- Mother Maddalena devoted a whole chapter of her Memoirs to Elizabeth Bailey, her first spiritual daughter, who joined her in ¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬Philadelphia in 1876. She was very devout to the Blessed Sacrament, and as a reward for her great love and fervor, our Lord was pleased to manifest to her His Divine Presence in a perceptible manner by the diffusion of a most delicious fragrance. This she experienced, whenever she knelt before the Tabernacle wherein our Lord reposed. One day, she had gone to S. Paul's Church, for the purpose of making her confession. While waiting for the arrival of the priest, she entered a side chapel to say her prayers. Here she perceived the same heavenly fragrance; yet there was no light, or any other outward sign, to indicate the presence of our Divine Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. But she knew our Lord was there. In fact, when after confession, she returned to the Chapel, the Sacristan came to place a lamp before the altar, remarking that he had forgotten to do so. This fact she manifested to Mother Costanza, who was her mistress of Novices. (See also January 23rd, 24th, 25th)

- “The fruit we should draw from the Mystery of the Purification is the virtue of obedience.” - Mother Maddalena 1892 Omaha Custom Book Mother Maddalena recorded the first simple procession with the Blessed Sacrament in their improvised convent in Omaha, shortly after they had arrived there. It was replete with joy in remembrance of the procession of the Holy Family as they wended their way through the court of the temple in Jerusalem. Reverend Father Anstaett came to say Mass, and then we had the procession with the Most Blessed Sacrament through the yard. Constance carried the censer, and Sisters Elizabeth and Agnes sang; after that we received the Benediction. (Kleber)

“After Holy Mass, the Community goes to the grating to have the throats blessed, we have to do with faith, imploring the blessing of GOD through the intercession of the Saint to be delivered from all sickness of the throat, in order to be able also to sing through our lifetime the praises of God through the Divine Office.” - Mother Maddalena, 1892 Omaha Custom Book

When Mother Maddalena made her last foundation in Evansville in 1897, at first, they did not have water fit to drink. Mother Maddalena prayed fervently to St. Anthony to obtain water for the convent. Shortly thereafter Bishop Chatard, the bishop of Evansville, instructed them to have a well dug at his expense. They struck an abundant vein of wholesome water; the Poor Clares still call it The Bishop’s Well.

On February 5,1887, a beautifully penned letter came from John Creighton to Mother Maddalena. He generously underwrote a large part of the expenses for the new monastery Mother Maddalena was building: “… I have done this in order that you and those who follow you, may be able to carry out and follow the rule laid down by your foundress and like her become Saints. In this way (by my assistance to build) I hope through your prayers and the goodness of a merciful God, I may be enabled to enter Heaven. Yes, Heaven. O what a thought and what an expectation – (here he erased, as if fumbling for the words to convey) for a poor unworthy, thoughtless creature like me, on whom God in His goodness has bestowed so much and showered so many blessings. Accept this donation, then, Mother for your Community and let us hope that within the halls of this building may live many saints so by their prayers many Saints are side by side in heaven. In conclusion, I ask your and all the Sisters good prayer. Your friend, John A. Creighton

– On February 6, 1909, Mother Maddalena’s younger sister, Mother Alphonsine, died at the Trinità dei Monti convent in Rome. The Necrology of the Sacred Heart Nuns recounts: During the last days of her life, God granted Mother Alphonsine a very sweet consolation. Her two Poor Clare sisters had been commissioned by Pius IX to carry to America the austere rule of St. Francis; they had founded a convent at Evansville in Indiana and one of them, Mother Annette, - [Mother Maddalena] - had died there in such an odor of sanctity that the ecclesiastical authority had been moved and had begun the process of information. Mother Alphonsine could not, alas, give any detail about her sister's childhood, since she had spent so little time with her family. [In those days, noble families sent their children to boarding schools at a young age.] It was from heaven, that she was to follow the phases of a cause she held so much at heart. In FEBRUARY this good Mother was attacked by a grave pleurisy; alarming symptoms told of an approaching end; therefore, the last sacraments were administered to her. Calm, serene, even joyous, the sick woman joined in our prayers. One of our Mothers having asked if she was happy, she answered, "Paradiso Santo," with an ineffable smile, and her face lighted up with a ray of happiness. "Saturday," she had told the nurse, "I will go to see the Blessed Virgin." In fact, she died on this day consecrated to Mary.

(see March 6th). On February 7, 1878, Pope Pius IX died. He had been a friend of Mother Maddalena’s family for many years, and her father had been a member of the Noble Guard. When they were leaving Rome, Mother Maddalena remembered: "But you, my dear children, " he said, turning towards us, " you will proceed to America." He then gave us his ring to kiss, and affectionately bending over us, he blessed us, just like a tender father who is bidding farewell to his children.

