Schervier, Franziska

SCHERVIER, FRANZISKA. - Foundress of the Poor Sisters of St. Francis, born at Aachen on 3 January 1819, died there on 14 December 1876.

Of a highly distinguished family, she had as her godfather at Baptism the Emperor of Austria, Francis I. Orphaned of her mother at the age of 14, she took over the running of the household and at the same time began to help the poor, to serve the sick, to redeem fallen girls, to assist the parish priest in catechism classes and in the care of the church. Having also lost her father (1845), and having settled the family's affairs, on 3 October of that same year she founded with 5 companions the new Congregation, which soon gave the first proofs of its dedication to the relief of every human misery during the cholera epidemic that broke out shortly afterwards. In order to determine clearly the goal to be reached and the path to be followed, she promptly composed the rules, dividing the foundation into two families: the one, less numerous, devoted to the contemplative life, and the other to the active life, under the patronage of St. Francis of Assisi. She obtained the approval of the Rules from the cardinal archbishop of Cologne in 1851, confirmed by Pius IX in 1870. The foundress, with her community, greatly distinguished herself in the care of soldiers during the wars of 1864, 1866, and 1870; and she devoted herself with all affection to the unemployed, the homeless, and the sick of every kind, who came to venerate in her "the Mother." The cause of beatification was introduced in Rome on 9 May 1934.