Preparing us for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Father Joshua Whitfield reflects upon the parable of the talents and not being idle in our work of the Kingdom. As missionary disciples, we are to prepare for his coming by tending to the loves and graces — the presence of Christ — immediately present in our lives now.

When was the last time you thought about Jesus looking at you? His gaze is apparent in the Gospels. Here are nine passages to pray with.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was born in Italy, the youngest of 13 children. Denied admission to two religious orders due to poor health, she became the headmistress of the House of Providence orphanage in Codogno. In 1880, Frances, along with seven followers, founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, an order dedicated to the education of young girls. While Frances hoped to send her new order to evangelize in China, Pope Leo XIII advised her to travel to the United States. She embarked on a journey to New York City to work with Italian immigrants there. Frances established schools, orphanages, and hospitals across the United States, South America and Europe. She was the first U.S. citizen to ever be canonized. Her feast day is November 13 and she is the patron of immigrants.