Blog January 2026 Serving God

During January of 1891, Katharine Drexel was preparing for her first profession, when she would dedicate herself to serving God and God’s African American and Native American people.

As a younger woman, she had reflected on an inscription at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, in Philadelphia: "Going forth, teach ye all nations, baptizing them" "And that wonderful promise - think of it!  Behold, I am with you all days … even to the end of the world. Think of it …think what it means."

Even if we feel alone or isolated, we are not alone. We have God present with us always and we have family or friends from church who are our companions on our journey through life.

Saint Katharine had been in a thirty-day retreat prior to her first profession. We don’t always have a month to set aside for prayer but we can spend a few minutes in prayer. Pope Leo XIV announced a Jubilee Year of St. Francis. Mother Katharine had requested and received permission to include the Franciscan cord as part of the original habit of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. We might try to say St. Francis’ Peace Prayer occasionally this year.

Heaven knows we need more vocations like Mother Katharine’s but that may not be our calling. Saint Katharine noted that: “Many people do not have a vocation for the religious life as we have, but they can do a great deal by publishing what God has done for them.”

“Publishing” can include acting in a manner consistent with the Lord’s love for each person. Something as small as a smile or a phone call can lift a person’s spirits tremendously and, without knowing it, let them see the love of God through you. Saint Katharine wrote: “Every virtue we see in others is really the Beauty of God shining forth in them.” This can also apply to the virtues we practice; others can see the Beauty of God shining forth in us.

Lent is approaching. “Lente” in music means to go slowly. We can go slowly in Lent by trying to do one little extra thing each day – one extra prayer, phone call, or anything that fits our life style. Saint Katharine knew that the Sisters were busy during the day, teaching, visiting the homes of their students, and doing ordinary household prayers and chores. She once urged the Sisters to avoid adding rigid fasts or penances but to undertake to “Fast interiorly. To Fast from uncharitable thoughts and words” or from unkind or ungentle words. If unkind thoughts spring up, we could try to say a quick prayer for that person or situation.

As we approach Lent and Easter, may we benefit from the graces we can obtain during these days. May we re-commit to our own vocations, to boost the Beauty of God so that God shines ever more brightly through us.

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

Blessings for the New Year to one and all!

Mary and Joseph started the new year by presenting the Infant Jesus to the shepherds and to the three Magi. Then the Holy Family presented Him in the Temple. Anna and Simeon recognized the Holy Family, that their Infant was the Messiah. How did Anna and Simeon see that special aspect of this family, among all the thousands of families presenting babies over many years? Saint Katharine noted that “activity follows from the spirit of prayer.” Their prayer life enabled Simeon and Anna to see beyond surface qualities and to see the God in the Holy Family.

Perhaps our prayer life could help us to see beyond the superficial, to see the God in others. If Jesus is truly our light, does His Light shine through our actions? Blessed James Alberione, SSP, said that we represent Christ “as an extension of his humanity” (Christ Lives in Me, p.43). Christ no longer walks the face of the earth but we do. We can be Christ’s hands, feet, and heart.

January 9, 1895, was the day on which Saint Katharine pronounced her vows for life. Her motto, inscribed on her ring at that time, was “My Beloved to me, and I to Him.” This phrase, from the Song of Songs, referred to the love of a married couple. For Saint Katharine, it represented her personal relationship with the Lord and, subsequently, her relationship to all of His children. May we see all others as fellow children of our Savior and God, Jesus Christ.

January also includes Rev. Martin Luther King’s day. Dr. King advocated working for social justice in a non-violent way. Saint Katharine said that “Working for social justice can take many paths.” Whichever path we take, it can help us to appreciate the paths others have taken or are taking. Both believed in the importance of education. Dr. King said: “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.’ Saint Katharine found “no more elevating work than education.”

