Saints

St. Kateri Tekakwitha

St. Kateri Tekakwitha Biography

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, also known as St. Catherine Tekakwitha or the “Lily of the Mohawks,” was a Native American saint and the first person of indigenous North American ancestry to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She was born in 1656 in what is now New York state, and her parents were both members of the Mohawk tribe.

When Kateri was just four years old, she was orphaned after a smallpox outbreak swept through her village, killing both of her parents and leaving her with scars on her face and impaired vision. She was raised by her uncle and aunt, who were members of the Catholic faith.

As a young woman, Kateri dedicated herself to the Catholic faith and was known for her devotion to God and her kindness towards others. Despite facing persecution and rejection from some members of her tribe because of her conversion to Catholicism, she remained steadfast in her faith and dedicated herself to living a life of prayer and service to others.

Kateri was admired for her deep faith and her commitment to living a life of chastity and poverty. She was also known for her devotion to the Virgin Mary and her love of nature. Kateri died at the young age of 24, and her remains were exhumed in 1943 and found to be incorrupt.

St. Kateri Tekakwitha is remembered for her deep faith and her dedication to living a life that was true to her Catholic beliefs. St. Kateri Tekakwitha is the patron saint of the environment and of ecology. The feast day of St. Kateri Tekakwitha is celebrated on July 14th.

The 8 North American Martyrs

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Detailed Biography of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, also known as the Lily of the Mohawks, is the first Native American to be canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church. She was born in 1656 in the Mohawk village of Ossernenon, in present-day New York State. She endured many hardships and trials in her short life, but she also experienced the grace and joy of God’s love. Here are some of the major moments in her life that show her faith, courage and holiness.
 

Childhood and Smallpox

Saint Kateri was the daughter of a Mohawk chief and an Algonquin woman who had been captured and baptized by French missionaries. When she was about four years old, a smallpox epidemic swept through her village, killing her parents and brother. She survived, but was left with scars on her face and poor eyesight. She was adopted by her aunt and uncle, who were also Mohawk chiefs.
 
Saint Kateri grew up in a culture that was influenced by both the traditional beliefs of her people and the presence of the French Jesuit missionaries, who were called “Black Robes” by the Mohawks. She learned to do the tasks expected of women in her society, such as making clothing, weaving mats, preparing food and farming. She also learned about the Catholic faith from the missionaries, who taught her prayers and stories from the Bible.
 

Conversion and Baptism

Saint Kateri felt drawn to the Catholic faith from an early age, but she faced opposition from her relatives and tribe, who saw it as a threat to their identity and way of life. When she was 18 years old, she met Father Jacques de Lamberville, a Jesuit missionary who became her spiritual guide. He recognized her sincere desire to become a Christian and instructed her in the catechism. On Easter Sunday, April 18, 1676, she was baptized and received the name Kateri, which is a Mohawk form of Catherine.
 
Saint Kateri’s baptism marked a turning point in her life. She dedicated herself to God and vowed to remain a virgin. She also practiced penances, such as fasting, praying for long hours and sleeping on a bed of thorns. She had a deep devotion to the Eucharist and the cross. She said: “I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus. He must be my only love.”
 

Persecution and Flight

Saint Kateri’s conversion caused her to face hostility and ridicule from her relatives and tribe. They accused her of being a traitor and a sorceress. They mocked her for her scars and her piety. They tried to force her to marry or to work on Sundays. They threatened to kill her or to sell her as a slave.
 
Saint Kateri endured these persecutions with patience and forgiveness. She said: “If I should be abandoned by everyone, it would not matter as long as I have Jesus with me.” She also prayed for the conversion of her persecutors.
 
In 1677, Saint Kateri decided to leave her village and join a community of Christian Indians in Kahnawake, near Montreal, Canada. She made the journey of more than 200 miles with the help of two Christian friends and Father de Lamberville’s permission. She arrived in Kahnawake in November 1677.
 

Life in Kahnawake

Saint Kateri found a new home in Kahnawake, where she was welcomed by the Christian Indians and the Jesuit missionaries. She lived in a cabin with Anastasia Tegonhatsiongo, an older woman who became her mentor and friend. She also befriended other young women who shared her faith and ideals.
 
Saint Kateri continued to grow in holiness in Kahnawake. She attended Mass every day and received Communion frequently. She taught prayers and catechism to children and helped the sick and elderly. She formed a group of women who pledged to live chastely and serve God together. They called themselves “the Beloved of Jesus.”
 

