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 3
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Soft on their hearts, as the dew on the flower, But low in the dust by the storm and the shower; God's peace brought new strength When Hope wrestled with Faith in that terrible hour. No vain repining ! With brave hearts and true, With hands d'en more willing than able to do, They wickled the weapons of labor and prayer Till, replacing the old, rose a new home more fair.
CHAPTER IX.
The New Convent .- A Collecting Tour .- Charitable Gifts of Benefactors at Home and Abroad .- Laying of the Corner-stone of the New Chapel. -- The Feast of the Immaculate Conception .- St. Joseph's Convent Bell .- A Pipe Organ.
R ENEWED sacrifice and a repetition of the former privations were now in store for the sorely tried Community. Mother Teresa's trust in God was unwavering. She encouraged the Sisters, in the words of their saintly Founder: "Our good God has brought us together here; if this Com- munity is His work, He will help us, and we shall prosper; if it be the work of man, it will be dissolved. Let us pray that God's will be done." It was God's work, and it prospered.
The walls of the ruined Convent had remained standing, but they were so insecure that they had to be torn down. The loss was a total one, as there was no insurance on the building. After due con- sideration, Father Rudolf and Mother Teresa resolved to rebuild the Convent. A week after the
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fire, lumber for the new building was cut in the neighboring woods.
Despite their poverty, the Sisters until now never had recourse to charity. But in their present, straitened circumstances, they resolved to apply to the generosity of good Catholics. In the spring, 1857, Mother Teresa, though ailing, went to Cin- cinnati accompanied by Sister Dorothea, to take up a collection in the archdiocese, having previously obtained Archbishop Purcell's ready consent. He added a gift of ten dollars to his letter of recom- mendation. During their stay in Cincinnati, the Sisters were the recipients of the Duesterberg family's hospitality. They entered first upon this arduous task in St. John's parish, which was in charge of the Franciscan Fathers. The late Father Otho Jair, O. F. M., received them most kindly. Going from house to house, the Sisters collected twelve hundred dollars in the course of five weeks. With one exception, they met with great kindness when soliciting the Rev. Pastors' permission to collect in their parishes. Finally, as a result of their unwonted exertions, both the Venerable Mother and Sister fell ill, and were compelled to return to Oldenburg.
Meanwhile, friends of the Rev. Founder, in Fort Wayne, contributed three hundred dollars to the building fund. The Missionary Association in
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Munich, Bavaria, and Vienna, Austria, each sent a check for two hundred dollars, with a box of books and other useful articles.
Towards autun, Mother Teresa's health had sufficiently improved to permit her to undertake another collecting tour. With Sister Rosalia for her companion, she went to St. Louis, Mo., for this purpose, and here, too, readily obtained the per- mission of Archbishop Kenrick and Vicar General Melcher, but some of the Rev. Rectors refused to allow them to collect in their parishes, and the result of three weeks' labor was the meagre sum of four hundred dollars. The names of their benefactors are certainly recorded in the Book of Life, and the Community continues to pray for them every day. A poor servant girl who was able to contribute only five cents, declared, that from that day on she was successful in everything she undertook. To-day she is a wealthy woman, and well known for her liberality towards the needy, and to poor churches.
During the summer, 1857, work on the new building was continned, and November roth it was sufficiently advanced to permit the Sisters to occupy it. True, cold and dampness caused much suffering, but did not interfere with the Sisters' work. Two rooms, divided by folding doors, were used as a Chapel, in which Mass was celebrated. The altar, benches and confessional that had been
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snatched from the fire, were now again used. . \ portion of the new Convent was divided into rooms for the use of the pupils and the orphans. In this year the following Sisters took the vows: Sister Elizabeth, April 22nd; Sisters Rose and Rosalia, November roth; Sisters Vincentia. Mechtildis and Agatha, December 8th.
In the spring, 1858, the corner-stone of a new and Large Chapel was laid. The Convent building was pushed to completion. This year the Sisters, at the request of Rev. R. Weinzoeptlen, took charge of the school at New Alsace.
