St. Katharine Drexel stands among the many heroic women of the United States. She blazed a trail west, ministering to Native Americans and African Americans, two groups who were severely oppressed by society.
She couldn’t stand-by and watch these people treated as if they were animals. By the end of her life she established over 100 missions, 50 schools for African American children and 12 schools for Native Americans.
Here is the collect prayer for her feast day, asking God to inspire in us the same love that St. Katharine Drexel had.
God of love,
you called Saint Katharine Drexel to teach the message of the Gospel
and to bring the life of the Eucharist
to the Native American and African American peoples;
by her prayers and example,
enable us to work for justice among the poor and the oppressed,
and keep us undivided in love in the Eucharistic community of your Church.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
And today we celebrate...