Death and Canonization

Saint Kateri’s health was always fragile due to the effects of smallpox. In 1680, she contracted a fever that worsened over time. She died on April 17, 1680, at the age of 24. Her last words were: “Jesus, I love you.”
 
According to witnesses, Saint Kateri’s face became radiant after her death, and her scars disappeared. Many miracles were attributed to her intercession after her death.
 
Saint Kateri was beatified by Pope John Paul II on June 22, 1980, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012. She is the patron saint of ecologists, ecology, the environment, environmentalists, loss of parents, people in exile, people ridiculed for their piety and Native Americans.
 
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is a model of faith, courage and holiness for all of us. She shows us how to love God above all things and to follow His will in every circumstance. She also shows us how to respect and care for His creation and His people. Let us ask for her prayers and imitate her example.
 

Prayers to St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Prayer of Intercession to St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Dear St. Kateri,

I come to you today seeking your intercession and guidance. You were a woman of great faith and devotion, and your example inspires me to live a life that is true to my Catholic beliefs.

Please pray for me and for all those who seek your intercession, that we may find the strength and courage to persevere in living a life that is faithful to Jesus. May your example give us the grace to face any challenge or obstacle that comes our way, and to always remain devoted to God.

Thank you, St. Kateri, for your constant love and support. May I always honor and serve you with a heart full of gratitude. Amen.

 

Prayer to St. Kateri Tekakwitha

O St. Kateri Tekakwitha,

You were a beacon of faith and devotion in your life, and your example inspires me to live a life that is true to my Catholic beliefs. I ask for your intercession and guidance as I seek to live a life that is faithful to Jesus.

Please pray for me and for all those who seek your intercession, that we may find the strength and courage to persevere in living a life that is pleasing to God. May your example give us the grace to face any challenge or obstacle that comes our way, and to always remain devoted to God.

Thank you, St. Kateri, for your constant love and support. May I always honor and serve you with a heart full of gratitude. Amen.

 

Children’s Story about the life of St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Once, in a land now known as New York state, there lived a young Native American woman named Kateri. Kateri was a very special woman, because she was deeply devoted to God and to living a life that was true to her Catholic faith.

When Kateri was just four years old, a terrible outbreak of smallpox swept through her village, killing both of her parents and leaving Kateri with scars on her face and impaired vision. Despite these challenges, Kateri remained strong in her faith and was known for her kindness towards others.

As a young woman, Kateri dedicated herself to living a life of prayer and service to others. She was admired for her deep faith and her commitment to living a life of chastity and poverty. She was also known for her devotion to the Virgin Mary and her love of nature.

Despite facing persecution and rejection from some members of her tribe because of her conversion to Catholicism, Kateri remained steadfast in her faith and dedicated herself to living a life that was true to her beliefs. She died at the young age of 24, and her remains were exhumed many years later and found to be incorrupt.

To this day, St. Kateri Tekakwitha is remembered as a remarkable woman of faith and devotion. She is the patron saint of the environment and of ecology, and her feast day is celebrated on July 14th. May her example inspire us all to be faithful and devoted followers of Jesus, just like St. Kateri was.

 

Reflection on the Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Today, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha on July 14th.

On the Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, we celebrate the life and witness of a remarkable woman who dedicated herself to living a life of faith and service to others. St. Kateri was a Native American saint and the first person of indigenous North American ancestry to be canonized by the Catholic Church. She is remembered for her deep faith and her commitment to living a life that was true to her Catholic beliefs.

As we reflect on the life of St. Kateri, we are reminded of the importance of living a life that is true to our faith. St. Kateri faced many challenges and obstacles in her life, including persecution and rejection from some members of her tribe because of her conversion to Catholicism. Despite these challenges, she remained steadfast in her faith and dedicated herself to living a life of prayer and service to others.

St. Kateri’s example teaches us that no obstacle is too great when it comes to living a life that is true to our faith. She reminds us that we are all called to be faithful and devoted followers of Jesus, no matter what challenges or obstacles we may face.

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, let us ask for her intercession and guidance as we seek to live lives that are true to our faith. May we find the strength and courage to be faithful and devoted followers of Jesus, just like St. Kateri was. Amen.

Saints Similar to St. Kateri Tekakwitha

You may also be interested in reading the Biography of St. Katharine Drexel. Both saints were born in North America. St. Kateri Tekakwitha was a Native American, while St. Katharine Drexel was an American philanthropist and missionary. Next up: Biography of St. Katharine Drexel

 

Also check out our handmade St. Kateri Tekakwitha Medal and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Rosary and St. Kateri Tekakwitha Rosary Bracelet.

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