Saint Katharine Drexel
Feast Day
March 3
Patron Saint of
Racial Justice
There are so many women saints that have given their time and talent to glorify God. Last post I asked what saint has impacted your life. Kalah Kemp commented that Saint Mother Teresa has changed her life. Both Saint Mother Teresa and Saint Katharine Drexel have been big advocates for social justice and giving back to people in need. Today I want to highlight the extraordinary life of Saint Katharine Drexel and how she has impacted people in the name of God.
History of Saint Katharine
Katharine was born on November 26, 1858, in Philadelphia. Her mother Hanna died five weeks after she was born. Francis, Kathrine's father, entrusts the care of Elizabeth and Kate to his brother Anthony and his wife Ellen. The family oved each other very much. They would pray together, and the girls were taught deep faith. Despite being wealthy, the family would go serve the poor to show that their wealth was to be shared with those in need.
Emma and Katharine were sister and they were super close. In 1879, Emma learned she had cancer. During this time Katharine cared for her until her sister passed away in 1883. Katharine at this time also began to contemplate going into religious life.
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| Emma Drexel |
Katharine began to pray and ask God the path for her life. When she brought up religious life to her spiritual director, Bishop O’Connor, he believed she would do more good as a layperson and use her income for charitable works. She continues to wait and dern her path, but private audience with the pope changes her life.
On January 27, 1887, Katharine was given a private audience with Pope Leo XIII. During their conversation she asked him to send missionary priests to the Indians. After hearing her request, the Pope responds, “Why not my child, yourself become a missionary?” Katharine traveled with the Pope and many others to visit Rosebud Reservation, then Pine Bluff Agency where they meet and talk with Chief Red Cloud.
“How I wish to spend my entire life given to him by the three vows.”
Katharine is convinced that God is calling her to religious life and on May 7, 1889, she enters the convent. During her time at the convent, she prepares to start a congregation to serve the African American and Native American people who are oppressed by discrimination and dire poverty.
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| Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Logo |
On February 12, 1891, Katharine founds the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. The Sister of the Blessed Sacrament devoted themselves to their faith and taking care of people who were unloved because of oppression and poverty. The convent is still around today and is located in Philadelphia. The sisters have helped many people over the years and continue to care for them.
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| Saint Katharine Drexel in her habit. |
March 3, 1955, Katharine Drexel passed away. While Katharine was bed ridden, she continued to pray to God and had a priest come say mass with her daily. Her body is now entombed at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. At her death all income from the Drexel estate ceases.
"The Eucharist is a never-ending sacrifice. It is the Sacrament of love, the supreme love, the act of love."
-Saint Katharine Drexel
Miracles and Canonization
Katharine's life and writings were studied years after her passing. The healing of 14-year-old Robert Gutherman’s severe inner ear damage is accepted as a miracle due to the intercession to Mother Katharine. The healing of little Amy Wall’s deafness is examined by doctors and accepted by the Vatican as a miracle due to the intercession of Katharine as well. On October 1, 2000, Katharine Drexel was canonized as Saint Katharine Drexel.
"If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to Him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing."
-Saint Katharine Drexel
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| The Tomb of Saint Katharine Drexel at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia. |
What I learned from Saint Katharine
- You will never know the true path of your life until calls you to it. Listen for God's voice and when he tells you to do something do it, even if it's hard.
- Being rich is not a bad thing. It is a blessing from God to be used to give back to people less fortunate.
- Miracles still happen all around us. Sometimes we just don't care to notice them. Saint Katharine has shown me that God creates miracles out of everything we do, so be blessed and give every day to God.
Saint Katharine had a profound love for the Eucharist. She has reminded me of how blessed I am to have the sacrament and has deepen my appreciation and love for the blessing God has given.
"Christ wishes the Christian Community to be a body that is perfect because we work together towards a single end, and the higher the motive which actuates this collaboration the higher, no doubt, will be the union. Now the end in question is supremely exalted: the continuous sanctification of the Body for the glory of God and the Lamb that was slain [Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament]."
Saint Katharine Drexel pray for us.
Ever loving God, you called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel and to bring the life of the Eucharist to the Black and Native American peoples.
By her prayers and example, enable us to work for justice among the poor and oppressed. Draw us all into the Eucharistic community of your Church, that we may be one in you.
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
Saint Katharine Drexel is an amazing woman of God. I am so blessed I was able to highlight her this month for Women's History month.
Question: What is something you can't live without if you lost it? Comment below your answer and I might highlight you in my next post!
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