My mother, we lost her over a year ago and I miss her terribly, was a banker. She went from a housewife to a teller and worked her way up the ladder to become a branch manager of a credit union in Birmingham, Alabama in the late 70's. She would tell me that she had to "work 3 times harder than a man does to break even in this man's world." She believed it wholeheartedly, too. I also had a taste of that reality in a few of my jobs, but my mother was a fighter with Irish blood in her veins and rose to heights I was in awe of
Now for St. Mother Cabrini. Some, I've heard complained that there was no mention of God in the movie, I thought it was all OVER the movie in every word she spoke, every child she hugged, every tear she shed, and every ounce of love she had for her people and the children. The fact that she never spoke of God when being confronted with the evil of the authorities, mayors, senators, magistrates, bishops, and cardinals and even the Pope has a simple yet real bane fact: she was always confronted by men. Men in those days and even in these days in high places did not relate to a female, much less one religious thumping a Bible. No, no, they had their own deity, and it was not the Creator of our world, our Almighty God! She had to related to them on their level and goodness gracious, she did!! As the mayor said to her, "Too bad you are a woman, you'd make a good man." Of course I won't give away her response, but it was succinct and as good as any Rhett Butler's.
“If the mission of announcing the Lord’s resurrection to his apostles had been entrusted to Mary Magdalene, it would seem a very good thing to confide to other women an evangelizing mission.”
Time after time, Mother Cabrini found herself at an impasse, but quick on her feet she made her points into unavoidable positions that could not be ignored. She knew that starting a mission, the funding would come. At one point she said, “If the mission of announcing the Lord’s resurrection to his apostles had been entrusted to Mary Magdalene, it would seem a very good thing to confide to other women an evangelizing mission.” The movie could very well have put skin on Mother Cabrini again and show the world what one woman could do to change the world. She made a huge impact in the world with all the many missions/hospitals/schools/orphanages she started all over the world. She had to have changed lives, not only the children, but the men she had to press and press for help and support. St. Cabrini made history as a woman who was determined, strong-willed, and stubborn. My youngest daughter is a very strong willed, stubborn individual as a young adult now. I know what that looks like.
The movie was approved by a few priests that I respect, one Fr. Chad Ripperger, and Fr. Mike Schmidt (Fr. Mike Schmitz Reviews "Cabrini" Movie (youtube.com) among others. Always concerned at what Hollywood would do, especially to a religious centered movie of the Catholic persuasion, I decided to go after hearing Fr. Ripperger recommend us watch it. I went with a few of the ladies in my prayer group, I am the token Catholic, but they have accepted me as their sister in Christ. They all loved it as much as I did, of course, I was enjoying the views of the Vatican, Rome, all the religious garb and Swiss guard that are all timeless. As a Catholic, I am proud to be part of the same faith that St. Cabrini was driven by. Every turn she made, was Catholic, Christian, and God-guided. Please run don't walk to see this movie, hopefully you can get popcorn free, but only if the theatre is running a promotion....
No comments:
Post a Comment