In this episode of Inside the Pages, Kris McGregor talks with Dr. Matthew Bunson about St. Kateri: Lily of the Mohawks, published by Our Sunday Visitor. Dr. Bunson reflects on the life and witness of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the young Native American woman whose heroic faith made her one of the most beloved saints of North America. Though she died at only 24 and was a Christian for just a few years, Kateri’s life revealed extraordinary courage, purity, perseverance, and love for Christ. Dr. Bunson explains how her conversion, her refusal to marry, her vow of chastity, and her willingness to endure rejection from her own community all point to a soul entirely given to Jesus.
The conversation also places St. Kateri within the larger story of the North American martyrs, the Jesuit missionaries known as the black robes, and the spiritual legacy of the Church in New France. Dr. Bunson highlights Kateri’s mystical depth, her suffering after smallpox, her devotion to Christ, and the way her sanctity was recognized almost immediately after her death. Her life remains a powerful witness for young people, for those who suffer, for those who face rejection because of faith, and for anyone seeking courage in a culture often hostile to holiness. This episode invites listeners not only to learn about St. Kateri but also to pray with her and ask her intercession as part of the great cloud of witnesses.
You can find the book here
From the book description:
This authoritative account of the first Native American woman to be declared a saint by the Church is sure to inspire you. Discover an extraordinary young woman who was called by Pope Blessed John Paul II, God’s “bountiful gift” to His Church and a “sweet, frail yet strong figure of a young woman who died when she was only twenty-four years old: Kateri Tekakwitha, the ‘Lily of the Mohawks.'”
Kateri was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1980 and canonized in 2012 by Pope Benedict XVI.
Kateri Tekakwitha’s faith and love for Christ in the face of overwhelming hostility and her own debilitating illnesses will encourage you as you seek God’s grace to overcome challenges in your own life! She is a powerful role model for converts to the Church, young people striving for chastity, and anyone looking to deepen their own prayer life. She is also a shining example that God’s call to holiness is truly universal and is heard by men and women in all walks of life and all ages.
Written by experienced and prolific authors Matthew and Margaret Bunson, St. Kateri: Lily of the Mohawks is the most definitive biography of Kateri Tekakwitha.
Experience the extraordinary stories of the French Jesuit missionaries, the famed Blackrobes,” in the wilderness of North America and the heroic conversions of the Native Americans to the Catholic faith. Follow Kateri’s life from when she contracted smallpox as a toddler – a disease that swept through her village – claiming her family and leaving her severely disfigured and half-blinded. Drawn to the Catholic faith by the Bible stories and teachings of the French Jesuits, Kateri amazed them by her perfection of the virtues, her mystical prayer life, and her total love for Christ.
Kateri Tekakwitha’s life of faith is an inspiration to everyone!
Discerning Hearts Reflection questions
- What does St. Kateri’s courage teach me about remaining faithful when faith brings misunderstanding or rejection?
- How does Kateri’s joy as a convert challenge me to renew my own gratitude for the gift of faith?
- In what ways am I called to stand firm in Christ even when family, culture or circumstances make that difficult?
- How does St. Kateri’s suffering after smallpox help me reflect on the dignity and spiritual fruitfulness of those who suffer?
- What does her refusal to marry and her consecration to Christ reveal about the freedom of a heart given completely to God?
- How can the witness of the North American martyrs deepen my appreciation for the sacrifices that brought the faith to this continent?
- Where in my life do I need greater courage to live as a witness to Christ?
- How can St. Kateri become a companion in prayer for young people, for those who feel different or for those who are mocked for their faith?
- What does it mean for me to “stand firm in the faith” in today’s culture?
- How might I ask St. Kateri’s intercession for deeper purity, courage, perseverance and love for Jesus?
The post Dr. Matthew Bunson – St. Kateri on Inside the Pages with Kris McGregor – Discerning Hearts Podcast appeared first on Discerning Hearts Catholic Podcasts.