Cabrini

“We can serve our weakness or we can serve our purpose. Not both.”

This week’s film tells the true story of Catholic missionary Francesca Cabrini (1850-1917), the first U.S. citizen to be canonized a saint.

Despite suffering from tuberculosis, the nun Mother Cabrini is determined to found a missionary order to help the poor, especially orphaned children. Being sent to New York by the pope to begin her mission, she is immediately confronted by the immense hardships and poverty of the immigrants living there, realizing she and her fellow nuns have difficult work ahead.

What follows is a tale of courage and persistence, as Cabrini battles hostile city officials, dangerous criminals, and deep-rooted prejudice against Italian immigrants. But with the help of unexpected allies – including a sympathetic doctor, a former brothel worker, and a couple street-smart orphans – she works tirelessly to establish orphanages, hospitals, and schools for those society has forgotten, beginning to build what she called an “empire of hope”.

Although the film takes some artistic liberties and perhaps secularizes aspects that could’ve been more spiritual, Cabrini offers an inspiring reminder of what grit and determination can accomplish when accompanied by compassion and hope. Rated PG-13, the film features some mild violence and some emotionally intense scenes, making it more appropriate for older viewers.

Runtime: 2 hours, 22 minutes
Rated PG-13
USCCB Rating: A-II
90% on Rotten Tomatoes
IMDb Parents Guide
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