St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656 - 1680)

First Native American saint. Also known as Catherine Tegakwitha,  Takwita, or Lily of the Mohawks. Tekakwitha is the name given to her when she was born in 1656. Daughter of a non-Christian great Mohawk chief of the Turtle clan. The village that she was born in was in the east America. now known as New York, which Mohawk Indian country during her time. Her eyesight was damaged and her face was scarred  by smallpox when she was 4 years old. Both her parents died of smallpox during the same time. In 1667 some white men, french Jesuit missionaries Fremin, Bruyas, and Pierron came to her village. Kateri believed that they had brought the message of the one true God to her village and from them she received her first Christianity knowledge. She faced ridicule for converting to Christianity from her people.  On Easter Sunday, 5 April, 1676,  she was baptized at Caughnawaga and given the name Kateri or Katherine. Kateri fled to Quebec, to the mission of St. Francis Xavier du Sault in 1677, and , on the Feast of the Annunciation, after receiving Holy Communion, Kateri took her vow of perpetual virginity. Kateri wore the the Rosary around her neck always, as she loved the Rosary. She spent hours kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament. She died at the age of 24 years, on 17 April 1680 in the Saint Francis Xavier Mission, Quebec. She is known for extraordinary heroic sanctity, impressing not only her own people but the French and the missionaries, which soon spread and many miracles have been worked through her intercession. Her grave in Caughnawaga is visited by many pilgrims, where a monument in her memory was erected by Rev. Clarence Walworth in 1884. She was beatified by Blessed Pope John Paul II on 22 June, 1980 and is known as the "Lily of the Mohawks." Kateri is the first Native American to be declared Blessed. She was designated the patroness for World Youth Day 2002 by Blessed Pope John Paul II. Her miracle to her canonization happen in 2006, when a 6 year old boy, Jake Finkbonner cut his lip during a basketball game in Washington state. Overnight, his face swelled up and he developed a high fever, doctors at Seattle Children's Hospital said a flesh-eating bacterium called Strep A was attacking the boy's face. Over the next few weeks, it destroyed his lips, cheeks and forehead. Doctors gave up and told the family the boy was dying. The family's priest asked his congregation to pray to Kateri on Jake's behalf. The priest chose Kateri because of her facial scars and Indian heritage, as Jake was half Lummi Indian. A representative from the Society of the Blessed Kateri went to the hospital to place a pendant of Kateri on the boy's pillow. The next day, the infection stopped progressing and Jake recovered. Canonized by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 21 October, 2012 at St. Peter's Square, Vatican, as St. Kateri Tekawitha, the first Native American to achieve sainthood.

 

 

A Child's Prayer to St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Kateri, loving child of God and Lily of the Mohawks, I thank God for the many graces He gave you. Help me to be more like you in my love for God and for people.

Give me a great love for the Holy Eucharist and the Mother of Jesus. Make me ready to make sacrifices for Jesus that I may save my soul and be happy with you in heaven.

Kateri, I love you. Always be my friend.
Amen.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Pray for Us, that our love for Christ may deepen.
And may we imitate you
in following God's Will
even when difficulties arise.
In Jesus' name, we pray.
Amen.    

2 Timothy 2:22-26

²² Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³ Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. ²⁴ And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. ²⁵ Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, ²⁶ and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.