SERVANT

AND
INSTRUMENT
BIOGRAPHY
of the
REVEREND FOUNDRESS AND SUPERIOR GENERAL
of the
CONGREGATION OF THE DAUGHTERS OF DIVINE CHARITY
MOTHER FRANZISKA LECHNER

Vienna, 1905
Published by the Congregation
======================================================

Z 10474
Imprimatur
From the Ordinary of Vienna
Nov. 10, 1905
Dr. G. Marschall
English translation from the German original by:
Sister M. Caroline Bachmann, FDC

Library of Congress Control Number: 2008907148

ISBN: 978-0-615-24044-2

2
 FOREWORD

According to God’s adorable designs, Mother Mary Franziska Lechner,

Foundress and Superior General of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine
Charity was called from this world on April 14, 1894. Her memory is not
extinguished, however, but lives on in the hearts of her spiritual daughters, in
the countless charges who benefited from care in the institutions she built, the
friends and benefactors of the Congregation, and the many people who came
to learn of the work, so richly blessed by God, done by this great woman. These
simple lines should serve first the glory of the Almighty and show how God
chooses the weak to do great things, they should also, however, as is proper
and fitting, keep alive the memory of Mother Franziska for the future. At the
same time this book is a sign of gratitude to the noble patrons and benefactors
of the Congregation for their assistance in its work, To all the Daughters of
Divine Charity especially, however, is presented the life of their Foundress that
they may always have before them the glorious virtues of their spiritual Mother
and endeavor, in her spirit, to devote themselves with zeal to the tasks of
Christian love of neighbor, working according to the motto of Mother Franziska
“FOR GOD, FOR THE POOR, AND FOR OUR CONGREGATION”
Vienna, May, 1905

3
 Foreword to the 2008 edition
and translator’s note

The foreword to the 1905 edition glows with the affection and the intimate
knowledge of an eye witness. There is nothing to add to those words of
admiration and love. The original author’s name remains hidden but the spirit
shining from the pages seems to indicate a relationship of friendship. With
each reading of these pages we bring her our praise and gratitude.

Many expressions and titles of the time, as well as spellings that required
specific symbols have been simplified for today’s reading of the English
language.

Sister M. Caroline Bachmann, FDC

Staten Island, New York
July 7, 2008

4
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
Mother Franziska’s Childhood and Youth ............................................................ 8

CHAPTER II
Franziska’s Activities after Completing her Education until the
Founding of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity ................... 14

CHAPTER III
Foundation of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity ............... 20

CHAPTER IV
Founding of Marian Institutes in Troppau, Brunn and Budapest ...................... 33

CHAPTER V
Events during the years from 1871 to 1874 and the Founding of the
Refuge St. Joseph in Breitenfurt ........................................................................ 40

CHAPTER VI
Foundation in St. Georgental, Foundations in Toponar and Berzencze ............ 54

CHAPTER VII
Foundation of the Convalescent House in Breitenfurt, the houses in
St. Andra and Prague and other note-worthy happenings in the years
from 1877 to 1882 .............................................................................................. 66

CHAPTER VIII
Foundations in Bosnia, Recognition by Rome ................................................... 82

CHAPTER IX
Foundations in Biala and in Zone XVIII of Vienna,
Foundations in Foherczeglak, Trip to Rome .................................................... 105

CHAPTER X
Founding of the Convent St. Joseph’s in Doinja-Tuzla,
the Foundations in Crakow and Hirschtetten,
enlargement of various branches of the Congregation ................................... 121

5
CHAPTER XI
The Purchase of a New Mother House, Foundation in Szt. Ivan ..................... 130

CHAPTER XII
Construction and Dedication of the Church, Approval by Rome ................... 139

CHAPTER XIII
Foundations in Kis-Czell, Nagy-Levard (Grossschutzen),
and in IX. District of Vienna, Eye Operation .................................................... 149

CHAPTER XIV
Foundations in Leopoldsdorf in Marchfelde and Legrad Foundation of
the Convent of St. Augustine in Sarajevo ........................................................ 158

CHAPTER XV
The twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Founding of the Congregation,
and, on November 21, 1893, the double Silver Jubilee of
Mother Franziska in Religion and in office ...................................................... 171

CHAPTER XVI
Mother Franziska’s Maternal Love and Concern for the Congregation .......... 179

CHAPTER XVII
Mother Franziska’s Piety, Humility and Trust in God ..................................... 195

CHAPTER XVIII
Mother Franziska’s Last Illness,
Bestowal of the Gold Cross of Merit with Crown,
Initiation of the Foundation in Stossing, her Death. ........................................ 207

6
 Edling

Stossing

7
 CHAPTER I

Mother Franziska’s Childhood and Youth

Franziska Lechner was born on January 2, 18332 in the friendly

village of Edling situated near Wasserburg in Bavaria. Her parents, Xaver and
Marie were a truly God—fearing Christian couple who lived on the income from
their considerable property. Her father was also occupied with transporting
food and goods for the farmers of his village to the capitol, Munich, because at
that time there was still no rail line. Because of this, he and his family were well
known far and wide. He was also well liked because of his honesty, goodness
and outgoing friendliness.
These beautiful qualities were soon evident in Franziska, called
“Franzi” at home, who soon became the darling of her parents and her sisters,
among whom she was the fifth in order of birth. From her earliest childhood,
she had a special joy in learning little prayers. It was her old nurse, Resi, who,
also considering Franzi her special darling, taught her these and had the little
one recite them daily. She did this, not mechanically, but with devotion and
zeal so that the nurse thought that surely something great would become of
her Franzi. She enjoyed praying these childhood prayers also later, especially
while traveling, when during the journeys she had enough time to pray.
Franzi never had to be reminded of morning and evening prayer
and usually performed these devotions in front of the crucifix which is still in
the sisters’ choir of the Mother House of the Congregation of the Daughters of
Divine Charity in Vienna. Earlier this was the property of the Benedictine
Monastery of Attel near Wasserburg in Bavaria, where it was hung in the
oratory of the cloister. At the suppression of the monastery the cross came into
the possession of Franzi’s grandfather. He, as well as his family and
descendants, always considered it a family treasure. Later, after Franziska
founded the first institute of her congregation in Vienna the crucifix was
brought at her request and hung in a place of honor in the convent chapel,
from where it was later brought to the choir of the new Mother House. Franzi

2
Parish records cite January 1, 1833

8
participated at Mass with such attention that those present were deeply
touched by the sight of this “angel in human form”.
Her intelligence developed unusually early. Her father’s
cleverness contributed to this. When she was permitted to accompany him on
the drive to the market, she had to, among other things, tell him the name of
this and that town and relate what she had seen here and there. He paid strict
attention that his children did not just make the trip in a mindless way and this
was a great advantage for the very precocious little one. She also had to re-
count the money taken in and, later, under his direction, help with the business
accounts, helping Franzi to acquire an unusual ability in arithmetic. In school
she was first in industry and good behavior. From the very first year of school
she always brought her parents the first prize from the examinations held,
according to the custom of the time in city and country schools, in the presence
of school and civil authorities. She had great influence on and enjoyed the trust,
yes, even the respect of her classmates,--boys and girls were instructed
together--which tells of her model behavior and all the virtues of a good
student. Therefore she was sought out by her classmates before confession to
help them with their examination of conscience and she did this willingly and
successfully.

When she was nine years old a priest came to Edling to preach a
mission. In one sermon, at which the little one was present, he described the
misery of the pagan children and asked his listeners to give small sums to
rescue them. Young people, however, who might have a vocation to the
religious state, and who wanted to offer their lives for the welfare of the
pagans, he encouraged to report to Rosenheim which was some distance from
Edling. The result was that Franzi immediately felt herself called to this heroic
sacrifice and, keeping it a secret, was determined also to go to the savages with
her nine year-old cousin, “Xaverl”. The two children outfitted themselves with
the necessities, tied these into two large handkerchiefs and, without telling
anyone of their plans, set out the next day. Late at night and totally exhausted
they arrived at their Uncle’s house in Seiding where they wanted to spend the
night in order to continue their journey the next day. Naturally, the Uncle

9
informed himself about the reason for their coming and the children told him
very honestly what had brought them. He calmly let them go to sleep, but
immediately sent a messenger to the parents of the fugitives to prevent their
further worry and search. The next morning, securely accompanied, Franzi and
Xaverl began the trip home.
The good memory and speaking talent of the student, hardly out
of the delicate years of childhood, aroused great admiration. She retained very
well the sermons and conferences she heard and she often and gladly made
use of this special grace. In front of her father’s house was a stately tree with a
natural projection which served her as a pulpit from which she repeated the
Word of God she had heard and encouraged her listeners, not only children,
but also adults, to do good. Such a sermon from the mouth of a child not only
won the respect of the older people, but also produced satisfying fruit among
the young, especially since Franzi preceded her contemporaries with good
example. Once, in school, the pastor explained that love of neighbor must be
turned into deeds. At the next opportunity Franzi was seen supporting an old
lady as she was walking, then taking a heavy basket from the arm of another
woman to carry the load for her, and really being helpful wherever there was
need. At her encouragement, the other children also did such little acts of love.
They valued praise from her very highly, as well as feared correction from their
little mistress almost more than a scolding from their parents. Therefore, when
one of the boys or girls did some mischief they would say “If only Franzi doesn’t
find out, otherwise I will have a hard time on Sunday!” It was on Sunday
afternoons that the children gathered at the “carter’s” as the Lechner house
was known in the village and environs, for innocent fun. In good weather they
met outside. In bad weather or in winter, Franzi knew how to provide a suitable
place where all could devote themselves to their childish activities undisturbed.
Nearby was a roomy house belonging to the Lechners and originally built for
the retired parents. Since Franziska’s grandparents were already deceased
during her childhood, the house was given over to an old couple for their use.
Naturally, the little one was also their darling, and so, whenever she needed a
meeting place, the two old people would go to church and leave the house for
her use. The entire group of children willingly obeyed Franzi’s commands so it

10
rarely happened that the planned recreation was disrupted by the bad behavior
of an individual. Franzi selected, and herself arranged, the various games, held
little lectures and reprimanded those about whom she had heard complaints in
the past week. So attractive was Franzi’s example to all that, those who
received correction from her amazingly demonstrated neither spite nor
unfriendliness to their strict little superior but tried to repair the fault
committed and the next week appeared again at the “carter’s”.

According to custom, the inhabitants of Edling gathered in the

church each Saturday after the evening bells’ tolling to recite the rosary. Many
children, however, taking no pleasure in this religious practice, often stayed
away entirely or disturbed, and even angered those present during their
devotions by their unsuitable behavior. Talking and punishment by parents and
teachers helped little here. Then Franzi tackled the case. She assigned each boy
and girl to a specific place and herself supervised them as the entire community
of Edling watched with amazement and admiration, the happy consequences of
the energy and influence of this little girl over the lively youths. In a short time
none of the children was missing from the rosary, Mass or other public
devotions, and order was always preserved in a most praiseworthy manner.

The little one showed a special preference for religious things

and convent practices. Her Father often took her along to Wasserburg where
there was an institute run by the “English Ladies”3 so she had several
opportunities to see Sisters and to attend the solemn Clothing and other church
ceremonies. One of her favorite games came to consist in imitating what she
had.seen on such occasions. She made herself a habit according to her childish
fantasy and then with admirable earnestness set about the clothing of her
companions. For the members of her community she built houses and chapels
or churches whose blessings were usually held in very solemn ceremonies.
Nearby, her father had a brickworks, and there the little foundress went with
her subjects to gather building material for her purposes. Naturally, this always
resulted in some disorder and damage, but the father’s strictness toward this

3
A Roman Catholic religious congregation.

11
activity achieved little with his usually so obedient darling. Franzi, with the help
of her faithful following continued to build as she would later do in her richly
blessed work for the good of the young and the welfare of so many of the poor.

She dressed the boys as Capuchins by tying cords around their

waists and hanging rosaries from them. Why, as a child, she preferred this
order can be traced back to the fact that, every year after the harvest, a
Capuchin brother came to Edling to collect alms. It was always Franzi and her
little cousin, Xaverl, who attached themselves to him and accompanied him
from house to house. Franzi, carrying a basket, and Xaverl a sack, they
announced the arrival of the religious and talked the owner or housewife into
giving him a generous amount. They both had great joy as Franzi’s father then
rewarded the charity of the children by carting all the collected things to the
Capuchin monastery in Rosenheim the next day.

Even at that time they thought something special would become

of this child so richly endowed with wonderful gifts and graces. And it was to
be! God wanted to show in this way to the inhabitants of Edling that He
intended to use this graced child to do great things for His own glory and the
welfare of humanity. In the neighboring State of Austria-Hungary He later
permitted Franziska to fulfill in a glorious way all those things, which in childish
play and zeal for good, she had practiced in her youth.

Once, Franzi was allowed to go to Altötting to visit the famous

image of the Virgin. She went to confession there and the confessor permitted
the pious child to go to Holy Communion twice. For Franzi this was an almost
unimaginable good fortune; she recounted later that she hardly dared to look
up as she walked, because she wanted to keep her heart very pure for this
grace. In Altötting she also had an opportunity to see the “English Ladies” and it
made a great impression on her to watch them greet the Mother of God with
“Ave Maria” whenever they passed her image in the hallway. Soon after
returning home she made her decision; she wrote secretly to the Superior in
Altötting and asked to be admitted as a candidate, The response, however, fell

12
into her father’s hands and now Franzi received a real scolding for her secret
correspondence. Rightly, her father considered her too young for such a
decision, and kept strict watch over her to prevent any further secret attempts
to request admittance. He took her with him on almost all his trips, and when
he couldn’t keep her near him, her elder sister, Caroline, had to watch her.
None of this could dissuade Franzi from her desire and yearning for religious
life. She assaulted her father with pleading to be allowed at least to go to a
convent as a boarding student. Since he had to admit to himself that his little
daughter was called by God to something greater, he finally decided to give in
to this eager desire of hers and brought her, after completion of her thirteenth
year, to the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Munich “an der Au” for further
education. Here Franziska made shining progress and was, in a short time, the
darling of her teachers as well as the most sought-after and trusted friend of
her companions. Unfortunately, details from this time were not preserved; only
that her companions often asked her, in the free time, to tell them a story.
Fanni—as she was called in the institute—told not only of personal experiences
or from her reading, but her creative spirit knew how to compose the most
moving tales, for example, of travelers on the sea, who were very near sinking;
of oppressed people who found themselves in great need, and who were aided
by God’s providential help and so forth. Her fellow students listened with
suspense-filled attention and were often moved to tears even though they
knew that Franziska usually made up the stories herself. We can imagine that
here, too, as with her classmates at home, her popularity with her companions
was a good influence on them. After completing the prescribed study time,
Franziska brought home to her parents a certificate which permitted her to
teach. With this a long-held wish was fulfilled.

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 CHAPTER II

Franziska’s Activities after Completing her Education until the Founding of the
Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity.

Unfortunately not as many dates as we would like to have are

available from this part of Franziska’s life. Especially unknown is the length of
time she spent in this or that employment. What is available, though, also gives
witness to her noble character, to her restless striving for the glory of God and
the salvation of souls, and shows by what wonderful ways and through how
many trials the Lord often leads those whom He has chosen as special
instruments for His purposes and to fulfill His plans.
After a short stay in the home of her parents, Franziska returned
to Munich to the Institute of the School Sisters to work there as a teacher. She
soon had the total love of her students and achieved the best results as a
teacher. Gladly would Franziska have been accepted in the Congregation of the
School Sisters of Notre Dame, but in spite of her preference for religious life,
she could not make up her mind to enter.4 As she herself often mentioned
later, it was as if an inner voice were saying that this is not the destiny to which
God had called her. Of course, she did not as yet know where this destiny
would be found. The desire she had since childhood to work with poor pagan
children, and which still inspired her, was to be at least partially fulfilled. At that
time, as already noted earlier, public examinations were the practice in schools.
On the occasions of such examinations, His Majesty King Ludwig I of Bavaria
often came to the Institute of the School Sisters. His Daughter-in-Law, Queen
Marie, also frequently honored the Institute with her visits. Both soon noticed
the young, talented teacher so gifted with many wonderful qualities and
deigned to show her special favor. King Ludwig cherished the intention of
buying a number of black children at his own expense, bringing them to Europe,
and letting them be educated and instructed in the Catholic Faith by the School
Sisters in Munich. No one seemed more suited to take charge of the education
of these little black children than Franziska, more so after he knew of her wish

4
Translator’s note: She did enter but left sometime later.

14
to work with the poor pagan children. Black children actually were bought in
Khartoum, brought to Munich through a priest, and then entrusted to the
overjoyed Franziska. The exact number of children is unknown but it must have
been about 24 girls of various ages. Franziska devoted herself with complete
attention to her little black ones; Her time belonged to them, she sacrificed
even rest and recreation for them. Above all, she strove to achieve a knowledge
of their mother tongue, as well as to give them the most necessary minimum of
the German language in order to make possible an understanding and
instruction. It was no small task to civilize these little ones for, initially their
inborn wildness often broke through. Franziska often mentioned later, that she
was her most pious at this time, since she, in the fear that her charges could
attack her, kept herself constantly prepared for death. In spite of this, she
spared no effort and so, after a while, was richly rewarded, as she won the love
and attachment of the children. These soon called her nothing but “Mamma”.
In later years Franziska frequently and gladly told of her dear black children
who so appreciatively opened their unspoiled little hearts to the holy truths of
the Faith. The following little episode is an example of this. Some of the older
European born students of the Institute had become guilty of a lie; so the little
black children came very shocked and upset to Franziska and said, “Mamma,
Mamma, eating Jesus and making lies!” It was simply incomprehensible to
these simple children of nature that one could lie with the same tongue that
had touched the Holy Body of Jesus. With longing and holy joy Franziska
awaited the day when her little darlings would be reborn in the water of Holy
Baptism as children of God. This day was for her one of the greatest happiness
and purest heavenly delight. Unfortunately, Franziska was not to have her dear
Black ones very long; It was soon obvious that these could not tolerate the
European climate. One child after the other became ill and almost all pined
away in spite of the best medical efforts and the most careful nursing. If
Franziska had been a mother to the little ones before, now, in illness she was
even more so and cared for them until the last moments with the sacrifice of
her own strength. How painful it was for her heart as an unrelenting death once
again took one of her charges! And yet she felt comfort and joy at the thought
that these had gone into eternity enlightened with the true Faith and in the

15
white dress of Baptismal grace. How many blessings for her later work will
these little black ones, in Heaven shining white angels, have interceded for their
loving foster mother! Of the few black girls who remained alive, one entered
the Congregation of the School Sisters; One married, but, unfortunately,
unhappily. This former pupil often wrote to her former foster mother in order
to seek consolation in her troubles.

After the death of most of her dear black children, Franziska took
a position as teacher in the Deaf and Dumb Institute in Munich and stayed
there some years. This position gave her again a fitting outlet for her charity
and she gave of herself to the poor deaf and dumb with the same devotion as
she had earlier to her little black children. Here also Franziska enjoyed general
love and respect, though this position also did not seem to be the one to which
she felt herself innerly driven. More and more she was confirmed in the
thought of founding her own congregation for the honor of God and the
welfare of the poor. How and where this was to happen she, of course, did not
yet know. Then a priest with the name Depozzo from Sett in the Canton
Graubunden in Switzerland came to know Franziska. He had a similar intention
as she and therefore encouraged her to found jointly with him, a Congregation
which would actualize her ideas. So Franziska decided to give up her position in
Munich and traveled to Illanz in Switzerland, where, in July, 1865, with the
Reverend Depozzo, she founded an educational institution. Here Franziska was
employed as directress, since only by and by would they attempt to organize a
Congregation with the members who joined them. The Institute, also,
flourished under Franziska’s leadership and in August, 1867 she already
founded a branch in Dornbirn in Vorarlberg, which opened on September 6 of
the same year with 64 students and gave reason for the most beautiful hopes.
At the wish of Rev. Depozzo, Franziska was also supposed to found a similar
educational institution in Ebersberg in Bavaria and it seemed to promise a
beautiful field of activity. Unfortunately, the above named priest was very
inconsistent and had once this, another time that, idea which were obviously
not realizable. Convinced that she would not achieve the desired results in this
situation, Franziska, after mature deliberation decided to give it up and to

16
follow independently the goal that hovered before her. Still, she wanted to
weigh carefully how she could reach this in conformity with the will of God. In
order not to be idle during the time she clarified this for herself, she rented an
apartment at the carpenter Kerschels and began a private school attached to a
kindergarten and vocational school. She did not want to do this for herself, but
for Miss Karoline Tschofen (died as a member of the “Englischen Fraulein”
Institute in Brixen on September 23, 1897) who was employed with her as a
teacher in Dornbirn and had come to Ebersberg. By the time this institute was
functioning, she expected to have achieved clarity concerning her own plans.
With God’s help the above named school, conducted by Franziska as Principal,
made a good start. She employed some teachers and wore with them a kind of
religious habit. In the meantime her spirit worked uninterruptedly on her ideas
and in continual fervent prayer she pleaded for enlightenment from above. Her
prayer was not in vain, the goal which she would follow stood with increasing
clarity before her eyes. During her sojourns in larger cities she had had the
opportunity to see the many dangers to which unemployed girls were exposed;
how these, during their time of unemployment often not only had to use up
their meager savings, but also could be ruined in body and soul. This touched
her heart profoundly and she regarded it as absolutely necessary that institutes
be brought into existence, especially in large cities, which would help remedy
this evil by accepting without cost and providing care and employment services
for unemployed girls. At the same time, these institutes should provide them
with useful work and give them opportunity to gain the necessary knowledge
and skills for their position, as well as confirming them in their holy religion and
instructing them in their duties as Christians and good servants. Franziska
wanted to found such an institute, and, if it thrived, to found various branches.
Since she rightly recognized that servants had much influence on the children in
the families and therefore on the coming generations, she saw the education of
good servants as necessary as their protection during their time of
unemployment. She therefore conceived the further intention of accepting
poor orphaned girls and educating them as worthwhile, good servants who
later could find an honest advancement in the world and do good in families. If
God would bless these undertakings, her institutes would later be devoted to

17
the education and instruction of youth generally, but the main goal of caring for
poor servant girls would always be kept in view. Franziska wanted to name the
congregation to be founded: “Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Love,”
because the members whom she hoped to receive through God’s help, besides
striving for Christian perfection and personal holiness, would, for the love of
God, devote themselves to works of charity. It is easy to see how well Franziska
recognized the needs of the times and how deeply the carrying out of her plans
would penetrate the social question. Queen Marie of Bavaria to whom
Franziska traveled from Ebersberg to inform Her Majesty of her plans, also
grasped this. The noble Queen, who herself had such a kind heart for the poor
and who still had good memories of Franziska from Munich, recognized
immediately that here was a work of great significance and did not miss giving
Franziska lively encouragement to fulfill her plans. Even later, her Majesty
retained a lively interest in her and her undertakings and when, on occasion
Franziska’s spiritual daughters made short trips to Bavaria to collect alms and
asked for an audience with Queen Marie she always received them most
graciously, gave them gifts and treated them, so to say, as friends. Her Majesty
showed them the palace, entertained them, and finally let them be taken by
carriage to the next place that they wanted to visit. Queen Marie always sent
gracious greetings to Mother Franziska and once even sent, after she had
personally signed her name under each picture, her portrait taken in two
different poses. These same are still preserved as precious souvenirs of the
noble Queen as well as of Mother Franziska.

Franziska was now indeed herself clear on the purpose of the

Congregation to be founded, but did not yet know where its birthplace would
be. On a trip she made in 1867 to Hungary, to collect alms for her institute in
Ebersberg, she went through Vienna and met Dr. Theodor Wiedemann. As he
heard of Franziska’s plans, he told her that His Highness Archduke Albrecht had
reserved a sum of 300,000 florins for the foundation of an institute for
servants, and only the capable hand to carry out the project was missing. This
was a ray of hope for Franziska. After she had corresponded with this man for a
longer time and he had given her hope of support from important people, she

18
decided to go to Vienna in the spring of 1868 in order to convince herself
personally whether or not there was a possibility of a foundation; But the time
determined by God had not yet arrived. As she went, totally prepared for
departure, to the coach in Ebersberg at dawn, she neglected to notice a stone
in her path, fell and sprained her hand so badly that the thought of the trip had
to be put temporarily aside. Therefore she returned home. The sprain caused
her much pain and it was a long time until the hand was again completely
sound. Meanwhile, her thoughts were often on the intended foundation and in
continual prayer she pleaded with God that His holy will might be fulfilled in
and through her. After healing was completed, Franziska traveled to Innsbruck
in September, 1868, to strengthen herself with a retreat before beginning her
work, and at the same time, to weigh everything once again with the assistance
of the Holy Spirit. She made the Spiritual Exercises with Father Jung, a priest of
the Society of Jesus, to whom she also revealed her plans and who
strengthened her in this intention. After finishing the retreat, she returned to
Ebersberg, gave the direction of her institute to the temporary care of Miss
Karoline Tschofen, said farewell, and began the journey to Vienna on October
24.

19
 CHAPTER III

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

20
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

21
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

22
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

23
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

24
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,

25
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.

26
 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,

27
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

28
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

29
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

30
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

31
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.

32
 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!”

CHAPTER IV

Founding of Marian Institutes in Troppau, Brunn and Budapest.

On October 9, 1870 Director Father Steiner brought Mother

Franziska a letter from Mr. Benda in Troppau in which he asked if and to what
degree the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity is involved in the
foundation of a Marian Institute in Troppau, if they had given a commission to
do so to a certain Scholastica Vladar. She had come to him with the request for
help in founding such an institute. The person mentioned had been taken on by
Mother Franziska as a collector but after a few months had to be dismissed as
incapable of this work. Thereafter she traveled to Troppau, began to collect
alms for the establishment of a Marian Institute and rented a ground floor,

33
three-room apartment in Poppen Street. Then she took in three servant girls,
two of whom were to be her assistants and the third, novice directress. It was
apparent from all this that Vladar wanted to imitate Mother Franziska although
she lacked the necessary ability to do so. She soon recognized this herself and
therefore had already written a number of times to Mother Franziska who was
unable, however, to decipher the letters. As Mother Franziska heard of this
situation it became clear to her that she would have to bring a halt to the
events if the reputation of the young Congregation was not to be endangered
and so she set out that same evening with Sister Aloisia Argauer for Troppau.
After Mother Franziska consulted, with the Superior of the Order of German
Sisters5 and the honorable Mr. Benda she called Scholastica Vladar to herself.
She was very happy that Mother Franziska had come because the three co-
workers in her project had already retreated in the meantime and she had no
idea what to do with the dream foundation already begun. She repeatedly
asked for forgiveness and said she did not, anyhow, want to begin it for herself,
but only for the sisters. “Everything begun by God, I nothing at all, everything
by God!” she added in her broken German with Bohemian pronunciation. And
truly it was permitted by God, since this insignificant beginning was the basis of
the Marian Institute now working with such rich blessing in Troppau, where so
many poor servant girls have already found free board, instruction and job
placement, so many orphans and other pupils have received education and
culture. Mother Franziska believed she saw here the finger of God and, in her
zeal for His glory, her decision was soon made. She went to the State
Government and to the mayor, explained everything, and these gentlemen
asked her to take things firmly in hand and also did not fail to assure her of the
necessary support. That same day Mother Franziska took possession of the
apartment Scholastica had rented, left Sister Aloisia in Troppau and returned to
Vienna. Having arrived, she sent Sister Bernardine Wank to the new post and
the two Sisters, in the direst poverty, began their work. This was at first still
small, of course, because the apartment had space for only a few servant girls
and, for a time, Scholastica was also allowed to remain. Soon two more Sisters
came from Vienna and now, because of the many girls who applied for

5
Seems to be a title, translated literally.

34
admission, the little apartment was no longer sufficient, a larger one was
rented at the so-called “kiosk” until it was possible for Mother Franziska to
acquire a house of its own for the “Marian Institute”.
By November 1870 the young Congregation was again to receive
another branch. Sister Luzia Benda, Mother Franziska‘s first co-worker told of
the many requests she received during a soliciting trip in Brunn, that a Marian
Institute should be established there also. Mother Franziska’s zeal was
immediately enkindled for the new foundation and with her characteristic
decisiveness she soon traveled to Brunn, to see if there was the possibility to
fulfill the stated wishes. She was inspired by the principle of following every call
of God immediately and wherever He wished, in order to work for His honor.
Mother Franzjska consulted with the Reverend Bishop Nottig, the Mayor von
Elvert, and the Chief of Police; Everywhere she was met with friendliness and
encouragement for the foundation of a Marian Institute and assurances of
protection. Now Mother Franziska was without all doubt that these things were
the will of God. The Prelate Kaliwoda in the Benedictine Abbey at Raigern near
Brunn, who had already helped the Sisters very much during the collections,
now also took a great part in the foundation. He ordered his bookkeeper, Mr.
Gerstner, to look for a suitable house and offered Mother Franziska an
apartment for the Sisters in a house belonging to the Abbey in Petersberg near
Brunn until she could purchase one. Mr. Gerstner soon found a fitting house
with a nice, large garden in Neugasse 24. This belonged to the wife of a textile
craftsman, Mrs. Marie Waniek. Mother Franziska walking around Brunn for this
reason for four days, looked at many houses, but she found none more suitable
for the purposes of the Congregation than the house mentioned above; also
nowhere were the payment conditions arranged more practically, so she did
not hesitate longer with the decision to buy. On December 16, Mother
Franziska traveled for the second time to Brunn, this time accompanied by
Sister Stanislai Fuss, the Superior designated for the new foundation, and Mr.
Lang to finally close the sale of the house. The price was set at 20,000 florins
though Mother Franziska could pay only 1,500 florins as down payment of
which the greater part, 1,200 florins, was loaned by Mr. Lang, and in the final
hours, Sister Luzia went collecting to some families to obtain the sum of 300

35
florins which was still missing. On March 1, 1871, the Sisters were able to move
into a room, a bathroom and a kitchen in the purchased house; and, trusting in
God’s help, they began the renovation of the house. Until this was completed,
the ten sisters really crowded into the small apartment, had much discomfort
to endure. Usually during the day they went collecting for contributions for the
foundation. At this time Mother Franziska was sick in bed in Vienna, but the
concern for the new foundations did not let her rest and she traveled again to
Brunn just as soon as she had recovered just a little. This was on March 7. Of
course, because of her weakened condition this trip brought her great
discomfort but she paid it little attention and thought only about the necessity
of her presence in Brunn because of the construction. On May 1 it was already
possible to hold the solemn dedication which was attended by His Excellency
the Governor, Earl Thun, many high officials and ladies of the aristocracy.
Because of the Solemn High Mass in the St. Thomas Parish Church followed by a
procession of priests, sisters and guests to the Marian Institute, a large crowd
of people had gathered and fifteen guards had to maintain order. Mother
Franziska wanted to give each of them a gulden but she had no money and had
to borrow the sum from Director Steiner and the Lang brothers who had both
come for the dedication in Brunn. In this way also this foundation began in the
greatest poverty. On the day of the dedication there were already thirteen
servant girls in the institute and the Sisters soon had a richly blessed field of
activity. Later here, as in Troppau, a section for orphans and other pupils was
also erected.

Almost at the same time of the foundation in Brunn, Mother

Franziska had begun erecting another Marian Institute, this in the capital of
Hungary. She judged correctly that such institutes were needed especially in
capital cities. On January 25, 1871 she traveled with Sister Augustina d’Armaille
to Budapest to find out if the establishment of a Marian Institute were possible
there, and, in case of the affirmative, to begin immediately with the steps to
acquire a house. Mother Franziska and her companion were complete strangers
in Budapest and knew no one, thus making this foundation doubly difficult.
They lived fourteen days in the Hotel Tieger and looked in the meanwhile for a

36
suitable house. During this time they had to live very frugally because their
small sum of money allowed them to have only one meal a day, and that was
usually mutton as the cheapest food available. After a long search they finally
found the house belonging to Mr. Joppich on Soroksarergasse 36 which seemed
suitable for the foundation. Even though without funds, Mother Franziska,
trusting in God’s help, closed the deal for purchase of the house on January 28
for 58,500 florins. Naturally, as she herself often said, this morning was a
frightening one for her in this position. Since no apartment in the newly
purchased house would be available soon, Mother Franziska went in search of
one and found it at Waaggasse 5 on the third floor. She immediately sent for
four Sisters from Vienna who collected funds for the Marian Institute to be
erected in Budapest because the other branches as well as the Mother House in
Vienna needed her presence. She had to go here and then there, and since her
time was too short, she used the nights for travel in order to have the day for
work.

On May I the Sisters in Budapest could move into a small

apartment in their own house and the renovations began immediately. These,
with furnishings, cost 12,400 florins and Mother Franziska had to send all the
sisters that could in any way be spared in the houses soliciting to meet all the
obligations entered upon for the new foundations. In these difficult times she
herself collected contributions among the nobility in Budapest and shared in
the privations of the sisters there. These, because they still had no kitchen, had
to use an ironing stove for cooking, but, because of the collecting and the work
in the house they had only very little time anyway for kitchen concerns. On July
2, 1871 the Marian Institute in Budapest was dedicated and opened. The City
Supervisor Thaiss and Mayor Gempi and many other high officials and also
Director Steiner and Mr. Lang from Vienna were present. During this
celebration there were again various financial embarrassments for Mother
Franziska in which, however, God helped her in noteworthy ways. After Mass
the guests were to receive a breakfast, but the poor sisters were not able to
buy the needed baked goods until some benefactors had placed some offerings
in the box under the crucifix in the hallway. Through God’s providence they

37
gave so much that not only the baked goods, but also the guards needed to
maintain order, were paid for. But now there remained the payment for the
carriage that had brought the Abbot Rath who had presided at the dedication,
and Mother Franziska had nothing left. Just at the right moment Canon Pribek,
later Auxiliary Bishop of Vesprem, approached her and gave her a gift of two
ducats. So there was help for this embarrassment. However, in the evening,
when Mother Franziska wanted to go back to Vienna, she again had nothing
and Mr. Lang had to help her again by lending her the fare. She and her
companions had to endure a fright on this trip because near Neuhause their
train almost collided with another one. This misfortune was prevented in time
by God’s special protection.

Now the beginning of a third branch of the Congregation which

was to become one of its largest institutes was made. Today, besides the busy
section for servant girls, there is in the Budapest house also a boarding school,
a section for orphans, an eight-grade elementary school, the last also for day
students, a vocational school and a kindergarten. Some one who reads about
the quick erection of this and also the other branch foundations of Mother
Franziska might begin to think that she entered hastily upon such widespread
and difficult-to-fulfill obligations. This was absolutely not so. Her quick, almost,
so to speak, masculine, decisiveness was not hasty, but rather she always
consulted God in intimate prayer before she began a new work and seriously
weighed the reasons for and against. When she then, however, recognized
something as the will of God, there was no hesitation and no more turning back
and no matter what difficulties rose in opposition, she pressed on to the goal
ahead. “All for God, for the poor and for our Congregation!” was the key which
she later designated as the motto of the Congregation. As a matter of fact, even
people who wished the Congregation well sometimes reproached Mother
Franziska that she founded her institutes too quickly and thoughtlessly one
after the other and thereby put too great a burden upon the Congregation.
When she mentioned this she usually said, “I am doing it, after all, for the glory
of God and for the poor; I cannot believe that this is wrong and that our loving
God will punish me for that which is done for His glory!” She also liked to say,

38
“Our loving God will surely help us to fulfill our obligations; He knows, after all,
what we need and already holds the means in his hand. If He withdraws it, it is
only we, with our limited trust who are to blame!” Love for God and neighbor,
paired with a rock-like trust in God, was the motive of all her actions and the
loving God showed with notable blessing how pleasing to Him her striving and
working were.

39
 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 Franziska.

40
 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

41
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.

42
 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

43
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

44
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

45
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

46
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

47
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

48
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

49
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

50
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

51
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

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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.

Breitenfurt

53
 CHAPTER VI

Foundation in St. Georgental, Foundations in Toponar and Berzencze.

