Lent

Catholics have the opportunity, in a unique manner, to seek the intercession of a minimum of 10 saints during this Lenten period.
The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops frequently lists Lenten saints whose celebration days occur during the 40 days of prayer and fasting preceding Easter. The U.S. bishops encourage the faithful to explore and contemplate these sacred lives while participating in Lent.
For 2023, the U.S. liturgical calendar features the subsequent 10 saints whose feast days take place in the season of Lent, commencing on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 22, and finishing on Holy Thursday, April 6. Below are their narratives.
African-American and Native American children are depicted with Mother Katharine Drexel in a painting. (CNS photo from Catholic Standard and Times)
1. St. Katharine Drexel (1858-1955)
A Philadelphia socialite with a fortune, St. Katharine devoted her life and her legacy to supporting Native American and African American communities. She established the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament and managed educational institutions across 13 states for African Americans, along with 40 mission centers and 23 rural schools. In collaboration with her order, she created Xavier University of Louisiana, the sole Catholic and historically Black college in the United States. She also set up 50 missions for Native Americans.