Kateri Tekakwitha was the daughter of a Mohawk warrior and a Catholic Algonquin woman. She was born in the Mohawk fortress of Ossernenon near present-day Auriesville, New York. When she was four, smallpox swept through Ossernenon, and Tekakwitha was left with unsightly scars on her face and poor eyesight. The outbreak took the lives of her brother and both her parents. She was then adopted by her uncle, who was a chief of the Turtle-clan. As the adopted daughter of the chief, she was courted by many of the warriors looking for her hand in marriage. However, during this time she began taking interest in Christianity, which was taught to her by her mother.
In 1666, Alexandre de Prouville burned down Ossernenon. Kateri's clan then settled on the north side of the Mohawk River, near what is now Fonda, New York. While living here, at the age of 20, Tekakwitha was baptized on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1676 by Father Jacques de Lamberville, a Jesuit. At her baptism, she took the name "Kateri," a Mohawk pronunciation of the name "Catherine" as it was pronounced in French. Tekakwitha literally translates to, "she moves things."
Unable to understand her zeal, members of the tribe often chastised her, which she took as a testament to her faith. Because she was persecuted by her Native American kin, which even resulted in threats on her life, she fled to an established community of Native American Christians located in Kahnawake, Quebec, where she lived a life dedicated to prayer, penance, and care for the sick and aged. In 1679, she took a vow of chastity, as a Consecrated Virgin. A year later, Kateri died at the age of 24, with her last words being "Jesus, I love You!"
According to eyewitness accounts, Kateri's scars vanished at the time of her death revealing a woman of immense beauty. It has been claimed that at her funeral many of the ill who attended were healed on that day. It is also held that she appeared to two different individuals in the weeks following her death.
The process for her canonization began in 1884. She was declared Venerable by Pope Pius XII on January 3, 1943. She was later beatified on June 22, 1980 by Pope John Paul II, and as such she is properly referred to as Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha within the Roman Catholic Church. She is the first Native American to be so honored, and as such she holds a special place of devotion among the Native/Aboriginal Catholics of North America. The final step in the canonization process was the verification of a second miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), who became the first native North American to be raised to the glory of the altars. She was canonized in Rome on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI and is now known as Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Her Feast Day is 14 July in the General Calendar and is celebrated on 17 April in Canada.
She is called "The Lily of the Mohawks," the "Mohawk Maiden," the "Pure and Tender Lily," and the "Fairest Flower among True Men."
In 1666, Alexandre de Prouville burned down Ossernenon. Kateri's clan then settled on the north side of the Mohawk River, near what is now Fonda, New York. While living here, at the age of 20, Tekakwitha was baptized on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1676 by Father Jacques de Lamberville, a Jesuit. At her baptism, she took the name "Kateri," a Mohawk pronunciation of the name "Catherine" as it was pronounced in French. Tekakwitha literally translates to, "she moves things."
Unable to understand her zeal, members of the tribe often chastised her, which she took as a testament to her faith. Because she was persecuted by her Native American kin, which even resulted in threats on her life, she fled to an established community of Native American Christians located in Kahnawake, Quebec, where she lived a life dedicated to prayer, penance, and care for the sick and aged. In 1679, she took a vow of chastity, as a Consecrated Virgin. A year later, Kateri died at the age of 24, with her last words being "Jesus, I love You!"
According to eyewitness accounts, Kateri's scars vanished at the time of her death revealing a woman of immense beauty. It has been claimed that at her funeral many of the ill who attended were healed on that day. It is also held that she appeared to two different individuals in the weeks following her death.
The process for her canonization began in 1884. She was declared Venerable by Pope Pius XII on January 3, 1943. She was later beatified on June 22, 1980 by Pope John Paul II, and as such she is properly referred to as Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha within the Roman Catholic Church. She is the first Native American to be so honored, and as such she holds a special place of devotion among the Native/Aboriginal Catholics of North America. The final step in the canonization process was the verification of a second miracle attributed to the intercession of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), who became the first native North American to be raised to the glory of the altars. She was canonized in Rome on Sunday 21 October 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI and is now known as Saint Kateri Tekakwitha. Her Feast Day is 14 July in the General Calendar and is celebrated on 17 April in Canada.
She is called "The Lily of the Mohawks," the "Mohawk Maiden," the "Pure and Tender Lily," and the "Fairest Flower among True Men."
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and from the website of the Holy See
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
Born in Ossernenon, near Auriesville, New York in 1656
Baptized near Fonda, New York on Easter Sunday, 18 April 1676
Died at age 24 in Kahnawake, Quebec in 1680
Beatified by Pope John Paul II on 22 June 1980
Canonized in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI on 21 October 2012
Feast is 14 July in the General Calendar
Feast is 17 April in Canada
Born in Ossernenon, near Auriesville, New York in 1656
Baptized near Fonda, New York on Easter Sunday, 18 April 1676
Died at age 24 in Kahnawake, Quebec in 1680
Beatified by Pope John Paul II on 22 June 1980
Canonized in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI on 21 October 2012
Feast is 14 July in the General Calendar
Feast is 17 April in Canada
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