Saint Katharine Drexel

Today we celebrate the memorial of a saint for our time. She is a saint of the United States and her name is Saint Katharine Drexel. Katharine was born in Philadelphia in 1858. From a young age, Katharine learned what it meant to love God and to love our neighbors. This prepared her for the future work that she undertook by helping the African-American and Native American peoples. Saint Katharine was the foundress of the Missionary Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. She established some forty nine foundations, including Xavier University in New Orleans. She died on this day, March 3, 1955 and was canonized by the Venerable Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000 (Magnificat, 53). As Jesus said in a recent gospel, "The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve" (Mark 10:45). We look to the saints who followed this example and were not afraid to live their faith and share the love of God with others. On this day we look to Saint Katharine, a saint of the United States, a saint of the last two centuries and canonized at the beginning of this new millenium, as she continues to intercede for us and helps us to live the example of love and service. God Bless You!!!