Congregation of Scholastic Sisters of III. Regulated Monastic Order of St. Francis

CONGREGATION OF SCHOLASTIC SISTERS OF III. REGULATED MONASTIC ORDER OF ST. FRANCIS This diploma thesis is focused on the development of the Congregation from its establishment to the present. I deal with the phenomenon of devoted life, spiritual motives and social cause through the history. I also give an attention to the nineteenth century, which was a great period of social changes and to the origin of woman's monastic orders and congregations as an answer to the actual requirements. The aim of the core section of the thesis is to describe the history of Congregation of St. Francis's school sisters from its beginnings in Graz to the separate branch in Bohemia. I primarily focus on the life of Czech province and its significant personalities, especially sister Eliska Pretschnerová and her beatification process. The final part of the work deals with sister's activities in the present time. I reflect the causes of the declining number of members as well as other options of existence of the Congregation. Keywords Devoted life, congregation, sisters, church, service, educat