Kateri Tekakwitha was a young Mohawk woman who lived in the 17th century. The story of her conversion to Christianity, her courage in the face of suffering and her extraordinary holiness is an inspiration to all Christians. Follow us as we share with you the life of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, who, we pray, will soon become the first Native American Saint in the United States of America. Many private miracles have already been attributed to Blessed Kateri, who is also known as the Lily of the Mohawks. Kateri was born in 1656 of an Algonquin mother and a Mohawk Chief in the Mohawk fortified village of Ossernenon (modern day Auriesville) in what is now upstate New York. When she was only 4 years old her parents and brother died of smallpox. Kateri survived the disease, but it left her face badly scarred and her eyesight impaired. Because of her poor vision, Kateri was named "Tekakwitha", which means "she who bumps into things". Another translation is “she who puts things in order”, attesting to her kind nature.
After the death of her parents Kateri was taken in by her uncle who was bitterly opposed to Christianity. He distrusted all Europeans because they not only introduced smallpox and other deadly diseases into the Indian community, but often treated the Indians badly. When she was 8 years old Kateri's foster family, in accordance with Iroquois custom, paired her with a young boy whom they expected she would marry. However, Kateri wanted to dedicate her life to God. This life‐long desire of hers met with many obstacles and delays. One of these was the relocation of her tribe in 1666. At that time a war party composed of French soldiers and hostile Indians from Canada destroyed the Mohawk strongholds on the south bank of the Mohawk River, including Ossernenon. The surviving Mohawks moved to the north side of the river and built their fortified village of Caughnawaga, the present‐day Fonda, New York. Today you can visit a national shrine there, where she was baptized on Easter Sunday April 5, 1676, and lived her teenage years. It was only at age 18 that Kateri was able to begin instructions in the Catholic Faith, and then only in secret because of the ongoing opposition
of her uncle. Finally, however, he relented and gave his consent for her to become a Christian, provided she did not try to leave the Indian village. Her conversion brought ridicule and scorn on the part of the villagers. She was subjected to unfair accusations and her life was even threatened. Nearly two years after her baptism she escaped to the Mission of St. Francis Xavier, a settlement of Christian Indians in Canada, also named Caughnawaga (Kahnawake). Here she was known for her gentleness, kindness, and good humor. On Christmas Day 1677 Kateri made her First Holy Communion and on the Feast of the Annunciation in 1679 made a vow of perpetual virginity. She also offered herself to the Blessed Mother Mary to accept her as a daughter. During her time in Canada Kateri taught prayers to children and worked with the elderly and sick. She would often go to Mass both at dawn and sunset.
Imprimatur: Most Rev. Howard J. Hubbard, DD Bishop of Albany, NY (Text Content Courtesy of: The National Shrine of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha)
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