150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (36)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Via Merulana (1877) – Three Archangels

The year 1877 ends with the ceremony of admission to the novitiate of the three Lubowidzki Sisters. Let’s see how this special time is described by one of them – Sister Gabriela:

„Our Mother allowed herself only a few days of rest after the journey, and immediately, by the grace of God, she began her holy work on us. After making some changes to the external layout of the house, she slowly began to introduce us to religious life. In addition to morning and evening prayers, we began to recite the Office of the Blessed Virgin together, we would do meditations (…) Mother taught us how to pray, meditate and commune with God during the day – and at the same time she introduced us to silence, stillness and religious regularity – she taught us how to take the first steps in this divine life. On Sundays and holidays, Mother would gather us all together to explain the Word of God and teach us about spiritual life, and she would often talk to each of us individually. We had the whole day planned out: each of us had a few hours of lessons with our three girls, and the rest of the time was divided between housework and prayer. We started to adore the Blessed Sacrament, first for half an hour, then for an hour every day. We rarely went out – a walk in the garden was enough for us. (…) This is how we spent the time until Christmas. Five days before Christmas, we started a retreat in preparation for our investiture. On Christmas Eve, during midnight mass, we made our first vows to the Lord. Father (Leander) spoke to us beautifully. Mother brought each of us to the Lord Jesus and gave us the names of the three Archangels: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.”

Archbishop Sardi, Frances’ first biographer, also gathered information about the outfit they received on the day of the investiture when talking with the Lubowidzki Sisters: “The religious clothing was simple and solemn. The dress was black, similar to a priest’s cassock, with a cape reaching to the waist and a long, white veil covering the head – a symbol of a new life…”.

It is likely that Tekla Lubowidzka made her request during this celebration, although she still had to return to her family home the following year. She did not move to Rome permanently until 1883.

Picture:
Novices in the USA around 1933