CHAPTER V
Events during the years from 1871 to 1874 and the founding of the Refuge St. Joseph in Breitenfurt.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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