Today, we celebrate Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, a holy virgin whose resilient faith, humility, and profound love for the Lord shone brightly amid immense suffering.

Quick facts every Catholic should know about Saint Kateri Tekakwitha:

1️⃣Born in 1656 at Ossernenon (New York), she died on April 17, 1680, at the age of 24 in Caughnawaga, Canada.
2️⃣Known as “The Lily of the Mohawks,” she was orphaned at age four by smallpox, which left her face scarred, and became the first Native American to be canonized.
3️⃣Moments after her death, the scars on her face completely vanished in the presence of witnesses, leaving her skin beautiful and white as a sign of her holiness.
4️⃣Known for her motto “Who can tell me what is most pleasing to God that I may do it?”, she is the patron saint of ecology, the environment, and Indigenous peoples.

Her beautiful devotion reminds us that God sees the purity of our hearts above all outer trials. By offering her physical suffering and limitations completely to Christ, she found ultimate healing and a profound closeness to the Creator. May her intercession guide us to constantly seek what is most pleasing to God, care deeply for our neighbours and the environment, and follow the path of holiness with confidence.