USA > Indiana > Franklin County > Oldenburg > Historical sketch of the Convent and Academy of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana : and of the work of their community in the United States > Part 2
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CHAPTER V.
Aspect of the First Convent .- The Parlor .- The First Chapel .- The Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel .-- The Cells .- The Refectory .- The Community Room.
HE general aspect of the Convent at the end of the year 1851, was far from imposing-a stone house, two stories high, severe in its sim- plicity. At the entrance a small vestibule, which served also as a parlor, on the wall a crucifix and a crown of thorns; its furniture, a small table and three chairs. From the door, a stairway led to a corridor in the upper story, in which were situated the chapel and the cells.
The Chapel was a room twelve feet long by fourteen wide. The altar was made of a few boards covered with green cloth. The tabernacle was a wooden box, lined with silk. Two wooden candle-sticks completed the outfit. A large turnip, hollowed out and covered with gilt paper, did duty as an altar lamp. Two pictures on the wall and a few rude benches ended the equipment. Here the Sisters recited the office and other community prayers.
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Towards the end of 1852, the Bishop granted the Community the privilege of reserving the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel. How fervently must their prayers have ascended to Heaven when they adored for the first time their Divine Lord dwelling amongst them in the Sacrament of His Love! Their poor Chapel now surpassed in real glory the splendors of Solomon's Temple!
The Sisters' lowly cells were furnished with a poor bed, consisting of a straw pallet, a pillow and a comfort, a small table with a crucifix and a copy of the "Following of Christ" on it, a priedieu, a chair and two sacred prints.
MY CELL.
O small and cherished cell, So calm, so pure, so dear, I love thee, O, so well, Because my Spouse dwells here.
Away from wordly past, From pleasures that soon cloy,
To thee I fled at last To find my sweetest joy.
Rejoice, my soul, rejoice In sacred heavenly peace, Where wordly strife and noise And earthly combats cease.
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Thy life, espoused to God, Shall in this cell be spent, With consolations fraught That never, never end.
'Tis but too true, alas. I know it but too well, That trials will not pass The door of this my cell.
But Jesus dear is nigh To comfort and to aid, With power from on high, Ilis loving, trusting maid.
And when this life is past, When I receive His call, I'll hear the words at last, The sweetest words of all:
"Beloved and faithful spouse, O come, receive the crown Prepared in Heaven's house For such as thee, my own!"
The refectory was as scantily furnished as the rest of the house. Long, rough boards served for a table, and the seats and reader's desk were of the same material. Pictures, representing the Last Supper and the Good Shepherd, hung on either side of the crucifix, forming the only ornaments
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on the walls. Strict silence was observed during meals, and the whole Community listened atten- tively to the spiritual reading. The fare was simple, yet nourishing, and spiced with acts of mortifica- tion and self-denial.
The community room was set apart for the performance of various kinds of needlework and other community exercises. The furniture con- sisted of a long table of the same description as that in the refectory, with a bench on either side. The Sisters' privations seemed often insupportable, but when all human resources failed, God's help was always apparent, and their trust in Providence never was betrayed.
CHAPTER VI.
Approbation by the Holy See and Authorisation to Receive the Profession of Members .- An Academy Begun .- Its First Pupils .- Taking Charge of the District School .- Nocturnal Choir .- New Build- ings .- Reception of Orphans.
HE Sisters lived contented and happy amid the poverty of their surroundings, grateful for the privilege of a Convent, in which they could prepare themselves without distractions for the duties of their vocation. In the beginning of 1852 the Community received, in confirmation of the episcopal authorization, the approbation of the Holy See, with permission to admit novices to pro- fession. Thus the first step towards permanency had been made.
The efforts of the Sisters now began to find recognition. We find, even at that early period, the humble beginnings of a boarding school, to which six pupils from the vicinity were admitted. The first two of these were Catherine Bennet, from Dover, Indiana, and Sarah Moormann, from Richmond, Indiana. Ten others followed soon afterwards.
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CHAPEL CONVENT -- ORPHANAGE- ACADEMY-MORTUARY CHAPEL. Donor: Mrs. A. Hackmann (née Flodder).
