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Immigrant Saint: The Life of Mother Cabrini
Francesca Maria Cabrini was born in 1850 in a small village on the Lombard Plain of Italy. At the moment of her birth, a cloud of snow-white doves appeared and circled the village, an augury of her future sanctity. Tiny frail and sickly, she was enthralled as a child by tales of the adventures of missionaries to faraway lands, and grew up with one burning to join a religious order and tend to the physical and spiritual needs of the people of China. But no order would have her—her health was deemed too precarious. But her dream remained, and she set out to see it realized. Her first step, a formidable one, was obtaining an audience with His Holiness, Pope Leo XIII. This she did, after overcoming many obstacles. It was a meeting that would change her life, and the lives of so many in America. Mother Cabrini was granted her wish to start an orphanage abroad-but not in China, as she had requested. “Not East, but West, my child,� said Pope Leo, and her path was set.PIETRO DI DONATO’S Immigrant The Life of Mother Cabrini is a powerful nonfiction account of a woman whose gripping story of perseverance, courage, and profound godliness serves as a paradigm for the new age of faith. Written in the fluid prose that made it a huge popular success upon its initial publication in 1960, Immigrant Saint is a book that makes us re-examine, and ultimately reaffirm, our belief in the possibilities of prayer, the validity of miracles, and the crucial importance of good works.“…eloquent, fascinating, miraculous”—Saturday Review
270 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1960
48 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Pietro Di Donato
14books13followersPietro Di Donato was an italo-american writer and bricklayer. Born in West Hoboken in 1911 from italian immigrant parents from Vasto (Abruzzo). He had little scholar education but had a huge success with his autobiographical novel Christ in concrete published in 1939. The novel was inspired by the tragic death at work of his father, Geremia, on Good Friday's morning of 1923 when Pietro was twelve (it is stated that worker Pascal D'Angelo, later become a writer too witnessed and reported the tragic event to the family). Pietro himself became a bricklayer like his father.
Christ in concrete is based on a short story written in 1937 which was later expanded as a novel. The novel was defined "the bible of proletarian literature", and is written with a mixed language of street slang, biblical language, italian dialects and english sentence-costruction. The book, which portrayed the world of New York's Italian-American construction workers during The Great Depression, was hailed by critics in the United States and abroad as a metaphor for the immigrant experience in America, and cast Di Donato as one of the most celebrated Italian American novelists of the mid-20th century. The great success of the novel lead to a film adaptation in 1949 directed by Edward Dmytryk by the title Give Us This Day.
He also worked as a journalist and became a political activist. He published, This Woman (1958) and Three Circles of Light (1960), respectively the sequel and the prequel of his first novel. He also wrote the biographies of Francesca Saverio Gabrini, the first american saint (Immigrant Saint) and Maria Goretti, an italian girl murdered in 1902 and later canonized.
In 1978 his journalistic report about the mysterious kidnapping and murder of italian politician Aldo Moro (titled Christ in Plastic) published in Penthouse magazine won the Overseas Press Club Prize. The article was later adapted into a play entitled Moro.
Di Donato died on January 19, 1992 in Stony Brook, Long Island, with his last novel, American Gospels, still unpublished.
Christ in concrete is based on a short story written in 1937 which was later expanded as a novel. The novel was defined "the bible of proletarian literature", and is written with a mixed language of street slang, biblical language, italian dialects and english sentence-costruction. The book, which portrayed the world of New York's Italian-American construction workers during The Great Depression, was hailed by critics in the United States and abroad as a metaphor for the immigrant experience in America, and cast Di Donato as one of the most celebrated Italian American novelists of the mid-20th century. The great success of the novel lead to a film adaptation in 1949 directed by Edward Dmytryk by the title Give Us This Day.
He also worked as a journalist and became a political activist. He published, This Woman (1958) and Three Circles of Light (1960), respectively the sequel and the prequel of his first novel. He also wrote the biographies of Francesca Saverio Gabrini, the first american saint (Immigrant Saint) and Maria Goretti, an italian girl murdered in 1902 and later canonized.
In 1978 his journalistic report about the mysterious kidnapping and murder of italian politician Aldo Moro (titled Christ in Plastic) published in Penthouse magazine won the Overseas Press Club Prize. The article was later adapted into a play entitled Moro.
Di Donato died on January 19, 1992 in Stony Brook, Long Island, with his last novel, American Gospels, still unpublished.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
March 18, 2024
Wonderful! If you are debating between seeing the movie, Cabrini, or reading about her, I would recommend the movie first, before much study. That way you can enjoy the cinematic experience without being confused over various discrepancies between book(s) and the movie. Movies, after all, are a very different medium and it isn't possible to convey information in the manner of the written word. Once you have seen the movie, then, this is a very good book to read!
