Cabrini – A Story of Unstoppable Courage and Purpose
I had been meaning to watch Cabrini for a while, and I’m so glad I finally did. I absolutely loved it. The movie transported me back in time to a New York City that was still rough around the edges—growing, struggling, and very much a work in progress.
What struck me the most was witnessing the raw, difficult lives of so many immigrants who built this country. It's not something we think about every day, but their strength and resilience—that’s the fabric of America.
And then there’s her… Francesca Cabrini. A woman told she had five years to live as a teenager, then two years to live again when she arrived in New York. And yet she kept going—with unbelievable strength, faith, and determination—until the age of 67. In an era where women were constantly told to stay small, she moved mountains.
She fought to meet the Pope—and she got that meeting. She persuaded him to support her vision- albeit in a different country. She stood up to politicians, to the Church’s bureaucracy, and to a system that saw women as inferior. Her reply to the NYC Mayor still gives me chills: “It’s a shame you’re a woman, you would’ve made an excellent man.” “Oh no, Mr. Mayor. Men could never do what we do.”
Her grit was unbelievable, but what touched me just as much was her love. She was fierce, but also full of compassion for her children, the sick, the poor, the forgotten. Her dream became her mission, and from that came the largest charity organization in the world.
Watching this movie felt like holding a mirror to so many things—how much we've changed, but also how much we need to remember. Today, when we often need to give “trigger warnings,” I wonder how much of our grit and resilience we’ve given away. Cabrini reminds us what it looks like to stand firm in our dreams, even when the world says “no.”
Her story will stay with me. I’ll carry her strength with me in this project of conscious living, and I hope many more people—especially women—watch this movie and let her courage inspire their own journey.
About the Film
Cabrini (2024) is a biographical drama about Francesca Cabrini, the first U.S. citizen to be canonized as a saint. Set in the late 19th and early 20th century, the film follows her journey as an Italian immigrant nun arriving in New York City, where she faces fierce opposition from the Catholic Church, government officials, and societal prejudice.
Despite impossible odds—poor health, sexism, xenophobia—Cabrini builds hospitals, orphanages, and schools, and creates a support system for countless immigrants in need.
Themes in Cabrini
Unshakable Purpose – Following your calling, no matter the resistance
Faith and Social Justice – Love in action through care for the forgotten
Feminine Strength – A bold, powerful woman in a world run by men
Immigration and Identity – The struggle of building a life in a new land
Power and Resistance – The challenges of dealing with political and religious systems
Questions for Reflection & Movie Club Discussion
What moved you most about Francesca Cabrini’s story?
How did the film portray the immigrant experience in 19th-century New York?
In what ways did Cabrini defy gender roles of her time?
How do you think faith shaped Cabrini’s strength and resilience?
What did you think of her interaction with the Pope and what it revealed about trust and vision?
How does this story inspire you in your own life or mission?
Do you see parallels between the resistance she faced and the challenges women face today?
How did the film portray the balance between compassion and courage?
What thoughts did the movie spark about the systems—political, religious, societal—that resist change?
What lessons from Cabrini’s life can we carry into the world today?
Cabrini is a must-watch. Her story is a light, a reminder of what’s possible when we live boldly, love fiercely, and stay rooted in purpose.
Have you watched it?
What did it stir in you?
Let’s reflect and share together.
Where to watch: Link