The first Mohawk saint
Pope Benedict XVI has signed the decree recognizing a miracle performed by the Mohawk-Algonquin woman born in 1656, and known as Kateri Tekakwitha.
The Vatican announced that the Pope has deemed her worthy of sainthood, so she will be canonized at a ceremony sometime in the future.
Tekakwitha was a Native American baptized in 1676 in the Mohawk
Valley. She fled to a mission in Canada after being scorned and
threatened in her home village near what is now the village of
Fonda.
You can read more about Kateri here, in Indian Country.
Earlier this year, a segment on NPR looked at the process of certifying Kateri’s miracle, which was then underway.
Pope Benedict signed decrees Monday approving miracles attributed to six others, in addition to Kateri.
The Blessed Marianne Cope, who also has ties to New York, was also on the list.
Cope was a Syracuse Franciscan sister who cared for leprosy
patients in Hawaii in the late 1880s. She’d previously taught and
helped establish the first two hospitals in central New York in the
1860s.
I really wish the Church would stop adding to the list of “Saints.” Nothing against those added but don’t see the point of it. Thankfully,I don’t have to worry about being added.
Pete, it helps us to recognize that striving to be Christ-like in our service to others is still a human imperative and attainable. We are to be encouraged by the accomplishments of those in our midst. Have a happy Christmas!
Dave, I would agree but if you want to be recognized as a Saint, you pretty much have to become a priest or a nun. It also helps to be persecuted for being a Catholic. Getting killed is even better yet. If you just happen to be married and have some kids, you need to reach a point where you give up on sex.
Good people who are still actively enjoying a sex life are not in the running.
This is wonderful news!
Christmas Correction Police here:
Dave, that should be Merry not Happy Christmas.
Move along citizens. Nothing further to see here.
Let the anti-catholic diatribes begin!
I am glad Kateri has been recognized as a saint. Read about her and learn more about her.
I did read the book and might still have it somewhere. I was both impressed and saddened by the life she was forced to lead. I am not anti-Catholic and in fact have been a Catholic since being born and baptized 69 years ago.
Being Catholic does not mean I have to agree with the Pope, Bishops and Cardinals about everything.
I know the ins and outs, having gone to Catholic schools for 12 years and have studied a good hunk of its writings, including those by Augustine and Aquinas, who by the way, believed there is no such thing as a miracle which are only things we humans have yet to comprehend as natural.