Mary Frances Schervier
Encyclopedia
Blessed
Mary Frances Schervier, (8 January 1819-14 December 1876) was the foundress of two religious congregations of Sisters
of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis
, both committed to serving the neediest of the poor. One, the Poor Sisters of St. Francis
, is based in her native Germany
, and the other, the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor
, was formed from its former Province
in the United States
. She was beatified
by the Roman Catholic Church
in 1974.
, Germany
. Her father, Johann Heinrich Schervier was a wealthy needle factory owner and the vice-mayor of Aachen. Her French
mother, Maria Louise Migeon, the goddaughter of Emperor Francis I of Austria
provided a strict home environment. After the death of both her mother and two sisters from tuberculosis
when she was thirteen, Frances become the homemaker for her father, and developed a reputation for generosity to the poor, from her growing awareness of their desperate conditions.
In a dispute over the rights of the Church in 1837 (Kölner Wirren), the Prussian
government imprisoned the Archbishop of Cologne, Clemens August von Droste-Vischering
, causing a great public reaction; the repercussion was a revival of religious spirit, especially in Westphalia
and the Rhine country. In the wake of this spiritual awakening some prominent Aachen ladies started a society for the relief of the poor and approached Johann Schervier to permit Frances to join. He agreed at first, but later demurred when Frances began nurse the sick in their homes, fearing that she might spread disease into his own house. Rather than respond vigorously to her father's objection, Frances discreetly continued to visit the sick until he gradually became accustomed to her involvement; her father later recalled that his daughter grasped how to emancipate herself.
The Reverend
Joseph Istas, who was curate
at Saint Paul Parish in Aachen and founder of "Saint John's Kitchen" for the poor, deeply impressed Frances, who began to work very closely with him; but their friendship ended abruptly with Istas' premature death in 1843. The following year she entered the Third Order of St. Francis
.
, on October 3, 1845 she and four other women left their homes to establish a religious community devoted to caring for the poor under Frances' leadership. They formed the nucleus of the community that became known as the Poor Sisters of St. Francis
.
From 1845 until 1848, the Sisters continued to care for the sick in their homes and to operate a soup kitchen
. They also cared for prostitutes in their own small home and nursed women suffering from syphilis
. Relying entirely upon donations for support, the Sisters experienced extreme poverty. The per-revolutionary potato and grain failures and the refusal of some benefactors to continue their assistance once the Sisters began ministering to prostitutes intensified their difficulties. More women joined the group in 1849, expanding the ministry beyond Aachen; not only did they care for victims of cholera
, smallpox
, typhoid fever
, and cancer
, but they also supervised women prisoners at the Aachen prison and assisted them in finding employment after their release.
The Congregation obtained formal Church recognition from the local bishop
on 2 July 1851, despite authorities' objections to Frances' severe position regarding personal poverty. According to the annalist of the Congregation, they received state acceptance in 1853 because "priests and religious persons were considered suitable for pacifying the people who had been roused by revolutionary ideas;" and that the tide of government sentiment turned when "through unification of the conservative elements in the state, the revolution had been overcome."
Soon after they received formal recognition as a religious congregation, the Sisters spread their service overseas. An American foundation was established within seven years of its founding, to serve German emigrant communities in New York
, New Jersey
and Ohio
. At the same time Mother Frances oversaw the foundation of several hospitals and sanatoria
in both Europe and the United States for those suffering from tuberculosis
, then a widespread cause of death, especially among the working class
es.
In 1857, she encouraged Philip Hoever, a Franciscan tertiary
, in his efforts to establish the Poor Brothers of St. Francis
. Like the Sisters, they are a religious congregation of lay brother
s of the Franciscan Third Order Regular, instituted for charitable work among orphan boys and educating the youth of the poorer classes.
Mother Frances visited the United States in 1863, and helped her Sisters nurse soldiers wounded in the American Civil War
. St. Mary Hospital
in Hoboken, N.J. was founded for this work. She visited the United States one more time in 1868.
by the Archbishop of Cincinnati
and the declaration of a miraculous
cure of a man in Ohio, Mother Mary Frances was beatified
in 1974 by Pope Paul VI.
