Happy feast of St. Francesca Xavier Cabrini!
Did you know there is her National Shrine in Chicago?
Address: 2520 N Lakeview Ave
The Shrine of Mother Cabrini in Chicago, located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, honors Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen canonized by the Catholic Church. Born in Italy in 1850, Mother Cabrini was sent to America by Pope Leo XIII to serve Italian immigrants. Arriving in Chicago in 1903, she worked tirelessly to establish schools, hospitals, and orphanages for Italian immigrants and the poor.
Mother Cabrini founded Columbus Hospital in Chicago, and after she died in 1917, a room in the hospital became a shrine to honor her life and legacy. The shrine included her bedroom and chapel, which were preserved as places of prayer and reflection. In 1946, Mother Cabrini was canonized, and her shrine became a pilgrimage site for many.
When Columbus Hospital closed in 2002, the shrine was moved to its current location on the same site, now part of the National Shrine of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini. Today, the shrine stands as a tribute to her dedication to helping those in need and to her lasting impact on Chicago’s immigrant communities.
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, also known as Mother Cabrini, was born on July 15, 1850, in Italy. Inspired from a young age by stories of missionaries, she initially dreamed of serving in China. However, when she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pope Leo XIII directed her to assist Italian immigrants in the United States instead.
Arriving in New York in 1889, Mother Cabrini spent nearly three decades establishing hospitals, orphanages, and schools across the U.S. and Latin America to serve immigrants and the poor. Despite her fragile health, she overcame immense challenges, becoming one of the most respected missionaries of her time. She became a U.S. citizen in 1909 and was canonized in 1946, becoming the first American citizen saint.
She is the patron saint of: immigrants
Born: July 15, 1850, Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy
Died: December 22, 1917 (age 67 years), Columbus Hospital, Chicago, IL
Buried: 1933, St Frances Cabrini Shrine, New York, NY
Beatified: November 13, 1938 by Pope Pius XI
Canonized: July 7, 1946 by Pope Pius XII
