The Mohawk chief's daughter set to become a saint:
Extraordinary story of 17th-century Native American girl honoured by the
Pope
- Kateri 'Caterina' Tekakwitha lived from 1656 to
1680 in New York and Canada
- Cared for elderly and sick and also taught children to pray in her short life
- Both parents and brother died from smallpox when
she was aged only four
- 17th-century woman among seven Catholic saints
approved by the Pope
- Hawaii's Mother Marianne of
Molokai from 19th-century also on new list
She had a tough start - born into a
family who all died when she was aged four, brought up by an uncle who
hated Christianity and named 'one who bumps into things' because of her
sight problems.
But Caterina Tekakwitha, a 17th-century Native American who cared for the elderly and sick and lived from 1656-1680 in New York and Canada, became the first Native American to be beatified in 1980 and has now been approved by Pope Benedict XVI as one of seven new Catholic saints.
Caterina is joined on the list by Mother Marianne of Hawaii, who cared for leprosy patients on Hawaii's Molokai peninsula in the 1880s.
Saint: Caterina Tekakwitha lived from 1656-1680 in the U.S. and Canada, and became the first Native American to be beatified in 1980
Caterina, also known as Kateri Tekakwitha, has a national shrine located in Fonda, New York, where she lived as a teenager.
She was born in 1656 in nearby Auriesville but her parents - one of whom was a Mohawk Chief named Kenneronkwa - and brother died of smallpox when she was aged only four.
Caterina survived but was given the unfortunate surname because of her poor vision - as it literally means ‘she who bumps into things’.
She was looked after by her uncle, a Turtle Clan chief who hated Christianity, but a conflict moved her four miles north-west to Caughnawaga, New York, aged ten.
'Gentle and kind': Caterina, also known as Kateri Tekakwitha, has a national shrine located in Fonda, New York, where she lived as a teenager
Despite her disfigured face from smallpox, a number of men were interested in marrying her. But Caterina decided to stay celibate because she believed they only wanted her for political gain.
It was as she thought more about
the potential of a loveless marriage, she started to find out about
Christianity.
Her mother had given her a set of rosary prayer beads but her uncle had taken them away because he did not want her to become a Catholic. But she became more and more interested in the faith.
Caterina then began Catholic teaching in secret aged 18. Her uncle eventually allowed this as long as she stayed in their village.
Remembered: The National Kateri Shrine and Native American Museum is pictured in Fonda, New York
She was persecuted by her fellow villagers for joining the faith but soon escaped to the Mission of St. Francis Xavier - a Canadian settlement.
'ONE WHO BUMPS INTO
THINGS'
-
Names: Kateri
Tekakwitha, Caterina Tekakwitha or 'Lily of the Mohawks'
- Lived: 1656-1680
- Place of birth: Auriesville, New York, USA
- Place of burial: Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada
- Known for: Teaching children, caring for elderly/sick
- Attributes: Gentle, kind and humourous
Caterina was known for her gentleness, kindness, and good humour, according to the website of her shrine in Fonda.
She vowed to stay a virgin for her whole life in 1679 in Canada and taught children to pray, as well as working with the elderly and sick.
She died in 1680 after a serious illness and was buried in Quebec, Canada. She was said to appear to many people after her death and held responsible for miracles.
Legend has it that just minutes after she died she shone brightly and all the marks from smallpox vanished from her face, revealing her true beauty.
Caterina is highly-regarded in
Catholicism because of her commitment to helping others despite all the
persecution and illness she suffered herself.