This week in Christian history: Peter the Hermit dies, American canonized, Quakers

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, July 07, 2019

Catholic Church canonizes first American citizen – July 7, 1946

Mother Cabrini (1850-1917), also known as St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, founder of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart and the first American citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. | Public Domain

This week marks the anniversary of when the Roman Catholic Church canonized Mother Cabrini, the first official saint who was also a United States citizen.

A native of Italy, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1909. She was known for her work with poor Italian immigrants and founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart.

“Although plagued by ill health most of the time, Mother Cabrini established 67 houses—one for each year of her life—in such cities as Buenos Aires, Paris, Madrid, and Rio de Janeiro. She also founded several schools, hospitals, and orphanages,” explained Britannica.