Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in a Native American village in what is now New York. Her mother was a Christian Algonquin, and her father was a Mohawk chief.
- Childhood Challenges: When Kateri was about four years old, she survived a smallpox outbreak that killed her parents and brother. The disease left her face scarred and her eyesight impaired.
- Conversion to Christianity: Kateri was introduced to Christianity by Jesuit missionaries. At the age of 19, she was baptized and took the name “Kateri,” after St. Catherine of Siena.
- Devotion and Persecution: After her baptism, Kateri faced persecution from her village for her Christian faith. She eventually fled to a Christian community in Canada to live her faith freely.
- Life in Canada: In Canada, Kateri lived a life of prayer, penance, and caring for the sick and elderly. She was known for her deep devotion to Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
- Death and Sainthood: Kateri died at the young age of 24 in 1680. She was canonized as a saint in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI. She is known as the “Lily of the Mohawks” and is the first Native American saint in the Catholic Church.
- Feast Day: Her feast day is celebrated on July 14th. She is the patron saint of ecology and Native Americans.
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha is remembered for her strong faith and dedication to helping others despite the many challenges she faced in her life.
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