Saint’s Life Story

Daughter of a Mohawk Chief

Kateri was born in 1656 in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon near the town of Auriesville, New York. She was the daughter Kenneronkwa, a Mohawk chief, and Kahenta, an Algonquin Christian woman, who had been captured in a raid, then adopted and assimilated into the tribe.

Orphaned by Smallpox

She was four-years-old when her parents and younger brother died of smallpox. The disease also attacked Kateri, scarring her face and damaging her eyesight. The Jesuits’ account of Tekakwitha said that she was a modest girl who avoided social gatherings; she covered much of her head with a blanket because of the smallpox scars. Due to her poor vision, Kateri was named “Tekakwitha”, which means “she who bumps into things”.

Adopted and Pressured to Marriage

Kateri was adopted by her two aunts and an uncle, who was strongly opposed to Christianity. As was the custom, she was pressured to consider marriage around age thirteen, but she refused.

Met Jesuit Priest

In the spring of 1674, at age eighteen, Kateri met the Jesuit priest Jacques de Lamberville, who was visiting the village. She told him her story and her desire to become a Christian. After this, she started secretly studying the catechism with him. Her uncle finally relented and gave his permission for Kateri to become a Christian, provided that she did not try to leave the Indian village.

Baptized and Named Kateri

Father Lamberville baptized Kateri at the age of 19, on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1676. Kateri was renamed “Catherine” after Saint Catherine of Siena (Kateri was the Mohawk form of the name). For joining the Catholic Church, she was ridiculed and reviled. She even received death threats from members of her own tribe. They also treated her like a slave. For example, when she refused to work on Sunday, she received no food that day. 

Fled to Canada

Although she suffered greatly for her Faith, Kateri remained steadfast in it. On the advice of a Father Lamberville, she fled from her village and walked over 300 miles to a settlement of Christian Indians, near Montreal, Canada. The St. Francis Xavier settlement became her new home. Here, she was known for her gentleness, generosity, and virtuous character.

Deeply Devoted Dedicated to Care of Sick and Poor

Kateri lived a life dedicated to prayer, penance, and care for the sick and elderly. She was deeply devoted to the Eucharist and to Jesus Crucified.  At 23, she made a vow of virginity, a heroic and unprecedented act for a Native American woman, who was expected to marry to insure her future survival. She also consecrated herself to the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Her Death

On April 17, 1680, at the age of twenty-four, Kateri died. Her last words were: “Jesus — Mary — I love you.” Witnesses stated that within minutes of her death, the pock marks from the smallpox completely disappeared and her face lit up with radiant beauty. She is often referred to as a lily, a traditional symbol of purity associated with the Virgin Mary. Devotion to Kateri is responsible for establishing Native American ministries in Catholic Churches all over the United States and Canada.

Born:                    1656 in Ossemenon, New York

Died:                     April 17, 1680 in Kahanawke, Quebec, Canada

Beatified:             June 22, 1980 by Pope John Paul II

Canonized:          October 21, 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI

Feast Day:            April 17, July 14 (US)

Patron Saint:    Canada; Ecology; Environment; Exiles; Loss of Parents; Native Americans; Orphans

Sources:

• St. Kateri Tekakwitha: First Native American Saint (catholicfire.blogspot.com)
• CatholicSaints.Info » Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
• Kateri Tekakwitha – Wikipedia

Prayers

Video Link

St. Kateri Tekakwitha – YouTube (Catholic Online)