Servant and Instrument

CHAPTER THREE

Foundation of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.
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.

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.
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!”