Késsinnimek - Roots - RacinesMon Petit Coin by Norm Léveillée
Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
The Indian Maiden - Catherine Tekakwitha
Published in 1940 by the Franciscan Fathers at Fonda, New York
"Forward: The ever increasing requests for information concerning Catherine Tekakwitha have caused this short account of the"Lily of the Mohawks" to be presented to the public.
1656:Tekakwitha was born either at Ossernenon or at Gandoaouga (now Auriesville, N.Y.) on the south bank of the Mohawk River.
Her father was a Mohawk Indian chief of the Turtle Clan.
Her mother was a Christian Algonquin Indian who had been taken captive by the Mohawks during a raid made by them upon the French settlers at Three Rivers (Trois-Rivières), Canada.
1659-1660: An epidemic of smallpox caused the death of the father and mother of Tekakwitha. Thereupon she became a member of her paternal uncle's household.
1666: A war party, led by De Tracy and composed of French soldiers and Canadian Indians, destroyed the Mohawk Indian castles on the south shore of the Mohawk River.
1667: After the French and Canadian Indian war party had departed from the vicinity, the Mohawk Indians reconstructed their villages or castles on the north side of the Mohawk River. The inhabitants of Gandaouaga erected a new strongly fortified castle, just one quarter of a mile west of the present village of Fonda (NY), to which they gave the name of Caughnawaga. To this new castle came Tekakwitha in the company of her uncle.
1669: Father Pierron, S.J., and Father Boniface, S.J., ministered to the Christian Mohawk Indians at Caughnawaga where a small bark chapel, dedicated to St. Peter, had been erected.
1675: Father James de Laberville, S.J., arrived at Caughanwaga in the place of Father Boniface.
1676: Tekakwitha was baptized in St. Peter Chapel at Caughnawaga on Easter Sunday, April 18, and took the name of Catherine (Kateri in the Indian (Iroquois) language).
1677: Catherine Tekakwitha, persecuted in her native village of Caughnawaga near the shore of the Mohawk River, fled to the village of the Chritian Indians at Caughnawaga (Kahnawaké) on the bank of the St. Lawrence River where she arrived during the autumn of the same year.
1677: On Christmas Day, Catherine Tekakwitha received her Frist Holy Communion.
1679: On March 25, Catherine Tekakwitha made a vow of perpetual virginity with the consent of her spiritual guide, Fr. Cholenec, S.J.
1680: Catherine Tekakwitha died on Wednesday, April 17, in the village of Caughnawaga where she had remained since her arrival during the autumn of 1677. (Holy Week)
1884: The Archbishops and Bishops of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore petitioned the Holy See to institute the process for the beatification of Catherine Tekakwitha.
1931: After years of preparation, the Ordinary or Informative Process in the cause of Catherine Tekakwitha was arranged and resulted in the appointment of the Diocesen Tribunal at Albany, N.Y.
1938: During June, the Historical Section of the Congregation of Rites, at Rome, declared that the documents in the case of Catherine Tekakwitha are complete, geniune, and trustworthy; that they establish Catherine Tekakwitha's renown for holiness, and a solid basis for final judgment that her virtues were heroic.
1939: On May 20, His Holiness, Pope Pius XII, approved of the Introduction of the Cause of Catherine Tekakwitha.
1940: Quoting the words of the Rev. John J. Wynne, S.J., the Vice-Postulator for the Cause of Catherine Tekakwitha -- "By a special blessing of Divine Providence November 26 of this year has been set, with the approbation of the Holy Father, as the date for the first discussion on the virtues of the Servant of God, Catherine Tekakwitha."
The following are additional events after the brochure was published in 1940.
1943: On January 3, Pope Pius XII declared Catherine Tekakwitha as Venerable.
1980: On June 22, Pople John Paul II beatified Kateri Tekakwitha as Blessed.
The brochure of 1940 also described "Caughnawaga":
"Caughnawaga was fortified "castle" of the Mohawk Indian during the years 1667 to 1893*, located on the hill known as the "Sand Flats," about one-quarter of a mile west of the present village of Fonda, N.Y. Catherine Tekakwitha lived there during the years 1667-1677.
Historical records of the year 1669 mention a small bark chapel called "St. Peters," which the Indians had built at Caughnawaga, as being in charge of the Jesuit, Father Boniface.
During 1675, Father James de Lamberville, S.J., arrived at Caughnawaga as the successor of Father Boniface, S.J.
On Easter Sunday, April 18, 1676, Catherine Tekakwitha, "The Lily of the Mohawks," was baptized at Caughnawaga within St. Peter Chapel by Father James de Lamberville, S.J.
These facts are epitomized in the inscription on the bronze tablet of the stone monument which was erected during the summer of 1938 by the Franciscan Friars on the site where once stood Caughnawaga, the Mohawk Indian Castle. *Caughnawaga was totally destroyed during the year 1693 at which time a second war party of French soldiers and Canadian Indians invaded the Mohawk Valley and burned the castles of the Mohawk Indians."
The above was reproduced from The Indian Maiden - Catherine Tekakwitha, A brochure issued by the Franciscan Fathers (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) at Tekakwitha Friary, Fonda, NY, Second Edition 1940.
Editor's note: The Franciscan Friars are still today in charge of the National Kateri Shrine in Fonda. In the 1950's, excavation of the Caugnawaga Castle revealed the dimensions of the original castle next to the Tekakwitha Spring. Please visit the National Kateri Shrine site at:
In order to return to the Késsinnimek - Roots - Racine articles from the National Kateri Shrine, you may need to use the BACK or RETURN button on your browser or to close this new page.
Norm Léveillée
Index of Articles
Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines
Copyright © 2003 & 2004 Norm Léveillée
Tous droits réservés
Created 1 Feb 2003