Seven Ways St. Kateri Can Inspire You

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, who is being honored by the construction of a new shrine in New Mexico, with support from the Knights of Columbus, was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 as the first Native American saint. Her shrine is intended to serve as a place of pilgrimage for all people who may find inspiration in the remarkable story of her life, her conversion to Catholicism, and her profound faith.

But what can we learn from St. Kateri, a young Algonquin-Mohawk woman of the 17th century who died young?

Quite a bit, as a matter of fact. Here are just a few takeaways from her life and example.

She bore suffering patiently. Kateri only lived to the age of 24, but in her short life, she endured much pain and loss. A smallpox epidemic swept through her village when she was a child, killing her parents and baby brother while leaving her disfigured and nearly blind. When she was 10, French settlers attacked and razed her village, forcing her to flee; later, when tribal warriors waged a three-day siege, she experienced the horrors of war once again. Some of her family and fellow tribesmen resented her and slandered her for embracing the faith of the French Jesuits. Although treated with injustice, she retained a spirit of joy.

Consider: How do I deal with the sufferings, setbacks, and disappointments in my life? Do I complain and grow bitter over relatively small matters? When faced with bigger issues, do I approach them with courage and virtues drawn from my Catholic faith as Kateri did?

She knew the value of penance. As if her sufferings weren’t enough, Kateri performed additional mortifications. For example, she put thorns on her sleeping mat and, lying down to pray, offered up the piercing pain for the conversion and forgiveness of her fellow Mohawks. And she made frequent use of the sacrament of Confession, which renewed her in spirit.

Consider: Do I offer up annoyances and inconveniences that come my way – things like boring meetings, traffic jams, minor illnesses? And do I avail myself of the grace of confession regularly to keep myself on the path of holiness?

She sought ways of serving others. Kateri performed her duties without complaint, even when they were assigned as punishment for her interest in Catholicism. During a tribal conflict, she and other village girls assisted the Jesuit priest in tending to the wounded, burying the dead, and transporting food and water to the Mohawk warriors on the front lines. She saw the priest continually beseech the Mohawks not to torture and slay their prisoners, and heard him catechize and baptize the captives prior to their deaths. Witnessing the priest’s tireless love and compassion for her people and for their enemies left a profound impression upon her.

Consider: Do I actively seek ways to be of service to others – whether through my parish or council activities, in community service, or even among my neighbors and family?

She discerned and followed her vocation. Kateri felt called to virginity, so she refused to be forced into an arranged marriage. She was drawn to the Catholic faith and took instruction even though the uncle who cared for her rejected the faith. She later made a personal vow: “I have consecrated myself entirely to Jesus, son of Mary, I have chosen Him for husband and He alone will take me for wife.”

Consider: Am I mindful that God has a plan for me, a way to live out my call to holiness? Do I constantly pray for direction and boldly follow the path in which he leads me?

She was inspired by the example of holy men. Kateri was drawn to the Catholic faith not only by the Jesuits but also by fellow Mohawk converts who were known by a native word meaning “the true men who make the sign of the cross.” She was impressed by how these Catholics lived their faith in their daily lives.

Consider: Am I a “true man who makes the sign of the cross”? Are my faith and joy evident to others? Do I willingly make the sign of the cross when I pray in public, such as when saying grace before a restaurant meal?

She sought a supportive community of faith. After her conversion, Kateri relocated to a Jesuit community near Montreal with other Mohawk converts. The community attended daily Mass, had communal prayer, and received the sacraments. They supported and strengthened one another in their Catholic faith.

Consider: Do I seek strength within the Catholic community as Kateri did – in my parish, my council, my family, in the fraternity of my brother Knights?

She died “a good death.” When a person dies in good grace with the Church, it is considered a “good death” or “happy death.” Kateri’s reported last words were “Jesus, Mary, I love you.” Prayer was on her lips at the very end.

Consider: Am I in a state of grace right now? Am I prepared for a “good death” were something to happen to me today? Am I committed to the regular practice of prayer, the sacraments, and growth in virtue so that I might be ready for death at any moment?

About the Author: Gerald Korson, a veteran Catholic journalist, is a member of the Knights of Columbus in Indiana.