Dr. King believed in non-violence. Saint Katharine wrote letters to newspapers, members of Congress and to the President in support of racial justice as well as supporting the schools the Sisters had founded and the NAACP. We can find our own path through prayer and other means

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

Awakening

 

With the first Sunday of Advent, we begin a new liturgical year. Many of us make “New Year’s Resolutions” around January 1^st, to revive our earthly life. Perhaps we could make similar resolutions to re-awaken our spiritual life.

St. Katharine noted that “The first Christmas was the beginning of the Human Life of Jesus. This Christmas is the beginning of a new life in us.” Jesus came as a baby, taking little steps at first. We can take comfort in the thought that we, too, can begin our new spiritual life with small steps. Caryll Houselander noted that “The Christ–life in us follows a natural growth.” A child advances from shaky small steps to confident adult strides. We can strengthen our Christ-life by small steps. If done for God, nothing is small in God’s eyes, St. Katharine reassures us.

St. Katharine urged the Sisters to “Arise from your Christmas thanksgiving to find your Jesus with you.” He is always with you, whether you are in your prayer corner or interacting with people throughout the day. When we receive Holy Communion, we hold Jesus as closely as when the Blessed Mother held her Infant Son on that first Christmas.

Where we see Jesus, we also see Mary, from Christmas to Good Friday, Easter and beyond. Toward the end of December, we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We can remember our own families in prayer and with gratitude during this season. We are closer in spirit to those who no longer walk the earth when we receive Communion as we were when they were with us. May this Christmas season awaken a new spirit of appreciation for the members of our families.

Reminding us that following Christ does not guarantee an easy life, we also remember the first martyrs, St. Stephen and the Holy Innocents. May we celebrate life in all its manifestations.

May the New Year bring you many blessings and happy memories.

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

Formerly the Director of Archives for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, I often commented on Sr. Annette Marie O’Donnell’s blog. When she retired from writing her blog, I was asked to write a blog. St. Katharine said we are typewriters in the hands of God; it has been my privilege and pleasure to act as St. Katharine’s typist.

Called to be Saints

 I am Stephanie Morris, formerly the Director of Archives of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS). Sister Annette Marie O’Donnell had begun this blog as “Companions on the Journey” but has retired from actively writing. St. Katharine said we are all typewriters in the hands of the Lord; it has been a pleasure and privilege for me to serve as St. Katharine’s typist for many years.

We have just celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of the canonization of St. Katharine Drexel on October 1, 2000.  Mother Katharine probably thought: “Oh, holy angels, all this fuss over little me!”  In one of God’s coincidences, Mother Katharine wrote on October 1, 1917, that we are all called to be saints. Few of us, I expect, will be canonized a Saint, but we can all be saintly people.

How do we become saintly people? We can do little, daily things well and have a prayerful attitude. We are constantly in the presence of God; are we mindful of this? Yes, our careful driving has kept us safe on the roads but God and His army of guardian angels helped. St. Katharine wrote: “Open your heart to the God that calls you now.” God is inviting you into a deeper relationship with Him. Open your heart to hear His call.

On November 1, we celebrate All Saints’ Day. All saintly people are honored on that day, including you. All you have to do is to be a saintly person is to do the best you can right where you are, You are rooted somewhere; by prayer and reception of the Eucharist, you can blossom beautifully and become a flower in God’s garden.

On November 2, we celebrate All Souls’ Day. Throughout the month of November, we remember the souls of those who no longer walk the face of the earth. We hope and pray that many are enjoying the Beatific vision of God. We hope and pray that others will soon be able to join the Church Triumphant in Heaven as well.

November is also a time of elections. Please pray that the voters will be informed and that our elected officials will lead us in compassion and justice.

We remember all of our veterans on Veterans’ Day, November 11. We thank them for keeping our nation safe. We pray for those who did not come home and for those who came home injured. We pray for the families of those working for peace and for those who have worked for peace.

Mary, Queen of Peace, pray for us.

