Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

APRIL 17: THE LILY OF THE MOHAWKS
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha
Lay Virgin

Died: 1680

Her name “Tekakwitha” means “she who bumps into things.” She was the daughter of a Mohawk chief, which makes her a princess. She remained firm in her desire to live her life as a virgin. She had great love for the Holy Eucharist. She would walk miles everyday, even in deep snow, to go to Church. Her excitement for the Holy Mass was so great that she would stand before the door of the Church an hour or two before the Church opens.

Kateri Tekakwitha (feast day April 17), the first Native American to be canonized. This humble Mohawk princess was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II in 1980 and canonized in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI, who entrusted her with “the renewal of the faith in the first nations and in all of North America.”

Please read true story about her faithfulness walking miles and going to Holy Mass even they mocked her faithful persecuted in Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for us! 🤟💜🙏🕊️🔥📿🙏

Christianity arrives
A new peace treaty with the French required the presence of Jesuit missionaries in villages with Christian captives. The new chief had to tolerate these “Blackrobes,” as he called them, but he did not like their presence in his village. Three missionaries even lodged with the chief and his family when they came into town. Their words had a great influence upon Kateri, but she dared not let her uncle know.

By the age of 19, however, Kateri asked to be baptized, and took the name Kateri, meaning “Catherine,” after St. Catherine of Siena. 

Because she was now a Christian, Kateri withstood great persecution from those in her tribe. She refused to work on Sunday, as it was the Lord’s Day, so the tribe withheld food from her on Sundays. They threw stones at her, mocked her, slandered her, and even tried to marry her off. Pope Francis observed:

Witnessing to the Gospel is not only about what is pleasing; we must also know how to bear our daily crosses with patience, trust, and hope. Patience … to tolerate difficulties and also to tolerate others, who are sometimes annoying or cause difficulties. Kateri Tekakwitha’s life shows us that every challenge can be overcome if we open our hearts to Jesus, who grants us the grace we need.

Click on North American Sanctity: St. Kateri Tekakwitha