Saint Katharine Drexel

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Stored in Cargo: Saint Katharine Drexel
Key Details
Saint: Saint Katharine Drexel
Stage: Saint
Feast Day: March 3
Profession: Philanthropist, Educator, Religious Sister
Religious Affiliation: Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
Patronage: Racial justice, Philanthropy, Education of Black and Native American people
Attributes: Cross, Rosary, School
Primary Shrine: Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine, Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Additional Veneration:


Locations Map
This map created from a Cargo query (Purge)
Vital Statistics
Birthdate: November 26, 1858
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Deathdate: March 3, 1955
Death Place: Bensalem, Pennsylvania, United States
Cause of Death: Natural Causes
Canonization Profile
Beatification Date: November 20, 1988
Beatified by: Pope John Paul II
Beatification Location:
Canonized: Yes
Canonization Date: October 1, 2000
Canonized by: Pope John Paul II
Canonization Location: Vatican City
Miracle 1: Healing of Amy Wall, a baby with severe ear and hearing issues
Miracle 2: Healing of Robert Gutherman from a severe skin condition
Miracle 3:
Notable Locations
Location 1: Xavier University of Louisiana, New Orleans, Louisiana
Location 2: Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament Motherhouse, Bensalem, Pennsylvania
Location 3:
Location 4:
Location 5:


Saint Katharine Drexel was born into a wealthy Philadelphia family known for their philanthropy. She used her inheritance to support education and welfare for Native American and African American communities. In 1891, she founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People to work specifically with these marginalized groups. Katharine established numerous schools, including Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States. Her life was marked by dedication to social justice, education, and evangelization, leading to her canonization in 2000.

Biography

Birth

Katharine Drexel was born on November 26, 1858, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Early Life

Growing up in a prosperous family, she was exposed to philanthropy from an early age, influencing her later life's work.

Occupation

Before her religious life, Katharine was involved in charity work, leveraging her family's wealth for social causes.

Vocation

In 1891, she took her vows as a nun and founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, dedicating her life to the upliftment of Native Americans and African Americans through education.

Death

She died peacefully on March 3, 1955, in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, at the age of 96.

Significant events

  • Founded Xavier University of Louisiana in 1915, the first Catholic university for African Americans in the U.S.
  • Established over 145 missions, 50 schools, and two universities across the country for the education of Native and African Americans.
  • Was an advocate for civil rights before it became a widespread movement.

Death

Katharine Drexel passed away peacefully from natural causes in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Canonization

Servant of God

The process to recognize her as a Servant of God began in the late 20th century, with investigations into her life and works.

Venerable

Declared Venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1987 for her life of heroic virtue.

Beatification

Beatified on November 20, 1988, by Pope John Paul II after the confirmation of a miracle involving the healing of Amy Wall, a baby with severe ear and hearing issues.

Canonization

Canonized on October 1, 2000, by Pope John Paul II following a second miracle, the healing of Robert Gutherman from a severe skin condition.

Miracles

Miracle for beatification

Healing of Amy Wall, a baby with severe ear and hearing issues.

Miracle for canonization

Healing of Robert Gutherman from a severe skin condition.

Other notable miracles

No other specific miracles widely documented beyond those for beatification and canonization.

Patronage

Katharine Drexel is the patron saint of racial justice, philanthropy, and the education of Black and Native American people.

Feast day

Saint Katharine Drexel's feast day is celebrated on March 3.

Veneration

She is venerated through various educational and charitable initiatives. Her shrine in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, is a significant place of pilgrimage, and her legacy continues through the work of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

Books

Written about the saint

Written by the saint

No known writings by Saint Katharine Drexel exist.

External links

References