My Alphabetical Biography List: St. Kateri (Tekakwitha), first Native American saint
"Kateri Tekakwitha: Mystic of the Wilderness," by Margaret R. Bunson
Most of the hermitages at my prayer retreat place are named after saints. A couple years, ago, though, I stayed in the only one that's not - Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. Right away she piqued my interest because she was Native American. I hadn't heard of any Native American saints. Probably because at that point there weren't any. She since has been sainted (or however you word it).
Kateri (born Tekakwitha) was a Mohawk maiden, daughter of a chief, born in 1656. Her mother was a Christian, but died of smallpox when Kateri was 4. When Kateri was about 14 some Jesuit priests came to her tribe and started leading people to JESUS. She became a Christian, though it's said she always had a spiritual nature, and one that balked at the religion of her tribe. By 1677 life with the tribe was becoming dangerous for her, as people couldn't understand her devotion to CHRIST. As the daughter of a chief, her position was more precarious than others, because many believed that to become a Christian was to give up their culture. And so it was at that point that she moved to a Jesuit mission. She thrived there with fellow Native American believers, observing their culture and their faith. She died in 1680, a woman of prayer and devotion, well-respected, and well-loved.
Most of the hermitages at my prayer retreat place are named after saints. A couple years, ago, though, I stayed in the only one that's not - Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. Right away she piqued my interest because she was Native American. I hadn't heard of any Native American saints. Probably because at that point there weren't any. She since has been sainted (or however you word it).
Kateri (born Tekakwitha) was a Mohawk maiden, daughter of a chief, born in 1656. Her mother was a Christian, but died of smallpox when Kateri was 4. When Kateri was about 14 some Jesuit priests came to her tribe and started leading people to JESUS. She became a Christian, though it's said she always had a spiritual nature, and one that balked at the religion of her tribe. By 1677 life with the tribe was becoming dangerous for her, as people couldn't understand her devotion to CHRIST. As the daughter of a chief, her position was more precarious than others, because many believed that to become a Christian was to give up their culture. And so it was at that point that she moved to a Jesuit mission. She thrived there with fellow Native American believers, observing their culture and their faith. She died in 1680, a woman of prayer and devotion, well-respected, and well-loved.
posted by melilotnfosco | 6:29 PM
3 Comments:
so what were the miracles for which they sainted her?
i don't know. she healed some indian boy a year or so ago or something, plus something else. apparently, though, people were being healed by just touching her blanket and whatnot right after she died, so i guess i don't rightly know the qualifications for sainthood.
good for her -- not sure i could be faithful through all that!
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