biography
| name: |
Tekakwitha, Blessed Kateri
|
pronunciation:
[tekakwitha]
| sex:
| female
|
| lived:
| (1656–80)
|
| biography:
| American Indian Catholic convert, born in Ossernenon, in Mohawk territory (now Auriesville, New York, USA). When she was three years old, a smallpox epidemic killed her mother and father, and left her scarred and partially blinded. Raised by an anti-Catholic uncle, but inspired by Jesuit missionaries, she took instruction and was baptized a Catholic at age 20. To escape continuing persecution she fled a year later to a Christian Indian village near Montreal, where she became noted for her religious fervour and asceticism. She was beatified in 1980. |
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