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III. MATURITY: 1901-1926
FROM THE SILVER JUBILEE TO THE GOLDEN
1901-1908: END OF MOTHER TERESA BLANCH’S ADMINISTRATION
I see you, Society
through my love, young, exuberant,
freshness of the morning
and fullness
of the day.
Your steps straight and firm,
Fears and
failures
Do not cloud your ideal
Rich in white bread,
Your centennial provisions
Seek not mercenary recompense
The one who surrender to Love
Receives neither success nor failure
Because the Owner of the vineyard is the Lord.
Mª Teresa
Visús, stj
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Spread
the knowledge
and the love
of Jesus Christ
through
the whole world |
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1903 - Approval "ad
experimentum" of the Constitutions which were edited by Dr. Marsall
1905 - M. Teresa Blanch
gathered what was not put into the Constitutions of Our Founder Father and
published the Directory. |
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Numerous Foundations in Mexico. Victims of
the Yellow Fever in Tehuantepec.
On January 2, 1904, Sister Provincial traveled to Tehuantepec to stay with
the Community. On the 23rd she died of Yellow Fever; two days later a
second sister died, then third and a fourth. After seven months the
sisters left the city. On the gravestone in the cemetery of Tehuantepec
one can read the inscription: "MARTYRS OF OBEDIENCE"
1904 - Foundation in Australia - The
Benedictine Fathers had a Mission in New Nursia (Australia) and their
missionaries had their Formation House in Montserrat. They needed
Religious Women to take care of the indigenous girls of the orphanage.
Cardinal Casanas, Archbishop of Barcelona asked our Society to take over that
work. So with his blessing and that of the Virgin of Montserrat, seven
sisters went to start that Foundation.
In 1907 difficulties arose, caused by the distance and lack of communication
with Spain, also by a different direction in Missionary work between the
Benedictines and The Teresians...Other sisters came to take over the work with
white girls. the General Administration decided to withdraw our sisters.
In 1908 they returned to Barcelona, with the exception of one sister of temporal
vows who did not renew her vows and stayed in the Mission. Another sister
of Perpetual vows, returned to Australia after obtaining dispensation from her
vows. Both of these sisters became Co-foundresses of the Institute
of Benediction Sister of New Norcia, Western Australia
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Australia - Seven sisters with the indigenous girls of the orphanage |
1908- 1920
Under the impetuous administration of Mother Saturnia Jassa
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** The remains of our Father Founder arrive at
Tortosa
** The first act of my administration will be the
transfer of the remains of our Founder Father.”
** Thus has M. Saturnina expressed herself and on
July 15, 1908 his remain were transferred to the Novitiate in Tortosa. |
M.Teresa Blanch,
M. Teresa Pla
and M. Saturnina
with a new habit
è
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î
The Franciscans returned the remains of our Founder Father to the Sisters.
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Mexico – First Novitiate of the Society in America. In
December, 1919, Msgr. Ibarra gave permission for the installation of the
Novitiate in Puebla. |
Final Approval of the Constitutions --
M. Saturnina
obtains the final approval of the Constitution in Rome on December 18, 1908,
after 5 years of the approval “ad experimentum” |
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The magazine “Jesus Maestro” replace the Revista Santa Teresa
and becomes the means of extending education with the spirit of St. Teresa. |
IF THEY HAVE PERSECUTED ME...
The time of trial. Persecution and expansion
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1009 – Tragic Week in
Barcelona “Our house in Gracia was
attacked and reduced to ashes after the sisters had abandoned it. They had
trouble finding refuge, crossing street of burning convents, and followed by the
cries of those whom they had helped and in the midst of constant shooting” M.
Saturnina, the sisters on August 7.
The Motherhouse was saved
because on approaching to burn it the attackers thought they saw soldiers
inside.
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1910 – First
difficulties in Mexico.
