Childhood and adolescence
THE DOMINANT TRAIT: CHARITY FOR THE POOR
We draw some valuable information from the testimonies of the ordinary trial in Nepi on the heroic virtues of Mother Frances. Sister Johanna Ankenbrand, who succeeded her as General Superior of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, states:
"I met the Servant of God de visu ... I learned many things from the Servant of God's sister, Hedwig, from Sister Scholastica, Sister Catherine, Sister Stanisla, now all deceased, who were eyewitnesses.
The Servant of God received her Christian education from her parents and especially from her mother, who also took care to instill in her a love for the poor, to the point that she shared the sweets from family meals with them. She responded very well to this education, especially with regard to charity towards the poor, taking a special interest in the poorest tenants who lived on the upper floors of the same building”.
LIVELY, OBEDIENT AND RESPECTFUL
She was very lively in character. She was respectful, obedient to her parents and teachers, very submissive, never rebellious, in complete agreement with her brothers, sister and peers, all of whom loved her and enjoyed her company.
She was a bit impetuous, given her lively character, but she recovered immediately, apologizing. Even as a child she showed signs of deep piety; she listened willingly and with great devotion to Holy Mass and was very charitable towards the poor.
"A CONTEMPLATIVE LITTLE ONE”
From an early age she studied the catechism very willingly and taught it to her companions, wishing to communicate immediately to them what she had had the joy of learning.
With regard to prayer, from her earliest years, ...she had a tender devotion to the Child Jesus. As she grew older, she turned her piety towards the Passion of Our Lord.
“From an early age she loved 'retreat' and preferred staying at home with her sister to having fun with her companions. She loved inner mortification, but I am not aware that she made any extraordinary outward mortifications. I know that the women of the neighborhood went to commend themselves to her prayers and to ask for some spiritual advice and comfort. And I confirm what I said above that she did works of charity, especially among neighbors in need, for example by distributing fruit and sweets of which she deprived herself.”
Sister Maria Ignatia Schindler, also a witness in the Nepi trial, then emphasizes, “Hedwig (Mother Frances' sister), whom I met, told me that even as a child she was always kind to the poor.”
And Sister Maria Seraphina Eberth: "I heard from her sister Hedwig that even as a child the Servant of God was very pious. As I learned again from her sister Hedwig, who was younger than the Servant of God, the latter already as a child encouraged her in devotion and instructed her in the good".
The wish of little Amalia to her father
A GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN IN YOUR HEART
Dearest Father,
one of the most important and most festive of days in our family has dawned today; we celebrate your name day, and for the longest time already, I have awaited this day with happiest sentiments.
With the most ardent devotion I shall ask the dear Father in heaven today that He may keep you in good health, contented, and happy for many, many years. My whole endeavor shall be to learn much and to be very good in my behavior so that you may be satisfied with me always.
Forever may your life be filled
with joy and happiness,
without grief and sorrow and pain;
may you see this day pass by in cheerfulness!
For your heart a glimpse of heaven shall be!
Thence, pain and worry may be far from you!
Abundant blessings and immense joy!
With childlike love and devotion,
Your most obedient daughter
Amalia Streitel
Mellrichstadt, Dec. 24, 1853
SHE SCRUTINIZED THE MYSTERY
P. Aquilin Reichert, the author of the first official biography of Mother Frances, provides us with other valuable information about her childhood. We collected them in groups because they explain well the precocious maturity of this child educated by her family to seek God and to please Him in everything: “Like other children … She insisted on orderliness and punctuality and interrupted her play as soon as her mother requested it.
Even in early childhood, Amalia was required to perform small household tasks and learn to be skillful in needlework. At the tender age of two, she learned to make the Sign of the Cross and little prayers in rhyme. She likewise began to acquire the social amenities, which stood her good stead all the rest of her life.
Even when nine yeard old she tried to fathom the meaning of Christ words: ‘And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will drawall things to myself’. (Jn 12, 32)”.
We do not know the day on which she first approached confession. However, it is known that, in a spirit of love and penance, she put small pieces of wood in her bed to share the sufferings of Christ.
THE ATTRACTION "FOR THE EUCHARISTIC GOD"
However, the day of her First Communion is known: the Sunday of Albis in 1857, which in that year fell on April 19th. “From then on,” underlines Fr. Aquilin Reichert, “she knew only one great joy: to receive her Eucharistic Savior again and again, to be nourished and strengthened by this heavenly Food”.
Considering her spiritual maturity Mother Frances writes, "My spirit continually turns to the tabernacle". And in the Norms of 1883, she gives a clear and radical indication to the new religious community: "we must be consumed by an ardent love for the Eucharistic God" (Norms, 1883).
Along with the Eucharist, she nurtured a profound devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows, to the point of later wanting every sister in the Congregation to fervently commit herself "to recognize and love the ways of the Sorrowful Mother".
On September 24, 1857, in Gersfeld, Mother Frances received her Confirmation, showing that she was determined to witness to Christ at all costs and become "a true temple of God ".
NEVER STOP
DREAMING!
...dedicated to young people
Like young Frances Streitel,
"are you willing to make Jesus' dreams your own?
Or are you afraid that HIS dreams might disturb YOUR dreams"?