In September of 1873 two sisters of the Congregation were on a soliciting trip in

German Bohemia. When they arrived in St. Georgental the Pastor, Reverend
Luttna, told them that a factory owner, Mr. Edward Wolf and his wife,
Magdalena, wanted to make a foundation for the good of poor children in
order to thank God for the blessing that had come to their businesses. Foreseen
for this was a house belonging to Mr. Wolf which should become an institute to
care for children and a vocational school, as well as a place for the education of
orphans. The Pastor asked the sisters to intercede with Mother Franziska to
send sisters to conduct the institute to be established in St. Georgental. Mother
Franziska was not against these plans and, after repeated exchanges of letters
with the Pastor and Mr. Wolf, she went in the company of Sister Xaveria Egger
to St. Georgental on November 27, 1873 to see the house. On this occasion she
traveled through the pilgrimage site of Philippsdorf. It was reputed that the
Blessed Mother appeared there in 1868 to a sick girl named Magdalena Kali and
healed her. During her stay in Philippsdorf Mother Franziska had opportunity to
speak with the favored one. In the shrine chapel she recommended all her
undertakings and intentions to the Mother of God with great devotion. Since
now, as was often the case, she was lacking funds, she placed her purse on the
spot where the Blessed Mother had stood during the apparitions and asked her
fervently to provide through her intercession the necessary money so that
many poor people could be helped. This request did not remain unheard,
because, even if Mother Franziska often had to struggle with great money
worries, she always received what was absolutely necessary, often in the last
minute and in almost mysterious ways. Mother Franziska was completely
satisfied with the absolute necessities and often admonished her spiritual
daughters to wish for no more than that so that holy poverty would be
preserved. She saw this as the protecting wall of the spiritual life and therefore
often said, When I die I will constantly ask God that the Congregation remain
poor.” Money and possessions she saw as mere means to do good. They had no

54
other value for her. Therefore, as soon as she received a larger donation she
could think only of how to use it as soon as possible for some good work.

After successfully completing the journey to St. Georgental,

Mother Franziska was greeted in a most friendly way at the station by the
Pastor and Mrs. Wolf. After viewing the house, Mother Franziska came to an
agreement with Mr. Wolf to first renovate it for the intended purpose since it
was not in especially good condition. Mr. Wolf was very prepared to have this
done. Upon his agreement to this, Mother Franziska, seeing how fervently the
inhabitants of St. Georgental desired the opening of the planned institute,
promised to send sisters as soon as the building was finished. She also thought
that these, by a good education of the children with a firm foundation of
instruction in the holy Faith, could limit the influence of the very widespread
‘Old Catholic’ sect in that populous region and so have a beautiful field of
apostolic activity. For Mother Franziska, for whom the holy Faith was above
everything else and whose greatest wish was to be able to save very many
souls, this was the decisive reason for taking over the planned institute, even if
various obstacles should present themselves. These did not fail to come, but
Mother Franziska overcame them all with her determination’ and so, on July
25, 1874, the bill of sale in which Mr. Wolf gave the house to the Congregation
for a nominal fee was signed. Mother Franziska had traveled again to St.
Georgental to close this deal. After finishing the business involved in the
purchase she went to Leitmeritz, the diocesan seat of St. Georgental to ask the
Bishop to accept the Congregation there as well as to obtain permission to have
a chapel and to have Holy Mass celebrated in the house at St. Georgental. This
good shepherd received Mother Franziska kindly, agreed to her requests and to
special protection for the Congregation and gave her and the new undertaking
his blessing. Then Mother Franziska traveled on to Prague to obtain the civil
permission for the foundation in St. Georgental and was received in a most
friendly way by the Governor’s Assistant, von Adar. The request was most
satisfactorily granted in a short time. After taking care of her affairs, Mother
Franziska passed through Brunn, to their great joy, visiting the sisters there and
then back to Vienna. On August 1 she sent the sisters to the new foundation

55
and on the 31st of the same month she traveled there again herself to prepare
for the dedication. The renovation was completed and so, after much effort
and work, this celebration could be held on September 10. The inhabitants of
St. Georgental participated enthusiastically. The day before they decorated the
houses with wreaths and lighted the windows at night. After a Pontifical High
Mass and moving sermon in the parish church there was a solemn procession
to the convent which was dedicated in honor of the Queen of Angels.
Thereafter the first Holy Mass was celebrated in the house chapel, at which the
sisters received Holy Communion. The celebration concluded with the singing
of the TE DEUM. Until evening the house was full of people who were very
happy about the foundation by the sisters. As name for this new house Mother
Franziska chose the one she had earlier wanted to give the Refuge in
Breitenfurt, “Divine Providence”. After all, she had great devotion to Divine
Providence to which she completely handed over all her undertakings, but the
action of Divine Providence was also wonderfully visible in the whole life of
Mother Franziska and the success of her endeavors witnessed the truth of the
saying: “Who trusts in God builds on sure ground.”

On January 19, 1875 Mother Franziska again gave her permission

to take over a foundation. Countess Festetics, by birth, Countess Zichy, had
opened a Kindergarten and vocational school on her properties in Toponar in
Hungary and turned to Mother Franziska to allow sisters to come and conduct
the institute. Joyfully she grasped this opportunity to widen the field of the
Congregation’s work and promised to send sisters to Toponar in the fall of the
same year. On June 28 this was confirmed by contract.

In February of 1875 the Rev. Father Steiner resigned from his

position as general director of Congregation. The loss of this deserving man so
bound up with her noble work hurt Mother Franziska deeply. To get a
substitute she asked the Reverend Monsignor Anton Horny, Cathedral Canon at
St. Stephen’s in Vienna, on March 11, to take over this position. He gladly
agreed, visited the Marienanstalt for the first time and expressed much praise
of its arrangement and accepted on March 21. For many years Monsignor

56
Horny filled this position as a blessing for the Congregation and, after the first
approbation of the Constitutions by the Holy See when the post of General
Director was dissolved he was appointed Vicar for the Congregation.

At the same time, to Mother Franziska ‘s great joy, the

Congregation gained still another friend who, ever since, has worked with
restless zeal for its welfare. This is Reverend Monsignor Friedrich Sixt, a priest
of the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, who on March 15, 1873 took over the
catechetical instruction of the pupils in the Vienna Marienanstalt and later,
became confessor for the novices and still later for the professed sisters in the
Mother House.

On April 20, 1875 Mother Franziska traveled with Sister Xaveria

Egger to Paris to arrange some family business for Sister Augustina d’Armaille
and at the same time to try to get permission to solicit in the French capitol.
Mother Franziska and her companion had to endure much discomfort during
the trip, especially suffering hunger and thirst because of the lack of money and
they finally arrived in Paris without a cent. If Sister Augustina, who was already
there, hadn’t picked them up at the station their situation would have been the
worst imaginable. The efforts to obtain permission to solicit were,
unfortunately, in vain. In order that the trip would not remain without profit for
the Congregation, however, Mother Franziska visited various humanitarian
institutes in Paris as well as in Strassburg on the way back, in order to learn how
they were run. She was especially interested in the shelters for servants,
though none of these met her expectations since none received the girls
without charging for room and board, most charging them two Francs a day.
This in no way satisfied Mother Franziska’s zealous love of neighbor. As on this
trip, so otherwise, Mother Franziska liked to use the opportunities to visit
charitable institutions to take what was good and practical to improve her own
institutes. In general she used her trips to enrich her knowledge and experience
and encouraged her spiritual daughters to do the same. She told these to buy
maps and geography books on their collecting trips, to study them thoroughly,
to visit the various places of interest, all for the purposes of learning something

57
and to use that which was learned for the good of the Congregation. On such
occasions she often said to the sisters, “Don’t travel like empty suitcases!” by
which she meant, “thoughtlessly”. One is immediately reminded of Mother
Franziska’s father, who never allowed little Franzi to ride absentmindedly with
him and we see the good fruits of his wisdom.

On the return trip from Paris Mother Franziska stayed one day in
the orphanage of the School Sisters in Augsburg. There were her former
teacher, Sister Margareta and many other sister acquaintances who had
worked earlier in the convent in Munich. The sisters were very happy to see
their former promising pupil, now a foundress of a religious Congregation,
again, and not less, was the joy of Mother Franziska to be even a short time
with her former teachers whom she so revered and of whom she always spoke
with such respect.

June 16, 1875, the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, was a
meaningful day for the Congregation as Mother Franziska, in union with the
sisters in all the houses, consecrated the Congregation in a solemn way to the
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mother Franziska had a truly glowing devotion for
this Most Sacred Heart as even the name she gave the Congregation
demonstrates. He was the object of her most intimate love. In this Most Sacred
Heart she placed all her cares and intentions, in Him she sought counsel and
consolation and she believed firmly that a sister who did not honor the Most
Sacred Heart of Jesus could not be a true Daughter of Divine Love. She
designated the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus as the main Feast of the
Congregation and it is annually celebrated in the most solemn manner.

In August, 1875 Mother Franziska obtained Austrian citizenship.

This news was in the Vienna newspapers on the 27th of the month. Following
this many people expressed their recognition of the many good things which
had already come about through her work. So her noble work attacked at the
beginning by enemies from various sides, now, after a few years received
general public praise.

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 September 22, 1875 was again a joyful day for Mother Franziska
because of the dedication of the institute honoring the Mother of God under
the name “Maria Schutz” (Mary’s protection) founded by Countess Festetics in
Toponar and given over to the direction of our sisters. Of course Mother
Franziska traveled to Toponar for this. At the conclusion of the celebration the
house was presented to the sisters. Unfortunately Mother Franziska became so
seriously ill in Toponar that she thought she would not see Vienna again. This
led to the great dismay of the sisters, but with God’s help she recovered since
the life work given her by the Lord was still a long way from completion.

On November 21, the foundation feast of the Congregation, the

Reception and Profession took place as each year, but now for the first time in
the solemn way according to the prescribed ecclesiastical ceremonial to the
great joy of Mother Franziska and making a moving impression on all those
present and participating. The candidates for Reception also wore white
dresses for the first time. After the conclusion of the celebration those received
were led into the novitiate and those sisters who had pronounced their holy
vows were conducted into the professed sisters’ room. In front of the
procession were three girls dressed in white, one carrying a palm and the other
two with candles. On this day all the sisters received the office books with the
imprimatur of the bishop, containing not only the Marian Office to be recited
daily but also all the rest of the prayers customary in the Congregation.
Previously the sisters had not had all the prayers used daily all together in one
book and therefore were very happy about the new books.

Mother Franziska liked strong prayers, composed many of them

herself or selected them with great care for the Congregation. She often
reminded the sisters of the devotional and punctual recitation of the obligatory
prayers and emphasized that these, because done in obedience, had far greater
value than self-chosen personal devotions. She also liked to explain the Marian
Office to the Sisters. She did this in such simple and yet enthusiastic words that
thereafter all prayed with a redoubled zeal. On such occasions she usually let
one sister after another read a psalm, asked what this or that verse meant,

59
which psalm or which verse was preferred by the individual and such things. At
that time the Office was prayed in German, not yet in Latin as later. Mother
Franziska noted her favorite psalms as those which expressed praise to God or
called upon creatures to do so, for example, the TE DEUM, the song of Praise of
the Three Young Men in the Fiery Furnace: “Praise the Lord, all you works of
the Lord”, etc., the Psalms 148, “Praise the Lord in the Highest Heaven”, 149,
“Sing a new song unto the Lord”, 150, “Praise the Lord in His Holy Ones” among
others. She also strictly insisted that prayer in choir be beautiful, in the correct
even tempo, and exactly according to the prescribed ceremonial regulations.
She did not tolerate a careless attitude at prayer, leaning on one’s arms and so
on, neither did she accept an exaggerated piety. Her own piety was simple,
without singularity, but deep, and this is what she expected of the sisters, and
encouraged them to strive for the same among their charges. As with prayer, so
with the rest of the spiritual practices, Mother Franziska placed great value on
their exact and punctual performance, feeling rightly that it is here that the
sisters must take the spiritual nourishment needed for the exact fulfillment of
the obligations of their vocation. She valued meditative prayer very highly and
was very careful that this was explained to the candidates and novices so that
they could become practiced in it. She often did this herself. In the same way,
when it was possible, Mother Franziska herself gave the spiritual reading to the
sisters and candidates and in later years, when her time was much taken up by
the constantly growing Congregation, she often held a so-called “reading
without book”. She usually read one or other point of the Holy Rule or a few
sentences from a book appropriate for such reading and then began to explain
that which had been read. At these times her extraordinary eloquence was a
good help. She spoke fluently and easily, analyzed the point at hand with
simple, clear words clarified it with examples, usually taken from her own
experience, pointed out failures that had come about and showed how these
could be avoided in the future. Such a reading said more to the sisters than
many of the most beautiful thoughts found in a book, since Mother Franziska
knew exactly how to touch the spiritual needs of her daughters and, as the
saying goes, “What comes from the heart reaches hearts”.

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 On special occasions, such as in Holy Week Or after times of
especially distracting work as, for example, is caused by the renovation of a
house, Mother Franziska liked to lead for this or other house or also for the
candidates, a three day spiritual renewal or so-called “little retreat”. As a
foundation for this she used excerpts from the book of Spiritual Exercises of St.
Ignatius Loyola, which consisted of loose pages, each one containing a
meditation. These were not fully written, but gave only single points which the
person meditating herself filled in. She jokingly called these pages her “wisdom
sheets”. She slowly read out the points and then completed them as she let her
own thoughts intermingle with them. She did this with such warmth that all
who listened felt themselves touched and at the same time became convinced
about their spiritual Mother’s familiarity with meditative prayer and the
intimate communion she experienced with God therein. In using these she
knew, as with the spiritual readings, how to touch the needs of her children.
She matched her conference and her words entirely to the meditation. These
last were sometimes terrifyingly serious during the meditations about the goal
and end of the human person, sin, death, judgment and hell, encouraging in
considering the divine mercy, enthusiastic when she spoke of heaven, the call
to religious life, working for the glory of God and salvation of neighbor. The
sisters liked best to hear the meditation about the sufferings of Christ, since she
knew how to present this with such warmth in the most glorious light of the
love of the Savior, that no heart could remain untouched. After all, she had a
most fervent devotion to the sufferings of the divine Bridegroom. The sisters
and candidates always came from these little retreats inflamed with a new zeal
and the best resolutions.

On February 15, 1876 during a fall in the hallway in the Mother

House Mother Franziska seriously injured a hand and had to wear it in a sling
for a long time, though she didn’t allow this accident to greatly interrupt her
restless activity and, since she could not work with her hand, her restless spirit
worked all the more. The Vienna Marienanstalt had long ago proved to be too
small for all the unemployed servant girls and the pupils who were registered
for acceptance. At the celebrations for Reception and Profession also, which

61
were always attended by many relatives of the sisters, the lack of space made
itself felt and so Mother Franziska thought about enlarging the house through
an addition in the garden. Since the poor Congregation had no means for this,
she decided to turn to the Emperor, Franz Joseph I, with a respectful petition to
assign a sum from the income of the State Welfare Lottery. She requested an
audience with His Majesty for this purpose. His Highness graciously received
the request and Mother Franziska received 10,000 florins from the lottery for
the planned addition. The cost estimate was 19,000, but the beginning was
helped and for the rest Mother Franziska hoped in God’s continued help. So on
April 3, 1876 she let the preparations begin and the cornerstone for the
addition was laid on the 20th of the month. The Reverend Director, Dr. Horny
gave the sermon on this occasion on the text: “If the Lord does not build the
house, in vain do the builders labor”. The Lord did build the house since Mother
Franziska had placed Him in command as Master Builder by offering this up as
she did every undertaking and the dedication of the wing could be held as early
as September 11, 1876. Through this increased space Mother Franziska could
now follow the impulse of her benevolent heart and open the doors of the
house to more of the poor.

During the enlargement of the Mother House preparations were

being made again to take over a new foundation. The Reverend Pastor Johann
Kavulak in Berzencze in Hungary had the intention, using the capital carefully
saved over long years, to found an educational institute. Since he had heard of
the work of the Daughters of Divine Charity in Budapest, he went there to the
superior, Sister Borgia Uri, and offered the Congregation the ownership and
direction of the convent he would donate. When Mother Franziska heard of
this she sent Sister Borgia to Berzencze on March 2, 1876 to get to know the
situation there exactly. She reported to her that the house built by the Pastor
would serve the purpose and it seemed to offer a beautiful field of work for the
Congregation. Filled with the desire to work for the salvation of youth wherever
the Congregation would be offered opportunity to do so, Mother Franziska
gave her consent for accepting the institute to the Reverend Pastor Kavulak and
sealed this in a contract with him on July 30, 1876. On September 22 she

62
traveled to Berzencze for the dedication of the house which was held on the
24th. This was celebrated by the Most Reverend Auxiliary Bishop of Vesprem
and the convent received the beautiful name, “The Divine Friend of Children”.
So now Mother Franziska had an additional foundation under her direction and
this blossomed to her credit and the joy of the worthy pastor, later Monsignor,
Kavulak. It contains an elementary school, vocational school and a
kindergarten.

Mother Franziska never forgot the spiritual progress of her

daughters during the visible development of the Congregation, but rather
directed her efforts toward confirming them more and more in their religious
life. Therefore, she entertained for a long time the thought of providing some
substitute for the candidacy and novitiate that the circumstances of the time
had not allowed to those sisters who had entered immediately after the
foundation. In October, 1876 her plan was fulfilled in that Mother Franziska
called the sisters concerned, twelve in number, together in the Refuge in
Breitenfurt and had them begin a so-called Profession Novitiate. This was
introduced by a retreat and the sisters had certain exercises to fulfill as novices
must do. Mother Franziska spent as much time with them herself and gave
them the necessary direction. This novitiate lasted four months and Mother
Franziska had the joy of seeing that the sisters involved used this graced time
given them very zealously. She would gladly have extended this to an entire
year but it was impossible since the Sisters were needed in the various houses
and for soliciting. Even so it was a great sacrifice to let them come to
Breitenfurt for so long a time, but Mother Franziska wanted to bring this
sacrifice because she knew well of the value of the novitiate and that the
outwardly most glowing works of the Congregation would have no value and no
endurance before God if at the same time there is no work done for the interior
perfection and stability of the same. Mother Franziska considered it a holy
obligation to provide them with the grace of a novitiate, since it was exactly
these sisters who entered first who brought so many and so great sacrifices.
Although much has already been told about the early years of the Congregation
and the efforts and sacrifices involved, it will still be interesting to hear Mother

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Franziska’s own words, in the Chronicle of the Congregation in connection with
the announcement concerning the Profession Novitiate. These are written
down in 1884 as the events of the first years are once again and more
thoroughly summarized. She says, “At the foundation of the Congregation
during the first years, it was not possible to have a candidacy and novitiate and
therefore those accepted could not be sufficiently evaluated. Also we could not
be too selective in accepting those who really had enough courage and trust in
God to enter a congregation whose continued existence was not yet assured! In
this way some slipped in who were not really called and this was demonstrated
only later. Therefore, in the early years some had to be dismissed. Those,
however, who, filled with the best spirit, were called by God to help in this
work, let nothing shake them in their holy vocation. Enough sufferings and
persecutions came. Many told the sisters that the Congregation was not viable
and would not endure; we had much opposition. The sisters, however,
faithfully remained with me. It was a life of love in community. I comforted
them by saying that God would surely help us and that our society would
certainly become a religious congregation. For me the saying of Gamaliel was a
constant comfort, ‘If it is God’s work no one can destroy it, if it is a human work
it will fall apart of itself.’ The thought that no enemy could destroy the
Congregation if God wanted it to exist strengthened me. I did as much as I
could in my poverty to educate the sisters in the spiritual life and the purposes
of the Congregation. I saw how concerned the sisters were to ennoble their
hearts and spirits. When these arrived home, weary from soliciting, or worn out
by some other work of the day, they still zealously studied, with an eagerness
for knowledge like good children, catechism, Bible history, church history,
geography etc. or also needlework. Spiritual counsels were accepted with joy. I
did not have to give any command in a severe way, it was enough if I said, ‘I
think this or that should be done or should be this way or that.’ I was very strict
but the sisters knew that I loved them. The first sisters who helped with the
foundation, tired themselves day and night and undertook the most difficult
trips in order to prove themselves useful to the Congregation. How often the
rail compartment was our dormitory, how often we wrote the whole night
through to make the changes in the Statutes, to write soliciting letters, etc. It

64
was a life of sacrifice and yet we did everything gladly. It was all meant to
establish our dear Congregation or to win benefactors for it. All joys and
sufferings were shared with the sisters because I knew how fervently they
participated in these. In principle I told the first sisters of all events so that
these could use these experiences if God would call them to be superiors.
When much bitterness came and I thought I would be crushed by worry and
cares, I took my little niece Theresia Rinauer (later Sister Gonzaga), who came
to me at age five as an orphan, with me to the chapel so that she could help me
pray. How many tears were shed before the tabernacle are known to God
alone. At night when I couldn’t sleep because of worry and pain I looked for
comfort and help in the chapel. A glance at the crucifix which hangs in the
chapel and the Sorrowful Mother strengthened me and then peace and
resignation returned to my soul. This crucifix with the Sorrowful Mother was in
our family for many years. We always had to say all our prayers before this
crucifix, therefore I had it brought here as my dearest treasure.

God gave me from childhood a cheerful disposition. I treasure

this as a special grace from the Lord. No matter how the storms blew, no one
noticed it from the outside. The good God was visibly with us. We very often
did not have even ten ‘Kreuzer’ in the house, but if a payment had to be made,
the money also came at the right time. A hundred cases could be cited, all the
sisters had an unlimited trust in our holy Father St. Joseph. He was and still is,
after the Mother of the Lord, our best intercessor and protector. May this faith
and this trust never become dormant among the sisters of the Congregation!”

Thus far we have the simple and yet eloquent words of Mother
Franziska which have given us a glance into her noble heart and surely form a
worthy conclusion to this chapter.

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 CHAPTER VII

Foundation of the Convalescent House in Breitenfurt,

the houses in St. Andra and Prague
and other noteworthy happenings in the years from 1877 to 1882.

On January 30, 1877 Mother Franziska with her niece, Sister

Annunciata Vornberger, undertook a trip to Munich to try to get a soliciting
permit for Bavaria. In spite of the nice references from various high places
which supported her request, she was not granted the permission. From
Munich Mother Franziska went to Ingolstadt to a very ill sister, Karoline in order
to talk over some family affairs and then to Wasserburg to a relative. From
there she went with her companion to her home village of Edling. At this time
her parents had been long dead; and anyway, these sold their property and had
not spent their last years in Edling. Of the rest of Mother Franziska’s family
there remained no one except her old Godmother. Mother Franziska had told
the Pastor of Edling of her arrival. The old Godmother and all who had known
‘Franzi’ were joyfully gathered in the churchyard to await her. Even gray-haired
men and women did not neglect hurrying there; Each one wanted to see and
speak to her. Mother Franziska and Sister Annunciata arrived in Edling after
noon and were joyfully greeted by the Pastor and all those assembled. The old
Godmother, seeing her God- child again, as the Foundress of an order clasped
her hands again and again and said that now she would be prepared to die,
having seen “Franzi” again. The people said to each other, “We knew it, that
something special would become of our Karrer Franzi!” (Karrer was, as we said
before, the name of her family house.) The Pastor led Mother Franziska into the
parish church, dedicated to the Holy Family, where she had been Baptized and
received First Holy Communion. All the people came along and prayed with her
before the painting of the Holy Family which decorates the main altar and
which she still loved in a special way. They also all went together to the
cemetery to visit the graves of Mother Franziska’s dear departed ones. Many
old memories were reawakened on this walk. After they returned to the church
yard Mother Franziska told of the Congregation which God founded through

66
her and about the goals she had set for it. All were unanimous in thinking that
God was with her and her undertaking. In the evening Mother Franziska
continued her journey, first in order to visit a relative living near Edling. Before
the departure the Pastor gave the benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. The
farewell with “Franzi” was very difficult for these good people and they would
have liked her to stay with them longer. Some tears were shed and the good
wishes of the inhabitants of Edling accompanied her. Mother Franziska also did
not forget, during her stay in her homeland, to visit the dear Blessed Mother in
Altotting, and commend herself and the whole Congregation to her. On
February 6 she again arrived in Vienna.

Now we must recount another event that demonstrates Mother

Franziska’s care for the interior development of the Congregation.

In 1877 she summoned the first General chapter which lasted

from July 20 to 24 and was attended by the superiors of the various houses and
their assistants. Mother Franziska thought it necessary to consult with them
about the interests of the Congregation, to take precautionary measures
against abuses, and make such decisions which would preserve the zeal and
spirit of sacrifice of the sisters. From that time on such a gathering was held at
determined intervals for the good of the Congregation, and upon approval of
the Constitutions by the Holy See, after every six years.
Since the house in Brunn had already proven to be too small, Mother Franziska
had to think about tearing down the back wing to make room for a new
addition in its place. She therefore undertook a trip to Brunn in February, 1878
and, trusting in God’s help, made the necessary arrangements with the builder;
it was decided to begin the work on April 1. On April 8 Mother Franziska went
to Brunn again because the cornerstone laying was to take place on the twelfth.
She took this opportunity to pay a visit to the Reverend Bishop Nottig, to show
him the plans for the addition. He received her in a kindly and fatherly way.
Unfortunately, the Pastor Kment was prevented from officiating at the
cornerstone blessing. Therefore, at nine in the evening Mother Franziska went
with all the sisters to the construction just begun, to pray there with them, that

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God would bring this beginning to a happy end and not permit that this house,
built for His glory, ever be used for any other purpose. Then Mother Franziska
made the sign of the cross on the cornerstone and sprinkled. the site with holy
water; after which each sister did the same. With God’s help the building
progressed so that the solemn dedication of the wing could take place on
September 9, 1878 in the chapel found therein. Mother Franziska naturally did
not miss the chance to be in Brunn on that day. All the guests, many from high
circles, who were present at the dedication were visibly surprised as they
entered the chapel; no one had imagined it to be so beautiful and all expressed
greatest satisfaction with the celebration.

During the enlargement of the Brunn house, Mother Franziska

again began a foundation. Soon after the foundation of the Refuge of St. Joseph
in Breitenfurt she set up, besides the section for the lifelong care of old
servants, a section for poor servant girls released from the hospitals. There they
were accepted and cared for without cost so that they could convalesce in the
good country air to regain their strength and be able once again to take on a
position. The rooms in the Refuge soon proved to be too small and so Mother
Franziska thought of caring for those convalescing in a house of their own,
because it caused her heart pain, because of lack of space, to have to turn away
these poor creatures who so badly needed a period of recuperation but could
not afford one from their own means. Therefore on May 18 and 19, 1878 she
viewed the beautifully situated house of Mr. August Schonwetter for sale in
Breitenfurt, which was only fifteen minutes away from the Refuge. It seemed to
be very suited to her intended purposes, since it was in the best of condition
and, with its twelve rooms and two kitchens, even if small, offered sufficient
space. A stable, a hay barn, 15 yoke meadow and 15 yoke pastureland* also
belonged with it. After careful negotiations with the owner the sale took place
as early as May 21 for 15,500 florins. The house was taken over on May 24, the
Feast of Mary, Help of Christians, and therefore was given the beautiful name,
Mariahilf (Mary-help). Mother Franziska made the note of this purchase in the
Congregation Chronicle in her own hand and added the words: “Yes, good
Mother Mary, do not abandon us”, remain always at our side with your

68
powerful protection!” Mother Franziska surely didn’t sense as she wrote these
words, that it would be in this house that Mary would grant her the last help,
since, here, sixteen years later, her active life, lived for the glory of God and
welfare of neighbor, would close.

On June 1 the necessary repairs in the newly purchased house

were begun and as soon as the 22nd of the same month they were completed.
On June 21, the Feast of St. Aloysious, the sisters assigned to the convalescent
house moved in. Mother Franziska, who accompanied them, led them into the
already furnished oratory where they prayed the Litany of Perpetual Help.
Thereafter, the Spiritual Director of the Refuge, Father Leopold Endl, gave a talk
in which he motivated the sisters to an exact fulfillment of duties. After this
simple, yet beautiful introduction, they went happily to the setting up of the
house. Only on January 2, 1879 was the dedication of the convent of
“Mariahilf”, celebrated by Rev. P. Alfons, former Definitor of the Capuchins and
confessor for the sisters in the Mother House in Vienna. Mother Franziska had
intentionally postponed this celebration so long to allow the soliciting sisters,
so many of whom had never had the pleasure of being present at the
dedication of a house, to attend. Since these sisters had to bring so many and
often great sacrifices toward the foundation and maintaining of the houses
Mother Franziska wanted them on this day to enjoy one of the fruits of their
countless efforts. After the dedication of the chapel and the house, the first
Holy Mass was offered to the Heavenly Father by the Rev. P. Alfons, during
which the sisters of the convalescent house received Holy Communion. All
present were moved to tears as the most high Lord of Heaven and earth
descended for the first time to the altar in this newly dedicated house. The
feelings of gratitude and joy made a deep impression on all. The altar of the
little chapel was the same one on which the first Holy Mass was offered in the
Mother House in Vienna. Since that happy January 2 the convalescent house
has been shown to be a work richly blessed in that every year, in the most
beautiful season, so many poor servant girls find recuperation and strength
there, so that they can regain sufficient health to return to earning their living.

69
The foundation of this house was really a work typical of the noble heart of
Mother Franziska.

It was a big concern of Mother Franziska’s that the Rules of the

Society, which had had the Episcopal approval since 1871, would also have
Papal Approval and that the Society would be recognized as a canonical
Congregation. Therefore she asked the Jesuit Fathers to look through and re-
work the Rules so that her wish could be fulfilled. This request was gladly
granted and as early as January 23, 1879 she received the revised Rule. Ever
since its foundation, indeed, the Jesuit Fathers have earned much gratitude
from the Congregation. Mother Franziska went carefully through each point of
the Rule with the Reverend General Director, Monsignor Horny, and found that
they were very well worked out, so that there were very few further wishes
regarding changes or additions that she wanted to express in their regard. After
the Jesuit Fathers had made these few changes Mother Franziska brought the
Rules to His Eminence Cardinal Johannes Kutschker with the request that he
study them and then send them, with his recommendation to Rome. His
Eminence spoke with them for an hour and then sent them away with his
blessing. The circumstances of the Papal approval gave Mother Franziska much
work and concern during the years 1879 and 1880.

She had the Rules printed and beautifully bound in order to

present them to all the bishops in whose dioceses the Congregation was active.
At the same time, with some sisters she did a report about the general activity
of the Congregation in the ten years of its existence. Then she traveled to each
of these bishops to present them with the report and the Rule and to ask them
to write the recommendations to the Holy Father which are necessary for
receiving ecclesiastical approval. Mother Franziska was very graciously received
by all the bishops and, in recognition of the great good already done by the
young society, assured by all of their fulfillment of her request and later, of a
very beautiful written recommendation. On November 3, 1880 things had
progressed so far that Mother Franziska could complete and send to Rome the
request to the Holy Father for approval of the Holy Rule as well as ecclesiastical

70
recognition of the society. The efficient accomplishment of this request
happened in July 1884 as we will recount in the appropriate place.

In the two years during which the work and traveling mentioned
above concerning the approval of the Rule were going on, Mother Franziska
was busy in many other areas also. In April 1879 the Silver Wedding
Anniversary of the Imperial Couple was being celebrated in all parts of Austria-
Hungary in the most dazzling way. So Mother Franziska hurried to all her
institutes to order a worthy celebration, because, although not born in Austria
and loving her Fatherland, Bavaria, and its royal house above all, she still
cultivated a great respect and devotion toward the great Imperial House of
Hapsburg and always zealously worked to awaken and nourish patriotic feelings
in all those committed to her care. The reason for this was found not only in the
empathy which the Austrians and Bavarians, as peoples of related origins and
subjects of two such intertwined ruling houses felt with each other, but this
reverence counted mainly as an obligation of gratitude for the extraordinary
respect and graciousness which their majesties, Emperor Franz Joseph I and
Empress Elizabeth as well as other members of the Imperial Family deigned to
show herself and the Congregation. Mother Franziska wrote in the Chronicle of
the Congregation on the occasion of the Silver Wedding Anniversary of the
Imperial Couple: “In all our houses, especially here, the Imperial Festival was
celebrated in the most solemn way. In the morning there was a Solemn High
Mass and the sisters and candidates received Holy Communion, the house (she
meant here the Vienna Marienanstalt) was hung with flags and the names of
Emperor and Empress with their portraits and coats of arms to the right and
left decorated the front. Beautiful songs were sung and grand poems were
recited. All had the same sentiments, the same joy and each was striving to give
it expression. “God preserve, protect and bless our Imperial Couple! This was
surely the prayer of every honest heart to God today. God hear our prayer,
then we will all be happy!”

In the same year Mother Franziska received another proof of his

good will from His Majesty, which was at the same time a wonderful reward for

71
her trust in God, she had presented His Majesty with a request that a grant
from the profits of the State Lottery would come to the Congregation. On
September 12, 1879 the sum of 10,000 florins which Mother Franziska had
borrowed six years before from the St. Joseph Savings and Loans in
Leopoldstadt near Vienna, would come due for repayment and she had,
unfortunately, no prospects for meeting this obligation, if the above mentioned
petition were not granted. His Majesty had received the request very
graciously, but September had come and the money was still missing. Mother
Franziska hoped steadfastly that her trust in God’s help would not disappoint
her, and so it was. On September 10, a servant from the Ministry of the Interior
came with a note saying that Mother Franziska could at any time come and
collect 10,000 florins from the Administration of the Imperial Lottery. As she
opened it the seal on the note was still moist because the messenger was told
to bring the note as fast as possible to the Marienanstalt because the sisters
needed the money very badly. One can easily imagine Mother Franziska’s joy
and gratitude, since she once again had a sign of the care of God and the power
of a rock- fast trust. The money came exactly at the moment of greatest need.
She immediately summoned all the sisters, charges and servant girls to the
chapel where the Te Deum was sung and prayers offered for the noble
Emperor, that God, through the intercession of Mary would reward him for this
good deed. On September 11 Mother Franziska picked up the money at the
Administration of the Imperial Lottery in order to immediately execute the
repayment of the loan. The officials were very friendly and told Mother
Franziska that a big exception had been made for her since none of the others
for whom a sum from the lottery had been determined had yet been given any
cash.
On September 17, Mother Franziska traveled with some sisters to Mariazell in
order to give thanks for the recently received help as well as all the other
graces that had come to her and to her Congregation and to recommend the
Congregation to the special protection of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. After
she had brought forth all her intentions in the shrine chapel, she returned
home on the twentieth. Unfortunately, through the long time spent kneeling on
the stone floor, Mother Franziska caught a cold so that she had to go to bed on

72
the day she arrived home. The doctor who was called confirmed abdominal
typhoid. The sisters were of course very shocked by this and prayed fervently
for the recovery of their dear spiritual mother. God heard their fervent prayer
and as soon as three weeks later Mother Franziska was restored to health to
the extent that she could go to Breitenfurt for recuperation. In the good air she
soon regained her strength and returned to the Mother House on October 27.

On November 27, 1879 Mother Franziska and Sister Ignazia

Egger were received in audience by His Majesty. She had requested this
audience to express her respectful gratitude for the substantial sum she had
received from the State Lottery. As she began her thanks, however, His Majesty
interrupted her with the question, “Now, how are you? I hear things are going
well out there with you, are things progressing swiftly for you?” Mother
Franziska tried again to thank, but His Majesty replied, “It gave me pleasure to
be able to do something for you. I will always do my best for you.” Mother
Franziska mentioned that it was exactly eleven years ago on that day that she
received the written permission from the city authorities for the foundation,
that she was at that time all alone, and that now there were already 155 sisters
working in ten houses. His Majesty greatly admired this rapid growth of the
congregation, and expressed his pleasure that the authorities are so well
intentioned toward it.
Mother Franziska and her companion returned home deeply moved by the
compliments of His Majesty and rejoiced over this gracious recognition of the
work of the Congregation.

The concern about repaying the debt of 10,000 florins for the
Refuge of St. Joseph in Breitenfurt was now over, but in the meantime, a new
worry about the same house confronted Mother Franziska. The refuge, too, had
long ago become too small. For this reason, Mother Franziska had an addition
built on the north side in 1878, but still there wasn’t enough space. It seemed
absolutely necessary to add two further wings on the east and south side to do
justice to all the demands made on the house according to its purpose. Again,
the irritating problem of money was the obstacle. Mother Franziska thought

73
about receiving permission to solicit in the Tyrol to solve this problem, but the
trip two sisters took on October 1, 1879 to Innsbruck, especially for this
purpose remained without result. As often as she had tried, during two years,
for the soliciting permit in the Tyrol, Mother Franziska had received a denial.
Now, since she didn’t know where she should send the sisters to solicit and
how she should get the funds for building in Breitenfurt, she took refuge with
the Patron of that house and promised St. Joseph, that if she received help
through his intercession in this intention, she would immediately have it
published it in the Messenger of St. Joseph.

