"When it was announced that Kateri Tekakwitha would be declared a saint by Pope Benedict, a British journalist asked me, “What does the canonization of a 17th century Mohawk woman mean in this cynical, godless age?”

The cynical, godless part of me wanted to answer, “The book I just wrote about her will make me more money!”

But after some time has passed, and I have had time to ponder the question, I now realize that cynicism and godlessness no longer have as much of a hold on me as they used to. That’s because something truly remarkable happened here three centuries ago, right in our own back yard—something much more intriguing than all of the Harry Potters and Lords of the Ring combined.

The story of Kateri Tekakwitha is an epic of biblical proportions. Complete with warfare, plagues, an exodus, and supernatural occurrences—the difference being is, it actually took place."

Get the Story:
Darren Bonaparte: The Story of Kateri Tekakwitha, Saint (Indian Country Today 6/18)