By December 8th, the Chapel was so far advanced that it could be used for divine service, and was accordingly dedicated, with all the solemnity possible under the circumstances. Most gladly would the Sisters have decorated it right royally for that day, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, but holy poverty had to serve as its choicest ornament, as the Commmity's means were exhausted. The good Sister Sacristan was not at all satisfied with the aspect of the bare walls, and contriving to find a piece of bhie velvet, she trans- formed it into a sort of niche, which she decorated with white paper roses. True, the result was far from artistic, but we trust that our Immaculate Mother regarded rather the good will, than what it accomplished. 5
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About this time the Sisters also purchased a small but sweet-toned bell for the Chapel. It was blessed and called St. Joseph's Bell. It is the same that to-day resounds from the belfry of the magnifi- cent new Convent Church.
Under the firm and guiding hand of Father Rudolf, stimulated by his untiring zeal, and led on by Mother Teresa's piety and prudence, the Com- munity prospered visibly. Schools were given in charge of the Sisters in various parishes, and the Academy attached to the Mother-house received a steady increase of pupils, twenty-seven being now enrolled.
The following Sisters were admitted to holy Profession, in 1858: Sisters Margaret, Philomena and Dorothea, May 3d; Sister Agnes, October 15th.
In January, 1859, death claimed Sister Philo- mena. She fell a victim to typhoid fever at New Alsace. Five weeks later Sister Gabriela died of an apoplectic stroke. The sad loss of these two good members was severely felt by the little Com- munity.
In March, the Sisters were entrusted with the schools at Yorkville and Morris, Indiana. As the number of orphans continued to increase, a separate house was built for them, adjoining the Convent, a part of which was reserved for the Academy pupils. For the latter a separate building was
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planned, but want of means compelled the Sisters to postpone its erection indefinitely.
The feast of the Immaculate Conception was again drawing nigh, and Father Sigrist, of Indian- apolis, had been invited to deliver the festival sermon. The day before this feast Father Rudolf was stricken with typhoid fever. His recovery was declared impossible by the physicians. The Sisters, as, was their wont in all troubles, had recourse to the Mother of Sorrows, and prayed that the precious life of their dear and blessed Founder might be spared. And contrary to all human expectation, the good Father recovered, and was again able to celebrate Mass on the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, January 14th, 1860.
About this time the Chapel received a number of gifts. From Rorschach, Switzerland, the Bau- hoefer family sent two large, splendid oil paintings, one representing the stigmatization of St. Francis, the other, St. Elizabeth distributing bread to the poor, and a check for two hundred dollars. A chalice, a ciborium, a silk chasuble and a beautiful missal were presented by other bene- factors.
December 18th, 1859, three Sisters set out for St. Louis, Missouri, on the invitation of Rev. C. Doebbener, who placed them in charge of Holy Trinity's school. The ground had been donated,
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and the house bought for $6,000. They began to teach on January 2nd, 1860, the classes comprising one hundred and thirty-five children.
Thus, 1859 closed most auspiciously, and the new year was ushered in with good prospects. On the end of February, 1860, Sisters Raphaela and Petrina, and on the end of July Sisters Johanna and Eustachia, made their final vows. Three of these poble souls are still actively at work as zealous and efficient as in the fervent days of early profes- sion. As the means increased, the Chapel was furnished with necessary articles. One of the first of these was a pipe organ, which was acquired at a cost of seven hundred dollars, a sim considered rather high at that time. Mother Teresa was most solicitous to have the services in the Chapel as solemn as possible. She devoted all the time she could spare from prayer and the training of her religious, to the making of church ornaments, vestments, banners, etc.
But now the severest trial of all began to fore- cast its shadows on the young Community. Mother Teresa's health had been poor for several years. During the summer of 1860, she was unable to leave her room. In the autumn she seemingly revived, and was able to assist at Mass on the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, September 8th. But the improvement was of short duration. A few days later, and the final message came.
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CHAPTER X.
Mother Teresa .-- A Sketch of Her Life .- Her Char- actor .- Her Solicitude for the Community .- Called to Her Reward.
