Memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin

Today's Mass Readings

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mt 11:28)

Today we celebrate the life and witness of a Native American woman, St. Kateri Tekakwitha. A daily reflection cannot do justice to this important young saint of 17th Century North America. Yet, the Mass we offer in her name is perfectly sufficient to call upon her heavenly intercession.

It is a blessing that we have her story, her Vita, which was written by two Jesuit priests who worked in the mission where she lived, Claude Chauchetière and Pierre Cholenec. Writing independently some years after her death, they gave a saintly account of her conversion, deeds, and sacrifices. For example, after she was baptized, some of her people thought she was betraying them and their values. They wanted her to take a husband and have children, in order to sustain the village. She loved children and understood the need, but she felt a devotion to God, like a spouse, and would help the community as she was. Yet, they continued to push her. They would give her the worst jobs, thinking that this would make her give up her ideas. Yet, Kateri would do them cheerfully.

The process of her canonization is a story in itself. Kateri was declared venerable in 1943 by Pope Pius XII. In 1980, she was declared blessed by Pope St. John Paul II. In 2006, a boy in the state of Washington, who was half Native American, was infected with a rare disease that brought him close to death. Through community effort and prayers to Blessed Kateri from around the world, the disease stopped spreading. Jake Finkbonner lives to this day, thankful to God and Kateri. After investigations into this matter, Kateri was canonized among the saints in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. She was the first indigenous North American to be given such an honor.

For Today: All of us are called to be saints. We may not be canonized after our death, but the virtues we live and the sacrifices we make will be known to the heart of God. The life of St. Kateri can inspire us and show us an example of how to be a saint.

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB