Katharine Drexel (1858–1955) was born into a wealthy Philadelphia banking family and gave away her entire fortune to serve others. She founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891, dedicating her life to the education and care of Native American and African American communities, and established schools across the United States, including Xavier University of Louisiana. She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000.
Katharine could have lived in comfort, but she saw people the world overlooked and spent everything she had to love them. Her life reminds us that what we hold — money, time, talent — is most beautiful when it is given away. She teaches us to notice the forgotten and to serve them with patience and joy.
Saint Katharine Drexel, who gave all you had out of love for God's children, help us to hold nothing back and to see Christ in everyone we meet. Amen.Enter today’s Mass → All saints →