Cabrini, the latest film from Angel Studios, stands out in the genre of Christian and religious films that are all too often plagued by low-budgets and cringe-worthy performances.
The cinematography rivals any major studio production and the superb storytelling moves the film at a consistent pace, making it feel about half as long as its nearly two-and-a-half-hour runtime.
The screenplay tells the compelling life story of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, who traveled from Italy to New York City in order to serve as a missionary to the city’s impoverished and oppressed Italian immigrants in the late 19th century.
Mother Cabrini overcame an endless array of obstacles from seemingly every angle, including the Church’s hierarchy, that attempted to obstruct her mission of establishing orphanages, schools, and hospitals to serve the poor and forgotten.
Cristiana Dell’Ana offers a beautiful performance of Mother Cabrini and captures the characteristics that enabled her community of Sisters to continue their tireless and often thankless efforts to assist their fellow Italian immigrants. That is, Dell’Ana displays many of the characteristics that are important for anyone striving for sainthood: tenacity, audacity, determination, meekness, and zeal, to name a few.
Oddly missing from the film, however, are several characteristics that would be considered essential for anyone striving towards sainthood, namely, holiness and prayerfulness.
Surely, Mother Cabrini and her Sisters had a deep and robust prayer life that formed their vocation and mission. Yet the film lacks any hint of Mother Cabrini’s personal or communal spirituality.
Other than a brief Grace before Meals, the film fails to portray any meaningful scene of the Sisters in prayer, teaching the orphans their catechesis, encouraging them to receive the Sacraments or any Sacrament or sacramental at all, for that matter. How edifying it would have been for the viewer to get even a glimpse of the Sisters passing on the faith to the children or at least attending Mass.
Hardly any reference (was there a single mention?) is made to Jesus Christ. One of the main subplots features Vittoria, a sex worker who has a conversion of heart and leaves behind her former life to join the Sisters in their cause. Although implicit, especially if viewed through the eyes of faith, there was no mention of turning away from and repenting of one’s sins.
Nor was there any clear mention of or conversation about Mother Cabrini’s vocation. Frances Cabrini sought to follow the great heroism of Saint Francis Xavier (whose name she took upon making her perpetual religious vows), by evangelizing in the Far East. Her hope was to win many souls for Jesus Christ, imitating him who “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
When the pope instead sent Mother Cabrini to the New World, she willingly embraced Christ’s words: “Just as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”
Jesus Christ was the source of Mother Cabrini’s vocation and motivation. Amidst the many trials and tribulations, hardships and setbacks she encountered along the way, she certainly returned to Him many times in prayer and discernment, recommitting and allowing herself to ensure that His will, and not her own, be done. By glossing over the source and inspiration for her Corporal Works of Mercy, the film does a disservice to its subject and its viewers.
These notable omissions presumably come from the desire to attract a broader audience. They nonetheless distort Mother Cabrini’s lifework, depicting her as a glorified social worker, feminist champion, and trailblazer for the equal rights movement.
A strong feminist undertone pervades the movie; at one point, the mayor of New York City tells Mother Cabrini that it’s a “shame that you’re a woman because you would have made an excellent man,” to which Mother Cabrini responds, “No man can do what we do.”
The film also strongly emphasizes social justice and immigration politics over matters of faith. Cabrini and her Sisters have Italian slurs hurled at them, but do not seem to experience any insult for their Catholicism. They are denied bank loans and housing permits due to their ethnicity and sex, but any reference to the strong anti-Catholic sentiment at the time, in the aftermath of the Know-Nothing riots, was left on the cutting room floor.
One might be excused for thinking the corresponding Beatitude reads, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of being an Italian woman.”
An otherwise good and admirable film thus ultimately comes up short, as it fails to get to the core of Mother Cabrini’s identity. Any worthwhile biography of a saint, in whatever form, helps us to more fully understand Jesus Christ. It teaches us how better to love and to serve Him. As young Frances Cabrini was inspired by Francis Xavier, so too should we be inspired by her story and seek to imitate her holiness and care for others.
A proper portrayal of her story (and of any of the saints), must underscore the difference between being deeply rooted in the person of Jesus Christ and a desire, however well-intentioned, for mere earthly justice.
There is a real hunger for well-produced and well-told movies that capture the heroism of the saints. If Hollywood continues to feed this market and showcase their lives, it would do well not to recast them in our secularized image and likeness, but rather to tell the full story of what inspired them in this life, and made them saints in the next: their love for Jesus Christ.
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I would guess that the film is an historical perspective on her life and not meant to be hagiographical. I would guess, too, that the film fits in nicely with our Church’s emphasis on the socio/political/environmental aspects of the faith – an emphasis that omits any Christological centrality. I will see it tomorrow and judge it for myself.
…let’s not be awaited to historically long for your infallible ‘take’…obviously the film perspective is not historical either, or it would witness the historical person….imagining having done this to Christ Himself…making an ‘a-historical’ non-hagiographical life of Christ, and why not, if we can do this making such an absurd claim with Christ Himself, then certainly we can do this with Christ in Saint Cabrini and Saint Cabrini in Christ…for obviously Christ is and has nothing to do with His Historical self or Saint Cabrini’s…obviously, it’s self-evident… blessings for the Lord’s Wisdom and Humility which set us free!
