fearful Sister Maria Theresia is of this dignity! Yesterday she pleaded very earnestly amid tears and on her knees that she be spared that responsibility giving as reasons her poor health and confessing her spiritual disqualification; she pleaded urgently that Sister Francesca continue in office. The latter also begged to be relieved of the superiorship. Nevertheless for reasons mentioned above, I beg most fervently that Sister Maria Theresia be installed as the superior. She suffers from spasms at times (at present she appears in perfect health).
Sister Francesca works with her in exceptional harmony and love and shows outstanding ability in teaching. She could be spared from Much at least until winter and ought to remain in Olpe as assistant. In addition she could be novice mistress and instructor. Because of her ascetical formation and her loving prudence, she is especially qualified to teach. Almost daily instruction in catechism is very necessary not only for the novices but also for the professed Sisters for in the previous years these instructions were almost entirely neglected.
2. The letter Your Excellency wrote, dated July 17, granting the re-establishment of Perpetual Adoration in the convent chapel was a source of great joy to the Sisters and to the people of Olpe. It created the necessity of a greater number of Sisters. Even without it, more Sisters would have been required. In consulting with Sister Maria Theresia and Sister Francesca, I concluded that ten Sisters would be sufficient for the time being. Since two of the seven sisters assigned originally to Olpe did not make the necessary adjustment they would need to be transferred. Consequently five new Sisters were required in Olpe.
Further recommendations of the superior as to transfers of Sisters could certainly not be considered from every point of view by the bishop. The results of the many deliberations were announced by the bishop in his letter of August 3, 1863, wherein is written as follows:
In conformity with your proposal of July 30, 1863, I shall hereby appoint Sister Maria Theresia as local superior of the Franciscan congregation in Olpe, and designate Sister Francesca as her assistant, with the expectation that both will administer their offices for the glory of God and the good of the congregation.
The letter closed with the following:
The following Sisters are assigned to the convent in Olpe: Theresia (as superior), Francesca, Juliana, Johanna, Margaretha, Ignatia, Gertrudis, Dominica, Ursula, and Stanisla. On the other hand to the convent at Much, which naturally must remain under the jurisdiction of the motherhouse, are assigned the three Sisters: Thecla (as superior), Armella, and Laurentia.
Hereby the separation was finalized. Sister Maria Theresia was compelled to accept the superiorship of the independent congregation in Olpe and to chart its future course. She herself did not want the office. Together with Sister Francesca she had pleaded with the bishop to enter another well established Franciscan congregation. The petition was refused. When the two Sisters realized that an independent congregation was to be formed in Olpe, they begged the bishop that an older and experienced religious be given them as superior to lead them in the correct way instead of experimenting at what they would need to do. This request was also refused.
The feast of St. Bonaventure, July 14, 1863, impressed itself indelibly on the mind of Mother Maria Theresia as the day on which the Sisters learned that Olpe was left to its own resources. She wrote: “The Sisters were really abashed that they had to rely on their own resources,” for all of them had but very little experience in the religious life. In comparison with today’s program for young Sisters, they would just have completed the novitiate. Their congregation had been in existence only that length of time and even that period was a very disturbed one. Therefore they hesitated to undertake the responsibility. Above all Mother Maria Theresia, whose spirit impressed itself so lastingly on the congregation, had to be vaulted by God into her position. But even at that time, as demonstrated later so often in her life, when she recognized the Will of God, she gave herself quietly and with a firm purpose to the task. It is a testimony to her character as she writes of the young congregation: “With trust in God and under the Rule of St. Francis, the Sisters were confident that they could expect the blessing of God.”
Chapter V
Compelled into Her Characteristic Way of Life
The separation occurred. Neither of the two religious founders had wished nor perpetrated it. God had manifestly employed the talents of both co-founders in order to accomplish more for the church and the whole of mankind. If there had been but one congregation, its activity could not have spread so extensively as with the two of them. One must recognize that the determining factors leading to the separation were not planned by Salzkotten nor by Olpe. Much less were they managed nor brought to completion by them. Those spiritually responsible for the Sisters, especially their spiritual director and the bishop, were the only ones involved during the period of decision. The final decision was contrary to the wishes of Mother Clara Pfaender as superior and Sister Maria Theresia Bonzel as subject. Both had their ideas as to how the crisis could be solved. However, both submitted to the decision of the bishop. Both became enriched by the experience.
The bitterness that these days concealed for both congregations, led them on the way of the cross, a blessing for both. In the great Franciscan Family, both institutes today rank as strong congregations, for both are animated with a fine spirit and render great services. From this point we will not develop further the history of the Salzkotten Franciscans, but to say only this: Mother Clara Pfaender energized the congregation with great ability toward fruitful activity and development in Europe and in North America. What she contributed to the Sisters was manifest in 1880, when it was demanded of all the Sisters to separate themselves from the Mother. At that time Mother Clara went her sorrowful way alone, a tragedy recognized only later. Her spiritual daughters on that occasion demonstrated an admirable, truly heroic obedience in faith to ecclesiastical authority, which later resulted in great blessings for them.
When a congregation arises from an existing one, it is not enough to separate them in leadership and administration. The church demands specifically that the congregations be adequately distinguished from each other: individual name, individual garb, and individual statutes. Just as in transference from one congregation to another, there must be a period of renewed probation followed by profession, this also obtained in Olpe. The church ordains in such instances that life in the threefold profession of vows is no longer valid without renewed ties. Complete religious life is not undertaken by investiture, but a life in compass with the new congregation according to its special obligations. Thus if a new period of probation is required by a congregation and closes with profession, the procedure certainly does not indicate that the former congregation is to be regarded with distrust. The church thereby signifies a new congregation has been formed which follows its own rule and constitution.
Thus Sister Maria Theresia and Sister Francesca began the framing of a new constitution. They also fashioned a new religious garb, which consisted of an unhemmed coarse woolen undergarment and a like habit with a white cincture. As footwear only sandals were considered. The head covering consisted of a white cap protruding somewhat in the front; a strip of stiff white paper was set in the seam to give it a definite and firm shape. A black veil was draped over this with a large overflap in front which could be lowered over the face when going out of doors. The mantle worn by the Sisters was of the same style as commonly worn by Franciscans. After the test of daily wear some changes were made in the religious garb. Shoes were permitted. The sisters lived in the Sauerland which is noted for its cold and snowy winters. The practice of lowering the veil over the face when leaving the convent was also discontinued. It savored too much of contemplative orders and was impractical for active orders. A scapular with a black cross sewed on it was added. The garb of the Olpe Sisters remained essentially unchanged for almost one hundred years, until the present era
