gave the direction of her institute to the temporary care of Miss Karoline Tschofen, said farewell, and began the journey to Vienna on October 24.<br /><br /></span><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1469456908838220638#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1"><span style="font-family:arial;">[1]</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> Translator’s note: She did enter but left sometime later.</span></div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469456908838220638.post-14135712498534037912009-11-02T11:28:00.000-08:002009-11-02T11:41:59.921-08:00Mother Franziska Lechner - SERVANT AND INSTRUMENT<div align="center"><strong><em>Introduction</em></strong></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="justify"><em>Since so many have expressed an interest in the life story of the Foundress of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity we have decided to put for all to read, the biography written by a contemporary in 1905. This anonymous person, surely a member of the Congregation, has written her story with love and attention. It is now published here world-wide for all who know the English language to read.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 294px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399593693492278610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJkuplX16gWzdzo8JBbN0KH0BGsfLYJgHmBR52q6-Te5Fe4i9018q9mOHniEa9k4eIy7mJfEG3QNeW6uJ-3eDzQaN1Krm0Iqn3oaHMQJGtzkoqaR_A_ciDnY-Ag95POgepGUjBE6G_9Y/s320/Franziska+Baptism.JPG" /></em></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">CHAPTER ONE<br /><br />Mother Franziska’s Childhood and Youth<br /></div></span><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Franziska Lechner was born on January 2, 1833</span><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1469456908838220638#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1"><span style="font-family:arial;">[1]</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in the friendly village of Edling situated near Wasserburg in Bavaria. Her parents, Xaver and Marie were a truly God—fearing Christian couple who lived on the income from their considerable property. Her father was also occupied with transporting food and goods for the farmers of his village to the capitol, Munich, because at that time there was still no rail line. Because of this, he and his family were well known far and wide. He was also well liked because of his honesty, goodness and outgoing friendliness.<br />These beautiful qualities were soon evident in Franziska, called “Franzi” at home, who soon became the darling of her parents and her sisters, among whom she was the fifth in order of birth. From her earliest childhood, she had a special joy in learning little prayers. It was her old nurse, Resi, who, also considering Franzi her special darling, taught her these and had the little one recite them daily. She did this, not mechanically, but with devotion and zeal so that the nurse thought that surely something great would become of her Franzi. She enjoyed praying these childhood prayers also later, especially while traveling, when during the journeys she had enough time to pray.<br />Franzi never had to be reminded of morning and evening prayer and usually performed these devotions in front of the crucifix which is still in the sisters’ choir of the Mother House of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity in Vienna. Earlier this was the property of the Benedictine Monastery of Attel near Wasserburg in Bavaria, where it was hung in the oratory of the cloister. At the suppression of the monastery the cross came into the possession of Franzi’s grandfather. He, as well as his family and descendants, always considered it a family treasure. Later, after Franziska founded the first institute of her congregation in Vienna the crucifix was brought at her request and hung in a place of honor in the convent chapel, from where it was later brought to the choir of the new Mother House. Franzi participated at Mass with such attention that those present were deeply touched by the sight of this “angel in human form”.<br />Her intelligence developed unusually early. Her father’s cleverness contributed to this. When she was permitted to accompany him on the drive to the market, she had to, among other things, tell him the name of this and that town and relate what she had seen here and there. He paid strict attention that his children did not just make the trip in a mindless way and this was a great advantage for the very precocious little one. She also had to re-count the money taken in and, later, under his direction, help with the business accounts, helping Franzi to acquire an unusual ability in arithmetic. In school she was first in industry and good behavior. From the very first year of school she always brought her parents the first prize from the examinations held, according to the custom of the time in city and country schools, in the presence of school and civil authorities. She had great influence on and enjoyed the trust, yes, even the respect of her classmates,--boys and girls were instructed together--which tells of her model behavior and all the virtues of a good student. Therefore she was sought out by her classmates before confession to help them with their examination of conscience and she did this willingly and successfully.