Translation, please.
I’m going to see it today as an impartial viewer. No matter what religion one follows, this film is opening on International Women’s day for a reason. Paying tribute to women in history who selflessly gave of themselves to the needy in a foreign land.
I concurr with your comments. I saw the fil last evening and came away with a deep sense of pride for my Sicilian Italian family of 8 siblings and our personal, professional,and familial accomplishments despite financial challenging social stigma.
So–I needn’t bother seeing the movie because I’m an Irish Catholic, and there’s nothing in the film for Irishmen?
Did you find it refreshing to see a heroine who was not a Marvel Character?
I just bought my ticket for a matinee today. I felt lucky given how few seats were not already sold. I felt moved to see this wholesome, uplifting show (the first in many months) and Sister Cabrini is of interest to me.
Though it does not surprise me that the movie may leave out some of the most vital parts of what it means to be a Catholic saint and the beauty of her vocation. I count my blessings for at least the attempt to take a step in the right direction. Roses have thorns, but the flower is not found in the thorns.
The title is clear as to the movie’s content: It’s about the woman, Cabrini; not about Saint Frances Cabrini, follower of Jesus Christ and canonized saint.
Thank you Father for this very perceptive review. From the promos for this film, it seemed as if seeing it was virtually a religious duty. But also from those promos I suspected the treatment was very secular. One hint I heard this morning was the rave reviews by Glen Beck, of all people, on the radio.
Father, you are doing what so many clerics don’t. Too many would lower the bar and overlook this big shortcoming of the film (the absence of God) and simply say, “At least, it’s not…”.
We have become far too accustomed to mediocrity. Thank you for raising the bar !!!
Glen Beck is a Mormon, and so are the producers. Why would they care to make Catholicism obvious and attractive?
What a sham.
One of my dearest friends is Mormon. Years ago I visited her church on several occasions for their monthly evenings set aside for women. The church asks the fathers to watch their children so that mothers can enjoy an evening out for fellowship and classes in crafts, homemaking, first aid, etc.
As an openly devout Catholic never did I feel any predudice or unfriendliness from those LDS ladies. And certainly not from my friend. I wish our local parishes made the same effort to provide fellowship and practical skills for wives and mothers.
In my area, there are events for ladies to have a night out at no cost throughout the year to have dinner with inspiring lectures or lectures alone through the generosity of a devout Catholic man. With pastor or diocesan approval, most Parish Churches have ladies book groups and dates to gather at the church with childcare provided nearby on the grounds. There are also ladies spiritual event nights or weekends hosted by Catholic Churches on Saints or other topics. Perhaps you could put forth your experience as a catalyst for change or even be a leader or helper to organize events for ladies in your parish or local parishes! That’s how many things got started in my area … Ladies wanting to get something going for other ladies. Or, they get somebody to come in and do presentations.
And that would be fine … if all that mattered were what made you comfortable. I suspect there are friendly, sociable Voodoo priestesses and Wiccans, for that matter. That doesn’t mean one should trust a Wiccan film on the life of any saint.
By modern standards, such as the one to which you vaguely appeal, I have to wonder about the Egyptian worshipers of Amon. Egypt was FOR THE MOST PART a rather friendly people, a refuge for Abraham and for Jacob, and later for the Holy Family (not that the murder of the male infants was at all a small thing!). After all, Amon appears to have been a transcendent, invisible creator, arguably as similar to God the Father as is Allah. If the ancient Egyptian religion was still practiced (for real, I don’t mean by silly teenagers or English nobility), the Vatican would probably have ecumenical dialogue with its practitioners; hopefully John Paul II would not have kissed the Book of the Dead as he did the Koran. God the Father does not seem to have held a high opinion of Amon, though, as we see for instance in Exodus 12:12. If someone is wrong, be it you and me and most modern Catholics, including Pope St. John Paul II, OR God the Father, obviously it is our modern sensibilities that are wrong.
Agnieszka. To begin, Cabrini producer Eustace Wolfington is a Roman Catholic, a long time friend of Mother Cabrini, and previous contributor to projects in honor of Mother Cabrini, schools, centers for Catholic education.
Mexican director José Alejandro Gómez Monteverde experienced hardship as upper class, whose father and brother were kidnapped and murdered by opportunistic traffickers. The killers also held captive several Central American migrants when apprehended. Perhaps contributing to his zeal to direct Mother Cabrini’s story of mission to the lower suffering class immigrant.
Frances Xavier Cabrini had an imposing presence even though she wasn’t present when growing up in Brooklyn. It came from the Missionary of Sacred Heart Sisters who taught us [intermittently in conjunction with our public school], from the pictures of her on the classroom walls, Cabrini’s dark burning eyes, a quiet, spiritual fire. Mother Cabrini is much beloved by all NYC ethnicities. That legacy the effect of the zealous love of Christ she conveyed to rich and poor, to powerful and weak. Love, the real article, a work of grace is irrepressible.
