Francis Cabrini is an American saint who founded the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She built schools and orphanages all over the world and later was named a saint by Pope Pius XII in 1946. Cabrini made such an impact on the Colorado area that ‘Frances Xavier Cabrini Day’ is celebrated each October as a state holiday.
One of her projects was a summer camp for orphans in the foothills outside of Denver which is where you can visit the Mother Cabrini Shrine.
The site includes a spring that was discovered after the sisters working on the land complained about the lack of water. According to the shrine’s website, Mother Cabrini told the sisters to “Lift that rock over there and start to dig. You will find water fresh enough to drink and clean enough to wash.” The spring continues to run today and you can even drink from it when you visit.
The grounds also have a Stairway to Prayer which encourages guests to follow the Stations of the Cross as they climb 373 steps to the top the Mount of Sacred Heart where a twenty-two foot statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus stands.
When our family visited last summer, we attended Mass in a meeting room. This past fall a newly renovated and expanded chapel opened along with a bigger gift shop.
Tomorrow, July 7, 2024 there will be a celebration for Mother Cabrini’s canonization and legacy with Masses at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and 2 p.m. (Spanish). The shrine is located at 20189 Cabrini Blvd in Golden, Colorado.
It’s pretty rare to visit a place where a saint worked and prayed. We found the shrine educational and inspiring. Saint Mother Cabrini, pray for us!
rocky mountain tot 