Kateri Tekakwitha 1656 1680 1 PRAYERS SAINT KATERI

Kateri Tekakwitha 1656 - 1680 1

PRAYERS SAINT KATERI TEKAKWITHA Lily of the Mohawks Flower of the Algonquins 2

Novena 1680 - 1695 • Our Father who art in heaven … (1) • Hail Mary, full of grace …(1) • Glory be to the Father …(3) 17 April 1680 This first novena was prayed by all those seeking a cure or favor from Kateri Tekakwitha after her death on 17 April 1680. There were so many cures that the Jesuit Priests no longer wrote them all. 3

Present Novena Nine days in succession Kateri, favored child, Flower of the Algonquins and Lily of the Mohawks, We come to seek your intercession in our present need: (mention it here). We admire the virtures which adorned your soul: love of God and neighbor, humility, obedience, patience, purity and the spirit of sacrifice. Help us to imitate your example in our life. Through the goodness and mercy of God, Who has blessed you with so many graces which led you to the true faith and to a high degree of holiness, pray to God for us and help us. Obtain for us a very fervent devotion to the Holy Eucharist so that we may love Holy Mass as you did and receive Holy Communion as often as we can. Teach us also to be devoted to our crucified Savior as you were, that we may cheerfully bear our daily crosses for love of Him Who suffered so much for love of us. Most of all we beg you to pray that we may avoid sin, lead a holy life and save our souls. Amen. In thanksgiving to God for the graces bestowed upon Kateri: one Our Father, Hail Mary and three Glory Be's. Kateri, Flower of the Algonquins and Lily of the Mohawks, pray for us. 4

Collect of the Mass Lord God, You called the virgin Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, to shine among the American Indian people as an example of innocence of life. Through her intercession, may all peoples of every tribe, tongue and nation, having been gathered into Your Church, proclaim your greatness in one song of praise. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen 5

A Child’s Prayer Kateri, loving child of God and Lily of the Mohawks, I thank God for the many graces He gave you. Help me to be more like you in my love for God and for people. Give me a great love for the Holy Eucharist and the Mother of Jesus. Make me ready to make sacrifices for Jesus that I may save my soul and be happy with you in heaven. Kateri, I love you. Always be my friend. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us. 6

Mohawk Blessing This blessing is written in the ancient language of the Mohawk people, which is the language that Kateri Tekakwitha spoke during her life, and which is very much a living language in our own times, spoken in upstate New York and Eastern Canada. 7

Saint Kateri, you are revered as the mystic of the American wilderness. Though orphaned at the age of four, and left with a scarred face and damaged eyesight from illness, you were esteemed among the Mohawk tribe. When you asked to be baptized a Christian, you subjected yourself to abuse by your people and were forced to run away. You endured many trials but still flowered in prayer and holiness, dedicating yourself totally to Christ. I ask you to be my spiritual guide along my journey through life. Through your intercession, I pray that I may always be loyal to my faith in all things. Amen. 8

Prayer from the National Shrine in Fonda (Caughnawaga) NY Loving creator God, we acknowledge your power and presence in the Four Directions of your vast and beautiful universe. We celebrate Kateri Tekakwitha, "Lily of the Mohawks", as one of your Son's most faithful followers. Help us to turn our backs on all evil and walk in her footsteps, sharing our love and Christian concern with others. Let us reverence, as she did, your mystical presence in the poor and suffering. Through Kateri's powerful intercession, we confidently ask you to grant us this special favor we ask for in her name. (Mention your intentions. ) Share your healing and peace especially with my family, friends and the sick, whom we commend to your loving care. We ask this through your crucified and risen Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal World, who lives and reigns with you forever and ever. Amen. 9

I SAID A PRAYER FOR YOU TODAY I said a prayer for you today at the birthplace of Kateri Tekakwitha in Auriesville, New York. I said a prayer for you today and I know God must have heard. I felt the answer in my heart although He spoke no word. I didn't ask for wealth or fame. I knew you wouldn't mind. I asked Him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind. I asked that He'd be near you at the start of each new day; to grant you health and blessings and friends to share your way. I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small, but it was for His loving care I prayed for most of all. 10

Blessed Kateri, Star of Native People and Bright Light for all! We thank God for your heroic courage, constant perseverance and deep love of the Cross. Pray for us that our love for Christ may deepen. And may we imitate you in following God's Will even when difficulties arise. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. 11

