In the beginning of December something wonderful happened at Matjieskloof. Sister Françoise Therese, a soul of ardent faith who knows how to communicate her piety and confidence in God, in the Sacred Heart and in the Blessed Therese of the Child Jesus, told me in a letter all the details of what happened. The magistrate of Springbok had asked her one day to take care of three children who had just lost their mother. The father had died long before. He promised to help with the care of the children by sending a little food regularly.
One of these children, a little girl of five years, had been born an invalid. Her legs were folded in under her body, apparently without joints in the knees. She had never been able to walk. Her brother, who had been born in the same condition, died at the age of six. Sister Françiose Therese was therefore somewhat fearful, but what would she not do for the poor and the infirm? She entrusted these children to God, saying: “I shall take the children, but You will help me to bring them up, for the small amount of food that the magistrate will send is not all that is needed. Besides the daily bread they need clothing, medicine etc. First of all, my God, send me some money, so that I can clothe them. If You do that, it will be a sign that you really want these three children at Matjieskloof.” The next day a benefactor, who knew nothing about the three orphans, sent her £5.11.0. That was all she needed to be convinced that it was the will of God that she should logde and care for these poor children. She was thus encouraged to ask for still more. She prayed:”It would be so easy for You, Oh God, to care for this poor little invalid. What joy and what help it would be for us to see her running about like the others and able to help herself. I have so little free time and cannot give myself over entirely to the care of this little sick child. I have 115 children in school and also other poor persons who need our care. I have to see to my 45 boarders, etc. My God, show your power. What good would come from it for our missions! Tomorrow, the 5th December, we shall begin a novena to Blessed Theresa of the Child.
Pella was now established on solid foundations, and Father Simon was already thinking of a second Mission more centrally located from where a Priest could more easily reach the remote Christians and bring them the help the of religion.
A property near Springbok, which consisted of about 365 acres of land a handsome six roomed house, appealed to Fa- to use this money for the construction of the new novitiate. The second answer: the vicariate owns a small house in Springbok, two kilometres from Matjieskloof. A pious lady who died about 20 years ago gave it to us. The house is not worth much; about £300, we estimate. It draws a rent of £48 a year, which just about covers the cost of repairs. I think we shall profit by selling it and putting the 300 in the novitiate funds. A buyer has already come forward: he will pay the amount on the day of the sale. I consulted the Apostolic Delegate, and he authorized me to sell the house. Bishop Fages wrote to us from Rome that he had spoken to the Holy Father about the novitiate to be erected in Matjieskloof. His Holiness gave his hearty approval to the project, especially since native candidates were to be admitted. He donated 30 000 francs, which Bishop Fages sent on to me. I do not think we can make better use of the money than by using it for the novitiate. These 30 000 francs come to 240. So there we are assured of more than the £1 000 needed for our project. Jesus of Lisieux, your little bride. We have confidence that our prayers will not be in vain.”
In the church of Matjieskloof they placed a picture of Blessed Teresa and draped it with a curtain dotted with roses. On the first day of the novena the invalid was brought to church and placed in front of the picture of Sister Teresa of the child Jesus. She was taught to say and to repeat often: “Little Flower, obtain for me the grace to walk.” She learned the words well and often repeated them with faith and confidence. After the prayers of novena, Sister Françiose Therese brought the child back to her room. On the second day, to the great surprise and joy of all who witnessed it, the sick child stretched out her leg and could stand up. This happened in Sister Françiose Therese’s room. On the third day they again place her in front.
The purchase was made in December 1885 and this property became our second Mission Station known as Matjieskloof. Five missionaries had just arrived. Brother Leo Wolf, and Sister Joseph Alexis, Jeanne de Sales, Louise-Madeleine and Paul-Angele. Father Becoulet and three sisters remained at Matjieskloof while Brother Leo and Sister Paul Angele went on to Pella. Sister Jeanne de Sales, who was English and very capable, soon had a flourishing school in Springbok. The people admired her talents as a teacher, musician and painter and they were happy to place their children in her care.
Thus Matjieskloof had to contend with opposition from the early stages of its foundation. But Father Fromentin and Father Devaud, with the zealous support of Sister Marie-Emmanuel, fought the good fight and conquered. Hundreds of return to the mission and the second orphanage of the Orange River Prefecture was founded, where so many children have since received nourishment for soul and body. In the beginning of 1892, Father Fromentin was called back to France. He was later to be sent to the United States as one of the founders of the American Province. A few months of Father Fromentinis departure, Father Tabery, Father Billar and the youthful Odilon Fages were sent to Matjieskloof to carry on with the good work of their predecessors, which was to make this Mission one of the most flourishing in the present Diocese.
16 November 1928: Rome has approved the erection of a novitiate for Oblate Sisters and auxiliaries at Matjieskloof. So we have set to work seriously to establish this foundation. It will cost more than £1000. The mission cannot provide this amount; the little money that we do possess is hardly enough for the maintenance of our missionaries. But our Sisters trust and pray. The first answer to prayer: A French benefactress some time ago donated £500 for the needs of the Port Nolloth mission.
We consulted the Mother House and were given permission of the picture and had her stand up. Sister Françiose Therese, her protectress, then withdrew several places paces from the child. Holding a picture of the little Flower in her hand, she then spoke to the little one in a trembling voice:”Baby, come fetch this picture.” Wonder of wonders! The child immediately obeyed. She walked forward and took the picture. “It is impossible to describe our joy and emotion,” wrote Sister Françiose Therese. “To feel the finger of God so close to us is something we shall never forget as long as we live.” She brought the child back holding her only by the hand. The little one walked all the way, a distance of about 300 meters. There at the Sisters’ house she sat down, got up again and walked like a child who had never been sick. Sister examined her legs and her knees and found them comfortable as those of a child in good health. Friends and distant relations came to see the child; they could not believe their eyes. The child asked for shoes; put them on herself, and walked and jumped like her companions. When she was asked who cured her, she answered: “The little flower.”
We shall certainly examine this case of a cure in all its details when we go to Matjieskloof. The doctor of Okiep had seen and treated this child some years before. But he had soon discovered that nothing could be done and so stopped visiting her. I thus advised Sister Françiose Therese to take the child to him and explain how she had been cured. She did so. The doctor remembered that he indeed seen the child three years before. He examined her and declared without hesitation that such a cure was not natural; that the legs and knees could not acquire the necessary flexibility to be able to walk in three days’ time, and that in consequence the cause of so sudden a change was above the powers of nature. Something extraordinary has happened, he said. The doctor is a Protestant. The Monastery of Lisieux has been informed of this event.
