What’s in a Name - part 5
March 3 is the feast of St. Katharine Drexel. This is a special feast day for us as our 5th daughter is named Katharine Imelda. We are always asked why we spell her name with the weird “a” in the middle. We do our best to use the correct spellings for saints we use - hence Emily, Clare, Julia, Lucy (although technically Lucia), and Katharine. We also have a Bridget of Sweden, not Brigid of Ireland.
So who is Katharine Drexel? She is the second canonized saint in the US, but the first US citizen. She was second of three daughters born in Philadelphia. Her family was always very charitable with widows, single mothers, African Americans, and Native Americans, but once seeing her stepmother die from cancer, she realized money could not protect you from pain and death. She inherited her share of almost 16 million on her father’s death and chose to become a nun, dedicating her life and fortune to serving the African American and Native American people. She established 145 missions, 50 schools for African Americans, and 12 schools for Native Americans. She also financed the only traditional black Catholic college in the US, Xavier University of Louisiana. St Katharine Drexel, pray for us.
Our little spitfire is also named after Blessed Imelda, the patron of first communicants. Blessed Imelda was placed with the Dominicans when she was 9, already dedicating her life to God. She always had a great devotion to our Lord in the sacrament of the Eucharist, but children at this time had to be 12 to receive. When she was 11, on the Feast of Ascension, she stayed behind to adore our Lord after Mass. When the sisters went looking for her, they found Imelda transfixed before a glowing, floating Sacred Host. They immediately got the priest, who gave Imelda her First Communion. She was so overjoyed at achieving her heart’s desire that she died right after receiving our Lord. Her feast day is May 13. Her body is also incorrupt, which means she looks like she is sleeping. Her body has not decayed since her death in 1333. Only a select number of saints are incorrupt.
Why do we name our girls after saints? Just as we look up to beloved relatives and great leaders and inventors, we want our girls to look at the lives of the saints as an example of how to lead a holy life. What better way than to serve others and adore our Lord? Do we worship saints? No, we worship only God. But we can pray to saints for intercession and to watch over our children. We all have a guardian angel and if we are named after a saint, that saint is extra protection for that child.
