There are a lot of inspirational lessons to be learned from St. Katharine, and we have discussed a few of them. For me, the most amazing part of her story comes from examining some of the obstacles that she faced. Honestly, let’s not candy-coat it. She faced displays of outright hatred. I was shocked to read about it, at times. I am in awe of her ability to remain committed to the effort, even in the face of such conflict.
Personally, I have not had that kind of strength. I usually avoid conflict at all costs. Really, how do you walk that fine line between keeping a positive attitude and just avoiding the issues? I know I’m not completely alone here. For example, what are the big topics we are all supposed to avoid? …money, politics, and religion, right? Well, I think a lot of people have stopped avoiding discussions of politics, but maybe that one is good to avoid.
At times, I think we should stay away from such topics. But what else do we avoid? Would it be too controversial to support that one co-worker who seems to be a bit of an outcast? Would others in the office be less likely to include me if I become associated with someone like that?
Let me tell you about some of the hateful things St. Katharine faced in her work. When she began opening schools for African American children in the south, segregationists harassed her work. Someone burned a school in Pennsylvania. In fact, a stick of dynamite was found nearby when they were laying the cornerstone for a new mother house for her religious order. When she bought an old college building to restore and use as part of the Xavier Preparatory School in New Orleans, vandals smashed all the windows. There was even a time that legislators tried to pass a bill making it illegal for a white teacher to teach black students, hoping to stop the Blessed Sacrament Sisters from teaching at a school in Macon.
She donated money for two church renovations in North Carolina with the stipulation that pews be set aside for African American parishioners. She also funded construction of a new church to be used by both black and white parishioners. However, a priest from Philadelphia came to town and was assigned to the parish. He objected, so the old church became the church for the African American parishioners while the white parishioners used the new church.
But here’s the story that stopped my heart for a second. In 1922, in Beaumont, Texas, Klansman posted this sign on the door of a church where Blessed Sacrament Sisters had opened a school:
“We want an end of services here. We will not stand by while white priests consort with ____ (n-word redacted) wenches in the face of our families. Suppress it in one week or flogging with tar and feathers will follow.” (found here, para 32)
People should not have to deal with such hatred on the door of a church! Now, you can take the rest of this story to mean whatever you want it to mean. I’ll just leave it for you like this. A few days later, a violent thunderstorm ripped through town and completely destroyed a building that the Klansman were using as their headquarters. Believe what you will, but that sort of feels a bit Biblical to me!
So this is the inspiration that we might need today. It is difficult to put yourself out there in this culture because there is always someone who disagrees and is willing to sabotage your work. Unfortunately, your work is not all that gets attacked. People are willing to destroy someone’s life to stop a project with which they happen to disagree. Maybe we can call on St. Katharine’s intercession to give us the courage to do difficult work, like she did.
Lord, we are so amazed at the strength of St. Katharine in the face of terrible hatred. We come to You with real fears for the examples of hatred that we continue to see all around us. Please fill us with Your Spirit to give us the courage to face our fears and do Your work. Help us to boldly share the values of Christianity around the world, and let us begin a path to real peace.