EWTN.com - Kateri Tekakwitha: First Native North American Saint

We're very excited for our first North American-born saint. My wife and I were officially engaged on her feast day in 2006, and this year we named our second daughter Agnes Kateri. So we feel like this saint is ours in a special way, or should we say we are hers? Ever since I saw Blessed Kateri in the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, I have been drawn to her intercession. I hope you all find her as well. This is from Vatican Information Service, via EWTN.com.



Kateri Tekakwitha: First Native North American SaintVATICAN CITY, 20 DEC 2011 (VIS) - The Holy Father yesterday signed decrees acknowledging miracles attributed to the intervention of seven blesseds (four women and three men) who will shortly be canonised. One of the new blesseds is Kateri Tekakwitha, the first native North American to be raised to the glory of the altars.Kateri Tekakwitha was born in 1656 in Ossernenon (present-day Auriesville, U.S.A.). Her father was a Mohawk chief and her mother a Roman Catholic Algonquian who had been educated by French missionaries. At the age of four she lost her family in a smallpox epidemic which also left her disfigured and with poor eyesight. Adopted by a relative, the chief of neighbouring clan, she continued to nurture an interest in Christianity and was baptised at the age of 20.The members of her tribe did not understand her new religious affiliation and she was marginalised, practising physical mortification as a path of sanctity and praying for the conversion of her relatives. Having suffered persecutions which put her life at risk, she was forced to flee to a native American Christian community in Kahnawake, Quebec where she made a vow of chastity and lived a life dedicated to prayer, penance, and care for the sick and elderly. She died in 1680 at the age of 24. Her last words were: "Jesus, I love you". According to tradition, Kateri's scars disappeared after her death to reveal a woman of great beauty, and numerous sick people who participated in her funeral were miraculously healed.The process of canonisation began in 1884. She was declared venerable by Pius XII in 1943 and beatified by John Paul II in 1980. As the first native North American to be beatified she occupies a special place in the devotion of her people. Her feast day falls on 14 July.
EWTN.com - Kateri Tekakwitha: First Native North American Saint

Correction from the Jester, who observed that St. Juan Diego was native born North American. There are other saints of Mexico as well. I think the above should read "Native American saint."