From - Fri May 25 07:32:28 2001 Return-Path: Received: from peakpeak.com (tz0080.peakpeak.com [207.174.69.80]) by gash2.peakpeak.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id GAA21717; Tue, 22 May 2001 06:05:31 -0600 Sender: snowbear@gash2.peakpeak.com Message-ID: <3B0A5682.265F1660@peakpeak.com> Date: Tue, 22 May 2001 06:07:30 -0600 From: Pam North X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.61 [en] (X11; U; Linux 2.2.12-20 i586) X-Accept-Language: en MIME-Version: 1.0 To: "Green, Guerin" , "Douglas, Laura" , "North, Pam" Subject: Article Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Status: X-Mozilla-Status: 8001 X-Mozilla-Status2: 00000000 X-UIDL: 391deae700001370 MOTHER CABRINI -- THE WOMAN AND THE SHRINE by Pam North High atop a hill in the foothills just outside Golden stands a tall statue depicting the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This 22-foot tall figure on an 11-foot base, surrounded by renderings of the Ten Commandments, was carved by an Italian artist and erected in 1954. The statue is at the site of the Mother Cabrini Shrine, a spiritual spot visited by scores of pilgrims and tourists. Frances Cabrini was a significant religious woman of the 19th century. She was born on July 15, 1850, the youngest of 13 children, to a poor family in Sant' Angelo Lodigiano, in the Lodi region of Lombardy, Italy. From childhood, she was enthralled by the stories of missionaries, and early in her life she committed herself to the religious vocation. On November 14, 1880, with seven other young women, she founded the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an order that continues her work. Her love for the poverty-stricken, homeless and orphaned led to world travel. She lived an impressive and challenging life along her journeys, overcoming many physical and emotional obstacles that were the result of her frail health. Her devotion brought her to New York in 1889, at the request of Pope Leo XIII, to provide assistance to the poor Italian immigrants who had flocked in large numbers to America. A selfless individual with piercing blue eyes, a soft voice and a ready smile, she helped the underprivileged regain their staus in a society and era where many were hapless victims. In 1902 she came to Denver, at the invitation of Bishop Nicholas Matz, to open a school in Denver's Mount Carmel parish. In 1905 the Queen of Heaven Orphanage, with a capacity for 160, was built on Federal Boulevard to care for and educate young girls. During her lifetime she founded 67 missions, including schools, hospitals, orphanages and child care centers throughout the United States and the world. She died on December 22, 1917 at Columbus Hospital in Chicago. She was beatified in 1938, and canonized as a saint in 1946, and in 1950 was proclaimed Patroness of Immigrants. The Mother Cabrini Shrine pays homage to this notable woman, and offers a spiritual, meditative atmosphere. Originally established by Mother Cabrini as a summer camp for orphaned children, the property has become a place for worship and meditative contemplation, with emphasis on devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mother Cabrini's main life focus. There are several elements to the shrine. A chapel is highlighted by a series of stained-glass windows depicting events in Mother Cabrini's life: her birth, her confirmation, her founding of her order, her meeting with Pope Leo XIII, her voyage to America and her work with the Italian immigrants, crossing the Andes, her death, a miraculous cure of infant Peter Smith attributed to her, and her canonization to sainthood. A heart of stones, assembled by Mother Cabrini, some of her Sisters and some orphan children during her last visit to Colorado in 1912 still remains. In a grotto, a natural spring flows at a spot where Mother Cabrini ordered her Sisters to dig when they complained of a lack of fresh, clean water to drink and use to bathe. A stairway of 373 steps leads to the top of the hill, following Mother Cabrini's original path to the summit, and also symbolizing the path of the Crucifixion. A barn, used as the original residence of the Sisters until the native-rock house was built in 1912, still stands. There is also a gift shop for religious items and mementos of the visit there, and a re-creation of Mother Cabrini's room, with articles from her life, such as her cane, bed, chair and clothing. The Mother Cabrini shrine is a nice spot to reflect, renew and take some time. Roman Catholic weddings also may be performed here, and Masses are offered in the chapel. The shrine is located just off I-70 at the Morrison exit; signs direct the way. It is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the summer, and 7:00 a.m to 5:30 p.m. in the winter. Call (303) 526-0758 for more information. Note --- Photograph of Mother Cabrini to accompany article is at: http://www.den-cabrini-shrine.org/mothercabriniannotated history.htm