St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Memorial
November 13th

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St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first United States citizen to be canonized. Born in Lombardy, Italy in 1850, (one of thirteen children), she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1880 and established many hospitals, schools, and orphanages.

In 1889, she set out for the United States and arrived in New York, where she and six other Sisters worked with the poor, especially with Italian immigrants. Over the next 28 years, she founded numerous schools, hospitals, and orphanages. Mother Cabrini died in Chicago on December 22, 1917 and was canonized on July 7, 1946. During her lifetime, Mother Cabrini founded sixty-seven missions including schools, hospitals, orphanages and child-care centers throughout the United States and England, France, Spain, and South America.

She is the patron saint of hospitals, immigrants, and orphans.

St. Frances Xavier Quotes

"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."

From a letter to the immigrants of Latin America and the Caribbean:

"In the adorable Heart of Jesus, I can always find you. He is our comfort, our way, our life. To Him I shall confide all your needs. I will speak to Him of each one of you in particular. I know the wants of every one of you. I will take a great interest in you and keep you close to my heart – you may be sure of this."

For more information on Mother Cabrini, go here and here.


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Comments

  1. Sanctus Belle11/13/08, 9:13 AM

    Those are some of the nicest depictions of St. Frances I've seen. Usually her face is so shrouded and dark that its a bit creepy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Jean Heimann11/15/08, 12:13 AM

    Thank you! I wanted to avoid those dark pictures -- they do nothing for her.

    ReplyDelete

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