St frances cabrini, patron saint of
- •
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini
Image: Statue of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini in the portico of the sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary in Pompei | photo by Dario Crespi
Saint of the Day for November 13
(July 15, 1850 – December 22, 1917)
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini’s Story
Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first United States citizen to be canonized. Her deep trust in the loving care of her God gave her the strength to be a valiant woman doing the work of Christ.
Refused admission to the religious order which had educated her to be a teacher, she began charitable work at the House of Providence Orphanage in Cadogno, Italy. In September 1877, she made her vows there and took the religious habit.
When the bishop closed the orphanage in 1880, he named Frances prioress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Seven young women from the orphanage joined her.
Since her early childhood in Italy, Frances had wanted to be a missionary in China but, at the urging of Pope Leo XIII, Frances went west instead of east. She traveled with six sisters to Ne
- •
Mother Cabrini
Who is Frances Cabrini?
The youngest of thirteen children, Frances Cabrini was born on July 15, 1850 in a small village called S’ant Angelo Lodigiano near the city of Milan, Italy. She grew up enthralled by the stories of missionaries and made up her mind to join a religious order. Because of her frail health, she was not permitted to join the Daughters of the Sacred Heart who had been her teachers and under whose guidance she obtained her teaching certificate.
However, in 1880, with seven young women, Frances founded the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She was as resourceful as she was prayerful, finding people who would donate what she needed in money, time, labor and support. She and her sisters wanted to be missionaries in China; she visited Rome to obtain an audience with Pope Leo XIII. The Pope told Frances to go “not to the East, but to the West” to New York rather than to China as she had expected. She was to help the thousands of Italian immigrants already in the United States.
In 1889, New York seemed to be filled wi
- •
The Life of Mother Cabrini
Francesca Cabrini age 10
St. Frances Cabrini’s life began in northern Italy in 1850. As a young girl, Francesca Cabrini was enthralled by stories of missionaries. She loved playing by a river near her uncle’s house, filling paper boats with flowers – her “missionaries” — and sending them off down the river to China.
From a very young age Frances Cabrini knew she was called to enter religious life. However, she was frequently sick. When she was old enough to join a religious community, her requests were rejected because of her health. Frances received her teaching certificate. She taught in a nearby village school, where people soon noticed her ability to win over the children with love and kindness.
Francesca Cabrini’s Early Religious Life
The town priest observed Frances Cabrini’s warmth, competence and faith. He mentioned the young schoolteacher’s unique qualities to the Bishop Gelmini of Lodi. In 1874, the bishop asked Frances to become the administrator of an orphanage in Codogno. Frances’ organizational skills, tact, energy, and zea
Copyright ©boottry.pages.dev 2025