Trusting in the support of the dear Saint, Mother Franziska went

once more, on January 29, 1880, to the Ministry of the Interior to request the
soliciting permit for the Tyrol. She told her companion, Sister Henrika Albrecht
to put a tiny image of St. Joseph, the kind that come in little cases to carry in
the purse, under her glove and open with it the door to the Ministry, so that St.
Joseph would be leading them in. Wonder of wonders! Although it was usually
said, “For the Tyrol, absolutely nothing!” now, her petition was graciously
received. As Mother Franziska and her companion left the building in joyful
hope, the latter noticed that the image of St. Joseph had fallen out of her
handkerchief and so was left behind in the Ministry, as though the Saint wanted
to show that he would smooth the way for the request. It really happened
immediately, as Mother Franziska received the permit on the very next day. St.
Joseph had helped and at the same time given a sign that he desired the
enlarging of the house dedicated to him.

On February 1, Mother Franziska signed the final contract for the

addition in Breitenfurt with the builder, Mr. Friedl and the preparations began
on February 9. St. Joseph helped also with the construction so that by October
1880 the Refuge stood there as a beautifully complete quadrangle Over the
main entrance were placed statues of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, the
Mother of God and St. Joseph with the Infant Jesus, just as Mother Franziska
had promised would be the case if the addition would be realized. On October
9 the elderly residents could move in and on the 11th was the solemn

74
dedication celebrated by the Rev. Msgr. Dr. Horny with many people present.
As the addition in Breitenfurt was progressing, the foundation of a new house
was in preparation. At the beginning of the year 1880 the sisters of the
Congregation were soliciting in Carinthia and came to the beautifully situated
town of St. Andra, in the Lavan valley. The St. Elizabeth Society had founded a
kindergarten and vocational school there and the Jesuit Fathers, who had a
foundation in St. Andra expressed the wish that sisters of the Congregation
would take over the administration of this institute. Mother Franziska was
ready, as the sisters brought this wish to her attention, to immediately extend
the work of the Congregation to Carinthia if the conditions there were suitable.
Therefore, she asked the Rev. Father Patiss, S. J. on February 14, 1880 in a
letter to inform her about these and on March 12 already traveled there with
Sister Xaveria Egger to discuss the contract with the head of the St. Elizabeth
Society. On the afternoon of the 13, they were cordially welcomed at the
station by the head of the society, a Mrs. Vetter and Vice President, Mrs.
Fischer. Upon closer examination, Mother Franziska saw that the conditions
were not especially suitable because the house offered by the society seemed
too small and they were able to give the sisters very little support. In spite of
this, Mother Franziska intended to bring this foundation about because she
thought this would provide a good field of work if, besides the kindergarten and
school, there could be also established an educational institute. Besides, she
and all the sisters had a special preference for St. Andra because it was here
that the Rules of the Congregation had been worked out by the Jesuit Fathers.
The Jesuit Fathers also promised to be of help to the sisters in everything and
to take over their spiritual guidance. Likewise, Mother Franziska received a
friendly receptiveness for her plan from the district chief of the nearby little city
of Wolfsberg, so she returned to Vienna with the decision to weigh the whole
thing once more very seriously with the Reverend Director and her Assistants.
These also agreed with Mother Franziska and so on March 25 she sent the
petition for permission for a foundation in St. Andra to the district chief in
Wolfsberg. On June 2 she traveled with Sister Josefa Kock, later to become the
first superior of the St. Andra house to Klagenfurt, to discuss details concerning
the foundation with the Governor, Count Lodron, as well as the Diocesan

75
Ordinary and then to continue the trip to St. Andra. There Mother Franziska
looked at various houses, but found nothing suitable. After a long deliberation
she decided to buy an old Dominican convent, dissolved in 1782, which was
attached to the Church of Mary of Loretto and was in a beautiful location. This
house was more like a ruin and it was not easy to believe that it could be made
habitable. Doors, windows and floors were in terrible condition. Mother
Franziska, however, knowledge-able in such matters, soon noticed that the
walls and roof were good and that there was hope to be able to bring the
building back in order. Countess Herel from Wolfsberg promised to donate
boards and door and window jams for this purpose and the royal Danish
courtier von Schutt in St. Andra, promised lumber and tiles. Without these
prospects Mother Franziska would hardly have dared to think about the
purchase because of the large expenditures which the foreseeable repairs
would require. Mother Franziska and her companion prayed to the deceased
Dominicans interred in the crypt of the old convent under the Church of
Loretto, that they would ask God that this ruin would once again be changed
into a convent, and this prayer brought good results. On June 6, a Sacred Heart
Sunday, Mother Franziska came to a happy agreement with the seller and on
the very next day the deal was closed. This had hardly taken place than people
came from everywhere to express their joy about it to Mother Franziska; the
mayor and city council and a delegation of women came also for this purpose.
There was a general joy that sisters would come again to St. Andra. On July 11,
Mother Franziska moved into a room in the ruins with Sister Josefa and Sister
Ferdinanda Heiss who had come in the meantime from Vienna. It was the best
one in the house, but even this had no window unbroken. Their feelings while
moving in cannot easily be described. On the very same day the masons began
their work; On the 13 Mother Franziska signed the contract with the
professionals and on the 14 with the builder Urbani of Wolfsberg and then
returned, after giving all necessary instructions, to Vienna, followed by the
good wishes of the inhabitants. In the next few months Mother Franziska
traveled four times to St. Andra to look after the construction work and often
had to make some uncomfortable trips to Klagenfurt because obtaining
permission for the foundation also caused great difficulties. However, with her

76
own decisiveness, Mother Franziska conquered all obstacles and, after the
completion of the construction work, the opening of the institute, retaining the
name, “Maria Loretto” which the convent had originally, could finally take place
on November 3. On that day Mother Franziska was not present in St. Andra but
on January 10, 1881, she went there and found the building and furnishing of
the house beautiful beyond her expectations. The old ruin was unrecognizable
in the now stately convent. After the permission for Holy Mass and reservation
of the Blessed Sacrament had arrived from Rome on January 26, the solemn
dedication could be held on February 9, for which Mother Franziska went again
to St. Andra. This was undertaken in the presence of 24 participants, by the
Reverend Monsignor Augustin Dudin, Abbot of the Benedictine Foundation in
nearby St. Paul. The house was most beautifully decorated, since the
inhabitants of St. Andra competed with one another in lending the sisters a
hand. The Jesuit Fathers, especially, did everything to have the chapel and
house beautifully decorated and fervently shared the joy of sisters. Everyone
who attended the dedication was moved by the dignified celebration. Since
then, in this house and in the boarding school and kindergarten, the vocational
and Sunday school, much good has already been done.

The events, one happy and one sad, which were passed over in
order not to interrupt the account of the St. Andra house, must now not remain
unmentioned. On May 25, 1880 the manufacturer, Anton Lang, the good old
friend of the Congregation who gave Mother Franziska the first contribution for
her work and constantly stood by her with help and advice, died. The death of
this noble man, mourned by the poor of Vienna, rightly, as one of the their
greatest benefactors, caused deep pain to Mother Franziska. She was present
with many sisters for his funeral and ordered that Masses, Holy Communions
and prayer should be offered for the eternal rest of the soul of this noble man.
In any case, Mother Franziska was always filled with great gratitude toward all
benefactors of the Congregation, and to awaken like sentiments in the sisters
and those in their care, talked about their noble qualities, presented lists of the
benefactors and, above all, ordered daily prayer for them, which is surely the
best expression of gratitude.

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The second event was the visit of his Imperial Majesty, Emperor Franz Joseph I
to the Marian Institute in Troppau, which took place in the afternoon of
October 21, 1880. Mother Franziska had traveled to Troppau especially for the
occasion and, with Count Attems, Mayor Martin Wojtech Edlen von Willfest,
the Reverend Director Neumann, both confessors of the house, etc. awaited His
Majesty at the entrance of the festively decorated building. At four o’clock loud
cheers announced the arrival of the Monarch. His Majesty immediately greeted
Mother Franziska with the respectful words, “Yes, you came from Vienna? I am
pleased.” His majesty deigned to visit the chapel and the other rooms of the
house, to graciously accept the greetings of the pupils, and to inform himself
extensively about the affairs of the house. He also expressed gracious words of
praise for the arrangement of the Institute and addressed the highest praise for
the rapid development of the Congregation in these words addressed to
Mother Franziska, “I am pleased that your Congregation has made such great
progress in such a short time. So much has happened in this time; you deserve
an award! But in the beginning you also suffered much worry and care!”
Mother Franziska responded to this, “Your Majesty, it is true, but I have also
experienced much joy, the officials were always good to us and have
consistently helped us.” Upon leaving the house, His Majesty repeated
expressions of the greatest appreciation. Mother Franziska never forgot this
joyful day. At the close of the detailed account written by one of her secretaries
in the Congregation’s Chronicle she added, “As His Majesty left the house,
many people poured into the place where our good Emperor had been. It was
touching to see the holy reverence with which many kissed the places where
His Majesty had stood. People kept coming for two whole days to look at
everything. It cannot be described what a blessing this visit was for our house!”

Soon after this happy event Mother Franziska undertook another

foundation. She had often received letters from Prague that she might also
open a Marian Institute there and many friends of the Congregation had been
looking for houses that would be fitting for this charitable purpose. After
extensive deliberation Mother Franziska decided to go there with Sister
Augustina d’Armaille on October 28, 1880, to see if the foundation were

78
possible. In Prague she consulted with His Eminence Cardinal Schwarzenberg,
Jiricek, the Reverend Monsignor Probst Stule, the Police Chief, Steyskal, the
Mayor, etc. and found everywhere great joy at the reason for her coming and
ready willingness to help. Encouraged by this, she looked at several houses,
accompanied by the Bookseller Mr. Steinhauser and her companion. House
number 527 in Gerstengasse would have been especially suitable because of its
healthful, beautiful location, only the price 50,000 florins, seemed too high to
Mother Franziska. In spite of this, all the men with whom she spoke advised her
not to lose sight of this house. For the time being she rented, through Mr.
Steinhauser, an apartment with three rooms and a kitchen in Salmgasse for the
sisters until a suitable house could be found, and then, after a visit to the Brunn
Marienanstalt, returned to Vienna. As soon as November 23, Sister Augustina
d’Armaille, as superior, and two sisters traveled to Prague to take possession of
the rented apartment. Before their departure Mother Franziska said to Sister
Augustina, “I can’t give you anything to take along except my blessing, five
guldens and a kiss!” Even though this foundation also began in the direst
poverty, God continued to help and added His blessing to that of Mother
Franziska. The sisters wrote her often that all the friends of the Congregation
advised buying the house on Gerstengasse; if this happened soon, a percent of
the registration fees could be saved because the house had changed owners
not quite two years before. On December 8, Mother Franziska received word
that the final date for gaining this advantage would expire on the 9th. So
Mother Franziska traveled, quickly decided, to Prague on the same day with the
evening train. Three thousand florins should have been paid as down payment,
but she could gather only 2100 florins and therefore borrowed 800 florins
before her departure, as well as telegraphing to the sisters in Brunn to bring the
missing 100 florins to the train as she passed through. Unfortunately these had
only 50 florins in their savings which they gladly gave to Mother Franziska.
Arriving in Prague with a worried heart, she consulted once again with the
friends of the Congregation and then, trusting in God, closed the sale for 50,000
florins. The transfer of the title took place on the 11th and was announced to
the tenants. On this day the governor’s permit to establish the institute and the
permit to solicit in Bohemia also arrived. After Mother Franziska visited various

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friends and patrons to announce the purchase of the house and to recommend
the new foundation to their good will and protection, she returned home. On
February 14, 1881 the sisters moved from their rented apartment into their
new home to begin working there. On May 2 the renovations began, and on
June 26 when Mother Franziska came again to Prague she was happily
surprised to see the furnishing of the house so far advanced. She was especially
happy about the beautiful chapel. The sisters did everything to have the house
very beautifully arranged for the dedication. This was set for July 6th. Mother
Franziska had entered a request on May 31st, through Countess Zitta Nostitz, to
Her Imperial Highness, the Crown Princess Stephanie, that she take over the
protectorate of the Marian Institute in Prague, and had received a favorable
reply. Shortly before the dedication, on July 2, news also came from Countess
Nostitz that the acceptance of the protectorate by her Royal Highness may be
published in the newspapers. On July 6, the dedication of the Marian Institute
took place in a solemn way, through the Master General of the Knights of the
Cross--P. Schobel (now Bishop of the Diocese of Leitmeritz in Bohemia) in the
presence of many exalted guests. Mother Franziska left the house open to
visitors for three days and hundreds of people came to see the new institute.
On July 12, Mother Franziska and the Superior of the institute, Sister Augustine
d’ Armaille, were received in audience at 11 A.M. by Her Royal Highness Crown
Princess, Archduchess Stephanie, who happened to be in Prague at the time.
The exalted lady showed the greatest condescension and kindness to them
both, informed herself in detail about the affairs of the Congregation and
dismissed them with the gracious promise to visit the institute when she next
came to Prague. This audience was a special privilege since, during this visit, her
royal Highness had received no one except the ladies of the Bohemian nobility.
Since its foundation, the Marian Institute in Prague has enjoyed a steady
prosperity. Thousands of young women seeking employment found shelter,
board and placement, as well as instruction in the Sunday School, many
children have been educated and older girls trained in practical skills in the
domestic science school contained therein, so that Mother Franziska really
began a richly blessed work with this foundation. On August 27, 1881 she went
again to Prague, to make arrangements with the Reverend Director Bauer, now

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Bishop of the Archdiocese of Olmutz, about the sisters taking care of the
household in the Episcopal Residence in Prague as they had been requested to
do. After all the necessary arrangements, Mother Franziska sent sisters to the
seminary; for ten years these cared for the household there, but because of
various conditions, the contract for this was dissolved in 1891.

At the close of this chapter is still to be mentioned the joy shared

by Mother Franziska and the sisters at the visit of Her Royal Highness the Crown
Princess, Archduchess Stephanie to the Prague Marian Institute. At 7:30 in the
evening on January 9, 1882 a telegram brought the news that the exalted visit
would take place on the next day at 10 A. M. In ten minutes Mother Franziska
was ready to travel, hurried to the train and arrived at 9 A. M. on the 10th in
Prague, where she quickly took charge of the proximate preparations. At
exactly 10 A. M. Her Royal Highness drove up and deigned to greet Mother
Franziska from the carriage, to offer her hand as she stepped out and to
express joy at seeing her again. The exalted lady visited all the rooms, talked in
the most condescending way with the sisters and pupils and expressed her total
satisfaction with the practical arrangement of the house, and the order and
cleanliness found therein. Her Royal Highness especially conversed with Mother
Franziska in the most affable way, thanked her that she especially came from
Vienna, promised to send her portrait to her and Sister Augustina and gave her
most cordial farewell with the promise to come again soon. This mark of
recognition again gives evidence of the love Mother Franziska enjoyed, even in
the highest circles, because of her noble striving and her splendid qualities.

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 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 land. 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 Marienanstalt. 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

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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 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. This was the ecclesiastical recognition of her

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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 and, 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

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Franziska and her companions. At five in the afternoon of April 28 they arrived
safe and sound at Sarajevo and rode immediately to the Bishop’s 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 officials 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 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 Xavier 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

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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 immediately 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
of her convents, when at all possible, and she bought more than one house for

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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

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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 therefore a source of much good. On May 29
therefore, 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 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

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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 Heiss
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
therefore 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

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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 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, everything she 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:

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“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 Jewish (owner) 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

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 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
Turkish house, the implements for the farm, the furnishing of the
house, 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

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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
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

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land is the property of the Congregation. Next to this a house named
“Bethany” was built. The main purpose of this is that 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 Jewish owner 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 your 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.”

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 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, 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 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.
Therefore 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

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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. Therefore, 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-Tuzla, 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 grain. 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 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

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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 who 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 a
great lack of cleanliness reigns there. Mother Franziska often recounted that

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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 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 a 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.

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 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

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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 course, 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, 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.

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 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

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 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 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 a 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

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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 Celestin 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.

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 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 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 Con-gregation the fullness

of heavenly graces, I sign this as one favoring you, Reverend Mother,
in the Lord,
Rome, February 27, 1885 Cardinal L. Jakobini”

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 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.

CHAPTER IX

Foundations in Biala and in Zone XVIII of Vienna,

Foundations in Foherczeglak, Trip to Rome.

Soon after the arrival of the Decree of Recognition from Rome,

Mother Franziska, who never allowed herself rest and was always considering
how to spread more and more the work of the Congregation for the greater
glory of God and the good of neighbor, again undertook the founding of
another branch. A woman with the name Bachmann, had encouraged her to
erect a foundation in Biala in Galizia. For this reason she sent the Superior of
the Troppau house, Sister Stanislai Fuss and Sister Magdalena Horacek, to the
above named city, to inform themselves of the conditions there. The sister
informed Mother Franziska that a beautiful field of work would present itself in
Biala, as well as the fact that the palace Lipnik, not far from the city, owned by
His Majesty Archduke Albrecht, and inhabited only by clerks, would be a
suitable building for this purpose. Mother Franziska immediately took hold of
this idea and with her own quick decisiveness, entered a request to His

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Highness that he would deign to turn over the Lipnik Palace to the
Congregation for educational purposes. God blessed this request. On
September 17 the courtier Jesse shared with Mother Franziska that his Royal
Highness most graciously granted the requested permission with the remark
that he was happy to give the palace to the Congregation because of its richly-
blessed work. On September 18 Mother Franziska, who was overjoyed at the
fulfillment of her wish, had the written permission in hand allowing the
Congregation to take over the palace on May 1, 1885. therefor, on September
22 she traveled with Sister Stanislai to Krakow to ask the Reverend Bishop Albin
Dunajewski’s permission to make a foundation in his diocese. He received her
in the most friendly manner, was happy that the Congregation would begin a
field of endeavor in his diocese, informed himself of everything in detail, and
promised to introduce the sisters into Biala himself. Mother Franziska used this
time of her stay in Krakow to visit a number of the many churches and convents
found there. Then, with her companion, she traveled to Biala. The first day
there was very painful for her. As she wanted to view the palace the people
living there, hearing the reason for her coming, were angered that they would
have to leave their apartments on account of the sisters. Mother Franziska and
Sister Stanislai had to make them understand that His Royal Highness can do
what he wants with his property and only then were they somewhat friendlier.
The palace with its 25 rooms and halls, situated in a beautiful park more than
three yoke large, seemed to Mother Franziska to be very suitable for an
institute. Mother Franziska enjoyed a friendly reception from the district chief,
the mayor and the clergy, as well as the promise to support the planned work.
After she called at the Dukal Properties Office in the nearby little town of
Saybusch, she returned, via Troppau, to Vienna, where she arrived on
September 29. Here Mother Franziska found a letter with the joyful news that
His Royal Highness had graciously allowed that the future institute in Biala be
named, after his wife, Archduchess Hildegard, “St. Hildegard”. On December 1
Mother Franziska visited the Governor of Biala who was then in Vienna. His
Excellency received her in a most friendly way and told her to bring her petition
the very next day so that he, himself, could look it over and advise her of any
necessary changes. When Mother Franziska brought the petition, His Excellency

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was completely satisfied with it and expressed his joy over the fact that the
Congregation would also branch out into Galizia and promised to visit the Biala
institute in the coming Spring. After everything which was necessary had been
arranged Mother Franziska sent Sister Josefa Kock, destined to be the Superior
of the new foundation, to Biala with two sisters on January 23, 1885. She had
especially chosen the Feast of the Espousal of Mary as the travel day because,
with her childlike trust she wanted to ask Mary to be the Superior and Joseph
to be the master of the house. On March 9 Mother Franziska traveled to Biala
to arrange the adaptations of the house which his Royal Highness had deigned
to allow. These began immediately after the tenants had departed on May 1.
On April 4 Mother Franziska received the joyful news that Her Royal Highness
the Archduchess Isabella had deigned to be Protectress of the educational
institutions to be set up in Biala. Therefore she traveled to Pressburg to thank
the Archduchess for this kindness. This lady received her most graciously. On
June 5 Mother Franziska had an audience with Her Royal Highness,
Archduchess Adelgunde, the Duchess of Modena, who also received her very
kindly and gave her a large copper engraved portrait of Archduchess Hildegard.
Naturally this portrait was placed in the convent of St. Hildegard in Biala. In the
meantime the renovation work there had been completed and so on June 8
Mother Franziska went to Krakow to talk with the Rev. Archbishop Dunajewski,
who wanted to carry out the dedication himself, to discuss some things with
him in this regard. Then she went to Biala to undertake the proximate
preparations for the dedication. This took place on June 14 in the most solemn
manner and became a festival for the entire Biala because the city did
everything to give its very beloved Shepherd a worthy reception. He stayed at
the convent. From early morning on into the night people streamed in crowds
to see him and the arrangement of the palace-turned-convent. Mother
Franziska soon had the joy of learning that the school and kindergarten in St.
Hildegard convent were well attended, and that many boarders were
registering for the boarding school. So this institute soon flourished and even
now is a blessing for the inhabitants of Biala.

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 Some months after the first steps regarding the branch in Biala
were made Mother Franziska also enlarged the Congregation’s activities in
Vienna. In every way, when we consider foundations, the year 1885 was a busy
one for Mother Franziska because it brought the Congregation three new
branches. Since, through God’s blessing, the number of sisters, happily
increased from year to year, and also many students and servant girls
registered for acceptance, the space in the Vienna Marienanstalt had long ago
become too small. Therefore, Mother Franziska, although she had no
wherewithal, was forced to think about calling forth another such institute in
Vienna, in order to house there the novices and the servant girls seeking
employment. To this purpose she looked at various houses in January, 1885 and
found a suitable house belonging to the St. Joseph’s Savings and Credit Union,
in district XVIII, Johannesgasse Nr. 13 (now Lacknergasse 87). As early as
January 30th, Mother Franziska verbally closed the sales contract trusting in
God’s help and gave the Union as down payment the emergency fund of 175
florins she had deposited with them. On March 31 the written contract was
made and Mother Franziska again had an opportunity to experience the help of
St. Joseph in whom she had taken refuge. As late as the 30th a considerable
sum of the amount she was to pay at the closing of the sale was still missing,
and on the 31st she not only was able to meet the amount due, but even had
something left over. The trust of Mother Franziska was rewarded through
income whose arrival was totally unexpected. In May the tenants vacated the
premises and the renovation and building of an additional floor was begun. The
boarders were able to enter their new home which Mother Franziska gave the
beautiful name, “Heart of Mary Convent” on July 16. On August 20th the same
was solemnly dedicated by the Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Dr. Colestin
Ganglbauer in the presence of countless clergy and other guests. In a beautiful
talk His Eminence pointed out the blessed work and self-sacrificing activity of
the sisters and expressed the wish that the new Institute would bring forth
much fruit for the honor of the Congregation, the edification of the faithful, the
consolation of the poor and to the moral perfection of all who would dwell
therein, through the blessing of God and the protection of Mary. This wish of
the Cardinal did not remain unfulfilled for much good has been done in Heart of

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Mary Convent since that day for the servant girls seeking employment, as well
as for the youth in the boarding school, grade school and kindergarten. Those
sisters received on August 18, 1885 immediately began their novitiate there
and Heart of Mary Convent remained the Novitiate of the Congregation until
1890.

Now we must mention the taking over of the third foundation of

this year. It is the kindergarten established by His Royal Highness Archduke
Albrecht on his estate Bellye (Foherczglak*) for the children of his servants.

His Excellency the Apostolic Nuntio Serafino Vannutelli (now

Cardinal), whom Mother Franziska admired and who was very much in favor of
the Congregation thanked His Royal Highness Archduke Albrecht that he had
turned over the Lipnik castle to the Congregation and at the same time asked
that His Highness would deign to give over to the Congregation also the
administration of the institute at Foherczglak. The Archduke said that he would
gladly do this if the Bishop at Funfkirchen, in whose diocese Foherczglak was
situated, would agree. As Mother Franziska learned this from His Excellency she
sent her General Assistant, Sister Borgia Uri and Sister Immaculata Prillinger to
Funfkirchen on May 30, 1885. The Bishop Dulansky received the sisters very
kindly and said it would make him very happy if the Congregation would come
also to his diocese. Thereupon Mother Franziska received a letter as early as
mid-June informing her in the name of Archduke Albrecht, that the
administration of the Institute in Foherczglak would be turned over to her
Congregation. Therefore, she went there on July 7 to speak with the manager
about the furnishing of the house. It and the garden pleased her extraordinarily
well. To the satisfaction of Mother Franziska, her Royal Highness Archduchess
Isabella accepted the title of its protectress. The dedication took place on
October 4, 1885. Mother Franziska of course went to Foherczglak for the
celebration, on the way there visiting the Bishop of Funfkirchen to thank him
for accepting the Congregation into his diocese and to ask him for his
blessing on the new foundation.

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*In present day Czechoslovakia
Prelate Dobzay from Funfkirchen undertook the dedication.

All Foherczglak took part in the celebration. When Mother

Franziska came again on November 3 to Foherczglak she saw to her great joy
that seventy children were already attending the kindergarten. In 1892, on the
orders of Archduke Albrecht the sisters were also given the administration of
the girls’ school there.

Whenever God grants a rich blessing, He usually sends tests too.

This happened to Mother Franziska also. The year 1885 in which, to her joy, the
Congregation experienced a swift growth, did not spare her a harsh trial. In July
six sisters in the foundation in Dolnja-Tuzla became ill with typhoid and two of
these died. Two employees also caught the disease and had to be taken to the
military hospital. The house and the street were therefore sealed off. In any
case, the disease was caused by the bad water. Before the conditions in Bosnia
became more ordered through the Austrian government the Turks buried their
dead just anywhere, even right next to houses and so it happened that the
water often flowed through these graves and became polluted. It is not easy to
describe the worry and care that Mother Franziska’s loving heart endured
during this time and how many fervent prayers she sent to Heaven, since the
sufferings of her spiritual daughters were always her own. The letter, written
on September 4, 1885 to all the sisters gives us the best insight:

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“To my spiritual daughters,

A holy, but painful duty urges me to address these lines to you.

You all know how severely God has visited our poor
Congregation since July through sickness and death. The sisters in the
house dedicated to the Queen of the Holy Rosary had much to suffer.
Sister Augustina found them in a pitiable state when she went there to
visit. She did everything possible to get help for the sick. The trip was to
have been a vacation for her, and now she had to care for her sick
sisters which she also did with a self-sacrificing love.

Our Director Canon Jeglic, without any idea of the misery in

which the sisters found themselves, had arrived days before as a God-
sent consoling angel. He immediately administered the Sacraments of
the Dying to the mortally ill Sister Luitgardis who received them with
full consciousness, love and devotion. She was very happy to be able
still to receive this consolation from the Reverend Director. On July 16
she succumbed to her great pain and was quietly buried the next day.
The other sick were deeply moved by this swift death. Sister Leokadis
who was summoned from Emmaus (the convent in Breske) to nurse
also became ill and died in nine days of abdominal typhoid.

To this sister, too, the Director was consolation and spiritual

physician. As he came again, with his fatherly care, to Tuzla on his
return trip to Sarajevo, to uplift the downcast sisters, he found Sister
Leokadia near death and immediately gave her the Last Sacraments.
From August 11 to August 19 the sick sister received the Food of Angels
three times with great devotion as food and strength for the journey to
eternity. She died peacefully and with resignation on the 19th. She was
buried on the 20th at 9 in the morning.

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 Four priests, many school children and others accompanied
the coffin. You can imagine the worry about the poor sisters who are
still ill. The sisters had to be brought immediately to Emmaus to allow
the entire house to be disinfected. All precautions were taken to clean
the plague-stricken house and well.

The poor employees, Mathias and Michael, who also had to

suffer the typhoid and were cared for in the military hospital, are now
the custodians of the house in Tuzla.

The last day of June Sister Theodora in Sarajevo vomited

blood. She was immediately brought to Bethania and everything was
done to save the life of this good, noble sister. Unfortunately, this pious
sister was also to be taken from me by death. On August 29 at 11:30 in
the night, peaceful and surrendered to God, she died. Theodora gave
edification throughout her days in her holy vocation and during her
entire illness by her love, patience and true piety. She was valued and
respected by all, a true Daughter of Divine Charity. Now this noble soul
has received the reward which every holy religious may count on. On
the 30th she was buried in our cemetery in Bethania next to Sister
Ferdinanda. So soon had she followed the dear Sister Gregoria
(Theodora’s blood sister). In this great pain about my spiritual
daughters I am consoled by the thought that all three were so
beautifully prepared and resigned when they left this life and that we
certainly have in them intercessors before the throne of God. The Lord
is harvesting, for Sister Aloisia and Sister Ruperta are now also
seriously ill and the doctor has given up hope for Sister Mathaa.”

To this account Mother Franziska added in maternal care the

admonition that all the sisters should take reasonable care of their health as a
gift of God, thinking of being useful for the ever—growing field of activity of the
Congregation. After giving some more details about the latest foundations
mentioned, she closed in her accustomed cordial manner with the words,

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 “God bless you all. Recommending you to the care of the holy Angels, I
am, in love.
Your faithful mother,
Sister M. Franziska Lechner.”

Actually, Mother Franziska’s life was richly blessed with sufferings and trials. It
may seem, of course, because of the rapid succession of foundations, that luck
was constantly lending her a hand and that everything was always going
smoothly, but this was not so. We have often told of the countless money
worries of Mother Franziska and these were multiplied by the interest
payments to be made on loans needed to build or buy her houses. Besides
these cares and the worries entailed in the direction of so many institutes,
Mother Franziska had to endure all kinds of suffering--persecution of her
person and the congregation by misinformed or ill-intentioned parties, painful
ingratitude from those whose benefactor she had been, the various obstacles in
the way of the foundations, etc. The greatest part of these sufferings can only
be hinted at with a few general words without being told in detail, however, to
protect the honor of those persons who caused Mother Franziska these
afflictions or of their descendants, who are still living. Her greatness of soul
during these hours of suffering was truly worthy of admiration. No matter how
great the trials, she constantly bowed to God’s adorable will and never wavered
in her trust in His help. She often told her spiritual daughters that God sends
these sufferings to draw us closer to Himself and encouraged them also to a
patient endurance of all hardships. Her revenge toward those who brought
suffering to herself or to her Congregation consisted in praying for them. So,
upon hearing of his death, she ordered prayers in all the houses for the repose
of the soul of a man who was not at all well-intentioned toward the
Congregation and had caused Mother Franziska several bitter hours, just as if
he had been the greatest friend and benefactor of the Congregation. This is one
beautiful indication of the measure in which the noble heart of Mother
Franziska practiced love of her enemies.

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 Now there is another event to add which Mother Franziska
always considered the most important of her life and of which she often
movingly spoke with joy--her trip to Rome and her audience with the Holy
Father, Leo XIII. The reason for the trip was to thank His Holiness for the lately
received gracious Decree of Recognition and the appointment of a Cardinal
Protector for the Congregation. On November 17, 1885 Mother Franziska had
an audience with the Emperor in which she also reported to him the
appointment of Cardinal Jakobini as Protector of the Congregation and of her
coming trip to Rome. His Majesty was very interested in this and said to Mother
Franziska, “Tell the Pope that I am not only pleased that the Cardinal Secretary
of State is your Cardinal Protector, but that I thank His Holiness for everything
that he has done for your Congregation and that I ask for his prayers for
myself.” Mother Franziska was very happy about this assignment because she
rightfully believed that His Holiness would give it much weight. Their Royal
Highnesses the Archduchesses Elizabeth and Marie, the first the wife of
Archduke Karl Ferdinand, the second the wife of Archduke Rainer, whom
Mother Franziska also visited before her departure, asked her to lay their
deepest respect at the feet of His Holiness.

Before her departure, Mother Franziska sent the following letter

to her spiritual daughters:

“Before the year 1885, which was so rich in events, finds its
close, I cannot neglect urging all of you to join me from the heart in
fervently thanking our good Heavenly Father for His blessing.

Each Superior should read the beginning of the enclosed

brochure (the account of the fifteen years of the Congregation’s
activity), so that all the sisters may be reminded about the graces we
have received. The latest of these is that His Holiness has had a brief
prepared for twelve of our houses, according to which all the sisters and
those in their care can gain the plenary indulgence in the house chapels

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on the Feast of the Portiuncula, August 2. This could not be included in
the booklet which had already been at the printers. This extraordinary
grace will certainly be the most beautiful Christmas gift for the houses
concerned. Monsignor Cadaldi gained this special grace and honor for
us from the Holy Father.

How happy I am to be admitted soon with my first General Assistant,

Sister Augustina to kiss the feet of His Holiness, not only to thank him
for the Decree of Praise, as well as the appointment of a Cardinal
Protector, but also to be able to request the apostolic blessing for each
sister and the entire Congregation. This trip to Rome is of great
importance for the Congregation. For the first time the Superior and two
sisters, representing the Congregation, will approach the Holy See, the
Cardinals and other dignitaries, who work at the Holy See, in governing
the Church. We will encounter many things of which we now can have
no idea and therefore we cannot prepare ourselves for them, so we are
very much in need of the prayers of our dear sisters.

I ask the Superiors to have a Holy Mass offered in each of our

Convent chapels on January 7, the day of our departure and ask each
sister to receive Holy Communion, offering it for us, so that the Lord will
grant us His special protection and blessing and that the Holy Spirit may
enlighten us that we may bring about much good for our dear
Congregation. We depart for the holy city trusting in the help of the
Almighty, accompanied by your prayers, equipped with all kinds of
written recom-mendations. We will certainly remember you at the
various holy places.

During our absence Sister Borgia, second General Assistant

will be called to the Mother House to guide the Congregation. All letters
are to be addressed to her.

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 In closing I ask all the sisters again to thank the Lord for all
blessings and to pray very fervently for us. Isn’t it true, dear children,
that you will prepare yourselves very well for the birth of the Divine
Child and at year’s end remember those of our sisters who have fallen
asleep this year, as is our obligation.

