Patient And Humble Endurance Of The Cross

The patient and humble endurance of the cross – whatever nature it may be – is the highest work we have to do. 

-St. Katharine Drexel

St. Katharine Drexel, whose feast we celebrate today, gave her whole life to this “highest work.”  She is an American saint, and she was one of the 482 canonized by Blessed John Paul II.

Born in 1858 to a wealthy family, St. Katharine learned at an early age that wealth is meant to be shared with others.  Her parents were known to be generous philanthropists, and they were both devout witnesses to the Catholic faith.

St. Katharine found her lifelong mission on a trip to the Western part of the United States. She was so unsettled by the destitution of Native Americans, that after the trip she dedicated much of her time and inheritance to supporting Native American missions. She thought access to education would help the impoverished Indian communities, so in 1887 she established St. Catherine Indian School in New Mexico.

On a later visit to Rome, St. Katharine met with Pope Leo XIII and asked him to send more missionaries to the Indian missions she had been supporting. She didn’t expect the response he gave her: Pope Leo suggested she become a missionary herself.

Famous nuns make the news

This week The Washington Post profiled "a few famous nuns" on their website. Their list includes pictures and descriptions of inspiring religious women of our time, like Blessed Teresa of Kolkata and St. Katharine Drexel. 

It is affirming to see that even the secular media can recognize the incredible witness of these women who gave their lives over to Christ. 

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, we ask for your intercession—so that we may be like these holy women who were and who are selfless witnesses for the world.

St. Katharine Drexel

The patient and humble endurance of the cross – whatever nature it may be – is the highest work we have to do. 

-St. Katharine Drexel

St. Katharine Drexel, whose feast we celebrated at the beginning of March, gave her whole life to this “highest work.”  She is an American saint, and she was one of the 482 canonized by Blessed John Paul II.

Born in 1858 to a wealthy family, St. Katharine learned at an early age that wealth is meant to be shared with others.  Her parents were known to be generous philanthropists, and they were both devout witnesses to the Catholic faith.

St. Katharine found her lifelong mission on a trip to the Western part of the United States. She was so unsettled by the destitution of Native Americans, that after the trip she dedicated much of her time and inheritance to supporting Native American missions. She thought access to education would help the impoverished Indian communities, so in 1887 she established St. Catherine Indian School in New Mexico.

On a later visit to Rome, St. Katharine met with Pope Leo XIII and asked him to send more missionaries to the Indian missions she had been supporting. She didn’t expect the response he gave her: Pope Leo suggested she become a missionary herself.