Don’t forget that tomorrow is the 31st World Day of the Sick. Instituted by St. John Paul on May 13, 1992 as a way for believers to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses, this world day is marked on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. The theme this year is “Take care of him” from the Gospel according to St. Luke.
If you know someone who is ill or somehow suffering, February 11 is the perfect day to let them know you care and are praying for them. You might want to send an ecard, perhaps an email, maybe even make a phone call, something to raise their spirits and make them smile!
VATICAN INSIDER. ST. CABRINI, MOTHER TO MIGRANTS, COMES TO ROME
My guests this weekend in the interview segment of “Vatican Insider” are Fr. Ramil Fajardo, rector of the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini in Chicago, sculptor Lou Cella and Carol Christiansen, a St. Cabrini fan, follower and enthusiast and the inspiration for this week’s story.
The four of us are united by our faith, by the fact we are all Chicagoans and by our common love for St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, better known to millions as Mother Cabrini. You’ll hear a bit about Mother Cabrini’s life in this four-way conversation but more importantly what brings a small delegation from Chicago to Rome for a week. Don’t miss this!
Fr. Ramil (L), Lou Cella (in camel jacket) and Carol (holding the miniature of Mother Cabrini) in the cathedral courtyard
The Mother Cabrini in miniature –
The original, just over life-size statue of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is in the main courtyard of Holy Name cathedral in Chicago!
Lou Cella’s work studio
(CORRECTION ON PHOTO ID: The woman in the picture on the ladder is Jessica LoPresti, the artist who worked with Lou on the project. Not only was she dedicated to this project, she was the model/muse for the statue!)
And here is why the delegation came to Rome! They presented a copy in miniature of a statue of Mother Cabrini to Pope Francis at the end of a weekly general audience. I saw but do not have the Vatican photo showing a close-up of the Pope with the statue.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Mother Cabrini, in all her bronze, life-size glory, could come to Rome to celebrate the 2025 Holy Year, to welcome visitors and migrants as she did during her life! Maybe we could persuade her to stay and continue to welcome visitors and migrants!
IN THE UNITED STATES, you can listen to Vatican Insider (VI) on a Catholic radio station near you (stations listed at www.ewtn.com) or on channel 130 Sirius-XM satellite radio, or on http://www.ewtn.com. OUTSIDE THE U.S., you can listen to EWTN radio on our website home page by clicking on the right side where you see “LISTEN TO EWTN.” VI airs at 5am and 9pm ET on Saturdays and 6am ET on Sundays. On the GB-IE feed (which is on SKY in the UK and Ireland), VI airs at 5:30am, 12 noon and 10pm CET on Sundays. Both of these feeds are also available on the EWTN app and on www.ewtnradio.net ALWAYS CHECK YOUR OWN TIME ZONE! For VI archives: go to https://www.ewtn.com/radio/audio-archive and write the name of the guest for whom you are searching in the SEARCH box. Below that, will appear “Vatican Insider” – click on that and the link to that particular episode will appear.
A PAPAL INVITATION TO THE CIRCUS FOR POOR AND MARGINALIZED
According to a press release from the Dicastery of Charity, Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, the Apostolic Almoner and head of the charity office, has, in the name of the Holy Father, invited 2000 people to the Rony Roller circus tomorrow, Saturday, February 11. Among those invited are refugees, the homeless, prisoners, and families with children from Ukraine, Syria, Congo and Sudan. There will also be some families who live in occupied buildings in Rome and more than 150 people from the streets of Torvaianica and various dormitories, accompanied by volunteers, including the Sisters of Mother Teresa.
The circus, says the communique, quoting Pope Francis in a meeting with artists and entertainers, “puts us in touch with the beauty that always lifts us up and makes us go further, it is a way to reach the Lord. … Making it possible for people to attend the circus is one way to give a few hours of serenity to those who face a hard life and need help to fuel hope. The show also reminds us that behind this art and this beauty there are hours and hours of training and sacrifice in order to reach the finish line: the Circus artists are the confirmation that persevering can make the impossible possible.”
Joan's Rome 