FEAST OF SAINT FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI
FEAST DAY – 22nd DECEMBER
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was born as Maria Francesca Cabrini on July 15, 1850 in Lombardy, Italy. Frances became dedicated to living a life for religious work from a young age and received a convent education at a school ran by the Daughters of the Sacred Heart. She graduated with high honors and a teaching certificate. She taught at the House of Providence Orphanage in Cadagono, Italy. She taught at the girls’ school for six years and drew a community of women in to live the religious way of life.
In 1877, she became Mother Cabrini after she finally made her vows and took the religious habit, also adding Xavier to her name in honor of St. Francis Xavier. She, along with six others, were asked by the Bishop to begin the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to care for the poor children in both schools and hospitals. She constituted the rules to establish the institute. In its first five years, the institute established seven homes and a free school and nursery.
Frances wanted to continue her mission in China, but Pope Leo XIII urged her to go to the United States, a nation that was becoming flooded with Italian immigrants who needed her help. “Not to the East, but the West,” was his advice to her. On March 31, 1889, Frances arrived in New York City along with six other sisters, ready to begin her new journey. However, right from the beginning she encountered many disappointments and hardships.
The house originally intended for her new orphanage was no longer available, but Frances did not give up, even though the archbishop insisted she return to Italy. After she refused, Archbishop Michael Corrigan found them housing with the convent of the Sisters of Charity. Frances then received permission to found an orphanage in what is now West Park, New York and now known as Saint Cabrini Home.
Filled with a deep trust in God and endowed with a wonderful administrative ability, Frances founded 67 institutions, including orphanages, schools, and hospitals, within 35 years dedicated to caring for the poor, uneducated, sick, abandoned, and especially for the Italian immigrants. Her institutions were spread out in places all over the United States, in New York, Colorado, and Illinois. Frances was known for being as resourceful as she was prayerful. She was always able to find people to donate their money, time, and support for her institutions.
In 1909, Frances became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Frances’ body was originally placed at the Saint Cabrini Home, but was exhumed in 1931 as part of her canonization process. Her head is preserved in Rome at the chapel of the congregation’s international motherhouse. One of her arms is at the national shrine in Chicago, and the rest of her body rests at a shrine in New York.
Frances has two miracles attributed to her. She restored sight to a child who was believed to have been blinded by excess silver nitrate, and she healed a terminally ill member of her congregation. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was beatified on November 13, 1938, by Pope Pius XI and canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 7, 1946, making her the first United States citizen to be canonized. Her feast day is celebrated on November 13 and she is the Patron Saint of immigrants.
PRAYER
Merciful and eternal God, source of all gifts, I trust in your mercy and love. You have urged us through your son, Our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ to ask for your assistance in all our needs. Grant me through the intercession of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, whom I invoke, that I may obtain the grace I desire [mention your need] . . . according to your holy will. I offer you praise and thanksgiving. Amen
PRAYER TO SAINT FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, woman of God, disciple of Christ, you offered the people you met the gifts of life and love by responding to their physical, emotional and spiritual needs in practical and creative ways.
Inspired by your confidence in God and your compassion, love and sense of justice, we ask you to accompany us as we work to respond to the urgent needs of our sisters and brothers fleeing their home countries in search of refuge and peace.Teach us. Pray for us. Amen
