Homily for Feast of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Saturday, July 14, 2012:

What can we possibly learn from a young Native American woman who died in her mid-20s over 330 years ago, a young woman not baptized until age 20 whose Christian life lasted only four years? Who was orphaned at age four and died single and in a strange place, hundreds of miles from her closest relatives? Well, reading quite a bit over the past few days about the patroness of our parish, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the answer is “quite a bit.” We have quite a bit that we can learn, individually and as a parish community, from the life and example of this soon-to-be saint.

Things like Courage. Trust. Perseverance. Faith.

Born near Auriesville only ten years after the martyrdom of St. Isaac Jogues and his companions at the hands of the Mohawks, Tekakwitha was the daughter of a Mohawk Chief and a Catholic Algonquin woman who had been abducted from her village in Quebec. It was no small miracle that at age four young Tekakwitha survived a disease outbreak that took the lives of her parents and brother. Still, the disease weakened her body, disfigured her face, and damaged her eyesight. Raised by her uncle and aunt, she must have recalled her mother’s teaching her the faith as a small child when years later Jesuit missionaries returned to her village. The desire arose in her to learn about Our Lord and despite the severe discouragement of her foster-parents and entire village, this desire only grew in young Tekakwitha, and at age 20 she was baptized at the Easter Vigil and took the name Kateri.

Perhaps the village’s only Christian, she was subjected to the scorn and ridicule of her people and even physically threatened, so eventually she moved to her mother’s native Quebec. There she received First Eucharist and took a vow of perpetual virginity, dedicating her life to Jesus as her spouse. And where only a few years later she succumbed to illness at age 24.

Why do we remember her today? Why is our faith community entrusted to her protection and patronage? I think the answer comes down to the radical life she lived. As a Christian, Kateri was noticeably different from her people.

• She lived in a time of war, violence and cruelty and here was this model of peacefulness.

• Called the Lily of the Mohawks, she became known for her purity and her dedication to chastity.

• Mocked and ridiculed, she was devoted to Our Blessed Lord and united her sufferings to His, enduring her great hardship and anguish with grace.

Such that she had a profound effect on all those she encountered.

Kateri was the personification of Christ’s encouraging words in today’s Gospel: “do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” and because she was unafraid to proclaim our Lord, we remember her to this day. For Jesus promises that “everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.”

We will do well to follow Kateri’s example. To boldly proclaim our Savior even in the midst of opposition and hatred. Witnessing to peace in a culture of violence and death. Patiently enduring suffering with our eyes firmly on the goal. To be a sign of Christ’s presence to the world around us.

And to one day live eternally in heaven, with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.