A New Friend

          I couldn’t help but smile when I realized that today (Nov 13) is the feast day for St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.  A few years ago, my pastor told a story about Mother Cabrini. She was in the last years of her life and was told that bed rest was best for her.  One afternoon, her caregiver entered Mother Carbrini’s room and became alarmed.  Where was Mother? She wasn’t in her bed or anywhere near.

          And a frantic search ensued. Finally, she was found in the linen area folding laundry. When asked why she left her bed, she said, “There will be plenty of time to rest in heaven.”

          Among other things, she is the Patron saint of hopeless causes.  She wanted to be a missionary in China, but was sent to the United States. When she arrived, the Archbishop of New York told her to go back to Italy.  Instead, she founded an orphanage, the first of 67 institutions that she would found in the Americas.

          In 1909, she became a United States citizen.  She died in Chicago in 1917 at the age of 67.

In light of our recent election results, we can learn from her wisdom.  She said, “We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend on material success; nor on sciences that cloud the intellect. Neither does it depend on arms and human industries, but on Jesus alone.”

           Given the need for conversion of souls in the United States, I am now praying for her intercession to turn souls in her naturalized country back to Christ. I am also taking comfort in the following prayer for peace of mind:

                              FORTIFY me with the grace of Your Holy Spirit and give Your peace to my soul          that I may be free from all needless anxiety, solicitude and worry.  Help me to desire always that which is pleasing and acceptable to You so that Your will may be my will.

           And so, today I found a new friend.  Someone who does not give up. Someone who seeks Christ's will even when she thinks she should be going in a different direction.  Someone who values her time on earth and has left an amazing legacy.

           St Frances Xavier Cabrini, pray of us today and always.