It’s Not the Heat, but the Humility

It’s Not the Heat, but the Humility

May 31, 2023 Mother Cabrini Begs to Conquer Herself In New Orleans during the blistering summer of 1892, Mother Cabrini was severely short on funds. She beckoned to one of the Missionary Sisters and announced they were going out begging together. The Sister, who feared for Mother Cabrini’s health, tried to dissuade her. Mother Cabrini…

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June 27, 1889 – Anniversary of First Written Rule

June 27, 1889 – Anniversary of First Written Rule

Frances was entrusted with the task of caring for and educating her religious and, in drafting the Rules, she let herself be guided by the spirit of Jesus. In 1881, Bishop Gelmini gave diocesan approval and the sisters were recognized as Salesian Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The principles of the Rule that…

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Grace in the Midst of a Storm

Grace in the Midst of a Storm

A Second Journey to New York: 1890 The storm rolled in shortly before supper. Only six of the over 1,000 passengers on La Normandie made it to dinner that night because of the heaving seas. Mother Cabrini, of course, was one of them. Afterwards she retired to her cabin. Alert to the danger she remained half-dressed, prepared to…

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Feast of Pentecost

Feast of Pentecost

Lord, send our out your Spirit and renew the face of the earth.  Psalm 103 On Sunday 28 May we come to the end of the Season of Easter with the celebration of Pentecost Sunday. This day marks the birth of Christianity and we are filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Each one…

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The month of May  dedicated to Mary

The month of May dedicated to Mary

Mother Cabrini had a deep and affectionate relationship with the Blessed Mother. She urged the Missionary Sisters to cultivate a strong devotion as well, in part because she saw Mary as the teacher and model for all missionaries: Mary is the mother of us all, and her mission is not limited to one land or…

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Mother Cabrini and the Coronation Processions 

Mother Cabrini and the Coronation Processions 

Members of the Cabrini family in London, and indeed further afield, will be watching the Coronation Procession of King Charles III and Queen Camilla on television on Saturday 6th May. It may be interesting to learn that we will be following in the footsteps of Mother Cabrini, who watched the coronation processions of not one, but…

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Persecution and Attacks

Persecution and Attacks

A Loan, Lies, and a Lawsuit Mere weeks after the founding of the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880, the bishop of Lodi generously lent them 6,000 lire. The loan came with the stipulation that all interest accrued was to go to three impoverished nuns of a different…

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On Mother Cabrini First Holy Communion

On Mother Cabrini First Holy Communion

Drawn at a young age to the love of God, her life was oriented toward prayer and good works. Already hers was a life of self-giving. She desired to belong to God alone. Francesca must have recalled the day of her Confirmation when she sensed so strongly the presence of the Holy Spirit, the time…

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Mother Cabrini Arrives in Nicaragua

Mother Cabrini Arrives in Nicaragua

In 1891, Mother Cabrini traveled with 28 Missionary Sisters from Italy to New York. Most of the group was bound for Nicaragua, where Mother Cabrini had been invited to establish a school for girls in Granada.  Once in the U.S. they boarded the steamer New York and after a harrowing voyage entered the Gulf of Corinto. The New…

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Retracing Mother Cabrini’s Footsteps

Retracing Mother Cabrini’s Footsteps

On February 20th, the President’s Holiday in the USA, we visited Sacred Hearts and St. Stephen’s Church in Brooklyn. It was initially established for Italian immigrants in the Diocese of Brooklyn and is where Mother Cabrini and our MSC Congregation taught in the school and worked in the parish. It is so beautiful and has…

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On Saint Joseph

On Saint Joseph

Pope Francis calls St. Joseph a beloved Father, a Father in tenderness, a Father in obedience, a Father in welcome, a Father of creative courage, a Father of work and a Father in the shadows. This Saint, not only is loved and venerated as the Patron of the universal Church, but as the Protector of…

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