A plaque at the entrance to the Shrine Church reads:

The Shrine was founded by Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, (1850-1917) when, on a visit here early in the twentieth century, this first American Saint arranged many white rocks in the form of a heart near the summit of the mountain where today stands the giant statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In recognition of her many contributions inside and outside of this country, the Order of Alhambra has declared Mother Cabrini Shrine a National Catholic Historical Site. Erected in 1995 by the International Order of Alhambra.