150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (66)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Via Giulio Romano (1883) – the final weeks

The last weeks of residence in the apartment on Via Giulio Romano were very busy for the Foundress, although her heart was growing ever more peaceful thanks to the confessions she made to Father Lecher. Supported by the ministry of another Resurrectionist, Fr. Karol Grabowski, who gave weekly conferences to the Sisters on the interior life, she was able to devote more time to personal accompaniment and giving retreats to the Sisters. The main goal was to prepare Tekla Lubowidzka for her investiture and Sister Gabriela for her perpetual profession. The first ceremony took place on December 10, on the feast of Our Lady of Loreto. After waiting all day for the busy Franciscan General, who was to preside over the investiture in the Sisters’ chapel, Tekla began her novitiate, receiving the new name Laureta. The Sisters had no doubt why Frances chose this name for the woman who had accompanied her to Loreto to beg for guidance and in whom she had placed special hopes. Sister Kolumba, the chronicler of the house, wrote: “Our Mother changed her name to Sister Laureta because she had received many special graces from Our Lady of Loreto.”

The next ceremony was presided over by Father Antoni Lechert. During Midnight Mass, Sister Gabriela Lubowidzka took her perpetual vows, the Foundress and Sister Józefa Rembiszewska renewed their perpetual profession, and Sister Bernarda Malentynowicz took her temporary vows. On Christmas Day, the Sisters went to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major to visit the relics of the Nativity. The Sisters spent the last day of 1883 as all Nazareth communities do today. “It is a custom in Nazareth, introduced by our Mother,” writes Sister Kolumba, “that on the last day of the year (…) in the evening we say the ‘Miserere’ to ask forgiveness from Jesus for all the sins committed in the past year, and the ‘Te Deum’ as thanksgiving for the graces received.”

The day after the Feast of the Epiphany, the Sisters began moving into their own house on Via Machiavelli. On January 16, Holy Mass was celebrated in the chapel of the old apartment, after which the Foundress was the last to move into the new house. Two days later, on January 18, the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Fr. Lechert celebrated the first Mass and consecrated the house on the Esquiline Hill. The chapel was not yet ready, so one of the rooms on the second floor, next to the Foundress’s cell, served as a temporary chapel.

On January 18, 1885, Frances wrote in her diary: “The anniversary of that great day when Father celebrated Mass in our home for the first time (…) and left us Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This day is very dear to me and infinitely solemn (…).” The passage of time did not blur this experience, quite the contrary. Ten years later, she wrote to Father Lechert: “I remember what a day of happiness, holy joy, and great hope it was for me, that now God’s plan would unfold in this work, in my soul and in the souls of my Sisters.” And so it happened!

Pictures:
House on Via Machiavelli – contemporary view:
Main entrance
Chapel
Room of Blessed Frances Siedliska, where she lived until the end of her life and where she died on November 21, 1902