Mother Cabrini

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (July 15, 1850 ? December 22, 1917) known during her life as Mother Cabrini, was the first American citizen to be canonized.

Related Topics:
July 15 - 1850 - December 22 - 1917 - American - Canonized

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She was born Maria Francesca Cabrini in Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, in Lombardy in Italy, the youngest of thirteen children of Agostino Cabrini and Stella Oldini. Two months premature, she remained in delicate health throughout her 67 years. She took religious vows in 1877, becoming the Mother Superior of the House of Providence orphanage in Codogno, where she was teaching.

Related Topics:
Lombardy - Italy - Codogno

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In 1880, the orphanage was closed and she became one of the seven founding members of the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Although her lifelong dream was to be a missionary in China, Pope Leo XIII sent her to New York on March 31, 1889. There, she obtained the permission of Archbishop Michael Corrigan to found an orphanage, the first of 67 institutions she founded in New York, Chicago, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, Los Angeles, http://www.mothercabrini.org/history/ and in countries throughout South America and Europe.

Related Topics:
Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus - Pope Leo XIII - New York - March 31 - 1889 - Archbishop Michael Corrigan - New York - Chicago - Seattle - New Orleans - Denver - Los Angeles

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She was naturalized as an American citizen in 1909.

Related Topics:
Naturalized - 1909

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Mother Cabrini died of complications from malaria at Columbus Hospital in Chicago. Her remains are enshrined on display under glass in the church's altar at St. Frances Cabrini Shrine, 701 Fort Washington Ave., in the Manhattan neighborhood of Washington Heights in New York City. The street to the west of the shrine was renamed Cabrini Boulevard in her honor.

Related Topics:
Malaria - Chicago - Manhattan - Washington Heights - New York City

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She was beatified on November 13, 1938 and canonized on July 7, 1946 by Pope Pius XII. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is the patron saint of immigrants. Her beatification miracle involved the restoration of sight to a child who had been blinded by excess silver nitrate in the eyes. Her canonization miracle involved the healing of a terminally ill nun.

Related Topics:
Beatified - November 13 - 1938 - July 7 - 1946 - Pope Pius XII - Patron saint - Immigrant - Silver nitrate - Nun

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The Cabrini Green housing project in Chicago is named after her.

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