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Frequently Asked Questions
Who is St. Katharine Drexel the patron saint of?
St. Katharine Drexel is the patron saint of racial justice and philanthropic education, with a particular connection to Native American and African American communities. She earned this patronage through a lifetime of concrete action — founding the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, building over 145 missions and 50 schools, and dedicating her entire $20 million inheritance to educational institutions serving communities that had been systematically excluded from quality schooling. Her canonization by Pope John Paul II in 2000 formally recognized what her life had demonstrated for decades: that the pursuit of racial justice is a profoundly Catholic calling.
What did St. Katharine Drexel accomplish during her life?
St. Katharine Drexel founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1891, established over 145 Catholic missions, and built more than 50 schools for Native American and African American students across the United States. Her most enduring institutional legacy is Xavier University of Louisiana, which she founded in New Orleans in 1925 — it remains the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States and continues to graduate more African American students who go on to earn medical degrees than any other university in the country. She accomplished all of this while personally managing the disbursement of her family's fortune, corresponding with bishops and government officials, and living the austere life of a vowed religious sister until her death in 1955 at age 96.
Why did St. Katharine Drexel give up her $20 million inheritance?
St. Katharine Drexel did not experience her inheritance as something to be given up so much as something to be redirected — she believed wealth was a tool for justice, not a reward for privilege. Her formation began at home, where her stepmother Emma Bouvier Drexel opened their Philadelphia mansion three days a week to distribute food, clothing, and rent money to families in need, modeling charity as a structural practice rather than an occasional gesture. After her private audience with Pope Leo XIII in 1887, in which he challenged her directly to become a missionary herself rather than simply fund others, Katharine understood that her calling required her full self, not just her checkbook. She entered religious life and spent the rest of her life ensuring that every dollar of the Drexel estate served the communities she had committed to.
When is St. Katharine Drexel's feast day?
St. Katharine Drexel's feast day is March 3, the anniversary of her death in 1955. The feast is observed throughout the Catholic Church and is particularly celebrated at institutions she founded, including Xavier University of Louisiana and schools operated by the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. March 3 falls close to the end of Black History Month, making it a natural occasion for parishes, Catholic schools, and social justice ministries to honor her legacy with prayer, reflection, and — for many — the gift of a medal bearing her image.
Who founded Xavier University of Louisiana?
St. Katharine Drexel founded Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans in 1925, using funds from her personal inheritance. She established it as a Catholic institution specifically to provide higher education to African American students at a time when most universities in the South were legally segregated. Xavier remains the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States, and its College of Pharmacy consistently ranks among the top producers of African American pharmacists in the country. Katharine's founding of Xavier is widely considered her most lasting institutional contribution and a direct expression of her belief that educational access was both a civil right and a Catholic imperative.
Are the St. Katharine Drexel medals on rosarycard.net made in the USA?
Yes — every St. Katharine Drexel medal we carry is made in the USA by Bliss Manufacturing, a trusted name in Catholic religious jewelry with a long history of producing medals to high quality standards. Each medal comes with a lifetime guarantee, so if it ever fails due to a manufacturing defect, we will replace it at no cost to you. We offer her medal in sterling silver, 14kt gold filled, and 14kt solid gold, with matching chains available in standard lengths — and all orders over $40 ship free.