FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI, Saint. - B. at S. Angelo Lodigiano on 15 July 1850, d. at Chicago on 22 Dec. 1917. After a youth devoted to study and to exercises of piety, she obtained, in 1868, at Lodi her teaching diploma. Orphaned of her father in 1869 and of her mother in 1870, she remained alone because her sister had gone to join their brother in Argentina.

She taught for two years at Vidardo, where she matured her vocation. Not admitted among the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, nor later among the Canossians of Crema, because of her health conditions, in 1874 she became directress of the Casa della Provvidenza at Codogno, founded by Signora Tondini; but her vocation led her to the missionary life more than to that of a simple nun. In fact she founded on 14 Nov. 1880 the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart, adding to her name that of Saverio, in homage to the great missionary Saint. The constitutions were approved on 12 Aug. 1881. In 1887 she opened the first house in Rome and, on the advice of Leo XIII, she devoted herself to the grandiose work of assistance to Italian emigrants in America, confirmed in this purpose by a providential meeting with Msgr. G. B. Scalabrini, bishop of Piacenza. In 1889 she set out with seven sisters for the United States, where she began, amid opposition and adversities of every kind, the many and most beautiful works that now flourish there vigorously: schools of every kind, hospitals, orphanages. Her activity was tireless and no fewer than 13 times, though in straitened health conditions, she crossed the ocean, also visiting Central and South America and founding some houses there. The Italians beyond the ocean had in her a valiant protectress, a very great help; with good reason therefore she is called the Saint of emigrants, and today there is a vast movement to have her declared such.

Animated by a profound apostolic spirit, sustained by an unshakable faith, she was dear to the popes Leo XIII, Pius X and Benedict XV. The great and the men of State felt honored to have relations with her who everywhere was surrounded
with esteem and veneration.

FRANCESCA SAVERIO CABRINI, saint - Birthplace. S. Angelo Lodigiano.(from G. De Luca, Parole sparte della S. C., Rome 1938, lav. f. l.)

She was beatified by Pius XI on 13 Nov. 1938, and canonized by Pius XII on 7 July 1946.

Bibliography8 works

BIBL.: anon., La madre F. S. C., Turin 1928 (fundamental for knowledge of the C.); L'Istituto della Missionarie del S. Cuore, Milan 1931; F. Gregori, La vita e l'opera di un grande vescovo, Turin 1934; Viaggi della madre F. S. C., Milan 1935; Parole sparse della b. F. S. C., collected by d. Giuseppe De Luca, Rome 1938; E. De Sanctis Rosmini, La b. F. S. C., ibid. 1938; A. Martignoni, Madre C., la Santa delle Aeneviche, New York 1945; C. Caminade, Una italiana per le vie del mondo, s. F. S. C., Turin 1946.

Silverio Mattei

@incollection{ec5_francesca_saverio_cabrini_sant, author = {Mattei, Silverio}, title = {Francesca Saverio Cabrini, santa}, booktitle = {Enciclopedia Cattolica}, volume = {V}, pages = {1570--1571}, note = {Cited by column}, publisher = {Ente per l’Enciclopedia Cattolica e per il Libro Cattolico}, address = {Città del Vaticano}, year = {1950}, url = {https://azioneromana.com/article/francesca-saverio-cabrini-santa} }

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Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint

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