CHAPTER VIII
Foundations in Bosnia, Recognition by Rome
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
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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.
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
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
On the 25th Mother Franziska paid a visit to Cardinal Ganglbauer to
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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.
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:
“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
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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!”
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:
“To my spiritual daughters!
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
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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.
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!
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
your,
faithful mother,
Sister M. Franziska Lechner.”
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,
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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
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.
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
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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.
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.
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
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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.
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,
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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.
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.
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
Chronicle:
“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
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her wonderful help in countless cases to it as well as to individual members and those in its care.
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.
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.
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
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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:
Reverend Mother!
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.
Wishing you and your religious Congregation the fullness of heavenly graces, I sign this as one favoring you, Reverend Mother,
in the Lord,
Rome, February 27, 1885 Cardinal L. Jakobini
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.
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