Now I call upon Mary that she may call the blessing of her
Divine Son upon all of you and be Mother, Protectress and Superior,
guiding the Congregation along with St. Joseph. In addition, I wish each
one truly happy holidays and a good year’s end. Then the beginning of
the year 1886 will be richly blessed. God bless and protect all of you,
dear children!
With cordial greetings,
Your,
Faithful Mother,
Franziska Lechner
Mother House, December 17, 1885”

On January 7, 1886 Mother Franziska in the company of her First

General Assistant and Superior of the Mother House, Sister Ignazia Egger and
the Superior of the institute in Sarajevo, Sister Augustina d’Armaille, began the
journey to the Eternal City with the prayers and good wishes of her spiritual
daughters and the pupils in the various houses. Recognizing its importance she
wanted first to ask the protection and intercession of the Mother of God at the
shrine of Loretto. On January 8 the travelers reached Padua, where they
honored St. Anthony. On January 9 they arrived in Loretto and were deeply
moved as they entered the holy house where the Incarnation of the Son of God
took place and the three holiest persons had lived. Mother Franziska had so
many intentions to present to the Holy Family that the day was too short. At 11
in the evening she and her companions arrived in Rome. The next day they
went to the tomb of St. Peter to commend themselves to the protection of the
Prince of the Apostles. The sacredness of the place as well as the grandeur of

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St. Peter’s made such an overpowering impression that they were moved to
tears. On the 13th they attended Holy Mass at the tomb of St. Peter and
received Holy Communion. Mother Franziska prayed in this place for her
Congregation, for those in its care, for the entire Imperial Family, the Bishops in
dioceses where her sisters were working, the benefactors, and so on, until
here, too, the time was too short. From there, Mother Franziska and her
companions went to the Cardinal Protector Jakobini who received them in a
fatherly way, informed himself thoroughly of the Congregation, and was
especially happy about the honor and graciousness constantly shown toward it
by the Imperial Family. Here they also met the undersecretary Mocessi, who
was also very kind. Oh the 14th the pilgrims visited the tomb of St. Paul, one
hour distant from Rome, the Church of “Our Lady of Snows”, and other
churches. On the 15th they attended a Holy Mass in the prison of St. Peter and
saw the place where the Saint lay in chains. With emotion they also
contemplated the well which sprang up there and the rock upon which a soldier
threw the Prince of the Apostles and where the Saint’s face was imprinted. A
reverent shudder took hold of them as they viewed these holy places. Then
they visited the tomb of St. Frances of Rome, the patron Saint of Mother
Franziska, the Coliseum, where many thousands of Christians suffered
martyrdom for Christ, and the oldest church in Rome, the Lateran. With holy
reverence and deep emotion they also climbed on their knees the 28 steps of
the Holy Stairs upon which Christ stood before Pilate, and which is found near
the Lateran. On the 16th they went to Cardinals Hergenrother, Melchers,
Laurenzi and to Monsignor Lorenzell, the Rector of the Bohemian College, all of
whom received them very kindly. The time from the 17th until the 30th of
January was also spent visiting the sanctuaries of Rome, the Catacombs, various
convents, institutes and such persons whose good will could be useful to the
Congregation. In the meantime Mother Franziska informed herself through the
Rev. Father Daum of the Holy Spirit Fathers and a Consultor of the Sacred
Congregation for Bishops and Regulars, about everything that would be
necessary for the petition, to be made within a few years, for the second
recognition by the Holy See, the actual approbation of the Constitutions and
the Congregation, and made some preparations in this regard. The 31st was to

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be the happy and memorable day of the audience with the Holy Father. In the
morning Mother Franziska and her companions were present at His Holiness’
Holy Mass in the chapel in the Vatican and received Holy Communion from the
hands of the Vicar of Christ. There followed a second Holy Mass, for which the
Holy Father also remained and after this the pilgrims were admitted to the
audience. The Reverend Andreas Frisch, Canon of St. Jerome’s in Rome
accompanied them and introduced Mother Franziska to His Holiness as the
Foundress and Superior General of the Congregation as well as the other two
sisters. After Mother Franziska had expressed her most respectful gratitude to
the Holy Father for his graciousness to the Congregation, His Holiness spoke in
a gracious and truly fatherly manner with her as well as with Sister Ignazia and
Sister Augustina, asked about the number of houses and very especially about
the activity of the sisters in Bosnia. This last, and in fact, the general rapid and
richly blessed spread of the Congregation pleased the Holy Father very much.
Mother Franziska also transmitted the words of gratitude from His Imperial
Majesty Franz Joseph, with which the Holy Father showed great pleasure. At
this he remarked that the Austrian Imperial Family not only bore the title,
“Apostolic” but also has become noted for its apostolic activities and added,
“Tell His Majesty that you attended the Pope’s Holy Mass and that you received
Holy Communion at his hands and had a little conference. Tell him also, that I
will pray for him as he asked.” The Holy Father encouraged Mother Franziska
and her companions to continued zealous work and especially challenged them
to work in Bosnia for the Church and civilization, because there is a great and
beautiful mission. Twice during the conversation, the Holy Father grasped
Mother Franziska’s hand and held on to it for a long time, then he placed his
hand in blessing on her head as she knelt before him. Mother Franziska was so
moved by the fatherly kindness of His Holiness that she, completely forgetting
herself in her joy and holy respect, kissed his hand causing him to smile. In
conclusion Mother Franziska received the Apostolic Blessing for the members
of the Imperial Household, for various highly placed friends and benefactors of
the Congregation as well as for herself and all the sisters. His Holiness also
blessed the medals Mother Franziska had brought. along, for this purpose. The
audience had lasted more than half an hour. Deeply moved and filled with holy

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enthusiasm, Mother Franziska and her companions left the Vatican Palace. On
February 2, the Feast of Candlemas, they were to receive another proof of the
Holy father’s favor. In the afternoon His Eminence Cardinal Jakobini in the
company of Undersecretary Mocessi arrived at the convent of the French St
Joseph Sisters where Mother Franziska was staying and gave her, as a present
from His Holiness, a candle, 1 meter, 25 centimeters tall, decorated with an
image of the Mother of God, the Papal Arms, flowers and scroll work, as well as
some large silver medals in cases and beautiful rosaries. His Eminence
remarked that receiving a candle on Candlemas Day, delivered by a Cardinal
was an honor reserved for sovereigns and very highly placed persons. Mother
Franziska also received a candle and two photographs of himself as a gift from
Cardinal Jakobini. Of course she and her companions were overjoyed at these
gifts. Upon her return from Rome, Mother Franziska had a glass case made for
the candle from the Holy Father, and it was hung up in the chapel of the Vienna
Marienanstalt. Later this and the candle were brought to the sisters’ choir in
the church of the new Mother House. Mother Franziska gave the candle from
Cardinal Jakobini to the St. Joseph Institute in Sarajevo. She kept the medals
and a mother of pearl rosary from the Holy Father as precious souvenirs. In the
same way, she carefully preserved the veil she had worn at the audience and
upon which the hand of the Holy Father had rested. His Eminence, Cardinal
Jakobini and other important persons with whom Mother Franziska spoke
before her departure for Rome were overjoyed as only good friends could be,
at the honors the congregation had received from the Holy Father. On February
3rd she, with her companions, began the return trip to Vienna where she
arrived safely on the 7th and was joyfully received by the sisters and the pupils.
By singing the hymn of praise, the “Te Deum” they thanked the Almighty for
the safe return as well as all the graces granted to their spiritual mother as well
as the entire Congregation through this trip. Mother Franziska, who always was
glad to share her joys with her spiritual daughters had already sent news from
Rome in the form of detailed reports of the experiences they had there. These
reports were, at her request immediately duplicated in the Mother House and
sent to the other houses. The second report, written immediately after the
audience with the Holy Father, closed with these words, “Our young

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Congregation is greatly respected here, and much is expected of us. We are
obliged to measure up to these hopes and not to disappoint them. Let us use
this good will to confirm ourselves in good and to be true Daughters of Divine
Charity and faithful children of Holy Church. May the blessing of the vicar of
Christ be for all the sisters a stimulus for conscientious fulfillment of our
obligations.” Many more times Mother Franziska told of the happy days of the
Rome journey and usually, added similar encouraging and admonishing words,
as those presented from her account. Just as recognition and honors were for
her not an occasion of vanity but a stimulus for good, for work for God’s glory
and the good of neighbor, so she wanted her spiritual daughters to receive
them in the same spirit.
On February 11, 1886, during an audience with His Majesty , the
Emperor, Mother Franziska fulfilled her noble mission by giving him the Holy
Father’s Apostolic Blessing which pleased him very much. Upon her request,
Mother Franziska was also immediately admitted to the honorable
Archduchesses Adelgunde, Marie and Elizabeth and they were also overjoyed
with the Blessing of the Holy Father as well as with the greetings from Cardinal
Jakobini. With an equal joy Mother Franziska was received by the other
important persons to whom she was assigned to bring the news of the
Apostolic Blessing and everywhere she found the friendliest sympathy with the
favors and good will which she and her Congregation received in Rome.

The new Mother House with Novitiate and Church added

by Mother Franziska before her death

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 CHAPTER X

Founding of the Convent St. Joseph’s Home in Dolnja-Tuzla,

the Foundations in Crakow and Hirschtetten,
enlargement of various branches of the Congregation.

Besides the three foundations in the year 1885 already

mentioned, the way was prepared for a fourth at the same time. Namely, the
congregation received, thanks to His Excellency the Imperial Finance Minister
von Kallay, a gift from the Bosnian government of a piece of land of outstanding
quality, measuring two hundred yoke, only about 25 minutes distant from
Dolnja-Tuzla. Its reclamation, however, cost much money and even more effort
because the ground was uneven and partly cut by deep gullies and the brush
was only removed with untold difficulty. The sisters commissioned by Mother
Franziska to do the clearing had to take their meals in a miserable clap-board
hut. Since the cooking was done in the same hut, the heat was nearly
unbearable. After the strenuous work of the day they still had to make their
way to Tuzla to enjoy there a short night’s rest. When Mother Franziska came
to Tuzla on April 17, 1886 she found about seventy yoke cleared and cultivated.
She was immensely happy over this industriousness and zeal of the sisters, but
more so over the joyful self-sacrifice with which they accepted every strain and
difficulty. During this stay Mother Franziska also gave the order to build a house
on this property which she intended to call “Joseph’s Home”. She wanted to
develop a model farm here as in Slatina near Sarajevo and in Breske, intending
it also to help with the upkeep of the house in Tuzla.
April 28 was the day set as the opening of the Doboy—Dolna-
Tuzla railroad line, planned with great festivities, because the presence of the
Imperial Finance Minister von Kallay and many important persons from Vienna
and Budapest were expected. The sisters in Tuzla had to decorate the church,
school and convent and Mother Franziska arranged these things with her usual
taste. She also went with some sisters to the railroad station for the welcome
of the Ministers. Their Excellencies, von Kallay, and the Regional Governor
Baron Appel with their wives, greeted Mother Franziska in the most cordial

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way. The next day these personages visited the sisters in their little residence
and also the school where they received a respectful greeting from the
children. They also visited the sisters in Joseph’s Home and in Breske in order to
see everything and Mother Franziska received unanimous praise for her
arrangements. On May 3 she continued her trip to Sarajevo where the visit of
the Archduke Albrecht was announced for the 15th. The important guest was
most solemnly received by the entire population. The pupils and students of
the sisters were also lined up for the greeting. Mother Franziska who was also
present, received a greeting from the Archduke as soon as His Highness caught
a glimpse of her. On the 25th the Archduke and many important persons made
a visit to the festively decorated St. Joseph and Marian Institutes. After the
formal greeting and a visit to the house chapel, His Highness, guided by Mother
Franziska, visited the school and other places, expressing high praise for the
practical arrangement of the institutes and especially over the great number of
orphans. As a special sign of graciousness the Archduke Albrecht deigned to
take along some samples of the children’s needlework as a souvenir. The day
after this visit Mother Franziska returned to Tuzla to make the arrangements
for Archduke Albrecht’s visit there which was planned for May 29, and also to
inspect the work already begun on the Joseph’s Home Convent. On the 28th
she started her return trip to Vienna.

The solemn blessing of the Joseph’s Home Convent took place

on September 19, 1886 the Feast of Our Sorrowful Mother. Mother Franziska
could not be present on that day, but on October 1 she made another trip to
Bosnia and found, to her pleasure, that the new convent was very beautifully
completed.

His Excellency, the Archbishop and later Cardinal Dunajewski of

Krakow had expressed the wish to Mother Franziska that there might be a
“Marian Institute” erected also in Krakow. Therefore, on July 17, 1886, she sent
the, until then, Superior of the house in Biala, Sister Josefa Kock, with Sister
Hedwig Skrobanek to Krakow to prepare the way for such an institute. They
first rented a small apartment to take in servant girls, but this proved

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impractical. On August 30 Mother Franziska arrived in Krakow and made untold
trips for five days looking for a suitable dwelling, unfortunately, in vain. Only
later they found shelter in the house of Princess Sanguska in the
“Franziskanergasse”, which provided space for twenty servant girls. The
institute remained there until Mother Franziska, as will be recounted later,
could purchase a suitable house for it in the year 1888, because until then, all
her efforts during various trips to Krakow, had remained as unsuccessful as the
first time.

On October 26, Mother Franziska gave the Imperial Councilor,

von Feifalik, secretary to Her Majesty Empress Elizabeth, an album, in which the
practiced hand of a sister had beautifully drawn all the institutes and asked this
man, very inclined toward the Congregation, to personally give it to her Majesty
as the exalted protectress of the same. Thereafter, during the following month,
Mother Franziska received from the Councilor von Feifalik a letter containing
the following:

“With regard to the request of the 26th of the month, I

received the exalted command to transmit to the revered Congregation
of the Daughters of Divine Charity the gracious gratitude of Her
Majesty the Empress and Queen for the album with the views of the
Congregation placed at her exalted feet and asked me to add that Her
Majesty was very pleased with this offering and with true and honest
satisfaction was informed of the report about the universally, richly
blessed activity and the beautiful success of the Congregation under
her exalted protection.
Feifalik
Royal Government Councilor
Goldoll, November 12, 1886.”

February 28, 1887 brought Mother Franziska a great sorrow and

the Congregation a great loss. On this day the Reverend Cardinal Protector
Jakobini, the fatherly friend of the Congregation, who always took the liveliest

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interest in its work and flourishing, passed away. Mother Franziska truly
mourned the death of the noble Prince of the Church and without delay
ordered common prayers and Holy Masses throughout the entire Congregation
for the eternal rest of the deceased. At her request the Reverend Apostolic
Nuntio, Vannutelli celebrated a Requiem for the departed in the Mother House
on March 2, and, on March 5, the Auxiliary Bishop Eduard Angerer celebrated in
Heart of Mary Convent.

During the course of the year 1887 Mother Franziska was forced
to undertake an enlargement and renovation of the house in Troppau because
of the partly missing and damaged roof there. At the same time she wanted to
have a chapel built to honor St. Joseph. So many people, even from Prussia,
came to the monthly meetings of the St. Joseph’s Association begun in the
troppau House and held separately in the German and Bohemian languages
that the little chapel could no longer hold them and many had to take places in
the corridor and adjoining courtyard. This condition determined Mother
Franziska to make the above mentioned decisions in spite of the poverty of the
Congregation, since devotion to her dear St. Joseph was very important to her.
In March, 1887 she therefore traveled to Troppau to make the agreements
concerning the construction and the cornerstone of the chapel was laid as early
as the 24th of the same month. Mother Franziska made the trip to Troppau
three times more that year to look after the construction, since this caused her
much worry. The walls of the house, though thick, had no real foundation and
so caused many difficulties and unforeseen expense. St. Joseph, however,
made his help meaningfully evident. It was surely attributable to his
intercession that six near accidents were avoided during the dangerous
construction and that noble benefactors were found. A sufficient reward for
Mother Franziska was the solemn blessing of the chapel on December 11, 1887
and that it was well visited, as she could see from the reports of the sisters and
during later trips to Troppau.

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 At the end of September 1887 Mother Franziska undertook
another trip to Prague and from there wanted to go to the sisters in Brunn, but
this last could not take place because frequent bouts of illness made it
necessary for her to return directly to Vienna from Prague. The doctor called in
diagnosed peritonitis. The news of this threw the entire Congregation into the
greatest consternation and continual “storm novenas” were held by the sisters
and their charges for the recovery of their beloved spiritual mother. During this
illness, on October 22, Mother Franziska had the joy of receiving the visit of His
Excellency, the then Apostolic Nuntio to Vienna and later Cardinal Luigi
Galimberti. He had only that day at noon heard about her serious illness and
came immediately to express his sympathy and to inform himself of her
condition. On the same day the Reverend Bishop Dunajewski of Krakow, also in
Vienna at the time, came to visit, too. These joyful events had a beneficial
influence on the patient. God heard the fervent prayers for the preservation of
Mother Franziska and she regained her health, of course, only slowly after such
a serious illness.

During her illness Mother Franziska again received a request for

a foundation from Hirschstetten near Vienna. This township had been asking
for two years that sisters of the Congregation would take over the direction of a
Kindergarten there, but to Mother Franziska the field of work seemed too
small, since she rightly believed that two to three sisters could not build a real
community life as the Constitutions prescribed. She had therefore promised to
send sisters to Hirschstetten if they could also give the manual arts instruction
in the elementary school. After the town came to the point where they were
able to do this Mother Franziska sent sisters to Hirschtetten on November 28,
1887. Besides the kindergarten and the manual arts instruction in the school,
they conducted also a professional school set up by Mother Franziska. The
house set aside for this foundation at first belonged to the civic community, but
in 1893 Mother Franziska purchased it for the Congregation.

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 December 31, 1887 was the day of the 50th Jubilee of the
ordination to the priesthood of His Holiness Pope Leo XIII and Mother Franziska
used this occasion to express the childlike devotion and respectful love of
herself and her spiritual daughters for the Holy Father in a congratulatory
telegram. Also, the Congregation did not neglect to send some home made
pieces to add to the gifts for ecclesiastical use that came at that time from
everywhere to the Holy Father. On January 2, a telegram of gratitude with the
following message arrived:

“Expressing his gratitude to the Congregation for the wishes and the gifts sent
to him, the Holy Father cordially sends the desired blessing.”

Mother Franziska was very pleased about this and took it as a

great grace to be able to begin the new year with the blessing of the Holy
Father. At the beginning of the same she placed her Congregation under the
protection of the Holy Family to whom she had great devotion, and to promote
this devotion she ordered that from then on a Prayer of Offering to the Holy
Family chosen by her be recited each Sunday in common in all houses of the
Congregation. She also had 20,000 copies of this prayer printed for distribution.
The blessing for this devotion was not lacking since the year 1888 would be
forever a memorable one for the congregation because of the purchase of a
new Mother House. Before this event, however, there are still to be recounted
further enlargements of existing houses by Mother Franziska.

In February, 1888, her greatest wish, to gain her own house for
the foundation in Krakow, was fulfilled when she purchased a building in the
“Bischofsgasse” from Mr. Von Wisocki. The cost for this was 25,000 guldens.
Unfortunately, Mother Franziska did not have this money. On the advice of the
Reverend Bishop Dunajewski she turned to Countess Potocka with the request
to help her make the purchase with a loan and this noble lady gladly lent her
6,000 guldens for the down payment. So the deal was closed on February 11.
Mother Franziska could now pursue her long-held plan of adding a boarding
facility and school, especially for the children of the German military and civil

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personnel, to the section for the servant girls. Because of the lack of German
Catholic schools, the children mentioned had to attend a Protestant school if
their parents wanted them to receive instruction in their native language, so
this decision was welcomed by the Bishop as well as by the German inhabitants
of Krakow. On September 9, 1888 the house, which Mother Franziska named
“Marieninstitut” was blessed by the Reverend Bishop Dunajewski. After this
solemn act he turned to Mother Franziska in a talk which emphasized that he
felt a special joy in having sisters from her Congregation in his diocese and what
a good fortune it was for the fathers in the military to know, when they were
called by the Commander-in-Chief to fight for their country, that their
daughters were in such good hands. After the blessing the school was opened
with sixty children. The numbers grew so quickly in such a short time that the
rooms were overflowing within the first year.
Since the Marian Institute in Prague had also become too small Mother
Franziska had to have a third floor built that year. In April, 1888 she made the
agreement with the builder and on October 1 the blessing was undertaken by
Bishop Count Schonborn with Mother Franziska present at the celebration.

As for the sisters in Krakow, so Mother Franziska was also able to

acquire a house for those in Dolna-Tuzia during the year 1888. This had also
been a preoccupation of longer duration for her since, for various reasons, the
building assigned by the township could no longer be used a a school and the
little building that served as residence for the sisters was not suitable. On the
advice of regional Governor Councilman Vukovic she purchased a suitable
building site as early as February, 1887 and traveled to Tuzla on April 12, 1888
to make arrangements for the construction. She did this, of course, with a
heavy heart since, as usual she had no money while at the same time she had
the most fervent trust in the kind providence of God. On April 17, the blessing
of the cornerstone. took place. The Mass celebrated on this occasion by the
Pastor, was
attended, besides by the sisters and their students, by all the workers involved
in the building, including even the Turks and Serbs. To the joy of Mother
Franziska, in a sermon, the Pastor encouraged the workers to work hard so that

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the building could soon fulfill its purpose. Of course, Mother Franziska also
visited the sisters in Joseph’s Home and in the Emmaus Convent in Breske and
had the joy of seeing that the neighbors, even the Turks, had already begun to
imitate the methods of the sisters in cultivating the land. The Turks said that
the presence of the sisters was a blessing for the entire valley. As these had
won the love of the inhabitants from the very beginning, so Mother Franziska
enjoyed in Bosnia the very special respect of the inhabitants of every
confession. When she came to those places where she had foundations, they
called to her from all sides “Casna majka!” (Reverend Mother!) and each one
wanted to greet her. She knew also, how to communicate lovingly with
everyone, regardless of the station or nationality or confession they belonged
to, and they were able to read her kindness and love in her face and were
attracted to her, even when she could not speak the Bosnian national language
and had to use a sister as translator.

In October 1888 the building in Tuzla was completed and, to the

joy of Mother Franziska, the sisters and the population, was consecrated to the
Divine Heart of Jesus and the Queen of the Holy Rosary on the twenty-fifth of
the month.

The Convent of Maria Loretto in St. Andre also experienced a

valuable enlargement through Mother Franziska. It was not through building,
but through the purchase of a neighboring house and 43 yoke of land (called
Fuchsenhube). This house and lands were the earlier “Meierhof” of the
previous Dominican Monastery, and through this purchase on June 6, 1888,
were returned to the monastery, to the great joy of the inhabitants of St.
Andre. For them the purchase was a real benefit, since, before there was only a
courtyard and now the pupils had a garden with a playground. The farm was
intended to help with the support of the convent. Since the building on the
Fuchsenhube, which Mother Franziska named “Joseph’s Rest”, was in bad
condition, she later, in 1893, had a new farm building erected. She always had a
special joy with this property and every time she came to St. Andre she asked
penetratingly about the progress on the farm and made a tour of the barns and

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fields. In this area she also had knowledge and experience and was able to give
practical orders. During such tours of the Congregation’s farms she never
missed giving a friendly word to the hired workers, encouraging them, praising
them for good work and giving them a small financial gift. Such kindness was
not without results, and if she here and there had to say a word of reprimand, it
was usually well accepted, since the employees were convinced of her maternal
kindness.

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 CHAPTER XI

The Purchase of a New Mother House, Foundation in Szt. Ivan.

For a long time Mother Franziska had been thinking of obtaining

for the Congregation a new Mother House which would really be suited to its
needs and which could again house the novitiate within itself as the nature of
things required. If space was gained by the purchase of the Heart of Mary
Convent, it also made its lack at the Marienanstalt all the more noticeable
especially during retreats and Clothing celebrations. Therefore, Mother
Franziska had already exerted great effort during 1888 to buy what she
considered a suitable building site near the Botanical Gardens from the
Commune of Vienna, but according to the ways of the Lord this was not to be
the site of the planned Mother House. Let us listen to Mother Franziska’s words
in a circular to her spiritual daughters, how the Congregation unexpectedly
came into possession of one:

“To my Spiritual Daughters!

Wonderful are the designs of Divine Providence and

inscrutable are the ways of the Lord. For more than twelve years we
were wishing and hoping to enlarge the Mother House through
purchase of the neighboring garden. God alone knows how many
prayers were said, how many Holy Masses were celebrated and
offered for this intention. You, dear Sisters, know that we, as we saw
that our hopes in this regard were in vain, were dealing with the
Vienna municipality concerning a building site near the Botanical
Gardens and did everything to come into possession of this site in
order to build a Mother House there which was suited to the needs
of our beloved Congregation. During these dealings a man came and
offered us, under the best conditions imaginable for sale, a house
which is even more beautifully situated than the planned building
site. This house is bordered on the north and west side by the

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 Botanical Garden, cannot be obstructed by other buildings on three
sides and is so high that one can see distinctly all of Vienna, even the
suburbs surrounding it for a distance of two hours. The house has 32
rooms, hot-air heating, water and gas piping, an elevator from the
cellar to the attic, etc. and was built only four years ago. We can
move in without making one stroke of paint. One hundred sixty
square ‘Klafter’ land from the Botanical Gardens were given Mr.
Kerstan as an option for purchase by the Court Office for enlarging
his garden, and this piece will surely be given us by our good
Emperor. The house is in Jacquingasse nr. 4. The sale took place on
the Feast of the Mother of Mercies (September 24) and we will
probably be able to move in as soon as our Foundation Feast
(November 21).

What do you say, my dears, to this new Mother House?

Don’t you recognize here the actions of Divine Providence? God tests
our patience and perseverance in prayer, but you see that these
were not useless. The All-Good gave us something much better for
this. We must take this lesson to heart. God wanted us to receive
such a fitting Mother House after twenty years of our existence. The
year 1888 was in every way meaningful. God sent us much bitterness
in this year, but much good has also come about in the
Congregation.”

Then Mother Franziska recounted the already mentioned

enlarging of the foundations in Troppau, Krakow, Prague, Dolnja-Tuzla and St.
Andre and closed with the words:

“I have many worries about whether we can meet all the

obligations we have incurred with the purchase of the new Mother
House. Pray with great trust to our holy father, Joseph that he may
send benefactors to us. The convent will bear the name “Mater ter

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 Admirabilis” (Mother three-times admirable) and will be placed
under the special protection of this good Mother; She will not
abandon us.

Pray also that the Lord may send workers into His vineyard.
We have far too few candidates.

Now I commend you to the protection of the Holy Angels

and am, in faithful love, concerned about your spiritual and physical
well—being.
your,
Franziska Lechner.
Mother House, on the Feast of the Holy Archangel Michael, 1888.”

From this letter we see how happy Mother Franziska was about
obtaining the new Mother House, but her beautiful words also show how she
related every event to God in order to heighten the joy of her spiritual
daughters with this reference to the goodness and providence of the Lord. On
October 31 the ownership of the Kerstan house was transferred to the
Congregation and some sisters immediately moved in. On November 2 Mother
Franziska took leave of the Marienanstalt in order to move with some
additional sisters to the new Mother House. With emotion and gratitude to
God she left the house which was so dear to her and had been the cradle of the
Congregation and within which she had lived so many years alternating in joy
and trouble. As once with the entrance into the Marienanstalt, so now her dear
possessions, a crucifix, a statue of Mary and one of Joseph, accompanied her as
she took possession of the new Mother House. She herself carried the cross,
while two other sisters carried the statues of the Mother of God and of the holy
Foster Father of Jesus in their arms. These were the actual statues which she
had purchased twenty years before. Contrary to her own expectations Mother
Franziska felt herself immediately at home in the new Mother House. Even
today the sisters themselves like to tell of these early times. Mother Franziska
helped with the unpacking, gave instructions about arranging things, lent a

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helping hand, cooked for the sisters while these were busy in the house or
collecting alms, and when the sisters returned from their trips, sat with them,
asked them how things went, recounted various things, in short, she lead a life
with her little family as only a faithful, caring and loving mother can. One of her
first concerns was to furnish a chapel in the new Mother House. Mr. Kerstner’s
artists’ studio which stood attached to the house on the site where now stands
the novitiate building, provided a suitable space for this. To the joy of Mother
Franziska, this chapel was blessed by Msgr. Dr. Anton Horny on November 21,
the Feast of the Presentation of Mary and Founding Day of the Congregation.
He then immediately celebrated the first Holy Mass and reserved the Blessed
Sacrament. Then followed the Clothing of three postulants and the blessing of
the house.

In this month the Congregation, through the graciousness of the

Holy Father, received a new Cardinal Protector. In a letter dated November 26,
1888, His Eminence the Secretary of State, Cardinal Rampolla, informed Mother
Franziska that His Holiness had, at her request, entrusted this office to Cardinal
Serafino Vannutelli (earlier the Apostolic Nuntio to Vienna). Mother Franziska
was overjoyed at this and soon shared the news with her spiritual daughters.
On January 24, 1889 she received a very beautiful and fatherly letter from the
newly-appointed Cardinal Protector. Soon the new Mother House would enjoy
a visit from this honored guest. In March, 1889, Cardinal Vannutelli was sent by
the Holy Father on business to Salzburg. When Mother Franziska heard of this
she sent her General Assistant, Sister Ignatia Egger with Sister Helene Bonard
there on March 30 to greet His Eminence in her name and to ask him to visit on
an eventual trip to Vienna. The Cardinal cordially received the sisters and
agreed to their request. On April 10 he came to Vienna and on the 12th he
celebrated Mass in the Marienanstalt. He promised Mother Franziska to do all
that was possible for the Congregation. Mother Franziska was all the more
overjoyed to hear this promise because in a request dated March 7, 1889, she
had asked from His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII the second Roman approbation, the
actual recognition of her Congregation and its Constitutions, and therefore
asked Cardinal Vannutelli to once more place this request at the feet of the

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Holy Father. It was a great desire of Mother Franziska to receive this second
approbation, and before sending the request she once again paid a visit to all
the Bishops under whose jurisdictions her institutes were operating, to receive
from them letters of recommendation. On April 24, the Cardinal Protector
celebrated Mass in the Mother House chapel and immediately thereafter
viewed the house, guided by Mother Franziska. The house pleased his
Eminence extraordinarily well. This exalted visit was a great joy and
encouragement for Mother Franziska and the sisters.

Now an event that happened in between must be brought to the

fore. Soon after the blessing of the new Mother House, Mother Franziska had
to take a trip to Budapest on December 3, 1888 on a matter regarding
construction. Not many peaceful days, like those first ones in the Mother
House, were granted to her. The Marian Institute in Budapest, which Mother
Franziska had to enlarge as early as the year 1886 through the purchase of a
neighboring house on Knezit Street, had long ago become once again too small.
Therefore she decided to enlarge it with the addition of a side wing and a
chapel tract. This was begun in February, 1889. In April of the same year
Mother Franziska had the additional house purchased in 1886 demolished and
replaced with a three story building which would be called the “Margaretinum”
and would house the pupils of the Institute. These buildings were possible only
with the help of noble benefactors and through the inheritance left from the
estate of Mr. Konstantin Rokk in the amount of 17,200 florins. The blessing of
the same took place on December 7 in the presence of Mother Franziska and
countless guests.

The terrible blow suffered by the Imperial Family, and with them
all Austria through the unexpected death on January 30, 1889 of His Royal
Highness Crown Prince Rudolf, was also a deep sorrow for Mother Franziska,
more so in view of His Majesty being the greatest benefactor of the
Congregation, of Her Majesty, the Empress as the exalted protectress of the
same, and of the exalted Crown Princess, Archduchess Stephanie, the
protectress of the Marian Institute in Prague. Mother Franziska prayed much

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and ordered prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased and. for strength for
the severely tried Imperial Family. On February 3, she went to the Supreme
Office of the Court and asked if she and the sisters couldn’t alternate spending
holy hours by the body. Although on this day only the most exalted persons
were allowed admittance, her request was granted, giving her great
consolation.

Not long after, another suffering touched Mother Franziska,

whose grateful soul was always very touched at the death of her benefactors.
On May 17, 1889 died the noble and much-tested Queen Mother Marie of
Bavaria, who had also been so kind to her and took such a gracious interest in
the growth of her Congregation. On May 31 Mother Franziska appeared before
the exalted Archduchess Adelgunde in order to respectfully express her
sympathy on the death of the Queen Mother. When she was announced to the
exalted Lady, her brother, who was at the time in Vienna, His Royal Highness,
the Prince Regent Luitpold of Bavaria, was also present. Mother Franziska was
immediately admitted. The exalted personages graciously accepted her
sympathy and spoke with her in the most familiar and kindly way. His Majesty
was pleased at the mention that many Bavarians were members of the
Congregation and was overjoyed at Mother Franziska’s promise that she and all
the sisters would pray in a special way for him and for the deceased Queen
Mother. The Exalted Archduchess Adelgunde soon returned Mother Franziska’s
visit by unexpectedly coming to the Mother House on June 10, Pentecost
Monday, just as the sisters were assembled on the veranda for supper. The
exalted Lady felt that she had to bid Mother Franziska adieu before her
departure for her summer residence, and conversed with her in the most kindly
way. In fact, her Royal Highness often deigned to grant Mother Franziska the
honor of a visit.

For a long time now Mother Franziska had been preoccupied

with a plan for building a Novitiate house next to the Mother House, and
especially, to build a church, which she intended to meet an urgent need of this
neighborhood because of the great distance of other churches. The space next

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to the Mother House with its artist studio-turned chapel was, however, too
small to allow this plan to be carried out. Therefore, her fervent wish, which
she had already expressed in the previously mentioned circular of the Feast of
St. Michael, 1888, was to receive a piece of the Botanical Gardens as a building
site through the graciousness of the Emperor. In case this wish should be
fulfilled, she had the intention to build a church in honor of the Sacred Heart of
Jesus and Mother Most Admirable in gratitude for the favor of His Majesty and
as a lasting memorial of the coming marriage of her Royal Highness the
Archduchess Maria Valeria with the Archduke Franz Salvator. In His wise
providence God saw to the fulfillment of these wishes. How this happened will
be shown in the following letter in which Mother Franziska gives her spiritual
daughters the joyful news:

“To My Dear Spiritual Daughters,

Good children are always happy when their Mother

receives a pleasant surprise, and all the more must you rejoice
when the entire Congregation receives special graces! Five weeks
ago we made the decision to turn with our request for a gift of
the piece of the Botanical Garden that borders on the Mother
House to the exalted Bride, the Archduchess Valeria so that she
could ask this of our much loved Emperor. In the request, which
was warmly supported by our good Cardinal (She means the Rev.
Dr. Ganglbauer of Vienna) we stated that we are asking to
receive this building site because a church is urgently needed for
our Mother House as well as for people in the surrounding
streets. This church is to be dedicated to the Most Sacred Heart
of Jesus and Our Mother Most Admirable and the cornerstone of
the building will be laid on the day before the wedding of the
exalted Bride and that, upon its completion, special daily prayers
will be offered at Holy - Mass for the exalted Imperial Family. The
exalted couple was so overjoyed with this request of ours that
the good Archduchess went straight to her Imperial Father and

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asked His Highness to grant the request immediately. We had a
plan made so that the exalted lady could see how the church and
the connected convent eventually would look. The good
Archduchess succeeded so that our beloved Emperor
immediately gave the order that as much of the Botanical
Gardens as we need would be transferred to us by the Court
Steward’s Office. Yesterday the Secretary of the Court was here
and we will receive a gift of 900 square meters-besides the
church there will still remain a nice garden. You will understand
what an act of extraordinary graciousness this is on the part of
His Majesty. May you, dear sisters, see this as a happy and
extraordinary event for our Congregation. The Mother House will
be enlarged and the church will be attached to the novitiate
building. I am so happy that God has made us worthy to build a
church in His honor and I hoped also that, according to God’s
will, the Mother House will soon be brought to its completion.
God is infinitely good to us! All these signs of grace oblige us to
show our gratitude to God by faithfully keeping our Holy Rule.
Pray that you may always recognize your election to the religious
life as one of the greatest graces. Only then will you constantly
live and work as good religious women.

May the Precious Blood of Jesus which is to be specially

honored this month not have been poured out in vain for any one
so that someday we will all see one another again in Heaven!
God bless all!
Your,
faithful mother,
Franziska Lechner.
Mother House, July 11, 1889”

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 From now on the lively spirit of Mother Franziska was often occupied
with the building of the church and this was also the favorite topic of
conversation. Before it could be started, however, she took over a new
foundation. The Archabbot of Martinsberg, Claudius Vaszary now Cardinal and
Primate of Hungary, asked Mother Franziska to send sisters of the Congregation
to direct the school which he had built in Szt. Ivan near Raab in Hungary on the
occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Emperor’s reign and which was given a
capital grant by Canon Vitus Molnar. This last named, also joined in the plea of
the Archabbot. On August 21, 1889 Mother Franziska therefore traveled to Szt.
Ivan and found the house to be very nice and suitably built, and the school and
kindergarten well equipped with useful learning materials. From there she
traveled to Martinsberg to thank the Archabbot for his trust and was received
in a very friendly manner. On September 25 six sisters moved into the house,
and Mother Franziska also traveled again to Szt. Ivan to arrange the house with
them and to be present for the blessing set for the 29th. This last was solemnly
celebrated by the Archabbot and Mother Franziska had opportunity on that day
to be convinced that the people of Szt. Ivan were very happy to have sisters in
their town.

On November 4, 1889 Mother Franziska expressed to the Emperor the humble

gratitude of herself and the entire Congregation for the extraordinary
graciousness signified by the gift of the church building site and His Majesty
showed himself most gracious toward her. With the same kindness she was
received on January 9, 1890 by the exalted Archduchess Valeria to whom she
respectfully expressed her thanks for the intercession with His Majesty. On
February 19 Mother Franziska gave Archduchess Immakulata, for herself and
her son, Archduke Franz Salvator, a picture of the future church and the
connected convent, and on the next day she went for the same reason to the
Archduchess Adelgunde. Their royal highnesses took the sketches kindly and
deigned to express pleasure at the beautiful work planned.

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 CHAPTER XII

Construction and Dedication of the Church, Approval by Rome

At the close of the year 1889 Mother Franziska wrote in

the Congregation Chronicle,

“The entire Congregation will again be placed under the

protection of the Holy Family for the year 1890. May it be a year
of blessing for the Congregation! Since our new Mother House
was bought on the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy, I hold the secure
hope that the Lord will deem us worthy to be permitted to build
a church and a house in the year 1890 for His honor and out of
devotion to Mary. 0h Mother Most Admirable, pray for us! 0h
Mary, hope of those without hope, pray for us for blessings for
1890!”

Mother Franziska’s confidently expressed hope was not put to

shame. In the spring of 1890 they were able to begin with the preparations for
building. This was carried out by the court building master Josef Schmalzhofer
according to the plans of the architect Richard Jordan. April 22, the birthday of
her highness Archduchess Maria Valeria was foreseen as the day for the laying
of the cornerstone. Mother Franziska was at the peak of happiness over
everything. She herself gave instructions for the preparations for the
celebration and was herself totally occupied with them in the last few days. On
April 11 she wrote a circular to her spiritual daughters in which she included the
invitation printed for that day,

“You can see from the enclosed card what a most

important day April 22 will be for our Congregation. The
celebration will be grand, attended by very important people.
Also you, my good children, should celebrate this day with us,
wherever possible, by all receiving Holy Communion and offering

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 Holy Mass for the intention that the building may proceed under
God’s protection and support. Also our Royal Family must
certainly not be forgotten in these prayers!”

