Born in Lombardy, Italy, in 1850, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. At the
instigation and encouragement of Pope Leo XIII, she came to
the United States.
On March 31, 1889, St. Frances arrived in New York City
along with six other Sisters ready to begin her new journey.
However, right from the beginning she encountered many
disappointments and hardships. The house originally intended
for her new orphanage was no longer available, but St. Frances
did not give up, even though the archbishop insisted she return
to Italy.
After she refused, Archbishop Michael Corrigan found them
housing with the convent of the Sisters of Charity. St. Frances
then received permission to found an orphanage in what is now
West Park, New York and now known as Saint Cabrini Home.
Filled with a deep trust in God and endowed with a wonderful
administrative ability, St. Frances founded 67 institutions,
including orphanages, schools, and hospitals, within 35 years
dedicated to caring for the poor, uneducated, sick, abandoned,
and especially for the Italian immigrants. Her institutions were
spread out in places all over the United States, including New
York, Colorado, and Illinois.
St. Frances was known for being as resourceful as she was
prayerful. She was always able to find people to donate their
money, time, and support for her institutions.
St. Frances has two miracles attributed to her. She restored
sight to a child who was believed to have been blinded by
excess silver nitrate, and she healed a terminally ill member of
her congregation.
At the time of her death, her institute numbered houses in
England, France, Spain, the United States and South America.
She died in Chicago, December 22, 1917, and was canonized by
Pope Pius XII on July 7, 1946.
Catholic.org & Lives of the Saints