I was just talking about her on Saturday. Someone asked me what I thought Katharine's inspiration was for helping others --particularly in the 1880s focusing on the Indian and Black populations. It is important to note that Katharine was born just before the outbreak of the Civil War -- though she was surely sheltered from much of its impact, the pervasiveness of the racism and discrimination meant that she was more than aware of the situation and the inequalities it bred even after the 13th amendment passed and was ratified. [If you haven't checked out Lincoln yet, you can get some of the contextual background from that movie.]
My response was that she had a great role model in her step-mother, Emma Bouvier Drexel. Of course, the Vatican also argues that it was her love of God, in particular the Holy Sacrament (hence the name of the congregation). I do not discount her religious devotion, but I think Emma Drexel's example helped Katharine to her way of helping others. In another social context, Katharine very well may have devoted herself to silent contemplation of the Blessed Sacrament in a monastery.
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| Emma Bouvier Drexel |
So, I guess the answer to the question is three-fold, at least: the social context in which she was raised, her [step]mother's example of religious charity, and Katharine's faith and the way it impelled her to act.
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