So the entire Congregation was united with their spiritual

mother on this day in prayer for good fortune and blessing on the beautiful
work. Mother Franziska granted the General Assistants and the eldest superiors
the joy of being personally present at the celebration.

The entire building site was decorated with flags, garlands and
coats of arms of the various royal territories of Austria. The place where the
church was to be, however, was covered with a huge tent. At the place of the
future high altar was a temporary altar with the picture of Our Mother Most
Admirable. In the background was a portrait of the Holy Father and right and
left of the altar were busts of their Majesties and pictures of the bridal couple,
Archduchess Maria Valeria and Archduke Franz Salvator. The blessing and
laying of the cornerstone was done by the Apostolic Nuntio, His Excellency Luigi
Galimberti, after which the cathedral preacher, Franz Binder gave a touching
talk followed by Holy Mass celebrated by the castle Pastor, Dr. Laurenz Mayer
with the assistance of countless other clergy. During this the music of the
Infantry Regiment High and German Master Nr. 4 played the liturgical hymn:
“Here Before Your Majesty”. His Royal Highness, Archduke Franz Salvator, the
Archduchesses Karoline, Immakulata and Adelgunde, the Countess Goess, as
representative of Her Majesty, the Empress, Count Kielmannsegg and many
other honorable guests were present at the memorable celebration. It can be
imagined what Mother Franziska’s heart felt; She spoke often of this beautiful
day with a fervent joy. On April 23 she received a telegram from Her Excellency
Countess Kornis, on orders of the Archduchess Maria Valeria, at the time
staying in Wiesbaden, which was a response to the birthday wishes and read,
“Her Imperial Majesty thanks most graciously for the best wishes and
participated yesterday most fervently in spirit in your beautiful celebration”.

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 With God’s help the construction of the church as well as the
novitiate building advanced steadily. Mother Franziska established a founder-
fund collection for this which was visibly blessed by God. She was often at the
building site to supervise, and she took a special pleasure in taking the sisters
there during recreation to see the progress. She also would not deny herself
taking sisters from mission houses or visitors there personally, to climb the
scaffolds with them, and to explain everything. On such occasions she always
pointed out to her spiritual daughters the goodness of God which made the
building possible, as well as the great good such a house of God, open to the
public, would bring, thereby encouraging them to gratitude toward the Lord.
Mother Franziska had also decided to establish in the novitiate building a
kindergarten and a Sunday school for the continuing education of girls who
were already out of school, and had the appropriate rooms prepared for these.
Through this she created two really beneficial programs for the people, mostly
poor, living in the neighborhood. These opened on September 1, 1891 and
were well filled. In building the novitiate building she provided enough room to
permit the retreats for the members of the Congregation, which previously,
because of lack of space in the Marienanstalt had to be held in the Refuge in
Breitenfurt, to take place in the Mother House.

Soon after the laying of the cornerstone of the church, Mother

Franziska went on a visitation trip to Bosnia. During her stay in Sarajevo,
Archbishop Stadler tried to persuade her to travel to Cattaro in Dalmatia since
the Bishop Triphon Radonicic there eagerly desired to receive sisters of the
Congregation for that city.

The last named had stayed with the Sisters in the St. Joseph
Institute in Sarajevo the year before when he had gone there for the
consecration of the Cathedral, and had already expressed this wish then. Since
Mother Franziska had promised to go once to Cattaro to get to know the
situation there, she did not waste the chance to fulfill the wish of the
Archbishop and traveled there on May 6 in the company of two sisters. During
the voyage on the Adriatic Sea the travelers had to endure a violent storm and

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therefore suffered a severe degree of seasickness. On both the trip there and
return Mother Franziska was received in the most friendly and reverent way
since Archbishop Stadler and Bishop Radonicic had sent telegraphed notice to
various places of her coming, so that Mother Franziska was completely
embarrassed by such esteem and honor. In Cattaro itself, the Cathedral Chapter
as well as a delegation of gentlemen and ladies had gathered to welcome her.
The Bishop did everything he could to make her stay and that of the sisters
pleasant. She was overwhelmed from all sides with requests to send sisters to
Cattaro. The only building that Mother Franziska found suitable for a convent
and school was a closed monastery called “Mary of the Angels” and which,
along with the church, served as a storage depot for the militia. Mother
Franziska immediately had plans drawn up for these since she intended to take
steps at the Ministry of Defense in Vienna to obtain this building and the church
for her purposes. Unfortunately, this foundation did not come about although it
remained a constant desire of Mother Franziska and there was a constant
stream of requests from Cattaro in this regard. Various difficulties made the
project impossible.

At the end of the report for the year 1890 in the Congregation
Chronicle we again have some words in her own hand added by Mother
Franziska. They read,

“The year 1890 was in every respect a richly blessed one for the
Congregation, only we were visited with much illness. God be
praised for all! May the Lord grant through the intercession of
Mary and our holy father Joseph the grace to have the church
consecrated in 1891 and that we may be able to pay off the
debts caused by the construction. In the year 1891, the
Congregation is also dedicated to the Holy Family”

God once again gave His blessing to these added wishes as we will see in our
continuing report.

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 On January 10, 1891 a very, very great honor and joy came to
Mother Franziska and the sisters of the Mother House, as the Archduchess
Maria Valeria paid them a visit for the first time. After the formal welcome, her
Imperial Highness spent an extended time with Mother Franziska in her room
and signed her name in the guest book there. Thereafter, conducted to the
chapel, which was a room outfitted for this purpose during the construction,
the royal lady knelt some time in prayer and from there visited the choir to be
reserved for the sisters in the already roofed-over church, expressing the
greatest satisfaction with it. Then Her Imperial Highness went to the professed
sisters and thereafter to the novices who had been living in the Mother House
since their clothing in August 1890, and then, after an almost three-quarter of
an hour stay, left the house promising Mother Franziska that if at all possible
she wanted to attend the dedication of the church.

In February Mother Franziska requested that His Imperial

Majesty donate the main altar for the church. His Highness immediately
designated the necessary 3000 florins for this. She also, with the sisters, made
great efforts to find donors for the altars and the colored windows and did not
spare herself any trips for this purpose, all of which was blessed by God.
Mother Franziska made very meaningful choices for the altar paintings and
designs in the windows. For the high altar she chose the picture of Mother
Most Admirable, for each of the side altars, St. Joseph and St. Anne, for the two
in the little chapels at the rear, the Crowning of Jesus with thorns and a moving
depiction of the Poor Souls, to whom the merits of the sufferings of Jesus are
applied by angels at the intercession of Mary. In the three large windows by the
high altar Mother Franziska had placed pictures of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Patrons of Austria and Hungary, St. Leopold and St. Stephen. The
smaller windows portrayed the name saints of both their Majesties, St. Francis
of Assisi and St. Elizabeth and patron saints of the Congregation or those for
whom there was special devotion. An outstanding ornament of the church is
the large votive window in the right wall of the nave, the marriage of the
Archduchess Maria Valeria with His Imperial Majesty Archduke Franz Salvator
surmounted by the picture of Mother Most Admirable, also much venerated by

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the Imperial Family, and on the other side, the Congregation window which in
the central part shows the Holy Father as he hands the Decree of Approbation
to the foundress kneeling before him. In her humility, however, she permitted
herself to be portrayed only with her face turned totally toward the Holy Father
so that hardly any of it was visible. For the wall paintings in the sanctuary, to be
done later, Mother Franziska chose the Presentation and Annunciation of Mary.

On April 22, 1891, that is exactly one year after the

groundbreaking, the church was to be set aside for its holy purpose by a solemn
consecration. Mother Franziska was again completely occupied by the
preparations and invitations for this celebration. Her most heartfelt wish was
that His Majesty and the Archduchesses present in Vienna would deign to
honor the celebration with their presence. To her greatest joy and that of all
the sisters, on April 18 came a letter from the Adjutant General Count Paar with
the news that His Majesty would come for the High Mass.

April 22, was a beautiful, sunny day conducive to joyous hearts.

The consecration was carried out with the assistance of countless others by the
Apostolic Nuntio Luigi Galimberti as delegate of the Archbishop Anton Gruscha
who was prevented by a trip to Rome. About 10:30 this was completed and
soon the arrival of the noble personages began. There arrived: Their Royal
Highnesses, Archduke Wilhelm, Archduchess Maria Theresia with their
daughters, the Archduchesses Margareta, Maria, Annunziata and Elisabeth,
Archduchess Immakulata with her daughters the Archduchesses Karoline and
Maria Annunziata, Archduchess Adelgunde von Modena and Duchess Maria
Theresia von Wurttemberg, besides chief Lady in Waiting, Countess Goess and
many other noble persons. Unfortunately the Archduchess Maria Valeria was
unable to attend. At exactly 11:00 His Majesty the Emperor drove up with a
large suite amid the ringing of bells, the singing of the National Anthem and the
shouts of greeting from the crowds assembled at the door of the church, where
His Majesty was most respectfully greeted by Mother Franziska. His Majesty
also spoke graciously with her, praised the beautiful church and convent
buildings, and expressed his pleasure at the many pupils (from the

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Marienanstalt and Heart of Mary Convent), who were lined up wearing black
and gold and white and blue sashes. Then His Majesty was conducted by
Mother Franziska into the church where in the sanctuary he participated with
edifying devotion in the High Mass celebrated by the auxiliary Bishop, Dr.
Eduard Angerer. After the Mass Mother Franziska asked His Majesty if he
wanted to see the convent to which he agreed with the words, “Oh yes, gladly,
show me everything!” Mother Franziska lead His Majesty through the various
rooms as he often expressed praise for everything and asked about the Vienna
Marienanstalt, whereupon Mother Franziska responded that the rooms there
which formerly housed the sisters now contained 75 home economics students.
In the chapter room the Archduchesses were awaiting His Majesty, in the
community room he deigned to express his joy at the presence of so many
sisters and to speak with many of them. His Majesty also entered his name in
the guest book. Repeatedly Mother Franziska thanked the monarch for his
sacrifice in assisting at the celebration whereupon His Majesty graciously
responded, “It was no sacrifice for me, but rather a great joy to take part in the
celebration!” At the farewell at the door of the convent His Majesty once again
expressed His joy and gave assurance of his good pleasure also for the future.
After the departure of the monarch Mother Franziska conducted the
Archduchesses through the church. Their Royal Highnesses also voiced great
praise for the building and gave special admiration for the artistic success of the
votive window. The evening of this day, unforgettable for the entire life of
Mother Franziska, closed with a sermon, solemn benediction and Te Deum with
a large number of people from the neighborhood in attendance.

The church remained the greatest joy of Mother Franziska and

she never tired of thanking god for the grace that He honored her by allowing
her to build it. Again and again she encouraged her spiritual daughters to give
this same thanks also. It was her main concern to acquire worthy vestments
and vessels for the liturgy and that everything would be done to celebrate this
in the most worthy manner. The lively use of the church and the devotion of
the visitors to Mother Most Admirable were for her the most beautiful reward
for all the care and effort that the construction had brought with itself.

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 On April 24 and 25, Mother Franziska visited the members of the
nobility to thank them for their attendance at the consecration. On the 27th
she had an audience with His Majesty for the same purpose. He immediately
addressed her with the gracious words, “Oh, you are coming to thank? That
would not have been necessary, I came very willingly. I must thank you for
doing so much good. I am happy that I have seen your church for myself and
now I know how necessary it is.. Do many people come?” The affirmative reply
of Mother Franziska made His Majesty very happy as was she over the lively
interest the monarch had for the church.

On July 31, 1891, the first anniversary of the marriage of Her

Imperial Highness, Archduchess Maria Valeria, Mother Franziska had a solemn
high Mass celebrated in thanksgiving for the joyful event, as, by her orders, has
been done annually ever since. To encourage the visitors to the church in
devotion to our Mother Most Admirable, Mother Franziska arranged for a
Triduum with daily sermon and benediction of the Blessed Sacrament before
the Feast of Our Lady of Snows in the year 1891, and the Feast itself was
celebrated in the most solemn manner. To her great joy the faithful zealously
participated and many received the Sacraments. Mother Franziska requested
from the holy See the grace of extending the plenary indulgence which the
members of the Congregation already enjoyed on the feast of Our Lady of
Snows, to all the faithful who would receive the Sacraments in that church on
that day. The Triduum and the titular feast are also, as Mother Franziska
ordered, solemnly celebrated annually and it is certain that much blessing for
the salvation of souls has already come from this.

August 6, 1891 was a day of the greatest joy for Mother

Franziska and brought her rich recompense for all her efforts thus far on behalf
of the Congregation. She received the Decree of Approval, dated July 22, of the
Congregation and of trial approval of the Constitutions for five years..
Concerning the short probationary period it was stated in the decree itself that
this was a special and unique favor of His Holiness. She immediately had the

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Latin Decree translated and shared its contents with the sisters, resulting in
tears of emotion and joy. Mother Franziska could not praise sufficiently for her
spiritual daughters the mercies of God and the graciousness of the Holy Father,
nor could she stop encouraging them to be grateful, as she repeated again and
again that it was an unheard of and completely undeserved favor that such a
young Congregation would be able to request the third approbation, the
definitive approval of the Congregation after only five short years. After reading
the Decree she went with the sisters to the church to pray with them the Te
Deum and the Litany of the Holy Heart of Mary in thanksgiving. She also, with
the approval of the sisters, named St. Mary Magdalene, on whose feast the
Decree was issued as protectress of the Congregation. The grateful sentiments
of Mother Franziska are so clearly to be seen in the circular in which she gave
the branch houses the news of the great favor immediately after receiving the
Decree. She writes:
“Praise, my dear children, the mercies of the Divine Heart of
Jesus and His holy Mother for the Lord has done great things for
us!
On the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ we received from
Rome both briefs in which our congregation is confirmed and the
Constitutions are approved. On June 26, the Holy Rule was
presented to the Holy Father and on the Feast of St. Mary
Magdalene both briefs were confirmed by His Holiness. Truly the
year 1891 contains great anniversaries for the history of the
Congregation! The consecration of the church, the visit of His
Majesty, our much loved Emperor. What an honor, grace and
favor from His Majesty! And now the confirmation from the Holy
See! It is not for nothing that it says in the one brief: ‘As a special
favor His Holiness has granted the confirmation, etc.’ Our good
God worked another miracle of grace, certainly through the
intercession of our Mother Most Admirable, that we could build
the church and convent in one year and that God has let us find
so many benefactors for the same.

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 My dear spiritual daughters! Let us thank the Lord with
our whole hearts for these great undeserved favors! In spite of
the many infidelities and lukewarmness in His holy service, His
infinite goodness has overwhelmed us with favors and blessings.
How do we want to behave toward our loving Father in the
future?”

Then Mother Franziska challenged her spiritual daughters with eloquent words
to compunction for past failures, to firm resolutions for the future, to faithful
observance of the Holy Rule and to great appreciation for their holy vocation. In
this way she used every favor and honor received as an occasion to inspire her
daughters for good. Mother Franziska’s most heartfelt and often expressed
wish was, if it were the will of God, to be able to strive for and receive the
definitive approbation of the Constitutions. Then, she felt, she would gladly die,
because she would know that her work was secure. In the adorable designs of
God it was decided otherwise. She was not to live to see this, but the work of
the definitive approval, granted on August 18, 1897, was reserved to her
successor. Her spiritual daughters, however, credited the quick and happy
achievement of this goal to the intercession of Mother Franziska, because they
rightly believed that this work that was so close to her heart in life, would be
remembered by her also in eternity.

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 CHAPTER XIII

Foundations in Kis-Czell, Nagy-Levard (Grossschitzen)

and in IX. District of Vienna. Eye Operation.

In September of the richly-blessed year, 1891, Mother Franziska

undertook a new foundation in Kis-Czell (now called “Czell-Domolk” because of
the merger of Domolk with Kis-Czell). In the Diocese of Steinanuger, in Hungary.
The Abbot of the Benedictine monastery there, the Reverend Justinian Hollosy,
had, with the savings of many years, erected a school building, and since he had
witnessed the richly-blessed work of the sisters in Szt. Ivan, had asked Mother
Franziska to send Daughters of Divine Charity for his foundation also. On
September 2, the house was blessed by the Auxiliary Bishop Konigmayer.
Mother Franziska had traveled to Kis-Czell for the celebration and the sisters
began their activities in the school, commercial school and kindergarten.

At the beginning of this month Mother Franziska made a sad

discovery-that she could see only poorly with the right eye and that soon the
vision in the left eye also gradually weakened. During a journey to St. Andra at
the end of September, the situation worsened so much that she had to submit
to a medical examination immediately upon her return to Vienna. Two doctors
concurred in the diagnosis of gray cataract in the right eye, which was not yet
ready to be operated however. The news of this suffering of the beloved
spiritual mother caused the greatest consternation in the entire Congregation.
She herself was calm however, and peacefully accepted this cross given her by
the Lord. She had lately also much to suffer with her teeth. Two doctors who
were consulted established that she had an inflammation in her head caused by
overwork and said that if she did not take a complete rest for a few weeks a
total nervous collapse was to be feared. This increased the sisters worry. At
their encouragement and on the advice of important people, Mother Franziska
decided to go to Father Kneipp in Worishofen to take a cure for her eye
affliction. Apart from an operation, there was not much hope for the right eye,
but it was feared that the cataract would form also in the left eye. On October

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19, 1891 she traveled to Worishofen in the company of Sister Innozentia Feger.
This Sister, with Sister Josefa Kock had already spent some time there at
Mother Franziska’s request, in the summer of 1890 to learn the water cure in
order to be able to administer it to the sick in Breitenfurt. Mother Franziska
placed great value on this cure and had the “Kneipp” equipment for the water
applications installed in the Refuge in Breitenfurt. The cure prescribed by Pastor
Kneipp really did save the left eye in which the growth of the cataract was
impeded and the vision slowly strengthened. Mother Franziska, of course,
remained only two weeks in Worishofen since she could not stand a long
separation from her beloved Congregation, but she continued the prescribed
treatments at home. On their return Sister Helene Bonard awaited Mother
Franziska and Sister Innozentia in Munich and all three visited Our Blessed Lady
in Altotting, so revered by Mother Franziska, and to whom she had fervently
commended the entire Congregation. She wanted to make the so-called
penitents’ way, that is, to circle the little chapel on her knees carrying one of
the wooden crosses found there for this purpose. Considering Mother
Franziska’s poor condition, her companions did not permit this, but it was not
an easy task to stop her. On November 6, Mother Franziska returned to Vienna.
She did not allow herself much rest, for on the 15th of the month began the
retreat which was attended by many sisters from the branch houses, and
during which she held, as usual, her “readings” for which, as was stated before,
she made very little use of a book, was available for individual talks with the
sisters and so on. Then, as soon as January,1892, the round of visitation trips
began again. Her spiritual daughters had the hardest time getting her to spare
herself in the smallest way, because she was too accustomed to constant
activity to be able to give it up for a longer time. During a visit to the Krakow
foundation in June of 1892 she found the house overflowing with students and
realized that a second story or the purchase of a larger building would have
been necessary. She therefore visited several houses, without finding anything
suitable. The enlargement of this foundation remained a constant concern for
her, but in spite of the effort of years, she was unable to remedy the situation
except by renting space in a nearby building, and only six years after Mother
Franziska’s death could an appropriate building be built.

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 On June 23, 1892 Mother Franziska went to Nagy-Levard, in
German Grolssschutzen, to visit a girls’ school erected by Duchess Adalberta
Kollnitz with her Son-in-Law, Duke Wenkheim at the wish of her daughter of
blessed memory, Hubertine, (the deceased Duchess Wenkheim), since these
persons had asked her to send sisters to conduct it. The ducal family received
her with extraordinary kindness and Mother Franziska found the building
beautiful and practical. The blessing of the “Hubertinum”, at which she was
present, took place as early as September 25, 1892 and the sisters began their
work immediately afterward. After visiting the school building in Nagy-Levard,
Mother Franziska went directly to Brunn. As the Marian Institute there was
soon expecting a visit from His Majesty, the Emperor, she wanted to make
preparations and be present when the exalted guest arrived. This took place on
June 29, at two in the afternoon. The house was festively decorated and at the
entrance, awaiting the Monarch were the Bishop of Brunn, Dr. Franz Salesius
Bauer, Mother Franziska and her niece, Sister Annunciata Vornberger, Superior
of the institute. His Majesty once again went directly to Mother Franziska with
the words, “I am happy to see you here.” After a short address of greeting by
the Bishop, Mother Franziska led His Majesty to the common room of the
pupils, now turned into a festal hall, where the children respectfully greeted
the Monarch with the National Anthem and a speech. He was overjoyed with
the festive reception and graciously conversed with the sisters and the pupils.
His Majesty also spoke of the Church at the Mother House, mentioning that the
people were very happy to visit it, and asked about the various institutes of the
congregation in a way that displayed the lively interest the Monarch always had
for its activities. Upon hearing of the enlargement of the house in Troppau, His
Highness laughingly remarked to Mother Franziska, “You keep on building, I
don’t at all know where you get the money”. To this she responded that it was
sometimes very difficult but that God had always helped. Led to the chapel, His
Majesty spent some time in prayer while the pupils sang a hymn, which pleased
him very much. The prayer that was recited daily in the Mother House for His
Majesty and the Imperial Family had been set to music, and was performed for
His Majesty on this occasion by the children. With the guidance of Mother
Franziska, the Monarch visited the entire house and deigned to express high

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praise for all that had been done. At his departure, he graciously said, “I thank
you for the joy you have given me. The Congregation is richly blessed in its
activities and is continually growing and improving. I was very happy to come to
you because I follow your activities with great interest.” Mother Franziska
thanked again for this exalted praise and graciousness and said that the
Congregation would constantly strive to be worthy of it. The Monarch left amid
an unending clamor of good wishes. Mother Franziska was very moved by his
goodness.
On August 24, 1892 she had the building of the addition to Heart of Mary
Convent in Vienna begin in order to relieve the noticeable lack of space there.
She would have been happy to begin this earlier if the money hadn’t been
lacking, but now, too, God helped in such a wonderful way, that Mother
Franziska even had a part of the sum at hand before the construction began.

Soon thereafter the Congregation obtained another foundation

in Vienna. The Rev. Cathedral Dean and Prelate, Leopold Stoger, had erected a
kindergarten and commercial school in District IX, Pramergasse 9, but left the
main tract to Msgr. Adam Latschka, later Pastor of Wien-Ottakring, for a
working girls’ shelter. Both men asked Mother Franziska for sisters to direct this
and received an affirmative response. The blessing of the shelter took place on
October 2, 1892 and the dedication of the convent chapel and the kindergarten
on December 3. In this house Mother Franziska also set up a section for servant
girls in search of employment.

Mother Franziska had been to see the doctor several times

during the year, but he had not yet found the cataract to be operable. At the
end of September she went for another examination by Dr. Ernst Fuchs, who
then explained that the time for the operation had come, and set the date for
October 4. Mother Franziska immediately sent the news to all her spiritual
daughters. In this letter she wrote, “I ask you, my dear, good children to pray
hard for me, that God’s most holy will be done in my regard. If God should
allow the operation to fail, I am ready and will submit to His all holy will. You
can be at peace. Care has been taken for all eventualities”. She also asked the

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sisters to lighten the burden that would be carried for the Congregation in the
coming time by the first General Assistant, showing that she was concerned for
others even during her own suffering. During the short time before the
operation she put everything in such good order, that, even in the event of the
above mentioned failure of the operation, there would be no disorder to worry
about, and she did all of this with an amazing peace. She strengthened herself
for the decisive hour by receiving the sacraments and left everything in the
hands of God. Her spiritual daughters, however, and their charges, who
understandably had been very upset at the news of the upcoming operation,
waited in fervent prayer that their beloved mother might retain her vision.
Many persons, priestly and lay, who had heard about the operation from the
sisters, joined themselves to these prayers, since, as we can see from the
letters that arrived, the suffering of Mother Franziska had awakened the
greatest sympathy. The sisters in the Mother House knelt in chapel during the
operation and stormed heaven with communal prayers; The minutes seemed
like hours to them, until, finally, from the operating room came the good news
that the difficult task, thanks to God’s help and the skill of the surgeon, was
successfully completed. The Te Deum was immediately recited in gratitude. The
very same day, all the houses were informed of the happy outcome of the
operation because everywhere they were eagerly waiting for news of the
result. Mother Franziska remained so still during the operation that the Doctor
could not refrain from expressing his satisfaction. The prayer for the dear
Mother was continued everywhere because the danger was not yet passed, but
the difficult days were now still ahead for her. As is necessary after such
operations, Mother Franziska had to remain as still as possible for three days,
and this was no small thing, accustomed as she was to action, and a torturous
headache did its part to make these days even more difficult. Until the third
night she kept herself still with all her might, but then she couldn’t do it any
longer because her nerves had been weakened. Besides this, she had an attack
of coughing which in the resulting shaking of the body, could become very
dangerous for the operated eye. She was already resigned to the fact that the
Doctor, upon removing the bandages, would declare the eye as lost.
Miraculously, however, it suffered no damage, but continued to make good

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progress in healing. Mother Franziska and all the sisters recognized God’s help
and that of Mother Most Admirable in this, and were filled with fervent
gratitude. After fourteen days the bandages could be permanently removed
and exchanged for a pair of dark glasses. What a joy that Mother Franziska
could now return to her room and the sisters could see her at least for only a
few moments, because of the still urgent need for rest! As she had resigned
herself perfectly to God’s will in the case of blindness, so she received her
recuperation with the greatest gratitude to God and was moved to working
with even greater zeal for His glory as well as fervent gratitude toward all those
who had cared for or prayed for her. These sentiments are clearly expressed in
the circular which she had sent to her spiritual daughters on October 25. She
said:

“Feelings of love and gratitude urge me to write these

lines to you, with which I want to tell you of my heartfelt thanks
for the many prayers which you have said for me, especially
during these last days, which were so difficult for me. My fervent
gratitude goes also to all the spiritual fathers, candidates, pupils,
children and other persons who included me in their prayers. The
many prayers united with the loving care of my General
Assistant, the good care of the Sisters of Charity (It was they who
rendered this during the first fourteen days after the operation)
and the extraordinary skill of Professor Dr. Fuchs, who performed
the surgery, have brought me to the condition where I can now
write this, through my Secretary General, to you, my dear
daughters.

With the help of God’s grace I faced the decisive moments

of the operation with great peace of soul. I say, “the decisive
moments”, because I had placed myself entirely in the will of
God, also for the eventuality that the operation would have been
a failure. I would then have immediately taken the necessary
steps to resign from my office.Since it has pleased God to return

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to me the precious treasure of my vision, I recognize in this His
clear will that I continue in the leadership of the Congregation. I
have therefore made the strongest resolutions to meet my duties
from all sides, to promote the good everywhere and to work with
the greatest zeal to correct all deficiencies which are still part of
our common work for the glory of God, in order to win in this
way more and more of the fullness of God’s blessing on our
young Congregation. In fulfilling these, my obligations, however,
I need your cooperation and support. I therefore urgently implore
all superiors and assistants to watch for the most exact
observance of the Holy Rule and to correct the erring with true
motherly, respectively, sisterly, love and not to hold the smallest
negligence as too small, but to keep in mind that, ‘The little foxes
have ruined the Lord’s vineyard’ and ‘Who is not faithful in small
things, will not be faithful in great things’. Make an effort, dear
sisters, especially the superiors, to guide the novices more and
more into the spiritual life and confirm them in the virtues of
religious life so that they may become true religious, not only in
dress, but much more, in spirit. Be alert also for the spiritual
progress of the candidates, and do not forget to reprove them
each Friday for the faults committed during the week, including
suitable admonitions and encourage-ment to good.

I have also resolved to insist, wherever possible, that the

Sunday Schools be conducted with zeal, so that the serving girls
will be instructed as much as possible in our holy religion, and
that the sisters in general never underestimate the importance of
the service among them, that they will encounter the girls with
love and care, offering them counsel and protection when they
come to visit the convent during their free time. They have here a
large sphere of influence, if they keep the girls from vanity, teach
them to save, encourage them to put their money in the savings
bank, etc.

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 Concerning the pupils, I maintain, besides them receiving
a good education--which, to my joy, I have observed to be the
case--the main thing remains to plant good principles for later
life into the children’s hearts, to awaken in them feelings of
gratitude toward God, their parents, authorities, the
Congregation, or the benefactor of their particular institute in
such a way that they will not forget their stay in the institute in
later life and the graces and benefits received therein. Of
extraordinary value for this is the Marian Society introduced in
almost all of our houses (She means the Marian Congregation--
sodality). If these are well conducted they bring the richest
blessings to the house, as well as to the individual members in all
circumstances of their future lives. I think that this is conducted
best in the Marian Institute here; each superior, when she comes
here, can get information about it.

Now I have expressed what was especially in my heart,

and ask you, my dear Daughters, once again, to work with united
strength on personal holiness as also on the sanctification of the
souls entrusted to us, taking to heart the words of the Lord.
“What you did for the least of my brothers, you did for me.”

Then Mother Franziska gives some directions concerning the

arrival of the sisters for retreat and concerning those sisters that
would be permitted to make their perpetual vows on January 2,
1893, and then continues:

“Without my having thought about it before hand, I see that

the day for perpetual vows coincides with my sixtieth birthday. It will
be a heartfelt joy on this day especially, to be able to embrace so many
of my spiritual daughters who will give themselves completely as an
offering to the Lord.

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 Today, October 25, is for me a day of solemn memories,
since it is 24 years ago that I arrived in Vienna to begin with the
foundation of our Congregation. Who would have thought then that
the all-good God would do such great things with such a poor
instrument! Feelings of shame and repentance arise when I think of all
the graces and benefits with which the Lord overwhelms us and how
little we have done for Him until now! How great should be our
gratitude when we only remember that our dear God honored us by
permitting us to build Him a house, and allowed our Congregation to
receive approbation in such a short time. Yes, let us praise the Lord for
this, let us bring Him the tribute of our gratitude through an ever more
fervent union with His divine will, through perfect dedication to our
holy vocation, through tireless striving for true conversion and through
the holy resolution, to make up in the twenty-fifth year of our existence
for what the Lord could have expected of us and with which we could
have brought even richer blessings upon our activity.

Although you will be getting the newly printed report of the

entire work of the Congregation since its foundation to the year 1893, I
cannot omit letting you already today see the outline, (it is added at
the end of this circular) which will surely fill you with joy and renewed
courage to live and work according to the beautiful motto, ‘All for God,
the poor and for our Congregation!”
In closing, I again urge all of you to honor our Mother Most Admirable
in a most childlike way and to do all possible to bring others to this
devotion. It was surely her powerful intercession that brought about
the fortunate outcome of the operation. I continually commend you to
her protection as well as to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, and am in
faithful love
your mother, caring for your spiritual and corporal welfare,
Franziska Lechner.
Vienna, October 25, 1892

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 This letter demonstrates, besides Mother Franziska’s gratitude,
also her zeal for God’s glory and the salvation of souls, with which she again
and again tried to inflame her spiritual daughters, and also her motherly love.
The resolutions which she mentioned here, she carried out with tireless
striving. In God’s wise providence, only a little time remained for her to do so,
during which, however, her zeal brought forth some glorious fruit.

Maria Hilf Breitenfurt

CHAPTER XIV

Foundations in Leopoldsdorf in Marchfelde and Legrad

Foundation of the Convent of St. Augustine in Sarajevo

Some weeks after the operation, Mother Franziska again took up

her full schedule. On November 25, 1892 she drove to Leopoldsdorf in
Marchfelde, in order to view the kindergarten building erected by Mrs.
Henriette of Wiener--Welten and to speak in more detail with this lady who had
asked for sisters to direct the institution. This was intended especially for the
children of the employees of the nobility in Wiener-Welten. Mother Franziska
liked the house very much and it was agreed that the Congregation would take
over this new work at the beginning of the new school year.

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 The sixtieth birthday of Mother Franziska was joyfully celebrated
on January 2, 1893. Many sisters from the mission houses were present
because the retreat had just ended and thirty of these were permitted to
profess their perpetual vows. In the afternoon Mother Franziska was
congratulated for her birthday. This could not be done earlier because the
retreat had only ended early on the second, followed by the profession
ceremony. Mother Franziska was very touched by the little surprise which the
sisters prepared for her in their meaningful expression of congratulations and
the afternoon passed in a pleasant togetherness. No one thought that this
would be the last joyful celebration of her birthday; The following January 2
Mother Franziska would already be lying in her final illness. To give a better
insight into her continuing activity, this account of her last working year will
treat of a more detailed presentation of her various visitation trips and more
important activities.

On February 9 Mother Franziska traveled to her spiritual

daughters in Brunn and from there to those in Prague. In this last active year,
most foundations had the good fortune of a visit; It was as though a mother’s
love urged her to see her spiritual daughters one last time. In spite of the
additional floor added in 1888, the Marian Institute in Prague was again too
small, and so, during this visit Mother Franziska made the necessary
arrangements with the builder Malina for an addition, which was to begin as
soon as possible and be completed by the end of September in the same year.

On February 28, 1893 Mother Franziska undertook a longer trip

to Hungary and Bosnia. First she went to the sisters in Kis-Czell and from there
to those in Szt. Ivan. Here a moving surprise awaited her. The children of the
school had formed groups along the way from the railroad station in order to
give Mother Franziska an ovation. The parents greeted her in a similar friendly
manner. At her departure the adults and children again turned out to show
their respect and love to Mother Franziska and left her very touched. The trip
continued from here to the institutes in Budapest and Toponar and then on to
Bosnia, first to Sarajevo, then to Dolnja-Tuzla and Breske. On the return trip to

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Hungary Mother Franziska went to the sisters in Foherczeglak and Berzencze
and made a visit to the people in Legrad who had also asked for sisters to run a
school and kindergarten.

Upon her return Mother Franziska informed her spiritual

daughters of the more important events of this trip in the following letter:

“My dear Spiritual Daughters,

The twenty-fifth year of our founding seems to have been

and continues to be a richly blessed one. Our efforts have been
accompanied in a special way by God’s blessing. Good children
always share intimately in the joys and sorrows of their parents;
Therefore, I share the following:

I have experienced much joy in my trip to the Hungarian

and Bosnian foundations and found, to my consolation, the
sisters full of zeal in the service of God. I have never yet made a
visitation trip that was so eventful as this one.

We have for years been renting from a Spanish Jew for

the first and second class of the German School and also the
needlework school for the little ones and the kindergarten,
because the St. Joseph Institute didn’t have enough space, and
because climbing the hill where it is located is too difficult in
summer as well as winter for the little ones. So that we wouldn’t
lose this house plus the beautiful building site attached to it, we
were forced to buy it for 10,500 florins. The purchase was very
favorable because it is beautifully situated right across from the
cathedral. The owner gave us a discount of 1,500 florins from the
purchase price. The house had suffered so much wear during the
winter that it was necessary to tear it down in order to build a
new institute in which to house the German School with fourteen

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sisters. The building is very large and the school can be opened
there by mid-September. The new convent will bear the name,
‘St. Augustine’.

You can imagine with what a heavy heart I decided to

build, since we had no penny; but in firm confidence in God I
made the deal with the builder. The rock-like trust in God’s most
generous goodness and mercy has not been extinguished in the
heart of your spiritual mother and therefore the building was
undertaken immediately.

On my return trip I went with Sister Borgia to Legrad to

see for myself, the new convent which the sisters should take
over on October 20 and which will receive the name
‘Stephaneum’. It is a very beautiful house with a large garden
and well endowed by the civil community. The sisters will have a
very nice field of activity there. They will receive the girls’ school,
the needlework school and the kindergarten; And they must also
take over the first and second grade of the boys’ school.
In Legrad we received a telegram from Pest, containing
the news that our neighbor who had been giving us much trouble
these 22 years, wanted to build an extension. You can imagine
the fear that Sister Borgia and I felt. The existence of St.
Margaret’s would have been very threatened by this extension,
since light and air would have been cut off. Nothing remained for
us, if our neighbor really wanted to build, except to buy the
house, but to have to do this now, when we had such expenses
for the building in Sarajevo was a big blow. I had been convinced
already earlier, however, that we would be rid of this
troublesome neighbor in Pest during this year. Sister Borgia
returned to Pest only early on April 16 from Legrad and in the
afternoon the sale had to be finalized, and for the price of 36,000
florins. We can thank God that we obtained this house because

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this neighbor was a source of much trouble for St. Margaret’s.
The ownership will change on August 1, and then the dormitory
for the serving girls will be housed there. The house is named ‘St.
Joseph’. Our Congregation has a great future in Hungary. There
will be a private prep School in the house in Pest so that the
candidates need go out only for the examinations. If we only had
many candidates, because so many houses are planned.

Pray that very many will receive the grace of a vocation.

