Family members ADAM, HER FATHER
“MY BELOVED FATHER”
Adam Streitel was born in Kallmünz, Oberpfalz, on November 12, 1808. Although the Streitel family ancestors had been foresters in Bavaria for five generations, new horizons opened up for Adam. He first attended grammar school in Amberg, Oberpfalz, then in Nuremberg and ultimately successfully completed his legal studies at the University of Munich. He therefore chose to pursue a career in legal prosecution and did his internship at the District Court of Ingolstadt and Amberg.
HONEST AND PRUDENT MAN
Young Adam was an honest and cautious man. Animated by noble sentiments, he zealously pursued his profession and openly manifested his religious principles — a testimony that at that time required great courage.
Let us not forget that in that historical period, we were picking up the pieces following the upheaval of the 1803 secularization, similar to what happened in France following the French Revolution with the suppression of ecclesiastic property and the closure of most of the Catholic universities. Hundreds of abbeys and many Catholic foundations closed their doors and their property was transferred to secular governments. Moreover, it was precisely Catholic Bavaria that initiated the secularization of monasteries while liberalism was spreading like wildfire, especially among educated people.
A FAMILY RESPECTED BY THE PEOPLE
The testimonies for the beatification process of Mother Frances read as follows: "Mr. and Mrs. Streitel were of Catholic religion, devout to the extent they attended the six o'clock Mass daily; they were of good morals and highly esteemed among the people" (Mother Johanna Ankenbrand). This note is a counterpoint to that class of officials, some even Catholics, who had embraced liberalist ideas.
On February 13, 1844, Adam Streitel married Franziska Hörhammer and in that same year he was promoted to assessor of the Mellrichstadt District Court. In 1857, he became a judge at the Weyhers District Court, but just five years later, in 1862, he returned to Mellrichstadt to hold the position of district president.
In 1873, at the age of 65, after having given his all, he retired and moved with his family to Bamberg. On February 13th, 1894 he celebrated his golden anniversary of marriage with his wife. Mother Francesca was not be present at the event, but reached them with a letter: "Pray for me, dear parents, on the day of your jubilee, and for our Congregation because you too are part of it before God ...".
Mother Frances writes to her father
"We are walking in a fragile body..."
In a letter dated November 13, 1886, reflecting on her father's poor health, Mother Frances wrote, almost as if to point to suffering as a challenge to grow in faith:
“Little hints that we are walking in a frail fragile body are excellent guiding stars towards God as our eternal and only aim. We cannot forget that one day we have to leave this valley of tears in order to take possession of our eternal inheritance. All this is only a passage and blessed are we if it has been a good one”.
A GOOD FATHER
Shortly afterwards, the aches and pains of old age and poor health began to permanently undermine the elderly father. By now sated with years and affliction, exhausted by severe physical suffering, the elderly magistrate Streitel died on June 9, 1894, at the age of almost 86. His daughter Frances gathered with her siblings around the coffin and was present at his burial. She certainly repeated in her heart what she had already expressed in a letter: "I thank you for the sacrifices and love you have given me".
And pausing, warmly, at the solemn crossroads of her father's death, she notes:
"Seldom ever before, have I seen a corpse which showed such deep peace as that of my beloved father. Those who saw him thought he was asleep; everyone was edified by his holy death. The grief of my elderly mother who is now 76 years old is great, as also that of my brothers and sister who find it hard to understand losing such a good father. Tomorrow there will be the burial and on Tuesday there will be a requiem”.
Marked by detachment and loss, Mother Frances will keep a living memory of his fatherly love over time, as she herself writes: "Often in sad moments he is very close to me, helps me and consoles me, so in gratitude I offer him prayers and sacrifices".
A letter-prayer from Adam Streitel to his daughter Frances of the Cross
May God crown your fervor for suffering humanity with the most beautiful fruits
December 20, 1892
My dear daughter Frances of the Cross,
The old year leaves, a new year begins its mysterious course. God has this year endowed us with many graces. May He always be praised in glory, and to Him goes our unspeakable thanksgiving! And since man always has a prayer to address, may the good Father, in the new year, extend His hand of blessings upon you, strengthen your health and crown your fervor for suffering humanity with the most beautiful fruits. Pray, dear child, for your parents, for yourself, and for your brothers and sister. May He keep you healthy for many more years, as well for Rosa; this is my and your good mother's daily prayer. Please also be so kind as to convey to my sister-in-law Rosa my warmest wishes for the new year.
Be well.
Your Father