Mother Clara Pfaender, Foundress of FCJM Congregation
Anna Theresia Pfaender, was known for being a courageous and determined woman since her childhood. This was evident in her determination to become a Catholic at the age of 12, despite her father’s disapproval. Theresia, born on December 6, 1827, in Hallenberg, Sauerland, was the first child of Heinrich Pfänder and Caroline Wahle. Her father was the Mayor of the Catholic town of Hallenberg by the Protestant kingdom of Prussia. Theresia was baptized in St. Heribertus Parish Church in Hallenberg, three days after her birth. However, at the age of five, she lost her mother who provided her with a very religious upbringing. The teachings of Catholicism remained with her, so she did not want to follow her father’s religion. On May 24, 1840, Theresia received her first Holy Communion. On that historic day, she also decided to dedicate herself completely to God.
Her father later married her mother’s sister. Being the first born, Theresia was responsible for helping to educate her many brothers and sisters. This eventually developed her teaching skills. Her teacher also helped Theresia improve her abilities in teaching. Furthermore, she assisted her father as a secretary in the mayor’s office.
Her spiritual life flourished, her vocation grew more and more stronger. In time, she decided to become a religious by joining the Community of the Sisters of Christian Charity. She received her habit in the Congregation on November 4, 1850 under the new name Sister Clara. Initially her father did not approve of Theresia’s decision, but eventually he relented and let her pursue her life’s vocation. More movingly, her father later converted to Catholicism. This became a great joy for Theresia.
During her time as a sister of the Christian Charity, she was entrusted with many responsibilities such as teaching in several schools and tutoring blind children. In 1868-1858, she also trained as a teacher in Paderborn and passed the national examination. Pauline von Mallinckrodt, the foundress of the Sisters of Christian Charity admired Sister Clara’s life style as being disciplined, responsible, hardworking, and prayerful.
Sister Clara truly loved the Congregation, but the challenging situation of Church life at that time stirred her heart and mind. She felt urged to seek a more austere life in a contemplative and active way. She was also troubled and asked herself if she was in the right place.
Mother Pauline accompanied Sister Clara by giving her opportunities for reflection, conversation, prayer, penance, and meetings with the Bishop of Paderborn, Bishop Konrad Martin. Finally, with great spiritual and intellectual maturity, she decided to leave the Congregation of Christian Charity with the blessing of Mother Pauline and Bishop Konrad Martin.
Later, she was led to the Franciscan Community of Paderborn and received into the Third Order of St. Francis with the same name, Clara. She went to Olpe with her two companions, Regina Löser and Aline Bonzel. Upon arrival in Olpe, Sister Clara immediately visited Father Bernhard Heng-stebeck and Mayor Adam Halbfas as a first step to establishing the new Congregation. Sister Clara drew up a Founding Constitution containing the main purpose of the Congregation and its way of life in detail. The two companions eventually separated from Sister Clara for various reasons, but Sister Clara remained steadfast in defending and striving for the Congregation which she regarded as her own “child”. The founding constitution was approved on October 30, 1860, which was later made the founding day of the Congregation. The name of the Congregation she founded is Franciscan Sisters, Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
“They call themselves Sisters of St. Francis because they have happily begun their holy work under the patronage of St. Francis. They wish continually to advance under his protection and thus always honor him as their chosen patron before the throne of God, earnestly striving to imitate his excellent example of virtue, particularly his gospel poverty”.
During her life, Sister Clara embraced suffering in Christ. She faced many difficulties and obstacles in her struggle for the truth, for the little people, for the continuity of the Congregation, for material poverty, and so on. She often neglected her personal worth in order to defend the future of the Congregation. Despite the challenging social conditions of society and the church, the ministry and the number of sisters in the Congregation continued to grow.
One of the most influential conditions in the Congregation was the “Kulturkampf”. It was a life-changing event for Sister Clara as the foundress and superior of the Congregation that she founded. She did not want to obey the rules of the state that restricted her ministry to the poor. She was fully aware that her obedience to God was of greater value, so she dared to do many things that went against the wishes of the state at the time. He once said, “Unusual situations call for unusual actions.” With such strong principles, she was not afraid of the highest state officials, even Church officials who restricted her ecclesiastical services. Nonetheless, the conflict had the positive impact of extending the ministry to various countries such as Francis, the Netherlands, and North America. This shaped the Congregation into an international Congregation.