Immigrant Saint, the life of Mother Cabrini, was written in 1960 by Pietro Di Donato and dedicated to The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. As such it is a very positive representation of her life, a Catholic and spiritual portrayal which includes her dreams (were there others?) in which Jesus and the saints gave her guidance in how she was supposed to proceed. I was not 100% sure if she was an actual visionary or if she only received locutions and visions through dreams; I think she only ‘saw� in her dreams, but I could be mistaken in this. The author was writing for receptive believers, so he was not careful to provide substantive details as we do today for a more skeptical readership.
Maria Francesca Cabrini was born July 15, 1850, in Sant’Angelo, in Lombardi, Italy, the last child of the twelve children born to her 52-year-old mother, of which only three survived. Francesca came two months early, was frail and not expected to live. She remained sickly most of the 67 years of her life, and yet she was a powerhouse of strength and determined determination (a favorite expression of St. Teresa of Avila!) Ah the saints, they are so very different, but in some ways, they are also, so very much alike! Teresa of Avila also died at 67.
Francesca grew up in a deeply pious Catholic home. No matter all their sufferings, they only strengthened the Cabrinis� faith in God, something they passed on to their daughter. Frances was a humble woman, a hard worker and she never let a blade of grass grow under her feet. She began very simply trying to enter a couple of religious orders in Italy but was turned down. Then in 1874, she then agreed to accept a position which a priest friend obtained for her knowing of her ability to turn the worst situations around. The House of Providence, a female orphanage in Codogno was indeed to prove providential for the rest of her life.
Here she met a woman, Antonia Tondini, who made the next three years of Francesca’s life a living hell, yet she looked back on it as a period of formation which prepared her for the missionary life. By the time the local Bishop and the priest who had asked her to go there—to be tested—evicted Tondini, Frances had gathered around her a highly devoted cadre of young women who formed her first Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Her virtues already mentioned plus her intense drive to form the first missionary order of women attracted other women to her like bees to flowers. was magnetic and never had trouble recruiting followers.
From Codogno, Mother Cabrini—as she was known by then—went on to Rome, then to New York, South America, New Orleans, Chicago, California, Seattle, back to South America, back to New York, Chicago, the western states, Colorado, France, England, and numerous trips back to Rome and her place of origin, Codogno, plus many, many more trips! Her work expanded from orphanages to hospitals for immigrants, to paying girls� schools, to hospitals for everyone with the poor treated for free. She was constantly learning and adjusting as she learned. This book is packed full of her maxims and wisdom.
While this may not be the last word on her life, Immigrant Saint, the life of Mother Cabrini is an inspiring read and left me wanting to do more for the love of God! As I was reading it, I kept saying, ‘St. Mother Cabrini, please pray for me! I know I can never be a saint like you but pray that I can at least do God’s will for me.�
Immigrant Saint, the life of Mother Cabrini, was written in 1960 by Pietro Di Donato and dedicated to The Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. As such it is a very positive representation of her life, a Catholic and spiritual portrayal which includes her dreams (were there others?) in which Jesus and the saints gave her guidance in how she was supposed to proceed. I was not 100% sure if she was an actual visionary or if she only received locutions and visions through dreams; I think she only ‘saw� in her dreams, but I could be mistaken in this. The author was writing for receptive believers, so he was not careful to provide substantive details as we do today for a more skeptical readership.
Maria Francesca Cabrini was born July 15, 1850, in Sant’Angelo, in Lombardi, Italy, the last child of the twelve children born to her 52-year-old mother, of which only three survived. Francesca came two months early, was frail and not expected to live. She remained sickly most of the 67 years of her life, and yet she was a powerhouse of strength and determined determination (a favorite expression of St. Teresa of Avila!) Ah the saints, they are so very different, but in some ways, they are also, so very much alike! Teresa of Avila also died at 67.
Francesca grew up in a deeply pious Catholic home. No matter all their sufferings, they only strengthened the Cabrinis� faith in God, something they passed on to their daughter. Frances was a humble woman, a hard worker and she never let a blade of grass grow under her feet. She began very simply trying to enter a couple of religious orders in Italy but was turned down. Then in 1874, she then agreed to accept a position which a priest friend obtained for her knowing of her ability to turn the worst situations around. The House of Providence, a female orphanage in Codogno was indeed to prove providential for the rest of her life.