Gabriel Francis Powers, a biographer, said of Mother Maddalena: She had all the Old-World charm, the exquisiteness of manner and address, the grave, deliberate courtesy of those ancient saloni of the Italian nobility where haste was unknown and indecent and where all matters were ordered harmoniously as if by some social ritual. To this native refinement was superadded charity, making the” beautiful thought and beautiful word spring directly from the heart. - A Woman of the Bentivoglio

On February 9, 1879, Mother Maddalena wrote in a letter: Pray that I may love God with that love with which He wills that I should love Him, even to the piercing of the heart.

Mother Maddalena had some famous people in her ancestry. There is even a beatified Franciscan saint in the Bentivoglio family. He had served as page at the court of Grand Duchess Vittoria of Tuscany, entered the service of Cosimo de Medici III. After a varied and honorable career, he exchanged the courts of the world for the courts of the Lord in 1663, and became a Capuchin under the name of Friar Joseph. He was an exemplary ecclesiastic and an eloquent orator. In compliance with his desire to devote himself to foreign missions, he was made apostolic missionary and was sent to Tunis, where he became known for his great charity. He was imprisoned because of his faith and was greatly ill-treated by the Mohammedans. Upon being set free, he returned to Italy, but was soon selected to go to Poland, where King John III desired to introduce the Capuchin Order. This task accomplished, Friar Joseph was recalled to Italy, where he died in 1698. He is the Beato Guiseppe Maria Cappuoccina.

The intensity of Mother Maddalena’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin is indicated by the many times she would say, “What would we be without the Blessed Virgin!” In [her Office Room] she had a little statue of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. She used to point to the heart and say: ‘That heart will get everything from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

- “To Mother Maddalena’s view, the way to greater things in the spiritual life lay in the conscientious performance of one’s daily duties out of love of God; ‘When you are perfect in little things, then you can hope that God will call you to greater things,’ she often said.” – Father Albert Kleber, O.S.B.

- Archbishop Perche wrote again on February 13, 1877, to Mother Maddalena, asking her to make a foundation in his diocese: I am called by God to be your Father; I am little known in Rome and, I think, I am but little esteemed there, enjoying little or no consideration and having no influence whatever, so that from that direction I can be of no use to you. Here even, where I am better known and enjoy the confidence of my flock, I have adversaries, and whilst some will rejoice at your coming, others, even among our Catholics, will call me a fool, a visionary, for bringing into Louisiana poor women, living on alms and devoted to that contemplative life which these consider a useless one. But we must remember that all great works contributing most to the glory of God and to the salvation of souls have for their foundation the Folly of the Cross. Besides, to the soul that sees only God, what matter the erratic judgments of men and their vain opinions? Come, then, for I am sure that your prayers, presented to your Celestial Spouse by our good and sweet Mother, Mary Immaculate, will be all powerful, and that you will draw upon my diocese and myself the spiritual and temporal favors we need.

Grover Cleveland for a long time had the distinction of being the only man to have two non-consecutive terms as President of the United States (1885-1889) and (1893-1897), so it is possible that Mother Maddalena knew a little of the big-man-with-a-tender heart who was president as she was getting established at Omaha, New Orleans, and Evansville. Cleveland indeed was a big man – over 250 pounds for most of his adult life – but one of his soft spots was children. He would cry when he heard youngsters singing Christmas carols. He would get misty-eyed if he saw his children sledding in the yard. But what really made the bulky man shed tears was when he overheard his young daughters say that one girl in their class did not receive a Valentine when they were distributed at school. The former president of the United States - the man who made people jump as he slammed his big fist on the desk – had rivulets running down his cheeks as he thought of the heartbreak of that little girl. A valentine bearing the name of Grover Cleveland was delivered by special messenger to the damsel’s home. This was a typical gesture of a gentle giant whose dying words were: “I have tried so hard to do right.” This was the man who was the object of Mother Maddalena’s prayers for many years.

