You've Seen the Movie, Now Visit the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Colorado
Did you know that Mother Cabrini is not only the star of the new movie but also the inspiration behind the serene Mother Cabrini Shrine in Golden, Colorado?
Frances Cabrini, the youngest of thirteen siblings, entered the world on July 15, 1850, in the quaint village of Sant'Angelo Lodigiano, nestled near Milan, Italy. From a young age, she was captivated by missionary tales and aspired to dedicate her life to religious service. Despite her zeal, her delicate health barred her from joining the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, her mentors who had also guided her to a teaching certification.
Undeterred, Cabrini embarked on a remarkable journey in 1880, founding the Institute of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus alongside seven devoted women. Cabrini was as ingenious as she was devout, securing the essential resources—funds, labor, and support—to further her mission. Initially dreaming of missionary work in China, her path took an unexpected turn following a meeting with Pope Leo XIII, who directed her to aid Italian immigrants in the United States, thus redirecting her from East to West.
Arriving in New York in 1889, Cabrini encountered a world rife with hardship and poverty. With steadfast determination, she and her sisters initiated educational and catechetical programs for Italian immigrants, addressing the pressing needs of countless orphans. Against formidable challenges, she established orphanages and schools, her compassionate efforts quickly expanding beyond New York.
Cabrini's mission saw her traversing oceans, with 23 transatlantic voyages, and laying the foundations for 67 institutions worldwide, including hospitals and schools. Her tireless service continued unabated until her passing on December 22, 1917, in Chicago. Acknowledging her extraordinary contributions and sanctity, Pope Pius XII canonized her in 1946, and she was declared the Patroness of Immigrants in 1950.
Today, Frances Cabrini's legacy lives on through the Missionary Sisters and their associates, who continue to serve as educators, nurses, social workers, and administrators across six continents and 15 countries, embodying her spirit wherever there's a need.
And yes - her spirit also lives on through her Shrine.
In 1902, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini discovered a property on Lookout Mountain that would later become a significant part of her legacy. By 1910, she had acquired this land, featuring two barns and a springhouse but lacking a dependable water source, to establish a summer camp for the Queen of Heaven Orphanage. The Sisters of the Sacred Heart operated a small farm on the site, where orphanage girls spent summers engaging in outdoor activities and farm work. Initially, water was transported from a nearby stream until Cabrini found a spring on the premises in 1912.
The site evolved with constructing a Lourdes grotto replica over the spring of 1929, later replaced by a sandstone grotto in 1959. The Stone House, built between 1912 and 1914, served as a dormitory. Following Cabrini's beatification in 1938, the area became a pilgrimage destination, officially becoming a shrine in 1946, the year of her canonization. In 1954, a monumental statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was erected, accompanied by a stairway with the Stations of the Cross for pilgrims to ascend, mirroring Cabrini's own mountain treks.
The summer camp ceased operations in 1967, transforming the Stone House into a temporary convent until a new building was completed in 1970. Presently, the convent includes a chapel with artifacts from the Villa Cabrini Academy in Burbank, California, meeting rooms, a gift shop, accommodations for resident Sisters, and lodging for guests, continuing Cabrini's mission of service and hospitality.
via Chris Light/Wikimedia Commons
When you visit today, you will understand what drew Mother to the area, which can be best enjoyed by climbing to the top of the 373-step Stairway of Prayer.
It may sound daunting, but the trek—which follows the same path that Mother Cabrini and the children once took—is worth it, as it ends with a twenty-two-foot statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
via Chris Light/Wikimedia Commons
During your ascent, you will also find a Stations of the Cross complete with Italian-made stone mosaics.
via Jeffrey Beall/Wikimedia Commons
During her final visit to the foothills in 1912, Mother Cabrini, along with builder Thomas Eckrom, outlined plans for the Stone House, destined to become a dormitory for orphan girls. Emphasizing the use of native rock in its construction, Cabrini initiated a unique method to mark the building site by instructing her companions to locate her dropped cane and mark the spot with stones, pinpointing the location on a level area with views of Denver. The construction, fueled by daily efforts involving a donkey-drawn cart filled with quarry stones, began in the fall of 1912 and concluded in 1914, serving as a summer retreat for the Queen of Heaven Orphanage's girls.
As time passed, the Stone House's purpose evolved; following the orphanage's closure in 1967, it transformed into a year-round retreat and prayer gathering spot. Presently, the Stone House is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 1929, a replica of the Lourdes grotto was constructed over a spring on the property, only to be replaced in 1959 by a new grotto made of sandstone. This serene spot, illuminated by candlelight and dedicated to Mother Cabrini, has become a sacred place where individuals gather to seek her guidance and intercede with the Sacred Heart and His Holy Mother. Visitors bring their petitions, finding solace and, often through their faith, affirming that their prayers are met with answers.
Initially, the summer camp relied solely on a small pond near the spring house for water, with all drinking and cooking water being laboriously transported from a stream at the base of Mt. Vernon Canyon. In September 1912, facing dire complaints of thirst from the sisters, Mother Cabrini directed them to unearth a spring by moving a specific rock and digging beneath it. Her guidance revealed a fresh, clean water source, now secured within an 8,000-gallon tank, which has continuously flowed ever since. This spring, regarded by many pilgrims as a source of healing and tranquility, stands as a testament to faith and Cabrini's visionary leadership.
Until the completion of the convent in June 1970, the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart called the Stone House their home. The newly constructed three-story building, made from Williamsburg brick, houses a chapel devoted to the Sacred Heart, alongside meeting spaces, a gift shop showcasing exhibits of artifacts and garments associated with Mother Cabrini, living quarters for the Sisters, and guest accommodations for overnight stays. This development marked a significant expansion of the facilities, continuing to support the community and visitors in alignment with Mother Cabrini's legacy.
To make your pilgrimage even more powerful, consider making it a retreat via individual or group trips.
Mother Cabrini Shrine is located at 20189 Cabrini Blvd, Golden, CO 80401. For a complete list of hours of operations - or to book your retreat - please visit their website.