Here she met a woman, Antonia Tondini, who made the next three years of Francesca’s life a living hell, yet she looked back on it as a period of formation which prepared her for the missionary life. By the time the local Bishop and the priest who had asked her to go there—to be tested—evicted Tondini, Frances had gathered around her a highly devoted cadre of young women who formed her first Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Her virtues already mentioned plus her intense drive to form the first missionary order of women attracted other women to her like bees to flowers. was magnetic and never had trouble recruiting followers.
From Codogno, Mother Cabrini—as she was known by then—went on to Rome, then to New York, South America, New Orleans, Chicago, California, Seattle, back to South America, back to New York, Chicago, the western states, Colorado, France, England, and numerous trips back to Rome and her place of origin, Codogno, plus many, many more trips! Her work expanded from orphanages to hospitals for immigrants, to paying girls� schools, to hospitals for everyone with the poor treated for free. She was constantly learning and adjusting as she learned. This book is packed full of her maxims and wisdom.
While this may not be the last word on her life, Immigrant Saint, the life of Mother Cabrini is an inspiring read and left me wanting to do more for the love of God! As I was reading it, I kept saying, ‘St. Mother Cabrini, please pray for me! I know I can never be a saint like you but pray that I can at least do God’s will for me.�
January 30, 2018
This is a well-written and engaging biography, not a dull tome about Mother Cabrini. The book details the saint’s fortitude and belief in her mission. At a young age, she fell in love with Christ and longed to be a missionary sister. However, due to her ill health, she was not accepted into any religious communities.
Eventually, after toiling in an orphanage, she was allowed to set up her own community, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She had always longed to go to China as a missionary, but Pope Leo XIII sent her to America. She worked with indefatigable zeal to set up orphanages, schools, and hospitals in New York, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, and in South America as well.
She and her Daughers went down into the mines in Colorado to bring hope to the immigrants who had not seen the inside of a church since they left Italy. They nursed people through outbreaks of yellow fever and smallpox. They begged for money to set up more hospitals, schools, and orphanages.
In her sixty-seven years, Mother Cabrini accomplished more than many successful business men.
Whether you are a Catholic or not, I highly recommend this biography of a truly remarkable woman who did all she could with love to guide her.
Eventually, after toiling in an orphanage, she was allowed to set up her own community, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She had always longed to go to China as a missionary, but Pope Leo XIII sent her to America. She worked with indefatigable zeal to set up orphanages, schools, and hospitals in New York, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, and in South America as well.
She and her Daughers went down into the mines in Colorado to bring hope to the immigrants who had not seen the inside of a church since they left Italy. They nursed people through outbreaks of yellow fever and smallpox. They begged for money to set up more hospitals, schools, and orphanages.
In her sixty-seven years, Mother Cabrini accomplished more than many successful business men.
Whether you are a Catholic or not, I highly recommend this biography of a truly remarkable woman who did all she could with love to guide her.
March 14, 2024
immigrant Saint Mother Cabrini a life well lived
This was a beautifully written book about a chosen daughter of God! St Francesca Xavier Cabrini never stopped bringing others to our Lord, especially the immigrants. St Cabrini pray for us!
This was a beautifully written book about a chosen daughter of God! St Francesca Xavier Cabrini never stopped bringing others to our Lord, especially the immigrants. St Cabrini pray for us!
September 27, 2020
I was doing some work for the Mother Cabrini Foundation in New York City so I decided that I should read up on Mother Cabrini, who was declared a saint by the Catholic Church. I had read and liked Pietro Di Donato's 1939 novel "Christ in Concrete" (in fact, I'm rereading it now), so I decided to read his biography of Mother Cabrini. Di Donato paints a loving and reverent portrait of Mother Cabrini, who does indeed seem to have been an extraordinary person who gave her all to the Church and to those in great need, especially to the many poor Italian immigrants who arrived in the United States in the early 20th century. Because of his obvious reverence for Mother Cabrini, I suspect that there were aspects of Mother Cabrini's life that are missing from his portrait--hence four stars instead of five. On the other hand, she was a saint, so who knows?
May 23, 2024
Inspiring Biography of a True Servant of God and Man
Very well written biography of an amazing saint who sacrificed her entire life to honor God and reach out to the needy and wretched Italian immigrants in America during the late 1800s and early 1900s. She was an amazing person like Mother Theresa in more recent years.
Very well written biography of an amazing saint who sacrificed her entire life to honor God and reach out to the needy and wretched Italian immigrants in America during the late 1800s and early 1900s. She was an amazing person like Mother Theresa in more recent years.
July 19, 2022
a real eye-opening biography
A mesmerizing account of the first American saint who worked tirelessly across the world for immigrants, children and the sick. A real eye-opener for anyone regardless of faith.
