St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Feast Day: July 14
“I am not my own; I have given myself to Jesus.” – St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Lily of the Mohawks
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, known as the Lily of the Mohawks, is honored as the first Native American saint from North America. Her feast day, celebrated on July 14, commemorates her life of faith, purity, and devotion to Christ, lived with heroic courage in the midst of suffering and cultural opposition.
A Childhood of Suffering and Faith
Kateri was born in 1656 in Auriesville, New York, to a Mohawk father and an Algonquin Christian mother. At the age of four, a smallpox epidemic claimed the lives of her parents and younger brother, and left Kateri permanently scarred and partially blind.
Despite growing up in a culture that was often hostile to Christianity, Kateri was deeply influenced by the memory of her mother’s faith.
Baptized and Consecrated to Christ
At the age of 19, after years of secret instruction, Kateri was baptized, taking the name Catherine (Kateri in Mohawk). Her decision to follow Christ led to mockery, rejection, and harsh treatment from members of her own community.
Kateri made a private vow of perpetual virginity, offering her life completely to Jesus, a radical act of love and dedication almost unheard of in her culture.
A Life of Prayer and Penance
Seeking a place where she could freely live her faith, Kateri fled to the Christian mission at Kahnawake, near Montreal, Canada. There, she lived a life of intense prayer, charity, and penance, dedicating every moment to growing in holiness.
She was known for her gentle spirit, deep devotion to the Eucharist, and her practice of offering sacrifices for the conversion of her people and the needs of others.
Holy Death and Lasting Legacy
Kateri died at the young age of 24, in 1680, after a life of profound faith and holiness. Witnesses recorded that within minutes of her death, the scars on her face miraculously disappeared, and her skin became radiant and beautiful.
She was canonized in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming the first Native American saint from the United States and Canada.
Patron of the Environment and Native Peoples
St. Kateri is the patron saint of Native Americans, the environment, and ecology, reflecting her deep love for both God’s creation and her people.
A Witness to Courage, Purity, and Faith
St. Kateri Tekakwitha’s life reminds the faithful that holiness transcends cultures, backgrounds, and hardships. Her example of purity, prayer, and love for Christ continues to inspire people of every nation to live courageously for the Gospel.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us!
