Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first citizen saint of the United States and the patron saint of immigrants. She declared, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Mother Cabrini was presented not as a humanitarian but as a heroic lover of God whose missions of charity and achievement of the impossible came from divine love rather than genius. She lived among ordinary people, saw what they saw, and came to love only God, seeing God in every poor man, woman, and child. Her life was filled with difficulties, disappointments, uncongenial tasks, and misunderstanding, even by good people, yet she lacked nothing because she was working for God. She loved the people she served, acted as their benefactor, begged in the streets, rode streetcars, and went through alleys searching for little hungry children who were homeless and friendless. Her example presents a challenge that even modest works and seemingly insignificant achievements can be great in the sight of God, that little things can become big things, trials can become blessings, and that her works after death are even more wonderful than her works in life.

Hillside, Illinois · United States