Blessed KATERI TEKAKWITHA, who is also known as Catherine Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks, was born in
1656 at Osserneon, now Auriesville, in what is now New York State. She was the daughter of a Christian Algonquin woman captured by the Iroquois
and who had been married to a non-Christian Mohawk chief. A smallpox epidemic left her with a scarred face and impaired eyesight,
and also left her an orphan.
In 1676 Kateri was converted and baptized a Catholic by Father Jacques de Lamberville, a Jesuit missionary.
She was abused by her relatives and shunned by the tribe because of her faith, but she suffered all with patience and humility.
Taking a terrible chance, she escaped, and travelled alone through 200 miles of wilderness, finally making it to the Christian
Native American village of Sault-Sainte-Marie. In 1679 Kateri took a vow of chastity.
She was known among the Christians for her deep spirituality and austere lifestyle, and God blessed her with the abilities
of Miracle worker. After her death in April of 1680 in Canada, her grave became a site of pilgrimage and a place of miracles for Christian
Native Americans and French colonists.
She is the first Native American proposed for canonization, her cause being started in 1884 under Pope Leo XIII.
She was declared Venerable in 1943, and Blessed by Pope John Paul II on June 22, 1980, and her canonization
is pending the validation of miracles. If you have information related to her cause, contact the Vice Postulator, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
League, Auriesville, NY 12016, the organization working for the canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha.
Her optional memorial is July 14. She is the patroness of the ecology and ecologists, the environment, exiles,
those who have lost parents, and World Youth Day.
God has had a plan for this world from the beginning...all lives, and the lives of entire species come and go, appear and disappear from the
face of the earth. We must be the stewards that God intended us to be, and always strive to care for the earth and
not be the cause of any life's demise. Ask Blessed Kateri to pray for our earth and our stewardship.
THE CHAPLET OF BLESSED KATERI
Begin by kissing the cross, and making the Sign of the Cross with it,
saying "In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."
"Dear Father, we ask you in the Name of your Son so dear to Blessed Kateri, that you would
crown her as one of your Church's Saints, in honor of her purity, chastity and devotion."
"Blessed Kateri, we ask you to pray for us, and to help us in our need, that you would ask
God for (mention your personal petition or need) for us."
On each of the first 8 topaz-colored beads recite the "Our Father." Then ask Blessed Kateri
to intercede with God the Father to repair and heal the earth, and our bodies, and to set
problems aright.
On each of the ruby-colored beads recite the "Hail Mary." Then ask Blessed Kateri to
intercede with Mary the Blessed Virgin to lead us all to Jesus, and to fill our hearts
with the same love that he shed in His blood on the Cross, and that He gave us for all time
in the Holy Chalice.
On each of the crystal-colored beads recite the "Glory Be." Then ask Blessed Kateri to pray
to the Holy Trinity to restore all waters of the earth, and thereby the ecology of the whole world,
blessing the forests, the skies and airs, the fields and the mountains.
Finish by thanking Blessed Kateri for her prayers, thanking Jesus for hearing her prayers,
and by making the Sign of the Cross as described above.
Novena Prayer to Blessed Kateri
Kateri, favored child and Lily of the Mohawks, I come to seek your intercession in my present need: (here mention it).
I admire the virtues which adorned your soul: love of God and neighbor, humility, obedience, patience, purity and the spirit of sacrifice.
Help me to imitate your example in my state of life. Through the goodness and mercy of God, Who has blessed you with so many graces
which led you to the true faith and to a high degree of holiness, pray to God for me and help me.
Obtain for me a very fervent devotion to the Holy Eucharist so that I may love Holy Mass as you did and
receive Holy Communion as often as I can. Teach me also to be devoted to my crucified Savior as you were, that I may cheerfully
bear my daily crosses for love of Him Who suffered so much for love of me. Most of all I beg you to pray for me that I may avoid sin,
lead a holy life and save my soul.
AMEN
In Thanksgiving to God for the graces bestowed upon Kateri:
One Our Father
One Hail Mary
Three Glory Be's
Kateri, Lily of the Mohawks, pray for me.
LITANY IN HONOR OF BLESSED KATERI
Lord have mercy on us.
Christ have mercy on us.
Lord have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven,
have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
have mercy on us.
God the Holy Ghost,
have mercy on us.
Kateri, lily of purity,
pray for us.
Kateri, consoler of the heart of Jesus,
pray for us.
Kateri, bright light for all Native Americans,
pray for us.
Kateri, courage of the afflicted,
pray for us.
Kateri, lover of the cross of Jesus,
pray for us.
Kateri, flower of fortitude for the persecuted,
pray for us.
Kateri, unshakable in temptations,
pray for us.
Kateri, full of patience in suffering,
pray for us.
Kateri, keeper of your virginity in persecutions,
pray for us.
Kateri, leader of many Native Americans to the true faith
through your love for Mary,
pray for us.
Kateri, who loved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,
pray for us.
Kateri, lover of penance,
pray for us.
Kateri, who traveled many miles to learn the faith,
pray for us.
Kateri, steadfast in all prayer,
pray for us.
Kateri, who loved to pray the rosary for all people,
pray for us.
Kateri, example to your people in all virtues,
pray for us.
Kateri, humble servant to the sick,
pray for us.
Kateri, who by your love of humility,
gave joy to the angels,
pray for us.
Kateri, your holy death gave strength to all Native Americans
to love Jesus and Mary,
pray for us.
Kateri, whose scarred face in life became beautiful after death,
pray for us.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.
Let us pray.
O Jesus, Who didst give Kateri to the Indians
as an example of purity,
teach all men to love purity,
and to console Thine Immaculate Mother Mary through the lily,
Kateri Tekakwitha,
and Thy Holy Cross,
Amen.
Kateri Tekakwitha,
pray for us.
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