Franziska Notes
No.7/2 February 2010
No.7/2 February 2010
In the German edition of the History of the Congregation of the Daughters of Divine Charity we learn that Mother Franziska lived in a time of significant social transformation. The industrial revolution brought many inexperienced persons from the country to the large cities of Europe. These men and women, some very young, were exposed to much possible exploitation. The Bishops of these cities asked women’s religious orders especially to meet the needs of the young women. In Vienna alone there were about 75,000 servant girls. Mother Franziska, with experience as a teacher and hoping to educate children to be good Christians and citizens, could not ignore this call of the Church. A few years before she died Pope Leo XIII issued the famous encyclical Rerum Novarum to provide guidance for a Church entering the age of industrialization. I noticed in this document a thought that seems especially relevant to our own day and this season of the Church year. The Holy Father reminds us that perfect happiness is achievable only in the next life in heavenly glory. Though it is a human right to seek a better life, he warns of making the escape from suffering a priority over all other values and efforts. Pope Leo reminds us that Jesus, by willingly taking on the sufferings of daily life and of his salvific sacrifice has transformed them into motives of virtue and occasions of merit. “Christ's labors and sufferings, accepted of His own free will, have marvellously sweetened all suffering and all labor. And… by His grace and by the hope held forth of everlasting recompense, has He made pain and grief more easy to endure”.
Mother Franziska’s motive was always a personal love of the Crucified. As we enter the Season of Lent, the patience with which we willingly accept the unavoidable irritations and sufferings, as well as the penances we impose on ourselves will help us understand the meaning of suffering and make us more compassionate toward all those who suffer anywhere in the world, increasing our readiness to help according to our means.
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