The Catholic Standard and Times

Little Mohawk princess:
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

Part 4 of 4

By Susan Brinkmann
CS&T Correspondent

“We’re going to Canada to start a new village of Christian Indians,” Anastasia said. “When we are finished, an Indian named Hot Ashes will come for you. Until then, little princess, may the Great Spirit keep you safe.”

Life in the Mohawk village was very hard for the Christians. Because of their peaceful ways, they were mocked by the other villagers, who called them names and made fun of Jesus and Mary.

Christians were not permitted to work on Sunday because it was a holy day set aside for God. Because of this, Kateri’s uncle would not let her eat for the whole day.

“If you don’t work, you won’t eat,” he said.

Kateri did not complain because of the special Friend who lived in her heart. She had waited for so long, and now He was here. Whenever she felt sad, or pangs of hunger would stab at her stomach, she would hug herself and whisper: “It’s okay, Great Spirit. With you, I can do all things!”

One afternoon, while Kateri was sitting alone in her longhouse, an angry warrior burst in and swung a war club in the air above her head.

“Give up your Christian faith!” he growled, and threatened to kill her. But she had waited too long for the Great Spirit. Never again would she walk the earth without Him.

Instead of cowering in fear, she looked into the warrior’s angry eyes and said quietly, “You can take my life, but you will never take my faith.”

Her peacefulness shocked the warrior. He threw down his club and ran away.
Months passed before Anastasia and the other Christian Indians built the new village called Kahnawake (CAN A WOK EE) hundreds of miles away.

When they finished, Hot Ashes came to the village and spoke to Kateri while she was picking berries in the woods.

“Tonight, when your aunt and uncle are asleep, slip out of the longhouse and meet me at the place where the fallen tree lays in the river,” Hot Ashes said. “Bring only a few things.”

Kateri and Hot Ashes traveled for many days and nights in his canoe before they reached the new village. Anastasia was waiting on the shore for her, and Kateri’s heart rejoiced to see her and all of her Christian friends again.
She lived in Anastasia’s longhouse, and was free to practice her faith as much as she wanted. She made lots of new friends and prayed with them in a big church, where the body and blood of Rawennio was kept in a tabernacle day and night.

“Soon, you will receive three more sacraments,” Anastasia said. “In the sacrament of penance, you will be able to cleanse your soul of all sin. Confirmation will make your faith even stronger. Then you will be ready to become the bride of Jesus. You will receive your first holy Communion, and when you eat the body and blood of Jesus, you will become one with Him.”

A great longing to become the bride of Jesus burned in her heart from that day forward. She studied very hard, and spent hours sitting in the church in front of the tabernacle. How she longed to receive this most blessed Sacrament!

Until then, she practiced every Christian virtue as well as she could.

To keep herself from getting selfish or greedy, she denied herself things she didn’t really need, like an extra bowl of sagamite or her favorite berries. To keep herself from getting proud, she never bragged about herself, and let others go first. To keep herself pure, she always dressed modestly and didn’t go out alone with boys.

On the day of her first penance, she told the Black Robe every sin of her past life, and received absolution. He pronounced her clean of all stain of sin. She was ready to receive her first holy Communion.

There was excitement throughout the whole village on the day Kateri was to become the bride of Jesus.

Once again, she wore the white buffalo dress and put the feathers of a young dove in her hair. As she walked down the aisle and took her place in the pew, tears of joy shone in her eyes.

Just before Communion, the priest anointed her head with holy oil and confirmed her in Christ, flooding her soul with seven new gifts from the Great Spirit. Her heart wanted to burst with joy.

But then the great moment came, when the priest lifted a small white host from a golden plate and placed it upon her tongue.

Kateri’s eyes closed and her head bowed, and all who watched said that her face began to glow like a lantern in the night. Just the sight of her was enough to move many to tears. From then on, people would rush to find a pew near her so they could watch her receive Jesus.

Kateri blossomed like a lovely white flower while she lived in Kahnawake, but the bitter cold winters were too much for her weak health. She was only 24 years old when she became very sick and lay dying on her sleeping mat.

“Don’t cry for me,” she told her friends, who were weeping beside her. “I will continue to be your friend, even when I’m in heaven with the Great Spirit. Just pray to me and I will help you.”

Then she closed her eyes and her soul flew to heaven.

While the priest was still sitting next to her, he saw all the pockmarks disappear from her face.

“Miracle!” he cried, and watched her skin begin to shine with a strange new radiance. Never had she looked so beautiful.

He knew it was a sign from God that the little Mohawk princess had just entered heaven, where she lives with her beloved Rawennio in everlasting joy.

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha is the first native American to be declared blessed by the Holy Father in Rome. Her feast day is July 14.

Want to know more about her? Visit http://www.katerishrine.com/

Contact Susan Brinkmann at fiat723@aol.com or (215) 965-4615