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June 2nd, 1852, the first three novices were admitted to profession, their vows being received by Father Rudolf and Mother Teresa. Rev. Father Stahl, of New Alsace, and Rev. Father Engeln, of St. Peter's, assisted at the ceremonies. The former delivered an eloquent sermon. August 15th, feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, a postulant was vested with the religious hahit and received the name of Sister Bernardine, at present the oldest member of the Community. May God prolong her life for the celebration of her Golden Jubilee. December 8th, feast of the Immaculate Conception, Sister Antonia pronounced her vows in presence of Father Rudolf, Mother Teresa and the Community.
In the autumn of this year, the Sisters took charge of the district school. Catholics forming the population of the entire neighborhood, only Catholic children frequented the school, and it was easily arranged that the Sisters, after a successful examination, were appointed public teachers, with able Sister Antonia at their head. This arrange- ment continues to the mutual satisfaction of those interested at Oldenburg and in the neighboring villages to the present time. The number of pupils increased rapidly. The girls' class now comprised sixty pupils. The boys' class was taught by a male teacher. The Sisters devoted themselves with great zeal to their young charges. God's blessing rested
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visibly upon the Community. Privations, however, were still the Sisters' daily portion. Father Rudolf aided them to the full extent of his ability, but at times he himself had not the wherewithal to pay even his hired laborers.
During the spring the Sisters began to cultivate the ground around the Convent. It was overgrown with weeds and briars, full of stones, holes and mounds, the removal of which proved a very diffi- cult task. They cheerfully performed this hard labor, hoping for God's blessing, and it was not withheld. The day when a postulant arrived, or a novice was admitted to profession, was always one of rejoicing for the whole Community. Notwith- standing their arduous labors, the Sisters arose at midnight to recite Matins and Lands. In addition to the community prayers, each Sister had an hour's adoration assigned to her every day. The fasts prescribed by the Church and the Rule, were strictly observed by the Sisters.
Father Buchmaier continued a true friend and helper of the Community. He sent a number of postulants, who became good, loyal and useful religious. He also provided them with a supply of office books, which, like so many other things, were scarce when the number of Sisters had increased.
Good Mother Teresa's consolation at witness- ing the cheerful self-denial with which the Sisters
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endured their various privations, was great indeed. But her own example drew irresistibly, whilst her counsel and advice guided them.
The year 1853 began auspiciously for the young Community. The Sisters' labors for the education of youth, and their other undertaking's promised well. In May of that year, four postulants arrived from New York, who, assisted by Divine grace, hal braved all obstacles in order to join the Com- munity, and cheerfully submitted, after their admission, to all the privations and austerities that awaited them. On the feast of St. Clare, August 12th, five postulants were received into the novitiate and named Sisters Cecilia, Aloysia, Paula, Angela and Alphonsa.
The Sisters' garden, which had cost them so much labor, now yielded a sufficient supply of vegetables for the wants of the Community. One moonlight night, when the Sisters arose for their usual midnight devotions, they heard a noise in the garden. On investigation, they found two men helping themselves to a wheelbarrow load of vegetables. Surprised by the Sisters, the men fled, leaving the wheelbarrow behind them. They had stolen it from Father Rudolf.
On the feast of St. Francis, October 4th, a postulant from New York received the religions habit and the name of Sister Ludovica. Sister Bernardine was admitted to the profession of her
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vows on December 8th. Towards the close of the year 1853, the Community comprised thirteen members. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sac- rament was now introduced, and continued day and night without intermission.
The number of Sisters steadily increased, and the educational training of the novices was entrusted to the intelligent and ardent Sister Antonia.
It now became necessary to think of the enlargement of the Convent building. After mature deliberation, the addition of a wing was decided upon, and building operations were at once begun.
About this time, in the spring of 1854, the Community bought forty acres of land, and because of their poverty they could not hire farm laborers, they cultivated the ground themselves. From this time forward the Sisters never suffered want. On the Convent grounds a barn and stable were built, and stock and poultry supplied, so that the Com- mimity henceforth had a supply of milk, butter, eggs, etc.
On the feast of St. Joseph, March 19th, two postulants were received and named, respectively, Sisters Stanislas and Veronica. The latter was Father Rudolf's niece, and had arrived from Europe within the preceding winter for the purpose of joining the Community.
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The addition to the Convent was now in course of construction. Like the old part, it was built of stone and comprised two stories. The lower one contained a class room, the original one having long since become too small. A new Chapel was also provided. As remarked before of the original structure, the cells were in the second story. But for want of means, the building was not completed.
October Ist, four novices were admitted to pro- fession, and on November 15th, two postulants arrived from Battenheim, Alsace, Father Rudolf's birthplace. One of these, Miss Teresa Fischesser, who became ill during the voyage, died four months after her arrival. Hers was the first death that occurred in the Convent. As she had come with the intention of joining the Community, she was invested with the religious habit on her deathbed, and received the name of Sister Brigitta.
Notwithstanding the Community's poverty, Mother Teresa, at the suggestion of the benevolent Rev. Founder, sheltered from this year on, eleven needy little orphans. She began this work of charity, saying : "As our good God cares for its so well, we must show our gratitude by providing for these poor little ones."
And Providence did, indeed, continue to bless the young Community, for at this period the Sisters began to receive calls to take charge of schools in other congregations.
CHAPTER VIL.
A New Chapel .- The First and Second Mission School .- Daily Mass in the Chapel .- Retreats .- Other Mission Schools.
IN the spring of 1855, the new building was com- pleted. The Chapel was a great improvement on the small room hitherto used as such. Its dimension was twenty by thirty feet. The altar, although simple, was painted a pure white, and the kneeling benches, too, were of a better style than the old ones. The lowly turnip lamp was replaced by one of glass. Two oil paintings, representing St. Francis and St. Clare, adorned the walls. The Sisters, who had hitherto gone to the parish church for the reception of the Sacraments, now received them in the Chapel, as Mass was celebrated there from time to time.
In March two postulants were admitted to the novitiate, and were henceforth known as Sisters Gertrude and Elizabeth. The latter had met Mother Teresa aboard the ship, when crossing the ocean, and was so attracted towards her, that she felt happy in her presence only. After remain- ing in New York for some time, she decided to
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ITIATE STUDY HALL. Donor: Miss Mary Klinkhammer.
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During the fall of this year, Rev. Leander Streber, O. F. M., of Louisville, Ky., requested the Sisters to found an establishment in that city. His petition had to be refused for want of a suffi- cient number of teachers.
In September the Sisters returned to Dover, and at the urgent request of Rev. Father Koering. the Community took charge of the school at St. Leom Indiana. The number of children there amounted to fifty. The school house and Sisters dwelling were in a very poor condition.
Such was the beginning of the Sisters' mission schools. They were untiring in teaching, and besides, devoted much time to the mission churches, decorating the altars and attending to the sacristy.
We have already mentioned that the Sisters had Mass in their home Chapel only at intervals. Father Rudolf bad, up to this time, no assistant, and besides Oldenburg, the spiritual care of a number of distant missions devolved upon him. In the autumn of 1855, he received an assistant in the person of Rev. P. Weber, and henceforth the Sisters enjoyed the inestimable privilege of attend- ing Mass in their Chapel every day. They duly esteemed this great grace, and were grateful, too, for the additional one of now being able to receive holy Communion at a regular hour, whereas here- tofore, they had been obliged to await Father
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Rudolf's return from his missions, which was often of necessity, very irregular.
In November, Father Koering requested the Sisters to take charge of the schools at Brookville, Indiana. The number of pupils was about thirty, and each child was expected to pay thirty cents for tuition per month. At present this school numbers one hundred and thirty-five children, who are taught by three Sisters. Added to this is an Advanced and Commercial Course. At first, to their sore regret, the Sisters at Brookville had Mass only once a week, at which they also received holy Communion.
