First native American to gain sainthood
Catholics in and around the U.S. community of Fonda, New York, are celebrating this weekend.
Tomorrow, the town's Catholic heroine Kateri Tekakwit will become the first Native American saint.
Although she died 300 years ago at just 24, the church contends her spirit is still capable of miracles.
According to the Vatican, she healed a five-year-old boy struck by deadly flesh eating bacteria in 2006 thanks to the family's prayers.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER DAVID WHITE SAYING:
"And his family prayed specifically to Kateri and whatever the details of it were the infection just dried up and healed and that doesn't happen medically."
The saint-to be was born in 1656 to a Mohawk father and an Algonquin-Christian mother.
When she was just four, a small pox epidemic left her badly scarred and nearly blind, but her injuries didn't stop her from devoting herself to Christianity.
Pilgrims believe the waters at Kateri's shrine still have healing powers.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOE FONDANO, KATERI DEVOTEE, SAYING:
"My friend who lives in Watervliet now, his sister received that water and she had this type of cancer and she was diagnosed and it completely went away."
The community plans to hold a special ceremony on Sunday to recognize Kateri's sainthood.
Tomorrow, the town's Catholic heroine Kateri Tekakwit will become the first Native American saint.
Although she died 300 years ago at just 24, the church contends her spirit is still capable of miracles.
According to the Vatican, she healed a five-year-old boy struck by deadly flesh eating bacteria in 2006 thanks to the family's prayers.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) FATHER DAVID WHITE SAYING:
"And his family prayed specifically to Kateri and whatever the details of it were the infection just dried up and healed and that doesn't happen medically."
The saint-to be was born in 1656 to a Mohawk father and an Algonquin-Christian mother.
When she was just four, a small pox epidemic left her badly scarred and nearly blind, but her injuries didn't stop her from devoting herself to Christianity.
Pilgrims believe the waters at Kateri's shrine still have healing powers.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) JOE FONDANO, KATERI DEVOTEE, SAYING:
"My friend who lives in Watervliet now, his sister received that water and she had this type of cancer and she was diagnosed and it completely went away."
The community plans to hold a special ceremony on Sunday to recognize Kateri's sainthood.
Category
🗞
News