Mother Cabrini: Chi è?
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (widely known as Mother Cabrini) was born in 1850 in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, Lombardy, Italy. She was the youngest of 13 siblings, but only she and three others survived beyond adolescence. Mother Cabrini received her education from the Daughters of the Sacred Heart. She was an excellent student and graduated with high honors. Mother Cabrini wanted to join the Daughters of the Sacred Heart at 18, but they turned her down due to poor health. Instead, she taught at the House of Providence Orphanage in Codogno, Italy. Finally, in 1877, she was able to take religious vows there.
After the orphanage closed, the bishop called upon Mother Cabrini to found the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, dedicated to caring for poor children in schools and hospitals. Since her childhood, Mother Cabrini wanted to be a missionary in China, but Pope Leo XIII had other plans. At his urging, she and her sisters traveled to the United States, stopping first in New York to minister to the Italian immigrants there.
Doing so was no walk in the park. The house that was to be used for the orphanage was no longer available. The archbishop insisted that Mother Cabrini return to Italy, but her resolve was too strong. Despite the many hardships and her poor health, Mother Cabrini was able to found 67 institutions dedicated to the poor and the sick. She helped struggling Italian immigrants across the country renew their faith. On her feast day, we are always reminded of her contributions to our church and the poor, but faithful Italian community including:
Photo by Photographer of Life
Founding a mother house for the Missionary Sisters, originally located in the Notary House on 34th & Navajo,
Founding the Queen of Heaven Orphanage, originally located on Federal Blvd.,
Founding a summer camp in Golden for the orphans, which is now Mother Cabrini Shrine,
Intercepting Father Tom Moreschini, OSM in Delta, CO and convincing him that the Servite Friars were needed at Mt. Carmel,
Subsequently convincing Bishop Matz to allow the Servites to take over Mt. Carmel,
Assisting Fr. Lepore in opening the first Mt. Carmel School and thereby fulfilling a great need,
and making sure the Italians did not lose the Catholic Faith despite their many challenges.
All in all, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was an amazing woman of faith to whom many - including us here at Mt. Carmel - owe a great debt of gratitude.
O Madre Cabrini, diletta Sposa di Gesù, prega per noi.