Saint Katharine Drexel Shrine of the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

Introduction

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Nested in the enormous and beautiful Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is the shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel. Even though Saint Katharine would have walked through the pews of the Cathedral Basilica when she lived from 1858-1955, the Cathedral Basilica would not become the site of Saint Katharine's shrine and tomb until November 18, 2018. This beautiful shrine and the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is open to visitors for prayer and daily Mass. While Saint Katharine represents a life of holiness to those of the Catholic faith, she also serves as an activist for the rights of oppressed populations, especially African Americans and Native Americans. Saint Katharine's story demonstrates a true love for helping others through evangelization and education.

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Saint Katharine Drexel was a very giving person. One story exists that she would give her students new pencils frequently and take their old ones to use herself instead of making them use the old pencils.

Saint Katharine Drexel's name is used for many Churches and school throughout the United States as she was the second ever American born Saint.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul was not only where Saint Katharine grew up going to Church with her family, but it is also her final resting place.

Chapel, Holy places, Place of worship, Stained glass

Backstory and Context

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Listen to a narration of this entry's description by Saint Vincent College Pennsylvania History Fall 2020.

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On November 26, 1858, Katharine Marie Drexel was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania into a very wealthy family. However, Katharine's life began with immediate tragedy when her mother passed away only five weeks after her birth. Katharine's father, Francis Anthony Drexel, and stepmother, Emma (Bouvier) Drexel, raised her to be generous and kind to all. After suffering the deaths of her stepmother and father as well, Katharine felt the call to embark on a life devoted to serving others by becoming a Sister. Through a life dedicated to the service of others, Katharine earned the love and respect of many as well as the honor of Sainthood following her death.

Though she was born into wealth, Katharine was never privileged as she always donated her wealth to those less fortunate than herself and her family. She was very interested in the rights, or the rights being oppressed, of Native Americans and African Americans. Eventually, she created the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People which would eventually become Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. Single handedly, Katharine's inheritance funded this order for a long time. With the rest of her wealth, Katharine founded schools for African American and Native American children because of her love of education as well as knowing the importance of a child's education.

While all of these schools and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament bear her name in some ways, the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is where Saint Katharine grew up going to Mass. In 2018, the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul became Saint Katharine's final resting place. Great care was taken in creating this shrine to Saint Katharine by creating a statue that was made to have her likeness. Many people visit the shrine and pray to Saint Katharine for anything from hearing to help with the rights of those who are still oppressed. Saint Katharine's mission during her life on earth remains very alive through all of the people that she has touched with her story.

Overall, Saint Katharine Drexel is the pinnacle of an activist in society as well as a role model to Catholics. While she was very progressive for her era, she would clearly be concerned with the state of the world today where people still have to fight for their rights. Her story serves as a good reminder to people living in the modern era to be generous and kind to everyone. The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Peter and Paul with the shrine of Saint Katharine serves as a physical reminder of these virtues. However, Saint Katharine has touched the hearts of so many with her overwhelming care and kindness for all people on the earth.

Sources

About the Cathedral , Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. January 1st 2020. Accessed November 22nd 2020. http://cathedralphila.org/.

Biography, Saint Katharine Drexel . January 1st 2019. Accessed November 22nd 2020. https://www.saintkatharinedrexelshrine.com/.

St. Katharine Drexel, Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. January 1st 2020. Accessed November 22nd 2020. https://www.katharinedrexel.org/st_katharine_drexel_overview/.

Saint Katharine Drexel, Biography. April 17th 2019. Accessed November 22nd 2020. https://www.biography.com/religious-figure/saint-katharine-drexel.

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