November 13 2017 - Mother Cabrini - The Immigrant Saint

Small and weak as a child, born two months premature, Francesca Cabrini remained in delicate health throughout her 67 years. Yet, even as a little girl she dreamed of being a missionary.

Her poor health kept her from being admitted to religious life, but at the behest of her local parish priest, Francesca took over care of a local orphanage. Francesca persuaded several woman who worked at the orphanage with her to begin their own religious community. So, in 1877, she became Mother Superior to the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.  Within a few years she and her sisters had opened six orphanages. And when Pope Leo XIII, in 1889, asked her to go to the United States to care for the Italian Immigrants, she did not hesitate. Within a few years, she opened a Catholic school in New York City, founded an orphanage and hospital for the immigrants which had wards which were free to the poor.    She built other hospitals in Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, New Orleans, and Chicago.

This frail, immigrant, virgin nun become Mother to so many, particularly immigrants. She is also the first American citizen to be canonized, having become a naturalized US citizen in 1909. She never really mastered the English language, but that did not keep her from doing great and holy work, either.

At her canonization in 1946, Pius XII said in his homily:

“Where did she acquire all that strength and the inexhaustible energy by which she was able to perform so many good works and to surmount so many difficulties?  She accomplished all this through the faith that was always so vibrant in her heart; through the divine love that burned within her; and, finally, through the constant prayer by which she was so closely united to God…She never let anything turn her aside from striving to please God and to work for his glory for which nothing, aided by grace, seemed too difficult or beyond human strength.”

Is there some holy work you think God might be calling you to do? Likely, He is! So like Mother Cabrini seek strength to do this holy work through your faith and prayer and closeness to God in the Sacraments, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For an end to the violence and poverty that displaces so many people from their homes and homelands, and that migrants, refugees, and strangers in our midst, may know the kindness and compassion of our local Church.

That our president and all civil servants will carry out their duties with justice, honesty, and respect for the dignity of every human life.  We pray to the Lord.

For Pope Francis’ prayer intention for the month of November: “That Christians in Asia, bearing witness to the Gospel in word and deed, may promote dialogue, peace, and mutual understanding, especially with those of other religions.”

That the love of Christ, the divine physician, may bring healing to the sick and comfort to all the suffering.

For the deceased members of our families, friends, and parish, and all the poor souls in purgatory, for deceased clergy and religious, and for those who have fought and died for our freedom.

O God, you know that our life in this present age is subject to suffering and need, hear the prayers of those who cry to you and receive the prayers of those who believe in you. Through Christ our Lord.