What Eustace Wolfington said to Raymond Arroyo is that the film captures the depth of love of Cabrini for Christ and his most socially deprived children living in the slums of NYC. Its message is to a godless world and couched in context of accessibility to that mindset.
The Angel Studios is a Mormon company.
Angel studios played no part in production of Cabrini but agreed to distribute the film after major Hollywood studios would not. As Father Morello noted, the film was produced by Eustace Wolfington after repeated urging by the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Mr. Wolfington heeded the words of Cabrini, who said, “Begin the mission and the means will come.” The production of Cabrini was funded by a group of philanthropic Catholics, who read the script and agreed that Cabrini’s story needed to be told. The mission is to introduce Cabrini to the world by having 100,000,000 eyes of all faiths and no faith see the film, be inspired by Cabrini’s life and crave to learn more about her. The donors funded Cabrini through a 501(c)(3) organization. All recovered costs of production and any profits will go to charities chosen by the donors, including the society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Sisters of St. Joseph, Catholic Universities and others.
Despite the title of the review, the film Cabrini is, indeed, Catholic to its core.
Exactly!! I totally agree!!
Making money of mother Cabrini ; without telling her story!!
Glenn Beck committed spiritual suicide when he rejected Catholicism and chose to follow Joseph Smith. The story of his life is a tragic one filled with many self inflicted wounds. Hopefully some day he will come to his senses, accept Almighty God’s grace and return to the Bride of Christ.
Actually Angel studios is owned by the LDS, but the executive producer is a Catholic who has a great devotion to St. Cabrini. The director too, is a Catholic.
I agree, Sal.
The makers of this film could easily have shown the faith life of Mother Cabrini without descending into a sweet piety. For instance, when the young boy Enzo dies from a factory explosion, Mother Cabrini could have prayed then for the repose of his soul. Or when she and her sisters desperately dig for water on the property given them by the bishop, abandoned by the Jesuits who failed to find water, honestly, certainly Mother Cabrini prayed they would find water!! But the movie never shows such instances of prayer. In terms of cinematic art, this is a film of high quality, but yes it would have been perfect if it’s producers were not afraid to show, active faith,prayer and worship as the foundation of the life of the film’s protagonist.
Obv. Fr. Graebbe is another misogynist as is much of the Cath. church hierarchy and organization that wants to live in the Middle ages, keep women down. Some Cardinals don’t even like the Pope trying to modernize. So I’m switching to mainline Prots. (no not born again evangl) as did a family member. Worry about the mess you swept under the rug, Cath. hierarchy.
J Parsek: I find it hard to believe that you were once a Catholic as you say you were. But, only you and God know the truth of it.
? you would give another victory to Christ’s adversary, the devil? To leave His Catholic or New Israel Church and Covenant is leaving Salvation and it’s Savior, Christ, which is eternal death – these are not my but Christ’s Words, viz., even after millenia of wickedness and abominations, Christ said to the samaritan woman, “Salvation is from the Jews”, alone….if you or anyone walks away from His Spousal Catholic Salvation because of evils, Christ will still witness to you and all, “Salvation is from the Catholics [NewIsrael]”.
One could not leave the Jewish Covenant and Faith to become a samaritan and be saved or not leave salvation
One could not leave the Catholic Covenant and Faith (of Pentecost) to become a new Samaritan and be saved or not leave salvation.
samaritans – those holding onto some to of their Jewish faith but wedding it to other another ‘faith’];
new samaritans – those holding onto to some of their Catholic Christian faith but wedding it to another ‘faith’ {founded not by the Holy Christ, but some man or woman, a sinner}
Any Christian faith other than Catholic is [being] new samaritan, holding onto some of the New Jewish/Israel (Catholic) Faith but leaving it to wed it to another which denies the original faith they had; this is leaving the Salvation and His Christ, the Savior. Don’t fall for satan’s fruit of disobedience like adam and eve and the samaritans, remain with Christ and His Catholic Spouse for this is where He and His Salvation is found, alone.
Do not fall for becoming a ‘new samaritan’, if you eat of this fruit you surely shall die, even though satan say ‘you surely shall not die’! Christ or satan, to whom do we belong? With ‘whom are we against, with whom do we scatter’???
God the Holy Spirit within, to and from His Spousal Catholic Church Teaches infallibly, “extra ecclesiam nulla salus,” or, “outside the Church there is no salvation.” [CCC 846-48].
How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from Christ the Head through the Church which is his Body:
“Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, the Council teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it” (CCC here quotes The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, “Lumen Gentium,” 14, from the documents of Vatican II). This is true always with God: first, to the Samaritan Jesus testifies, “Salvation is from the Jews” by the Covenant Circumcision; secondly, fulling this mystery (Matt 5:17), Jesus says to the New Samaritans, “Salvation is from the New Jews/Israel, the Catholics” (from Pentecost)
To knowingly leave His Catholic or New Israel Church and Covenant is knowingly leaving Salvation and it’s Savior, Christ, which is eternal death – these are Christ’s Words, viz., even after millenia of wickedness and abominations, Christ said to the samaritan woman, “Salvation is from the Jews” {Jn 4:22}….if one walks away from His Spousal Catholic Salvation because of evils, Christ will still witness, “Salvation is from the Catholics [NewIsrael]”.
