Bending the Arc

CSA Sisters and Associates celebrated Catholic Sisters Week and Women’s History Month all at once by seeing “Cabrini.”

The movie “Cabrini” chronicles the life and work of Francesca Cabrini, an Italian immigrant nun, who founded one of the largest charitable organizations in the world, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She was also the first U.S. citizen to be canonized by the Catholic Church on July 7, 1946.

Cabrini opened in 2,600 theaters nationwide on Friday, March 8, which was also International Women’s Day. Several CSA Sisters and Associates enjoyed dinner and a movie outing to watch the film together. Sister Diane Bauknecht shares her thoughts on the movie:

“The Cabrini movie is a powerful testimony to the life of a sickly woman who heard and followed a call to serve those in need. The film portrays the inner strength of St. Frances Cabrini who was dauntless in her commitment to improve the lives of children, many of whom were orphaned. Her inner strength superseded the frailty of her body when she persisted against both church and civil authorities who reluctantly/grudgingly gave their approval to her enormous projects.

The only weakness I perceived in the film is that it did not seem to show what sustained Mother Cabrini’s tenacious durability. Only once, at the end, did it show Mother Cabrini in prayer. I suspect that was an oversight because she surely must have found her strength in a Power beyond herself.”  

In a March 11 article by Samantha Smith in Black Catholic Messenger, she shares two themes that stood out most in the film. “The first is how Cabrini’s story feels as true to today’s world as it did in her time. While the cultures of today’s immigrants are different, there are continued efforts from American citizens and government leadership to cast them out of the country and ignore their human dignity. However, America was founded on the idea of immigration—that no matter where you come from, you can come here and live a happy and prosperous life.

"The second is how Church leadership has not always been on the right side of progress or the needs of its community. The archbishop in the film plays the 'safe' route—determined not to stir the pot or anger the mayor. And while Pope Leo XIII eventually supports Cabrini and her mission, he didn’t start out that way in the film. As lay Catholics, we can empathize with Cabrini’s challenges to the Church, to push it closer to its mission of helping those in need. Her story serves as motivation to continue that work now.”

You can read the full article here.

If you’ve seen the movie and would like to share your experience, please add a comment to this post!