Kateri Tekakwitha
Stained Glass Window of Kateri Tekakwitha at
St. Gerome Church
BLESSED KATERI TEKAKWITHA
Kateri Tekakwitha, born in 1656 of an Algonquian Indian mother who was a devout Christian and a Mohawk chief who remained a pagan was beatified in 1980 by Pope John Paul II. In accord with the matrilineal traditions of her people Kateri belonged to the Algonquin nation Although she was brought up in the anti-Christian surroundings of the Mohawk community in Ossernenon, in what is now Auriesville, N Y , Kateri held fast to the faith of her mother Both her parents and her brother died in a plague and though Kateri survived the ravages of her illness, it left her delicate for the rest of her life.
Those who had charge of her hated the Christian missionaries and Kateri was persecuted because she refused to give up her Christian way of life "I want to be a Christian, even though I should die for it," she said Her foster parents deprived her of all food or Sunday because she would not work in the fields or that day. Beatings, continual criticism, sarcasm and mockery were her constant lot They tried to force marriage on her but she was inspired to remain a virgin and after she became a Christian she took a vow of virginity.
In time, Kateri made her way to Caughnawaga, a community of Christians There she led a life of intense Christian virtue until he death in 1680 at the age of 24. Her renown for heroic sanctity soon spread and many miracles have beer worked through her intercession.
Kateri Tekakwitha followed the generation of Saints John de Brebeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions thus bearing out the ancient Christian saying that "the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians"
Novena Prayer to Blessed Kateri
Kateri, favored child and Lily of the Mohawks, I come to seek your intercession in my present need: (mention it).I admire the virtues which adorned your soul: love of God and neighbor, humility, obedience, patience, purity and the spirit of sacrifice. Help me to imitate your example in my state of life. Through the goodness and mercy of God, Who has blessed you with so many graces which led you to the true faith and to a high degree of holiness, pray to God for me and help me.
Obtain for me a very fervent devotion to the Holy Eucharist so that I may love Holy Mass as you did and receive Holy Communion as often as I can. Teach me also to be devoted to my crucified Savior as you were, that I may cheerfully bear my daily crosses for love of Him Who suffered so much for love of me. Most of all I beg you to pray for me that I may avoid sin, lead a holy life and save my soul.
AMEN
In Thanksgiving to God for the graces bestowed upon Kateri:
Kateri, Lily of the Mohawks, pray for me.
From Fr. Lovasik's book: KATERI OF THE MOHAWKS