Though there doesn’t seem to be any official patron saint of parking spaces, Mother Cabrini is often considered to be one, at least unofficially.
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was an Italian-American nun who founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in New York, which was a great support to the Italian immigrants who were arriving in the United States in the last part of the 19th century.
She became “Mother Cabrini” after she took on the religious habit. She arrived in New York in 1889. In a short time of 35 years she founded 67 institutions, including orphanages, schools, and hospitals, dedicated to caring for the poor, uneducated, sick, and abandoned, especially Italian immigrants.
She was canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 7, 1946, making her the first United States citizen to be canonized.
Having lived in New York, she probably knew well the sorrow of finding a parking space. Some have used these prayers to great effect:
“Armi pii, armi santi, fatimi truvari un postu vacanti.” Which translates as “Holy Souls, Holy Saints, help me find an empty space.”
and:
“Mother Cabrini, Mother Cabrini, please find a spot for my little machiney.”
The next time you find yourself going around in circles, you could call on her, too.
--CONGRATULATIONS to vegantriathlete for the FTF--