MEMORIAL OF SAINT KATERI TEKAKWITHA, VIRGIN AND SAINT FRANCIS SOLANO, PRIEST ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 14TH : Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest—Optional Memorial celebrated on July 14th, on the anniversary of his death in the general Roman Calendar (In the United States this memorial is transferred to July 18th). Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and Saint Francis Solano, Priest. The General Roman Calendar celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Camillus de Lellis, priest on July 14th, but the particular calendar for the United States transfers Camilius to July 18th so as to not conflict with St. Kateri. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for those who have lost their parents, children or loved ones, we pray for those going through difficulties during these challenging times, for the poor and the needy, for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏
SAINT KATERI TEKAKWITHA, VIRGIN: St. Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), also known as the ‘Lily of the Mohawks,’ is the first Native American to be canonized. St. Kateri lived a life of holiness and virtue, despite obstacles and opposition within her tribe, she incurred the hostility of her tribe because of her faith. She was devoted to the Eucharist, and to Jesus Crucified. St. Kateri was born in present-day New York, near the town of Auriesville, New York in 1656. She was the daughter of a Mohawk warrior, a pagan chief and her mother an Algonquin who had been converted to the Christian faith by Jesuit missionaries. Her mother was a Christian Algonquin, taken captive by the Iroquois and given as wife to the chief of the Mohawk clan, the boldest and fiercest of the Five Nations. When St. Kateri was four years old, a smallpox epidemic killed her entire family, parents and little brother and left her partially blind, disfigured, and crippled. Her uncle, who had now become chief of the tribe, adopted her and raised her. Her uncle detested the Christians, he hated the coming of the Blackrobes (missionaries), but could do nothing to them because a peace treaty with the French required their presence in villages with Christian captives. She was moved by the words of three Blackrobes who lodged with her uncle, but fear of him kept her from seeking instruction. Her aunts began planning her marriage while she was still very young. As she grew up, Kateri longed for the Catholic faith of her mother, and was very drawn to the missionaries evangelizing near her village. At the age of twenty, St. Kateri was baptized by Jesuit missionary Fr. Jacques de Lambertville on Easter of 1676. St. Kateri’s baptismal name is “Catherine,”(which was translated as “Kateri”) after St. Catherine of Siena. Her uncle opposed her conversion to Christianity, and as a result she was ostracized by her people and treated harshly. When it was clear that her life was in danger, a priest helped her flee to a French Jesuit mission in Montreal, Canada. A Christian Native American village at Sault St. Louis, near Montreal, a journey of over 200 miles alone and on foot. There she lived a solitary life, devoting her life to prayer, penitential practices, and the care of the sick and aged in Caughnawaga near Montreal (where her relics are now enshrined). She rejected an opportunity for marriage. Every morning, even in bitterest winter, she stood before the chapel door until it opened at four and remained there until after the last Mass. She was devoted to the Eucharist and to Jesus Crucified. Her great sanctity, virtue, and love for Christ amazed everyone who knew her. She was also known as a miracle-worker.
For three years she grew in holiness under the direction of a priest and an older Iroquois woman, giving herself totally to God in long hours of prayer, in charity and in strenuous penance. At twenty three she took a vow of virginity, an unprecedented act for a Native American woman, whose future depended on being married. She found a place in the woods where she could pray an hour a day and was accused of meeting a man there! Her dedication to virginity was instinctive: She did not know about religious life for women until she visited Montreal. Inspired by this, she and two friends wanted to start a community, but the local priest dissuaded her. She humbly accepted an “ordinary” life. She practiced extremely severe fasting as penance for the conversion of her nation. She was said to have reached the highest levels of mystical union with God, and many miracles were attributed to her while she was still alive. She died the afternoon before Holy Thursday on April 17, 1680 at the age of 24. Witnesses reported that within minutes of her death, the scars from smallpox completely vanished and her face shone with radiant beauty and the touch of a smile came upon her lips. Devotion to Kateri began immediately after her death and her body, enshrined in Caughnawaga, is visited by many pilgrims each year. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican City on October 21, 2012. St. Kateri is the Patron Saint of Ecologists; ecology; environment; environmentalism; environmentalists; exiles; loss of parents; people in exile; people ridiculed for their piety; Native Americans and World Youth Day.
PRAYER: Lord, You called the Virgin, Blessed Kateri, to shine forth among the Native American people as an example of purity of life. Grant, through her intercession, that all peoples of every tribe, tongue, and nation, may be gathered into Your Church and proclaim Your greatness in one song of praise. Amen 🙏
SAINT FRANCIS SOLANO, PRIEST: St. Francis Solano, also known as Francis Solanus (1549 – 1610) was a Franciscan missionary in Lima, Peru. He was born in Andalusia, Spain, on March 10, 1549 to Mateo Sánchez Solano and Ana Jiménez. The diocese of Cordova, in Spain, was the birthplace of St. Francis, who won many thousands of souls to God. From his earliest years he was characterized by a modest behavior, prudent silence, and edifying meekness. His education was entrusted to the Jesuit Fathers, and later he entered the Order of St. Francis and became a Franciscan in 1569. Soon he excelled every one in the house in humility, obedience, fervor in prayer, and self-denial. St. Francis labored for two decades in Spain and sailed to Peru in 1589. He sailed for South America to preach the Gospel to the Indians in Peru. While near shore the ship struck rocks, and there was danger of drowning. The captain hurried the officers and principal passengers into the only boat there was, and tried to induce the missionary to accompany them; but he refused to do so. Consoling the remaining passengers, he prayed fervently and alone kept up his hope in God’s mercy. At last rescuers arrived and all were taken off in safety.
The missionary, St. Francis did not confine his ministry to Lima. He visited the forests and deserts inhabited by the Indians, and by degrees he won their trust and in this way baptized nine thousand Indians. He was then recalled to Lima, which at that time was like a godless Ninive. St. Francis preached to the hardened sinners, and the whole city became converted. He worked until his death in Lima and elsewhere in South America. Finally after a painful sickness his last words being, “God be praised!” his soul departed this earth on July 14, 1610. He was renowned for his preaching, miracles and virtues. He was declared Blessed by Pope Clement X on June 20, 1675, Rome, Papal State and canonized by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726. He’s the Patron Saint of Argentina; Bolivia; Chile; Paraguay; Peru. Saint Francis’ feast is July 14th and held on July 24th traditionally in Hispanic Countries.
St. Francis Solano, Franciscan ~ Pray for us 🙏
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