St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

"We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on the sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone."
- St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850 - 1917)

Today is the feast day of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Frances was born in 1850 in Lombardi, Italy. When she was 18 she wanted to become a nun, but because of her poor health she was not able to. So she continued to help her parents, and, after they passed away, she helped her brothers and sisters maintain the family farm. After a while, she was asked by a priest to come and teach at a girls' school where she stayed for 6 years. Then, the bishop asked Frances to found the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to take care of poor children in schools and hospitals. In 1889, due to the urging of Pope Leo XIII, she came to America with 6 other nuns to care for and help the Italian immigrants. She founded numerous schools, hospitals, and orphanages throughout the United States. In 1917, she died of malaria in Chicago, Illinois. Pope Pius XII canonized Frances in 1946. She is the first American citizen to be canonized (she became a citizen in 1909), and is the patroness of immigrants. 

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray for us!

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Picture Of And Information About St. Frances Taken From:

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=278

http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1198

http://kids.britannica.com/comptons/art-138356/Mother-Frances-Xavier-Cabrini