The property is massive and beautifully well-kept. The buildings, many of which Mother Katharine had built herself, are majestic.
Upon entering the room with her artifacts, the kiddos were in awe. To see all of her personal belongings, photographs and even the altar from which she received her First Holy Communion, was not only like walking back in time, but there was such a feeling of tranquility, almost like we were walking alongside her and her incredible example of holiness and goodness toward others.
When we entered the room with her crypt, I was moved, not only from what was the obvious, but by my kiddo's reverence. They reached out and touched the crypt with their heads bowed and offered quiet prayer. One of them even wrote several prayer intentions. The sisters promise to pray for all of the intentions of those who visit the shrine. Many who are not Catholic think that we pray to the Saints or worship them. This is not the case at all. We simply are asking these good and holy people, who certainly have found favor with God, to pray *for* us. Just as we would ask each other to pray for us, we ask them to pray.
The chapel was majestic, not in a "Cathedral" type way, but more in its simplicity. Most of it is wooden and much is decorated with Native American or African American artifacts, as Mother Katharine did a great deal to help them in this country.
Again, the children were most respectful and we offered prayers to Our Eucharistic Lord together. We were privileged that there were relics of St. Katharine placed out that we could touch and although encased, a relic of the True Cross that was given to St. Katharine from a Cardinal. Truly being an opportunity of a lifetime, being able to touch that and seeing my children touch it filled me with a sense of joy that cannot be expressed in words. My heart was full.
The director of the shrine, Sister Pat, was so welcoming and kind. Once in the mission center, she gave each of my children their own copy of St. Katharine's biography written for kids. In her kindness, she also gave them snacks and drinks. Her hospitality meant so much. I had written to her the previous day and told her of our intention to visit the shrine. I also shared my daughter's story with her. Sister took pictures of the kiddos and I in addition to my daughter in front of a lovely statue of St. Katharine. She asked my permission to include them and my daughter's story on the shrine's website and at the crypt itself. I was floored, honored and again moved beyond words. It would be an amazing privilege.
What is this "story?" Most of you already know it. When my husband was shipped to Iraq, I was only a few weeks along with our daughter. Our sons were very little. It, of course, was a scary and uncertain time and I truly believe that it was my "3 F's"- faith, family and friends that sustained me during that year. When I finally learned through an ultrasound that our daughter was indeed a girl, I shared that information with my husband the minute he called. He knew the ultrasound was that day and waited hours in line for a phone. What to name her? We had had all boys. We hadn't ever even had to consider a girl's name. My husband really liked the name Katharine, but there were so many spellings of it. How could we ever decide between them?
He suggested that since I was born and raised in Philadelphia, that we use the spelling of St. Katharine, a native Philadelphian herself. It was decided. :-) I immediately went to the Catholic shop and purchased prayer cards with the saint's image on them and put them away for safe-keeping. Many months later, after a difficult c-section delivery (which my husband, praise God, got to be a part of, via the telephone connection patched in by the kind hospital staff), I took out those prayer cards and began to stuff them in the birth announcements. Imagine my surprise and shock when I saw that my daughter and her namesake shared the same birthday. I knew from that moment that it was indeed Providential about the choice of her name and how we were going to spell it.
The visit ended with a few purchases in the gift shop and a final kindness. The gift shop employee gave me two prayer cards with relics of St. Katharine on them to have for our family. She touched me with them and said a prayer. I again felt a chill go through me as the goosebumps rose on my flesh. I tried to repeat the same to my children before we left. So many prayers for them filled my head and heart at that moment.
When my children all thanked me and my oldest told me that it was the "best surprise," I knew that I had done something right. Just maybe, with God's Grace, we will someday come close to being worthy of the blessings bestowed upon us, not only that day at the shrine, but in life. St. Katharine Drexel, pray for us. Lord Jesus, have mercy on us.
