Epitaph
Tekakwitha's grave stone reads:
| “ | Kateri Tekakwitha Ownkeonweke Katsitsiio Teonsitsianekaron |
” |
Because of Tekakwitha's notable path to chastity, she is often referred to as a lily, a traditional symbol of purity among Roman Catholics and one often used for the Virgin Mary. Religious images of Tekakwitha are often decorated with a lily and cross, with feathers or turtle as cultural accessories. Colloquial terms for Tekakwitha are The Lily of the Mohawks (most notable), the Mohawk Maiden, the Pure and Tender Lily, the Flower among True Men, the Lily of Purity and The New Star of the New World. Her tribal neighbors referred to her as "the fairest flower that ever bloomed among the redmen."' Her virtues are considered an ecumenical bridge between Mohawk and European cultures.
Read more about this topic: Kateri Tekakwitha
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