About this time the number of Sisters in the mother-house was twenty-five, scarcely sufficient for their ever-increasing tasks, and it cost them many an act of heroic self-denial to perform their daily duties. A young Sister, having been appointed for the fourth time during the week to keep the night watch before the Blessed Sacrament, thought it rather hard to keep awake till midnight so often. After the Sisters had retired to rest, she kuelt before the Tabernacle and prayed : "My dear Jesus, I can scarcely keep my eyes open. Waking or sleeping I am Thine, and my desire is, never to offend Thee. But pardon me, I must sleep a little while." Making the sign of the cross, she lay down before the altar and immediately fell asleep. She
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awoke only when the clock struck one, and imme- diately hastend to the Mother Superior, to accuse herself of her fault, expecting a severe reprimand. But the good Mother merely said: "Sister, you have been in the Convent so long, and you surely have heard that the saints, after remaining whole nights in communion with God, complained that daybreak arrived so soon. Compare your fervor with theirs." This mild reproof was never for- gotten.
At the close of this year the Academy had twenty-three pupils, and the orphans' department, twelve.
On April 16th, 1856, two postulants were admitted into the novitiate, and received the names of Sisters Philomena and Dorothea. The retreat was this year conducted by Father Rudolf himself, the exercises being held in the new Chapel.
In September, the Sisters took charge of the school at Wolf's Creek, one of Father Koering's missions, with the agreement that the congregation provide a dwelling-house for them and furnish provisions, in addition to a tuition fee of ten cents per month for each child. But, alas! this agree- ment was soon forgotten. The school house and Sisters' dwelling were the property of a parishoner who was to receive a monthly rent of eight dollars. When this was no longer forthcoming, he seized,
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one evening, the Sisters' belongings, set them out into the public road, and ordered the Sisters them- selves to leave his premises at once. They returned to the mother-house, resigned to the decrees of Providence.
The school in Blue Creek, or St. Peters, was also opened this year. In the fall, Rev. Father William Unterthiner, Superior of the Franciscans in Cincinnati, visited the Sisters. Ile remained three days, saying Mass in their Chapel and addressing the Community in most fervent and encouraging terms, daily.
The history of the Community in the year 1856 records no remarkable events. Silently and perse- veringly each Sister devoted herself to her particular duties, thus attaining that peace of mind with which God rewards those that give themselves unreservedly to Ilim.
CHAPTER VILL.
Destruction of the Convent by Fire .- The Blessed Sacrament Saved .- The Sisters Sheltered .- Father Rudolf's and Father Weber's Generosity .- Forti- tude of the Sisters and their Pupils .- The School Gontinned.
THE year 1857 opened auspiciously, but ere long proved a most disastrous one for the Com- munity. The latter had attained comparative pros- perity at the cost of many a sacrifice and privation, and now numbered twenty-eight members, who had charge of a boarding school and the parish school at Oldenburg, and of five mission schools. Grateful to God for His blessings, the Sisters and their pupils regarded, next to Him, Father Rudolf as their greatest benefactor. Venerable Sister Ann was admitted to her religious Profession just three days before the terrible visitation.
January 23rd, feast of the Espousals of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in the afternoon at two o'clock, at the daily hour of the great silence, when every immate of the Convent was religiously intent on her duties assigned, the sudden cry of "Fire!" speedily followed by the ringing of the church bells,
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alarmed them. It was a bitter, cold day, and a deep snow covered the ground. From a defective the the flames had been communicated to the attic of the Convent building, and soon the roof was a seething mass of fire. The cutting blast hastened the destruction. Means to extinguish the con- flagration were not at command, and soon a heap of blackened ruins marked the spot so recently the scene of activity, contentment and happiness. The people of the village and of the whole neighborhood had hastened to the scene of disaster, but all they could do, was to aid the Sisters in saving portions of furniture. They received the pupils and orphans into their own homes. Meanwhile the Sisters con- tinued to work in the cold and the snow, snatching from the ruins whatever they could of the goods they had acquired at the cost of so much labor and self-denial.
