With the new film about Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini releasing on March 8, it’s important to understand how Mother Cabrini became a saint: by dedicating her life completely to Jesus Christ.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first canonized saint from the United States. As a Catholic sister, she immigrated from Italy and founded almost 70 institutions worldwide. These facilities included orphanages, hospitals, and schools for the poor, abandoned, and marginalized.

“Cabrini” tells a powerful story about Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (portrayed by Cristiana Dell’Anna) who heroically fought for human dignity for countless lives. Her mission continues throughout the world today.

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However, while the film beautifully highlights her heroic work and tireless endeavors to help the poor, abandoned, and marginalized on the streets of New York City, some critics say the film lacked the actual firm Catholic faith and personal spiritual life of Mother Cabrini.

Father Henry Graebe of the Archdiocese of Philidelphia believes Cabrini’s character in the film “displays many of the characteristics that are important for anyone striving for sainthood: tenacity, audacity, determination, meekness, and zeal, to name a few.”

He also said the film may fail to portray Mother Cabrini’s prayer life, the reason for her vocation, and her profound holiness.

“Frances Cabrini sought to follow the great heroism of Saint Francis Xavier (whose name she took upon making her perpetual religious vows), by evangelizing in the Far East. Her hope was to win many souls for Jesus Christ, imitating him who ‘came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many,'” Father Graebe explained.

“When the pope instead sent Mother Cabrini to the New World, she willingly embraced Christ’s words ‘Just as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.'”

“Jesus Christ was the source of Mother Cabrini’s vocation and motivation,” he continued. “Amidst the many trials and tribulations, hardships, and setbacks she encountered along the way, she certainly returned to Him many times in prayer and discernment, recommitting and allowing herself to ensure that His will, and not her own, be done.”

Regardless of one’s perspective of the film, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini lived a holy life worthy of becoming a canonized saint in the Catholic Church.

Here are 10 quotes from the REAL Mother Cabrini about living a holy Catholic life in Jesus Christ:

1) “We must pray without tiring, for the salvation of mankind does not depend upon material success…but on Jesus alone.” 

2) “I will go anywhere and do anything in order to communicate the love of Jesus to those who do not know Him or have forgotten Him.”

3) “I trust in you, my Jesus. I place my poor soul in your hands – mold me according to Your Divine will.”

4) “A single act of humility is worth more than the proud exhibition of any virtue.”

5) “My God…if I could only extend my arms to embrace the world as a gift to you…Show me the way and I will do everything with your help!”

6) “Work in me, oh adorable Heart of Jesus, because you know well how incapable I am of doing perfectly everything that you want of me.”

7) “My God, you have created me for yourself and I must serve you with all my being.”

8) “If you are in danger, if your hearts are confused, turn to Mary; she is our comfort, our help; turn towards her and you will be saved.”

9) “My good Jesus, give me the grace to love you with all my heart and to serve you with great fidelity in this life so that I can be a grain of sand to build up your glory for all eternity.”

10) “Let us keep close to Jesus because if we lose him, we have lost everything.”

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, please help me love Jesus as you did!