<br /><br />When she was nine years old a priest came to Edling to preach a mission. In one sermon, at which the little one was present, he described the misery of the pagan children and asked his listeners to give small sums to rescue them. Young people, however, who might have a vocation to the religious state, and who wanted to offer their lives for the welfare of the pagans, he encouraged to report to Rosenheim which was some distance from Edling. The result was that Franzi immediately felt herself called to this heroic sacrifice and, keeping it a secret, was determined also to go to the savages with her nine year-old cousin, “Xaverl”. The two children outfitted themselves with the necessities, tied these into two large handkerchiefs and, without telling anyone of their plans, set out the next day. Late at night and totally exhausted they arrived at their Uncle’s house in Seiding where they wanted to spend the night in order to continue their journey the next day. Naturally, the Uncle informed himself about the reason for their coming and the children told him very honestly what had brought them. He calmly let them go to sleep, but immediately sent a messenger to the parents of the fugitives to prevent their further worry and search. The next morning, securely accompanied, Franzi and Xaverl began the trip home.<br />The good memory and speaking talent of the student, hardly out of the delicate years of childhood, aroused great admiration. She retained very well the sermons and conferences she heard and she often and gladly made use of this special grace. In front of her father’s house was a stately tree with a natural projection which served her as a pulpit from which she repeated the Word of God she had heard and encouraged her listeners, not only children, but also adults, to do good. Such a sermon from the mouth of a child not only won the respect of the older people, but also produced satisfying fruit among the young, especially since Franzi preceded her contemporaries with good example. Once, in school, the pastor explained that love of neighbor must be turned into deeds. At the next opportunity Franzi was seen supporting an old lady as she was walking, then taking a heavy basket from the arm of another woman to carry the load for her, and really being helpful wherever there was need. At her encouragement, the other children also did such little acts of love. They valued praise from her very highly, as well as feared correction from their little mistress almost more than a scolding from their parents. Therefore, when one of the boys or girls did some mischief they would say “If only Franzi doesn’t find out, otherwise I will have a hard time on Sunday!” It was on Sunday afternoons that the children gathered at the “carter’s” as the Lechner house was known in the village and environs, for innocent fun. In good weather they met outside. In bad weather or in winter, Franzi knew how to provide a suitable place where all could devote themselves to their childish activities undisturbed. Nearby was a roomy house belonging to the Lechners and originally built for the retired parents. Since Franziska’s grandparents were already deceased during her childhood, the house was given over to an old couple for their use. Naturally, the little one was also their darling, and so, whenever she needed a meeting place, the two old people would go to church and leave the house for her use. The entire group of children willingly obeyed Franzi’s commands so it rarely happened that the planned recreation was disrupted by the bad behavior of an individual. Franzi selected, and herself arranged, the various games, held little lectures and reprimanded those about whom she had heard complaints in the past week. So attractive was Franzi’s example to all that, those who received correction from her amazingly demonstrated neither spite nor unfriendliness to their strict little superior but tried to repair the fault committed and the next week appeared again at the “carter’s”.<br /><br />According to custom, the inhabitants of Edling gathered in the church each Saturday after the evening bells’ tolling to recite the rosary. Many children, however, taking no pleasure in this religious practice, often stayed away entirely or disturbed, and even angered those present during their devotions by their unsuitable behavior. Talking and punishment by parents and teachers helped little here. Then Franzi tackled the case. She assigned each boy and girl to a specific place and herself supervised them as the entire community of Edling watched with amazement and admiration, the happy consequences of the energy and influence of this little girl over the lively youths. In a short time none of the children was missing from the rosary, Mass or other public devotions, and order was always preserved in a most praiseworthy manner.