The Samaritans are a sign of those holding onto some of their Jewish faith but wedding it to other another ‘faith’;
New Samaritans are a sign of those holding onto to some of their Catholic Christian faith but knowingly wedding it to another ‘faith’. This is why there is no salvation outside of Christ the Head in and through His Spousal-Church Body, which is the whole Catholic Church, Head and Body as being in the very Unity of the Holy Trinity.
Get a grip of yourself and wise up!
J Parsek: If you possess any sense of what it means to be honorable, you should be able to specify what specific instance to which the Catholic Deposit of Faith has ever given witness that is in any way demeaning rather than laudatory and respectful to women, which venerates their roles of service to God’s purposes. When you can’t, retract your insults.
Do you know Fr. Graebbe, and that he’s a misogynist? Tell us more because his review didn’t leave me, a woman, with that impression. The Church is NOT misogynist! The secular world is getting so, with the word ‘woman’ beginning to mean ‘men who think they’re women’ etc, and with making it virtually impossible for women to stay at home with their children if that’s what they want to do. The modern world would rather see women out working and strangers taking care of children. The Church speaks for women when it honors motherhood. Nowadays, motherhood is being erased. So you’re leaving a church that you think is ‘misogynist’ and you’re making a big mistake because you’re listening to the wrong people!
Sorry to hear that you have experienced the church hierarchy in a sinful light. Id be open to hearing more on the issues you witness so that we as a Church can help remove any errors. To offer my own view on when the Church errs, I think the movie of Cabrini captures well the image I hold: even if members within the hierarchy are sweeping things under the rug or sinning, the call is to reform the Church and renew it from the inside.
Your thoughts?
While I don’t know Father Graebbe, I would describe him from his article as a priest who follows the clear teaching of the Catholic Church. Just look at the world and you can see what has happened when society embraced the modern idea that somehow to be a woman means she must ‘be a man’. Each of us has a vocation given to us by God so we can fully become who He intends us to be. On another note, I came to the Catholic Church a couple of years ago from a mainline Protestant denomination. Minister’s wife….I can assure you that Protestants have ‘swept’ just as much under the rug as Catholics (which is horrible) only Protestants don’t have a way to track all of the sexual sins that it’s clergy and deacons commit and seldom make the headlines that the Catholic Church does in this regard simply because the denominations are smaller than the Catholic Church.
Why such hatred for the Church Jesus Christ found? Not all clergy are evil. Catholic always.
In my parish, most of the adjunct ministry offices, eucharistic minister, lector, server, CCD teacher, altar server, are filled by women. How exactly is that keeping women down? If you are referencing a lack of women deacons and priests, thats life, honey. As a women myself I have never felt oppressed or shut out. Priests serve in the place of christ, and Jesus himself chose only MEN for that role. Get over it. I would never give up Jesus in the Eucharist to join a protestant church if you paid me.
Oh I doubt my comment would get printed. It doesn’t brown nose.
Well said. Can an atheist culture emerging out of individualism and heresy deal with depth spirituality? Even in the Church and ostensibly Christian denominations? Increasingly it appears not. Luke 8:18 comes to mind “…when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
From Word on Fire yesterday: It’s not just a movie for Catholics: the film celebrates the works flowing out of Cabrini’s faith, works reflective of the principles of Catholic social teaching. But it’s also not a reduction of Catholicism to social justice: the sisters pray before a meal, minister under the Sacred Heart image on their wall, and remind themselves that they’ll rest in heaven; Cabrini, at a low point, takes refuge in a chapel, and the language of Scripture—even the threat of God’s wrath—springs readily to her lips multiple times.
Agree completely. I think many overlook that our worldly actions are a response to the Holy Spirit and a heart centered by faith. That is what we see in Cabrini. I doubt the many non-religious would understand nor be enticed by a movie dominated by scenes of prayer– an internal pursuit — or Catholic ritual. Yet, the non-religious perhaps need this film most.
J Parsek,
Don’t go! Historically, the Protestant churches have made women second class citizens. They are not the answer. There seems to be a backlash, Trad movement in some Catholic circles that also places women beneath men. And it is disturbing. But the Church is big. Find a new Catholic circle.
I too, found it odd that this article condemns the “feminist” slant of the movie. The fact the Cabrini was a woman of 19th century America who fought and won so much for her people, makes her a feminist. It is not a derogatory term. It means she used her God-given strengths to rise above the very severe restrictions placed on women to do the right thing.
(I hope it is good and not a typical cheesy faith movie.)
