"Jesos Kono-ron-kwa" ["Jesus, I love you."]
last words of Kateri in her Mohawk language.
She died on April 17th 1680 at age of 24.
On February 21st, Benedict XVI set the date for Kateri Tekakwitha's canonisation in Rome. Who was this revered Native American? Kateri was born in upstate New York and died on April 17th 1680. She was only 24. Her mother was an Algonquin Indian and had been raised among the French at Trois Rivieres in Quebec. Her father was a Mohawk Indian. Her parents and brother died of small pox. Kateri barely survived this dreaded disease, her face badly disfigured and her eyesight nearly destroyed. At the age of 12, she asked the missionary priests for baptism. She was taunted and ridiculed for her Christian faith. Leaving her village at 21, she lived at Sault, near Montreal. Even in this small village, she was harassed and taunted. Her own people accused her of sinful relations with the white fur-trappers. In the end she won all by her piety and purity of life.
At 22, she and a friend, Mary-Teresa Tegaiaguenta asked if they could start a Native religious community. The Church authorities refused. In 1678, she joined a group called the Holy Family, living an exemplary Christian life, practicing severe penances. Her days were spent teaching children, helping the sick/aged until she died suddenly. Fifteen minutes after her death before many eye witnesses, the ugly scars on her face disappeared. From that day, the people proclaimed her a saint.
332 years later, this October 21st, she can officially be addressed as
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha.
She is the patron saint of people who have lost parents; ecologists; environmentalists; people in exile and my favourite, "people who are ridiculed for their piety." Like all great saints, she teaches us 'God is not only judge but friend', that 'the Lord always comes with grace', that 'God is always filled with mercy and love' and that, 'it is ok to be pious and not to be afraid of others who will ridicule you for your looks.' St. Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us.
What a miraculous story! It touches the heart on many layers. It is even more moving because she was a Native with strong religious beliefs who persevered. Now all Natives can rejoice in this cannonisation to have one of their own spiritual (teachers) to be a Saint. Atheists can marvel at this recent and 'modern day' saint to change their delusions. Thanks for sharing this incredible story of redemption.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful, as usual, Father Ron. I've always wondered about the story of Kateri Tekakwitha and you told it so well. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteIrene
Thanks
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