“Mother Mary Maddalena was very friendly and motherly. Her demeanor was modest -- nothing "put on". Her walk was moderate, her expression serene. She was plain and simple, very humble, very sincere -- no double dealing. She was always thoughtful of others; extremely attentive to the needs of the Sisters. It seemed often that she could just read your thoughts. She was so sweet you just couldn't help loving her.” - Sister Mary Agnes

February 16th is the traditional feastday of Blessed Philippa Mareri, the fist Poor Clare to be beatified. Blessed Philippa was even beatified before the death of St. Clare herself. Mother Maddalena relates in The Princess of Poverty: In the valley of Rieti… there lived the noble family of Mareria, Don Pietro and Donna Imperatrice. Francis was ever a most welcome guest at their home, and they were devotedly attached to him. They had a daughter, called Philippa… who longed to consecrate her life to God. Yet her parents, though devout and God-fearing, failed to see in their daughter's choice the Will of God and opposed her in every way. A suitable marriage, befitting her rank and condition, had already been arranged … But she steadfastly refused... [and], she left her home in the company of some pious women who were animated by the same aspirations as herself. They fled to a neighboring mountain where they took shelter in a grotto and entered upon a life of prayer, penance, and solitude… The new Community had, at first, no special rule for observance. But the remembrance of S. Francis led them to adopt the Rule of S. Clare …. Philippa surpassed all the Sisters by her deep humility, her fervor in prayer and her great austerities. Though she held the office of Abbess, she, nevertheless, deemed herself the least in the monastery, performing the most lowly services of the house and doing all to lighten the burden of the Sisters.

From the memoirs of Sister Mary Agnes, the last novice to be invested by Mother Maddalena: One day we novices were working in the corridor cleaning up the scraps of wood, etc. left by the carpenter. Reverend Mother came along and-- as was her custom -- “said, “God bless the work.” And we all went on our knees as she had taught us and answered, "And you likewise, Reverend Mother.” Then we asked her blessing.

Gabriel Francis Powers, a biographer, said of Mother Maddalena: Her brevity of speech—a stalwart Roman mode, bequeathed, as it were, by the great ancient world of pregnant, concise Latin—was furthermore confirmed in her by the enforced silence of the Rule. She had grown to speak very little, and in a few words to say much. Added to this, she was silent because she was praying; when any of the Sisters approached to speak with her, she almost invariably motioned with her hand: “Wait a moment, child!” Often they knew by the beads between her fingers that she was finishing an Ave Maria or a decade; then her gentle and courteous countenance was turned to hear them… There was no affectation in her kindness: it was genuine and entire. Eyes so deep-knowing and so compassionate as hers watch incessantly for the trials and sorrows of those around them. She saw and knew and could comfort. She even departed from the law of silence she valued so highly to open for any poor troubled heart or soul the harbor of consolation. Woman of the Bentivoglio

–“ One Sister reported that John Creighton, on one occasion when he came to the monastery instinctively and spontaneously as a little child knelt down in [Mother Maddalena's] presence to ask her: ‘Mother, bless me!” When to Mother Maddalena’s embarrassment and confusion he persisted in remaining on his knees, after she had protested that she could impart a blessing to any person, Mother Maddalena to find an escape yielded to his insistence with some nervousness and with the words: ‘God bless you! God bless you!’” - Father Walter Casper, S.J.

On February 20, 1878, Gioacchino (Joachim) Pecci ascended the throne of Saint Peter as Pope Leo XIII. This great man was the pontiff for most of Mother Maddalena’s time in America, although she had been sent by Pope Pius IX. Pope Leo was most known for his forward-thinking encyclicals on labor; but he was also a man of letters and a poet as well. Mother Maddalena would have seconded his sentiments in his poem: God bids us love His ever-loving Son, Hasten, O children, to the Savior’s side; There only may your hearts and mind abide.

On this day in 1801 was born the future John Henry Cardinal Newman. There is a small chance that, years later, Father Newman may have heard of Mother Mary Maddalena, since Bishop James O’Connor of Omaha was a friend of Newman. (They had studied together in Rome, after Newman became a Catholic.) Bishop O’Connor, when in Europe on his Ad limina to Rome, always stopped by the Oratory to visit the elderly prelate. Father Neville published posthumously a devotional work of Newman’s: One more name there is to mention – and it belongs to America, where though our Cardinal had so many friends, one pre-eminently such – that of Bishop James O’Connor, Bishop of Omaha, whose unaffected kindness was most grateful to our Cardinal, lasting as it did through all but the whole of his Catholic lifetime. For Bishop James O’Connor the Cardinal had a great affection, remembering always, with something of gratitude, the modesty and simplicity with which, the future Bishop [of Omaha] attached himself to him and to Father St. John when the three were at the Propaganda together, thus forming a friendship which distance and years did not lessen, and which later was enlivened by personal intercourse when the visits ad limina Apostolorum brought Bishop O’Connor to England.

