| When Kateri was born in 1665 she received her first Indian name “Little Sunshine” (she was born at sunrise and had a sunny disposition). The custom was to receive a new name at about the age of eight when the child’s personality began to show forth. Kateri’s mother wanted her daughter baptized but had to wait for a “Blackrobe” (Jesuit) to come around. This was not likely to happen because the Mohawks typically tortured and killed the missionaries. In 1659 a small pox epidemic (introduced by Europeans) spread through Kateri’s tribe. Many died including her parents. She survived but was disfigured and partially blinded by the disease.
Kateri was adopted by a Christian friend of her mother but her adoptive father also hated the Blackrobes and would not allow the family to practice the faith. At the age of eight her adoptive father, watching her walk about with her hands in front of her so as not to stumble into things, named her “Tekakwitha” which means “she pushes with her hands”. The name referred to her partial blindness, but the Indian expression also referred to an ideal woman who kept her household in order. Kateri did not want to marry but sensed a desire to live for God alone although she did not know of “religious life” or of women choosing to remain chaste for God. From childhood she had followed the natural law of morality never falling into the bad habits of the non-Christians around her. Men tried to seduce her, but she resisted all of their attempts. At 18 she injured her leg and was forced to convalesce. During this time she prayed, meditated and worked at her sowing. She secretly asked a priest to become Christian in spite of her father. The priest said she would have to undergo much suffering at the hands of her father and family. She was determined and the priest took this as a sign that she was serious. She defied her father’s orders and began instruction. Her family began to persecute her again. Kateri was baptized on Easter Sunday 1676 (aged 20) and took the Christian name Catherine (Kateri). This was the first time she had participated in the Mass. She would not receive her First Communion before more formation and study. At the Easter Mass 20 Mohawk children sang the proper Gregorian Chants for the Mass!! She continued her catechism study, attended Mass as often as possible, sang her rosary (as was the Mohawk custom to sing all their prayers) and would not work on Sundays. Because she would not work on Sundays her family would not feed her so she fasted all day every Sunday. The physical and psychological abuse from her family continued ceaselessly, but she never complained. Eventually she escaped from her family with the help of some Indian Christians and a priest passing through her village and went to live in a Christian community in Canada. In the last year of her life Kateri asked to make a vow of virginity. The priest agreed. She became ill and died on Wednesday of Holy Week (April 17) 1680 (aged 24). In the few minutes immediately after her death those present saw the pock marks on her face disappear as if in slow motion photography leaving her face perfectly free of any imperfection like that of a child. This miracle was witnessed by many and testified to under oath (Feast Day: July 14th). |
Cuando Kateri nació en 1665, sus padres la llamaron "Pequeño Rayo de Sol” (nació al amanecer y era de disposición muy alegre). Los indios Mohawks acostumbraban dar un nuevo nombre a sus hijos a la edad de ocho años, cuando la personalidad del niño comenzaba a manifestarse. La madre de Kateri quería que bautizaran a su hija, pero tuvo que esperar a que apareciera un "Blackrobe" (jesuita). Esta posibilidad resultaba bastante difícil ya que los mohawks por lo general torturaban y mataban a los misioneros. En 1659, una epidemia de viruela (introducida por los europeos) se propagó a través de la tribu de Kateri. Muchos murieron incluyendo sus padres. Ella sobrevivió pero fue desfigurada y quedó parcialmente ciega por la enfermedad.
Kateri fue adoptada por un amigo cristiano de su madre, pero su padre adoptivo también odiaba a los Blackrobes y no permitía que la familia practicara la fe. A la edad de ocho años, su padre adoptivo, al verla caminar con las manos delante de ella para no tropezar con las cosas, la llamó "Tekakwitha", que significa "ella empuja con las manos". El término se refería a su ceguera parcial, pero la expresión india también se usaba para referirse a una ‘mujer ideal que mantenía su hogar en orden.’ Kateri no deseaba casarse, y sentía el deseo de vivir solo para Dios, a pesar de que no sabía de la "vida religiosa" o de las mujeres que decidían permanecer castas para Dios. Desde la infancia, ella había seguido la ley natural de la moralidad y nunca había caído en los malos hábitos de los no cristianos que la rodeaban. Los hombres intentaron seducirla, pero ella resistió todos sus intentos. A los 18 años se lesionó la pierna y se vio obligada a permanecer en casa convaleciendo. Durante este tiempo ella oró, meditó y trabajó en sus costuras y manualidades. En secreto le pidió a un sacerdote que la hiciera cristiana sin que el padre lo supiera. El sacerdote le informó que esto significaría mucho sufrimiento para ella a manos de su padre y de su familia. Kateri estaba decidida y el sacerdote tomó esto como una señal de que hablaba en serio. Ella desafió las órdenes de su padre y comenzó a recibir instrucción religiosa. Su familia comenzó a acosarla de nuevo. En el último año de su vida, Kateri pidió hacer un voto de virginidad. El sacerdote estuvo de acuerdo. Después de una enfermedad, murió el miércoles de Semana Santa (17 de abril) de 1680 (a los 24 años). A los pocos minutos inmediatamente después de su muerte, las personas que se encontraban presentes fueron testigos de ver como las cicatrices de su cara ocasionadas por la viruela iban desapareciendo lentamente como en cámara lenta, dejando su rostro, como el rostro de un niño, completamente libre de (Fiesta: julio 14). |
