Convent Fire
One of the earliest letters from Mother Theresa relates an incident that must have caused her great pain. The fire was related to the care given to some very poor children. Through her direct communication, Mother Theresa gives specific details to those who are accusing her sisters of negligence.
As you read the letter consider her love for the poor children entrusted to the sisters as well as her philosophy of education. She defends her sisters and risks the ridicule of those who had accused them.
Excerpt from a letter of Blessed Mary Theresa of Jesus Gerhardinger
October 12, 1842
Letter #369
The Royal Government of the Upper Palatinate
Department of the Interior
The city council also continues to refer to the so-called convent fire that happened a year ago and recently brought it up again to the royal government in order to withdraw from us the royal government’s goodwill whenever possible. Through the city council’s contrived presentation of the case, the sister, who was always considered to be outstanding, is now supposedly bereft of all common sense, as if she did not know that, in such cases, necessity knows no law.
Therefore, I consider it my duty to submit a truthful presentation of what really happened so that the royal government can judge the case for itself.
We accepted from the council for the guardianship of poor people and the city council a few neglected children so that we could care for them and give them an education for a very small fee. Some of these children are afflicted with physical weaknesses so that they wet their beds nightly, even though the sister sleeping near them wakes them and helps them get up during the night so that they will break this habit.
During the winter, the sisters had and still have to dry out the bedding by the stove in the cramped quarters every day be-cause they lack a change in bedding.
One day, while the sisters and children were attending Mass in the same building, one of the straw mattresses caught fire, which caused more smoke than fire. When this became known to the neighbors, they screamed as if the entire house was on fire, ran into the house, scolded the sisters, threatened to throw them out the window, and even more.
The sisters, deeply shaken by the unexpected fright and wild clamor did not allow these uncouth people to storm into the entire house at once but allowed only a few men to come in instead because the entire affair was of little significance. The city council continues to make such blazing charges against their behavior in such a pitiful situation, but I leave it to God to judge and defend us in this case—as well as in our entire painful situation in Amberg[Bavaria]—and I will not add one more word for our justification.
If the royal government proceeds with us in accordance with what is right and lawful, we will show our complete submission.
Respectfully yours,
Mary Theresa of Jesus
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