Father Albert Kleber, O.S.B., who was the first Vice-Postulator of the Cause of Beatification of Mother Maddalena, reflects in his biography of her: Canonization of the Servant of God would not add anything to her sanctity and eternal glory, though it would be a grace for us to have her virtues approved by the unerring judgment of Peter and to have her life put before us as an attractive pattern, at the same time to have her appointed patroness for all who will endeavor to fashion their lives according to this pattern; but her canonization would redound to her external glory and would, on the part of the Church Militant, be a just retribution to this Valiant Woman.

- Mother Maddalena wrote in The Princess of Poverty: But the principal Patroness of the [Poor Clare] Order in France was B. Isabelle, daughter of King Louis VIII, and Queen Blanche of Castille. She always had entertained the greatest esteem and veneration for the Sisters of S. Clare at Rheims, and, at length, obtained the necessary grant from her royal brother, S. Louis, to establish a foundation at Paris. This resulted in the erection of the celebrated royal Abbey of Longchamp, under title of the Humility of our Lady. Four Religious were obtained from Rheims to introduce the new mode of life. Here B. Isabelle, together with a number of noble ladies, vowed her virginity to God. For particular reasons, the rigors of the Rule were somewhat mitigated and special regulations drawn up. Other foundations were established from this place, one of them in London, in 1295. Isabelle died, February 23, 1270, in her fifty-fifth year, and was beatified by Pope Leo.

“My dear daughter … do not doubt that Jesus will keep an account for you of all your sacrifices, and shall reward you here below by giving you an increase of His Holy grace, and in Paradise by giving you an increase of glory.” - Father Bernardine of Portogruaro, to Mother Maddalena. (He was the Minister General of the Franciscan Order and Mother Maddalena’s spiritual director.)

– Mother Maddalena’s family – the Bentivoglio’s of Bologna – were very active in Italian politics during earlier centuries. Students of Franciscan history might recall a Cardinal Bentivoglio who confronted Mary Ward over her teaching apostolate. [This is not the place to go into the history of this former Poor Clare, which is quite interesting. That will be saved for another study.] Father Albert Kleber recounts the history of Mother Maddalena’s distinguished relative: A grandson of Giovanni, Costanzo, became the founder of the illustrious Ferrara branch of the family. Of this line Cardinal Guido Bentivoglio descended. Cardinal Bentivoglio, highly cultured and an accomplished diplomat, acquitted himself masterfully of many difficult missions with which both popes and secular rulers had entrusted him. It was generally believed that he would be the successor to Pope Urban VIII; but he died during the conclave, in 1644.

Mother Maddalena’s family was friends with Father Angelo Secchi , S.J., who did much to lay the foundations for modern astronomy. It is written of him: After the capture of Rome by the Piedmontese in 1870, his firmness of faith and Secchi’s fidelity to the pope and the Jesuit Order were more than once put to a test. But no enticements, however alluring, of the new rulers … could induce him to falter in his loyalty or fidelity [to the pope]. The new [civil] authorities did not venture to expel him from his laboratory, and he continued his investigations until he succumbed to a fatal disorder of the stomach on February 26, 1878. The world had lost one its great pioneering scientists. [There will be a chapter devoted to Father Secchi in Priests in the Life of Mother Maddalena.]

On February 26, 1878, Mother Maddalena and Mother Constance decided it was best if they leave the Cleveland Poor Clare monastery to the German Poor Clares. They dearly loved the Sisters; but found it impossible to meld Italian and German languages and customs. Little did she know that the friend of her family – and one who bade them farewell when she left Italy – died on the same day. (See February 26th) When the Servant of God and her companions came out of the entrance of the CONVENT OF THE POOR CLARES, she, seeing her friends and benefactors gathered there, remained true to herself. Miss Jennie McGrath, who was in that number, remembered the scene to her old age. When Mother Maddalena came out and saw us, she approached us and said: ‘You have always been good to us; you must now be good to them. Father Albert Kleber, OSB

On February 26, 1905, Mother Mary Maddalena wrote the following letter to her heavenly friend, Saint Joseph, to whom she was very devoted: My dear Saint Joseph, For the love that you bore your Spouse, Mary, Virgin Immaculate, for the love that you had for the Son of the Most High and who with your Spouse was confided to you by the Heavenly Father, and by your Holy Submission to the Divine Will of the Most Holy Trinity, I beseech you that you obtain for us a perfect life, such as is expected of a Spouse of Jesus Crucified, a good and holy death for us all, conversion from all the spiritual miseries that obstruct the way of the true perfection. Also, O great Saint Joseph, obtain for us that by means of benefactors the building of the monastery be finished. Send us good postulants, who fear and love God, are fervent and prompt in the observance of the Holy Rule; also, the grace of vocation for two wavering ones, conversion for others, and relief to all. - Your most unworthy child, Mary Maddalena, Poor Clare