Furthermore…

I received some audio cassettes of the Rosary a while back from a publisher with St. Joseph in its name. One of the things I observed while I was using them was their practice of adding “St. Joseph, pray for us” at the completion of each decade. I liked the practice, and struck on the idea of asking, along with St. Joseph, other saints and holy people who had special meaning in my life to “pray for us.”

So I added St. William, my name saint, St. Boniface,the patron saint of my grammar school, the patron of the young nun who taught our 1st grade, Sister Rose of Lima, and on and on: high school, college, parishes I haunted, documentaries I viewed, important holy people of our time such as Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and my favorite, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks. Not exactly a true litany, but close enough for my satisfaction.

Oh – I omit the “pray for us” after each name, and only say it once, at the end of all the invocations. And then, for good measure, I thank my Guardian Angel for all his care.

I have a fondness and devotion for Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks, so when I learned one of the priests in our parish was going to Rome to study I asked him to watch for an opportunity to assist in some way her cause for canonization.

While Pope Benedict was here in America the last few days I had the wonderful surprise of seeing Blessed Kateri included among the six holy American souls who were highlighted and presented to the Holy Father in a beautiful ceremony in Washington, seen around the world. 

What an unimaginable happening! As the old song goes, “Who could ask for anything more?”

“Oh God, who among the many marvels of Your Grace in the New World, did cause to blossom on the banks of the Mohawk and of the St. Lawrence, the pure and tender Lily, Kateri Tekakwitha, grant we beseech You, the favor we beg through her intercession – that this Young Lover of Jesus and of His Cross may soon be counted among the Saints by Holy Mother Church, and that our hearts may be enkindled with a stronger desire to imitate her innocence and faith. Through the same Christ Our Lord, Amen.    -TEKAKWITHA LEAGUE                        Auriesville, New York 12016

I was poking about the EWTN website today and made the marvelous discovery that they have a whole page listing litanies. I like litanies. Then I further discovered that there is a litany listed that honors Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks. What a blessing, and a great revitalization of my devotion to Blessed Kateri. It extols her purity, devotion, and inspiration to others. It even alludes to the miraculous clearing up of her disfigured face, which shined in death with a beauty that was taken from her in life.

In grammar school in the 40’s us kids would be herded into St. Boniface, and often prayed litanies, responding ‘Ora Pro Nobis’ to each line. I thought the Latin said something about ‘Robert,’ which vexed me greatly, because I already felt there were too many Roberts in the class, and I begrudged them the extra attention, which could just as easily have been given to the underrepresented Williams.

One of my neighbors carves wooden statues and figures –  fish, Uncle Sams, Indian maidens, mailbox posts. I have a devotion to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the Lily of the Mohawks. Perhaps it traces in part to my growing up in upper New York State, and learning of her from the School Sisters of Notre Dame who taught me. From time to time I consider asking the neighbor whether a statue of Blessed Kateri might be possible. But then, where would I put her? I have a small house, and the place of honor out front is already given over to a statue of Our Lady.  Furthermore…  I kind of suspect that a statue from the neighbor wouldn’t do justice to that inspiring early Native American believer in Lord Jesus whose cause is under study for canonization .