Today I am breaking one of my own rules by doing a second post on a Saint that I have written about before. However, as it is my own rule, I am free to do the breaking of it. Also, some of you may be wondering why "Saintly November" is starting a month early. "Good question, camper!" I am posting today because it is the eve of a special day - at least for Colorado.
In 2020, Colorado passed legislation to replace Columbus Day (Columbus being found to be a controversial historical figure in 21st century sensibilities) with a day honoring Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini - known as Cabrini Day. Mother Cabrini is the first - and only - woman to be honored with a paid state holiday in the United States. How awesome is that!!??
Why was Mother Cabrini chosen for this honor? According to the website cabriniday.com, this day was instituted to honor an amazing humanitarian, to acknowledge the impact of a woman's life dedicated to the service of others, to remember and show gratitude, to look for what unites us while also celebrating and respecting differences and because the smallest action can have a big impact. Let's take a look at how St. Frances Xavier Cabrini exemplified these qualities in her life.
The Amazing Humanitarian: At the age of 30, Mother Cabrini, with seven young women, founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The sisters took in orphans and foundlings and opened a day school. They desired to continue their good works as missionaries to China, but the Pope pointed them to the West instead of to the East. In the United States, Cabrini and her sisters continued serving orphans, the sick and the poor.
The Impact of a life dedicated to serving others: In her lifetime, Mother Cabrini founded 67 missionary institutions to serve the sick and poor in New York, Chicago, Des Plaines, Seattle, New Orleans, Denver, Los Angeles, Philidelphia and in countries throughout Latin America and Europe. Nine years after her death, the Missionary Sisters achieved her original goal of becoming missionaries to China.
To Remember and Show Gratitude: A quote from Mother Cabrini: "Blessed is the soul who trusts in Jesus, because he is lavish in His promises and generous in giving His graces and treasures."
To look for what unites us while also celebrating and respecting differences: When Mother Cabrini first arrived in New York, they ministered primarily to Italian immigrants - people much like themselves. As her mission expanded, no one was forgotten in her ministry. She crossed the Atlantic 23 or 24 times and was seen again and again in Central America, South America, England, France and her home country of Italy. She even visited the prisoners at Sing-Sing.
The smallest action can have a big impact: Another quote: "A single act of humility is worth more than the proud exhibition of any virtue."
Mother Cabrini died of complications of malaria in Chicago at the age of 67 - in Columbus Hospital, which she had founded 12 years before. I love the irony that Mother Cabrini founded, supported and died in a hospital named for the very explorer whose State Holiday she bumped off of Colorado's calendar.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was naturalized as a US Citizen in 1909. She is the first US Citizen to be canonized as a Saint. She is the patron Saint of immigrants. Her feast day is celebrated on November 13 in the U.S., on December 22 elsewhere - and Colorado honors her with a state holiday on the first Monday of October. For such an amazing woman, let's celebrate all three days.
