Even after miracles they did not repent

[rich]

Even after miracles they did not repent

"Our Savior laments Chorazin and Bethsaida, cities of Galilee,
because after such great miracles and acts of goodness they did not
repent. Even Tyre and Sidon, cities that surrendered to idolatry and
other vices, are preferred to them. Tyre and Sidon are preferred for
the reason that although they trampled down the law, still Chorazin
and Bethsaida, after they transgressed natural and written law, cared
little for the miracles that were performed among them."
by Jerome (347-420 AD) (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 2.11.22.1)

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July 14th - Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
Also known as
Catherine Tekakwitha
Lily of the Mohawks
Protectress of Canada
Tegakouita
Tegakwitha

Memorial
17 April
14 July (United States)
25 March on some calendars

(1656-1680)
In the year of 1655 a young Indian maiden was captured during the
savage Iroquois invasions. Her name was Kahenta, born of the
Algonquins and later converted by the Black Robes to Christianity.
Taken to the territory of the Mohawks, she was wed to a non-Christian
Mohawk chief, of the Turtle Clan, which allowed her to escape torture
and death.

Located near Auriesville, NY, along the South bank of the Mohawk
River, lay the Village of Ossernenon in which they lived. Their union
blossomed, and in 1656 brought unto them a child. This child, a girl,
was named Tekakwitha the "One Who Puts Things In Order". Soon after
followed the birth of her baby brother.

At the age of four, smallpox attacked her village, taking the lives of
her parents and baby brother, and leaving Tekakwitha an orphan.
Although forever weakened, facially scarred, and partially blind,
Tekakwitha survived the dreaded disease. Following five years of
ravagement by the disease the survivors moved the village to the North
bank of the river to begin life anew.

Tekakwitha was adopted by two Aunts and her Uncle, also a Mohawk
chief. They took her with them and moved to a Turtle Clan Village
called Gandauoque(Caughnawaga).

Although her mother had been baptized, she had not, but in her heart
she was a Christian. She was unhappy with her life and sought much
solitude, both because of her poor eyesight and because she felt in
her heart that much of the life of the Mohawks was wrong.

When she was around ten the Iroquois were vanquished by the French.
There followed the signing of a peace treaty that allowed the Black
Robes access to the Mohawk villages. Even though hated by her people,
the Black Robes came to preach their faith and spread their beliefs.

Despite opposition to Christianity from her tribe, family and
especially her uncle, Tekakwitha often met with the priests who came
to the village to learn all she could about God. In many ways her life
was the same as all young Indian maidens. It entailed days filled with
chores, spending happy times with other girls, communing with nature,
and planning for her future.

St. Peter's Mission was established in 1670 in the Village of
Caughnawaga and a chapel was constructed in one of the longhouses.

Though she was only able to understand bits and pieces of the faith
preached by the missionaries, it continued to stoke the fires that
burned within her to learn all she could of Christianity. She wanted
more than anything to be baptized and live her life as a Christian.

Father James de Lamberville came and took charge of St. Peter's in
1674. One day, while Tekakwitha was at home nursing an injury to her
foot, she was visited by Father de Lamberville. Tekakwitha could not
contain the burning desire she had to learn all she could of
Christianity and be baptized. So she poured her heart out to Father de
Lamberville and he agreed to give her religious instruction which
would lead her to baptism.

Through all of this Tekakwitha was increasingly scorned by her people
and although she had to suffer greatly for her faith she remained firm
in it.

At the age of twenty she was baptized on Easter Sunday, April 5th 1676
and given the name of Kateri or Katherine.

At this time she became the subject of increased cruelty and derision
from her people. Her people hated her for her conversion to
Christianity, as well as her refusal to marry and to work on Sundays.
Kateri made it clear to all that she wished to be a bride of Christ,
to remain forever a Virgin and to never marry among mankind. And for
all this she was taunted, tortured and held in contempt by all.

