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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING MOTHER CABRINI ON THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER PASSING
WHEREAS, in 1850 Francesca Xavier Cabrini was born the thirteenth child to her family in Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy. Her two-month premature birth left her in delicate health most of her life; and
WHEREAS, in 1880 Mother Cabrini founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Lodi, Italy; and
WHEREAS, in 1889 Pope Leo XIII sent Mother Cabrini to New York City to serve the increasing numbers of Italian immigrants and orphans; and
WHEREAS, despite the neighborhood’s extreme poverty, Mother Cabrini and the sisters soon opened an orphanage and within two years opened Columbus Hospital; and
WHEREAS, in 1899 Mother Cabrini’s success in New York brought her to Chicago, where she founded and taught at Assumption School, the first Italian school in the city. Mother Cabrini and the sisters worked hard to keep the school tuition free for its nearly 700 students, even if they had to beg for funds; and
WHEREAS, in 1905 Mother Cabrini opened Columbus Hospital in Chicago’s Lincoln Park and five years later founded the Extension Hospital (later changed to St. Cabrini Hospital) in a low-income Italian neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side using surplus funds from the original hospital; and
WHEREAS, in 1909 Mother Cabrini became a citizen of the United States; and
WHEREAS, among Mother Cabrini’s many attributes was her business acumen, and in 1917 she purchased a 32-acre farm in what is now Park Ridge so patients at her hospitals could have fresh food; and
WHEREAS, Mother Cabrini traveled the world for 25 years founding orphanages, schools, and hospitals on three continents; and
WHEREAS, in December of 1917 Mother Cabrini passed away in her room at Columbus Hospital at age 67. By the time of her death, she had founded 67 institutions, helping shape America’s social and healthcare systems; and
WHEREAS, after four miracles had been attributed to her, Pope Pius XII proclaimed Mother Cabrini a saint in 1946, making her the first American saint; and
WHEREAS, in 1950 Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was named Universal Patroness of Immigrants because of her devotion to helping immigrants around the world; and
WHEREAS, after a ten-year closure, the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini reestablished itself in 2012 as a new, independent entity to become a dynamic spiritual center fostering human and spiritual development; and
WHEREAS, this year marks 100 years since Mother Cabrini’s earthly life ended and her eternal life began; and
WHEREAS, the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini will celebrate the life, legacy, and mission of its namesake with a gala reception on July 19 at the Chicago History Museum as part of a yearlong series of events commemorating the impact Mother Cabrini made on the lives of Chicagoans.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Board of Commissioners does hereby honor Mother Cabrini on the 100th anniversary of her passing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini as it commemorates Mother Cabrini’s contributions in the areas of education, healthcare, outreach to immigrants, spiritual support, and social welfare.
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