THE DEPOSITION OF MOTHER FRANCES

April 14, 1896

Mother Frances removed from the office of General Superior

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On August 7, 1895, Mother Frances embarked on her third and last trip to America, where she remained until March of the following year. During this time, she had to make some necessary transfers to the various hospitals. Visiting the various houses (in America) she was able to appreciate the good progress of the works, but above all the religious spirit of the sisters. Her health, however, was tested and fatigue and worries weighed down on her soul. During her visit to the sisters in Denville, she met Msgr. Joch, administrator of the houses in America. He proposed to Mother Frances to expand the building to extend the Kneipp cure, that was already causing disappointment. Mother Frances, aware of this, did not immediately give an answer to Msgr. Joch and left for Europe. She arrived in Vienna, spent Easter with the sisters, and left for Rome accompanied by Sr. Valeria, the superior of the house in Vienna. When she arrived in Rome, she was surprised to learn that Msgr Joch, who had arrived from America, wanted to have some clarification with her as to why she refused to give him an answer. Mother Frances, not unwilling to do so, together with Sr. Valeria, after having gone to confession at the church of St. Anthony in Via Merulana, left for Vienna, passing through Padua. This alarmed Msgr. Joch and Msgr. Jacquemin who, having taken counsel with Fr. Josef Doebbing, warned the Cardinal Vicar. And so, on April 20, 1896, Sr. M. Johanna Ankenbrand was appointed by the ecclesiastical authorities as new Superior General of the Congregation.

Mother Frances remained in Vienna for a few days, and at the end of April 1896, she returned to Rome unaware of what had happened. On her arrival at the Motherhouse in Borgo Santo Spirito, she learned from the hospitality sister of the change that had taken place. Immediately she went to the room of the new Superior General, Mother Johanna Ankenbrand, asking her for explanations. Mother Frances, with simple words, put an end to the incident in silence and promised obedience: "Let us leave things as they are! It's all right, God has allowed it".

 

Cfr. Presentazione di Sr. Therese Marie Mueller, SSM