St. Catherine Drexel: Life of Extraordinary Generosity – Mar 03 – Homily – Fr John Lawrence

 

Fr John Lawrence gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Mar 03, 2025, on how St. Catherine Drexel, born to one of America's wealthiest families, surrendered her fortune and founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to serve Native Americans and Black Americans through education and mission work.

Father begins by describing Saint Catherine Drexel as a woman who accepted Jesus's invitation to "leave everything and follow Him" (Matthew 19: 21). Born in 1858 to one of Philadelphia's wealthiest banking families, Catherine was raised in a devoutly Catholic environment where her father recognized that his wealth was "entrusted to him for the common good," reflecting the biblical principle of stewardship (Matthew 25: 14-30). After her mother died shortly after her birth, her father remarried, and Catherine grew up with every privilege, including the finest education and European travel.
At age 11, Catherine received First Communion and began teaching catechism to local children, developing skills that would later serve her mission. Father notes that a pivotal moment in her spiritual journey came when her stepmother died of cancer, making Catherine realize that all their family's millions couldn't prevent suffering or death, echoing Jesus's teaching about the impermanence of earthly treasures (Matthew 6: 19-21).
While considering religious life, Catherine struggled with whether she could embrace poverty after growing up in luxury. Her spiritual director, Bishop O'Connor, guided her through this discernment process, and she made annual vows of chastity until she determined her vocation, a practice consistent with CCC 915 regarding consecrated life. During a trip to Europe, Catherine had a spiritual experience in Venice where she heard the words, "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10: 8).
When Catherine met Pope Leo XIII and asked him to send missionaries to Native Americans and Black Americans, he challenged her, "Why not become a missionary yourself, my child?" This question, Father explains, eventually led her to found a new religious order. When her father died in 1885, he left her a fortune worth nearly half a billion in today's dollars, which she would ultimately use to serve others, fulfilling Christ's call to sell what you have and give to the poor to store up treasure in heaven (Matthew 19: 21).
Father describes how Catherine established the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People in 1891, focusing on education and mission work. During her lifetime, she founded over 60 schools and missions, including Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic university for Black students. Her work embodies the Church's teaching on preferential option for the poor and marginalized (CCC 2443). After a heart attack in 1935, she spent her final 20 years in prayer and contemplation, dying in 1955 at age 97. Father concludes that Saint Catherine was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II, making her the second American-born saint, a woman who truly lived Jesus's words, "If you want to be perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor" (Matthew 19: 21).

For Further Reading
Matthew 19: 21 - NAB - Jesus's call to perfection - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/19?21
Matthew 10: 8 - NAB - "Freely you have received, freely give" - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/10?8
Matthew 6: 19-21 - NAB - Treasures in heaven - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/6?19
Matthew 25: 14-30 - NAB - Parable of the talents - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/25?14
CCC #915 - Consecrated Life - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/915.htm
CCC #2443-2449 - Love for the Poor - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p3s2c2a7.htm#2443
CCC #826 - The Church's Sanctity and Holiness - http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/826.htm
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament - Official Website - https://www.katharinedrexel.org/
Vatican - Biography of Saint Katharine Drexel - https://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20001001_katharine-drexel_en.html

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday 8th Week of Ordinary Time - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/030325.cfm
1st: sir 17:19-27
Resp: psa 32:1-2, 5-7
Gsp: mar 10:17-27

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1401

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