150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (45)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Piazza Farnese (1879) – departure of the Capuchins

The change that took place in the Foundress after the retreat in Fourvière is attested to by the Sisters themselves, to whom she returned in mid-September. Sister Gabriela, writing about this from the perspective of several years later, did not forget the impression she made on them at that time: “Mother returned completely immersed in her Lord, living entirely in Him. I will never forget that moment. With Mother’s entry into the house, the Lord of peace and love entered with her.”

A week after Frances’ arrival, she went on an eight-day retreat with the Sisters. “During this holy time,” writes Sister Gabriela, “the Lord did not spare us His graces. We felt as if we had been reborn, ready for anything, just to faithfully serve the Lord who so generously bestowed His love and grace upon us.”

The next step was the decision to send the Reisswitz Sisters, who had become a source of many difficulties in the young community, back to their family home.

The most difficult thing, however, was undoubtedly informing the Capuchins that their role in Nazareth had come to an end. Father Ricciardi writes: “It was a matter that required a great sacrifice on the part of Mother Siedliska. She made this difficult decision for the good of the Congregation, which, given her innate nobility and feelings of gratitude towards Father Leander and Brother Stefan, was a source of much suffering.” The Congregation’s archives contain letters from Frances to both Capuchins—a beautiful testimony to her discernment, determination, and at the same time her propriety, sensitivity, and nobility, about which the postulator of her cause for beatification wrote.

The decision about the Capuchins’ departure was also difficult for the Lubowidzki Sisters. After all, it was thanks to Father Leander that they found themselves in Rome, in the Congregation of Mother Siedliska. Therefore, Frances decided that before their departure, they could make their religious promises to him (these were not yet vows in the sense of canon law). The ceremony took place on November 13, 1879. Immediately afterwards, both religious left. Father Leander settled in the Capuchin monastery in Krakow, where he lived a pious life and died on August 20, 1890. Brother Stefan most likely stayed for a few weeks at the Capuchin monastery in Rome and, with the consent of his superiors, returned to Nazareth, where he took care of the external affairs of the community for some time. He died in Krakow and, like Father Leander, was buried in the Capuchin tomb at the Rakowicki Cemetery. In the same cemetery, in the tomb of the Sisters of Nazareth, Sister Józefa, Brother Stefan’s sister and the first Sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, was also buried.

A certain era in the history of the Nazareth Sisters came to an end. The next four years were no easier. Father Ricciardi called them “crucifixion years.” But more about that in the next episodes…

Photos: S. Beata R. CSFN
Rakowicki Cemetery in Krakow:
Capuchin Tomb – exterior view and plaques with the names of friars
Tomb of the Nazareth Sisters