On March 13, 1863 the Congregation "Franciscan Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels" was founded in Waldbreitbach, Germany by Mother Mary Rose Flesh.
Who was this woman? Margaretha Flesh was born on February 24, 1826 to a poor oil miller in Schoenstalt/Vallendar, Germany. Already in 1832 her mother passed away. Her family then moved hoping to improve their financial situation. Margaretha was barely 16 when her father passed away leaving her and her stepmother to care for her 6 younger siblings.
There was no public assistance available for the poor of the community. Their family was of those who were left to fend for themselves.
Margaretha worked as a day laborer, collected and sold herbs and made and sold crafts. She, as a young woman, was very aware of the many poor people in her surroundings. The needs of the people in Wiedtal, particularly the needs of the orphans and the sick, were a major concern for her. Motivated by her strong faith in God, she felt called to serve the poor, sick and helpless.
In the autumn of 1851, her family now able to support themselves, Margaretha and her sister Marianne, who suffered from epilepsy, moved into the empty small quarters of the Cross Chapel in Waldbreitbach. Here they lived meagerly trusting God for their daily sustenance while carrying out the call to serve the poor and sick of the community. In addition she took in orphans, kept her work as a day laborer and taught home economics in a number of surrounding schools.
In 1856 two women, feeling called to the same mission of serving the poor and sick, joined Margaretha. It was only a few years later, 1860, that the local pastor asked them and the orphans to leave the Cross Chapel, and make their home in an apartment in nearby Hausen. This dwelling proved to be totally uninhabitable. Finally in the spring of 1861 they began construction of their first house on the Waldbreitbacher Chapel Mountain, to care for the sick and used for their own living quarters. On the 11th of November 1861 they moved into the first Mary's House.It wasn't long until Margaretha's greatest wish became a reality. On March 13, 1863 she, along with two other women, professed the vows of poverty, celibacy and obedience to God publicly in the Cross Chapel. She took the name Rose and henceforth is known as Mother Rose, the first general superior of the Franciscan Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels.
Her congregation grew rapidly. Seven women joined that year and immediately a mission (ministry) house was opened. By 1878 there were 105 sisters serving in 22 mission (ministry) homes. It was in that year that she, in accordance with the rules of the congregation, had completed her office as general superior.
Although she was Foundress, she was never allowed to be in leadership again but rather was hidden away as much as possible, even so much that the Sisters did not realize she in fact was the Foundress. It was during these darkest hours that the congregation grew immensely and when she died on March 25, 1906 there were 900 sisters and 72 mission (ministry) houses serving the sick and the poor.
It was quite some time later, (because of Mother Rose's wish) that her sisters became aware of the true Foundation story. In 1957 the process for beatification was begun in Rome. Needs for change and renewal brought about by Vatican II delayed the process until 1987 when her remains were transferred to the Motherhouse Church in order to enhance the public's awareness. She was widely respected among the people of her time because of her great love for God and for them. Blessed Mother Rose was beatified in 2008.
After 1881 the community again thrived and the bishop of Trier, Michael Felix Korum, asked the sisters to minister in home nursing care and establish kindergartens and night schools, especially in the poor areas of the diocese.
In 1913 the community received the papal approbation (approval of Rome).
Ten years later, in 1923, the Franciscans of Waldbreitbach sent 12 sisters, requested by the bishop of St. Paul, MN. to the USA. In 1931 sisters were sent to the Netherlands and in 1958 a group of sisters were sent to North Brazil. In 1995 the foundation in Portugal was begun and shortly after that in Mozambique, Africa was begun.
As Franciscan Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Angels our mission is, and remains, to live the Gospel simply and plainly among the people whatever the time and place and to remain open to God's challenge whenever and wherever that may be.