Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines

My Promise   by   Norm Léveillée



Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha

This article first appeared in the April 2004 issue of our magazine Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines

I am continuing my story about Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. In this article, I would like to share with you one of the ways that I continue to spread knowledge and devotion to my cousin, as I promised her on July 14, 2000 at her shrine in Caughnawaga, now Fonda, NY.

As I was praying to Kateri in front of this statue, I renewed my prayerful request ... I became enraptured in meditative prayer. I felt myself going back to the time and place of Tekakwitha. She was speaking to me; she asked me to spend the rest of my life in spreading knowledge of and devotion to her. I promised her that her request would be my guide for the rest of my life here on earth.   Excerpt from A Litany to My Cousin

I suspend a large medal on a deerhide string, on which are beads of different coloring to form a necklace honoring Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. The colors used are of Native American usage.

 

The beads immediately above the medal are yellow, red, black and white, the four directions of Mother Earth, and the four races of mankind.
yellow: the East, the dawning of the day and for the yellow race

red: the South, the sun in the highest and hottest part of the day; for the red race, the Native Americans

black: for the West, the sunset and the onset of night; for the black race

white: for the North, the shining of the Moon at night; for the white race.

The two beads at the top of the necklace represent: blue for the Sky and Green for the Earth.

 

I have worn this necklace every day since July 14, 2000. If anyone asks about it, I explain the meaning of my creation and my commitment to my cousin Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha. If someone admires it, I offer it to him or her. And then, I create another one. I can not really remember how many I have created and given away. But, each one is a fulfillment of my promise.

I also have many holy cards, some with a touch relic which I share with whomever is curious about Kateri. There is also a leather pocket holder with a touch relic which I share with others, if he or she so desires it. Again, I'm fulfilling my promise to Tekakwitha.

Several weeks ago, I wrote the following on my Blessed Kateri Site, seeking prayers for a friend who was undergoing breast surgery to remove tumours.

Date: 23 August 2004

Please pray for our friend Judy who will be undergoing surgery for breast cancer on Thursday, August 26, 2004.
Thanks for your prayers to our Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
Norm

Date: 14 September 2004

Judy underwent surgery succesfully. The tumours that were removed were non-cancerous. She is very thankful to Blessed Kateri for her help.
Judy told me an interesting story:

As I was leaving Stop & Stop grocery store, a feather floated down before me. I thought that it was from a pigeon flying overhead. So I just went on my way. When I arrived home later, I noticed a white feather in my sink! Now, I have no birds in my house and the windows and doors were all closed up tightly. I figure this was Kateri's way of telling me that she took care of my problem. Thank you, Kateri.

As I mentioned in my story about my cousin Kateri, I know that it is she who is speaking to me because she always leaves a feather at my feet. For many Indian tribes, the Talking Feather is passed from one speaker to the next during a council meeting to allow the person holding the feather to speak and for the rest of the group to respect and not interrupt this person's words.

Judy in her story is just one of many who have experienced receiving a feather from Blessed Kateri when a favor has been received.

Please visit my website dedicated to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha at

www.kateritekakwitha.org

 

Késsinnimek - Roots - Racines
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Created 1 Feb 2003