The
revolutionary movement begins to present problems to the Sisters in Mexico
and the need to find a possible refuge in the United States becomes a
reality. |
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Foundation in San Antonio – USA
Without knowing any one and without knowing the language, M. Saturnina and
M. Teresa Rubio went to San Antonio and arranged with the Bishop for the
first foundation School of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Conditions? A
knowledge of English. |
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1910 – Expulsion
from Portugal. The previous year the sisters had celebrated their Golden
Jubilee in Portugal and M. General had consecrated the Society to the Immaculate
Conception. Now everything had changed. With the September Revolution, the
Government forbade religious teaching, convents were confiscated and religious
men and women were expelled. M. General received the news in Morelia.
1911 – Arrival to Brazil. In April of
this year the Society went to Santana do Livramento, and in July to Itaqui.
Difficulties were not lacking, but the seed planted in that fertile land took
life.
1914 – Problems in Oran. The French government also ordered the closing of
convents and the expulsion of men and women religious, but the war with Germany
prevents this from taking place.
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1914 – Mexico – Persecution Intensifies
The revolutionaries have seized six of
the eleven schools of the Society in Mexico. The other five remain open but
with difficulties.
Danger, perverty, there are 250 sisters who must
be taken to safety and Spain is very far away. A crusade of prayers and
sacrifice in the whole Society.
The two youngest sister on the general Staff, M.
Teresa Rubio and Brigida Perez set sail for Mexico. They stopped in Carba,
greeted the Mexican Bishops exiled there and made arrangements for
foundation on the island.
“I certify that none of the Revolutionaries
failed in respect to the Sisters, nor even in words and that all the sisters
proved to be worthy daughters of the Society showing great appreciation for
their holy vocation." |
è
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1915 –
Transfer of Novitiate in Puebla (Mexico) to New Orleans (USA). Lack of
resources and many difficulties. In 1922 the Novitiate is transferred to
San Antonio. |
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1915 –
Foundation in Havana (Cuba). Beginning and without teachers because of
the impossibility of communicating with Mexico. M. Brigida remains there to
take over the responsibility of the foundation. Two sisters arrive from the
USA. |
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ARRIVAL TO NEW LANDS AND
NOVITIATES IN SOUTH AMERICA
1915 – Argentina. After the experience in Mexico and in Portugal, and
knowing that the government of Urugay was an enemy of religious Associations,
the sisters decided to open houses in Argentina, a Catholic neighbor. The
school in Buenos Aires was founded then.
1915 – Paraguay. At the request of the Zavala family, whose daughter was an
alumna of Montevideo, the sisters went to Asuncion. Their offering was sincere
and generous and it resulted in their daughter Mary entering the Society.
1916 – Chile. A college boarding house for young girls from the provinces
to study in the Capital city. The Sisters wishes were strengthened and joined
by a pious lady.
1920-1926. Again M.
Teresa Blanch (until 1932)
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Front row: M. Teresa Blanch in the
center;
M. Saturnina Jassa on the right;
M. Teresa Pla, on the left.
Back row: M. Carolina Erostarbe,
right;
M. Ma de los Angeles Fol, left. |
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1923 – Two miraculous Cures. God wished to
manifest the holiness of Our Founder Father through external signs. The
novice Antonia Barrera was healed miraculously on July 15 in Tortosa and M.
Ma Cinta Montfort in Tarragona on November 8. These events were signs that
the long journey leading to his canonization had begun. In 1925 the process
was started in Tortosa and in Barcelona. |
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1925 – In the Heart of the Church. Foundation in Rome
1926 – Serious Problems in Mexico. Persecution by the Government became
more violent. Searches, accusations, chapels sealed...
M. General writes to the sisters on August 19,
“I congratulate you for your part in the cruel religious persecution. Now is
the time to prove your love for Jesus Christ by being faithful to your vocation
and being ready, if necessary to give your life for the Spouse who has already
shed His blood to merit for us an eternal reign of glory.
You are not alone. My spirit accompanies you always. My constant thoughts are
with you as well as the hearts of all the sisters of the Society who suffer with
you and pray for you to the Heart of Jesus.
May God’s merciful and fatherly blessing be with you and may the heavenly Virgin
of Tepeyac be a shield to protect you....
(Translate by Sr. Odette Daigle, stj)
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Ü
The
Consolidation 1927-1951
For Spanish:
Recuperar
la Memoria III: Madurez
1901-1926
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