Mother M. Frances Krasse, O.S.F.
She was born March 23, 1839 in Herbern, Germany,the fifth of six children, and was named Theresia.
She was the third young woman to join Mother M. Xavier Streamer in the new community in Herford, Germany in November of 1864.
On August 21, 1875, as a result of Bismark’s May Laws, the whole community of 25 sisters and four postulants boarded the P. Caland and sailed to America. They settled in Iowa City, Iowa with the help of a priest they had met in Germany.
On October 28, 1876, she and five other sisters arrived in Peoria. Mother Xavier had sent them, at the request of a local parish priest, to start a hospital there, which they called St. Francis Hospital. Sister M. Frances Krasse was appointed the local superior there.
May 1, 1877 the first bishop of Peoria was appointed, Bishop John Lancaster Spalding. Soon after his arrival in Peoria he observed the poverty of the Sisters and their difficulties. Already by that time the sisters, nine by then, were maintaining their hospital, the city hospital and contagious hospital, and nursing people in their homes. Bishop Spalding promised them his help if Mother Xavier would allow them to form their own separate congregation. This happened July 16, 1877 and Mother M. Frances was elected their first Mother General at the age of 38.
Many things happened with the Sisters in those early years, many new sisters and several new hospitals.
In March of 1885, shortly after the death of her younger sister, Sister M. Augustine, Mother M. Frances fell gravely ill with tuberculosis.
She died at 5:15 AM on October 28, 1885, nine years to the day from her arrival in Peoria. She was 46 years old.
Her last words were:”Dear Sisters, keep yourselves in strict accord with the rules and statues. Live in meekness and obedience. Nurse the sick with the greatest care and love, then will God’s blessing be with you.”
Archbishop John Lancaster Spalding
John Lancaster Spalding was born June 2, 1840 in Lebanon, Kentucky.
He was ordained to the Priesthood in Louvain, Belgium in 1863. After having studied in Rome for a year he was appointed assistant pastor of the Cathedral in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1866 he established St. Augustine’s Colored Parish in Louisville, KY.
He was called to New York to write a biography of his uncle, Archbishop Martin Spalding in 1872 and was later appointed assistant pastor of St. Michael’s Church there.
On May 1, 1877 John L. Spalding was consecrated the first Bishop of Peoria at the age of 37.
Shortly after arriving in Peoria, he observed the Sisters and their poverty. He requested Mother Xavier to release them to be established as a separate congregation and promised he would help them. He was present when the Sisters elected Mother M. Frances Krasse as their first Mother General.
The first thing the Sisters needed was a better and larger hospital. He directly assisted in acquiring the property. On September 30, 1877 he laid the cornerstone and in May of 1878 he dedicated the new St. Francis Hospital.
Bishop Spalding was the protector of our community until April 7, 1899, when His Holiness Pope Leo XIII gave approval to our community and placed it under the protection of Rome.
On January 6, 1905 he had a stroke which left him partially paralyzed. He resigned as Bishop of Peoria in 1908 and was elevated to the rank of titular Archbishop of Scythopolis.
After his retirement, the priests of the Diocese had a new home built for him near the hospital. This house was later used as the residence for the Bishops of Peoria. This house then became the convent for the Sisters at St. Francis Medical Center and is now our new House of Formation.
On Friday, August 25, 1916 at 3:45 PM, Archbishop J. L. Spalding passed away.
Bishop Spalding affected the Church far beyond the Diocese of Peoria.
See the following links for more on his life.
A short Biography on Bishop J.L. Spalding on the Peoria Diocesan website
Christian Educators: John Lancaster Spalding, by Lucinda A Nolan
Assorted scanned writings of Bishop J.L. Spalding on the Internet Archive
“They who keep climbing will at last find themselves alone where nothing but God’s presence has power to cheer and console.”
“Only those who give themselves to contemplation grow sublime in action.”
In Reflection...
Mother Frances Krasse and Bishop Spalding continue to speak to us today. Their spirit helps us to respond to the changes and challenges of our present world and to remain faithful to what God asks of us.
These individuals are like stars in the heavens that God has given to our Religious Community to help us safely find our way. They are spiritual guides whose words and personal example inspire and enlighten us today. They are gifts that remain with us always.
Bishop Spalding wrote and lived in a remarkable way these words: “Only those who give themselves to contemplation grow sublime in action.” Our religious community, actively engaged in caring for those in need, must always be attentive to contemplation. It is time with the One who loves us MOST, that enables our apostolate to flourish.
From the words and legacy of Mother Frances Krasse we know what God asks of us. We are called to care for ALL God sends to us, to turn no one away, and to serve them “with the greatest care and love.” She assures us that a good and loving God will always provide for us as we engage this work of love. This has been so true from the time of our pioneer Sisters to the present day. Her personal example teaches us to be joyful and to have grateful hearts, even in the midst of suffering. Sacrifice is the language of love.
We thank God for the gift of our founders’ lives and pray for the grace to be living extensions of their spirit today, to His honor and glory and the service of His people.
“Exactly and conscientiously we want to carry out our duties in love to our heavenly Bridegroom; carry out the works of charity to the sick in a spirit of faith; never stand still in the striving for perfection; always go ahead courageously. In all sufferings and temptations we want to consider that a wise and good Father directs and guides the destinies of man and sends everything for our best.” (The New Year’s letter to the Sisters from Mother Frances, 1885)
On the 100th anniversary of the United States independence, he wrote: “Catholics must prepare themselves to enter more fully into the public life of the nation, to throw the light of Catholic thought upon each new phase of opinion or belief as it rises; to grapple more effectively with the great moral evils which threaten at once the life of the nation and the life of the Church.”
April 7, 2008
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