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OUR ETERNAL
DESTINY
LAST THINGS: RESURRECTION OF THE BODY,
DEATH, PARTICULAR JUDGMENT, HEAVEN,
PURGATORY, HELL, LAST JUDGMENT,
NEW HEAVENS, AND NEW EARTH
—CCC, NOS. 988-1065
LOVE IS PROVED BY DEEDS
St. Katharine Drexel often said, “Love is proved by deeds.” Her long life wit-
nessed the wisdom of her faith-filled insight. Born in Philadelphia in 1858,
Katharine was the daughter of a wealthy banker. Her parents taught
Katharine to be generous with her money.Mr. Drexel trained his daughter to
realize that one’s money is meant to be shared with others.
Her father died in 1885. By the terms of his will, Katharine was one
of the beneficiaries of his estate during her lifetime. That year, Katharine
traveled throughout the country and became acquainted with the diffi-
cult living conditions of the Native Americans. She began to build schools
for the children, supplying food, clothing, furnishings, and salaries for the
teachers. She also found priests to serve the spiritual needs of the peo-
ple. As she became aware of the suffering of the African Americans, she
extended her charitable efforts to them. Throughout her lifetime, work-
ing with the government’s Bureau of Colored and Indian Missions, she
encouraged and financially supported missions throughout this country.
In 1891,with the sponsorship of her close family friend,Omaha’s Bishop
James O’Connor, Katharine Drexel founded the religious congregation the
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.She and her sisters took the vows of poverty,
chastity, and obedience—and she took a fourth vow“to be the mother and
servant of the Indian and Negro races.” Mother Katharine Drexel used the