Mother Frances Cabrini: Pray without tiring
We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.
Today is the memorial of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin, 1850-1917. She is the first American citizen to become a saint. Maria Francesca was the youngest of thirteen children to a farming family. She was born in Sant’ Angelo Lodigiano, Italy. She was refused entrance into a few local religious communities.
Then with the invitation of a bishop and seven followers, Frances moved into an abandoned friary at Codogno and founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880. Sister Frances wanted to found missions in China but Pope Leo XIII sent her to New York City in 1889 to establish a school in the poorest Italian neighborhood.
Later, at the bequest of a bishop, the community began hospital work. Sr. Frances only agreed after a dream of the Blessed Mother caring for the sick "pushed her forward" in that work. I love these saint stories and seeing what great things, especially anointed women, have done for Christ. Go to www.mothercabrini.org/legacy/life.
Mother Cabrini worked for 27 years planting her congregation across the US, Italy, England and into Central and South America, founding 60 religious houses and charitable organizations. This congregation and its affiliates work in healing, teaching, caring and giving especially for the needs of women, children, immigrants and the elderly. They are on six continents in 16 countries. Starting in education, it is truly amazing to see how God expanded the sisters’ work to minister to so many of his little ones. Mother is the Patroness of Immigrants.
(© 2014 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)