A very, very, very rich girl

Katherine was born very rich. Her grandfather had founded a legendary financial house. Her uncle was one of the richest and most influential men in the United States. She and her sisters received the best of everything - the best tutors, trips to Europe, etc. – and yet in the midst of all these riches, her parents also passed on to their children a strong and devout faith.

Then, in her twenties, Katherine found herself at a crossroads. Both of her parents were dead. A life of leisure would be easy, thanks to her father’s immense estate, but she felt empty.

She knew that beyond the circle of wealth and privilege in which she had been raised there were many people who were suffering, especially Native Americans and African Americans. She directed funds from her family’s resources to establish various charitable endeavors to help.

She was able to arrange a private audience with the Pope at which she asked him to send missionaries to aid her cause.

The Pope suggested that she become a missionary.

Katherine subsequently became a nun. In fact, she founded her own order. She established many schools for deprived children in the Deep South and the Great Plains.

She worked hard for many decades and when her health began to fail, she devoted herself to a life of prayer.

St. Katherine Drexel, founder of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, died at the age of 96 fifty years ago today. She was canonized in 2000.