Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

The Holiness of Kateri, legacy of her mother and grandmother

The story of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is undoubtedly inspiring and relevant. According to the accounts that have reached us, Kateri received her faith from her mother and grandmother, who taught her to pray and love God from a very young age. In this sense, Pope Francis said: "Many of us also came to know the Lord in our families, especially through our mothers and grandmothers. This is how evangelization begins, and indeed, we must not forget that faith is always transmitted in a 'dialect' specific to mothers and grandmothers" ^[1].

When Kateri converted to Catholicism at the age of 20, she had to face rejection and persecution from her people. Although her family urged her to marry, Kateri, contrary to the laws and traditions of her ancestors, chose to take a vow to dedicate herself to Christ.

This decision, far from being a rejection of her family environment, was rather an intimate response to the call of God that she felt in her heart. The holiness of Saint Kateri lies in her profound devotion and courage to follow Christ, despite social pressure and rejection from her clan, which did not fully accept her faith. In the gospels, Jesus refers to "leaving one's father and mother, and abandoning the paternal house, to go out and preach the Good News" (cf. Lk 9,59-62). This does not mean disparaging the family, but recognizing the urgent invitation to proclaim the joy and hope of the gospel.

Despite the difficulties and rejection from her people, Kateri embraced the faith with extraordinary courage and determination. Her life of mortification and deep devotion to God led her to integrate the mystery of the cross with that of the resurrection, honoring God and lovingly serving her people, especially the most vulnerable such as the elderly and children.

Reconciliation and Peace

Saint Kateri offers us valuable lessons on reconciliation and peace between communities and nations fractured by hatred and divided by social prejudices. Her life also inspires us to seek harmony with nature, in view of the ecological urgency we face today.

Kateri personified how faith can enrich and transform culture, without denying our own identity. Her life of sacrifice, humility, and love towards others makes her a role model for today's generations.

We can find in her example the importance of overcoming the barriers that separate us and working for reconciliation, promoting mutual understanding and respect. Furthermore, her deep love for nature invites us to care for and protect the environment, recognizing our responsibility as human beings and as children of God.

In a world full of divisions and conflicts, the life of Saint Kateri reminds us of the importance of seeking peace and reconciliation, and encourages us to live a life of faith and love that transcends cultural and social differences. May her example inspire us to build a more harmonious and just world, where reconciliation, peace, and care for creation prevail.

May the intercession of this saint of indigenous origin allow us to reconnect and learn from the ancestral wisdom of our ancestors. May reconciliation and peace be possible among us. And may the missionary urgency be understood as a task and joy in cooperating in the liberation of the poor and proclaiming the good news to the oppressed and marginalized of the world.

[1] General Audience of 30 August 2023 - Catechesis. The passion for evangelization: the apostolic zeal of the believer. 19. To pray and to serve with joy: Kateri Tekakwitha, first native saint of North America
(https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2023/documents/20230830-udienza-generale.html)

[2] Christus vivit 55
(https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20190325_christus-vivit.html)

[3] 21 October 2012: Holy Mass and Canonization of the Blesseds James Berthieu, Pedro Calungsod, John Baptist Piamarta, Carmen Sallés y Barangueras, Marianne Cope, Kateri Tekakwitha, Anna Schäffer 
(https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/homilies/2012/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20121021_canonizzazioni.html)