Saints in Progress

by Maureen Wittmann

As a Catholic mother I enjoy learning about the lives of the Saints alongside my children. One of our favorites is America’s first Saint, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini. Born in 1850, Mother’s childhood dream was to become a missionary to China. Her games of pretend centered on this dream.

As she grew into a woman she attempted to enter the convent, but was rejected due to her frail health. She became a school teacher and was soon asked by a priest to help out in a home for orphans. This was a difficult time for Mother Cabrini as her superior at the orphanage was difficult to work with. As with everything in her life, she stuck to her commitment and was eventually allowed to take her vows. Soon, Mother was asked by her bishop to begin a new congregation of missionary nuns. Still she longed to be a missionary to China, so she began the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart without hesitation. A prayerful woman whose heart was open to God’s will, she followed Pope Leo XIII’s directive when he told her “Not East, but West, my child.” She did as was requested and never looked back, eventually becoming an American citizen. In spite of poor health and many obstacles, Mother Cabrini built 67 hospitals, orphanages, and schools in 19th century America. She poured out her love for the poor immigrants of our country and through the grace of God made a difference in the lives of many Americans.

The Orphans Find a Home

Our interest in the life of Mother Cabrini led us to two outstanding resources. The first was The Orphans Find a Home: A Saint Frances Cabrini Story. This book is the first in a new series: The Glory of America! Catholic Girls of the U.S.A, written by Joan Stromberg and illustrated by Eileen McCook. They are historical fiction based on the lives of our beloved American Saints. One may compare them to the ever popular American Girls series, but I hesitate to do so. The American Girl books are geared for young girls, while The Orphans Find a Home was enjoyed by my sons as much as my daughters. The American Girl books are designed to sell dolls and their accessories, while this series is designed to lift children’s hearts to the glory of God. Mrs. Stromberg’s next book is based upon the life of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and should be released shortly. Future plans include books on male American Saints, in order to provide role models for boys.

The Orphans Find a Home takes us on a faith-filled journey alongside three immigrant orphan girls who are barely surviving in 1890 New York City. The setting is a boiler room in the basement of an apartment building where the girls have made their home. Maria is a teenaged girl who looks out for the younger Molly and mute Ming. All three come from different ethnic backgrounds yet share so much in common, including many hardships. Mother Cabrini discovers their plight and finds a way to give them the basics of life, that is - a roof over their heads, food for their hunger, an education, and most importantly spiritual food for the soul. Despite their material poverty, they find that they are rich in many other ways.

The moral lessons woven throughout the story are well worth this book’s weight in gold. When the big-hearted Irish policeman catches Molly stealing bread, he reminds her of the importance of confession. When Maria goes with Mother to live and work in the orphanage she is so touched by Mother’s love of Christ that Maria decides to become a nun herself. And when Ming suffers from a life-threatening illness we are witness to the spiritual awakening of Molly.

As an added bonus there is a mini-unit study in the back of the book so that parents may aid their children in furthering their knowledge of Mother Cabrini and her work here on earth. Also included in this section are actual photographs of Manressa, the orphanage of the story. I think that the photographs are helpful in demonstrating to children that Mother Cabrini was indeed a real American hero and not just a make believe character in a tall tale.

Noble Heroine of Charity

The second resource that I found is not a book, but an audio tape. I find educational audio tapes to be a valuable asset to our family. Like many families these days, we spend an enormous amount of time in the car going to and from activities, as well as traveling cross-country, and that time is never wasted in our family. We take advantage of these occasions in the car by praying the rosary and by listening to musical and educational tapes. Noble Heroine of Charity is a dramatic production written by Kim Hohman and produced by Regina Martyrum. The tape tells the story of Mother Cabrini from her childhood to her death. We are given insight to Mother’s physical, as well as her spiritual, journeys. We take part, through the roles of the actors, in Mother’s trials and triumphs. To hear, almost first hand, Mother’s resolve and determination to achieve God’s plan in her life is inspirational. The tape is not a Hollywood production by any means, but the children love the story so much that they do not notice the lack of flashy effects. I believe that children will always choose content over flash. My children ask for this tape to be played again and again. Noble Heroine of Charity and other dramas of the Saints produced by Regina Martyrum are not only fun for the children, but provide valuable moral lessons.

Conclusion

My seven-year-old daughter, Mary, has been especially concerned about her vocation as of late. During our evening prayers, she always asks God to help her in deciding what to be she grows up. Although our immersion into Mother Cabrini was months back, Mary came to me just a few days ago and said that she did not want to be a wife and mother when she grew up. She wants to be a nun and help raise children who have no mother and father. She wants to build orphanages and hospitals just like Mother Cabrini. I do not know if Mary will still feel this way as she grows into an adult, but I do know that if we keep the course she will have the knowledge and, prayerfully the grace, to find God’s will in her life’s vocation.

The Saints provide true examples of real people who lived the teachings of the Church. In learning about the martyrs, our children are given the courage to stand strong when their faith is attacked. In learning about saints such as St. Therese of the Little Flower, our children come to realize that they can achieve heaven in their own little way. In learning about the missionaries, our children are given examples so that they too may go out and spread the word of the One True Church. God gives ordinary men and women the grace necessary to do great things. We must let our children know that, though they are ordinary human beings, through God they can accomplish the extraordinary. Mother Cabrini is a wonderful example of this and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to share her life with my children.

To order The Orphans Find a Home check with your favorite Catholic homeschooling mail order company or send a check in the amount of $7.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling to Ecce Homo Press, 100 Church St., Danville, PA 17821. http://members .aol.com/EcceHomoPr/EcceHomoPress (717) 271-0244, (717) 271-0480 FAX. ISBN #0-9664689-0-2.
To order Noble Heroine of Charity check with your local Catholic bookstore or send a check in the amount of $7.95 plus $1.00 shipping and handling to Regina Martyrum Production Inc., 2941 S. Topeka Ave. #251, Topeka, KS 66611, (800) 565-3123.

Mrs. Wittmann is a homeschooling mother of five children and resides in Lansing, Michigan. She is also a contributing author and co-editor of A Catholic Homeschool Treasury: Nurturing Children’s Love for Learning (Ignatius Press).

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