When the alarm was given, Mother Teresa and another Sister were engaged in embroidering a chasuble. Not a thought entered their minds when they took up this work, that in a few hours their dear Chapel would be a heap of ruins. On seeing the flames, they hastily wrapped the chasuble and a few other articles in a blanket snatched from a bed, and hastened down stairs. Mother Teresa led. When they had hurried half way down the stairway, a piece of burning timber fell from the
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attic and struck her companion. After advancing a few steps, Mother Teresa swooned and fell to the noor. She was carried to the parsonage, where good Father Weber placed his own room at her disposal, whilst he was content to retire to a small apartment near the sacristy. She rallied only the next day. Her first inquiry was, whether the Blessed Sacrament had been saved and how the Sister fared who had been struck by the falling timber. They informed her that Father Weber had braved the danger of entering the burning building, and had rescued the Blessed Sacrament, that the Sister had not been hurt, and that all the Sisters and children were removed to a place of safety. The greater part of the furniture, a number of books, and the contents of the linen closet had been saved. Of the building, the smoldering ruins alone remained. The cruel flames had devoured the fruit of seven years' toil and privation.
When evening spread its mantle of darkness over the scene of the disaster, the Sisters knew not where to turn for food and shelter. They were still among the ruins, resolved to remain together. A good woman, Mrs. Peine, brought them some hot milk and bread. The sorely tried Sisters grate- fully partook of this meagre meal, heaven's canopy their only shelter. Good Mrs. Peine also provided them with socks, a most welcome gift, indeed. as the Sisters had worked in the snow all afternoon
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and had no change of foot-wear. The physician and two Sisters were in constant attendance on Mother Superior Teresa. Indeed, all the Sisters seemed to have forgotten the calamity in their anxiety for the dear Mother's life.
On the day of the fire, Father Rudolf was at New Alsace attending to that mission, and on receiving the sad intelligence, he raised his eyes to Heaven and exclaimed, with Job: "The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; as it hath pleased the Lord so is it done; blessed be the name of the Lord." ( Chap. II, 21.) And then set out imme- diately on his return with a heavy, though resigned heart.
Meanwhile the Sisters found refuge in the old log church, which was still standing and had served as a sort of barn. They had saved some bedding from the flames, but there was no thought of sleep that night, though the Sisters were glad to be sheltered against the inclemency of the weather Their breakfast, next morning, consisted of half a cup of coffee, their dinner of a dish of beans and a slice of bread. One Sister, who never before had relished beans, remarked : "Beans have never tasted as good as to-day."
On returning, Father Rudolf placed his own house at the Sisters' disposal, reserving only one room for his private use. The attic of the old log church was converted into a dormitory for the
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Sisters. Classes for the Academy pupils were immediately resumed. A temporary room for the parish school was fitted up with remnants taken from the ruins, and lessons re-commenced. Mother Superior soon recovered, and devoted herself with unabated zeal to promote the welfare of the Com- munity. The patience and resignation with which the Sisters and pupils bore this trial, were a source of great consolation to her. Not a postulant, much less a novice, expressed a desire of returning home, and not one of the pupils left. On the contrary, a number of new ones applied for admission.
The dear Sisters still living, who witnessed the destruction wrought by the flames, will never forget those days. Oh! could they now embrace the dear departed, after the lapse of fifty years, on the very spot where they then stood, love of the Crucified and sisterly affection alone sustaining them in the hour of trial, how they would rejoice at the changes wronght since then, whilst contemplating the beautiful buildings and admiring the grand church with its majestic tower rising heavenward, and seeming to say: "There, on high, we shall meet our loved ones, to part with them no more!" The exquisite statue of Mary Immaculate, guarding the main entrance, is the gift of a dear pupil, a mute, but nevertheless most eloquent evidence of the affec- tionate attachment which binds the hearts of pupils and teachers to their Alma Mater.
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AFTER THE FIRE.
Out in the wintry blast Cutting and cold. Homeless and shelterless, Lambs without fold!
Before them
The black, smoking ruins of home, And o'er them
The darkening, night-curtained dome; Whege shall they turn for shelter and rest? Where shall the turtle-dove find her a nest? Their toil and their waiting a smouldering heap! Is this the harvest
Their prayers and their patience shall reap? Have they not come to a call from above? Have they not followed their Crucified Love? Have not their hearts on God's altar been laid? Was not the holocaust
Lovingly, trustingly, perfectly made ?-- Lo! through the rifts of the deepening night Cometh the answer. In silvery light The stars of Orion's belt twinkle on high, A message of hope from the pitying sky : "Them whom God loveth Ile toucheth with pain, But crowneth their losses with heavenly gain."
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