Since their organization, the Marian Sodalities are

growing rapidly and it gives me great joy to see the visible
blessing that they bring.The retreats for women in the Troppau
house and the conferences held there and attended also by men
from the best families have not only raised the reputation of the
Institute, but also brought about much real good.

I would also like to share with you that our church has
been painted very beautifully. In many respects there are many
joys and surprises awaiting the sisters who will come to the
Jubilee Celebration. (She meant the 25th Anniversary of the
Congregation on November 21, 1893).

I ask you, dear Sisters, to pray for me very much,

especially during this year which is so important for the
Congregation, so that I can fulfill all the duties of my office. Pray
also for the General Assistants that they may always be able to
give me good advice. Have very special devotion to St. Michael,
the Archangel, so that Satan may be prevented from working evil
among either individuals or houses; because he will surely bring
all his talent to bear to cause a storm during the Jubilee Year.

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 Calling the blessing of God down upon you and
recommending you to the protection of the Mother of God and
St. Joseph, I am, in faithful love,
your mother,
caring about your spiritual and
material welfare,
Sister M. Franziska Lechner
Mother House, May 1, 1893

This eventful trip was connected with much work for Mother
Franziska, especially in Sarajevo, where she not only tested the children in all
the classes, but also spent three days in arranging the sketches from which the
architect would make the floor plan for St. Augustine Convent, since with her
talent for building, Mother Franziska always made the first plans for the
Congregation’s buildings herself. Although the future St. Augustine Convent
caused her much worry because of the money, it was always a special joy for
her. She made the decision to build in Sarajevo itself only after seeing the need
and, to surprise the sisters in the Mother House, she wrote nothing home
about it during the trip. After her return she brought out the plans and the
architect’s sketch of the future convent and inspired joyful surprise. Jokingly
she said that if she could not come up with the money for the building, she
would be locked up in the debtor’s tower. She often asked for detailed reports
about the building. Maybe she had an intuition that this would be the last
convent she would build; at the farewell she had wept bitterly and said to the
sisters, “Children, I will not see you again.” In fact, she did come back to
Sarajevo another time in October 1893, but it was still a hint of her coming
death, which had crept up to her and which came more frequently and, as was
later recounted, more insistently the nearer she came to the event. This
intuition, that there was only a little time left for her to work, was in any case,
what drove her to increase her zeal and energetic activity. Work and worry
enough were brought to her by this last year of activity, as we already partially
see from the above circular; in addition to the many visitation trips, the worry
about the purchase in Budapest for which a large sum had to be paid within a

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few weeks, for the building in Sarajevo and the new foundations to be staffed,
came also the preparations for the Jubilee of the Congregation, which she
wanted to celebrate as festively as possible. In union with the Rev. Karl
Kummer, at first spiritual director of the Breitenfurt houses and later director of
the Church and chaplain for the Mother House, she composed a successful
chronicle of the Congregation, a work of several months’ duration, which was
printed at the beginning of September 1893. This was intended to give all
friends and benefactors of the Congregation an insight into the activity of the
Congregation within the last twenty-five years and demonstrate how visibly
God’s blessing accompanied the works. This book was intended also to serve as
encouragement to all her spiritual daughters and challenge to renewed zeal in
working according to the motto, “All for God, for the Poor and for our
Congregation!”

On May 9 Mother Franziska undertook a trip to St. Andre and

found the religious discipline in full flower there, to her joy; She was overjoyed
too about the zeal of the pupils and the good management of the farm. The
convent “St. Hildegarde” in Biala was of special concern to Mother Franziska
because it was badly in need of major repairs. A fungus had done significant
damage to the attic beams of the old house and the roof tiles were so rotted
that a complete recovering seemed an absolute necessity. Since this house was
only lent to the sisters for their use and because of the high expenses for the
purchase in Budapest and the building in Sarajevo, Mother Franziska was
undecided about the repairs. She therefor made a request to his Royal
Highness, Archduke Albrecht to intercede with the Archdukal Office of Property
Management in Saybusch about undertaking the repairs. At the same time she
humbly requested that His Majesty would deign to donate the Lipnik Palace,
now a convent, to the Congregation in perpetuity for instructional and
formational purposes. In a very few days, on May 13, 1893, Mother Franziska
received written notice from the Property Management Office that His
Highness had granted the second request and donated the Lipnik Palace to the
Congregation. This news filled Mother Franziska with great gratitude toward
the noble benefactor and she immediately set about fulfilling her promise to

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compose a prayer for his Highness which would be recited there every day by
the sisters and pupils after Holy Mass, in the event that he would donate the
“St. Hildegarde Convent” to the Congregation. On May 18, during a trip to
Krakow she gave this prayer to the house Catechist and to the secretary of the
newly elevated Cardinal Dunajewski with the request to correct it and show it
to His Eminence as the chief shepherd of the Biala convent. The Cardinal was
very pleased about the donation and made some additions to the prayer which
he then approved. Mother Franziska drove from Krakow to Biala; the joyful
news she brought about the house naturally caused all around rejoicing.

After she visited the sisters in Troppau and drove from there to
0lmitz to pay a visit to the newly-appointed Archbishop Theodor Kohn and ask
for his good wishes for the Congregation and especially for the Troppau Marian
Institute situated in his diocese, she returned to Vienna. Her first concern now
was to have the prayer for Archduke Albrecht printed. When this was
completed, Mother Franziska presented it with respectful gratitude to His
Highness and distributed it also among the Archdukes and Archduchesses as
well as the ladies in waiting, for which purpose she had some samples prepared
in an especially artistic form; the beautiful prayer was graciously received by
various highly placed persons and these had letters of gratitude sent to Mother
Franziska. To his great joy she also left some samples of the prayer with Mr.
Bretzler, in charge of the court employees of Archduke Albrecht for distribution
to them. Shortly thereafter His Highness met Mr. Bretzler on the stairs and
asked, “Have you already received the beautiful prayer?” As he responded that
Mother Franziska had not only given one to him, but also for various employees
and that these had been distributed, the Archduke was very touched and
pleased and wrote the following letter, which is preserved in the
Congregation’s archive, to Mother Franziska in His own hand.

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 “Vienna, June 28, 1893
Honored Lady!

Deeply touched, that you yourself have composed a

prayer for the salvation of my soul, and have it prayed daily by
hundreds of persons for the little that I have done for your so
worthy Institute, I can respond with a most cordial, “God reward
you.” because the spiritual good deeds that you give me in this
way are in no way comparable with my gifts.

I pray God, that He may give you still many more years of
health and strength for the salvation of the thousands of children
who owe their salvation and education to your foundations, and
your wonderful, self-sacrificing activity.

Recommending myself to your pious prayers,

Your,
Sincerely respectful,
E. Albrecht
Fieldmarshal”

His Royal Highness gave this letter to his Court Master with the
order to address it and mail it; but in his joy for the recognition given Mother
Franziska, brought the letter himself to the Mother House. Unfortunately he
did not meet Mother Franziska because she had on this day gone to Biala
because of the donation of the Lipnik Palace to take place on June 30. The
sisters of the Mother House were overjoyed at this honor to their spiritual
mother and, since they did not want to entrust the precious original to the mail,
a copy was immediately made in the secretariat and this was forwarded to
Mother Franziska. She was very touched by the honor and graciousness shown
her by His Royal Highness. The repairs, in which Mother Franziska would have
liked to include the building of another story remained a special concern for
Mother Franziska but she could not carry it out and it was done only after her
death.

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 In July and in the beginning of August she conducted the novices’
preparation for the profession of their holy vows and said in a very certain tone
to them, “You are the last group that I will prepare for profession.” Her spiritual
daughters, who did not even want to accept the thought of having to lose their
beloved mother, did not give much credit to these words, especially since at
that time there was no serious fear of her death in the near future. It is true
that for a longer time already Mother Franziska could take only little
nourishment, which was caused, it was later determined by increasing fat
around the liver pressing against the stomach; but she had always lived
modestly and in this year developed an activity that seemed to exceed even her
earlier zeal, as if she enjoyed the best of health. The subsequent events though,
showed that Mother Franziska’s words had been true; for the reception and
profession ceremonies were not held on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary
in 1893 because of the Jubilee, and when they took place again the following
August, Mother Franziska was already in Eternity.

During the August Retreat of 1893, attended by 92 professed

sisters, besides 31 candidates for reception and 38 novices preparing for
profession, Mother Franziska was constantly busy, held readings, explained the
Holy Rule, spoke individually with each professed sister, etc. The reception and
profession day on August 18, although, as always, it brought the usual fatigue,
was a happy one for her because it brought so many added fellow-workers to
her work and besides, thirteen sisters made their perpetual profession. After
the celebration she went as usual to the relatives and spoke with them in her
accustomed loving, heart-winning way. Even though the strain of such days,
and the great deal of talking made her very tired, she still made herself
available to any of the guests who wanted to speak to her individually. She
spoke even with those who could not speak German by using a sister as
translator, and all left her presence full of joy about the kindness of Mother
Franziska and considering themselves happy in the knowledge that they had
entrusted their daughters to such a mother. Even some years after her death,
the guests at reception and profession ceremonies would come to talk about
Mother Franziska’s goodness and friendliness and some tears accompanied
these words.

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 On September 1, 1893 she sent the sisters assigned to the new
foundation to Leopoldsdorf to make the preparations for the blessing of the
house. This took place on the Feast of the Nativity of Mary and Mother
Franziska was also present for the beautiful celebration. On September 20 the
sisters assigned by her to the foundation in Legrad drove off and she promised
them that she would attend the blessing of the house.

On October 6 Mother Franziska undertook her last trip; This was

to the Hungarian and Bosnian foundations. One sign that she had a
premonition that this would be her last journey was the fact that she chose as
companions the Superior of the Mother House, and her future successor, Sister
Ignazia Egger and the Superior of the house in Pest, who joined them there,
Sister Borgia Uri. She often remarked afterward that she knew what she was
doing, taking along General Assistants, especially Sister Ignazia, giving them an
insight into foundations and an understanding of everything. The trip went first
to Kis-Czell, because the Abbot of the Benedictine Monastery there, the Rev.
Justinian Holosy, celebrated his golden jubilee Mass and very much desired
Mother Franziska’s presence. The Abbot was overjoyed at having this wish
fulfilled. Then the journey continued on to the sisters in Szt. Ivan and from
there to Budapest. Here Mother Franziska visited the house bought that Spring
and saw that this purchase was really very necessary and also advantageous for
the Institute. From Budapest she drove with her two companions to Bosnia and
directly to Dolnja-Tuzla, in which city she was dismayed to find an outbreak of
cholera and the school of the sisters was also closed. After a four-day stay
during which she also paid visits to the sisters in Joseph’s Home and Breske, the
trip continued on to Sarajevo. The new building, St. Augustine’s, was nearing
completion and Mother Franziska was surprised by its beautiful and practical
style. It had been her wish to attend the blessing, but this could not be held, as
previously planned, on October 24, but only on November 15, because there
was still too much work to be done. But the seventeen sisters who were to
move from St. Joseph’s Institute to St. Augustine were conducted there by
Mother Franziska who would not let herself be denied this pleasure, and sat
down in a room with the wood shavings still strewn about and spoke in a

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motherly way to her spiritual daughters, encouraging them to work most
zealously for the glory of God in their beautiful new home.

Mother Franziska and her two companions began the return trip
on October 23. After a short stop in Berzencze they arrived at noon of the 24th
in Legrad, where the blessing and first Holy Mass were to take place on the
25th. All present were touched by the celebration, but Mother Franziska, for
whom this day also seemed important in another way, more than all others. It
was on this day, exactly twenty-five years before, that she had first come to
Vienna to found the Congregation, and she could not contain her tears during
Holy Mass as she remembered the wise guidance of God and the many benefits
she had received during this time. On the very same day Mother Franziska and
her two General Assistants began the trip back to Vienna because the
preparations for the Jubilee and the following retreat were pressing. Because of
this she had generally hurried this trip and stayed nowhere longer than was
absolutely necessary. This great hurry together with all the exertion tied to the
long trip, added to the strain that had come before, were too much for Mother
Franziska. While during such trips she normally called her companions’
attention to the scenery, pointed out the more important sites, and explained
various things, she this time mostly just fell asleep and had only very little
appetite. She arrived in Vienna very tired, but would not give herself any rest in
spite of the pleas of the sisters, and this would hardly have been possible in any
case because of all the work that lay ahead. The Chronicle of the Congregation,
of which Mother Franziska had 2000 copies printed had to be distributed and
mailed and this was begun immediately. The members of the Imperial Family,
several Bishops, in whose Diocese the Congregation had houses, or who were
its special friends, benefactors and well-wishers, received copies. Mother
Franziska also had a copy sent to each convent so that it could be saved in the
library and the sisters would have the opportunity to read it at any time. These
were very pleased with the beautiful work and it awakened great interest also
outside the convent, so that Mother Franziska received countless thank-you
letters, coupled with wishes for the future prosperity of the Congregation.

169
Mother House Church, Vienna

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 CHAPTER XV
The twenty-fifth Anniversary of the Founding of the Congregation,
and, on November 21, 1893,
the double Silver Jubilee of Mother Franziska in Religion and in office.

In a circular dated the Feast of the Archangel Raphael, 1893, Mother Franziska
wrote to the sisters:

“My dear Spiritual Daughters!

Addressing this circular to my spiritual daughters on the

occasion of the coming important day, with humble heart I beg the Holy
Spirit to let me find the right words which will not fail to bring about the
desired effect.

In a very short time our Congregation will celebrate the

twenty-fifth year of its existence. What feelings of gratitude, of joy, but
also of bitter repentance fill my heart as this beautiful feast draws near
can hardly be described. Before all else, dear Sisters, I must give free
reign to the deepest gratitude. Understand in your inmost heart along
with me and consider what a weak instrument the Almighty has used to
bring about in a relatively short time all the good which is recounted in
the report published for this celebration. How many souls did God
preserve in our institutes from temporal and eternal destruction and in
His plan we were so blessed to be allowed to cooperate in this salvation!
May the Lord be praised a thousand times for these special graces. The
seed planted with so much effort and care twenty-five years ago has
become a stately tree within whose shade many can find salvation and
help for soul and body. Whereas I was at that time all alone, I now see
myself surrounded by a multitude of consecrated virgins numbering
almost 600. My good Sisters, in these twenty-five years, if we had only
really appreciated what it means to be permitted to work for the
salvation of immortal souls! May the Holy Spirit work in our hearts so

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that we may examine and recognize all our omissions and with the help
of His grace faithfully carry out the consequent resolutions! Therefore, I
ask each of my spiritual daughters to prepare herself very worthily for
this feast and, as far as it is possible in the various houses, to spend the
three preceding days in holy peace and quiet retreat. November 21 is
after all important from two perspectives because the renewal of vows
will also take place then. I have given each Superior a little booklet with
conferences for a three-day retreat which should be used as
preparation. It is especially convenient that the Feast of the
Presentation falls on a Tuesday; since Saturday and Sunday are free in
any case, giving the sisters uninterrupted time for preparation, and on
Monday at least one conference can be read in the morning and
another one in the evening. On these three days the addition “A pure
heart create in me, 0 Lord and renew a right spirit within me!” should be
attached to all community prayers.

On the three days preceding the feast there should also be

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in all our houses followed by the
prayer to Mother Most Admirable: “Hail, Noble Queen...” plus three
‘Hail Mary’s. On the feast itself there should be Mass celebrated with
Benediction, where possible also attended by the school children and in
the afternoon there should of course be a service with the Te Deum.
Here in the Mother House the day will be celebrated as beautifully as
possible and I hope that the Holy Father will send us his blessing. I
intend to request this not only for all the Sisters but also for the
benefactors of the Congregation since they have collaborated with all
the good accomplished so far. This kindness and grace of His Holiness
will then be the crown of the feast day.
The sisters who are coming to the retreat, as well as those
who may travel here only for the celebration, should arrive at the
Mother House on the evening of November 19, or, at the latest, on the
morning of the 20th. The retreat will this time begin only on the evening
of the 22nd because the celebration will bring much distraction and the

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Spiritual Exercises would lose their effectiveness if they began before the
21st as usual.

Unfortunately not all the sisters for whom we wanted to

prepare the joy of this Foundation Day can come. First, there would not
be enough room, because so many guests will be coming, especially
those clergy who are participating in the guidance of our Congregation,
and secondly we could not afford the travel expenses. Therefore, only
those sisters who have won some special merit or who have earned it
through collection of alms for the Congregation will come here for the
celebration. But, in spirit all the sisters will be here and you will receive
the details of the celebration from those who were present.

In closing I want to recall to mind the words that I placed so

urgently in your heart during the retreats: “Sister, the Master calls!” If
you keep this thought in mind the practice of obedience will never seem
difficult. On our beautiful feast give yourself so totally to your Divine
Bridegroom as Mary offered herself this day to God in the temple.
Remember that not the tiniest idol may have a place in your heart if you
want to receive the Lord’s blessing in fullest measure. May our good
Mother Mary beg for you the right disposition and great zeal in our holy
vocation.

This is the wish and pleading for you of

Your,
always concerned for your spiritual and corporal welfare, Mother,
Franziska Lechner

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 Mother Franziska did not want simply an outwardly festive
celebration to show her gratitude to God for all His graces and kindnesses but,
above all that it would serve as a spiritual renewal for all her spiritual daughters
so that these would continue the work of their holy vocation with an increased
zeal and a total dedication to God. The preparation she ordained to this end
was most suitable as well as worthy of the beautiful feast and it was faithfully
carried out in all the houses.

On November 11, Mother Franziska was received in audience by

their Royal Highnesses the Archduchesses Immakulata and Karoline. She
presented them with the Chronicle and requested that their Royal Highnesses
would deign to honor the Solemn Mass with their royal presence, to which the
noble ladies gladly assented. Two days later Mother Franziska also presented a
copy of the Chronicle to His Eminence, the Cardinal Dr. Anton Gruscha which he
received with great kindness. On November 16, she received to her great joy a
hand written note from Archbishop Dr. Stadler of Sarajevo who just happened
to be attending the Bishops’ Conference in Vienna, in which he informed her
that he would remain in Vienna long enough to participate in the Jubilee
Celebration of the Congregation. On November 18, the Superiors of the mission
houses and those sisters who were permitted to come to Vienna for the
celebration, the majority of whom would be making their retreat immediately
thereafter, arrived in the Mother House. This day also marked the beginning of
a public Triduum in the church to prepare for the Jubilee and for which Mother
Franziska had received the permission of the Chancery Office. Many of the
faithful attended the daily morning Mass with Benediction and the evening
Benediction with sermon which made up the beautiful preparation. The 20th of
November brought the many welcome guests, among them the Archbishop Dr.
Stadler with his Vicar General, Canon Dr. Jeglic, a ‘large number of priests,
confessors of various houses or special friends of the Congregation’. They all
wanted to share the festive joy of Mother Franziska and her spiritual daughters.
The latter had not forgotten that the twenty-fifth anniversary of the existence
of the Congregation was at the same time the Silver Jubilee of the Religious
Profession and Office of their beloved Mother and had been working for a long

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time to prepare various surprises. A special festive congratulation was set for
the evening in time for which the guests had also arrived. Everything was ready
at 4:30 and Archbishop Stadler led Mother Franziska into the hall, followed by
the other guests. At the Jubilarian’s entrance the students from the Marian
Institute hidden behind a curtain, sang a beautiful greeting song. Then eight
sisters recited a well-written poem, especially composed for the occasion by
the famous poet, Miss Hermine Proschko, containing the main events of the
Congregation’s history. The whole was meant to be a spiritual bouquet of
flowers for the dear Mother and so the various stanzas were named after
blossoms which symbolized their contents. The foundation of the Congregation
and the Vienna Marienanstalt were designated “roses”, the first clothing and
profession, the first Holy Mass in the Marian Institute were “lilies”, the
protectorate of the Congregation assumed by Her Royal Highness the
Archduchess Annunziata and after her death, by Empress Elizabeth was called
“rosemary”, the dedication of the chapel in the Marienanstalt, installation of
the Blessed Sacrament, visit of Her Majesty, the Empress, was entitled,
“everlasting”, founding of the mission houses, the approval, after ten years of
apostolic activity, of the Rule by the Bishops was “ivy”, the Decree of Praise
from the Holy Father, the Plenary Indulgence granted for the Feast of Our Lady
of Snows “sunflower”, profession of perpetual vows, the new Mother House
and Church, the presence of His Majesty the Emperor at its dedication was
symbolized by “edelweiss”. Each of the sisters held the symbol-blossom in her
hand and presented it to the deeply moved Mother Franziska at the completion
of her recitation. The students sang an appropriate song between the stanzas.
The eight sisters expressed the gratitude of all her daughters to the beloved
Mother and at the end presented her with a laurel wreath. At the next to last
stanza of the declamation of gratitude the curtain on the provisional stage
opened to show a living picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus surrounded by the
patron Saints of the Congregation, illuminated by special stage lighting. This
was performed by the students of the Marienanstalt. The entire exalted
celebration of gratitude ended with the singing of the solemn praise of the Te
Deum. Mother Franziska was very surprised and moved to tears. The jubilee
gifts were set up in the neighboring chapter room. Knowing that Mother

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Franziska would have little joy in such a fuss about her modest person, the
sisters prepared accordingly. At the first place was a glorious vestment set of
white silk with artistic embroidery, (On the chasuble is an embroidered picture
of Mother Most Admirable) for which the various mission houses of the
Congregation had contributed and which the Sisters in Sarajevo had
embroidered. Mother Franziska was overjoyed about this meaningful gift
designed for the greater glory of God and said the vestment set was a gift
worthy of the beautiful feast. A second precious gift was a gold—plated silver
monstrance containing genuine gem-stones taken from the personal jewelry
offered by the three benefactors who had donated it. Archbishop Dr. Stadler
gave Mother Franziska a gilded altar crucifix. The Jubilarian also had great joy at
the fulfillment of an idea she had once expressed: a family tree of the
Congregation, created by the artistic hand of one of the sisters, it consisted of a
mighty oak from whose roots arose the old and the new Mother Houses and
whose branches carried the various mission houses. This same sister had also
painted the single mission houses on separate sheets of an album. Besides this
there was a book bound in silver silk and embroidered blue silk in which the
Jubilee poem was entered in beautifully executed calligraphy with a hand-
painted illustration of the above mentioned flower after each of the individual
chapters. At the express wish of Mother Franziska the illustration of the tree
was later framed and hung in the chapter room.

Many friends of the Congregation took part in the joy of the

sisters and Mother Franziska received Congratulations this day from near and
far and from many persons in high places of church and state. Representatives
of the city government of Vienna did not fail to send the congratulations of the
City Council the day before along with a symbolic gift of 500 florins to be used
for her charitable activities. On the day itself the district representatives for the
location of the Mother House and the Marienanstalt also sent cordial best
wishes and a congratulatory decree in recognition of the twenty-five year
apostolic activity of the Congregation.

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 There was still much to be done on the evening before the
celebration and the sisters were busy far into the night getting beautiful
decorations ready, especially in the Church, for this great day of the
Congregation and of their spiritual Mother. At her special request the old
crucifix in the sisters’ choir before which she had prayed as a child, along with
the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows at its feet, was also decorated. In her youth
she had always removed this statue from its place on the Feast of Corpus
Christi in order to carry it, decorated with flowers, in the procession along with
her friends in the Sodality. They did not neglect to decorate also the statues of
Mary and Joseph in the sisters’ common room which Mother Franziska had
purchased in the early days of the Congregation. Finally the festal day dawned.
At 5:30 began the Holy Masses which were celebrated simultaneously at the
various altars and which went on until 8:30. The sisters renewed their vows
during the Mass celebrated by Vicar General Jeglic at 6 A. M. at the altar in the
sisters’ choir. Their Royal Highnesses Archduchesses Immakulata and Karoline
came to the Solemn Mass at 9 along with her Excellency the Countess Goess as
representative of her Majesty the Empress, His Excellency Count Kielmannsegg,
His Lordship Count Kufstein, Count Attems and other highly placed persons.
Mother Franziska greeted the guests with her usual cordiality and accompanied
them to the places reserved for them in the church. His Excellency the Auxiliary
Bishop Eduard Angerer celebrated the Solemn High Mass with the assistance of
fifteen priests and others, using for the first time the new vestments. At the
conclusion His Excellency imparted the Solemn Apostolic Blessing which His
Holiness had deigned to send for the Jubilarian as well as all the members and
benefactors of the Congregation. The Holy Father had also granted a plenary
indulgence to all the faithful in the church who, after reception of the
Sacraments and recitation of the prescribed prayers, wished to receive it.
Mother Franziska was very happy about these graces and consoled by the
thought that much advantage for the salvation of souls came about through the
Triduum and the indulgence. The feelings that filled her on the Jubilee day can
be concluded from the words she directed to her spiritual daughters and which
are added here. It is possible that it was joined to a renewed premonition of
her approaching death. Although she said nothing that would cloud the joy of

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the day for her children it was precisely on the jubilee day that Mother
Franziska’s serious illness began. During the Solemn High Mass, suddenly
sensing a sharp pain in the region of the lungs, she left the church and
stumbled exhausted into the sacristy, saying to Sister Helene Bonard, the
Superior of the Vienna Marienanstalt who was there, “Quick, let me sit! If this
isn’t pneumonia, I don’t know what it could be.” Sister Helene, shocked,
brought a chair for Mother Franziska, but she did not remain seated for long. As
soon as she recovered a little she could not be prevented from returning to the
church. With her usual self-control she remained erect, fulfilled her obligations
to the guests and was cheerful. Of course, the sisters advised her to take it
easy, but she wanted in no way to spoil the joy of the celebration and so
avoided everything that could raise a fear of serious illness. Besides, she was so
happy to have such a large number of her spiritual daughters--there were
about 150--around her. Among them were some who had helped her with the
founding and shared her joy and pain during the passed twenty-five years.

At 5 in the afternoon the Reverend Cathedral Preacher, now His

Excellency Pastor to the Court, St. Augustine Church and the City of Vienna,
Franz Binder, gave a wonderfully uplifting sermon in the church, packed with
faithful. Thereupon followed Solemn Benediction with Te Deum by Archbishop
Stadler. Also present for this was the Bishop of Linz, Dr. Franz Doppelbauer who
was in Vienna too for the Bishop’s conference and came for the celebration in
the evening to congratulate the Jubilarian. Mother Franziska’s joy was all the
greater because this bishop had not known much about the Congregation and
only noticed it’s activities as a result of the Chronicle which was sent to him.
Bishop Doppelbauer was also present for the play “St. Peter at Heaven’s Gate”
which was presented by the students of the Marienanstalt. Of course
Archbishop Stadler and the other guests were also present. In this play, St.
Peter carried out his function as guardian of the heavenly gate and St. Michael
the Archangel presented various souls whom he admitted to eternal bliss.
Finally the Angel presented a religious Foundress who wore a silver crown on
her head, because this day her silver Jubilee was being solemnly celebrated on
earth, but she had escaped the commotion of the feast and asked the holy

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Archangel to take her to her heavenly home to be united with her heavenly
Bridegroom. St. Peter did not want to honor her request because she had not
come through the gate of death, but still had a long time to work for the glory
of God and the welfare of those entrusted to her. Finally, to encourage her for
the future struggles he partially fulfilled her repeated request by letting her
take a peek into heaven. The background curtain parted and the Divine Savior,
surrounded by the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, many angels, Saints and the
blessed appeared in a glorious light and the Jubilarian, deeply moved fell to her
knees as the play ended. All present praised the play and Mother Franziska also
expressed her pleasure with it. No one of the Sisters or guests thought that play
was at the same time a hint of things to come and the wish that the Jubilarian
expressed would soon be fulfilled in Mother Franziska. Only she herself had
perhaps continued to think about it.

The evening of the beautiful day was spent in a totally joyful

way. There was great joy for Mother Franziska and all present when a Sister
appeared in a black hat like the ones worn at the founding of the Congregation
and later two others appeared with bonnets with double ruffle and no veil as
was worn later. Still filled with joy and gratitude toward God everyone went to
rest at the close of this beautiful day, not thinking that sorrow would follow on
the heels of joy.

CHAPTER XVI

Mother Franziska’s Maternal Love and her Concern for the Congregation

According to God’s wise decrees the completion of Mother

Franziska’s work with the Congregation was to be almost contemporaneous
with the twenty-fifth Anniversary of it’s existence. It was as though God wanted
to preserve her life just long enough to conquer the greatest difficulties and
insure the continuation of the work she founded; The further consolidation was
to be left to others. To get a complete picture, since the narrative up to now

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focused on the external work of Mother Franziska for the Congregation, it
remains, before reporting her last illness and death, to speak more extensively
about her efforts on behalf of the interior development and consolidation of
her work and those related personal qualities that were most manifest.

Mother Franziska lived totally for the Congregation, giving it all

her time, offering it her health, her rest and even her life with a constant view
toward God’s greater glory and the good of humanity so that she literally wore
out in the service of the Almighty. All her planning and striving was directed
toward the greatest possible good being accomplished by the Congregation for
the above mentioned reasons and for this purpose she used all her energies to
lead her spiritual daughters according to the Constitutions and to inspire them
to its perfect observance. She knew well that a true religious spirit was only
possible through a zealous fulfillment of the Holy Rule and only this true spirit
would ensure God’s blessing and fruitful work. She herself went ahead with the
best example, especially since it was her basic conviction that example was
more useful than many words. This zeal, along with an exactness in the service
of God, coupled with her very beautiful spiritual gifts, helped her to lead her
Congregation with circumspection and promote its rapid development.

With God’s help Mother Franziska had accomplished great things

in a relatively short time. A wise use of her time was also a contributing factor
to this. She had a need for restless work and allowed herself little recreation.
Except for the times devoted to the spiritual activities she was totally busy
about the affairs of the Congregation. She was either on her way here or there
to some offices, authorities or important personages with some business, or
she was at her desk dictating letters or petitions. In the later years, especially,
because of her weakened eyesight, she had to limit herself to items that could
be written or dictated. She had the special skill of dictating two and even three
letters at one time without confusing the train of thought. The writers had to sit
close to her desk and she would dictate one sentence to the first, and as this
one was writing, she dictated to the second and to the third and then go along
the row again from the beginning. If the day was not long enough for the work,

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she also used the night in her younger years when her strength allowed it. We
already mentioned how she often traveled during the night to save time. The
many trips she made annually to almost all the houses of the Congregation
must not be thought of as vacation journeys. She used the travel time for
prayer or to show and explain the region to her companions. When she arrived
in a mission house she immediately went with all the Sisters to the chapel to
greet the Lord and to recite together the prayer she had designated for this
occasion, “Prayer for the Light of Holy Spirit for the Superior General”. During
her presence in the house she thoroughly discussed all the concerns of the
house with the superior and had each Sister from the oldest to the youngest
come to her individually so that they could speak from the heart about their
corporal and spiritual concerns with their Mother and in these individual talks
she received a comprehensive picture of the house. She gave beautiful talks for
the Sisters and the Candidates, especially about their obligations and the
virtues of the religious life, touching upon those particular things that were
necessary for that particular house. She also examined the account books and
inspected the entire house to assure herself that order and cleanliness reigned,
that holy poverty was observed, but on the other hand, that there was no
longer any dire need. Neither did the garden, and if there was a farm, the barn,
sheds and fields escape her visit. Everywhere she gave orders, advice, praise or
reprimand, as the situation demanded. She also held quizzes in all the classes
and looked at the notebooks and handicrafts of the boarders and day students,
encouraging them to piety, to hard work and good behavior. She told them
beautiful stories and gave them little gifts. She listened to the songs and poems
recited by the little ones in the kindergarten and told them about God and our
Heavenly Mother and the Guardian Angel in a way suited to their abilities. The
unemployed servant girls also enjoyed her visits and kind words of
encouragement. There were usually other visits, obligations of courtesy and for
the good of the house, in which she commended the sisters to the favor of the
authorities and friends and in which she thanked them for favors already
received. There were also visitors to receive since, being well-liked, there were
always many people wanting to see and speak with her. When all these
obligations were fulfilled, even the pleas of the sisters who would have gladly

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kept her a while longer among them, could not hold Mother Franziska back and
she continued to the next house. When the particular visitation journey was
completed she returned without delay to Vienna.

As tirelessly as Mother Franziska herself worked, so much more

did she take care that the sisters should not be overburdened and wanted them
to regularly take the necessary recreation and rest. Neither did she accept that
the prescribed spiritual exercises, which she rightly recognized as the
nourishment for the soul, would be neglected for the sake of work. She placed
special value on meditation for she was of the opinion that those who
meditated well would also know how to live well. She was concerned that the
sisters would make the annual retreat and whenever remotely possible that
this would be made in the Mother House. During this time she was happy to be
with the sisters in order to talk to them and with them, and also to preserve the
sense of belonging and unity through these gatherings. In the early years when
the Congregation was not so large, Mother Franziska often gave these retreats
herself to the sisters and her simple but divinely inspired and God-blessed
words never missed the purpose of these kinds of spiritual exercises. In general
her words, as the sisters used to say, came from the heart and so were able to
reach hearts. These, whether spoken or written, often consisted of the themes
of faithful observance of the rule and the sacred vows, the exact observance of
sisterly love, as well as silence and gratitude for the grace of vocation. Here we
present only some samples from her many beautiful circulars written to her
spiritual daughters. Preceding the Feast of the Presentation in 1881. After
having mentioned the sins and failings which can be committed with the
tongue, she says:

“Dear Sisters, the holy season of Advent is coming. As you know this is a
time of penance and preparation for the holy Feast of Christmas. Let us
struggle valiantly out of love for the Divine Child Jesus and to the fasting
obligation given us by the Church, let us add the fasting for our tongue
and examine our conscience each night in this regard. God will support
us in this struggle and we will surely make great progress in virtue. Let

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 us daily thank the Lord with our whole soul for the grace of vocation to
the religious life. Let us remind ourselves of this vividly each morning
when we pray: “Especially we thank you that you have led us here, etc.”
Such a preparation, or rather, such a purification will be very comforting
and pleasing to the Divine Child. Mary and Joseph will gladly place their
little child in the crib of our hearts, the holy Angels will adore their God
who comes to live in our hearts in Holy Communion on Christmas day
and we will experience the heavenly peace that these residents of
heaven once announced on Bethlehem’s plain. All the graces which
Jesus gives the souls who prepare well to receive Him in Holy
Communion will then be poured down upon us in the richest measure.
May the Divine Heart of Jesus grant us the grace to prepare ourselves
worthily in this manner for the holy Feast of Christmas. That we may be
more surely heard let us beg for this in a united way before the Most
Blessed Sacrament. And now I ask for the blessing of the Holy Triune
God upon you, my spiritual daughters:
‘May God the Almighty Father bless you with the blessing with which He
blessed all creatures as He formed them; May Jesus Christ, the Son of
the Almighty God bless you with the blessing which He gave the world
at His Ascension, and which His hand imparted to the whole of
humanity; May the Holy Spirit bless you with the blessing with which He
blessed the Virgin Mother of God and the entire Christendom to whom
He was sent! The blessing of the Almighty rest upon you, accompany
you on all your ways and finally lead you to eternal life! Amen.’
Sister M, Franziska Lechner”

For the beginning of Lent, 1883 she wrote:

“Each Superior has the obligation to obtain the pastoral

letter or Diocesan Newspaper which contains the regulations concerning
fasting and make sure that the sister in charge of the kitchen
understands these ordinances. Since, according to our Holy Rule, we do
not practice any fast other than that prescribed by the Diocese, I urge

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and ask each Sister to take upon themselves other mortifi-cations, of
which there are many, especially self-denial, struggling against self-will
and to practice the virtue of obedience in a special way during the
Season of Lent. Obedience is one of the most important virtues in
Religious Life. I am certain that we can give our Heavenly Bridegroom
no greater joy than by a zealous attempt to imitate during the forty
days of Lent, the obedience which He practiced toward His Heavenly
Father from His entrance into this world until His last breath on the
cross. What an offering the Son of God brought by His poverty, in His
persecution, in His sufferings, until He could call out upon the cross: ‘The
work you gave me to do is accomplished, in your hands, Oh Father, I
commend my spirit!’ I urge the sisters in our houses to think about these
last words of Christ on the cross for five minutes after night prayers
during the season of Lent. Therefore, the prayer leader is to read these
words out loud so that they can be recalled by all. The sisters should
then hold a short self-examination about their ability, if the Lord should
call, to say, ‘It is finished! The work that you, My Lord and God, have
assigned me in my holy vocation is now at an end. I have fulfilled all the
sacrifices of obedience, behaving faithfully according to my holy vows.’
This practice will be useful for each Sister and for the entire
Congregation. Our Law Book is the Holy Rule. Let us observe it in the
most conscientious way. We have, after all, obliged ourselves at the
altar through our Holy Vows and will some day be judged according to
them. If each one of you has observed the Holy Rule to the smallest
detail during her religious life, you can confidently call out immediately
as did your Heavenly Bridegroom, ‘Father, into your hands I commend
my spirit!’ What a blessed passing! What a joyful reception from the
most just and holy Judge! How Mary will rejoice to lead the bride of her
divine Son into the chambers of Heaven! With what rejoicing will such a
soul be received by the holy Guardian Angels and Patron Saints of the
Congregation! If you weigh this seriously obedience will not be difficult
for you. Therefore dear Sisters, I beg you to take this very earnestly to
heart. The Holy Spirit will operate in your heart so that you will rightly

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 acknowledge that no other virtue can be practiced without obedience.
Our Congregation will then celebrate the Feast of the Resurrection of
the Lord with double joy because its Sisters have been confirmed in this
basic virtue of religious life. I will daily plead urgently with the Lord that
He might strengthen my spiritual daughters in the battle against
disobedience and that He might let them recognize fully the beauty of
the virtue of obedience.

