uncommon practice for the 17th cen iOt. Kateri embodies both the tury, and as she approached death Gospel and the Native culture she received viaticum to help speed from which she comes. her toward her Lord and insure her —Archbishop CharlesJ. Chaput, OFM Cap safe arrival in eternity. Never one to Member ofthe Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe be concerned about her appearance, Kateri now wished to be clothed in a Kateri was an evangelist. She taught children beautiful outfit so she could greet her heav how to pray. She demonstrated through her exam enly Bridegroom arrayed in her finest dress. ple what rich rewards await those who are devoted On ,1680, the Wednesday ofHoly to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and also to his Week, Kateri died. Her last words on earth Blessed Mother. She evangelized the French Jesuit were "Iesos konoronkwa"— "Jesus, I love priests who had been sent to bring the Gospel to you." her and to the Native peoples. She demonstrated Those who were by her side reported that to them that the beauty of the Christian life and her body took on a lustrous radiance and the message can find a home wherever they are scars from her face disappeared. Two French spread. She truly lived and continues to embody trappers arrived at the mission just as Kateri the spirit ofher name: She who advances or opens died, and seeing the large crowds gathered the way before her. outside her cabin went to find out them For all these reasons, Kateri Tekakwitha is a selves what was happening. Upon entering model for the New Evangelization. the cabin, they saw a beautiful maiden. "We are all very proud ofher because she em Native Americans began their devotion bodies in herself what John Paul II called in- to Kateri almost at once; novenas were culturation — the are the truly inculturated prayed and Masses offered for the repose of members of a particular ethnic group because her soul. Within months, favors were re they personally embody both the Gospel and the H A ported as a result ofher . culture from which they come," said Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap ofPhiladelphia, A Model for the New Evangelization a member ofthe Prairie Band Potawatomi Tribe ' As devotion to Kateri grew, she attracted and the only Native American Catholic arch many as a model ofpurity and . Her bishop in the United States. example continues to teach us to live our sexuality as a gift from God that is not to be squandered outside of the loving committed Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions relationship of marriage between a man and 2021 HStreet NW, Washington DC 20006 202-331-8542 • Toll free 1-877-237-1605 woman. St. KATERI sfe [email protected] She has also come to be honored as a pa www.blackandindianmission.org TEKAKWITHA troness ofthe environment. She teaches us how to love and care for the world because it Mohawk, Mysticand Model too is a gift from God almighty. Contact usfor Mass cards, holy cai'ds and other items. for the NewEvangelization

ALL PHOTOS COURTESYCNS: (FRONT)-CAUSEFOR BLESSED KATERI'SCANONIZATION; KAT-FLYER/7 2012 (POPE)-PAUL RARING; (INTERIOR, EXTERIOR)-BOB ROLLER iYINKI— „fft„ JtJlessed Kateri stands before X ope Benedict XVI has described Kateri When Kateri was only 4, a small pox us as a symbol of the best of Tekakwitha as a "striking example of sanc epidemic claimed her parents and baby the heritage that is yours as tity and heroic charity." Her life reminds us, brother. Kateri survived, but her face was North American Indians' he said, ofthe "historic role played by disfigured and her eyesight impaired. —Blessed John Paul II.June 24,1980 women in the building up of the Church According to legend, she was raised by in America." Her relatives who began to plan her marriage. But and there she discovered women religious, example and interces after meeting with Catholic priests, Kateri decided devout nuns who lived only for Christ and sion, he added, should to be baptized and pursue religious life.When she cared for others in hospitals. When she re inspire all of us in our was baptized on in 1676 at age 20, her rela turned to the mission, she asked the priest if "pursuit of holiness" tives were not pleased. she could enter such a convent. The times, and in our "efforts to She fled the next year to , taking- however, were not right for an order of contribute to the refuge at St. FrancisXavierMission in the Native women religious. She next asked the growth of God's Kingdom in the hearts of Mohawk Nation at Caughnawaga on the mission priest if she could take a vow ofper people today." St. Lawrence River, about 10 miles from . petual ; he welcomed her intention. What can this young Mohawk woman — She reportedly made her first Communion on On March 25,1679 — the feast ofthe Annun this 17th-century convert to Catholicism, this Christmas in 1677. ciation — Kateri Tekakwitha vowed to live as prayerful and hardworking Bride of Christ a Bride of Christ, as a forever. People who experienced both physical suffering and A Devout Indian Catholic remember seeing Kateri kneeling motion persecution for choosing to follow the Lord Kateri attended Mass each morning at the mis less and unresponsive to the world around as his true — teach us today? sion settlement. The Blessed Sacrament was avail her as she made the solemn vow. able throughout the day for meditation, and Kateri Tekakwitha — Lily ofthe Mohawks Vespers was prayed every afternoon. The Indians Her Final Days on Earth Kateri was born in 1656 in a village on at St. Mission who had converted In early 1680, Kateri's health began to the called Ossernenon, now to Catholicism often practiced harsh personal fail. She was forced to remain inside her Auriesville, NY. Her father was a Mohawk penances, including physical punishments that cabin in the mission but she received a regu chiefand her mother a Christian Algonquin injured their health. Kateri joined them in such lar stream ofvisitors. Priests brought her raised among the French. The name Tekak practices, injuring her own health. Communion regularly, which was an witha — she was also called Tegarouita or All who lived or served Tegakhouita — means "she who puts things in the mission soon realized A SOUL WITH MANY GIFTS AND GRACES in order" or "she who advances or opens the that Kateri's holiness was ithin weeks of her conversion, the prayers to the children and helping the sick way before her." something rare. She existed w:missionary priest Father de Lam- and elderly of Caughnawaga. She was said Kateri was born into a period of political only to love and praise God, berville realized that Kateri was a soul with to perform "extraordinary penances." Kateri many gifts andgraces. Itwasa wonderment did not abandon her Mohawk routines and and religious turmoil, 10 years after three of to give thanks to him, and to to the priest that a Native American woman traditions when she became Catholic. She theJesuit martyrs were tortured and killed: express her devotion to the would beso clearly chosen by God for such performed herdaily tasks with greatcare, Rene Goupil, IsaacJogues and Jean Lalande. Blessed Trinity and the prayerful intimacy with Him. Sheastounded sanctifying eachmoment ofherday, thus Indians blamed the "Blackrobes" for the sud Virgin Mary. the missionary priests with herdeepspiritu bringing herselfevencloserto God through ality and her devotion to the Blessed Sacra her normal, average obligations. Everything den appearance ofdeadly white man's dis Kateri once visited the ment. Shetook a private vow ofvirginity and she did was dedicated solely to Jesus eases, including small pox. growing city ofMontreal devoted herself to prayer and !o teaching Christ.