Mother Frances Streitel: her childhood experiences and influences

Wednesday, September 14, 2011:  Amalia Frances Rose Streitel, aka Mother Frances Streitel, Foundress of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother, had two brothers and a sister. Her oldest brother Adam was two years younger than she, Hermon, 7 years younger, and  her sister, Hedwig, 9 years younger. One of Mother Frances’ biographers states that she was a strong-willed child and had a willful temper.  Imagine her relationships with her siblings, given that information.   From this same biographer, we learn that punctuality and order characterized the Streitel home. Thus, I believe, Amalia learned to be respectful of other people’s time and space and probably also learned how to handle her willfulness in a way that maintained the order that her parents expected of her and between her and her siblings.  She was taught the art of homemaking and of decorative needle work, excelling in the art of embroidery, an activity that can have a very calming effect upon the craftperson.  How would you describe yourself as a child? How would you characterize your home environment and what impact did that have on your formation? What skills were you taught by your parents?

Mother Frances Streitel: the origins of her faith

Mother Frances Streitel, Foundress of the Sisters of the Sorrowful Mother: Before we look more deeply into Mother Frances following her call to religious life, I would like to reflect more deeply upon the elements in her family life that, I believe,  prepared her to be open to the Lord’s will for her.  Her mother was a very conscientious Christian who lived her faith, not only by participation in the Eucharistic liturgy and the other sacraments, but she also passed her faith on to her children by teaching them to pray and to cherish the Scriptures that were read and preached at each liturgy. Is it possible, also  that the Bible was more than a shelved book in the Streitel family?   I wonder that based on the fact that Amalia as a little child attempted to understand what the Scriptures meant when it said that Jesus would draw all things to Himself when He was lifted high upon the cross.  She must have learned the art of reflection upon the things of the Spirit from her parents. Amalia’s mother also taught her children to be concerned that the poor had food to put on their tables—Amalia would go with her mother when she brought food to the poor.  Love of nature--its beauty, its solitude--was also a value instilled in the Streitel children. What familial elements have led you to the Lord and/or deepened your faith?