You’re kidding right? First there is a good feminism and a bad feminism. The good feminist and feminism is “of God” and speaks and glorifies God and is horrified that anyone would speak of their own human works instead of and part from God, making them about the person and not God – all can be assured Saint Mother Cabrini is not for this idolatry presentation of her [bad feminism], she is only “for in all things glory to Christ, for He has done His might works in me [good or Godly feminism, imitating Blessed Mother Mary].
At one point Mother Cabrini tells her sisters, (paraphrasing) “We do all things in Him who strengthens our weakness”…or something like.
Stop writing about a movie you have not even seen.
I don’t think it is possible to use the word “feminism” today without bringing in all the problematic connotations. It’s kind of like the swastika that way. There is no moral component to the geometric shape, of course; it was used as a decoration meaning basically nothing for ages by cultures around the world. Maybe one day it will again be possible to use the swastika as a mere decoration without the baggage of Hitlerism, but none of us will live to see that day; it is ruined for centuries to come.
So we need a new term for the proper Christian celebration of womanhood.
The life of Saint Cabrini has nothing to do with feminism, et al, but only of living in the Father’s Will in the Power of the Holy Spirit as the Christ she and all put on on Holy Baptism, doing battle not against man or women, politicians or clergy, not flesh and blood but the dark spirits and devils.
Her accomplishment was to “live no longer her, but Christ living and being all in all in her by the Holy Spirit living, moving and having His Being in Christ in her”…blessings
I agree with Maria as she said the movie was a source of information. We took it more as a beautiful history movie. Because my husband and I take our Catholic faith seriously, we just read between the lines that she prayed often and God was with her every step of the way! You all have to agree at least that we need more movies like this in our society. We too went home after the movie and looked up Saint Frances Cabrini up to learn more about her. My confirmation name is Frances, named after this beautiful saint. God Bless you all!
At first I wanted to see it, but just from the trailer, it is obviously a feminist propaganda piece. Every line uttered is downright tacky. Who goes around with a fake accent announcing “I am woman!”? Why not finish the cliche? “Hear me roar!”? It’s all about the female superiority of the filmmakers, not the humilty of St. Cabrini. Apparently, it’s not about her dedication to Our Savior Jesus Christ either.
Please see Cabrini. It is beautiful. It is important. It is Catholic. It is beautifully Catholic Please do not turn away for all the wrong reasons. Go see it for the right reasons.
Like so many biopics, this one focuses only on a portion of the subject’s life: Cabrini’s efforts in NYC. Aside from a few confusing flashbacks, her childhood is blurred & we miss her actual discernment…key to understanding any saint’s call to vocation.
The movie’s antagonists are about 60% Catholic hierarchy, 20% currupt politicians/police & 10% rich. The story is zero percent sacramental: no baptisms, no reconciliation, no funeral rites/annointing of the sick (of which there were many opportunities) & no eucharist…all of which would’ve lent more substance to an otherwise beautiful film.
Spot on!!!!
Yes, most unfortunate.
I just got back from seeing the movie in a packed house. At the end of the show most everyone clapped for what they had seen. This does have a strong flavor of lauding women and what they can accomplish – I intensely dislike identity politics, which makes me hypersensitive to all hints of such – that is my mea culpa.
The movie has a wonderful focus on Mother Cabrini, her towering faith, and her perseverance to seek to overcome all her trials. This is a saint that is for everyone.
Given many of the comments above, I suggest that this movie will serve an evangelistic purpose for all those that are seeking the truth and are sensitive to the Spirit. Its purpose is not to be catechize the converted, but to inform those about a servant of God that is worthy of knowing about and invites them to learn more.
Michael Barnes: I echo your words! The movie CABRINI succssfully informed the viewers what one Catholic nun has done to affect society. I greatly appreciated that it was not a “preachy” movie but a solid source of information of what a Catholic nun with a burning & passionate Catholic faith can achieve inspite having no monetary nor political power. My husband wanted to find a bio of St Cabrini to learn more about her after watching this beautifully art directed movie!
Good film – especially for any unfamiliar with her life. She’s depicted as a woman of faith, a woman of courage, a woman who, believing that God has called her to a particular mission, is steadfast in her response to that calling. In a church where faith is often tepid at best, she gives an example of perseverance in the face of all odds. To those who see the film and are critical of it, I’d only suggest that you put yourself in her place and ask yourself what would your response be to the challenges she faced. The movie concludes with a summary of the global missions the order she founded had established. At the same time recall the scripture, “By their fruits you will know them.”
The only torture we viewers were subjected to was having to endure 30 minutes of inane previews which only cemented in my mind the reason why my wife and I seldom go to the movies.
“A strong feminist undertone pervades the movie; at one point, the mayor of New York City tells Mother Cabrini that it’s a “shame that you’re a woman because you would have made an excellent man,” to which Mother Cabrini responds, “No man can do what we do.” ”
Perhaps Mother Cabrini’s response was a clear reference to Jesus Christ ….. as in ….. “No man….” meaning only Christ ” can do what we do.” I do believe that is the meaning of that line.
