Lest the week slip by without mentioning a simple yet powerful witness to the Faith who was celebrated this past Thursday, I wanted to mention Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, who lived a short life from 1656 to 1680. Born in what is now New York State, she was the daughter of a Mohawk warrior and a Catholic Algonquin woman whom he had saved from captivity with the Iroquois. Smallpox took her parents and brother when she was only four, and left her scarred and with limited vision. Her uncle adopted her, and she was desired by many for marriage. Having been taught the Faith by Jesuit missionaries at about the age of eleven, she vowed to live her life as a Christian virgin. Baptized at twenty, persecution and potential death was her cross until she escaped to a Catholic community in what is now Quebec. For the next four years her life was one of intense prayer and mortification. She died at the age of twenty four. The late Blessed Pope John Paul II beatified her on June 22 in 1980.
Those involved in Girl Scouting know of Kateri. There is a Catholic Religious award given in her name. This award is reserved, at least in our Diocese, to the diocesan bishop at the scout convocation. I remember, however, in my first assignment (1973 or 1974) presenting this award in the parish setting. [I hope it was "legal"] It was a great honor, and it reintroduced me to this wonderful young Native American woman. She, along with the North American Martyrs, give us examples of courage and deep faith. Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for this nation, for your people, and for those involved in Scouting.
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