1876 Frances Schervier dies in Aachen, Germany, on December 14.
1934 Apostolic Process opened in Rome. Decree issued for Introduction of the Cause of Frances Schervier, Tertiary of the Third Order of Saint Francis.
1969 On January 30, 1969 Pope Paul VI proclaims the “heroicity of the virtues” of Mother Frances and declares her “Venerable.”
1972 On October 18, 1972 Pope Paul VI, on appeal by Rev. Johannes Pohlschneider, Bishop of Aachen, grants an apostolic dispensation from the prescript contained in Canon 2117 of the Code of Canon Law, so that after a legally valid verification and full examination of only one miracle, the cause might pass to the next phase.
1973 The “medically inexplicable” and sudden cure of Mr. Ludwig Braun from a life threatening pancreatic and intestinal ailment is recognized as the miracle necessary for the Beatification of Mother Frances. The decree recognizing the miracle is signed on October 18, 1973 by Pope Paul VI.
1974 Beatification of Mother Frances Schervier - Mother Frances Schervier is beatified on April 28 in Rome by Pope Paul VI. Beatification also means that Frances is now called “Blessed.”
1989 In March an unexplainable and sudden cure is experienced by Mr. Thomas Siemers, who had a massive brain hemorrhage. Three medical doctors have no scientific explanation and one says it was “divine intervention” and another says “somebody up there likes him.”
2008 The Cause for Canonization of Blessed Frances Schervier is introduced in Rome on July 16 by Sr. Tiziana Merletti, SFP, Congregational Minister of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and Sr. Katharina Maria Finken, Superior General of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis.
2009 The Opening Session of the Diocesan Inquiry Process takes place on April 17 in Cincinnati, Ohio to gather evidence on the cure of Mr. Thomas Siemers. Closing Session of Diocesan Inquiry on December 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
2010 On March 17 the official documents from the Diocesan Inquiry in Cincinnati were opened in Rome.
Timeline references
The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor are active in:
The Poor Sisters of St. Francis serve in:
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
Mary Frances Schervier, (8 January 1819-14 December 1876) was the foundress of two religious congregations of Sisters
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
, both committed to serving the neediest of the poor. One, the Poor Sisters of St. Francis
Poor Sisters of St. Francis
The Poor Sisters of St. Francis are a religious congregation founded by the Blessed Mary Frances Schervier with four companions, all members of the Third Order of St. Francis, in the city of Aachen, Germany in 1845...
, is based in her native Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and the other, the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor
Franciscan Sisters of the Poor
The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor are a religious congregation which was established in 1959 as an independent branch from the Congregation of the Poor Sisters of St. Francis, founded in Germany by Blessed Frances Schervier in 1845....
, was formed from its former Province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. She was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
by the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in 1974.
Early life
Frances Schervier was born into a wealthy family in AachenAachen
Aachen has historically been a spa town in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Aachen was a favoured residence of Charlemagne, and the place of coronation of the Kings of Germany. Geographically, Aachen is the westernmost town of Germany, located along its borders with Belgium and the Netherlands, ...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Her father, Johann Heinrich Schervier was a wealthy needle factory owner and the vice-mayor of Aachen. Her French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
mother, Maria Louise Migeon, the goddaughter of Emperor Francis I of Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
provided a strict home environment. After the death of both her mother and two sisters from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
when she was thirteen, Frances become the homemaker for her father, and developed a reputation for generosity to the poor, from her growing awareness of their desperate conditions.
In a dispute over the rights of the Church in 1837 (Kölner Wirren), the Prussian
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
government imprisoned the Archbishop of Cologne, Clemens August von Droste-Vischering
Clemens August von Droste-Vischering
Baron Clemens August von Droste-Vischering, German Clemens August Freiherr von Droste-Vischering was an Archbishop of Cologne.-Biography:...
