St. Katharine Drexel



Katharine Marie Drexel was an unlikely saint. Born in Philadelphia to Francis and Hannah Drexel in 1858, her family was one of the wealthiest in America. Her mother died shortly after Katharine's birth. Her father later married Emma Bouvier, a devout Catholic who raised both Katharine and her older sister in the faith. Katharine made her official debut into Philadelphia society in 1879, but her step-mother was suffering from a terminal illness. Nursing Emma for three years made her realize that all the money in the world couldn't spare one from suffering and death. Emma died in 1879 and Katharine's father passed away a year later. Her inheritance was $1000/day.

At age twenty-two, the world was her oyster. She had always been interested in the plight of the Native Americans, however. She began by donating money to help them and lobbying the Church for European missionaries to help them. In 1886, Katharine became ill and traveled to Europe to recuperate at a German spa. While in Europe she met with Pope Leo XIII and asked him to send missionaries to help the Native Americans. He challenged her to become a missionary herself. As a result, she traveled to the Dakotas and met the Sioux leader Red Cloud.

By 1889, she was ready to dedicate to her life to them and African-Americans. She entered the Sisters of Mercy novitiate, and ultimately began her own religious order, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People. The order began opening schools for both groups. The first was St. Catherine's in Santa Fe, New Mexico. By 1942, she had helped to found black schools in 13 states, plus 40 mission centers and 23 rural schools. In 1915, she had begun Xavier University in New Orleans, the first university in the United States for blacks.

In 1935, she suffered a heart attack and was forced to step down as Superior General of the order. She lived out the next nineteen years focusing on prayer and meditation. On October 1, 2000, she was canonized by Pope John Paul II, becoming only the second native-born American to be named a saint. During the service, the Pope stated that "Her apostolate helped bring about a growing awareness of the need to combat all forms of racism through education and social services. Katharine Drexel is an excellent example of that practical charity and generous solidarity with the less fortunate which has long been the distinguishing mark of American Catholics."

The patient and humble endurance of the cross - whatever nature it may be - is the highest work we have to do. Oh, how far I am at 84 years of age from being an image of Jesus in his sacred life on earth! - St. Katharine Drexel

Resources: James S. Fritz, "Modern Day Saint: Katherine Drexel", http://www.thedefender.org/sept2000saint.html http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintofDay.default.asp?id=1311 http://www.catholicexchange.com/church_today/message.asp?message_id=2414



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