A "feverish" decision
In December of 1887, Mother Cabrini arrived in Rome with a high fever. The Missionary Sisters, alarmed by her physical decline, called in Doctor Morini. He predicted that Mother Cabrini only had about two years left to live.
Mother Cabrini herself knew her time was probably limited. Her retreat notes include lines like, “I could die soon, very soon, because of the uncertainty of life or because of poor health which makes me see the tomb awaits” and “I am obliged to conserve my health as much as possible.”
However, at the age of 37 she was more preoccupied with responding to a recent request than with her health. The issue that weighed on her heart was a suggestiong from Bishop Giovanni Batista Scalabrini that she begin a mission in the United States.
For three decades of her life Francesca Cabrini felt called to go to China. The idea that God might want her to go in the opposite direction required much prayer and thought.
A First Meeting With Pope Leo XIII
While in Rome Mother Cabrini put in a request to see Pope Leo XIII. On January 10, 1889 she and three Missionary Sisters had a private audience. But at that first meeting Mother Cabrini said nothing about Bishop Scalabrini’s idea. She simply introduced herself and told the Holy Father about the work of the Missionary Sisters. At the time there were 105 professed sisters and 40 novices.
It wasn’t until her second audience with the Holy Father that Mother Cabrini brought up Bishop Scalabrini’s proposal. It was then that he instructed her, “Not to the East, but to the West…”
An ongoing relationship
Over the years, Mother Cabrini continued to meet with the Holy Father. Their relationship was warm and cordial, based on mutual respect and common devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In June of 1894 as His Holiness was on his way to the Vatican gardens, he recognized Mother Cabrini on the street and ordered his driver to stop the carriage.
He called to her over to chat.
Leo XIII inquired, “When do you leave for America?”
“Next September, Your Holiness.”
“And how many?”
“Sixteen at first, and the same number or more on the second departure.” The pontiff wanted to know where they were headed now. The answer: Brazil.
“To Brazil! But what a vast field! Let us work, Mother Cabrini! Let us work! Then a beautiful heaven will be ours.”
“I like work,” Mother Cabrini confided, “Yes, Your Holiness, but heaven – will heaven really be ours?”
“Certainly,” replied Leo XIII, “Heaven is made for those who work like you. Courage, Mother Cabrini! Work!”
Still More Meetings with the Pope
We don’t have a complete record of the number of times Mother Cabrini and Pope Leo XIII met, but their relationship grew. They shared a deep concern for the poor and suffering. He helped to fund some of her missions.
We know that Mother Cabrini met with the pontiff in 1898, and again during the Jubilee of 1900. On that occasion Mother Cabrini had private audience and then attended Mass in the Pope’s chapel a few days later.
She paid a call on the Holy Father on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1901, and reported that he “seemed to be expecting me like the good father of a family.”
Mother Cabrini’s sorrow when Leo XIII died in 1903 was profound. He was a good friend both personally and to the Missionary Sisters. Mother Cabrini urged the Sisters to pray for him, adding, “If he protected us on earth he will do more than that from heaven.”
COMMENTS