250th Celebration

This summer we will celebrate America’s 250^th Birthday. Saint Katharine would enjoy the celebrations with us. As a young woman, Kate attended the 1876 Centennial exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876. She reacted with “three hearty cheers” as the Centennial procession passed her family’s balcony on Walnut Street. At that time, Kate was a little uncertain about the protocol as she and her family shared Uncle John Lakenau’s carriage with the German ambassador. She trusted she had acted as a polite young lady and not as a child.

In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI canonized St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint in the United States and Canada. Her feast is July 14^th. St. Katharine hoped, in 1937, that St. Kateri’s canonization would show that there is no distinction with God as to persons and that no race had a monopoly on sanctity.

Saint Katharine prayed that the hearts of our government officials would bring religion, justice and peace to our country. We can do the same.

July 16 is the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Many Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament professed their vows on this day. Our prayers and best wishes are with the Sisters celebrating jubilees this year.

Many of us are planning or have planned vacations for the summer. As a young woman, St. Katharine anticipated having “nothing to do,” aside from one hour’s practice and one hour’s sewing. She did keep up with her prayers and daily Mass attendance. She knew that God works 24/7 and is always waiting for us to think of Him.

May your summer be a time of “re-creation,” providing opportunities to re-create yourself both physically and spiritually. May your summer be blessed and fun!

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