150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (31)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Via Giulio Romano

Already in 1875, Francis, convinced that a new congregation was to be established in Rome, searches for a place that could become a religious house of “real standing.” With the help of Fr. Peter Semenenko, she acquires a house at Via Merulana 12. She also asks him by letter for a “Book Concerning Monasteries” and “clarification of certain points.” On September 19, Frances succeeded in completing all the formalities of buying the house, but she still cannot move in there until the end of the year. On October 24, 1875, Frances writes to Fr. Peter: “As for us, the Lord through His Mercy always leads us by the way of the cross and work: the works of the House are progressing slowly for the constant rains; we still had to look for another dwelling for two months; every day we go twice, or rather drive to the House, in order to accelerate the works as much as possible (…)”. The first biographer of the Foundress, Archbishop Vincent Sardi, writes that “Frances made as much effort as possible to make the house take on the appearance of a small monastery, and with great diligence gave the workers the proper instructions. Relatively speaking fluent Italian in a very short time; she spent almost the entire day with the architects and workers. The astonishing thing was that the young nun, shy and unfamiliar before, disposed of the works and oriented herself in them quickly with the knowledge of an expert man, disregarding the frequent, very frequent physical infirmities.” In this respect, Frances will surprise us more than once again.
All biographies of Mother Siedliska unanimously write that before moving into the house on Merulana Street, the founding group lived in an apartment building on the no longer existing Giulio Romano Street. This appears to be the very apartment that “she still had to rent for two months.” In the early days of 1876, Frances moved into her first house of her own at Via Merulana 12. She was accompanied by Sr. Jozefa Rembiszewska, candidate Maria Cuny from France, Fr. Leander and Br. Stephen, who lived in a house in the adjacent garden.
When Frances left her temporary dwelling at Via Giulio Romano 52, she did not suppose that she would return here again after a few years, that her Roman wandering was just starting, that in this house would take place the event she would consider the spiritual beginning of the Congregation – her first confession made to Father Anthony Lechert, on the First Sunday of Advent 1883.
For now, however, she is enjoying her first real convent…

Pictures:
The no longer existing Via Giulio Romano with the church of St. Rita. Next to the stairs to the Basilica of Aracoeli in the Piazza Venezia – http://www.skyscrapercity.com
Current view of the place – https://www.sanmarcoevangelista