Jesus, although enthroned in Heaven, continues His

obedience and will continue until the end of the world, in that He
descends from Heaven to Earth at the word of the Priest at the
Consecration and allows bread and wine to be changed into His holy
Body and Blood. On the sacred Easter morning this obedient Jesus will
enter your hearts with great joy and rich treasures and take up
permanent residence there. Then you will feel what it means to have
imitated this virtue which Jesus especially revered. An obedient sister
has peace with God, with her superiors and with herself because she
lives exactly according to the regulations. Let us pray for one another
that we may all participate in this great happiness.
And now I bless you in the name of the Most Blessed Trinity and place
you under the special protection of our good Mother Mary and the holy
Angels and am in love,
your mother, concerned for your spiritual and corporal welfare,
Franziska Lechner”

True enthusiasm characterized the words of Mother Franziska

whenever she spoke of the grace of vocation. Again and again she spoke to the
hearts of her spiritual daughters about the great and undeserved gift, to be
selected by God the Father from among the many thousands alive in the world,
to be the bride of His divine Son, and to serve Him in His sanctuary. She
repeated over and over again that the call to the religious life was, after the
grace of Baptism itself, the highest grace that God could bestow upon a human
person. To such words she always joined the obligation of gratitude to the Lord

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expressed in a zealous devotion to duty and of prayer for the grace of
perseverance. She compared an unfaithful religious to a cowardly soldier and
insistently described the misfortune of such an individual by saying, “A religious
who has cast the habit from her belongs neither to the world nor to the
cloister. Lay people despise her because she has been unfaithful to her holy
state and she can no longer return to the cloister, even if she repents of her
step. Such unfortunates find neither happiness nor peace and usually perish in
soul and body.”
To keep the members of the Congregation from such misfortune she was
careful to test the vocation of Postulants and Novices and only admit them to
clothing and profession when they demonstrated its authenticity. She also
made sure that they were made acquainted very early on with the duties of the
religious state, by having the Rule and the Sacred Vows thoroughly explained to
them. She often did this herself and often personally conducted the
preparation for the clothing of the postulants, and almost always that of the
novices for profession. Especially the latter she admonished earnestly to take to
the heart the seriousness of the holy obligations which they were to take upon
themselves and challenged them to fervent prayer that God would through
illness or some other obstacle prevent them from making profesion if He could
foresee that they would some day in the future lack perseverance in His holy
service, so that they could now freely leave the religious house rather than
depart later through infidelity, calling down misfortune upon their souls. She
herself prayed much that only worthy souls would receive the religious habit
and often mandated such prayers for the entire Congregation, as well as
admonishing the superiors to a thorough testing of postulants and novices. On
July 11, 1889 she wrote:

“Pray very hard for the superiors of the Congregation that

God’s Spirit may enlighten them so that no one who is unworthy may
receive the Habit or be admitted to the vows. There shall be a nine day
devotion beginning on August 6 for this intention, including the prayer,
“Come Spirit Comforter, etc. and an Our Father “

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 “The time for Reception and Profession is coming soon;
therefore I see it as my sacred obligation to alert the superiors of all our
houses to observe and test very exactly those who are to be admitted to
Reception or Profession. Pray earnestly that the Holy Spirit may
enlighten them so that they may discern who should be incorporated
into the Congregation through reception of the Habit or the profession
of vows.”

Similar are her words in a letter of May 1, 1893:

“Hereby I oblige those superiors of houses where there are postulants or

novices, by no means to recommend for reception any postulant who
does not show promise of being a good novice, nor a novice for
profession who, during her probation year has not brought enough
evidence of virtue and who did not demonstrate a striving for per-
fection.”

As we see here, Mother Franziska took admission to the novitiate or to holy

vows very seriously and no matter how talented or useful a postulant or novice
was, if she did not demonstrate enough virtue she was not allowed the above
privilege since Mother Franziska’s often stated principle was:

“It does not matter much to God if a sister is a talented teacher,

an industrious cook, and so on, but everything depends upon her being a good
Religious.” Of course, she did not undervalue capability and knowledge and
therefore encouraged the postulants and young sisters to continual learning
according to their abilities in order to become in this way ever more useful to
the Congregation and be able to accomplish much good.

As with the duties of the religious life, so Mother Franziska

emphasized the duties involved in the particular works of the sisters. She saw
education as especially important and often underlined the responsibility it
entailed in that the children in most cases could only become what their

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education permitted them to be and that God would call the sisters to
accountability for this. Therefore she insisted that the sisters plant a genuine
fear of the Lord in the children’s hearts and imprint upon them the duties of
our holy religion so that they would later be steadfast amidst the dangers of the
world. As a special means to this end she considered devotion to the Mother of
God and the Holy Guardian Angels and, as we have seen from circulars already
cited, advocated the establishment and promotion in all the houses, of the
Marian Sodality among the older children and likewise the Guardian Angel
Society for the younger ones. She also gave great importance to three-day
annual retreats for all pupils and was very pleased when the children
demonstrated a genuine piety. She also composed a curriculum and gave exact
directions for carrying it out, placing great weight upon a frequent, brief
consultation of the sister educators with the superior as well as monthly
conferences in which all the events of the past month would be brought up for
discussion for help and improvement. She also mandated that a part of the
curriculum should be studied at each of these conferences. On the one hand
she mandated great patience and love in the sisters entrusted with education,
on the other wanted them not to be guilty of any punishable negligence in
correcting failings. This should always, in spite of necessary strictness, be done
with love and respect for an individual’s sense of dignity. Mother Franziska
understood this well. If a particular fault occurred often in a pupil, she would
reprimand in such a way that, if it dealt with disobedience, for example, she
would tell a story about an obedient child, spotlighting the advantages of this
virtue so that the guilty ones would see the inappropriateness of their behavior
without being humiliated, while all the other children would enthusiastically
enjoy the lovely story and be inspired to follow the featured example. Even
when she hadn’t personally experienced these stories, her creative spirit would
always have one ready.

The same care she had for the children, Mother Franziska
directed also to the unemployed serving girls. She constantly counseled a
motherly love, patience and great wisdom for those in this field. She wanted
these girls, who were often very ignorant of the truths of the holy religion, to
be instructed in its truths and therefore provided religious instruction classes

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and instructed that they receive the sacraments of penance and Holy Eucharist
while they were residing in our residences. She also instructed that the work
assignments be so made that a girl would have opportunity to improve in those
areas where she showed weaknesses. She especially wished that they would be
guided to a simplicity of dress and to financial frugality. For this reason she
often had the girls open a savings account and leave the bankbook in the care
of the sisters that it would be safe on the one hand, and on the other that they
might not be tempted too easily to unnecessary spending. She also encouraged
the girls to come often to visit in order to have a base and to get support, and
she was very happy when this invitation was accepted as well as the good
attendance at the Sunday schools she conducted for the servant girls. It goes
without saying that such a maternal attitude won for Mother Franziska the love
and respect of all the pupils.

Her motherly love has often been mentioned, yet it deserves to

be noted in a particular way. To understand this concept in its totality the
following words are characteristic: Mother Franziska was not only a Superior
General, but also a Mother and really a Mother in the truest sense of the word.
Her heart empathized totally with her spiritual daughters and she shared their
joy and sorrow. If one of these had a concern she could be certain to receive
any possible help, or at least advice and loving comfort from her Mother. Her
keen observation often guessed what was in the heart of the one or the other
and a sympathetic question often secured the correct response with a resultant
lifting of the burden. Although Mother Franziska was always concerned about
the preservation of holy poverty, she nevertheless had a motherly concern that
her daughters should never be lacking what was absolutely necessary. She
often gave away her own clothing or linen, not only when she thought the
sisters caring for her had prepared too much for her, but she often actually
took off something she was wearing and gave it away. When her own closet
was discovered to be strangely empty and she was questioned about it she just
smiled and replied that others needed the things more than she. If she knew
that a house had to go into debt she never abandoned the respective Superior
in her need but often offered her last funds, that she needed for some
payment, to alleviate the financial embarrassment. She tried to repay with love

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in equal measure, the Sisters’ efforts and sacrifices on behalf of the
Congregation. We have already mentioned the motherly love with which she
welcomed back the Sisters who returned from soliciting alms, how she allowed
them to recount their adventures and encouraged them with loving words. She
brought this same kind of empathy to every one and encouraged them by
pointing out the great good that was being accomplished by this work and
effort and the rich reward it would receive in heaven, when everything had
been completed according to God’s pleasure. She loved to prepare some joy for
the Sisters; one she would reward by taking her as companion on one of her
trips, another was permitted to visit some interesting place where she could at
the same time learn something to help her in her work, another was allowed to
spend her vacation in one of the country convents as recuperation for the
strenuous work of the school year, another would receive some object that was
necessary or useful for her work and which she had especially desired. If
Mother Franziska knew that a Sister had a special pleasure in something that
was given her or made available for her use, she often purposely turned the
conversation in that direction and teased the sister with various meaningful
questions and joking remarks. Her cheerful disposition enjoyed harmless jokes.
She wanted to see the sisters happy during the common recreation, even while
she insisted that they remain serious and retain the dignity proper to their state
of mind when working in their various ministries.

One must by no means think that Mother Franziska’s love for her
spiritual daughters was of the blind kind which ignored their failings. This was
not the case; since, as already noted in this chapter, her love was above all
directed toward their spiritual welfare. Mother Franziska did not neglect to
admonish where it was necessary; she could also give very serious rebukes and
even assign penances but her words did not embitter because they had their
source in love and as soon as she saw that the guilty one was sorry for what she
had done, there was immediate forgiveness. She dismissed the other with such
a kindness as if nothing had happened and she was incapable of holding a
grudge. She recommended similar behavior to superiors towards their sisters
and to the sisters towards their charges, by saying that, though reprimands may
be necessary the heart must be removed from anger or rejection, but must

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permit the love to be felt through the words; only in this way will the
reprimand result in the improvement which was its goal. If the failing was not
public, neither, usually, was Mother Franziska’s correction, on the one hand to
protect the offender and on the other hand, not to upset the others; she
likewise told the superiors not to reprimand for failings during recreation in
order not to deprive the sisters of the recreation they needed after the day’s
work.

Mother Franziska cared in a special way for the sisters who were
ill. If someone informed her, or if she noticed that one of her spiritual
daughters was in poor health she immediately saw that her work load was
lightened, ordered exemptions with regard to food and rest and, if necessary,
sent her to one of the convents in the country for recuperation. She always
desired that nothing should be lacking the sick with regard to care and medical
help and also cared for their diversion. Most important, however, that they
often be offered Holy Communion as a consolation. If someone was sick in the
house Mother Franziska made sure that the sufferer received frequent visits.
Her visits to the infirmary in Breitenfurt were mentioned earlier; these were
always occasions of consolation and joy for the sick. She often conversed about
the approaching hour of death and encouraged the reception of the Sacrament
for the dying. If she knew that one of her spiritual daughters in Breitenfurt was
near death she never neglected to drive there if it was at all possible, to give
the dying one a last sign of her love, to encourage her by pointing to heaven
and to give her motherly blessing, which she always gave her daughters at
farewells, as a good-bye until they would meet again in eternity. Her love,
however, reached even beyond the grave as she made sure that the departed
sister was immediately supported with prayer and Mass offerings; for this
reason, then as even today, the news of a sister’s death would be conveyed to
the Mother House by telegram and from there sent to every convent. This was
often followed by a letter describing the death of her spiritual daughter asking
for prayers for the deceased and the advice to take her death as a warning for
one’s own hour of death. Two of these letters follow here. In this way she
wrote on the feast of St. Aloysius in 1884 from Sarajevo:

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“To my spiritual daughters!

The good God has once again called a sister from our midst,
Sister Ferdinanda, who has been ill with pleurisy since May 10,
succumbed to her illness on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart at
7:45 in the evening. As I arrived in Sarajevo at 11:30 on the night
before she was overjoyed that she was able to see me once more but
said with very great certainty that she would die tomorrow, on the
Feast of the Sacred Heart, a grace which the good God granted her.
In the morning she confessed once more, received Holy Communion
with great devotion and was given general absolution. Then the
“messengers” of approaching death appeared. Almost the entire day
she suffered attacks of choking but remained fully conscious. At 6:30
in the evening the Archbishop gave her the Apostolic Blessing and,
kneeling by her bed, prayed aloud the Litany of the Sacred Heart. She
promised to pray for the intentions of the Congregation and then
passed peacefully and beautifully away to the edification of all.

Sister Ferdinanda was the first superior of Bethany and is in

God’s mysterious way also the first one to find her resting place in
the cemetery prepared for our sisters. Pray the prescribed prayers for
her, dear sisters, that the Lord may soon take her into the
blessedness of heaven. After such a beautiful preparation we can
hope that she will obtain a gracious judgment. Sister Ferdinanda is
the first tribute that death has claimed from our Congregation in
Bosnia; but she will surely be a special intercessor for the sisters
there.

Let us not forget, dear sisters, to take this death as a

warning from God, so that our deaths, also, will be well prepared.

God bless you, my dear sisters through the most Sacred

Heart of Jesus. This is the plea of your Mother,
Franziska Lechner”

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Another letter dated September 20, 1884 follows:

“To my spiritual daughters!

In God’s garden the hand of the Lord has plucked a blossom

which I and surely you, too, will miss painfully, but we know that the
one who planted it surely has the right to take it to Himself again.

My precious spiritual daughters! Your sister Maria Gregoria

is the one whom the Lord called to Himself on September 18, at 7:45
in the evening. Gregoria was one of the most noble souls of the
Congregation. She possessed the most gracious gifts of nature and
grace and therefore I had hoped that the Congregation would have
had an extraordinarily qualified sister in her. The Lord, however,
willed it differently and His will is in all cases adorable. In this good
soul we certainly have an intercessor in heaven. Sister prepared
herself for four full years to be able to do very much for the Lord and
was active in His vineyard for only four weeks. On the part of
superiors everything was done to save the precious life of this good
sister. The best doctors were consulted and no sacrifice refused. It was
all for nothing. On the day on which one month before, she had given
herself totally to Him through her vows, He called her to Himself.
Gregoria awaited the Lord with great longing. Her patience and
resignation were a wonderful example for her sisters; she never let a
complaint pass her lips, even though she had terrible pain to bear for
the last three weeks. She understood how to make her suffering
fruitful for heaven. She died fully conscious yearning and sighing for
the Divine Savior. Would that all of us were as fortunate to die so
beautifully and well-prepared! ‘Good life, good death!’ Let us take
these words to heart.
Pray devoutly the prescribed prayers for the peace of the deceased.
Franziska Lechner”

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As in these beautiful letters, it was customary for Mother Franziska to highlight
the virtues of her deceased sisters for her spiritual daughters and encouraged
them to imitation, which she considered the greatest way of honoring the dear
departed. How often she herself lovingly remembered them can be seen from a
saying from her last illness where she said that she had been so occupied with
various deceased sisters, whom she mentioned by name, that she felt a real
homesickness for them. She did not mourn the deceased with useless tears but
sought consolation in prayer whenever the Lord took again from her one of her
dear spiritual daughters. How much she wished to help those of her spiritual
daughters still possibly suffering in purgatory, we can see from the following
little characteristic of her noble heart. One day she recounted that she had
heard noises during the night in her room and, though she attributed this to
natural causes, she still had the thought that a poor soul wanted her attention.
Therefore, she called various deceased sisters by name, saying, “Come, if you
still need something and tell me!” Unfortunately she received no response,
though it would surely not have been something unusual.

Even though this Chapter told extensively of the maternal love of

Mother Franziska, it still was an insufficient recounting, and only those
fortunate enough to have been her children can really know the measure of
this great unselfish and self-forgetting love, but what has been said will give at
least a glimpse into her noble heart and aid in understanding that she totally
and in every way deserved the beautiful title “Mother”.

In the souvenir cabinet in Mother House in Vienna

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 Chapter XVII

Mother Franziska’s Piety, Humility and Trust in God

As already mentioned, Mother Franziska’s piety was simple,

unremarkable, but very profound. Her constant goal was God’s glory and she
wanted to think, speak, do and suffer all things for Him. The beginning of the
motto she chose for her Congregation, “All for God” and the quotation on the
wall of her room, “As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord” are
pointed witness to this mind set. Means to keep this goal in sight was the
frequent renewal of the good intention throughout the day and constant
remembrance of the presence of God, especially through the recital of short
spontaneous prayers. She often recommended to the sisters that they
immediately turn their thoughts to God upon awakening in the night and to use
time of sleeplessness for prayer. This constant walk in the presence of God
which she tried to promote in others was a great part of her own character.
This was evident in her speech which so often had God as its content. She never
tired of using even the slightest occasion to speak of His love and mercy and
expressing the gratitude that was His due. The saying, “From the fullness of the
heart does the tongue speak.” was realized in this sense in her. Mother
Franziska’s faith was unshakable, her hope unwavering, her love for God a
flame. Her devotion at prayer was most edifying. Apart from the Office Book,
she hardly ever used a prayer book. Gathering from her speech, her prayer was
usually contemplative or conversation with God, Mary and the Saints to whom
she brought all her intentions and opened the feelings of her heart. Since her
prie dieu in the Sisters’ choir put her in view of the windows above the altar,
depicting the holy Apostles Peter and Paul and the fresco on the sanctuary arch
of God the Father, she once remarked, “Earlier, Saint Peter and Saint Paul often
kept me occupied, but since the picture of God the Father was painted, He
often occupies me; with Him I can speak so well”. In any case, it was the
fatherly goodness, radiating from the countenance of God the Father, which
attracted her so much. More than anyone else, however, Mother Franziska
spoke with the Savior hidden in the tabernacle, for she herself did what she
constantly recommended to the sisters, an ever greater devotion to the Blessed
Sacrament, to bring all their concerns, to ask, to adore, to thank, to make
reparation for all the insults the Lord suffered from humanity. Her first walk in
the morning and her last at night was directed toward the Eucharistic Lord. She
was often the first one in the chapel or church in the early morning and was

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often found there during the day, even when the demands on her time allowed
only a short greeting. She often admonished her spiritual daughters to send the
Lord in the tabernacle a greeting and not to neglect this especially when
passing the house chapel or a church and during travels to greet the Lord even
when a church tower came into sight. Her greatest happiness consisted in
having a convent chapel with the Blessed Sacrament. So she wrote at the end
of February 1881 in the Chronicle of the Congregation, “During the Mardi Gras
there was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in six of our convents. This made
the authorities of the Congregation very happy. Oh, may we soon have the
happiness of having the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in all of our
houses!” This wish was in great part fulfilled to the great consolation of Mother
Franziska. The day on which the first Holy Mass was celebrated and the Blessed
Sacrament permitted to remain in a particular convent was always one of the
greatest joy for her and she often said that her feelings at such sacred moments
were indescribable. She often remarked how fortunate religious were to live
under the same roof with the Lord, to have daily Mass and to be allowed to
receive Holy Communion so frequently. She often underlined the love which
Jesus showed to humanity in instituting the Most Blessed Sacrament, speaking
with special enthusiasm on Holy Thursday and during the Octave of Corpus
Christi. These days were especially joy-filled and dear to her. Once when she
was holding a little retreat for the postulants from Holy Thursday to Holy
Saturday, she said, “Today you needn’t begin the silence just yet, but can talk a
while longer, because it is just too big a feast.” She gave special care to the
worthy adornment of chapels and would rather save money anywhere except
in what concerned the dwelling of God. She often called the church in the
Mother House a jewel box and wanted nothing there that would detract from
the harmony of the whole.
We mentioned earlier her glowing devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She
determined that every First Friday and every First Sunday in the month would
be days when the Holy Mass and Holy Communion received by the Sisters
would be in reparation for all the insults given the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament. The establishment of the Confraternity of the Sacred Heart
in the Mother House Church was very important to her and she was overjoyed
that the Sacred Heart Devotions were so well attended and that so many
persons joined the Confraternity. She wanted the devotion to the Sacred Heart
to be promoted especially among those in the care of the sisters.

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 Mother Franziska had a profound and intimate reverence for the
sufferings of the Lord; it was often the object of her meditation and she wanted
to firmly impress this practice also upon her spiritual daughters. A sign of this is
found in the letter of March 1, 1886, which she wrote to her spiritual daughters
soon after her return from Rome:

“While in Rome I visited the Church “Scala Santa” (Holy

Stairs) which have come from Jerusalem to Rome in a miraculous way.
Touched with holy trembling, on my knees I recalled step by step the
sufferings of our Redeemer. These thoughts evoked my deepest
sentiments--it had been here that the executioners led my Jesus to be
judged by Pilate. Here they unjustly accused the holiest of all holy men.
It was here that our Divine Savior stood, robed in a fool’s garment
placed upon Him by the godless Herod, who then sent Him in derision,
to face the people and Pilate. After being placed beside the murderer,
Barabbas, Jesus was sent away to be scourged and crowned with
thorns. Donned in a purple mantle, holding a reed in His tied hands,
covered with blood and having been presented to the crowd, here, on
the uppermost step, Jesus stood as Pilate pronounced the unjust
sentence of death. Considering the inexpressible sufferings of our Lord
as each of these steps was marked by His precious blood, my feelings
defy all description. As I contemplated all this I again had the thought:
‘Try to help the sisters vividly imagine your and their Spouse as He is
dragged up and down these stairs that they may very intimately
reverence these sufferings during the holy time of Lent’. I promised to
do so. Therefore, beginning on Ash Wednesday until Easter, the sisters
should spend five minutes after Mass contemplating this love of the
Savior. This image made a deep impression upon me. I asked the Lord at
each of the 28 steps to grant me and all those entrusted to me His
forgiveness through His infinite mercy and that His blood which flowed
so copiously upon these steps from His Sacred Body may bring us grace
and mercy from His Heavenly Father. After night prayers each Sister
should remain in chapel for an extra minute and ask herself, ‘Have I
today brought forth fruit from the sufferings of the Savior?’ and then to
renew the intention to avoid everything that could cause pain to the
loving Heart of Jesus. I await good fruit from this pious practice and you
surely will all experience the blessings from this devotion. I will pray and

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 also have prayers said so that all will take the scourged, wounded and
thorn-crowned Jesus the object of their meditation during Lent.

Do not forget to practice a childlike and trusting devotion this

month toward our good father, Saint Joseph. I remind you that our
Congregation has this year been placed under the special protection of
the Holy Family. Each Sister should do her utmost to promote devotion
to the Holy Family. God bless you all!

Your faithful mother,

Sister M. Franziska Lechner”

At the beginning of Lent in the year 1887 Mother Franziska wrote the following
beautiful letter to the sisters:

“As a common penance for Lent for all the Sisters I have determined
that they spend five minutes each day after night prayers considering
the terrible pain which the Divine Redeemer suffered at His nailing to
the cross. Place yourselves, dear Sisters, in spirit on Golgotha, at the
place where the heinous executioners threw Him down upon the cross in
order to nail Him to it. Let yourself see how Jesus willingly spreads His
hands and feet so that the fiends can carry out their inhuman task and
let yourself in spirit hear the pounding of the hammer. Then ask your
Jesus, covered with wounds and blood why He accepts these horrible
tortures and the Redeemer, fastened to the cross will look at you
through His blood-filled eyes with mercy and speak to your heart very
plainly: ‘You, also, my daughter, have contributed to these sufferings,
and I bear this martyrdom also for you.’ Let us then glance also at the
Mother of the Lord and appreciate her suffering. Oh, such a short
meditation will surely bear the best of fruits. We will surely act with
more awareness in order not to renew the sufferings of the Lord. Don’t
let us believe that small transgressions against the Holy Rule, small
infidelities cause no harm to our souls. Certainly! ‘The small foxes’, we
read in the Song of Songs, ‘have devastated the vineyard of the Lord’
etc. These little sins are pin pricks that wound the Divine Heart of Jesus.

Finally I ask each of my spiritual daughters to look into the

mirror. You know that I mean the Rule Book. There you will see how you

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 should look as good religious. Let us imprint its contents deeply into our
hearts, then we will also look like good religious women outwardly. May
the most adorable Heart of our Good Shepherd transform our own so
that He will gladly dwell therein and be able to continually replenish it
with the fullness of His grace. Help me to pray for this grace.

Pleading for the protection and blessing of the Triune God for
all my spiritual daughters, I am in love,
your spiritual mother,
Sister M. Franziska
Mother House, Sexagesima Sunday, 1887

In a circular dated on the feast of St. Leo, 1890, she wrote:

“That each Sister may better cherish her immortal soul, it is my

expressed will that she make her own the following pious practices.
Each evening when you lay down to rest, take your crucifix in hand and
contemplate the Redeemer for one minute and then to kiss each of the
five wounds praying, ‘Oh Thou Redeemer suffering and dying on the
cross for me, let your precious blood not be shed in vain for my poor
soul. Amen’

Every superior has the sacred obligation to remind the Sisters

often of this my wish. I believe that this practice will bring about the
best results.”

Mother Franziska’s profound meditation on the sufferings of

Jesus can be easily seen in the cited writings. Especially during the days of Holy
Week she was immersed in them as we can gather from an incident about a
year before her death. She said: “Earlier I used to remain awake the entire night
from Holy Thursday to Good Friday to contemplate the secret suffering of Jesus
in prison, but now my nerves are so weakened that sleep always overtakes
me.” She encouraged the Sisters also in this night, upon awakening to
immediately direct their thoughts to the suffering Jesus in prison. As faithful
daughters of Holy Church, clinging to her with her entire soul and childlike
submission, she involved herself totally in all the feasts of the year and
celebrated each one in the manner that conformed totally to the spirit of the
Catholic Church.

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 To the Holy Spirit Mother Franziska also cultivated a fervent
devotion as can be seen from the novenas and prayers mandated before
Pentecost and important events in the Congregation such as General Chapters
as well as before Reception and Profession ceremonies.

So she wrote on the Feast of Saint Teresa, 1890:

“On November 22 will be the election of the General Assistants,

whereupon other important things must be discussed. So that the Holy
Spirit may lead and guide these all, there shall be held for the nine
preceding days, a novena consisting of an Our Father and the prayer,
‘Come, Holy Spirit’ and in every house wherever it is possible there
should be a Mass in honor of the Holy Spirit at which the sisters receive
Holy Communion for the intention that the election of the General
Assistants be successful and that with God’s help everything in the
governance of the Congregation lead to the greater glory of God.”

She recommended that the Sisters call upon the Holy Spirit
before every more important undertaking and it can be seen that she herself
did so because the support of the Holy Spirit was so evident in her governing of
the Congregation.

Mother Franziska’s childlike reverence for Mary whom she chose

as her own Mother and that of the Congregation and that for Saint Joseph,
whom she made the “master of the house” were already mentioned earlier.
When she was in particular financial need, she hung the purse on the little
statue of Saint Joseph in the community room and he never left her firm trust
in his intercession unrewarded. Mother Franziska also honored the holy
Archangels very much, especially Saint Michael, whom she chose as protector
of the Congregation. Whenever a storm threatened it from within or without
she constantly took refuge with this holy Archangel and with the sisters
directed a very beautiful prayer to him which she took with her on her
visitation journeys and liked to pray with her spiritual daughters in the mission
houses. She called Saint Peter a very dear saint because his love for the Lord
was so great that he often didn’t think clearly before speaking and admired his
deep repentance for his failings while having sympathy for his rashness which
sometimes brought upon him an admonition from the divine Master, for
example, to the question about what would happen to John, the reply: “If I

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want that he remain until I come, what is it to you? You follow me!” and to the
question: “Lord, shall we fight with the sword?” the reply, “Sheath your sword.
All who take the sword shall die by the sword”. She liked it when these things
were discussed even during recreation and once instructed the sisters to write
out all the Bible verses in which Jesus spoke with Peter including those that
contained a reprimand for Peter. Mother Franziska also gave great importance
to honoring Saint Augustine as Father of the Rule of the Congregation, her
patron Saint, Francesca Romana, the great religious Founders and Foundresses
such as Saint Ignatius and Saint Teresa among others and she recommended
these to her own also. With the novices she tried to promote devotion to Saint
Stanislaus Kostka, and among the pupils that to Saint Aloysius. She
recommended that the sisters often call on the patron Saints of their respective
countries. On trips especially, she often said, as soon as another border was
crossed and a new country reached, “Let us commend ourselves to the Patron
Saints of Moravia and Silesia, that they may protect us,”.

It was not only with the triumphant members, but also with the
suffering Church that Mother Franziska stood in intimate contact in that she
often prayed for and had prayers said for the poor souls, often experiencing in
a marvelous way, their intercession for important intentions.

Mother Franziska’s piety was consistent with her humility.

Whatever happened through her she ascribed to God alone, giving Him all the
honor and considered herself only His unworthy instrument. When honors and
distinctions were given her she often said, “This is not counted toward
Franziska Lechner, but people only do this because I represent the
Congregation.” She meant by this that it was not her person but the office of
superior general that was honored and her words in this regard were not just
empty talk, but spoken with conviction. In humility she would not let herself be
addressed as “Reverend Mother”, but only as “Mother” during the time when,
as superior general, she could choose her own title and was not bound by the
Constitutions which, at their approval commanded expressly that the title of
the superior general be “Reverend Mother”. Her humility also never permitted
her to allow a better material for her clothing as that used by the sisters. She
was equally undemanding with regard to her room which contained only the
most necessary objects. Mother Franziska fearlessly guarded the rights of the
Congregation and when necessary could speak the truth to anyone, with
modesty but without fear of individuals, but neither did she neglect to correct

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immediately or to ask pardon if she realized that she had made a mistake or
said too much. If in any convent there happened some neglect with regard to
some civic ordinance it was usually Mother Franziska who took it upon herself
to correct the situation. The following event gives a pointed witness of her
humility. Mother Franziska found herself in the convent in Dolnja-Tuzla during
the weekly confession day and wanted also to go to confession with the sisters,
but the Pastor, the. Confessor, knew very little German and Mother Franziska
knew very little of the Bosnian language and there was no other opportunity to
confess in German. Since she did not want to miss the opportunity to receive
Holy Communion, she made a quick decision. She took with her a sister who
knew the Bosnian language and told the priest that if he could not hear her
confession in German, she was prepared to have the accompanying Sister
translate her confession. The priest would not permit this humiliation,
however, but responded that, since Mother Franziska could assure him that she
was not conscious of serious sin, confession in her native language would be
sufficient for absolution. The greatness of soul and the courage of Mother
Franziska in the presence of the cross and suffering of which we spoke earlier
had their roots in her profound humility in which she always bent herself
beneath God’s hand in the conviction that whatever He would send would
always be the best. Her unshakeable trust in God was always united with her
profound humility in that feelings of personal powerlessness caused her simply
to throw herself completely in God’s arms and to cast all her cares upon Him.
Since this trust in God radiated from all her activities, there remains only to tell
of some examples to show how it was often rewarded in noteworthy ways.

In the year 1869 as the Marienanstalt in Vienna was being

renovated the carpenters’ foreman came on Holy Thursday asking for pay for
his workers who wanted to go home for the holidays. Mother Franziska gave
him all the money she had in the house, hoping that God would replace it soon.
Afterward, however, she did have the thought that it was perhaps irresponsible
to give him all the money, since she had nothing to give the sisters and those in
her charge for the holiday. She did not however give in to this doubt. Not long
thereafter, the extern sister of the Redemptorist Convent came with a gift of
five gulden from the superior. And so again came sufficient help for the next
few days.

Another time some sisters were to go soliciting but their shoes

were in tatters; Mother Franziska told them that they should have them

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repaired, but the sisters replied that they unfortunately did not have a second
pair to wear in the meantime. Good advice was useless here. The next day,
however, help came in a wonderful way. A boy arrived at the door with a large
package of shoes in various sizes saying that they were for the convent. Upon
further questioning he simply replied that everything was taken care of and
could not be persuaded either to reveal the name of the donor nor to except a
tip for himself. Which benefactor God had used to give this help never came to
light.

When the Marian Institute in Troppau was to be purchased,

Mother Franziska was ready for the trip but had no money to make even a first
payment. At exactly the right time a new postulant arrived bringing a dowry
which was enough to make the necessary payment. With joyful gratitude
Mother Franziska took the sum and entered the carriage that was already
waiting to take her to the train station.

One day a man came to the door wanting to sell two statues,
one of Mary and one of Saint Joseph. Mother Franziska would gladly have
purchased them but was lacking the money. She asked the man to return in the
afternoon and with her usual childlike piety said, “Dear Mother of God and
Saint Joseph, if you want to come into our house you will have to send us the
money for the purchase.” Her prayer was heard; In the afternoon, before the
seller had returned, a check arrived with the necessary sum and without
revealing the name of the donor; Mother Franziska could draw no other
conclusion than that Mary and Saint Joseph had inspired the unknown donor to
give this support,

At Christmas, 1873 Mother Franziska was to pay the builder

Friedi 600 gulden for the work at the Refuge of Saint Joseph in Breitenfurt. She
hadn’t even enough money however to buy a little Christmas surprise for those
entrusted to her which hurt her maternal heart very much. It was such a
sacrifice for some of the young novices not to find any little gift at all on
Christmas Eve that they began to cry. The kind but serious words of Mother
Franziska that she thought she had more virtuous, more mortified novices,
soon conquered the tears. The good God rewarded the sacrifice; Mother
Franziska had assured the Sisters that the money for the builder would surely
come and her words were verified. Unexpectedly a letter came from a Dean in

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Westphalen containing a donation of 600 gulden, that is, exactly the amount
that was absolutely needed.

On October 30, 1878 the butcher Kaspar Zeller from Staudham in

Bavaria brought six cows and three calves which had been ordered for the
Refuge in Breitenfurt. Mother Franziska was very worried because she had not
yet scratched together the full sum to pay for them. Her trust in God did not
waver in this instance either and see! She was not put to shame. Unexpectedly
a support payment of 200 gulden arrived from His Majesty Emperor Franz
Joseph, exactly the amount that was still needed to pay the butcher’s bill.

Most remarkable was the following incident. In May 1887

Mother Franziska needed a sum to make a payment; she searched in the
money drawer, but what she needed was not there. She kept paper money in a
brown strong box and this, too, was empty as witnessed not only by Mother
Franziska but also by her first secretary. Since the payment was so truly urgent,
they searched through everything again the next morning to see if there really
wasn’t any money to be found. Wonder of wonders, in the brown strong box
there lay 300 gulden in new banknotes. This find produced the greatest
astonishment. Mother Franziska had been certain that God would help, but she
did not expect the help to come in this way. She and her secretary had
ascertained that the box was empty and Mother Franziska had the key with her
in her room so that no one could have gotten into the box. Everyone in the
house was questioned but no one knew anything about the money. They
waited until the end of the month before entering it into the account books,
waiting for some explanation, but in vain. So there was nothing to be done but
to write on May 31, 1887 at the monthly accounting, as can be seen to this day,
“In an inexplicable way, 300 gulden were found in the strong box”. No one is
here making a demand to believe in a miracle but it was a wonderful help of
God and reward for Mother Franziska’s firm trust and in spite of the most
thorough examination, there is no explanation of where the sum in the cash
box had come from. The box has been saved; Mother Franziska often calling it
jokingly her “multiplication box”.

On June 8, 1893 Mother Franziska experienced God’s help again,

if not in such a miraculous, yet still in a notable way. That day she had to make
a large interest payment on a loan and, as usual, the till was exhausted. Mother
Franziska explained to her secretaries that the money would certainly come,

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and went into her room which adjoined the secretariat. Since the door was not
completely shut the secretaries heard her praying aloud, “On you Oh Lord, I
have set my hope, I will not be put to shame!” Not long after a messenger came
with a letter from a benefactor containing 200 florins. Mother Franziska’s joy
was great but this was only one seventh of the amount needed. However she
said only, “Just wait children, you will see that the money will come!” And she
was right--even before the morning had ended a second letter arrived with the
amount of 2000 florins, a totally unexpected contribution that a Pastor had
sent from the estate of an elderly lady in Breitenfurt, in payment for her
lifelong care. Now there was more than enough.

