ABOUT
One day in May 1984 I (Bruce Hake) was deciding whether to pursue a Ph.D. in Philosophy or a J.D. in Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Both doors were open. I was torn. Basilica means “really big church.” The basilica at CUA is the largest church in the Western Hemisphere and an awesome building. I was pacing with my head down in the Hall of Saints in the lower level, praying about my choice. Suddenly I strode into a statue, knocking myself out and falling down.
When I came to a few moments later I saw that the statue said “St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, Patroness of Immigrants” and I immediately thought: “Oh! I’m supposed to be an immigration lawyer!” At the time, I did not know about Mother Cabrini. But for 40 years I have never second-guessed my conviction that in that rather comical way she revealed that my vocation was to follow her in serving immigrants. So I got my law degree at Catholic University.
In trying to follow the path of mercy in helping immigrants over the years, my main guides have been Jesus, Saint Callistus, Mother Cabrini, Saint Faustina, and Saint John Paul II.
The purpose of the Mother Cabrini Mercy Prize is to pass on to at least one person the torch I was handed many years ago by her.
From the Parable of the Judgment: 41 “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you accursed people, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ 44 Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or as a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me, either.’” Matthew 25:41-45 (NASB). Note: In the Bible “stranger” means “immigrant.”