“The film also strongly emphasizes social justice and immigration politics over matters of faith. Cabrini and her Sisters have Italian slurs hurled at them, but do not seem to experience any insult for their Catholicism. They are denied bank loans and housing permits due to their ethnicity and sex, but any reference to the strong anti-Catholic sentiment at the time, in the aftermath of the Know-Nothing riots, was left on the cutting room floor.”
Perhaps we are to understand that true followers of Jesus Christ give praise and thanksgiving to God that those giving them an unjust time, ask God our Father through His Son Jesus by the Holy Spirit, to give to the insulters the grace of complete conversion to Christ.
God bless, C-Marie
“a sex worker”
You mean a prostitute?
“sex worker” is a neologism use by those who want to validate the world’s oldest profession.
Fr. Henry Graebe’s review was a perspective that needed to be said. Great saint films of the past like “Becket”, and “A Man For All Seasons” capture the essence of what Father is trying to describe. That said, I would still say the film moved the needle and the right direction. In the age of Internet and YouTube people, inspired by the story, can easily dig deeper into Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini after watching the film. People can watch the film and the Holy Spirit will take over from there.
Why in the world would the author of this piece refer to a prostitute as a “sex worker”. As you must know, the term “sex worker” was coined by the left who insists that prostitution is simply another form of work. “Mommy goes to work as a “sex worker” and this is how their family chooses to make their living. It’s totally normal and natural, and the same as any other work”.
How far have we fallen when we simply adopt the evil terms that secularists and anti Christians adopt to pervert our culture?
I loved it.It is not a Catholic film and should not be judged by the Church. See for a decent movie and enjoy it
“It is not a Catholic film…”
Review headline: “… ‘Cabrini’ lacks a Catholic core”
So…you agree with the review?
“… should not be judged by the Church.”
Okay. Fine. But this is Catholic World Report, which is operated by Catholics but is not The Catholic Church.
Are you saying Catholics cannot have an opinion about a movie made by Catholics about a Catholic? Asking for a friend.
The movie was not made by Catholics.
Hmmm. Well, the executive producer is J. Eustace Wolfington, who is a lifelong Catholic. and directed by Alejandro Gomez Monteverde, who is Catholic. Wolfington turned to Angel Studios, “a company with Mormon roots”, to get the movie made. So, are you saying Wolfington and Monteverde are not Catholic? Or just referring to Angel Studios?
I enjoyed the film. Not too many good movies out there. It’s not a Catholic film and should not be judged so harshly by the Church unless it was immoraL Alot of films about Catholic saints portray them as so very spiritual that ordinary people think them so above ordinary souls. Here is a story about a saint which shows her human side and how heroic her life was.
Victoria was not shown repenting up her sins because she had no extraordinary sins of which to repent. She was a victim. According to the movie she was pulled into prostitution as a child and was kept in it thereafter as a slave. I think the movie deliberately avoided the question of repentance in Victoria to make this point. The movie, obviously, draws many parallels between that period and our own. And it is the sad truth that we are just now coming to terms with this truth. Female prostitutes have long been arrested and prosecuted while their customers are let go with a wave and a wink. We are just now realizing how many women, or more correctly, girls, are pulled into sex work against their will and are held there against their will. And when they are somehow able to leave what they need is not repentance, but psychotherapy, education and acceptance
I am a lifelong, dues-paying, church-going Catholic. I have seen Cabrini. I am deeply saddened by this review. This review does a disservice to a beautiful and important film that should be seen by as many people as possible.
A nun in a habit occupies almost every frame of this film. There are scenes at St Peter’s and inside the Vatican. A star of Italian cinema portrays the pope. There is no graphic sex or violence.
The reviewer bemoans a prostitute not “repenting” of her “sins.” Did the reviewer not notice that the film makes clear that this woman was herself sinned against? She was trafficked by a pimp when she was twelve years old. The pimp kept her in check with violence. She left prostitution as soon as Cabrini, a nun, offered her a way out.
I hope the reviewer gives some more thought to his attitudes. I hope as many people as possible see this film which absolutely glorifies Christ and may bring people into salvation.
EWTN has an earlier film called Mother Cabrini on its website, and it appears everything this movie is not. It is full of her zeal for the Sacred Heart of Jesus. You cannot see both of these and wonder if there were not ulterior motives in suppressing every mention of her true religious heart. Go compare the two. I applaud this clear-eyed review.
As a Catholic, I would agree it is not filled with the mystical connections and focus on prayer she must have had to complete this mission. I also feel that it is also time to focus on the humanness of Mother Cabrini. We tend to elevate saints to God like worship, forgetting they are just human beings doing amazing works but the work is hard and filled with blocks at every corner. ALL people are just a thought or an action away from doing great things. This picture was for all people, all denominations, to witness the greatness we are all called to be.The fact it was highlighted on National Woman’s Day was purposefully done to show the strength this women must have had, to show her fortitude in finishing her journey, no matter how difficult. It was a beautiful well done picture, one I could watch many times over and feel strengthen by.