The motherhouse of the Sisters of St. Francis moved from Olpe to Salzkotten due to economic and social conditions. However, the sisters’ way of life did not change. They lived the evangelical counsels. Perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament remained their principal aim. In the beginning, the ministry was directed towards orphans and neglected children, later it developed in the fields of education, health, pastoral care, and others.
The sisters gave her the nickname Mother Clara, apparently because of her motherhood and love for the sisters and the Congregation. Mother Clara Pfaender, a strong and courageous sister, held many sufferings and divine secrets within her. The cross she carried was one with her, so she suffered physically, but not spiritually. She once said:
“Beneath the Cross we shall conquer! Let us therefore be true cross-bearers for then we shall also be given the palm of eternal life, the prize which I daily beg God, in all humility and in burning prayer, to grant to you, my daughters, and to myself, your unworthy Mother.”
In the turbulent conditions of the Kulturkampf, Mother Clara came into conflict with Superior Klein. Their disagreement on the admission of candidates reached the sisters of the Congregation, the religious, and the local community. The issue not only harmed the good name of Mother Clara, but also the Congregation. The public attacked them with scathing words, accusations, and other negative news.
As for Muder Clara, she had full faith in Divine Providence and the secret letter given by Bishop Condrad Martin. Bishop Condrad Martin was forced to go to prison for defending the Church and defying state regulations during the Kulturkampf. However, as the father of the church he remained responsible to the Congregation by giving the secret letter. Superior Klein did not accept this. Nevertheless, Mother Clara humbly sought peace with Superior Klein, but to no avail. The name of the FCJM Congregation was increasingly criticized and slandered by many people. Mother Clara suffered a lot with many false accusations. Superior Klein gathered the sisters and told them to replace the superior of the Congregation. At that very moment, they chose Sr. Ignatia as the temporary superior of FCJM, the real leader was in the hands of Superior Klein.
During an illness, Mother Clara freely abdicated the office of superior to the Nuncio Apostolic of Munich. She wrote her letter formally to the nuncio as “a child who has often been accused, pursued, and slandered.”
Mother Clara moved from Salzkotten to Metz (France). In Metz, Mother Clara lived a life of poverty, simplicity, and solitude. She was prayerful, sacrificial, quiet, and silent. She remained convinced that she was doing the right thing. Therefore, she asked permission to go to Rome, to seek guidance and help from the Holy Father. He got permission and went to Rome with Sr. Evangelista. They were both welcomed by Bishop Anton de Waal. Mother Clara wanted to get an audience with Pope Leo XIII, but it was useless because the accusations from Paderborn had already reached Rome. She also tried to write to the Cardinal in Rome, but she received no defense at all. The mockers and slanderers won in the end.
After a few months in Rome, the living expenses became increasingly scarce. She often borrowed money from several people. Mother Clara also suffered from heart disease, difficulty in breathing and swallowing, and high fever. Mother Clara suffered greatly and felt the bitterness of life. Sr. Evangelista faithfully accompanied Mother Clara until the end, her last words being “Come St. Francis, I am ready.” Mother Clara died on October 5, 1882, at the age of 54. She was buried in a public cemetery in Rome.
The Rehabilitation of Mother Clara
After 138 years, the FCJM Congregation did not remain silent. The sisters actively searched for the truth of the slanders, accusations, and negativity against the foundress. Sr. M. Carola Thomann, former superior general for two terms, dedicated herself to going through important archives related to Mother Clara and the Congregation. In a long process, Sr. Carola was not discouraged. For years she carefully and accurately studied and wrote down the results of her research. The results finally came to fruition in a 543-page book entitled “Die Sonne bleibt oben.” Right on February 18, 2018, the historic day was celebrated in a joint mass at Paderborn Cathedral Church, Germany. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by the Archbishop of Paderborn, Msgr. Hans-Josef Becker. FCJM sisters from various countries joined the celebration. The plaque of Mother Clara Pfänder, made of copper by a German artist, was blessed and placed alongside the statues of Bishop Conrad Martin, Mother Pauline von Mallinckrodt, and Blessed Maria Theresia Bonzel.