Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917) was an Italian-American nun and missionary known as "Mother Cabrini". She holds the distinction of being the first United States citizen to be canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and established institutions like schools, hospitals, and orphanages to aid Italian immigrants and the poor globally.
Born Maria Francesca Cabrini in Italy in 1850, she was often in poor health but aspired to missionary work. After being repeatedly denied entry to religious orders due to her health, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880 with seven other women to care for poor children. She took the name Frances Xavier in honor of Saint Francis Xavier.
In 1887, Pope Leo XIII directed her to the United States to serve the Italian immigrant population instead of her desired mission in China. His advice was, "Not to the East, but to the West". Arriving in New York City in 1889, she overcame initial challenges and spent the next 28 years expanding her order's work across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, traveling across the Atlantic 24 times. She established 67 institutions, including schools, orphanages, and hospitals in various cities. She became a U.S. citizen in 1909.
Death and Legacy.
Protestant-dominated civic and political culture in New York at the time was often hostile and refused to recognize Catholic initiatives, needing constant navigation of a challenging political landscape.
Through immense faith and determination, Mother Cabrini overcame these barriers to establish 67 institutions worldwide, earning her the recognition as the patron saint of immigrants.
Frances Xavier Cabrini passed away in Chicago in 1917 at one of her hospitals. Her compassionate work and organizational skills left a lasting legacy. She was canonized in 1946, becoming the first American citizen saint. In 1950, she was named the patron saint of immigrants. Her feast day is November 13 in the U.S.. Shrines honor her in Chicago, New York City, and Golden, Colorado, with Colorado also observing "Cabrini Day".
Born Maria Francesca Cabrini in Italy in 1850, she was often in poor health but aspired to missionary work. After being repeatedly denied entry to religious orders due to her health, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880 with seven other women to care for poor children. She took the name Frances Xavier in honor of Saint Francis Xavier.
In 1887, Pope Leo XIII directed her to the United States to serve the Italian immigrant population instead of her desired mission in China. His advice was, "Not to the East, but to the West". Arriving in New York City in 1889, she overcame initial challenges and spent the next 28 years expanding her order's work across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America, traveling across the Atlantic 24 times. She established 67 institutions, including schools, orphanages, and hospitals in various cities. She became a U.S. citizen in 1909.
Death and Legacy.
Mother Cabrini faced numerous and significant challenges when establishing her institutions in the United States, stemming from the dire conditions of the time and systemic resistance. These challenges included:
Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were "the poorest of the poor" and faced rampant ethnic prejudice. They were often castigated for undercutting wages and blamed for organized crime. This societal hostility meant Mother Cabrini and her sisters encountered insults and had difficulty gaining general support.
The Italian immigrants lived in horrific conditions in crowded, squalid tenements with few social support systems, no health insurance, and dangerous 12-hour workdays. Mother Cabrini had to address basic, urgent needs like providing food, shelter for orphans who slept in the streets, and healthcare for the sick, often with limited resources.
Mother Cabrini faced resistance from both Church and civic leaders: Archbishop Corrigan of New York initially advised her to return to Italy when the promised building for her first orphanage was unavailable and disapproved of her plans to put an Italian orphanage in a fashionable neighborhood. The archbishop limited the sisters' fundraising to only the Italian community, most of whom were impoverished, making financial stability a constant struggle.
Italian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were "the poorest of the poor" and faced rampant ethnic prejudice. They were often castigated for undercutting wages and blamed for organized crime. This societal hostility meant Mother Cabrini and her sisters encountered insults and had difficulty gaining general support.
The Italian immigrants lived in horrific conditions in crowded, squalid tenements with few social support systems, no health insurance, and dangerous 12-hour workdays. Mother Cabrini had to address basic, urgent needs like providing food, shelter for orphans who slept in the streets, and healthcare for the sick, often with limited resources.
Mother Cabrini faced resistance from both Church and civic leaders: Archbishop Corrigan of New York initially advised her to return to Italy when the promised building for her first orphanage was unavailable and disapproved of her plans to put an Italian orphanage in a fashionable neighborhood. The archbishop limited the sisters' fundraising to only the Italian community, most of whom were impoverished, making financial stability a constant struggle.
Protestant-dominated civic and political culture in New York at the time was often hostile and refused to recognize Catholic initiatives, needing constant navigation of a challenging political landscape.
The sisters often worked indangerous, disease-ridden neighborhoods, such as when they established an orphanage in New Orleans during a yellow fever epidemic.
Through immense faith and determination, Mother Cabrini overcame these barriers to establish 67 institutions worldwide, earning her the recognition as the patron saint of immigrants.
Frances Xavier Cabrini passed away in Chicago in 1917 at one of her hospitals. Her compassionate work and organizational skills left a lasting legacy. She was canonized in 1946, becoming the first American citizen saint. In 1950, she was named the patron saint of immigrants. Her feast day is November 13 in the U.S.. Shrines honor her in Chicago, New York City, and Golden, Colorado, with Colorado also observing "Cabrini Day".
Prayer to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
Saint Frances Cabrini, woman of God, woman of spirit and vision. You crossed the oceans many times to bring the love of Christ to many nations. You offered the people you met the gift of life and love by responding to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in practical and creative ways. Against great odds, you achieved what was thought to be impossible. Inspired by your sense of justice, your love, and compassion, l come to you now to intercede for me through the Heart of Jesus.
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