I went to see the movie today, left after a half hour. Historically inaccurate, exaggerated with a modern liberal-feminist bias. The interactions between Mother Cabrini and the church hierarchy in Rome were not believable at all. It is hardly conceivable that the pope and cardinals and the archbishop of New York would act in such a condescending fashion toward a nun. A child running hysterically into a hospital and obviously in distress because his mother is dying outside would not be totally ignored by the staff. A nun would never say to her sisters “we need to believe in ourselves,” as opposed to “we need to trust in Almighty God.” Nothing in the movie rang true for the (admittedly limited) time that I remained with it. A saint is not served by whitewashing the particularities of faith that inspired her. Thanks to Fr. Graebe for the even-handed and perceptive review.
I’m sorry that you left after one half hour. You missed so much and apparently left with misimpressions. For example, “The interactions between Mother Cabrini and the church hierarchy in Rome were not believable at all. It is hardly conceivable that the pope and cardinals and the archbishop of New York would act in such a condescending fashion toward a nun.” Perhaps because you left early you missed Archbishop Corrigan explaining the reason for his letter denying Cabrini’s mission when he said,
“It’s not safe — not for you, not for your wards. Now I’m terribly sorry
you sailed across the Atlantic to hear it, but that is my letter in brief.” Having left early, you also missed Archbishop Corrigan’s assistance to Mother Cabrini’s mission and the scene in which the archbishop stated, “Please don’t think I don’t understand. Or that I don’t on some level admire what you’re doing. But please know, Mother, that you have swatted the hornet’s nest. And neither I nor the Pope can protect you from what may come.” Concern is not condescension.
As for Pope Leo XIII, he invited Cabrini to tea and, after testing her will, said, “Then I will approve your mission. But only if you begin in the West, not the East.” Courtesy and confidence are not condescension.
That leaves Cardinal Silvio, whom perhaps you judge too harshly. He was doing his job as gatekeeper to the Pope and probably he was not used to anyone not taking his “no” for an answer. The cardinal showed patience until his patience ran out. That is human and frustration is not condescension.
Your observation, “A child running hysterically into a hospital and obviously in distress because his mother is dying outside would not be totally ignored by the staff” is perhaps truer of the 21st century than the 19th. There need not even be malice inferred for the tragic scene to be true, given that the boy spoke no English and the nurse spoke no Italian. While you might consider the scene of the boy pleading for his dying mother an exaggeration, if you had stayed for the epilogue, you would have learned that Mother Cabrini founded Columbus Hospital in New York City to serve the under-served poor of all ethnicities to whom the existing hospitals did not cater.
Finally, regarding your criticism, “A nun would never say to her sisters ‘we need to believe in ourselves,’ as opposed to ‘we need to trust in Almighty God’,” you must not have heard Cabrini say to her sisters, “That’s why you must learn to face your fears, to not just carry on but to lead. And to demonstrate that we can do all things, all things in Him who strengthens us.”?
As you are a stickler for historical accuracy, it is surprising that you made no mention of the chronological error in what you refer to as “the even-handed and perceptive review.” Having not seen the film, your opinion of both the film and the review is uninformed. I urge you to see the whole film. Pay close attention to the dialogue, sets, props and imagery and you might even find the two “missing” elements of sainthood, namely holiness and prayerfulness.
Thank you for your comments. I hope to watch the entire movie at some later time when it becomes available via streaming and I have more time to devote to it. I would like to be proven wrong about my initial impressions.
When we are overly critical of the “lack of Catholicism” in a movie such as Cabrini, we are helping to ensure that fewer mainstream movies about Catholics will be made. Cabrini, as noted, was a quality portrayal of Frances Cabrini that did not hide prayer or her vocation, but rather it did not emphasize them. In an already two and half hour movie intended for a wider audience, this is fine. Her life was a personification of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and serves as an example and an enticement for others to learn about our faith. As for the “feminism” issue, I know why people see this. However, I actually think the movie coopts the conventional sense of the word and really addresses the truth that men and women are different. It well may be that women are often better suited to address the needs of small children and the suffering. Is it any accident that Mother Theresa was also female? Regardless, it is minor issue in a great film that we should be promoting not grudgingly accepting.
You make a good point; however, I still think we need to hold historical movies to high standards of aesthetics and accuracy. The movie may well have some sociocultural value in our time, but we need to assess the movie as a movie. Any movie about a historical figure is going to set itself up for legitimate assessment of its fidelity to the person and the times. CABRINI is a movie about a Catholic, that much is certain. It shows her doing good works, and thus shows a Catholic and the Catholic faith in a positive light. However, a movie needs to have the right ethos, needs to “think” about the subject in a way that reflects the truth. It is legitimate for thoughtful Catholics to assess the movie on this basis. Why are we obliged to promote any film? It is finally only a work of popular culture; it has no canonical religious standing. Fr. Graebe’s assessment is that CABRINI is “a beautiful film but lacks a Catholic core.” To me that seems an entirely fair and just assessment. The movie has a Catholic surface (it depicts Catholic figures and activities) but not an authentically Catholic core.