O Great Spirit, whose voice I hear in the winds, and whose breath gives life to all the world, hear me! I am small and weak. I need your strenth and wisdom. Let Me Walk In Beauty, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset. Make My Hands respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice. Make Me Wise so that I may understand the things you have taught my people. Let Me Learn the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock. I Seek Strength, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my greatest enemy -- myself. Make Me Always Ready to come to you with clean hands and straight eyes. So When Life Fades, as the fading sunset, my spirit may come to you without shame. Princess Pale Moon, Ambassador of Friendship 12

So may it be, Great Spirit, our Creator, hear us while we offer the united voice and devotion of your people in thanksgiving. For the sun that warms our earth-house filling it with all good things. For sleep that rides with the moon and stars; the rivers that flow from the mountains of living water. For healing herbs, fruits, nuts, grains, fish and meats. For the Spirit of the hunt when the great chiefs smoke the pipe of peace. Keep us, the children of nature, tall, erect, strong, brave and young. Teach us the patience of the turtle. Give us the vision of the eagle. Give our prophets wisdom. Teach us to love our Mother Earth with her dawn, evening light, dark clouds, mists, trees, flowers, and the rains that come from the Thunderbird. Make us humble before the great mystery and worthy of our ancient faith. When the fires die out, and the winds no longer blow, lead us down the beautiful trail to the camp of our fathers in the Happy Hunting Grounds. . . So may it be, Great Spirit, So may it be 13

Litany of Kateri Tekakwitha Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, have mercy on us. Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us. Christ, graciously hear us. God the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us. God the Son, Redeemer of the World have mercy on us. God the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us. Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us. 14

Kateri, lily of purity, pray for us. Kateri, consoler of the heart of Jesus, pray for us. Kateri, bright light for all Indians, pray for us. Kateri, courage of the afflicted, pray for us. Kateri, lover of the cross of Jesus, pray for us. Kateri, flower of fortitude for the persecuted, pray for us. Kateri, unshakeable in temptations, pray for us. Kateri, full of patience in suffering, pray for us. Kateri, keeper of your virginity in persecutions, pray for us. Kateri, leader of many Indians to the true faith through your love for Mary, pray for us. 15

Kateri, who loved Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us. Kateri, lover of penance, pray for us. Kateri, who traveled many miles to learn the faith, pray for us. Kateri, steadfast in all prayer, pray for us. Kateri, who loved to pray the rosary for all people, pray for us. Kateri, example to your people in all virtues, pray for us. Kateri, humble servant to the sick, pray for us. Kateri, who by your love of humility, gave joy to the angels, pray for us. Kateri, your holy death gave strength to all Indians to love Jesus and Mary, pray for us. Kateri, whose scarred face in life became beautiful after death, pray for us. 16

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, spare us, 0 Lord. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, 0 Lord. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. LET US PRAY 0 Jesus, who gave Kateri to the Indians as an example of purity, teach all of us to love purity, and to console your immaculate Mother Mary through the lily, Kateri Tekakwitha, and your Holy Cross, Amen. 17

The Kateri Chapelet Eight Brown beads To represent the Earth Eight Red beads To represent Humanity Eight White beads To represent Heaven Twenty-four beads to represent the 24 years of Kateri Tekakwitha’s life 18

Wednesday of Holy Week 17 April 1689 3 h 00 pm At the time of her death, her last prayer was “Jesus, I love you” 19

MY PRAYER Dear Cousin Kateri Tekakwitha, Flower of the Algonquins and Lily of the Mohawks, The Great Spirit, our Creator, chose you among all the Native Americans to be His messenger of love and service to His people. You were subjected to all sorts of ridicule - being called "the Christian", "the Algonquin" – by your people, the Mohawks. Yet you persevered in your undying love of Jesus and Mary above all else. Lead us to this perfection of love and sacrifice as you did in an environment much like today's world of self-centeredness, greed and the idolatry of the material. You lived Jesus' message of "Love God with your whole heart and your whole soul, and love your neighbor as yourself". Please be our guide towards a saintly life of love and dedication to others. When we are about to give up our spirit, please help us to cross over into that happy hunting ground to share our Creator's reward that you now cherish with Jesus, Mary and our Great Spirit. Cousin Tekakwitha, please watch over, protect and guide us as we attempt to walk in your moccassins. (Composed by Norm Léveillée, 2000) 20