Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice
The Sisters of St. Felix von Cantalice ( lat . : Congregatio Sororum Sancti Felicis , eng . : Filician Franciscan Sisters , order abbreviation : CSSF ), also known as Felizians , belong to the third order of the Franciscans . They were founded in 1855 by Blessed Maria Angela Truszkowska . Her area of responsibility is social and charitable work, her work focuses on caring for orphans . They are an institute of consecrated life under canon law .
history
Sophie Truszkowska entered the third order of the Franciscan Sisters in 1855 and moved into a house she had built with her cousin. On November 21, 1855, the two women dedicated their lives to "the life of God". This date is considered the foundation date by the Congregation. With the support of the Capuchin Provincial Benjamin Szymanski OFMCap , the small community received church approval; Father Honorat Koźmiński, OFMCap , became spiritual guide . On April 10, 1857, the Founder and eight other sisters put on their new habit and held the first chapter meeting. Blessed Maria Angela Truszkowska took over from St. Felix the premise "that not violence, but joyful self-giving is the way to true freedom". Her motto was: “Everything through the Heart of Mary in honor of the Most Holy Sacrament”.
Naming the Congregation
It was not originally intended to take on a name of its own, but since St. Felix of Cantalice was greatly venerated in Warsaw and many believers shared the work of the sisters with the spiritual principles of St. Compared to Felix, the name Felizian women soon spread for the sisters . The religious community therefore placed its work under the patronage of St. Felix von Cantalice and now called themselves Sisters of St. Felix of Cantalice .
Dissemination, Displacement and Reunification
In just a few years, the young community grew to 34 houses. But they were only recognized as a charitable institute by the Russian government that ruled Poland . In 1860 the Congregation was divided into an active and a contemplative branch. Mother Angela was elected first general superior and confirmed in office in 1864 and 1868. The contemplative branch became independent in 1871 and joined the Capuchin Sisters in 1924.
During the revolutionary years in Poland , the nuns took in both Polish and Russian wounded. They were condemned as insurgents and resistors by the Russian rulers and finally the congregation was repealed and banned on December 16, 1864. Many religious sisters fled to the part of Poland that belonged to Austria .
Emperor Franz Joseph I allowed the reorganization of the community for the Austrian part of Poland . However, he made it a condition that all members of the congregation must accept Austrian citizenship . So in 1865 the Congregation was re-established in Cracow .
Papal Approval
In 1874 the Congregation was founded by Pope Pius IX. the decretum laudis issued. In 1882 she was granted the privilege of daily offering the most holy sacrament of the altar . Shortly before the founder of the order died on October 10, 1899, the order received papal approbation in July 1899 . In 1920 the rule and the constitutions were revised and had to be aligned with canon law . They were revised and adopted again in 1952.
In 1932, the general chapter, with Mother Maria Pia Schweda from Chicago, elected the first American woman to be the fifth superior general. In 1950 the generalate was moved from Krakow to Ponca City in Oklahoma , and in 1953 it was decided to move the generalate to Rome .
Expansion
In 1847 five sisters established the first overseas office in the United States . At the end of the 20th century, the Sisters of St. Felix von Cantalice has around 2300 members. Today they have branches in the provinces of Brazil (1950), Estonia (1995), Canada (1937) Kenya (1983), Mexico (1992), Russia (2009) and Ukraine (1996). The motherhouse is in Krakow, while the Generalate has been based in Rome since 1953 .
Superior General of the Felician Sisters
- 1856–1860 Kunigunde Michelina Rehbinder (Superior of the Order)
- 1860–1869 Maria Angela Truszkowska (1st General Superior)
- 1869–1871 Maria Anna Bielska
- 1871–1907 Magdalena Borowska
- 1915–1920 Maria Honorata Kummer (acting head as vicar general )
- 1920–1932 Maria Bonaventura Stawska
- 1932–1958 Maria Simplicita Nehring
- 1958–1970 Maria Alexandra Kucherska
- 1970–1976 Maria Virginette Chlebowska
- 1976–1988 Maria Amadeus Lewicka
- 1988–2000 Maria Cynthia Strzalkowski
- 2000-2006 Maria Raymond Kasprzak
- since 2006 Maria Barbara Ann Bosch
Web links
- CV of the founder and history of the order
- Felizians' website (English, Polish and Portuguese)
- Felician College (English)
- Felician Sisters in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee (English)
- Tabular chronicle (English)