Towards the 80th Anniversary of the Canonization of Frances Cabrini -7

IN SOLLEMNI CANONIZATIONE

BEATAE FRANCISCAE XAVERIAE CABRINI, VIRGINIS,
IN BASILICA VATICANA PERACTA

HOMILIA SANCTISSIMI DOMINI NOS PIO PP. XII

Die VII mensis Iulii, Anno Domini MDCCCCXXXXVI

[AT THE SOLEMN CANONIZATION OF
THE BLESSED FRANCES XAVIER CABRINI, VIRGIN, 
PERFORMED IN THE VATICAN BASILICA
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE PIUS XII
July 7, 1946]

Venerable brothers, dear children,

The glories, achievements and works that Christian holiness generates are such that, as the years go by — while human events follow one another and all gradually weaken, crumble and fall into ruin — not only do they persevere at their level but sometimes are also wonderfully propelled into active life, so that, just as "the mustard seed, which [...] is the smallest of all seeds [...] when it is sown, grows and becomes larger than all herbs" (Mark 4:31-32), may they grow daily and spread throughout the whole world. This, although it is always a pleasure to see in the annals of the Church, is seen with greater pleasure in our time, when men have perhaps never had more need of the splendor and fruits of holiness.

We remember these things with great consolation, now that, by the grace of God, we have been granted the privilege of honoring the Blessed Virgin, Frances Xavier Cabrini, with the honors of the saints. She was in fact a humble virgin, distinguished neither for her name, nor her wealth, nor her power, but for her virtue. From a tender age she preserved the white lily of innocence, guarded with the utmost care by the thorns of penance, and with the passing of the years, moved by a certain heavenly instinct and inspiration, she consecrated herself and the entire course of her life to divine service and the increase of divine glory. And since she was endowed with a singular strength of mind, though her body was very frail, when she came to know the will of God concerning herself, she spared no effort to try to fulfill it by every means, however arduous and beyond the strength of a woman the task might seem. And so, with the help of grace, it happened that the institute of holy virgins she founded in humble beginnings spread in a short time throughout Italy, the United States of America and many other parts of the world.

She welcomed young people, who sometimes strayed from the right path, into a safe haven, and educated them in righteousness and justice, their spirits soothed, their hope of paradise rekindled, and who were uplifted and inspired to renew a good and upright life. When they were weak in body or afflicted by sickness and lying in hospitals, they were not only comforted, but cared for and aided by every means possible; and especially those who having left their father's house, wandered as exiles through foreign lands and who, most of the time, abandoned by all, not only led a life of hardship and need, but also, unfortunately, endangered their Christian virtue and the Catholic religion. To those she offered a friendly hand, a timely refuge, consolation and assistance.

But from where, Venerable Brothers and beloved children, did this humble virgin draw her strength? Where did she find the unshakable fortitude of spirit that enabled her to endure so many hardships and overcome so many difficulties involving material things, travel and people? Where did the strength come from for her to press ever forward towards her set goal, serene and confident – albeit burdened with countless concerns – and never let herself be shaken by fear of dangers or the whirlwinds of a tumultuous life?

Thanks to the virtue of faith, which indubitably always shone brightly in her mind, thanks to the divine charity with which she burned and thanks to her tireless devotion to prayer during which, intimately united with God, she humbly asked and always obtained from Him that which human frailty could not attain. While she was beset with almost countless worries and distracted by the vicissitudes of life, her mind was fixed on this one thing — from which she could in no way be diverted — and her will was firmly resolute. In God, in fact, whom she loved only, and for whose growing glory nothing seemed to be too laborious, nothing too arduous, beyond human strength because she was sustained by heavenly grace.

In all her conduct, however, her face was so radiant with a certain heavenly serenity and divine light that the holy virgins who followed her, as a mother and teacher imparting the law, were gently drawn to diligently imitate her sacred examples of life. So much so that she could take as her own the exhortations and admonitions of the Apostle of the Gentiles: “Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 4:16; 2:1).

Not only consecrated virgins but everyone has reason to admire and imitate the virtues of Frances Xavier Cabrini. And since, in our time too, many are all too easily swept away by unbridled and disordered impulses towards outward things, let them learn from her, in particular, that the inner goods of the soul are to be held in greater regard, and that all things must be directed to the glory of God and the salvation of souls for eternity.

Let them also learn from her who not only loved her native land with ardent love, but tirelessly bestowed the fruits of her charity and zeal upon foreign lands that all nations and all peoples must form a single family and that it must not be torn apart by dark and turbulent animosity nor dissolved by eternal enmity for wrongs suffered, but united by that brotherly love which must spring from the precepts of Jesus Christ and His divine example. May this holy virgin obtain this from the “Prince of Peace” (cf. Is. 9:6) and our common Father, so that, finally when hatred is extinguished and minds are peaceful, and when private and public affairs are no longer disrupted by the unbridled pursuit of self-interest, but regulated with justice and equity, the true peace from which a common and ever-increasing prosperity may spring, may smile on human brotherhood. Amen.