Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Pray for Us

Today is the feast day of a holy, humble woman, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, known as “Lily of the Mohawks.” She endured much persecution but was steadfast in her penance, charity and devotion.

She put her love of God and His Son first place in her life despite objections of her family and community. Kateri risked health, home and peace to fulfill her desire to be a Christian.

Likened to Saint Therese of Lisieux for her purity and holy insight, Kateri died at age 24 in holiness in 1680 and was canonized in 2012.

Also like Little Therese, Kateri is powerful on earth and is a dedicated intercessor on our behalf. Pray this litany for her intercession before God's throne in Heaven.

Litany of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Lord, have mercy on us.
Response: Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.
R: Christ, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.
R: Christ, graciously hear us.

God, our Creator in Heaven,
R: have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, One God,
R: have mercy on us.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pure lily among her Mohawk people,
R: Pray for us

Saint Kateri, bright light for the Indigenous people, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, lover of the Cross of Jesus, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, fortitude in persecution to keep your virginity, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, full of patience in suffering, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, lover of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, you left your homeland to practice your faith, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, faithful to prayer, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, you loved to pray the rosary, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, model to your people by your love for Mary, our Blessed Mother, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, your holy death gave strength to people of many cultures to love Jesus and Mary, pray for us.
Saint Kateri, your scarred face in life became radiant and beautiful after death, pray for us.

Prayer:

O Saint Kateri, Lily of the Mohawks, your love for Jesus, so strong, so steadfast, pray that we may become like you.

Your short and painful life showed us your strength and humility. Pray that we may become forever humble like you.

Like the bright and shining stars at night, we pray that your light may forever shine down upon us, giving light, hope, peacefulness and serenity in our darkest moments.

Fill our hearts, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, with your same love for Jesus and pray that we may have the strength and courage to become one like you in Heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Walk With Us

Trust in God, First

In this excerpt from Saint Faustina's diary in the summer of 1936, we learn more about her relationship with her spiritual director, Father Andrasz, whom the Lord had given her to help in her mission of revealing the mysteries of God's Divine Mercy. We see here how we can also ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and help to know God's Will for our work.

Sister Maria Faustina

We also learn from these passages that Our Lord wants us very much to depend on Him, not our own endeavors.

So how do we do it? It may feel hard, though it's not. Start by praying, "Jesus, I trust in You."

Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy every day at 3 p.m. for sinners, poor souls and to deepen your trust in God.


June, 1936. Conversation with Father A. [Andrasz]

"Know that these are hard and difficult things. Your principal spiritual director is the Holy Spirit. We can only give direction to these inspirations, but your real director is the Holy Spirit. If you yourself have decided to leave, Sister, I neither prohibit nor order you to do so. You take the responsibility for yourself. I say this to you, Sister: you can begin to take action. You are capable of doing so, and therefore you can do so. These things are indeed probable; all you have told me up to now [before perpetual vows in Cracow in 1933] speaks in favor of taking action. Still, you have to be very careful in all this. Pray much and ask that I be given light."

During Holy Mass, offered by Father Andrasz, I saw the little Infant Jesus, who told me that I was to depend on him for everything; no action undertaken on your own, even though you put much effort into it, pleases Me. I understood this [need of] dependence.

O my Jesus, on the day of the last judgment, You will demand from me an account of this work of mercy. O just Judge, but my Spouse as well, help me to do Your holy will. O mercy, O divine virtue!

O most merciful Heart of Jesus, my Betrothed, make my heart like unto Yours.

(Diary entries 658-660)