THE FIRST SUPERIOR OF PINK SISTERS - SR. M. SERAPHIM

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The first Superior of the cloistered department was Sr. M. Seraphim born Marie Van Basten Batenburg.  

At the age of 21, Marie entered the Nazareth Convent of the Benedictines of Perpetual Adoration in Tegelen.  She was not allowed to enter the novitiate due to poor health.

Marie tried to be admitted into the Styl adoration community as early as 1890, but Arnold Janssen hesitated for a long time but eventually; after getting a good recommendation for the Sister Superior of the Nazareth House, he accepted her into the community of the Holy Spirit Sisters on July 7, 1894.

On September 29 1894 she began her postulancy with the Missionary Sisters and on June 9 1895 she was accepted as a novice and received the blue habit and the name Aufrida.  Soon after she began having problems with her health and twice, she received the sacrament of the sick.  She recovered and was found in the chapel in her night clothes and barefoot, kneeling on top of the altar.  She had no idea how she got to the chapel but believe that the Holy Spirit had performed a miracle.  So did the Sisters.  Few days after recuperating, she observed the full normal routine of the convent.

Soon there were extraordinary events surrounded her.  The Sisters saw her "levitating" during the religious exercises.  She had visions of the Holy Spirit and saw the Holy Spirit portrayed "as person in priestly vestments."  The Holy Spirit gave her revelations about the future of the Sister's community, in particular, the Adoration Branch.  On November 18, 1896 the list of those were chosen for the cloister were announced and Sr. Aufrida's name was among them but not of Sr. Maria Stollenwerk who applied.  On November 20 Arnold Janssen asked the seven candidates destined for the cloister as well as the two co-foundresses Sr. Maria and Sr. Josepha, to vote for the Sister Superior and Sr. Aufrida was unanimously elected.   On November 22 the founded appointed Sr. Aufrida to be superior for one year.

There were series of revelations of the Holy Spirit to Sr. Aufrida but one the worst part is her embarrassing behavior towards the Missionary Sisters.  She said, that according to the wishes of the Holy Spirit only the Cloistered Sisters should provide the teachers of the Missionary Sisters.  She also wrote to a prospective member that the Cloistered Sisters were "choir sisters" and the Missionary Sisters were supposed to do the manual work.  She made propaganda for the cloistered section among those who had superior education and came from "better families."  She also treated the Missionary Sisters as if she were their Superior.  All these created tensions between the Missionary and Cloistered branch.   

On January of 1897 Arnold Janssen was convinced that Sr. Aufrida - as a Cloistered Sister - "Sr. M. Seraphim" was not suitable as superior.  He consulted the bishop but was advised to wait and trust in God and see how things develop.  But towards the end of the period of office of Sr. Aufrida, he told her frankly that an extension of her office was out of questions.  He simply told her that based on his experience with the Missionary Sisters, a more frequent change in administration could be good.  Soon, the Founder announced the new appointments, the sister in charge was Sr. M. Michael.  Sr. Seraphim spontaneously cried out: "Deo Gracias!"

However, the Founder realized and concluded that Sr. M. Seraphim is not suitable for the cloistered community and this decision is very difficult for the Sisters to take.  Sr. M. Michael, the new superior, wrote on January 25 1898 to Founder "She is a very perfect Sister.  She is holy.  She is a fine example for us.  She has a good spirit.  She is a good, humble Sister.  She is soul grace by God."  She added: "The idea that Reverend Father would send Sister Seraphim ways is for us, that is Sister Assistant (Gertrudis Stellermann) and me, extremely hard."  We hope Reverend Father will think the matter over very carefully before making a decision."

The Founder sought advice from his general consultors.  He spoke with Sr. M. Seraphim.  He gave Srs. M. Michael and M. Gertrudis clear instructions on how Sr. M. Seraphim was to be treated.  On March 16 1898 he gave the Cloistered Sisters a conference on how to deal iwht the discernment of spirits.  It took the Sisters some time to change their opinion.  In the middle of April, Sr. M. Seraphim appealed to the bishop but on April 22, the bishop declared "consilim abeundi."  On April 29 Sr. Maria and Sr. Josepha accompanied the dismissed Sister to meet her brother and she was brought to her relatives in Cologne.

Fr. Bornemann, who had thoroughly studied the whole case, stated: "The cloistered department now begins a new style become simpler.  The experience had had an unforgettable effect on both communities.  The administration of neither community was no longer left to the devices of private revelations.  The administration followed the clear prescriptions of the Church, the approved rules and sound common sense.  The whole process, an episode of two years, had a healthy effect on the internal healing to two communities"

 

Mother Maria Helena, one of the co-foundresses of the Missionary Sisters and the Superior General that time, was later transferred to the cloistered branch in 1898 and was given the name Sr. Maria Virgo as a novice.  It was said that Father Founder transferred her to the Cloistered branch to fully heal the division between the cloistered and missionary sisters.  She preferred to remain with the Missionary Sisters but responded generously to the Founder's wish when he asked her to take the step.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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corrections:

Fr. Bornemann, who had thoroughly studied the whole case, stated: "The cloistered department now begins a new phase.  The visits of outsiders are tightly restricted, silence is observed, the lifestyle become simpler.  The experience had had an unforgettable effect on both communities.  The administration of neither community was no longer left to the devices of private revelations.  The administration followed the clear prescriptions of the Church, the approved rules and sound common sense.  The whole process, an episode of two years, had a healthy effect on the internal healing to two communities"

 

 

 

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Motherhouse Chronicles:

Miss van Basten Batenburg tried several times to be readmitted to Steyl, but in vain.  A petition made to Baroness Ledochowska's Peter Claver Society was also fruitless.  To the end of her life she coud never forget Steyl.   She used to come back again and again.  On January 2, 1931 she was admitted to St. Anna's C;lnic in Venray where she died on September 30, 1931.  The judgement of Sr. Sixta Kasbauer, though a Missionary Sister, was both benevolent and cautious: "A veil aways hangs over this woman, a veil she should be permitted to keep.  This veil will probably never be completely lifted and the personality of Alma (a pseudonym for M. Seraphim) completely explained.  Perhaps it is God's will that she remains covered by this veil - until one day all veils fall and all the mysteries of life are solved.  Only God alone can accomplish this."

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Sr. M. Gertrudis, the Assistant and Novice Directress, wrote the following in the house chronicle:

"On December 8, 1897 Sr. M. Seraphim was removed from the office and on April 29, 1898 dismissed from the Congregation.  She was hysterical, reported all kinds of extraordinary things: revelations, ecstasies, etc.  At first many believed her.  Even the Reverend Father Superior General was deceived.  As a result of this in the first years many things were introduced which were later abolished.  Marie van Basten Batenburg had brough much pain to the community and caused much trouble to the Rev. Father Superior General.  But then again she might have been innocent; much of the problem was due to her illness.  At any rate this case is a good lesson for the future.  It just goes to show how careful people have to be when dealing with extraordinary things."