150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (14)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Second trip to Rome

After a stay of several months, perhaps even almost a year, in Żdżary, Frances leaves her native land to “begin this work of God.” Previous biographers of the Foundress of the Nazareth Sisters, when describing the time of her departure and her journey to Rome, often give contradictory information. The reason for this is again the scarcity of sources on this period of her life. It seems certain that Frances left the country in 1874. She was accompanied by her mother, Cecylia Siedliska, who decided to start a religious life with her daughter, two tertiaries from Lublin: Aniela Nęcińska and Karolina Załoziecka, and Capuchins Fr. Leander Lendzian and Br. Stefan Rembiszewski. Under the date of November 1, 1874, Franciszka wrote: “In Czestochowa our reunion” – most likely referring to joining the group of the two Capuchins.

It is not certain to Frances’ biographers whether, when leaving, she had a clear vision of where to found a congregation. Was it immediately Rome, or perhaps France, where many Poles were in exile. Hopefully, the research conducted by our Sister Historians will someday illuminate these doubts.

It is also uncertain where and for how long Frances stopped on her way to Rome. Her notes in her Spiritual Diary from November 1886 indicate that it included Vienna. “In 1874, leaving the country with my mother and my confessor at the time to begin this work of God, we stopped a few days in Vienna and attended Mass there (this is about the Mariahilf Church). Since that time I have not been there, until now – after 12 years close – having gone through so much, I found myself again at the feet of this altar. This church is very close to me, because in it people receive many graces through the cause of the Blessed Virgin.” (It is worth noting that the Polish Michalites are now ministering there).

Similarly documented is the stay of the entire group in Lourdes. Mother Gabriela Lubowidzka, in her testimony during the Foundress’ beatification process, also writes about Paris, although Frances herself never mentioned this fact. In the same testimony, Mother Gabriela also claims that the Foundress, not seeing God’s will in ministering to Polish emigrants in Paris, went to Lourdes, where she learned that she should establish the Congregation in Rome, “in front of the Holy Father.” This thought of hers was approved by Fr. Leander.

According to Fr. A. Ricciardi, Frances’ postulator and biographer, the founding group arrived in the Eternal City as early as November 1874. However, this seems unlikely. The Foundress herself, in the Report to the Congregation’s First General Chapter in Chaville (1895), mentioned earlier, writes: “Some inexplicable force drew us to Rome, where we arrived in 1875.” When exactly? Certainly before April, because even then Fr. Peter Semenenko, the general of the Resurrectionists, writes that he met Frances Siedliska and Br. Stefan.

The exact date that I think is worth considering is February 6, 1875. We find it in the written memoirs of Frances’ companion, Mrs. Karolina Zaloziecka. But more about this in the next episode…

Pictures:

Mariahilf Church, Vienna: Facade, main altar, image of Mary Mariahilf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_Mariahilf