, causing a great public reaction; the repercussion was a revival of religious spirit, especially in Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
and the Rhine country. In the wake of this spiritual awakening some prominent Aachen ladies started a society for the relief of the poor and approached Johann Schervier to permit Frances to join. He agreed at first, but later demurred when Frances began nurse the sick in their homes, fearing that she might spread disease into his own house. Rather than respond vigorously to her father's objection, Frances discreetly continued to visit the sick until he gradually became accustomed to her involvement; her father later recalled that his daughter grasped how to emancipate herself.
The Reverend
The Reverend
The Reverend is a style most often used as a prefix to the names of Christian clergy and ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and church traditions. The Reverend is correctly called a style but is often and in some dictionaries called a...
Joseph Istas, who was curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
at Saint Paul Parish in Aachen and founder of "Saint John's Kitchen" for the poor, deeply impressed Frances, who began to work very closely with him; but their friendship ended abruptly with Istas' premature death in 1843. The following year she entered the Third Order of St. Francis
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
.
Foundress
In 1845 Frances' life took an unexpected turn: her father died and a friend, Getrude Frank, told her of a religious experience. Getrude related to Frances, "Our Lord wills that you leave your parental home and your family in order that, in company with those he will more clearly show you, you may save souls for him and heal His wounds." Instead of entering a conventConvent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
, on October 3, 1845 she and four other women left their homes to establish a religious community devoted to caring for the poor under Frances' leadership. They formed the nucleus of the community that became known as the Poor Sisters of St. Francis
Poor Sisters of St. Francis
The Poor Sisters of St. Francis are a religious congregation founded by the Blessed Mary Frances Schervier with four companions, all members of the Third Order of St. Francis, in the city of Aachen, Germany in 1845...
.
From 1845 until 1848, the Sisters continued to care for the sick in their homes and to operate a soup kitchen
Soup kitchen
A soup kitchen, a bread line, or a meal center is a place where food is offered to the hungry for free or at a reasonably low price. Frequently located in lower-income neighborhoods, they are often staffed by volunteer organizations, such as church groups or community groups...
. They also cared for prostitutes in their own small home and nursed women suffering from syphilis
Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum subspecies pallidum. The primary route of transmission is through sexual contact; however, it may also be transmitted from mother to fetus during pregnancy or at birth, resulting in congenital syphilis...
. Relying entirely upon donations for support, the Sisters experienced extreme poverty. The per-revolutionary potato and grain failures and the refusal of some benefactors to continue their assistance once the Sisters began ministering to prostitutes intensified their difficulties. More women joined the group in 1849, expanding the ministry beyond Aachen; not only did they care for victims of cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
, smallpox
Smallpox
Smallpox was an infectious disease unique to humans, caused by either of two virus variants, Variola major and Variola minor. The disease is also known by the Latin names Variola or Variola vera, which is a derivative of the Latin varius, meaning "spotted", or varus, meaning "pimple"...
, typhoid fever
Typhoid fever
Typhoid fever, also known as Typhoid, is a common worldwide bacterial disease, transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with the feces of an infected person, which contain the bacterium Salmonella enterica, serovar Typhi...
, and cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, but they also supervised women prisoners at the Aachen prison and assisted them in finding employment after their release.
The Congregation obtained formal Church recognition from the local bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
on 2 July 1851, despite authorities' objections to Frances' severe position regarding personal poverty. According to the annalist of the Congregation, they received state acceptance in 1853 because "priests and religious persons were considered suitable for pacifying the people who had been roused by revolutionary ideas;" and that the tide of government sentiment turned when "through unification of the conservative elements in the state, the revolution had been overcome."
Soon after they received formal recognition as a religious congregation, the Sisters spread their service overseas. An American foundation was established within seven years of its founding, to serve German emigrant communities in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. At the same time Mother Frances oversaw the foundation of several hospitals and sanatoria
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
in both Europe and the United States for those suffering from tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, then a widespread cause of death, especially among the working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
es.
