Day 6
Opening Prayer
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, thank you for the gift of life, thank you for this day, and thank you for Your servant, Saint Frances Cabrini. Fill us, O Lord, with the fire of Your love that our minds and hearts may be open to Your will for us today and every day. Root in us, her spirit, that we may represent the passion of Mother Cabrini to everyone we meet this day. Renew us that we may live as she lived, faithful to You and open to Your every prompting.
Through the intercession of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, we ask this in Jesus' name, Amen.
Meditation - Friend of the Poor
Mother Cabrini's sensitive heart and her experience in walking the streets of New York was in keeping with Pope Leo's insistence on the rights of the poor and the dignity of the working person. She would have understood, among other things, the right to work, the right to private property, the right to form unions, the right to a just wage and the right to decent living conditions, education and health care for the family. But Mother Cabrini was not content just to be sympathetic; her enterprising and practical nature demanded that she and her sisters do something about oppressive conditions of poverty. In this, as always, she was creative and original. Mother Cabrini can be described as an entrepreneur of love. She was often described openly by the newspapers and commentators of the day as a great business woman-but what motivated and drove her activity was her zealous love and her loving zeal. Her love, evidenced in her "business transactions" for the poor and whomever she met-was intelligent, enterprising, bold, creative, tireless, inventive and industrious. We are called to model our love of Jesus as she did, and find new ways of expressing this "intelligent and enterprising love" on behalf of the poor.
Novena Prayer to St. Frances Cabrini
Saint Frances Cabrini - woman of God, woman of spirit and vision. You crossed the oceans many times to bring the love of Christ to many nations. You offered the people you met the gift of life and love by responding to their physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in practical and creative ways. Against great odds you achieved what was thought to be impossible. Inspired by your sense of justice, your love and compassion, I come to you now to intercede for me through the Heart of Jesus.
(Pause ...... name petition)
Watch over me this day and those I love. Strengthen me in my weakness, sustain me in my struggles and bring me a deep and lasting peace and make me whole again. May I always recognize Christ in the people I meet and respond to them with respect and sensitivity as you did. I ask this through our one God, for your God is my God, now and forever. Amen.
Glory Be
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
