St. Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a family who was very, very rich. Her mother died one-month after she was born. Her step-mother taught her to use her wealth for the poor. They were very devoted Catholics. The opened up their home every week to care for the poor.
Katherine's step-mother died from cancer. She was very devoted to her step-mother. At age 14 she wanted to become a nun and was discouraged because no one thought she would be able to adjust being poor.
She kept searching for a way to become a nun. After he father died, she devoted her life to helping Native Americans and black people. She went to Italy and saw Pope Leo. She asked Pope Leo to send missionaries to help the Native Americans and the poor black people. The Pope asked her, "Why don't you become a missionary.?"
Katherine Drexel became a Catholic nun on February 12, 1891 and devoted herself to her missionary and charitable works. She founded (created) the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Also St. Katherine's Indian School in Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1915, with her help, Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana became the first Roman Catholic University to accept Native Americans and black people to college.
In 1935 she had a heart attack which forced her into a quiet and solitude life for the next 20 years. She devoted the rest of her life to praying especially to the Blessed Sacrament (Eucharist).
On March 3, 1955 she died at the age of 96. At that time there were 500 sisters (nuns) in her care, 63 schools and 50 missions that were devoted to helping Native Americans and poor black people.
She had a very strong desire to have unity for all people. On October 1, 2000 she was canonized a Saint. She was the second American to become a Saint.
