Journeying With The Saints

Hello, Catholic Pilgrims. Who's ready to sail back across the ocean with Mother Cabrini? My gosh, it's only been a little less than four months and Mother Cabrini is headed back across.

It's now August of 1890. She just got to NY at the end of April 1890, so very little time has passed. This voyage is from New York to Havre, France. I went to look up Havre and it is a major port city, which makes sense seeing as Mother is boarding a ship. It sits right on the English Channel across from England and is almost directly below London on a map.

You may be saying to yourself, "But we just got to New York! I need a rest!" But, there is very little rest in a missionary's life and, so, we must go with Mother Cabrini and her Sisters back across the ocean.

Let's open to page 35 and begin.

Hello, Catholic Pilgrims, we made it to the end of this second voyage to NY. There have been some delays, icebergs have threatened, the engine broke, and many of the Sisters struggled through seasickness, but they made it and soon they will make landfall.

After today's reading, I will give a short reflection about this second voyage to NY.

Let's open to page 33.

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Hello, Catholic Pilgrims. Welcome to the Feast Day of the Patronage of St. Joseph in 1890. Mother Cabrini really laments not having a priest on board. If you are a priest listening, just know how much we need you.

The rest of Mother's letter today could be written about our times today. She pulls no punches. We often think that our faith life and the way we talk about Jesus must be super sugary and nicey-nice, but, no. People need to hear that their actions and behaviors aren't gaining them anything other than a soul dead in sin.

Just as a FYI, Mother uses the word Belial and its a Hebrew word that means wicked or is used as a synonym for Satan. I just wanted you to have that context.

Let's hear Mother's admonishment of those who have "forgotten their Catholic Religion." Please open your book to page 32.

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Welcome, Catholic Pilgrims. Fog has set in and Mother thinks she has a rare skin disease on her face. Thankfully, on both accounts, things aren't as bad as they could be.

Mother has a few different conversations today, one with a Protestant and one with a Milanese man, who sounds like he has either lost his faith or never had it to begin with.

What is striking in today's reading is that Mother Cabrini is tempted with a seemingly harmless invitation to some entertainment on board and she declines. Religious don't go to such things and that's that. When you are utterly focused on Christ, most temptations can be awfully easy to swat away.

Let's hear about her eventful day by turning to page 30.

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Hello, Catholic Pilgrims. Welcome back. We are still out on the Atlantic Ocean with Mother Cabrini and her daughters. Even though ice bergs are floating around, it's hot.

Today, we get a good glimpse into the life of prayer Mother has and, also, her constant focus on Christ.

Let's join her on the sea as we turn to page 29.

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*Ave Maris Stella sung by the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles

Welcome, Catholic Pilgrims. Today, as I mentioned at the end of the last episode, icebergs are all around in the water. This is some 22 years before the Titanic sinks because of hitting an iceberg. What's crazy is that Mother Cabrini is sailing in April of 1890 and the Titanic sunk in April of 1912. Watch out for icebergs in the North Atlantic in April.

These icebergs are slowing down their progress and Mother Cabrini is anxious to get to port. Why? She's desperate to receive the Eucharist. Let's hear her tell us as we turn to page 28.

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Land Ho, Catholic Pilgrims. Mother Cabrini spots Newfoundland which is on the far east side of Canada. Most of the daughters are down for the count given the roughness of the ocean. These poor ladies, they have had a rough go of it. Mother Cabrini takes this time to give a beautiful reflection on the ocean's image of God's grace.

Let's open to page 27 and see how things are out on the ocean.

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Welcome, Catholic Pilgrims.

Dear Mother Cabrini is worn out and tired today in her writings. As we read along, you will see exactly why. She and her daughters have quite a night.

Please turn to page 26.

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Hello, Catholic Pilgrims. Well, it was bound to happen as Mother and her daughters are at sea—a storm hits and it's rough waters. Everyone is sick.

Notice as we read how Mother Cabrini strives to maintain a positive attitude.

Let's open to page 24.

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Hello, Catholic Pilgrims. Welcome back to another day at sea with Mother Cabrini. Today, she is going to give us just daily insights to what it was like traveling across the ocean.

Then, she's going to move into spiritual talk with regards to God, creation, and the ocean of God's love. So, open to page 22 and let's begin.

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