Maria Droste Zu Vishcering
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1 Blessed Maria Droste zu Vishcering 2 maria droste A translation of … PIU NOBILE PER CARITA by A. Ricciardi Translated by Frances Warnig 1996 3 DECLARATION In writing this biography, the author declares in all things his submission to the Decree of Urban VIII. In relating the events contained herein, he makes no assumptions other than those implied by the ordinary sense of his words, and the credibility of the documentation given, reserving the judgment concerning anything beyound this to the Holy Roman Church alone. Nihil obstat: Daniel V. Flynn, J.C.D. Censor Librorum Imprimatur: + James P. Mahoney, D.D. Vicar-General, Archdiocese of New York New York, New York May 18, 1976 The nihil obstat and imprimatur are official declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of doctrinal or moral error. No implication is contained therein that those who have granted the nihil obstat and imprimatur agree with the contents, opinions or statements expressed. Copyright @ 1976 Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province of New York 4 CONTENTS Author's Foreword 6 Introduction 9 Chapter I - The Young Maria Droste zu Vischering (1863-1883) 11 Chapter Il - In the Arms of Providence (1883-1888) 44 Chapter III - The Good Shepherd of Munster (1888-1894) 65 Chapter IV - The Good Shepherd of Oporto (1894-1899) 100 Chapter V - The Witness and Message of Blessed Maria Droste 200 Appendix I - Formula of Act of Consecration Composed by Blessed Maria Droste 210 Appendix Il - Formula Prescribed by Leo XIII for the Universal Consecration of June 11, 1899 211 Appendix III - Decree Concerning the Heroicity of Virtue 212 Appendix IV - Decree Concerning the Miracles 217 5 AUTHOR'S FOREWORD In writing this book I had two goals in mind: first, to make known the "figura nobilissima" who was Maria Droste zu Vischering; and secondly, to move the reader to a deeper love of the Heart of Jesus. The assignment of postulator for the cause of beatification of Sister Droste was confided to me In 1966 by Sister Aquinas Lee, then Superior General of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd. At that time Blessed Maria Droste zu Vischering had already been declared Venerable, for the decree establishing the heroicity of her virtues had been promulgated by Pope Paul VI on February 13, 1964. My principal task as postulator has been to present at the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints the miracles obtained through the intercession of Sister Maria and to promote the medical and theological investigation of the cure of young Isabella dos Santos, which took place in Oporto, Portugal, in 1952. This investigation was crowned with success, for on October 3, 1975, Pope Paul VI confirmed by decree that the cure had indeed been miraculous. I must confess that since 1966 not a day has passed without my praying to the Lord that Sister Maria might be beatified and without my venerating her because of her extraordinary holiness especially as seen in the manner in which she bore her sufferings and in her spirit of expiative victim. I was well acquainted with the various biographies of Sister Maria written by expert authors, and I never dreamed of writing one myself. However as time went on and her beatification during the Holy Year 1975 grew in certainty, the promoters of the cause, after the last discussion on July 8 of the miracle, felt an urgent need for an updated biography in the Italian language. I had the presumption to offer to prepare this new biographical profile of Sister Droste. The time at my disposal was very little, and I do not 6 hesitate to state that I have carried on this work more with my heart than with my head. Yet, I feel that the person of Blessed Maria Droste zu Vischering is made sufficiently clear in these pages so that she is seen as the sacrificial person she was, one who lived out her life in the love of the Heart of Jesus and in a spirit of reparation for the ingratitude of men towards Him Who has loved us so much. I will be more than content, and I know the Sisters of the Good Shepherd-they who are sisters to the new Beata-will also be content, if this present biography reawakens in hearts an ardent love for the Heart of Jesus. While I was writing I thought a great deal about myself and my brothers in the priesthood. Is it not from the Heart of Jesus that we must daily draw love for souls and zeal for their salvation? May Blessed Maria Droste zu Vischering, who prayed and suffered so much for priests, stimulate us to give ourselves fully to our priesthood in order that we may lead persons to understand the infinite treasures of mercy in the Heart of Jesus. Rome First Friday, October 