Mother Cabrini: the first American saint.

Movie Review by Donna Mollica

I saw Cabrini, by Angel Studios, on opening day – March 8th – in celebration of International Women’s Day.   The storyline depicts the New York City of my father’s grandparents and of my grandparents.  My Italian family did not experience extreme poverty, but it did experience discrimination against Italian immigrants so prevalent at the time.

The movie is captivating and timely.  I still find myself still reflecting on the profound messages captured so perfectly:   the courage and power of faith exemplified by the lives of so many women religious and the tradition of the Saints; the stark discrepancy between the opulent wealth of the Vatican and the Archdiocese of New York and the ministries of these women;   the intersections of power politics and faith; the destructive aspects of patriarchy, the Holy Spirit flowing through the Church in Vatican II and in this time of Pope Francis; the miracle of this Synodal process for our church and the world.

I am mystified by a common criticism in many of reviews of the movie in the catholic community -- not enough God.   Did we see the same movie?  Maybe.  Do we experience discipleship in the same way?   Probably not.  The entire movie, the entire life of Mother Cabrini and the courageous women of her order – is about lives steeped in and committed to the grace of God, the power of the Holy Spirit and the imperatives of the Gospel.   When told by the Pope and the Archbishop that there is no money to support the mission, Mother Cabrini’s response is “begin the work and the resources will come”.   Utter faith in God’s grace.   And clearly warranted as the mission to New York although not without challenge and hardship was successful with little if any support from the church structures.  The Order’s mission spread successfully throughout the world.   Mother Cabrini is the first American saint.   Are we called to just talk about God?   Or must we also live lives that demonstrate God’s love and grace in the world?

We live at a time where the dichotomy between the clerical church power structures that have resulted in structural sin and the call to the Gospel imperative of mercy and compassion to all the baptized are stark and clear.    The opportunity Pope Francis is providing for the renewal of the church through the Synodal process is a gift of grace.   We have the opportunity to manifest the Vatican II church as “The People of God”.   It will take all of us.  I am reminded of the words attributed to St. Francis – preach the Gospel without cease and if necessary, use words”.

Donna Mollica is an ordained interfaith minister living in Montana.   Originally from New York City, she grew up in a Roman Catholic Italian immigrant extended family in Brooklyn where the tradition of the Saints, the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mother Cabrini were daily inspirations of faith.