Today, the 13th of November, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini. She was an Italian American nun whose life-long call was to care for Italian immigrants in the US at a time when they struggled with extreme poverty and discrimination. Mother Cabrini taught them the faith, provided for their needs, and she opened many schools and orphanages to take care of the needy. In a sense she was like the “Mother Teresa” of her time. She was the first US. Citizen to be canonized (1946), and she is the patroness of immigrants and migrants.
In a contemporary world that is in crisis with how to relate to “the stranger” due to concerns about security, about limited resources, and about territorial integrity, Mother Cabrini embodies a useful moral example that we can adopt to help guide our reflection on such complex matters. She found a way of taking care of “the stranger.”
An immigrant herself, she was one who saw Christ in all people no matter what their circumstances. She was fueled by the gospel and recognized Christ in all people no matter their circumstances. She responded to the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the “aliens” of his time, and so are we invited to recognize Christ in others and respond to their needs.
In Mother Cabrini we see a woman who did not merely feel sorry for people in need, rather she exercised active compassion and mercy towards those in need. She founded several hospitals, orphanages, schools, and soup kitchens. We too are reminded of the value of putting our faith into action. We can donate some of our time, talent, and treasure to support the needy. It does not have to be grand in any way, even simple active help is valuable in its way.
On this Feast Day of Mother Cabrini, we also renew our trust in Divine Providence. Here is a woman who faced immense challenges such as lack of funding, poor health, and resistance by some Church leaders but her unwavering trust in God led her through and provided for all she lacked. There are times when we feel God is calling us to a specific mission yet doubt that we will be able to do it due to a lack of resources, talent, good health, or even the good will of others. Mother Cabrini trusted in God’s plan and strength, and not herself. A firm trust in Divine Providence can make us accomplish things we never thought we would ever be able to do!
In the Gospel today the Pharisees asked Jesus “when the Kingdom of God would come.” His response was that “the Kingdom of God is among you.” There are already people we see such as Mother Cabrini already living out the message of the Kingdom. They are feeding the orphan, taking care of the stranger, and treating everyone with dignity like a true child of God.