3, 1975. A. Ricciardi 7 8 INTRODUCTION The life of Blessed Maria Droste zu Vischering is an important page in the history of the Church, for Maria was the soul of that spiritual momentum which led to the consecration by Pope Leo XIII of the human race to the Heart of Jesus at the close of the nineteenth century. Maria died on the vigil of the consecration, at the age of thirty-six. A year later, on June 1, 1900, when the Pontiff received in audience the superior general of the Good Shepherd of Angers, he recalled Maria Droste zu Vischering and said of her, "I found her to be spiritually united to God with an extraordinary zeal for the salvation of souls." In that same jubilee year, receiving in audience the family of the Beata, he laid his hand on the head of Count Clement Droste zu Vischering saying, "Here is the father of a saint." As the Pope had personally studied and had caused experts to study the ascetical and mystical personality of Maria Droste, his words have special value. The glorification by the Church of Maria Droste zu Vischering came during the jubilee year of 1975, which marked the end of the third centenary of the revelations of the Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, the French, mystic of Paray-Ie-Monial. George Bernard Shaw once said, "When will we learn to write the history of the Church with the lives of her saints?" The biographical reconstruction of the life of Maria Droste demonstrates that the history of the Church can indeed be written by the lives of her saints. 9 The Droste family in 1877 (Maria is second from the right) Countess and Count Droste zu Vischering in 1990 10 Chapter I THE YOUNG MARIA DROSTE ZU VISCHERING (1863-1883) The first twenty years of Maria's life were passed in a heroic period of the history of Westphalia, that region of West Germany which can be compared to French Brittany because of the courageous resistance of its Catholics to the legalized persecution of the Kulturkampf. Chancellor Otto von Bismarck was trying to force the Church to submit to state domination, and in this, Maria's family counted among his staunchest adversaries. From this people, proudly Catholic, Maria Droste grew into a worthy daughter of the Church. The Droste zu Vischering Family The Droste zu Vischerings is one of the oldest families of the Westphalian aristocracy. The ancient name Wulfheim had, in the twelfth century, been replaced by that of Droste, a title which accompanied a responsibility similar to that of a majordomo at the court of the prince-bishops of Munster. In 1272 "Vischering" was added to the family name. "Vischering" was taken from the name of an ancient castle near the city of Ludingausen, one of the most extensive properties of the Droste family. The family, always known for its deep loyalty to the faith, became in the nineteenth century, outstanding for its heroic defense of the rights of the Church. In the first half of the century, two great uncles of Maria's father were doubly brothers by blood and by firm faith and ardent zeal for the Church. The elder, Gaspard Maximilian (1770-1846), Auxiliary Bishop of Munster, participated in the national council of Paris of 1811. He requested the Emperor to free Pius VIII, then a prisoner at Savoy. The second, Clement Augustus (1773-1845), Archbishop of Cologne, publicized the errors of Hermes which had been condemned the Holy See but protected by the civil powers. He also courageously 11 upheld the decision of the Church with regard to mixed marriage. Archbishop Clement Augustus clashed with the Prussian government and in 1837 was arrested during the night and held prisoner in the fortress of Minden for eighteen months. His imprisonment profoundly impressed the Catholic world, and Gregory XVI in a consistory of cardinals energetically protested this injustice.1 While these two prelates were witnessing their fidelity to the Church, their eldest brother, Adolf Heidenreich (1769-1826), was giving hospitality to priests and religious exiled from France. Adolf held the family title of "Erbdroste," which he in turn passed on to his son, Maximilian Ludwig (1794-1849), Maria's grandfather. Maximilian Ludwig's eldest son was Clement Heidenreich (1832- 1923), father of our Beata. Born on the 14th of August, 1832, Clement's religious and political formation took place in a climate intense with the struggle for the defense of the rights of Catholics. This, in turn, caused his entire life to be characterized by fidelity to the Church. This wealthy "Erbdroste" gave a third of his possessions for the construction and maintenance of a hospital. In 1879 he became deputy of the Center Party at the Reichstag in Berlin, and supported Louis Windhorst, head of the Center Party, in the struggle against Bismarck.