Today's saint: Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917), better known as Mother Cabrini, was the first U.S. citizen canonized by the Catholic Church and is the patron saint of immigrants and hospital administrators. Born in Italy, she founded a group of missionary sisters and had the intention of going to China. But seeking the advice of Pope Leo XIII – he decided to send her to America instead – to New York, to minister to the Italian immigrants in the United States. She worked tirelessly with the immigrants – teaching their children, visiting the sick and feeding the hungry. Later she set up an orphanage and then a novitiate and a house for her congregation. Additional foundations were made in Chicago, New Orleans and other U.S. cities. She eventually extended her outreach to Central and South America where she contracted yellow fever after a trip through the Nicaraguan jungles.
In 1907 her rule was approved, and she also that year became a naturalized American citizen of the United States. She died working with the children of Chicago on December 21, 1917. Her body rests at Mother Cabrini High School in New York City. There are representations of her in the Immigration Museum at the foot of the Statue of Liberty in New York harbor, on the bronze doors of St. Patrick's Cathedral, New York, in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and by a statue in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.
Just as St. Paul write to Philemon today telling him that he has experienced great joy and encouragement from the love from the heart of this holy one – so too those who came into contact with Mother Cabrini and her work experienced great joy and encouragement from the love of Christ which radiated from her heart!
Mother Cabrini truly knew that she was a branch on the vine of Christ – and she knew that remaining in him would mean the production of much fruit on his behalf. This small statured Italian lady with a magnanimous heart left a lasting impression on the Church not only of the United States but of a host of countries across the world.
When the Lord comes – like a flash of lighting – as he says he will – may he find us ready for the fullness of life in the Kingdom he will usher in with its completeness. This should not catch us off guard because this Kingdom is already here – for those who believe in the Incarnation, who attest to the Crucifixion, who rejoice in the Resurrection, who use the gifts of Spirit of which they have been filled – and who live each and every day as though they really and truly did believe it – after the example of all of the saints: but especially today, we name St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.
I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord;
whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
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