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Saint Katharine Drexel
Feast Day March 3
Patron of people of
color and of those who experience helplessness in trying to reach out to
others.
Sometimes we in the MMG
feel as if our prayers are doing no good, that those we love are rejecting us
and our faith. In such times, let us ask St. Katharine to help us find
hope and the strength to continue in spite of the struggle we face. |
Who was Saint Katharine
Drexel?
St.
Katharine was born into wealth which she used for the benefit of others.
She developed programs to aid Native Americans and invested much of her fortune
in Indian missions. With the help of Mother Cabrini, she founded the the
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in Santa Fe, NM.
She eventually was responsible for
establishing Catholic schools for Blacks in 13 states, 40 mission centers, 23
rural schools, 50 Indian missions, and Xavier University in New Orleans,
Louisiana (first University for blacks in the USA).
She was canonized by Pope John Paul II in
2000.
Her
shrine was declared a
National Shrine in 2008. |
Prayer
from Day 5
Saint Katharine Drexel
Novena
Often in my desire to work for others I find
my hands tied, something hinders my charitable designs, some hostile influence
renders me powerless. My prayers seem to avail nothing, my kind acts are
rejected, I seem to do the wrong thing when I am trying to do my best. In such
cases I must not grieve. I am only treading in my Master’s steps. ~St. Katharine
Drexel |