Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
LILY OF THE MOHAWKS
Tekakwitha was born in 1656 of a Christian Catholic Algonquin mother and a traditional Mohawk Chief in a village called Ossernenon along the Mohawk River.
A small pox epidemic swept through the Mohawk village and claimed the lives of Tekakwitha's parents and baby brother. She survived the disease but it left her eyesight impaired and her body scarred. It also left her physically weak for the rest of her life.
Orphaned at age 4, she was adopted by her aunt and uncle.
In 1670, St. Peter's Mission was established in Caughnawaga (now Fonda, New York). Four years later, Father James de Lamberville became responsible for the new mission. Tekakwitha met Father de Lamberville and expressed her desire for baptism.
On April 5, 1676 she was baptized and was given the name Kateri. In August, 1677, Kateri was encouraged and assisted to leave her Mohawk village and live at Sault St. Louis, St. Francis Xavier mission near Montreal. After a long and strenuous trip, she arrived at the Sault with the help of friends. Finally, she would be able to practice her Christian ways with greater openness and freedom.
On Christmas Day, 1677, Kateri received her first Holy Communion. On March 25, 1679, Kateri pronounced her vow of perpetual virginity. Her life was devoted to teaching prayers to children and helping the sick and aged until she became very frail and weak. On April 17, 1680, she died at the age of 24. her last words were: "Iesos konoronkwa," "Jesus, I love you."
A few minutes after her death, those around her bedside witnessed the ugly scars on her face suddenly disappear.
On January 3, 1943, she was declared Venerable by Pope Pius XII.
On June 22, 1980, she was beatified by Pope John Paul II in Rome.
IN HER FOOTSTEPS
By Sr. Kateri Mitchell, SSA
Kateri Tekakwitha
Noble Turtle, Mother Earth
Gathers Her People
East, South, West and North
Mohawk Algonquin Lily
Filled with love
Grateful woman
we honor you.
Sister Turtle Clan
strong, kind and true
faithful woman
we honor you.
Tekakwitha
hope filled dignity
joyful woman
we honor you.
Woodland Cross of Life
fasting and prayer
mystical woman
we honor you.
Precious Flower
virgin, fair and free
holy woman
we honor you.
Friend with compassion
helper and healer
lover of peoples
we honor you.
Gift of Nations
gentle and forgiving
loyal witness
we thank you.
Our Sunshine
vision, bright and keen
open, generous
we thank you.
Creator centered
creation filled
air, sky, water
we thank you.
Celebrate our gathering
clans, tribes, nations
justice, harmony
we thank you.
Family united
Body, blood, life
serving, sharing
we thank you.
In your sacred journey
Blessed Kateri
we honor you
we thank you.