A mesmerizing account of the first American saint who worked tirelessly across the world for immigrants, children and the sick. A real eye-opener for anyone regardless of faith.
August 28, 2023
Loved learning about Mother Cabrini
Filled with details of this amazing woman’s life, accomplishments and love of God. I enjoyed learning about this awesome saint.
Filled with details of this amazing woman’s life, accomplishments and love of God. I enjoyed learning about this awesome saint.
November 19, 2019
Wow, I knew next to nothing about Mother Cabrini. How could this be? How is this incredible woman not known to every woman, Catholic or not? Her life was truly all about what JPII calls "The Feminine Genius." In her short life, she died in her 60's, she opened more than 60 hospitals, orphanages and schools for poor immigrants. She didn't even speak English when she first arrived in America, and she was a whirlwind of good works, and deep spirituality. She traveled across this country when we still had the "wild west". She was in California, Seattle, New Orleans, Chicago and New York, wherever the poor Italian immigrant families had settled. She even became a U.S. citizen. A very good book, with lots of information, but never boring. What an amazing woman, what an amazing saint! Pray for us, St. Mother Cabrini!
February 24, 2024
Truly Inspiring!
It is unfathomable how one person accomplished so much in her lifetime! She was tireless in her efforts to accomplish God's will in serving the poor, orphans, immigrants and anyone in need. Her every effort was met with complete success despite hardships, poor health, and possessing nothing other than complete trust in Jesus, her Sacred Heart. What a beautiful testimony to what one person can do who trusts in God. This book was well written and read like a novel and drew me to each new page. You will be in awe of St. Francesca Cabrini. Look for the movie about her that comes out in March 2024.
It is unfathomable how one person accomplished so much in her lifetime! She was tireless in her efforts to accomplish God's will in serving the poor, orphans, immigrants and anyone in need. Her every effort was met with complete success despite hardships, poor health, and possessing nothing other than complete trust in Jesus, her Sacred Heart. What a beautiful testimony to what one person can do who trusts in God. This book was well written and read like a novel and drew me to each new page. You will be in awe of St. Francesca Cabrini. Look for the movie about her that comes out in March 2024.
August 26, 2019
Unbelievable!
Her life is unbelievable! Pietro Di Donato's writing is unbelievable!
Other writings just write the story, the facts, Donato captures her soul ! Felt like I was walking with her, feeling her pain, sorrow and immense Joy. Thank you for this wonderful journey of tears and laughs.
Her life is unbelievable! Pietro Di Donato's writing is unbelievable!
Other writings just write the story, the facts, Donato captures her soul ! Felt like I was walking with her, feeling her pain, sorrow and immense Joy. Thank you for this wonderful journey of tears and laughs.
March 28, 2024
Inspiring and Heartwarming
I recently saw the movie about Mother Cabrini and was curious to learn more. I am so glad I bought this book because it related so much more about this truly remarkable woman. Even the two and a half hour movie could not do her justice but this book certainly did.
I recently saw the movie about Mother Cabrini and was curious to learn more. I am so glad I bought this book because it related so much more about this truly remarkable woman. Even the two and a half hour movie could not do her justice but this book certainly did.
April 16, 2024
Profound
The most profound and inspiration all book I have ever read! I saw the new movie Cabrini and had to learn more. Her accomplishments through Christ are unbelievable and represent the absolute best of Christian Faith!
The most profound and inspiration all book I have ever read! I saw the new movie Cabrini and had to learn more. Her accomplishments through Christ are unbelievable and represent the absolute best of Christian Faith!
October 9, 2024
could not put the book down
After watching the movie Cabrini 2024, I decided to find more information about this woman of God
Once I started to read this book, could not stop reading it
After watching the movie Cabrini 2024, I decided to find more information about this woman of God
Once I started to read this book, could not stop reading it
April 15, 2024
Astonishing
Mother Cabrini-by her love of Christ and her work are examples to us of a holy life and saintly legacy.
Mother Cabrini-by her love of Christ and her work are examples to us of a holy life and saintly legacy.
April 27, 2024
precious
This is an amazing story of the love between Christ and one of his followers. I couldn’t put it down- lots of great teachings in here. Could be life changing.
This is an amazing story of the love between Christ and one of his followers. I couldn’t put it down- lots of great teachings in here. Could be life changing.
May 9, 2024
Review
Really helped me get to know this saint. She accomplished so much even though she did not enjoy good health.
Really helped me get to know this saint. She accomplished so much even though she did not enjoy good health.
October 4, 2011
"brief over view story of her life, gives key points. but little explination.
a good childrens book for introducing the saint
"
a good childrens book for introducing the saint
"
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