150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (39)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Via Merulana (1878) – sale of the house

According to Sr. Gabriela Lubowidzka, Frances Siedliska had been thinking about selling her dream house on Merulana Street for a long time. Time had revealed various inconveniences related to both the location of the house “in the middle of nowhere” (hard to believe today!) and the unhealthy, “feverish” air. “But so far, no buyer had come forward,” writes Sr. Gabriela, ”and indeed there was no hope that anyone would be found who would want to buy the house. Meanwhile, the Lord Jesus, watching over his children, sent French nuns, newly arrived in Rome, who liked our little house very much and wanted to buy it.”

Frances herself writes about these events, both in her diary and in letters to Father Piotr Semenenko. Let us give her the floor:

“June 14 – Today, between me and Mother Augustyna, the superior general of the Sisters of Our Lady of Good and Perpetual Help, an agreement was signed for the sale of our house.

(…) I am extremely busy and very tired. Our house has finally been sold, and very happily, because it will pass into the hands of good nuns, whose superior I have befriended, as she is a truly noble soul. Our beloved Pius IX seems to be helping us in everything in a strange way. I think that he arranged the sale of the house for us, because it happened by a strange coincidence.

Now we are looking for an apartment and I hope we will find one soon. So we have packing and moving ahead of us, and soon, because I would like to return this house to my mother as soon as possible – you understand, dear Father, that I cannot think of leaving Rome, I only ask you to give me strength (…).” To Father Semenenko, June 25, 1878

Interestingly, Mother Augustyna was the foundress of this congregation. It was established in 1850 and approved by Leo XIII in 1882. The sisters still live on Via Merulana, where their general and provincial houses are located. They serve in several countries, including the USA, the Philippines, and Poland. Their house is close to the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow-Łagiewniki.

Finding a new place proved no easier than selling the old one. On July 2, Frances wrote again to Father Piotr:

“(…) despite my sincere desire to write to Father, I was unable to do so, as I was so busy – I have been traveling for several days in search of accommodation, because these poor nuns would like to move into a house as soon as possible – and meanwhile, it is not easy to find a place for so many people – I still have nothing – but it seems I will end up with a palace on Piazza Farnese – thank God for everything and for allowing us to struggle, toil, and work a little in His cause.”

On the same day, she celebrates the anniversary of her religious profession, which she writes about in her diary. A few days later, after signing a lease for an apartment on Farnese Square, she leaves with Sister Pia to Grottaferrata to recover her health. “Troubles, hardships, and work” proved stronger than her frail body.

Pictures:
Chapel of Our Lady of Good and Perpetual Help on Via Merulana
Grottaferrata – Abbey of Santa Maria – Facebook Grottaferrata