<br /><br />The little one showed a special preference for religious things and convent practices. Her Father often took her along to Wasserburg where there was an institute run by the “English Ladies”</span><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1469456908838220638#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2"><span style="font-family:arial;">[2]</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> so she had several opportunities to see Sisters and to attend the solemn Clothing and other church ceremonies. One of her favorite games came to consist in imitating what she had.seen on such occasions. She made herself a habit according to her childish fantasy and then with admirable earnestness set about the clothing of her companions. For the members of her community she built houses and chapels or churches whose blessings were usually held in very solemn ceremonies. Nearby, her father had a brickworks, and there the little foundress went with her subjects to gather building material for her purposes. Naturally, this always resulted in some disorder and damage, but the father’s strictness toward this activity achieved little with his usually so obedient darling. Franzi, with the help of her faithful following continued to build as she would later do in her richly blessed work for the good of the young and the welfare of so many of the poor.<br /><br />She dressed the boys as Capuchins by tying cords around their waists and hanging rosaries from them. Why, as a child, she preferred this order can be traced back to the fact that, every year after the harvest, a Capuchin brother came to Edling to collect alms. It was always Franzi and her little cousin, Xaverl, who attached themselves to him and accompanied him from house to house. Franzi, carrying a basket, and Xaverl a sack, they announced the arrival of the religious and talked the owner or housewife into giving him a generous amount. They both had great joy as Franzi’s father then rewarded the charity of the children by carting all the collected things to the Capuchin monastery in Rosenheim the next day.<br /><br />Even at that time they thought something special would become of this child so richly endowed with wonderful gifts and graces. And it was to be! God wanted to show in this way to the inhabitants of Edling that He intended to use this graced child to do great things for His own glory and the welfare of humanity. In the neighboring State of Austria-Hungary He later permitted Franziska to fulfill in a glorious way all those things, which in childish play and zeal for good, she had practiced in her youth.<br /><br />Once, Franzi was allowed to go to Altötting to visit the famous image of the Virgin. She went to confession there and the confessor permitted the pious child to go to Holy Communion twice. For Franzi this was an almost unimaginable good fortune; she recounted later that she hardly dared to look up as she walked, because she wanted to keep her heart very pure for this grace. In Altötting she also had an opportunity to see the “English Ladies” and it made a great impression on her to watch them greet the Mother of God with “Ave Maria” whenever they passed her image in the hallway. Soon after returning home she made her decision; she wrote secretly to the Superior in Altötting and asked to be admitted as a candidate, The response, however, fell into her father’s hands and now Franzi received a real scolding for her secret correspondence. Rightly, her father considered her too young for such a decision, and kept strict watch over her to prevent any further secret attempts to request admittance. He took her with him on almost all his trips, and when he couldn’t keep her near him, her elder sister, Caroline, had to watch her. None of this could dissuade Franzi from her desire and yearning for religious life. She assaulted her father with pleading to be allowed at least to go to a convent as a boarding student. Since he had to admit to himself that his little daughter was called by God to something greater, he finally decided to give in to this eager desire of hers and brought her, after completion of her thirteenth year, to the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Munich “an der Au” for further education. Here Franziska made shining progress and was, in a short time, the darling of her teachers as well as the most sought-after and trusted friend of her companions. Unfortunately, details from this time were not preserved; only that her companions often asked her, in the free time, to tell them a story. Fanni—as she was called in the institute—told not only of personal experiences or from her reading, but her creative spirit knew how to compose the most moving tales, for example, of travelers on the sea, who were very near sinking; of oppressed people who found themselves in great need, and who were aided by God’s providential help and so forth. Her fellow students listened with suspense-filled attention and were often moved to tears even though they knew that Franziska usually made up the stories herself. We can imagine that here, too, as with her classmates at home, her popularity with her companions was a good influence on them. After completing the prescribed study time, Franziska brought home to her parents a certificate which permitted her to teach. With this a long-held wish was fulfilled.</span><br /><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1469456908838220638#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1">[1]</a> Parish records cite January 1, 1833<br /><a style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2" title="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=1469456908838220638#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2">[2]</a> A Roman Catholic religious congregation.</div>Sister Carolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14824416254610128634noreply@blogger.com0