TENERABLE MOTHER TERESA, Fond- ress and first Superior General of the Okden- burg Community of Sisters of St. Francis of the Third Order Regular, had the privilege of being trained to piety and virtue from early childhood by truly Christian parents. At the early age of nine years she was permitted to receive her first holy Communion. Directed by a pious and enlightened confessor, she made rapid strides in perfection, so that her director permitted and counseled her, even whilst she was in her early girlhood, to receive holy Communion weekly. From her entrance into the Order till her happy death, daily confession and Communion were her privilege. She was an ardent, lover of our Lord in the Eucharistic presence and of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amongst her favorite devotions, those to the holy AAngels and to the Saints of the Order, were the most prominent. Her obedience, her fervent love of God and her affection
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for her spiritual children, her firm reliance on Prov- idence and her fortitude in trials, were conspicuous traits of character, admired in her by all who made her acquaintance. A gentle and mild mother to her spirtual daughters, she was anxiously solicitous for their spiritual and temporal welfare, and they in return loved and respected her most sincerely and devotedly.
An intrepid and heroic soul, Mother Teresa was tireless, active and unswerving in her chosen course. Implicitly trusting in God's assistance in all her undertakings, she left it to Him to crown them with success. Great was her solicitude for the development of the Community, and for its firm establishment in the work to which it was pledged. Her spirit of sacrifice was never daunted, though even the necessaries of life were often wanting. Prayer and love for those committed to her care, were resources that never failed her, and her acts of self-denial were a well-spring of continual bless- ings. She infused her spirit into her daughters. From her they learned to cherish their holy Rule, to love prayer, and to trust in God.
As was remarked above, it was one of her first cares that the Sisters should have a Chapel, be it ever so poor, in which they might assemble for prayer, thereby to draw courage and strength from above to persevere in their arduous vocation.
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Mother Teresa was gifted with a fine voice, and sang in the choir until her last illness. The new organ arrived shortly before her death, and she heard it played but once. After it had been placed in position, she requested Sister Antonia to play the hymn : "Ein Bild ist mir in's Hers gegraben" -"An Image graven in my Heart", which she took up and sang with soulful interpretation. This was the last time that the Sisters had the pleasure of listening to the voice of their dearly beloved Mother, in the Chapel. A few moments before she breathed her last, she requested the Sister in attendance, good Sister Mechtildis, to repair to the Chapel and pray fervently in honor of the Five Wounds, for a happy death.
Mother Teresa died peacefully, and resigned to the will of God, September 27th, 1860, sincerely mourned and sadly missed by her spiritual daughters.
O Mother dear, in memory's sacred shrine, No love shall ever be compared to thine; Yet, 10 requite thy gentle, loving care, We offer not vain praise, but fervent prayer.
The remains of the Sisters who had died before Mother Teresa, had been interred in the parish cemetery. They were now taken up and placed in a vanlt which had been constructed for the pur-
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pose, on the Convent grounds. In the course of time a little Chapel was built over it. In this vault Mother Teresa's mortal remains were laid to rest. The deceased, up to this date are: Sisters Brigitta, Pacifica, Gabriela, Philomena, Agatha and Ven. Mother Teresa. At the time of Mother Teresa's death the Community numbered twenty-seven pro- fessed Sisters, twelve novices and one postulant, and conducted six schools and one Academy.
Later, when deaths in the Community increased, a cemetery was laid out in the Convent grounds.
THE CONVENT BELL.
Ring, O little Convent bell, Ring, and toll thy saddest knell ! Death has robbed our garden here Of its choicest blossoms dear.
Ring, but change thy mournful peal, Now the glory to reveal Of the Six that went before To the distant happy shore!
PART SECOND.
1860-1870.
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HOLY TRINITY SCHOOL, ST. LOUIS, MO. Donor: Miss Cecilia Walter.
CHAPTER 1.
Mother Antonia, Second Superior General .-- A Pro- posed Removal Declined .- Purchase and Addition to the Building in St. Louis.
FTER Mother Teresa's death. Sister Antonia was elected Superior General of the Com- munity, on the Feast of St. Michael. Trusting in God, she assumed the responsible duty of her new position. As related before, the Sisters had accepted December 18th, the charge of Holy Trinity School in St. Louis. The house that was to be their home was not finished on their arrival, and was so damp that they were obliged to keep up fire day and night. The number of pupils in the school was one hundred and thirty-five, not including the boys' class, which was taught by a male teacher. Dif- ficult as the beginning was, the school promised well. In the fall of 1860, Father Rudolf visited the Sisters in St. Louis.
