Biography

Maria Franziska Schervier was born on January 3, 1819, in Aachen, Germany. Her father was a successful businessman, and her mother was a devout Catholic who instilled in her a strong love of the Lord.
 
As a young woman, Schervier felt called to serve God. Due to the death of her mother and two sisters of tuberculosis, though, her father objected to her desire to become a nun. He was devastated by the deaths and was determined to keep Schervier away from poverty and disease. Out of respect for the trauma her family endured and for her father’s sake, Schervier, put aside her own desires. 

After her father’s death, when she was 25, Schervier felt free to finally join the Third Order of St. Francis, which allowed for her to live a religious life while still working in the secular world. She decided to honor her family’s memory by focusing her life work on caring for the sick and, especially, for those who contracted tuberculosis.

After she took her vows, Schervier worked as a seamstress and as a nurse. In her spare time, she opened up her personal home in Aachen to provide care for the poor and the sick. She soon became known for her compassion and dedication to those in need, and in 1851, she and four other women founded the Congregation of the Poor Sisters of St. Francis Seraph of the Perpetual Adoration, also known as the Franciscan Sisters of Aachen.

Schervier and her fellow sisters followed the example of St. Francis of Assisi and lived a life of poverty, simplicity, and service. They cared for the sick and the elderly, prostitutes and women suffering from diseases like syphilis, visited prisoners, and helped those who were struggling financially. Schervier served as the first Superior General of the congregation, and she remained in that role until her death.

Within seven years of their founding, the congregation spread to include an American foundation. The sisters in the United States served German emigrants in Ohio, Kentucky, New Jersey, and New York. Schervier also oversaw the foundation of a number of hospitals in the United States and Europe. One of the hospitals she and her congregation founded was St. Mary Hospital in Hoboken, New Jersey, where they cared for soldiers wounded in the American Civil War. 

One of the most significant moments in Schervier’s life came in 1863, when she and her sisters were called to care for the victims of a cholera epidemic in Aachen. They worked tirelessly, risking their lives to care for those who were sick and dying. Their selflessness and dedication to those in need earned them the respect and admiration of the entire community, and they became known as the "Cholera Sisters."

Schervier died on December 14, 1876, at the age of 57. Her legacy lived on through the congregation she founded as it continued to grow throughout Europe and the Americas. In 1974, Schervier was beatified by Pope Paul VI and named Blessed. Today, the Franciscan Sisters of Aachen continue to serve the poor and the sick in many countries around the world.

Prayer

Almighty, just and merciful God, Blessed Frances Schervier spent her whole life giving back to You all the gifts that You had given her. She cared for the poor and the sick and radiated Your loving presence to all that she met. We beseech You now to glorify your servant, Frances. Give her the honor of sainthood if it is in accordance with Your will.

We ask this through Jesus, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.