Francisca Javiera Cabrini (1850–1917)

Biography

She always wanted to become a missionary in China, but since no congregation would accept her due to her poor health, Francisca founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart in 1880, with six companions. Seeing their courage, the Holy Father asked them to go, not to the east, but to the west, and so they arrived in the United States, where hundreds of Italian emigrants lived in difficult conditions. Overcoming all kinds of obstacles, Mother Cabrini founded all kinds of schools, hospitals, hospices, etc. for them. When she died, the six nuns of the principles had become a thousand and she herself had presided over the founding of more than fifty houses in the United States, Brazil, Argentina and other places. He had the gift of organization and business, but also a faith that moved mountains and his prayers were always heard.