During his sojourn in that city, he also called on Archbishop Kenrick. This distinguished pre- late urged him to transfer the Mother-house of his Community to St. Louis, and promised to aid him to the full extent of his ability if he did so.
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But the Ordinary of Vincennes, the Right Rev. M. de St. Palais, refused to entertain the proposal. Mother Antonia also was averse to the change, and Father Rudolf respectfully declined the Arch- bishop's offer, stating that, all things considered, he preferred to have the establishment remain in the place where it had so often and in so signal a manner experienced God's special help. The insti- tutioy had grown to its present importance, only at the cost of many a sacrifice of labor and means, and its removal would certainly occasion numerous difficulties.
The lot on which the Sisters' house, in St. Louis, stands was donated to them by Rev. Father Doebbener. The school increased so rapidly, that five Sisters were employed at the end of 1860, and they still continue to enjoy a merited success. The number of pupils has reached seven hundred, the music class comprises forty-five. Besides the well- graded classes in the parochial course of studies, the Sisters teach all the higher branches, scientific and commercial, with drawing, painting in oil and water colors, embroidery, plain and fancy needle- work, etc.
In 1884, the Community built an addition to the Sisters' house, embracing two large class rooms, a community room, a parlor, three music rooms, a spacious dormitory and a fine Chapel.
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Among the reminiscences of this mission, the Silver Jubilee, or twenty-fifth anniversary of the election of Ilis Holiness Pope Pius IX. to the supreme pontificate, holds a foremost place. The day, June 16th, 1871, was observed with great solemnity in all the churches of St. Louis, and Holy Trinity's was not to be outdone by any. The Sisters, too, joined in the universal celebration. Their house was illuminated in the evening, its forty windows displaying each thirty-six lighted candles. On an easel in the vestibule was placed a magnificent picture of the Holy Father, which, with its corona of lights and flowers, presented a grand appearance.
CHAPTER 11.
Extension of the Community's Work .- New Schools. -Death of Three Sisters .- A House at St. Fin- cent's, Prescott, Indiana.
ITHI the extension of the Sisters' sphere of action, the cares and labors of Mother Antonia increased. Up to her election to the office of Superior General, she had been Directress of the Academy. Now she appointed Sister Dorothea to that office, but retained an active part in the instruction of the novices, and frequently visited the Sisters at their various missions, affectionately encouraging them in the conscientious fulfillment of their various duties. She often exhorted them to pray, not only to their own guardian angels, but also to those of the children under their care. She particularly recommended devotion to St. Ann as a powerful means of success in the difficult work of education.
During the fall of 1861, the Sisters were entrusted with the care of the parish schools at New Vienna, lowa; Carrolton, Kentucky: Newport. Kentucky; and St. Vincent's, Prescott, Indiana. At the latter place, the Community built a house for. the Sisters. The school at Newport was
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accepted at the urgent request of Rev. Clement Scheve.
In explanation of the solicitude which the Catholic Church bestows upon education, the fol- lowing remarks may not be amiss :
The Catholic Church always has refused and always will refuse to concede, that education, divorced from Religion, fulfills the ideal of what education ought to be. Education divorced from Religion means, practically, education divorced from effective moral training. Hence the Catholic Church can never accept nor sanction any system of education which treats religion as a matter either of no importance or of secondary importance.
Catholics are not opposed to universal educa- tion, nor to free education, nor to taxation for schools, nor to compulsory education, nor to methods and contrivances of whatever kind by which knowledge and enlightenment may be diffused through the masses of the people. In this direction, Catholics are willing and anxious to go as far as others. But they are opposed, necessarily and unalterably opposed, to any and all systems of education which exclude religious knowledge. or deny it to be the primal and most essential element of true human culture, and consequently insist that it should form the basis of instruction and disci- pline in the school, as in the family and Church.
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As religious instruction cannot be introduced into the public schools of this country for obvions reasons, Catholics see no other way to train their children in the manner described above than to establish their own schools, despite the hardships entailed on them by the support of a double system of schools-the public and the parochial.
