Divine mercy is?
Bold.
Immeasurable. Never-ending. Powerful. Trustworthy.
I am?
A pilgrim of mercy.
The Catholic Church is full of amazing women. Every age boasts remarkable examples of the goodness that God has placed in the hearts of women. We read in the scriptures, taste and see the goodness of the Lord. And give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever. And at Sunday School each week, leaders call out, "God is good." And children reply, "All the time." We are well aware of the goodness of God. And we were made in the image of God. Our capacity for goodness is significant, and the power of simple goodness can change the course of history when we live our faith boldly in the service of others. The day God placed the vision for Dynamic Catholic in my heart, I had so many questions. And what God was asking seemed impossible for so many reasons. But in my mind's eye, I can still see four words I scribbled on the page that day. Be bold, be Catholic. We've used those words every single day to invite you, challenge you, and encourage you to step up, get involved in this great mission, and do your part in God's plan. Be bold, be Catholic. It's an audacious rallying cry that has been inspiring and uniting people to do something beautiful for God and His church and for today's Catholics.
Katharine Drexel embodied this call to action with wholehearted enthusiasm. What do you know about Katharine Drexel? Born to a wealthy banking family in Philadelphia, Katharine was raised in the belief that all Christians have a responsibility to work toward the greater good. Her parents believed their wealth gave them a particular responsibility to the poor. Francis Drexel, Katharine's father, was one of the richest men in the United States. And yet, he lived modestly and dedicated a significant portion of his fortune to charitable causes. Even though he did not become Catholic until later in his life, the charities he supported throughout his life were Catholic charities for both spiritual and practical reasons. He had enormous respect for the Catholic Church's commitment to helping the poor, providing education across a broad spectrum of society, for addressing the social issues of the day, and for imbuing ordinary people's lives with virtue. He also viewed Catholic charities as efficient, organized, and impactful, which made them a logical choice for his financial support. His wife, Hannah, was deeply committed to her Catholic faith, and her joy, clarity, and example had an enormous influence on her husband and her children. Hannah died when Katharine was young and her father remarried. Her stepmother, Emma, would also have a lasting impact on her life.
Emma also had a robust faith life, and her nurturing guidance helped shape Katherine into the strong, compassionate, devout woman who would go on to become a saint. The unspoken expectation was that Katherine would enter society and find a suitable match for marriage. But she felt a different call on her life and began to discern a vocation to religious life. In 1884, when Katherine was in her mid-twenties, the family made a trip out to the American West. She was shocked to witness firsthand the plight of the Native Americans. Poverty was rampant. Living conditions were atrocious. Tuberculosis, smallpox and measles were ravaging the native population. Classrooms were overcrowded and teachers were few. The seed of a powerful mission was planted in Katherine's heart. The family returned home, but less than a year later, Katherine's father passed away suddenly. Devastated by yet another loss, Katherine and her sisters embarked on a tour of Europe.
It was during this trip that Catherine had a private audience with Pope Leo XIII. Wrestling with the call to a contemplative religious life and a desire to serve the neglected and forgotten, Katherine asked the Pope to consider founding a congregation that could serve the indigenous population in America. The Pope's response to Catherine rocked her to her core. "Why not be a missionary yourself, my child?" the Pope said to her. By the time Catherine reached the room outside the Pope's chambers, she knew what she had to do. Catherine left home, joined the Sisters of Mercy in Pittsburgh, and then used her inheritance to found the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, a religious order dedicated to serving minority groups. Over the next 60 years, Mother Drexel established more than 60 schools and missions, primarily for African-Americans and Native Americans, living in a society riddled with racism and segregation.
She founded Xavier University in New Orleans, the first Catholic university in the United States for African-Americans. It is also the first Catholic university founded by a saint and today serves 3,500 students each year. The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament had grown to 500 members in 51 countries by the time of Mother Drexel's death, and their mission to serve underprivileged minorities continues to this day. She believed in the power of simple goodness. Goodness was at the heart of Katherine Drexel's life, spirituality, and mission. The goodness of God and our ability to share His goodness by joyfully serving other people. Her spirit lives on in her words. We must attract people by joy in order to lead them to goodness. Kindness is the natural fruit of goodness of the heart. If we wish to serve God and love our neighbor well, we must manifest our joy in the service we render to him and them. Let us open wide our hearts. It is joy which invites us. Press forward and fear nothing. Al's is the spirit of the Eucharist, the total gift of self. Peacefully do at each moment what at that moment ought to be done. Lord, teach me to love others as you love me. These quotes highlight Katherine Drexel's focus on living a life of joyful service, self-giving, and spreading goodness wherever we go. Be Bold, Be Catholic. Katherine Drexel was bold in so many ways. She rejected the comfortable life society intended for her. She gave up her inheritance. She boldly followed God's call even when it meant ignoring social norms. She was passionately serving the marginalized and minorities as a white woman 70 years before the Civil Rights Movement. How boldly are you living your faith? How completely Catholic are you? Katherine Drexel was a bold visionary with a heart that was Catholic through and through. It's time to live our faith more boldly. Saint Katherine Drexel, pray for us. Trust, surrender, believe, receive.
There is a multi-generational problem in the church that deserves our urgent attention. It seems the growing consensus among Catholics is that mass is boring and that it isn't relevant to modern life. Nothing could be further from the truth. And this year, we want to change that mistaken perception forever. Dynamic Catholic is developing a world-class program that will teach Catholics, young and old, about the genius of the mass and show them exactly how it applies to their daily lives. I hope this stirs your soul. I hope you want to be a part of it. So click the button below. Choose your welcome gift. Become a Dynamic Catholic Ambassador today. We had so much fun creating these new welcome gifts for you. I hope you enjoy them. Have a great day. And remember, Be Bold, Be Catholic.
Eternal God.
In whom mercy is endless.
And the treasury of compassion inexhaustible.
Look kindly upon us.
And increase your mercy in us.
That in difficult moments.
We might not despair.
Nor become despondent.
But with great confidence.
Submit ourselves to your holy will.
Which is love and mercy itself.
Amen.
Amen.
Amen.
See you tomorrow.
Thank you, Ambassadors.
You are changing the world.
Have a great day.
Have a great day.
Have a great day.
Hey, Ralph. One of the best ways to be a pilgrim of mercy is to collaborate with God to create holy moments. So I figured while we have a couple of minutes, you could inspire our audience. So, tell me, what is today's Holy Moment Challenge?
It is, make a donation to a charity or a cause you support.
