MISSIONARIE DEL SACRO CUORE DI GESÙ. – Religious institute founded by St. Francesca Saverio Cabrini on 14 November 1880 at Codogno, with the approval of the bishop of Lodi, Msgr. Gelmini. Its beginnings consisted of an elementary school with an attached boarding school; in separate premises, about fifteen orphan girls were received. On 12 August of the following year, the same bishop approved the Constitutions.
In 1882 a house was founded at Grumello, in 1884 at Milan, and in 1887 at Rome. On 12 March 1888 the Holy See recognized the new institute and issued the decree of praise. In 1889 Msgr. Corrigan, archbishop of New York, invited Cabrini to go to America to open in his metropolis a school and an orphanage for the children of Italian emigrants. Cabrini, who aspired to the missions in the East, was directed by Leo XIII toward the West as the field of her activity; thus she crossed the Ocean and opened the first house at West Park. Many other crossings followed in subsequent years, both to North and South America, where numerous houses were founded. Thus, in Italy, America, and elsewhere, schools, kindergartens, orphanages, hospitals, nursery schools, and holiday recreation centers arose, where the sisters devote themselves to charitable work. In July 1907 the institute and the Constitutions, revised by the foundress, received definitive approval. Faithful to Cabrini’s spirit, the M. del S. C. devote particular care to the children of Italian emigrants, following in this the example of their foundress, rightly called the Saint of emigrants.
At present the institute consists of 3,000 religious women with 84 houses, of which 7 are in Argentina, 1 in Australia, 5 in Brazil, 4 in China, 2 in France, 3 in England, 25 in Italy, 2 in Nicaragua, 2 in Spain, and 35 in the United States.
1105 MISSIONARIE DEL S. C. DI GESÙ – MISSIONARIE ZELATRICI DEL S. C. 1106
The decree of praise dates from 27 February 1933, together with the temporary approval of the Constitutions, followed by definitive approval on 2 February 1950.
The institute’s special purpose is to collaborate, in a suitable and appropriate manner, in the propagation of the Catholic faith, especially in the missions, and to assist one’s neighbor spiritually through the education of youth, service to the sick and the destitute, and other similar works.
The mother house is at Hiltrup. The institute experienced remarkable growth. In 1949 there were 1,600 sisters and 52 novices, distributed among 126 houses.
MISSIONARIE DEL S.mo SACRAMENTO E DI MARIA IMMACOLATA. – The institute was founded in Granada by Maria Riquelme di Gesù, who remained its superior until 1930. In 1896 it was canonically established as a diocesan institute; in 1909 it received the decree of praise, and in 1912 the decree of approval, together with the temporary approval of the Constitutions.
The general house was transferred first to Barcelona, then to Madrid, and finally back to Granada. On 2 August 1938 the definitive Constitutions were approved, despite the fact that there were only four houses and 45 professed sisters. The institute’s special purpose is the perpetual adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, the education, including free education, of youth, and the missionary apostolate among the sick.
In 1948 there were 124 sisters and 30 novices, distributed among 16 houses.