The Sisters of the Oldenburg Community have achieved blessed results, which are in 'a great measure due to the effective training they receive. During the novitiate they are, first of all, schooled in the interior life of the soul, ever recollected and devoted to prayer and meditation. This is the well-spring of their admirable success. In the novitiate at Oldenburg, the Sisters are trained, moreover, in the duties of their vocation. Of the religious is demanded not an ordinary service of God, but rather a higher and more perfect one, as is evident from the nature and character of religious life. This science of perfection in the service of God is so sublime, and at the same time so directly opposed to human nature, that whoever is well grounded in it, will cheerfully fulfill all other obligations. Hence the importance attached to it in all religious communities.
As to her duties in the school room, the novice is trained in everything pertaining to them. She attends a regular course of instruction, embracing
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all subjects that relate to pedagogy, and she soon learns this difficult task, because she had learned the more difficult one of self-denial.
Thus we see that from the very foundation of the Community, the training of the subjects to be employed as teachers, has ever been regarded and treated as a matter of vital importance. In pro- portion to the development of the young Institution, thy attention and care given to the regular Course of Study, were increased. Normals were inang- urated at an early date, and zealously attended after the conclusion of each annual retreat. In connec- tion with these Normals, the examinations of teachers are held. They are conducted by the School Board, appointed by the Right Rev. Bishop. F. S. Chatard, the revered Prelate, so widely known for the interest he takes in educational subjects, who deigns, moreover, to take an active part in the exercises on these occasions. The careful grading of the teachers according to their progress in the various departments of study, serves as an incen- tive to renewed application.
During the novitiate the novice is not under vows, but enjoys the full liberty of returning to the world at any time. Not until after pronounce- ing the perpetual vows, is she bound forever, on her part, to the religious state. As she is not coerced in any way to pronounce them, it will be
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perceived that if she does so, she renounces personal liberty by her own free will.
During 1861, two good and able members of the Community died within a short time of each other, Sisters Veronica and Alphonsa. The former was stationed at St. Louis, Mo., when called to her reward, and is buried in Calvary Cemetery of that city; the latter died in the Mother-house, Olden- burg. ` The 26th of May, 1861, Sisters Pacifica and Otillia were admitted to Profession.
ST. CECILIA'S HALL.
CHAPTER III.
First Public Commencement at the Academy .- Nowe School at Covington, Kentucky .- Father Rudolf's Silver Jubilee .- First Academy Building-Prop- erty in St. Louis Enlarged.
HE first public commencement exercises of the Oldenburg Academy were held towards the close of May, 1862. The examination in the Academy Course occupied the morning and after- noon sessions, concluding with the distribution of premiums. The beautiful dramas of "Murillo's Mulatto," "Joan of Arc" and the "May Queen" were well rendered and most favorably received. A most appreciative audience graced the occasion. Since then similar exercises have taken place annually.
At the request of Rev. Ferdinand Knehr, of Mother of God's Church, Covington, Kentucky, the Sisters this year took charge of the girls' school of that parish, beginning with one hundred and fifty pupils.
June 27th, 1862, the following Sisters made their vows: Sisters Ursula, Genevieve, Regina, Catherine, Clara and Brigitta; Sisters Enphrosina
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and Mary Josepha in August. The latter died shortly after her profession, while stationed at Newport, Ky., and was there interred in the parish cemetery.
August 10th, 1863, Rev. Father Francis Joseph Rudolf, the Founder and Spiritual Father of the Community, celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination to the priesthood. The Sisters of Oldenburg, as well as the neighboring parishes of Enochsburg, Morris, St. Nicholas, St. Peters, St. Mary's of the Rock, and St. Philomena, observed this happy anniversary in the most solemn manner. Neither did Millhousen permit herself to be out- done by her sister missions, which were at one time under the firm and happy guidance of the zealous and saintly Rev. F. J. Rudolf. Clad in the beauti- ful and most costly sacerdotal vestments, which had been presented to him on this occasion, the venerable Jubilarian was conducted in procession from the Chapel to the parish church, which was tastefully decorated by the Sisters. They joined their most fervent thanksgivings with those which their Reverend Father and Pastor poured forth to God that day from a heart overflowing with gratitude. The festivities of the day concluded with a dramatic entertainment given by the pupils of the Academy. On this happy occasion, they surprised him with a fine oil painting of himself, executed by the late and
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