1858–1955
Saint Katharine Drexel, 1858–1955
March 3
Saint Katharine Drexel came from a wealthy family, but she devoted her money and her life to those who were poor. She did missionary work among African Americans and Native Americans. She insisted that all people be treated fairly, no matter what their race. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and also established schools on Native American reservations and the first and only Catholic university for African Americans. She believed it was her life’s work to live out the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Discuss: What Works of Mercy have you done?
Saint Katharine Drexel came from a wealthy family, but she and her sisters were raised in the Catholic faith, and Katharine devoted her money and her life to those who were poor. On a visit to Rome, she asked Pope Leo XIII to send missionaries to the United States, and he challenged Katharine to become a missionary herself. She did missionary work among African Americans and Native Americans, who were being treated with injustice and bigotry. She insisted that all people be treated fairly, no matter what their race. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and also established schools on Native American reservations and Xavier University in New Orleans, which was the first and only Catholic university for African Americans in the country. She believed it was her life’s work to live out the Corporal Works of Mercy.
Saint Katharine is the patron Saint of philanthropists and social justice. She is the second native-born American to be canonized. She lived to be almost one hundred years old! Before her death, Katharine’s order had opened almost sixty schools and missions across the United States.
Activity
Corporal Works of Mercy
Visual/Spatial
Remind your child that people all over the world are in need. As Catholics, we are called to reach out and meet those needs. Have your child review the Corporal Works of Mercy on page 136 in the Student Book, as well as the example given for each.