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| Fr. Jacques de Lamberville, who brought salvation to Kateri |
July 14th, Feast
of Bl. Kateri (in the United States)
As
we celebrate today the memory of Blessed Kateri Takakwitha, we call to mind the
importance of the missionary zeal in the life of the Church.
Bl.
Kateri was born to a Catholic mother and a pagan father, but lost her parents
to small pox at a young age – she herself was badly scarred by the disease.
Living then with her uncle, who was not a Christian, she nevertheless
maintained an interest in the Church and Christ Jesus.
When
she was twenty years of age, she was baptized by Fr. Jacques de Lamberville, a
Jesuit missionary priest. Kateri entered the Church on Easter, 18 April 1676.
It
is well known how Bl. Kateri mortified herself and grew in the spiritual life.
Moreover, she suffered much persecution and ridicule from her clan, who did not
understand her new faith. Ultimately she was forced to abandon her community
and flee to a Christian community of Natives in Kahnawake, Quebec. In 1679,
Kateri took of vow of chastity, consecrating herself as a virgin. She died on
17 April 1680, at the age of twenty four.
What
is particularly striking about her story is the simple fact (which is more than
a mere statement of history) that, if a Catholic priest had not brought the
faith to her people, Kateri would not be a blessed. Moreover, if a protestant
missionary had been the one to baptize Kateri, she would not be a blessed and
we would not be celebrating her feast today.
The
salvation of the “Lily of the Mohawks” really did depend upon the missionary
work of the Catholic priest, Fr. Jacque de Lamberville. Kateri’s eternal
salvation came through the real historical work of the Church, who spread the
Gospel among the pagan natives of the Americas, baptizing them in the Name and
instructing them in the one true Faith.
How
great must be our zeal for Evangelization, it is a matter of eternal life and
eternal death!
Thank you, Father Reginaldus,
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you have made pilgrimage to Auriesville, NY and the Shrine of the North American Martyrs, and Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. The account of her life and witness, as communicated by the good Jesuits, has helped me to learn humility (not that I'm there yet...) Even having attended the McQuaid in Rochester, we didn't learn much about the history of the Jesuit missionaries to the native residents of the region (and other missionaries) in NY. It is a great unsung story. To those who haven't yet had the opportunity, please plan to visit Auriesville, you won't be disappointed. It's not far from Albany on I-90. Pray for the canonization of Blessed Kateri. Blessed Kateri, pray for us!