PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Catharine Marie Drexel was born on November 26, 1858 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Francis Anthony Drexel and Hannah Langstroth. Unfortunately, five weeks after giving birth, Hannah died. After that, Catherine and her sister Elizabeth were cared for by their aunt and uncle until their father remarried.
When their father married Emma Bouvier, he brought Catharine and Elizabeth back home. Three years later, Catharine's youngest sister, Louise, was born. While they were growing up, the girls were taught by private tutors at their home.
When Catharine and her family moved west, she saw the difficult situation that the Native Americans were in. When Catharine saw this, she wanted to help. This began her support of missions and missionaries, which eventually led to her establishing the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament with thirteen other women. She then took the name Mother Katharine.
During the rest of her life, Katharine established 50 missions for Native Americans, she established Xavier Prep, Xavier University in New Orleans and the St. Michael Indian School.
Katharine was declared venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1987, and was beatified in 1988 after a man was miraculously cured of deafness from praying Mother Drexel's intercession. She was canonized on October 1, 2000 after a young girl was miraculously cured of nerve deafness through Katharine's intercession.
Prayer
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.
Quote
"And here is the passive way – to be filled unto the fullness of God. The passive way – I abandon myself to it, not in a multiplicity of trials, extraordinary penances accomplished, practices of great works – but in peaceful abandonment to the tenderness of Jesus, which I must try to imitate, and by being in constant union with his meek and humble heart."(St. Katharine Drexel)
