In his catechesis on apostolic zeal and evangelization, Pope Francis focused on the figure of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first indigenous female saint from North America.
The Pope emphasized that Kateri had to face many difficulties throughout her life. However, she overcame them by opening her heart to Jesus.
SUMMARY OF POPE CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH:
Dear brothers and sisters,
In our continuing catechesis on apostolic zeal, we have been reflecting on the spread of the Gospel through the witness of men and women of every time and place. Today we consider Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the first native American saint of North America. The daughter of a Mohawk chief and an Algonquin mother, Kateri was scarred by smallpox at an early age; her sufferings drew her to a great love of the cross and a close identification with Christ in his redemptive love for humanity. Persecuted for her faith, she found refuge in a Jesuit mission. Her deep piety and prayer, marked by devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the Rosary and acts of penance, was accompanied by charitable concern for the elderly and the sick, and for the instruction of children in the faith. A year before she died, Kateri sealed her complete dedication to the Lord by taking a solemn vow of perpetual virginity. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s example shows us the power of the Gospel to bear rich fruit in a holiness expressed in quiet, everyday actions that nonetheless have the power to transform our world.
I extend a warm welcome to the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, especially the cyclists from England; I assure them of my prayers for their efforts in the fight against cancer. I also greet the altar servers from Malta and the various groups from the United States of America. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless you all!
KG
