He is a little piece I wrote last week while on the media tour with Benedict XVI. North American Catholics might take particular interest in the story. Bl. Kateri is considered a great part of both Canadian and American heritages among the Native American Peoples.
Msgr. Paul Lenz / Bl. Kateri Tekakwitha
Monsignor Paul Lenz has informed CNA that on Thursday, he will submit the Cause for the Canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha to the Vatican. Tomorrow, April 17, is the feast day of the Native American blessed.
Bl. Kateri has been accorded the title of the patroness of the environment and ecology and is dear to the hearts of many Native Americans. She was born in upstate New York, near Auriesville. Both of her parents were Native Americans. Her father was a Mohawk chief and her mother an Algonquin, who was raised Catholic.
In her lifetime Kateri was frequently afflicted with illness and became partially blind. In order for her to walk, she groped her way around as she walked. She was then named, Tekakwitha which literally means, “One who walks groping for her way.”
Bl. Kateri was baptized when she was 20 years old after being catechized by Father de Lambertville S.J. After her baptism, Kateri was considered an outcast by her tribal community. Living on her own, she professed a vow of perpetual virginity. Poor health and the effects of small pox led to her death in 1680 at the age of 24.
In 1943 Kateri was declared venerable and then in 1980 she was declared blessed by Pope John Paul II. She is the first Native American to be declared blessed and was the patroness of the 2002 World Youth Day.
Hugh McNichol is a Catholic author and journalist that writes on Catholic topics and issues. He writes daily at http://verbumcarofactumest.blogspot.com & http://pewsitter.com “Nothing Left Unsaid!” is his daily column @ http://catholicnewsagency.com Comments are always welcome @ hugh.mcnichol@trinettc.com
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4 users commented in " Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha’s Cause Going To The Vatican "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI worked for the IHS (Indian health service) and indeed Kateri is very beloved among Catholic Indians.
She was not a European clone: some of her biographies hint at her severe “penitential” practices, which are common in Indian spiritual quests. So she proves being Catholic doesn’t mean giving up your culture.
Another aspect that is usually left out: She should be made the patroness of the sexually abused children.
Facing East from Indian Country has an entire section on her:
http://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog/RICFAC.html?show=reviews
GREETINGS and a Big “AMEN” for Msgr. Paul Lenz,
for keeping the light of ‘Blessed Kateri’ alive
for Sainthood!
I too have emailed the Pope asking with the
assistance of St. Rita of Cascia - Patroness of Impossible Dreams that “Blessed Kateri” will soon receive her much deserved Sainthood!
May the Spirit of Blessed Kateri watch over
Msgr. Paul A. Lenz!
White Sparrow
I have been praying for Blessed Kateri’s sainthood for many years. I love her very much! Thank you Msgr. Paul Lenz! May all everyone’s prayers for Blessed Kateri’s sainthood be realized very, very soon.
God Bless!
Alita Ngo
The name of our parish is Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. I pray one day soon the Holy Father will accept the third miracle in behalf of Kateri and that she will be proclaimed a saint. Since she is the patroness of ecology perhaps she will join our Brother Francis as we celebrate his feastday on October 4th.
God Bless You!
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