November has many important feasts – November 1^st, the feast of All Saints; November 2^nd, the feast of the Holy Souls; November 24^th, the feast of Christ the King; and many other special days. November is also the month of Black Catholic History and Native American Heritage Month. Saint Katharine would not have needed a special month to remember the significance of Black Catholic History or Native American Heritage.

The founding of so many little schools in the South where Black Catholic children did not have access to Catholic teachers and the founding of Xavier University of Louisiana show Saint Katharine’s and the Sisters’ appreciation of the need for education for Black Catholics.

Saint Katharine respected Native American Heritage. She noted hearing a Navajo boy chanting in his first language as he did his chores. Classes were taught in English because of the variety of cultures and first languages present in a classroom (e.g., Apache, Hopi, Navajo, Pueblo). The students were encouraged to retain their own languages.

Thanksgiving Day is a family gathering day. For Saint Katharine, every day was Thanksgiving Day. The word “Eucharist” is from the Greek, meaning “thanksgiving.” She did not write a special “Thanksgiving Day” letter as she wrote letters at Christmas. She wrote, “The ordinary soul does not do enough thanksgiving …. We owe thanks to anyone who does good to us. That is justice and gratitude.” Every time we receive the Eucharist, we should remember to say “Thank You” to the God who made all things possible.

When we receive the Eucharist, we are united spiritually with the Church Triumphant (the souls in heaven) and the Church Suffering (the souls in Purgatory). We – the Church Militant - can talk with our beloved dead in a special way at this time.

We have important elections in November. Saint Katharine would ask us to pray for our government officials. Veterans Day, November 11^th, would be a day to pray for our armed forces and our veterans, as Saint Katharine did.

November 28^th was Saint Katharine’s birthday (1858-1955). The Catholic Church does not normally celebrate birthdays, only Jesus’ birthday, Christmas, Blessed Mother’s birthday, September 8^th, and St. John the Baptist’s, June 24. But we can still remember Saint Katharine’s birthday on our own!

Best wishes for a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

October 25, 2024

Season of Creation

From September 1^st to October 4^th (the feast of St. Francis of Assisi), the Franciscans celebrate the “Season of Creation.”  Pope Francis has reminded us that the “earth is entrusted to our care, yet continues to belong to God.” (Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation.”)  As Saint Katharine and her sister Louise were both Third Order Franciscans, they would be united with the Franciscans in praying the for care of creation.

Saint Katharine’s father, Francis A. Drexel, had a great love of nature and carefully planned and planted the trees, flowers, and vegetables grown at their summer home in Torresdale. Saint Katharine recalled that her father said that “the trees were his picture gallery, in which he saw the beauty, love, and forethought of the Divine Artist.”

Louise Drexel Morrell frequently sent flowers and fruits grown on her estate to the Motherhouse for Saint Katharine and the Sisters to enjoy.

When we look at a beautiful sunrise or sunset, or at a bright shining moon, do we think of the beauty of God’s creation? Do we thank God for this beauty?

Appropriate to the celebration of creation was the feast of the “Little Flower,” Saint Therese of the Child Jesus. Her prayer was to love God and to make God loved. Saint Katharine would agree, praying that God was not loved enough!

October 1^st was also the anniversary of the canonization of Saint Katharine. This is a day on which we should be grateful for her visions of social justice and the work of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to further this important goal.

October 2^nd was the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels and Louise Drexel Morrell’s birthday. Let us thank God for our Guardian Angel on this day and always.

October 7^th was the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. Saint Katharine has called the Rosary a “symbol of love.” There is so much of Our Lord’s life, death, and resurrection and of Our Lady’s life, suffering, and Assumption in the mysteries of the Rosary. Let us take a little extra time to thank God for the love told in these mysteries.