I have read the comments here and have not yet seen the movie. I would suggest though, that producers of movies like this usually make a basic calculation about whether over-mention of God will help or hinder box office sales. It is sad, but true. most often they chose the expunge God. In my opinion, those who make movies about explicitly religious subjects have an obligation to inject SOME references to God, otherwise they risk having the film viewed as inauthentic, just as the readers of Catholic World Review are doing here. Similarly, people should not expect to find an overload of references to God in such films, unless produced by a Catholic agency, because such would not sell that well in the secular market. It is telling that decades ago, films with religious points of view COULD be released to the general public, and do exceedingly well. Films that I recall that found an excellent balance include Ben Hur, The Robe, David and Bathsheba, and Becket. Society has changed and not for the better. Catholics can help by patronizing such better quality films that can be found so it is known there is a market. Recently, the film “I can Only Imagine” ( general christian perspective), based on a true story of a Christian band singer, did much better than expected in the wider secular market.Similarly, the noted TV series The Chosen began as a crowd funded project as the producer didnt want to ceded his control of how to present Jesus on film. The series has been highly successful.
The movie is wonderful. It shows humanity at its best and at its worst. Mother Cabrini is obviously a woman of God and I’d say has a better understanding and commitment to His Word than today’s Pope and the Catholic Church in general. Go see it. Enjoy it. Share it. It’s beautiful. Just like God is beautiful.
Do people actually “strive for sainthood,” or do they simply pray and follow the direction God points them and stay faithful and strong through Him? Too often people desire recognition and want praise. Mother Cabrini did neither. Maybe that’s the problem with the modern Church. Go back and read Deuteronomy. Over and over again. Listen to what God says. That’s much more important than what the Pope, or Bishop, or Priest has to say these days.
If you’re not striving to be a saint you’re not a Christian. Jesus told us to “Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.” Striving to be a saint does not mean striving for recognition, exactly the opposite. The first thing you’ll notice about saints is their humility. As they grow closer to God, they feel more keenly their unworthiness. In this movie, according to several reviews I’ve read, the Cabrini depicted here does not come across as humble. A “saint” without humility, is not a saint. Pride is what changed angels into demons.
I saw Cabrini tonight. Look at what co-writer Rod Barr says in this interview https://www.jubileecast.com/articles/30662/20240213/film-writer-rod-barr-talks-about-cabrini-a-woman-of-determination.htm
Highlights: Barr thought a movie about “the first American saint” would “necessarily be a pious and likely boring movie,” and he “promptly turned [the invitation to co-write] down.” However, upon researching he found out that she “went on to create the largest humanitarian empire the world had ever seen.” It was “the greatest underdog story I’d ever heard.” He wanted “to write a movie about a nun for a … mass global audience of believers and non-believers alike”; to write “simply a great movie about an amazing woman.” So, that’s why there is no praying, no talking about Jesus or the Blessed Virgin Mary, no faith, no sacraments, nothing really Catholic in the movie.
The interviewer, Timothy Yap, states that, “Through her willpower, courage, compassion, and business skill, she overcame sexism and violent anti-Italian bigotry while fighting against an establishment seeking to hold her back.” Apparently he sees nothing Catholic in the movie, so it’s not just a few Catholics that see nothing Catholic in it.
The following Q&A are directly taken from that article.
Q: Why did you decide to write a script on Francesca Cabrini?
I was approached by Executive Producer Eustace Wolfington to write a script about “the first American saint” — and I promptly turned it down, thinking it would necessarily be a pious and likely boring movie. Then I read about Cabrini’s life and — to my amazement — discovered the greatest underdog story I’d ever heard, a story about a powerful, disruptive, determined woman who came to America without a penny, overcame incredible obstacles and went on to create the largest humanitarian empire the world had ever seen.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in writing the script?
The biggest challenge was to write a movie about a nun for a general audience. Of course we want Catholics and Christians to love the movie, but we also wanted to create something that reached beyond to a mass global audience of believers and non-believers alike… a movie that would be considered simply a great movie about an amazing woman.
I’ve just seen Cabrini and have to agree with Fr. Graebe’s review. Not that I’d be at all interested in an overly pious, preachy movie. The film is admirably produced and acted. However, St. Francesca Cabrini is portrayed as primarily a social worker and feminist. Granted, these are probably the two categories that are easily available in our desacralized culture, but the movie could have pushed a little harder to expand the borders of its viewers’ understanding.
I agree with this wholeheartedly. The movie was beautiful, but I felt disappointed every time there was an opportunity to show Cabrini turn to God and display her prayerfulness and faith as i wanted to feel motivated and inspired, and I wanted others to see and feel it too, but it never happened and I was just so bothered by it. I had to look it up and see if anyone was feeling in the same way, and looks like I’m not the only one. The movie definitely missed Mark on sharing what belief in Jesus Christ can do for you and how it can strengthen you to do what is seemingly is impossible. Other than that, I did enjoy the movie. Cabrini was a wonderful woman.