 

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

October 2025 Season

 

I am Stephanie Morris, formerly the Director of Archives of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS). Sister Annette Marie O’Donnell had begun this blog as “Companions on the Journey” but has retired from actively writing. St. Katharine said we are all typewriters in the hands of the Lord; it has been a pleasure and privilege for me to serve as St. Katharine’s typist for many years.

We start the month with the 25^th anniversary of St. Katharine’s canonization and the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Therese visited Pope Leo XIII to request permission to enter the Carmelites at fifteen. He said if God wants it, it will happen. This was during the same year when Katharine Drexel asked Pope Leo XIII for missionaries for the United States and he suggested that she become a missionary herself.

October is the beginning of the fall season. Schools are in full swing. Trees are changing colors; the squirrels are gathering and burying nuts and the deer are showing their winter coats. Saint Katharine’s father, Francis A. Drexel, called the beauty of nature “God’s picture gallery.” Do you see the beauty of God’s creation in the changing scenery?

We also celebrate the feast of the Holy Guardian Angels. Do you think of your guardian angel? When I merge into traffic, I say “thank you.”  I don’t specify who I am thanking but my guardian angel is my first choice.

We also celebrate the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. Saint Katharine and Louise Drexel Morrell were secular Franciscans. Saint Katharine requested the privilege of wearing the Franciscan cord with its indulgences. Louise was buried wearing her Franciscan habit.

The month of October is the month of the Holy Rosary. Saint Katharine called the Rosary the “symbol of love.” If you look at all of the mysteries, you see the life of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Mother’s role in our salvation. May your meditation on each mystery deepen your faith, hope and love.

May appreciating the beauty of God’s creation bring you to a re-creation of your sense of beauty and of God’s graces.

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., ASBS

September 23, 2025

Saint Katharine and Our Pilgrimage of Hope

I am Stephanie Morris, formerly the Director of Archives of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and an Associate of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (ASBS). Sister Annette Marie O’Donnell had begun this blog as “Companions on the Journey” but has retired from actively writing. St. Katharine said we are all typewriters in the hands of the Lord; it has been a pleasure and privilege for me to serve as St. Katharine’s typist for many years.

In this Jubilee Year of 2025, we are invited to be Pilgrims of Hope. Pilgrims are people on a journey to a sacred place. For us, our journey leads us to eternity, to union with God.

How can we define “a sacred place”? Many shrines or cathedrals have been designated “sacred places” for the Jubilee Year. But anywhere God is, is sacred. After receiving God in Holy Communion, you are united uniquely with God, you are in a sacred place. Yes, we could travel to Rome or to a closer shrine, but we can focus on the presence of God within us anywhere.

In 1915, Saint Katharine noted that “God has helped all who hope in Him.  God does not expect us to be absolutely perfect. It is a great thing to have faults if you only make use of them, God expects us to try day after day in spite of failure.” No one likes to admit to have faults but trying to overcome weaknesses or faults can make us a better, more Christ-like person. Actors with stage fright discipline themselves to quiet the fears and give the best performance they can. We don’t expect baseball pitchers to pitch a perfect game EVERY time but we can hope that they try to do so. We can also try to be the best we can each day.

On October 1, 1918, Saint Katharine wrote: “Be saints for God’s greater glory, every one of you. You are called to it.” How can we become saints? By doing what God asks of us, to be the best Christ-like person we can be. Jesus is God which makes Him a saint and then some, and He “did all things well, little ordinary actions well done.” We can do ordinary actions well; big things may never be asked of us.

Monsignor Alexander Palmieri, Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Saint Katharine, asked: “What makes an ordinary woman of man like us a saint?” Internal focus. “From Mary, Queen of Saints, to the most recently canonized Servant of God – every Saint in his or her life always directed the attention of people to one other than themselves… to Jesus Christ.”

So, there is hope for us, to strive to be the saint God created us to be. Saint Katharine reassures us that “God does not require of us a perfect work,” but that we keep trying. We can honor the anniversary of Saint Katharine’s canonization by doing ordinary things well as we strive to become saints.

Stephanie Morris, Ph.D., A.S.B.S.

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