Because of increasing hostility from her people and because she wanted
to devote her life to working for God, in July 1677, Kateri stole away
from her village and fled to go and live at the Mission of St Francis
Xavier Sault, in Sault St. Louis, near Montreal. This was the new
Christian Colony of Indians in Canada. It took over two months, and
traveling on foot about three hundred miles through woods, rivers and
swamps before Kateri arrived at the Mission in the Autumn. Because of
her determination in proving herself worthy of God and her undying
faith through all she was allowed to receive her first Holy Communion
on Christmas day 1677.

Although uneducated and unable to read and write she lived her life
dedicated to doing good for others. A life filled with prayer,
penitential practices, devoted to teaching the young, and to the care
of the sick and elderly.

Through all of these wonderful works she did and all she gave to
others there were still some unhappy with her. There were some of her
people who still wanted Kateri to marry among the tribes. They thought
that if they attacked her virtue that she would be forced to marry one
of the braves. So during a winter hunt they falsely accused Kateri of
having sinful relations, with one of the braves, at a private spot she
often sought out for private prayer. Never did they count on the
strength of her faith to give her the patience to endure these lies
till the truth was exposed. Kateri continued with her good works and
flourished.

On March 25, 1679, Kateri became a Bride of Christ and after receiving
Holy Communion pronounced her vow of perpetual virginity.

Kateri and Mary Teresa (Tegaiaguenta) became great friends and in 1679
were allowed to begin a small convent at the Mission.

As a result of the tribulations and austerities in Kateri's life she
was struck down in her last year with a terrible illness. She suffered
great pain but never released her hold of the faith in Jesus Christ
and the Mother Mary. She knew in her heart that when the time came she
would go to her sweet heaven to be with them both.

That time came on April 17th 1680, on the Wednesday of Holy Week at
around three o'clock in the afternoon. She was twenty-four years old,
and like the flower she was named for, her life was short and
beautiful. Her last words were spoken in terrible pain and then she
could speak no more and fell into a deep sleep and died. Moments after
dying, her scarred and disfigured face miraculously cleared and was
made beautiful by God as she passed through the Gates of Heaven. This
miracle was witnessed by two Jesuits and all the others able to fit
into the room.

She was declared Venerable by Pope Pius XII, on January 3rd 1943 and
beatified by Pope John Paul II in June 1980. The Blessed Kateri
Tekakwitha is to be canonized in October of 2012.

Devotion to Kateri Tekakwitha has been responsible for establishing
many Native American ministries in Catholic churches throughout many
countries. She was the first Native American to be declared Blessed.
She is the Patroness of environment and ecology. Shrines to Kateri
have been erected at both St. Francis Xavier, Caughnawaga, her
birthplace at Auriesville, NY and many other places. Pilgrimages by
hundreds of thousands at all these sites continue today.

Though Kateri passed through the Gates of Heaven her Spirit remains
here forever to guide US along the true path. She continues, even
today, to call to all of God's Children, both young and old, and lead
them to respond to God's will and become saints of their own.


Saint Quote:
Go and exhort men to penance for the remission of their sins and for
peace. You will find some among the faithful, mild and good, who will
receive you with pleasure, and willingly listen to you; others, on the
contrary, without religion, proud and violent, will censure you, and
be very hostile to you; but make up your minds to bear all this with
humble patience and let nothing alarm you. Be patient in tribulations,
fervent in prayer, and fearless in labor.
--St. Francis of Assisi

Bible Quote
He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in that
which is greater: and he that is unjust in that which is little, is
unjust also in that which is greater.
[Luke 16:10] DRV


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Canticle Isaiah 2

The mountain of the house of the Lord

In the last days, at the end of time,
the mountain of the house of the Lord
will be prepared high above all mountains.
It will be raised above the hills
and all nations will come to it.

And many peoples will come there and say
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the house of the God of Jacob.
Let him teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths”.
For from Sion the law will go forth,
from Jerusalem the word of the Lord.

And he will judge the nations
and rebuke many peoples.
They will beat their swords into ploughshares
and their spears into sickles.
Nation will lift sword against nation no longer.
No longer will they go out into battle.

People of Jacob, come:
let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.