St. Katharine Drexel chose to give her fortune and life to others.

Born into wealth in 1858, St. Katharine Drexel founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and used her inheritance to fund schools, missions and Xavier University serving Black and Native American communities.

St. Katharine Drexel was born in Philadelphia in 1858 to a very wealthy family and chose to devote her resources and life to missionary work centered on the Eucharist. From an early age she and her family distributed food, clothing and rent money to poor women in the city. After inheriting her father's fortune at age 27, she discerned a religious vocation and, following a 1887 audience with Pope Leo XIII, founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to serve Native American and Black communities. Her work combined Eucharistic devotion with education and social outreach, and she continued that mission throughout her life despite opposition. Key facts: - Born in 1858 in Philadelphia into a wealthy banking family and began charitable work early in life. - Inherited a $15.5 million fortune at age 27 (reported as roughly $520 million in today’s dollars) and dedicated her share to religious and charitable work. - Met Pope Leo XIII in 1887; he encouraged her to found a new religious congregation for the needs she described. - Founded the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and established 51 convents, 60 schools and 145 missions across multiple U.S. states. - Established Xavier University in New Orleans to expand higher education opportunities for Black Americans. - Faced criticism, hostility and threats to her schools and sisters, yet continued her mission until her death in 1955; she was canonized in 2000. Summary: St. Katharine Drexel’s choices led to a lasting network of schools, missions and a university that continue to be part of her legacy, and her approach linked Eucharistic devotion with service to marginalized communities. Undetermined at this time.