There are other similar stories. What is noteworthy is that the

good God almost always let the situation come to the most urgent need and
only helped at the decisive moment. As Mother Franziska had previously asked
in humble trust, so the grace received only confirmed her humility because she
held that we are always beggars before God and as such must always return
humble thanks for His favors. She never neglected to recount the graces
received at such occasions to those in her charge in order to encourage them to
gratitude toward God and to strengthen their trust.

It was Mother Franziska’s piety, humility and trust in God that

allowed her to do such great work for God’s glory and for the welfare of others
and she was often compared to the virtuous woman in Scripture and many
sermons after her death by priests who knew her and her work used as a
theme: “A perfect woman--who can find her? She is far beyond the price of
pearls. Advantage and not hurt she brings all the days of her life--she sets her
hand to the distaff--she holds out her hand to the poor, she opens her arms to
the needy,--She is clothed in strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to
come. When she opens her mouth, she does so wisely; on her tongue is kindly
instruction, She keeps good watch on the conduct of her household, no bread
of idleness for her. Her children stand up and proclaim her blessed.--Charm is
deceitful and beauty empty; the woman who is wise is the one to praise. Give
her a share in what her hands have worked for , and let her works tell her
praises at the city gates.”

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Maria Hilf where Mother Franziska died as seen today

Crypt Chapel in cemetery in Breitenfurt

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 CHAPTER XVIII

Mother Franziska’s Last Illness

Bestowal of the Gold Cross of Merit with Crown,
Initiation of the Foundation in Stossing,
her Death.

After the beautiful celebration of the Jubilee, the “Silver

Anniversary of the Foundation” was over, the Sisters who had come only for
the occasion of the Feast, leaving on November 22, said their farewells to
Mother Franziska. The rest, however, began their retreat that evening. This was
meant to be a fitting beginning for the second quarter-century of the
Congregation’s ministry. Although she didn’t feel well, Mother Franziska still
visited Count Erich Kielmannsegg, in order to thank him for his presence at the
Jubilee Mass. She returned home from this visit totally exhausted, but did not
want to retire, going instead to the community room where the retreatants
were assembled. She told them about the above mentioned visit, but felt so
unwell that she regretfully had to go to bed rather than be with the sisters
during retreat as was her custom. She admonished them, however, to make a
good retreat. “This time the flu really got me,” she noted. Tears had come into
her eyes as she gave these words of advice, which for many sisters were to be
the last they would hear from their dear Mother and her daughters also, could
not avoid weeping at the anxious premonition which they could not deny. Not
long after, Mother Franziska had the perpetually professed sisters summoned
to the Chapter Room. As all had gathered, she became visibly moved, knelt at
the bottom step of the reader’s podium and, with folded hands, said aloud:
“My dear sisters, I beg your forgiveness if I have hurt one or the other of you in
the past twenty-five years. I never meant harm to anyone.” The tears
prevented all further speech. The sisters were deeply touched and did not
know what they should think or say, they, too, began to weep, and before they
could recover enough to speak, Mother Franziska had quickly gone. Sister
Helene followed her to her room and asked, “But Mother, why have you caused
such an upset?” whereupon she replied, “I know why I did it. I had to do it
because I will not see the sisters again.” Then she went to bed. The doctor who
was called confirmed a serious influenza with lung congestion. Her condition
worsened during the coming days to the point that the sisters leaving after the
retreat could not come to her room to say their good-byes. She coughed so
much and was so exhausted that the excitement surely would have harmed

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her. Only the superiors were permitted to come for a very short time, and what
she had said came true, “I will not see the sisters again.” With heavy hearts
these left the Mother House which they had entered with so much joy. Had the
sisters really believed that they would never again see their Mother, there
would certainly have been more tears than there were anyway because of
having to leave without seeing her personally. Storm novenas were begun in all
the mission houses. At the end of the month it seemed as if the prayers were to
be heard; Mother Franziska, who never could stand being in bed for any length
of time, and who, during her entire five-month illness, never spent any entire
day there, recovered enough to travel to the Refuge in Breitenfurt on
December 3. She hoped that the country air would do her good. Unfortunately,
however, the raw temperature did not agree with her and she had to be
brought back to Vienna after just a few days. The sisters were naturally very
disturbed by this turn of events and the prayers for their dear Mother were
continued with renewed fervor.

The month of December, in spite of everything, brought a happy

event. His Majesty deigned to honor Mother Franziska’s untiring and charitable
work with the bestowal of the Golden Cross of Merit with Crown. On December
15 all the newspapers in Vienna carried the news and immediately the first
congratulations arrived from various officials. Mother Franziska had not yet any
intimation of the great honor since it was feared that even happy excitement
could be harmful. It was only on the next day that they told her and handed her
the congratulatory messages. Her humility prevented her from ever expecting
such an honor. She rejoiced over it, however, not for her own sake, but for that
of the Congregation, whose works gained recognition through this great honor.
The favor and graciousness of His Majesty touched her deeply and she wanted
very much to thank him and at the same time give him a copy of the Chronicle
of the Congregation, which her illness had prevented her from doing until now.
The news of this honor that came to Mother Franziska caused great joy among
her spiritual daughters and a like joy was shared by all the friends of the
Congregation. Congratulations came from every direction. The date for the
formal bestowal of the Cross of Merit on Mother Franziska, at which His
Excellency Bishop Angerer wished to officiate, was set for January 2, her
birthday. By that date she hoped to have gotten over her illness, and this date
was also selected because Mother Franziska wanted those sisters who would
come from the mission houses for Christmas and retreat to have the joy of
participating at the ceremony too. Actually, there was some improvement in

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her condition so that she could walk around quite steadily. She even came to
the retreat in order that, in spite of not being able to be with them in her
accustomed manner, she could at least be seen by the sisters. She also had the
play, “St. Peter at the Gate of Heaven”, prepared for the Jubilee, performed
before the retreat in order to give a kind of consolation gift to the sisters who
had not been able to be present for the celebration. Visitors also began coming,
to congratulate not only for the honor but also on her recovery and she
received them with her usual charm. Joy reigned in the Congregation and all
the sisters believed that their dear Mother would soon be fully restored. But
things were to turn out differently. During the night of December 30 to 31, the
sister sleeping in the next room heard Mother Franziska ring and hurried in to
find her bathed in perspiration and suffering a stabbing pain in the chest
region. It was a relapse. The doctor was very concerned, more so because a
pneumonia had been added to the influenza. Two other skilled doctors were
called, beside the house doctor and they too considered the situation grave.
More and more the concern for this precious life grew throughout the
Congregation. Many devotions were called for and the pupils and friends of the
Congregation united their prayers with those of the sisters, and everything was
done that could restore health, but God had decreed otherwise. It is true that
the pneumonia was cured, but Mother Franziska slowly deteriorated; not only
her lungs, but her heart and liver were also involved and she had much to
suffer. Nights were sleepless and she could take very little nourishment, mostly
only liquids and her weakened stomach could hardly handle these. Therefore
her strength decreased with each day. In these circumstances the bestowal of
the Imperial honor had to be postponed indefinitely, and it really was never to
come about. Mother Franziska bore her many pains with much patience.

Weekly Holy Communion, which she always received with the

greatest devotion, was brought to her several times, giving her consolation and
strength and a total abandonment to God’s holy will. Her self control and self
forgetfulness were evident even during these days. As soon as she half-way
could she did not remain in bed, but got up and sat beside it or walked slowly
around the room, praying the Rosary. She also was happy when someone
would pray or read aloud for her. She often went into the adjoining secretariat
even though she was no longer able to work, at least watching the sisters who
were busy there and conversing with them in her usual maternal way.
Sometimes, when she was feeling somewhat better she left her room very
quietly so that the sisters in the next room wouldn’t notice and went to the

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community room on the second floor. She sat with her dear daughters who
were there, asked about different things and inquired, especially of the
soliciting sisters, how they were coming along. These visits of course, caused
great joy. Later, when the sisters on the third floor discovered that she was
gone and, fearing that it was too strenuous, went looking for her, she would
only smile like a mischievous child and enjoy the fact that she had succeeded in
“escaping” them. While suffering her own pain she was still concerned in a
maternal way about others in the house who were ill. In this way, a sister in the
next room who was ill with a severe throat infection heard her often inquiring
about and sympathizing with her. The sisters from Prague had borrowed a
gown of the miraculous Infant there and sent it to Mother Franziska so that she
could place it on herself. She sent this also to the other sick sister along with
the message that she should confidently pray to the holy Child Jesus for a
speedy recovery. This sister’s prayer was granted, while for Mother Franziska
the improvement was to be of brief duration. With the same sympathy she
inquired about another sister in the infirmary and sent her little treats which
had been given to herself. The illness of a third sister, who had had to endure a
serious head operation, was kept from her because they knew she would have
been too upset. In the same way Mother Franziska always had a maternal
concern that the sisters entrusted with her care would be overworked and then
would also become ill on her account. She, herself, was as undemanding as
ever. She also would not let it be said that her illness was the consequence of
too strenuous efforts and that she should have spared herself. When Sister
Helene once made a remark to that effect she replied, “I know that I have had
only twenty-five years to work and I told myself, “Lechner, work as much as you
can!” These words again demonstrate that she did not conceal from herself the
nearness of her death; she was not, after all afraid and it was only concern for
the future of her young Congregation which often depressed her. Her
occasional remarks in this vein revealed why she sometimes sat in a thoughtful
way with lowered glance; but this intention, too, she confided to the care of the
Lord and never neglected to give the sisters instructions and advice for the
future appropriate to their responsibilities. Since for her part she knew she had
done all she could, she was able not only to be peaceful and resigned, but, in
spite of her suffering, to also let her happy disposition appear and to make
joking remarks. So she often pointed out when she saw the sisters busy caring
for her, that she had now become a great lady being served by ladies-in-
waiting. She completely rejected the idea that someone should offer
themselves to suffer in her stead. When some sisters said to the patient that

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they would like to offer themselves to God for her, she became very energetic
and countered severely: “No, you must not do that! You are still young and can
do many things for the Congregation, I am old anyway and can not do much
more. Don’t say that to me again!”

On March 2 Mother Franziska received a letter from His

Eminence Cardinal Protector Serfin Vannutelli which filled her with great joy. It
follows:

“Good and Reverend Mother!

In the esteemed name of the Holy Father Leo XIII I send you a
special apostolic blessing applicable to all the houses of your Institute,
to all the sisters and novices, all the girls and other persons who are so
lovingly supported by the Daughters of Divine Charity. May this blessing
of the common Father of all believers be rich with the choicest graces
and carry great consolation for you and your entire Congregation! And
truly it must be unutterably consoling for you, seeing at the recent
celebration of the twenty-fifth year of the founding of the institute of
the Daughters of Divine Charity the voices of the highest powers, the
Pope and the Emperor united in the same gratitude and praise of your
work--the one to bless you and sanctify you, the other to honor and
crown you with imperial graciousness.

Remember, however, Reverend Mother, that this work is

much more the work of God than it is yours; of yourself you could have
done nothing. The merciful God has used you as a poor instrument in
order to found and bring to life the Institute of the Daughters of Divine
Charity. The more humble you are, the less you rely on your own
strength, so much the more will you trust in the Divine power and mercy
and the more the Lord will protect and enrich with His grace your
Congregation and all its houses.

This beautiful virtue of holy humility, united with great trust

in God, is that which is recommended to you Reverend Mother and to all
the good sisters, Daughters of Divine Charity, in a special way by,

Your earnest protector

Serfin Cardinal Vannutelli
Rome, February 27, 1894

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 The extraordinary favor and graciousness of the Holy Father with
which he sent his blessing to Mother Franziska, not only for the jubilee, but
blessing her again on the occasion of the bestowal of the honor, as well as the
beautiful contents of the letter which echoed exactly the sentiments of her own
heart, moved her to tears. She immediately had copies of the letter made and
sent to all the mission houses. Another occasion of joy for Mother Franziska
was the news that came from the house in Krakow that His Eminence
Cardinal—Prince Dunajewski had celebrated a Mass there in the convent
chapel on her name day, March 9. On that occasion His Eminence had inquired
about Mother Franziska’s condition. Archbishop Stadler of Sarajevo frequently
did the same and promised his prayers for the patient. On March 17, His
illustrious Highness the reigning Prince Johann von and zu Lichtenstein sent one
of his counselors to the Mother House to ask about Mother Franziska’s health.
On a trip to Italy, in Venice, he had read of her illness in the newspaper and
immediately sent a telegram to one of his officials in Vienna for news about
how things were with her. The return telegram did not reach him, however,
before he left Venice and so he sent this same person to the Mother House as
soon as he himself returned to get first-hand news of the sick. These signs of
sympathy coming from so many sides, demonstrating how beloved their
Mother was by everyone was a great consolation for the sisters.

On March 19 a long-held wish was fulfilled in that a decisive step

toward the foundation of the present convent in Stossing near St. Polten, with
an agricultural domestic science school, was taken. A pious couple in Stossing
had had the desire for one and one-half years to erect a convent on their
property and shared this wish with Mother Franziska. She had been there once
and looked at the property and was extraordinarily pleased with the beautiful
mountainous region; but the affair had not been finalized. Now, however, the
couple was serious in their intention and since they and Mother Franziska both
wanted a quick conclusion, they had decided to seal the deal on the feast of St.
Joseph. And so it was. Mother Franziska was very ill on that day, but she called
upon all her strength to go to the secretariat and be present for the conclusion
and to sign the contracts. Thereafter she had to return immediately to bed
because she could hardly stand. Nonetheless she was overjoyed about this
ministry that came into being, especially since she thought this mission in the
mountain air would be a good place for sick sisters to recuperate. She asked the
sisters to thank God and St. Joseph for the happy conclusion and for both of the
benefactors of the new foundation.

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 Since beautiful spring weather had come in the meantime,
Mother Franziska undertook short outings once in a while. The doctors had
urgently advised a stay in fresh air and therefore it was decided to take the
patient as soon as possible to Breitenfurt. Mother Franziska herself yearned for
this and wished to go not to the Refuge, St. Joseph, but to the convalescent
home “Maria Hilf” because she preferred to be undisturbed and among the
sisters alone. Since patients were taken for the summer into the convalescent
home only at the beginning of May, this house was very suited for the care of
the sick one, more so as her increasing weakness made walking difficult and
here only a few steps took her to the garden. Still it was decided to wait until
after the Easter holidays for the trip. On Holy Saturday Mother Franziska’s two
secretaries took turns staying with her during the church services; on this
occasion she again expressed herself very clearly about her approaching death.
She told one of the secretaries that, she should come to Breitenfurt as soon as
she felt a little better; she wanted to give her the missing parts of the
Congregation’s chronicle, which had been neglected in the past year because of
Mother Franziska’s illness, before she died. When sister replied that God would
surely hear all the prayers and let her recover again she shook her head in the
negative. Mother Franziska in fact, was never able to carry out the above
mentioned work. On one of the Easter holidays Mother Franziska took her last
brief walk in the Mother House garden. Going down the stairs was extremely
difficult. At every landing she had to sit down on a prepared chair to rest in
order to be able to continue. The sisters who were just then recreating in the
garden were very happy to see their beloved spiritual Mother coming, all the
more because they could now see her only seldom as it was considered
necessary to avoid every exertion. In order to protect the patient somewhat
from the wind they formed a line against the church wall and Mother Franziska
went up and down looking at them sadly and almost in farewell. Then she had
to be taken again to her room because of great fatigue. The trip to Breitenfurt
was set for the Tuesday after Easter, March 27, at 1:00 P.M. Mother Franziska
anxiously awaited the departure and since she insisted, they left an entire hour
earlier. As she left her room she turned to let her glance once more sweep over
it and the expression in that look made it clear that she was saying good-bye.
This farewell moved her painfully and caused her to be very upset. Before she
climbed into the carriage she said to the sisters, “I will not return!” In the
carriage she seemed more dead than alive. There was one more glance for her
weeping daughters--for many it was to be the last--and then the carriage drove
out the gate. As this closed it seemed to the sisters no different than if it had

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closed on the coffin of their Mother. They all went into the church to hold a
holy hour for the patient’s trip. Just as Mother Franziska drove away Sister
Helene, who knew nothing of the earlier departure date, came from the Marian
Institute to say good-bye. Mother Franziska had promised that she would wait
and she was very sad about coming too late. When she inquired at a later visit
to Breitenfurt why Mother Franziska had left so early, the latter replied, “Child,
I had to drive away as quickly as possible; I felt I would not be able to leave and
I didn’t want to trouble you by dying there.” With these words she meant the
various inconveniences and costs which would be involved with transporting
the deceased from Vienna to the sisters’ cemetery in Breitenfurt. How far-
seeing were her maternal love and care!

The superior of the Mother House, Sister Ignazia Egger and the
Novice Mistress, Sister Monika Baumann, accompanied the patient to
Breitenfurt; Sister Monika was to remain there to devote herself full time to her
care. During the entire two-hour drive Mother Franziska was very serious and
spoke very little. When they arrived at the convalescent house she had to be
placed immediately into bed because of her great fatigue; toward evening,
however, she felt fairly well and even the usual evening fever hadn’t recurred.
The fresh air and the quiet of the countryside seemed in general to be so good
for her that the sisters again dared to hope for a healing for their dear Mother.
She, herself, did not count on it; on the first visit of the doctor whose regular
visits to the Refuge in Breitenfurt included the Convalescent Home in the spring
and summer months, she said, “Doctor, it isn’t necessary for you to come here
twice a week, it would have no more use for me now anyway; you have other
sick who need your visit much more.” Mother Franziska kept herself in the
garden as much as her condition and the weather would permit. She was
usually cheerful, always patient, grateful for every service and obedient as a
child to her caregivers. Her maternal concern was evident even in her very last
days. One of the sisters, in her concern for Mother Franziska had overheated
the room on a cool day so that the temperature climbed too high; when
another sister remarked about this Mother Franziska strictly forbade her to
mention it to the offending sister so that she would not be hurt. Another time
they told her that the chickens had gotten into the flower beds so carefully
planted by Sister Sebastiana Thanheiser who was in charge of the garden, and
had scratched up all the seeds. At her next outing in the garden Mother
Franziska asked to be led to the flower beds to see the damage; then she began
to weep and said, “Poor Sebastiana! She made such a great effort and now they

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have scratched up everything!” That Mother Franziska could weep about such a
little thing was surely a result of her illness and its accompanying weakness but
it also showed the love of her heart which shared even the smallest troubles of
her spiritual daughters. On April 2 young Sister Gorgonia Neubauer died of
tuberculosis in the Refuge. After Mother Franziska had received the news she
often during the day looked in the direction of the Refuge and said, “There she
lies, the fortunate one!” On the evening before the funeral she mentioned that
she must get up early the next day because she wanted to look out as the
funeral procession passed. The sisters, however, did not want to permit this
and Mother Franziska with her usual acquiescence let herself be persuaded by
their reasoning.

The patient spent much time in prayer. She often prayed the
Rosary with fervent devotion. In the afternoon the sisters had to assemble at
her wish in the chapel to pray in common the Litany of Our Lady of Perpetual
Help. Before this the connecting doors between Mother Franziska’s room and
the chapel were opened so that she could join in the prayer. She also had the
Litany of St. Joseph prayed daily. She had a reliquary crucifix that was once
brought to her from Altotting and which she considered very precious; she had
the names of those Saints whose relics were contained in the cross written on a
piece of paper in order to recite those names often, adding “pray for us”. She
had this little ‘homemade’ litany prayed aloud daily for her so that she could
respond. Mother Franziska was no longer concerned about the events
happening in the world, she had lost all interest in these things. The only thing
she wanted to have read for her were the answered prayers reported in the
Sacred Heart Messenger. On Sundays Father Gruber came from the Jesuit
College in Kalksburg in order to say Mass which Mother Franziska was able to
attend via the opened connecting door. On these occasions she always received
the Sacraments with her usual devotion. On one Sunday, after Holy Mass she
asked the sisters, “Don’t you see something different about me?” As they
replied, “Yes, that Mother is so merry”, she said, “Today at the consecration I
offered myself to God that He may do with me what He wills!” The inner joy
from this total self-gift to God was evident the entire day as an enduring,
extraordinary joy. On April 10 Sister Helene came to visit Mother Franziska; she
told of an acquaintance, a lady who was making a journey to Lourdes and had
offered to take the intentions of the sisters in a letter to the shrine. In this
regard she asked Mother Franziska if she didn’t also have a request. She
replied, “No, I am finished with everything; Sunday at Mass and Holy

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Communion I arranged everything with God.” Although she was, as these
words demonstrate, totally resigned and prepared for her last hour, she little
thought as did the sisters, that this was so near. Even the doctor found no
evidence of imminent danger. Some days before her death Mother Franziska
asked the sisters to begin with her a novena to St. Jude the patron of difficult
cases, adding that “He will surely do the right thing.” Of course, her wishes
were followed. On the 11th Monsignor Sixt came from Vienna to visit Mother
Franziska and she spoke for a long time and very cheerfully with him. This was
also the case when the Church Director Kummer came from the Mother House
to her in Breitenfurt. To him she also made her confession--the last; in spite of
all persuasive words that she could confess in her room, she wouldn’t but went
instead to the chapel. On the same day Sister Ignazia also visited the patient.
On the 13th in the early morning the spiritual director Viktor Parizek from the
Refuge came to say Mass and to give Mother Franziska Holy Communion. On
the 14th, the day of her death, the patient felt very tired after having left her
bed for awhile; her face was constantly bathed in perspiration. This had not
happened before and she expressed surprise about it. She returned to bed and
Sister Monika bathed her with a mixture of water and vinegar after which she
slept well for an hour. Upon awakening she felt a renewed strength and
therefore got up again. She took some sour milk, which had become her main
nourishment at the end, and then made her customary visit to the chapel and
the garden. Although she was normally supported by two sisters, this time it
was sufficient for her secretary, Sister Blandine Weis, whom Mother Franziska
had called to Breitenfurt because of her own fragile health, to lead her lightly
by the hand. The sisters were all marveling that their Mother was so lively and
she herself joked about her own pluckiness. She also happily awaited the
expected visit of her nieces, Sister Annunziata and Sister Gonzaga, who were to
arrive that evening in Vienna from Brunn and were to come the next day to her
in Breitenfurt. As she noticed how Sister Monika and Sister Valentine Loppl
often went in and out, preparing for the visit, she joked: “But you would think
that princesses were coming. Just wait, tomorrow I will betray you and tell my
nieces what you have carried on!” After a longer time in the garden Mother
Franziska returned to her room. Sister Monika and Sister Blandine stayed with
her awhile and in the course of the conversation the former told of a dream she
had had the night before:

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 His Majesty, the Emperor had come to visit in the Mother House
which was festively decorated and Mother Franziska, in spite of her illness,
guided His Majesty through the house. The patient, on hearing this remarked,
“The poor Emperor!” and with these words tears came to her eyes, surely
thinking of the many sad blows of fate he had suffered and which she had
always greatly shared in sympathy, and also the many benefits he had shown
the Congregation. These tears, too, were a sign of her noble heart. After a while
Mother Franziska went to the adjoining porch which faced the garden. Sister
Sebastiana came from the Refuge on her way to the cemetery in order to
restore the sisters’ graves after the winter. As she spent a short time in the
garden of the convalescent home Mother Franziska called to her asking where
she was going and inquiring in the light of the long way sister had to go and the
work that the many graves required and that she wouldn’t pass by again for
many hours, with her maternal concern, whether she had taken any
refreshment and sent her for this purpose to the kitchen. This was about 11
o’clock in the morning; at about 11:30 the patient once again felt very weak
and therefore said that she was going to lie down again and. that Sister Monika
would please again bathe her with vinegar water, since that always perked her
up. While disrobing she could hardly remain on her feet; during the bathing she
was suddenly stricken by an attack of coughing and the almost daily nausea.
After she lost the milk she had drunk earlier there came a hemorrhage, slowly
at first and then more and more. In great excitement Sister Monika hurried to
the kitchen for salt water while Sister Blandine stayed with the patient. At first
the blood came in dark clumps, and only later came light-colored blood. During
a pause Mother Franziska gave a strange look to Sister Blandina as if she
wanted to say something, but she could no longer speak because another
hemorrhage had begun. As she hurried by, Sister Monika called to Sister
Valentine working in the next room that she should go immediately to Mother
Franziska and called to Sister Leonharda Angermeier working near the fountain,
that she should go quickly to the Refuge, 15--minutes distant, to call the
chaplain and the sisters. As Sister Valentine entered she knew immediately that
the dear patient was dying. In her panic she called, “My Jesus, mercy! Mother
Most Admirable, help! Mother! Mother!” and took the dying one in her arms.
Again she glanced around a number of times, showing clearly that she was
conscious in her last moments. In the meantime Sisters Monika and Luzia
Eschler coming from the kitchen and seeing that nothing could be done, hurried
to the chapel for a candle, but could hardly light it because of their trembling
hands. Sister Monika pressed the candle into Mother Franziska’s hand and the

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crucifix to her lips. Immediately she passed away, peacefully, without struggle,
without changing her expression in the least; she closed her own eyes and.
there was not even the usual death tear. All this happened in less that a quarter
of an hour. By 11:45 Mother Franziska was gone. The sisters stood stunned and
hardly knew what had happened. In the meantime Sister Leonharda had arrived
in the Refuge where the news naturally caused a great and general dismay. The
carriage was waiting in the yard because the superior of the Refuge, Sister
Norberta Wecera had been shopping in Meidling; but suddenly, grasped by an
inexplicable anxiety that something unusual had happened at home, she
returned immediately without completing her purchases. The Chaplain and
some sisters quickly climbed aboard and drove swiftly toward the convalescent
home. Unfortunately they found only a body. After those present had
somewhat composed themselves they all knelt in prayer for the dear departed.
Then Sister Blandine drove to Vienna to bring the sad news to the Mother
House. In the light of the more recent good reports, the news was all the more
unexpected and crushing; the sisters could hardly believe that their dear
Mother was no more. The Office of the Dead was begun immediately,
interrupted by the continual weeping and sobbing. The only consolations in this
bitter pain were the acquiescence to the adorable will of God and the thought
that their good Mother now received the reward for her untiring activity and
was praying for a happy reunion with her daughters. At the same time all the
mission houses and the closest friends of the Congregation were informed of
the sad event. Sister Ignazia, accompanied by Sister Maria Winkler, drove in this
time to Breitenfurt to view the dear departed and to make the first
arrangements for the funeral. They found Mother Franziska prepared for the
viewing, peaceful and calm as though sleeping. The Mayor of Breitenfurt gladly
gave permission to delay the burial until the 17th giving time for as many as
possible of the superiors of the mission houses, even those from Bosnia to
arrive and take part in the funeral. Mother Franziska was laid out on her own
bed and day and night her spiritual daughters took turns praying by the body;
the inhabitants of Breitenfurt also came in great numbers to see the departed
and to pray. On the 16th she was photographed as laid out so that every
mission house would have a remembrance, thereafter she was placed in a
simple wooden coffin. A Vienna manufacturer in the meantime donated a
beautiful silver-white metal coffin, into which she was transferred. Gladly all
the sisters from the Vienna and other nearby houses would have liked to see
their beloved Mother once again and to pay their last respects. Since neither
was possible for everyone, those who could not attend the funeral were

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permitted to drive to Breitenfurt by turns on the days before. Those who came
last on the day of the funeral no longer had the happiness of seeing Mother
Franziska because the coffin was closed. The funeral of the dear departed was
uplifting and the procession was actually more like a triumphal parade. On April
17 at 2 in the afternoon the coffin was carried from the room where she died to
the courtyard where Monsignor Anton Horny, Episcopal Vicar of the
Congregation gave the first of the blessings after the church choir had sung a
mourning hymn. After the coffin had been placed in the glass funeral coach
ordered from Vienna the procession was under way. Behind the cross came the
school children of Breitenfurt, two-by-two, then the choir, thereafter a number
of present and former pupils of the Vienna Marian Institute, some Children of
Mary with their insignia, the medal of the Immaculate Conception hanging from
blue and white ribbons. After these came a group of pupils from the Heart of
Mary Convent in Vienna, all in white dresses with black sashes and green
garlands on their heads; in the middle of the girls in white walked a taller pupil
dressed in black with her head covered by a black mourning veil, carrying a
broken candle in her hands, a symbol of a broken and extinguished life. Then
came the clergy, nineteen priests in all, in surplice and stole, and Prelate Horny
and his assisting priests in the appropriate vestments, each carrying a lighted
candle. Then came the funeral coach covered with many donated floral
arrangements; the coffin itself was covered with a simple arrangement of lilies.
Behind this walked the General Assistants, the nieces of the departed, also Her
Excellency Lady Vilma von Kallay de Nagy-Kallo, consort of the Imperial Minister
of Finances who always valued Mother Franziska very highly and would not be
denied the chance to pay her his last respects; then followed a long train of
over one hundred sisters, also with burning candles and thereafter many
participants from Vienna, Breitenfurt and the surrounding regions. In all of
Breitenfurt it seemed like a holiday. All work ceased. Those inhabitants who did
not begin with the procession at the convalescent home joined it as it passed
along the way. During the three quarter hour walk through the far-flung town
to the parish church, the choir sang, the sisters prayed quietly and the other
participants prayed the Rosary aloud. Having arrived at the church the coffin
was placed on the waiting bier and carried into the church as the bells sounded
and the second blessing was bestowed. After the Libera and common prayer
for the departed the procession formed again and the coffin was carried to the
near-bye cemetery. In the section reserved for the sisters a grave was prepared
near the wall for Mother Franziska and it was specially lined for the eventuality
that the coffin would one day be transferred. At the head, a small niche in the

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lining held a cross and two burning candles. After the customary blessings and
the lowering of the coffin and common prayer, another mourning hymn was
sung and the sisters approached the grave one by one to cast in a handful of
earth and with tear-moistened glance to take their leave of the beloved
Mother; as if in farewell greeting, the light colored coffin shone upward and the
sign of the Redemption was a consoling reminder of the coming reunion in
Heaven.

The death of their honored Mother Franziska evoked sympathy

in the most distant regions. From everywhere, from high and low-born, from
clergy and laity, came condolence letters and sympathy telegrams. The
newspapers carried long articles about the relentless activity of the departed,
her death and her funeral, and praise for her spiritual qualities, her noble
character and even more about her merit and virtues was spoken of by all.
Some of the more important messages of sympathy are added here:

From the Cabinet Ministry of His Majesty the Emperor Franz

Josef I.

“To the praiseworthy Congregation of the Daughters of Divine

Charity in Vienna.
His Royal and Apostolic Majesty deigns to command me convey his highest
condolences and sympathy to the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine
Charity which has suffered so great a loss through the death of its meritorious
Superior General M. Franziska Lechner.
Braun
(Chief of the Cabinet Ministry)
Vienna, April 17, 1894

Telegram sent at the command of His Royal Highness the illustrious Archduke
Franz Salvator:

“His Royal Highness, the illustrious Archduke Franz Salvator

expresses his warmest sympathy.”
Valet
Baron Lederer

Telegram of His Royal Highness the illustrious Archduke Ladislaus:

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 “The departure of the Foundress and Superior General of your
meritorious Order has also saddened me deeply and I herewith express my
heartfelt sympathy.

Archduke Ladislaus”

Letter from the Cabinet chancery of His illustrious and reigning Prince Johann
von und zu Liechtenstein.

“On the occasion of the death of Reverend Superior General

Franziska Lechner I was commanded to transmit the sincere sympathy of His
illustrious and reigning Prince Johann von und zu Liechtenstein to the
Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity.

A. Prillinger,
Counselor to the Prince
Vienna, April 17, 1894

On April 18, all the sisters present in the Mother House were
summoned to hear the last Will and Testament of their departed spiritual
Mother, which had been found, sealed, in her desk. The Reverend Director
Kummer undertook the reading. The letter said:

“In the name of the Triune God and after calling upon my
tenderly loved Mother, Mary, as well as our Holy Father Augustine I
write down my last Will.

Our dear Congregation, which was founded with so much

sacrifice, effort and difficulty, shall be ruled after my death until the
election of a new superior general by Sister Ignazia Egger, whom I have
appointed as Vicaress. I am hereby acting in accordance with our
Constitutions and surely also for the welfare of the Congregation. May
the All Merciful One strengthen her so that she may guide that which is
entrusted to her according to God’s most holy will, until an election will
reveal whom God has called to this office. Obey the Vicaress, my dear
spiritual daughters, try to lighten the heavy burden of her office, pray

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 much for her and for the General Assistants so that all may be of one
mind and not bring confusion to the Congregation; because this would
be terrible for the Congregation.

I enclose all of you in the most Holy Heart of Jesus and

commend you to the protection of Mary and our good father, St. Joseph.
God bless you!

Sister M. Franziska Lechner,

Superior General of the Congregation
of the Daughters of Divine Charity
Vienna, the Feast of St. Augustine, 1892

With great emotion and holy reverence the sisters listened to

these last words directed to them by the dear departed, which so pointedly
demonstrated her concern for the Congregation. It was as early as two years
before her death that the good Mother had provided for the case of her
departure. Copies of the letter were quickly sent to various mission houses and
the words were held sacred by the sisters.

On April 19 His Excellency Auxiliary Bishop Angerer celebrated a

solemn Requiem for Mother Franziska in the Mother House Church. Many
important personages attended as well as representatives from many houses of
men and women religious in Vienna. In the short talk His Excellency gave after
the Mass to the sisters assembled in a hall he spoke of the hope he had had of
officiating at the joyous occasion of the bestowal of the Cross of Merit, and
now his visit, in God’s holy will, was to be this sad occasion. His Excellency also
consoled the sisters with a view toward eternity and the reunion there with the
departed and encouraged them to continue to work in her spirit.

We must also mention the audience which Mother Franziska’s

appointed Vicaress and Sister Helene had on April 23 with His Majesty the
Emperor. They presented the gratitude of the Congregation for the royal
expression of sympathy at the severe blow which had touched it. His Majesty
responded, “It was also a hard blow for me; because she had worked very
meritoriously. I hadn’t known that she was ill; she was always so sturdy.”

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 In response to gratitude for the bestowal of the Cross of Merit,
which Mother Franziska had not been able to formally receive herself, His
Majesty replied, “I only wish that the Congregation will continue in so zealous a
spirit as it has until now.” His Highness deigned also to graciously accept the
Chronicle of the Congregation and to assure his good wishes also for its future.

Soon thereafter the Congregation received another sign of the

Imperial respect. It pained the sisters extremely to have to return the Cross of
Merit to the Chancellor, as was customary after the death of the recipient. The
Congregation therefore, in a petition to His Majesty made the respectful
request to be permitted to keep the Cross of Merit as a perpetual
remembrance of the departed and in a very few days, on May 9, 1894 received
the affirmative reply. The cross received a place of honor in the Chapter Room
of the Mother House, in a frame already mentioned at the account of the
Jubilee Feast and the family tree, with the inscription, “Bestowed on the
honorable Foundress of the Congregation on December 3, 1893.”

An active, singular life had found its conclusion in the death of

Mother Franziska, a life rich in merit and great virtues, rich in sacrifice and work
for God and neighbor, but also rich in results and the blessing of the Most High;
a life full of faithful maternal love and care for each of her spiritual daughters
and each of those entrusted to her. Her grave mound was marked by a wooden
cross with inscription because this modest memorial achieved the simplicity
which she always loved and desired. Instead of the golden cross planned for her
by royal appreciation, she received, in the adorable will of the Almighty, this
cross upon a quiet burial mound, yet this cross, like the other one is adorned
with a crown, not an earthly one, but an eternal and everlasting one which the
departed has surely received through graciousness on the other side as a
reward for her restless work, faithful to the motto she gave the Congregation,
“All for God, for the Poor and for our Congregation!”

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 Mother Franziska’s last resting place

Prayer to Obtain Favors through the intercession of Mother Franziska Lechner

(for private devotion only)

God, our Father, you blessed Mother Franziska with such strong
experiences of your love that she dedicated herself to the tireless
performance of your will. With trust in your providence she founded
the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity to serve the needs
of the Church and of the poor in joyful simplicity.
That all may know your love as she did, we now present our special
needs to you.
(personal intention)
Grant our petition through the intercession of Franziska Lechner. By
the help of her prayers may we too work generously for the sake of the
kingdom of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

Please notify of favors granted:

Postulator for the Cause
Jacquingasse 14
A 1030 Vienna
Austria

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