St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (originally Mary Frances Cabrini) was the youngest of ten children. She was born on July 15, 1850, in a town called Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, near the city of Milan. Growing up, she was enchanted by the stories of missionaries and decided to enter a religious order.

Francesca devoted herself fervently to her studies and became certified to teach. She applied for admission from the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, who had been her teachers, but unfortunately was not accepted because of her poor health.

Persevering in her decision, she accepted, in spite of herself, the offer of Fr. Antonio Serrati, who had known, as a teacher, the young Francesca in Vidardo and had appreciated her human and Christian qualities, to collaborate at the “House of Providence” in Codogno (Lo), where she taught and served as a director. There he took religious vows in 1877, adding Xavier to his name, in honor of the Jesuit saint Francis Xavier, Patron of the Missions. After six years living with serious difficulties, Bishop Domenico Gelmini of Lodi encouraged her to form a new Institute herself. 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 devoted in finding people who would donate what she needed in terms of money, time, labor and support.

Francesca's dream, cherished since childhood, of going to China with her Missionaries was transformed after her meeting with Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini, who was already taking care with his Missionaries, of Italian Emigrants and later with an audience with Pope Leo XIII, who contrary to Francesca's expectations, told her, “not to the East, but to the West,” to New York instead of China. She was to help thousands of Italian immigrants in the United States.

In 1889, Mother Frances Cabrini and her sister companions entered a new world: New York City. Initially, they met many difficulties and disappointments, but as always, Frances persevered. She organized catechism and education classes for the Italian immigrants and provided for the needs of the many orphans. She also established schools and orphanages despite tremendous odds.

She thus devoted herself to them: becoming their Mother, Teacher, Counselor, friend and consoler. With her intense apostolic work, she sought to restore to them the dignity of Italians and children of God, with rights and duties, with the intention of working that necessary cultural integration, respecting their own identity, but also acquiring the ability to appreciate the values of each culture without losing their own. Francesca Cabrini's work was possible because of the sacrifice and work of her Sisters and many people of good will: professionals, benefactors, volunteers animated by the same ideals.

Soon, requests for her to open schools came to Mother Frances from all over the world. She traveled to Europe, Central and South America and throughout the United States. She crossed the Atlantic Ocean repeatedly, rode on horseback in the Andes and crossed the lands of Central America, Brazil, Argentina, Europe, and the United States by train and even on foot, establishing a total of 67 institutions: schools, hospitals and orphanages.

Her activity was unceasing until her death on December 22, 1917 in Chicago. On Nov. 13, 1938, she was proclaimed Blessed, on July 7, 1946 proclaimed a Saint by Pope Pius XII, and on Sept. 8, 1950, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was declared “Heavenly Patroness of all emigrants.” She is the first U.S. citizen canonized by the Roman Catholic Church.

In the book, “Immigrant Saint, The Life of Mother Cabrini” by Pietro Di Donato, he writes of the canonization day,

“On July 7, 1946, St. Peter’s wore a holiday appearance. It’s venerable and imposing pillars were decked with magnificent ancient damask hangings. Countless electric lights and candles were grouped around the pontifical altar…paintings depicting Mother Cabrini hung from the balconies. The activities in the Vatican began just after seven in the morning, when the Cardinals, patriarchs, Archbishops and other dignitaries who were to participate in the canonization began to arrive at the Sistine Chapel. Pope Pius XII entered the Sistine Chapel and intoned the Ave Maris Stella.”

The Pope made the following solemn declaration in Latin:

“…we inscribe in the Catalogue of the Saints, the blessed Francesca Xavier Cabrini, ordaining that her memory be celebrated in the universal church on the Day of December 22, in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost.”

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was named Patroness of Immigrants in 1950, and in 1999, Pope St. John Paul referred to her as the Missionary of the New Evangelization.

“Religious leader, business administrator and spokesperson for the downtrodden, Mother Cabrini was always a woman of compassion. Despite hardship, poor health and disappointment, Mother Cabrini’s peace of soul enabled her to radiate a joy born of unfaltering trust in divine providence. This total and unabashed trust in God was her outstanding personality characteristic and was the source of an inner strength, which propelled her to remarkable accomplishments in a relatively short amount of time. Some saw in Cabrini the embodiment of immigrant aspirations: to get ahead, to excel, to prove one’s self. Others, instead, attributed her achievements to the zeal of a saint.”

~ Sr. Mary Louise Sullivan, MSC, Ph.D., Mother Cabrini, “Italian Immigrant of the Century”