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Our charism begins in eternity with and in God
Mother Immaculata
Bishop Bahlmann
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Reflection I
Bishop Bahlmann and Mother Immaculata
Usually, when we share our history, we begin with Bishop Bahlmann, OFM in
Brazil or with Mother Immaculata as a young teacher or her miraculous healing
in Lourdes. At times, we even go back further to St. Mother Beatrice da Siva
in the 15th century. For me, to fully appreciate our life story,
the history of our congregation, I turn to God. The purpose of our being SMIC
is our Charism. Our charism begins in eternity with and in God. It is in the
light of our Charism that I wish to present our SMIC history. Is my hope that
in this light you will deepen your appreciation of our Founders, founding
Sisters, our history and mission. Today we will reflect on the lives of Bishop
Bahlmann and Mother Immaculata, their call and their mission:
Who are they? Why were they
called? How did they respond to their call?
At the end of our third reflection we will ask ourselves:
Who am I? Why am I chosen?
How am I responding to my call?
I contemplate in my heart the unfolding of SMIC life history like this:
At one moment in eternity, God saw the suffering of His people. He saw their
pain, injustices, abuses and discrimination inflicted on them and He said: “I
pity my people”.
It was at this moment that our Charism was conceived in the mind of God.
In order to give life to this charism, God chose two people, two people with
very different personalities and yet so very similar. It is awesome to see
God’s action in these two people who from today’s perspective, lived decades,
generations and worlds apart.
Bishop Bahlmann was born in 1862; 25 years before Mother Immaculata come into
this world. Both are born into devout Catholic families. Bishop Bahlmann a
healthy, strong boy with an exceptional strong will which was not easy to
bend. He needed in his early years strong disciplinary parents. The young
August Bahlmann was not only very intelligent but also a rascal full of pranks
and mischief. During his years of study, he was drawn to a great commitment to
God and His mission. He chose the Franciscan Order to become a Franciscan
priest and missionary. The young Fr. Bahlmann OFM was a true son of Francis,
in love with Lady Poverty and a wish to die a martyr’s death.
Mother Immaculata, born in 1887, a frail and delicate child, grew up under the
wings of a holy, caring and gently mother. Early in her life, she learned to
love God and accompany her mother to visit the sick and to bring food to the
poor. The young Elisabeth Tombrock developed a great love for children and
chose to become a teacher. She chose to become a Secular Franciscan. As a
teacher, she devoted herself to teach knowledge, life values, and great love
for God and His Mother to her students until a debilitating illness threatened
both her life and her career. It was at this point in the live of Mother
Immaculata and Bishop Bahlmann that we can actually perceive God touching both
in a special way and directing them to carry out His plan. God is marking them
for a higher life of giving. He is calling them to reach beyond their limits
for His Kingdom, His people. These moments are:
- Mother Immaculata’s
healing in Lourdes
- Bishop Bahlmann’s call to
Brazil to renew the Franciscan Mission in Brazil and Latin America
In real time, all this happens years apart but God has a plan and in his plan
the two lives will meet. And who are they when they meet? Bishop Bahlmann,
Prelate of Santarem, a seasoned missionary, a true son of Francis of Assisi,
loyal pastor of his flock, friend of two Popes and well known among the
Cardinals in Rome, he also holds two doctorates. Most of all, he is a loyal
father of the poor of Brazil especially the most needy, the outcast and
marginalized. He is a passionate worker in God’s Kingdom.
Mother Immaculata is a school teacher, favored by God with a miraculous
healing and filled with love and gratefulness to God and His Mother. She is
young, very intelligent, and an enthusiastic Franciscan. She is back in school
teaching the children she loves. In her heart and mind she struggles to decide
to dedicate her life to Mary either as a Poor Clare or a Missionary.
We now meet Bishop Bahlmann and Mother Immaculata as seekers. Bishop Bahlmann
is searching for a teacher to join his small community of Conceptionists in
Santarem to teach the poor children and tend to the poor and the sick. Mother
Immaculata is seeking permission to enter the Poor Clare Cloister. Bishop
Bahlmann’s search had led him to Germany where he hears about the young
teacher Elisabeth Tombrock who has been healed in Lourdes. Again, we see God
clearly acting in the lives of both to accomplish this plan.
Mother Immaculata (as Elisabeth Tombrock) in her study has begun the letter of
petition to request entrance to the Poor Clare Cloister. Once more she kneels
and asks God to guide her. A knock at the door and a telegram from Bishop
Bahlmann asking her if she is willing to become a missionary in Brazil and
teach the poor children is her answer from God.
Bishop Bahlmann working in His study is interrupted; there is a young teacher
by the name of Elisabeth Tombrock who wishes to see him. Both remember these
moments in their lives with great fondness and gratefulness. Only two months
later they are sailing for Brazil. Bishop Bahlmann, a tough and demanding
teacher and Mother Immaculata an enthusiastic, willing student, determined to
overcome all difficulty. They are two zealous Franciscan Missionaries. Their
hearts are filled with passion for mission. Mother Immaculata is ready to give
all and be all and do all for the poor and those in need. Both are deeply in
love with God and trust in Mary that she will guide them in their work that
lies ahead. Our Charism has been conceived and over time comes to birth and
life. Only after 20 short years, women who have been called to share in this
Charism are present on five continents reaching out and ministering to the
poor.
The first years were difficult years. At times, it seemed like the young order
would vanish but Mother Immaculata and Bishop Bahlmann stood fast in their
belief that this was God’s will and work. Mother Immaculata became the heart
and the spirit of the Community. She led her Sisters, young women from Germany
and Brazil to accomplish great things. Full of energy, joyfully and at times
with great humor, with trust and a spirit of celebration, she rallied all to
answer God’s call, “I pity my people.” For the Sisters she was a loving Mother
and a friend and for the people of Santarem she was the “Nossa Madre”. Bishop
Bahlmann loved “his Sisters” like a father but was constantly working to keep
the young order legally established. While Mother Immaculata in her enthusiasm
and with her idealism eagerly moved toward ever greater accomplishments,
Bishop Bahlmann finds himself either in Rome or with Brazilian authorities to
obtain the necessary approbations and legalizations. Ever larger groups of
young women from Germany and Brazil joined the young order called by God to
share in His gift to the poor and the needy, the Charism of our Founders.
It was only after 13 years that God decided to bring
about changes and new directions. During the 1920’s, the congregation was
called by Pope Pius X. beyond the borders of Santarem, the order was
aggregated to the Franciscan Order, the first Constitutions brought changes.
The name was changed to Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the
Mother of God but most of all; Mother Immaculata became seriously
incapacitated while in the USA. She could not return to her beloved Brazil and
now directed the Congregation from her sickbed. At the same time, we see
Bishop Bahlmann turning with ever greater love toward the Sisters in Brazil.
It is at this point that we see other Sisters rise to become strong local
leaders – always remaining under the guidance of Mother Immaculata, their
loyal Mother.
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