In later years, she told one of her Sisters that about this time she had had a strange dream. She saw St. Francis of Assisi and St. Teresa of Avila having a debate. It was concerning Aline. The saints could not come to a decision to whom Aline should belong. At length St. Francis won and took Aline as his daughter. But St. Teresa did not relinquish her claims so readily. With hands stretched out over Aline, she gave her a blessing. Surely this was but a dream and an experience not too readily supernaturalized. But somehow the dream was a mirrored picture of what went on in the mind of Aline. After the collapse of her plan to enter the convent with the Salesians, the question as to where she should now apply was but natural. She had received the name of Maria Theresia as a Franciscan Tertiary; her friend Emma Deimel had entered the Carmelites, daughters of St. Teresa. Aline and Emma most certainly talked with each other about their inclinations to enter the convent. From their confidential talks, St. Teresa could have entered her dream. On the other hand, Aline as a Tertian, was bound to St. Francis, her birthday on the Stigmata of St. Francis gave her further connections with the saint. Therefore, was she not destined to become a Franciscan? Men doing research work, sometimes take very insignificant data as reasons for their conclusions. Who would question that God also uses insignificant things, such as a dream, to draw them into his plan in order to reveal his designs for them?
Chapter III
New Beginnings
Aline had now reached the age of twenty-nine. During the past nine years she had repeatedly sought to enter a religious community, but her plans were always thwarted. The year 1859 brought for her a turn in events although not in decisions. Seemingly it had never occurred to her to found a religious order of her own, although in those days the idea was not a strange one. The Catholic Church in Germany at that time enjoyed a spring-like blossoming of foundations in religious orders. Every year new ones came into being. Frequently the founders were quite ordinary people. They all knew themselves called to serve the needs of the church and of mankind. Often enough the only basis for a foundation was a generous heart ready for all sacrifices. Aline certainly knew of many of these foundations. But her endeavors of entering religious life were always directed toward an established congregation. In 1859 she was faced with a fact of becoming a co-foundress of a new community of women.
In the Olpe circle of Aline’s friends was Regina Loeser, who also harbored the thought of entering religious life. The idea of joining the religious state was circulated among the group of friends and was instrumental in bringing together Aline and a Sister of the Congregation of Christian Charity, Sister Clara Pfaender. Sister Clara was born on December 6, 1827, in Hallenberg, Sauerland, and was baptized as Anna Theresia. Later her family settled in Liesen in the vicinity of Hallenberg. Soon after her completion of elementary school, she felt an ardent desire to become a teacher. In this she was strongly supported by the young and energetic pastor, Rev. Loeser. She even lived for a period of time in the parish residence. Here she became acquainted with the pastor’s younger sister, Regina Loeser, and formed a close friendship with her. In 1848, the Rev. Loeser was summoned to Paderborn as Seminary Procurator. Because of his influential position, he was able to do much for Anna Theresia Pfaender. She pursued her vocation and on November 4, 1850, was invested in the Congregation of the Sisters of Christian Charity in Paderborn under the religious name of Sister Clara Pfaender.
She had been troubled for some time with thoughts as to whether the Congregation of Christian Charity was the right one for her. Entering a stricter order also occupied her thinking for she was attracted to adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Shortly after, she felt a strong urge to found a congregation of her own with the objective of combining the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament with deeds of charity.
In the summer of 1859 the two friends in Olpe, Aline Bonzel and Regina Loeser, decided definitely to enter the religious life. The community each had in mind, or whether both had planned to enter the same community, is not known. It is probable that Regina Loeser wrote to her friend Sister Clara Pfaender regarding their plans. Sister Clara somehow had the information and considered it as providential, a sign from heaven. Here she had two willing souls with whom she could perhaps start a new community. She invited her friend, Regina Loeser, to Witten for a discussion and begged her to postpone for several weeks her decision to enter the convent. Most likely she had also invited Aline Bonzel. At all events, Aline Bonzel and Regina Loeser drove to Witten. How extensively Sister Clara divulged her plans to the two at that time is not known. Regina Loeser was prepared immediately to join in the plan. Aline Bonzel was more conservative. The whole idea was still too new, too uncertain. She promised only that she would support the project financially as far as it lay in her power.
Upon the return of the two friends to Olpe, their plans were naturally discussed with relatives and acquaintances. Aline’s uncle advised her that a foundation in Olpe would be unsuccessful, for the Vincentians, a charitable congregation, were active there. As a foregone conclusion, Regina Loeser conferred with her brother, the Rev. Loeser. He not only knew Sister Clara Pfaender well but had always encouraged her. His reaction to the plan was positive. Thereupon Aline’s doubts seemed to have vanished. A second discussion took place in Witten, in which their plans took on concrete form. On September 9, 1859, Sister Clara received an answer to her request from the major superior, Mother Pauline of Mallinckrodt. Approbation for withdrawal was granted her. She was to leave Witten for Paderborn on September 20, and from there travel to Olpe on September 23.
In the meantime, the two in Olpe who had joined with her drew the spiritual Rector Hesse into their confidence. In their behalf he wrote to the Bishop of Paderborn, Dr. Konrad Martin, on September 11, 1859, as follows:
Your Excellency (Grace) Most Reverend Bishop:
Two young ladies have for a long time been determined to enter the convent. After several years of investigation and preparation, they were at the point of fulfilling their desire, when an urgent request was received from a certain nun, Sister Clara Pfaender, that they should postpone their entrance for a few weeks. The two women came to me for advice. As the respective Sister had given no further information, I thought they should not consider the non-motivated request as weighty, but ask her for an explanation. A second, still more urgent request, was the answer with the following information. She was planning a project and these two women seemed to be just God’s instruments for its accomplishment. The two traveled to Witten and brought back the following communication from Sister Clara, namely that she intends to found a new congregation and has presented her plan to the Most Reverend Bishop who gave his approval most graciously. Thus far Sister Clara’s project has a secure basis and a hope for success.
The answer of the bishop to this letter came only later with a copy of the decision (decree) sent to Sister Clara upon her request for September 22, 1859. Also her statements upon her withdrawal from the Congregation of the Sisters of Christian Charity, made to the bishop, are as follows:
Your Excellency, I am taking the liberty of presenting the following to you with great reverence and in deep submission and obedience:
After I have worked peacefully in God for nine years in the Congregation of the Sisters of Christian Charity and devoted my energies, both spiritual and physical, to the service of the blind, especially in their instruction and education, I have experienced for several years a calling to a stricter and more perfect way of life for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls. After earnest prayer and mature deliberation, I have often sought permission from my superiors for withdrawal from this congregation although very dear to me. The superiors after several years of investigation have granted the permission. It is now my desire to follow this long-recognized will of God, and together with several other young women of similar mind to live under the Rule [name not given], based upon a Constitution