In 1857, she encouraged Philip Hoever, a Franciscan tertiary
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
, in his efforts to establish the Poor Brothers of St. Francis
Poor Brothers of St. Francis
The Poor Brothers of St. Francis Seraphicus are a congregation of lay brothers of the Third Order of St. Francis, instituted for charitable work among orphan boys and for youth education.-Foundation:...
. Like the Sisters, they are a religious congregation of lay brother
Lay brother
In the most common usage, lay brothers are those members of Catholic religious orders, particularly of monastic orders, occupied primarily with manual labour and with the secular affairs of a monastery or friary, in contrast to the choir monks of the same monastery who are devoted mainly to the...
s of the Franciscan Third Order Regular, instituted for charitable work among orphan boys and educating the youth of the poorer classes.
Mother Frances visited the United States in 1863, and helped her Sisters nurse soldiers wounded in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. St. Mary Hospital
Hoboken University Medical Center
-Founding as St. Mary Hospital:This facility was founded as St. Mary Hospital, which was opened on January 8, 1863 in Hoboken as a community hospital by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor, an international and multi-cultural religious congregation founded in 1845 in Germany...
in Hoboken, N.J. was founded for this work. She visited the United States one more time in 1868.
Legacy
When Mother Frances died, there were 2,500 members of her congregation worldwide. The number kept growing until the 1970s, when, like many other religious orders, they began to experience a sharp decline in membership. After a formal investigation into her life requested of the Holy SeeHoly See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
by the Archbishop of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
and the declaration of a miraculous
Miracle
A miracle often denotes an event attributed to divine intervention. Alternatively, it may be an event attributed to a miracle worker, saint, or religious leader. A miracle is sometimes thought of as a perceptible interruption of the laws of nature. Others suggest that a god may work with the laws...
cure of a man in Ohio, Mother Mary Frances was beatified
Beatification
Beatification is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name . Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process...
in 1974 by Pope Paul VI.
1876 Frances Schervier dies in Aachen, Germany, on December 14.
1934 Apostolic Process opened in Rome. Decree issued for Introduction of the Cause of Frances Schervier, Tertiary of the Third Order of Saint Francis.
1969 On January 30, 1969 Pope Paul VI proclaims the “heroicity of the virtues” of Mother Frances and declares her “Venerable.”
1972 On October 18, 1972 Pope Paul VI, on appeal by Rev. Johannes Pohlschneider, Bishop of Aachen, grants an apostolic dispensation from the prescript contained in Canon 2117 of the Code of Canon Law, so that after a legally valid verification and full examination of only one miracle, the cause might pass to the next phase.
1973 The “medically inexplicable” and sudden cure of Mr. Ludwig Braun from a life threatening pancreatic and intestinal ailment is recognized as the miracle necessary for the Beatification of Mother Frances. The decree recognizing the miracle is signed on October 18, 1973 by Pope Paul VI.
1974 Beatification of Mother Frances Schervier - Mother Frances Schervier is beatified on April 28 in Rome by Pope Paul VI. Beatification also means that Frances is now called “Blessed.”
1989 In March an unexplainable and sudden cure is experienced by Mr. Thomas Siemers, who had a massive brain hemorrhage. Three medical doctors have no scientific explanation and one says it was “divine intervention” and another says “somebody up there likes him.”
2008 The Cause for Canonization of Blessed Frances Schervier is introduced in Rome on July 16 by Sr. Tiziana Merletti, SFP, Congregational Minister of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and Sr. Katharina Maria Finken, Superior General of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis.
2009 The Opening Session of the Diocesan Inquiry Process takes place on April 17 in Cincinnati, Ohio to gather evidence on the cure of Mr. Thomas Siemers. Closing Session of Diocesan Inquiry on December 14 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
2010 On March 17 the official documents from the Diocesan Inquiry in Cincinnati were opened in Rome.
Timeline references
The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor are active in:
- BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
- ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
- SenegalSenegalSenegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
- United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
The Poor Sisters of St. Francis serve in:
- BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
- DenmarkDenmarkDenmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
- GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
- SiberiaSiberiaSiberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...