St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Novena – 9 Days of Prayer

For immigrants, those navigating visas and citizenship, people starting over in a new country, and all who are far from home

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was an Italian missionary who came to the United States to serve immigrants and founded schools, hospitals and orphanages. She is the patron of immigrants. This novena is for those who are far from home, starting over or navigating a new country. Her feast is November 13. She sailed to New York in 1889 and founded hospitals and schools for Italian immigrants. She became the first American citizen to be canonised. Pray the novena for new arrivals, for those waiting on papers and for welcoming communities.

Feast of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini · November 139 dayssaint

A novena is nine consecutive days of prayer. Begin nine days before the feast (November 13) and finish on its eve. You can pray this novena at any time of year.

Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app

Open in the app App Store Google Play

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Novena – prayer for all nine days

Intention: For Immigrants, Visa Seekers, and All Who Are Building a Life in a New Land

Heavenly Father, You guided Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini across an ocean to serve those whom no one else would serve. She was fragile in body but fierce in love, and she trusted You completely. Through her intercession, look upon all who are far from home and grant them the courage, the documents, and the doors they need.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini — Mother Cabrini —

You crossed the Atlantic seventeen times.
You were told you were too small, too sick, too fragile
to do what you were trying to do.
You went anyway.

You were an immigrant yourself.
You know what it is to arrive somewhere new
with almost nothing — no language, no connections,
no guarantee that any of it will work out.
You know the loneliness of the first winter in a foreign city.
You know what it costs to start over.

And you served those who were doing the same thing.
You built hospitals for them. Schools for their children.
You fought city officials and bishops and bureaucrats
for resources to serve people that no one else would serve.

(Pause here to mention your intentions)

Intercede for me now, Mother Cabrini.
For the paperwork and the waiting.
For the uncertainty and the fear.
For the moments when it feels like every door is closed.

Ask the Lord to open what only He can open.
Bring my petition before the authorities —
both the earthly ones and the heavenly ones.
Grant me the grace of belonging —
to my new home, to my faith, and to God.

You are small and I am small.
But God is not small.

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patron of Immigrants, pray for us.

Pray this prayer once a day for nine days in a row.

Traditional Catholic Prayer — Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus · St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850–1917) was the first U.S. citizen canonized (1946). She emigrated from Italy to the U.S. and founded 67 schools, hospitals, and orphanages to serve immigrants. Pope Pius XII declared her patron saint of immigrants in 1950.

More novenas

Frequently asked questions

When should I start the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Novena?

Begin on November 4 to end on November 12, the eve of the feast on November 13.

How do I pray the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Novena?

Pray the daily prayer once a day, and offer it for a migrant you know.

Who is the St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Novena for?

It is for immigrants, refugees and those far from home.

Pray this novena with daily reminders in the Sacred Novenas app

Open in the app App Store Google Play