St. Kateri Tekakwitha was the first Native American saint to be canonized.

Family Influence and Spiritual Guidance

St. Kateri Tekakwitha's family played a significant role in shaping her life and spiritual journey. She was born to a Mohawk father and an Algonquin mother. When she was about 4 years old, a smallpox outbreak in her village took the lives of her parents and scarred her face and eyes. The loss of her parents left a deep void in her heart, but it also ignited within her a desire to seek meaning and solace in her faith. She was adopted by her uncle.

While her family's absence left a profound impact on her, Kateri's spiritual family, including the Jesuit missionaries who introduced her to Catholicism, became instrumental in guiding her towards God and inspiring her unwavering devotion. Kateri was baptized as a teenager. Through the support of her spiritual family, St. Kateri found solace, strength, and the love of God, which ultimately transformed her life and led her on the path to sainthood.

Strained Relationships

One of the most significant sources of tension in St. Kateri Tekakwitha's life was her strained relationship with her uncle, who vehemently opposed her conversion to Christianity. Kateri's uncle, a tribal leader, held firm to the traditional Mohawk beliefs and saw her newfound faith as a betrayal of their cultural heritage. This clash of religious beliefs created a deep divide between them, leading to ongoing conflicts and animosity.

Kateri's uncle, along with other tribal members, resisted her attempts to practice her faith, often subjecting her to ridicule and ostracism. He and others within the tribe sought to undermine her dedication to Catholicism, viewing it as a threat to their way of life. Their opposition only fueled Kateri's determination to remain faithful to Christ and live out her Christian values.

Radical Discipleship

St. Kateri Tekakwitha's decision to refuse marriage and consecrate herself to Jesus Christ was a defining moment in her life. Despite the cultural expectations and pressures placed upon her to marry and conform to tribal traditions, Kateri chose a path of radical discipleship. This decision was met with resistance from her relatives and tribal leaders, who found it difficult to comprehend her commitment to a foreign faith. Despite facing hostility and numerous obstacles, Kateri remained steadfast in her devotion to Christ, refusing to compromise her beliefs.

In search of a more supportive environment, she made a courageous move to a different village, located around 200 miles away, where she could live among a Native American Christian community. This relocation allowed her to find solace, spiritual companionship, and the freedom to practice her faith more openly. Kateri's unwavering commitment to her relationship with Jesus serves as an inspiring example of fidelity and perseverance in the face of opposition, encouraging us to stay true to our faith no matter the challenges we encounter.

Devotion to the Cross

St. Kateri Tekakwitha's life was marked by profound devotion to the Cross of Christ. She found solace and strength in the redemptive love of Jesus, embracing the suffering and sacrifice associated with the Cross. Kateri understood the transformative power of uniting her own sufferings with Christ's. Her unwavering faith and perseverance in the face of trials became an inspiration for others. Despite enduring physical and emotional pain, she found deep meaning in contemplating the Crucifixion.

Kateri teaches us to embrace our own crosses, trusting in Christ's redemptive grace. Her devotion to the Cross reminds us of its central role in the Christian life. Through her example, we are encouraged to find solace, strength, and hope in the Cross, knowing that it is through our union with Christ's suffering that we experience true joy and eternal life.

She died in 1680 at the age of 24. She is called "The Lily of the Mohawks".

St. Kateri adds the grace of Native American cultures to our company of saints. These cultures have shown us how to live in harmony with God’s creation. For this reason, St. Kateri Tekakwitha’s patronages include ecology and the environment.

Her feast day is July 14.

Patron Saint of ...

She is the patron saint of ecology, environmentalism, those who have lost their parents, people in exile, and Native Americans.

Daily Mass Readings for the Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin

The readings for the memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha may be taken from the Mass of the Day or the Common of Virgins.