While Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity feature The Yellow Rose of Texas from Blue Corn Musis-Dark River as a free song, we invite you to share your own images of a “Yellow Rose of Texas”, a Yellow Rose from The Immaculate Conception or whatever is meaningful to you about this flower. Click here to submit your photo on our facebook page.
To start the gallery of photos, here’s Our Lady of Lourdes window at St. Francis Borgia in Cedarburg, WI.
With this photo, we share a bit of Franciscan Community history about our own Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto found at our Motherhouse and a tradition we hold of presenting a single yellow rose at the time of each of our Sister’s death.
Our Franciscan Community Archivist Sister Teresita Kittel wrote: “To many visitors, one of the most inspiring spots of our convent is Our Lady’s Grotto.
The building of our little Lourdes started in the spring of 1939, while Mother Perpetua was Vicaress. It is a memoria to Mother Generose on the occasion of her Golden Jubilee. The pattern used may have been merely a magazine picture. The reason for the present grotto and its largeness was so that Mary might bless the entire countryside, rather than have just a private grotto for the community alone.
Most of the work was done by our workmen, especially Robert Klingeisen. The rocks in the frame work came from our farm and farms as far distant as St. Nazianz. The large rock in front, with holes in it was brought from the Frank Fessler farm, the first farm on Highway 151 as you turn right to go to Manitowoc. This family felt honored to have donated this rock, for Frank Fessler is a nephew of the Father Joseph Fessler who helped found our convent.
The statues are Garrara marble brought from Carrara, Italy and were purchased through DaPratto Studio in Chicagao. Our own Sisters helped finance the landscaping. Work was completed in 1940.
Our Franciscan Sister Elizabeth Benvie shares this rose image. It is a reminder of the single yellow rose presented at the time of the death of our Sisters. 
This tradition began April 2, 1980 at the death of Sister Maurice Armbruster when our wakes were held in the art parlors. Sister Ritarose Stahl and her Council wanted to make sure each of our Sisters would be remembered with flowers. Up until this time Sister Margaret (Louise) Speigl was responsible for creating a bouquet. It was difficult at different times of the year to find flowers in our own gardens.
The yellow rose, unlike the red rose received at our perpetual profession symbolizing God’s love and faithfulness in our commitment and the thorns representing the suffering that each of us must also bear, is a sign of life and resurrection.
We look forward to seeing and reading about your images!
