Known as the “Lily of the Mohawks,” St. Kateri Tekakwitha was the first Indigenous American to be canonized as a saint. Although she was raised by a pagan uncle, Kateri decided to follow Christ in her youth and committed herself to prayer and penitence, holding fast to her faith amidst cultural opposition.
This week, as we celebrate the Memorial of the Virgin St. Kateri Tekakwitha, we invite you to explore four places where she is portrayed in the Basilica.
1. The Trinity Dome
In the Trinity Dome, you can find Kateri portrayed along with a procession of North American saints, the Most Holy Trinity, and the Immaculate Conception in vivid mosaic tile. In this portrayal, she wears a buckskin dress and clutches a cross, flanked by St. Juan Diego and St. Rose Philippine Duchesne.
Called the “crowning jewel” of the Basilica, the Trinity Dome was meticulously crafted by Italian artisans over a two-year period. It is comprised of nearly 15 million pieces of colored glass and spans a staggering 18,299 square feet!
2. The South Nave Bay
Created by artist Theodore C. Barbarossa, this marble sculpture evokes a gentle serenity befitting Kateri’s life of contemplation. Depicted in traditional dress with her hair in braids, Kateri holds a cross before her. Because the sculpture was gifted to the Basilica by the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions in 1979, before her canonization, her name is included with the title “Venerable” beneath. Alongside this portrayal, you can also find relief sculpture depictions of St. Joan of Arc, St. Maria Goretti, and St. Columba Kim.
3. The Hall of American Saints
In the Hall of American Saints, Kateri is depicted in a Vermont marble statue made by artist Dale Claude Lamphere, along with other notable Catholic saints from America, including St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, and others.
Pervading this sculpture is a profound sense of Kateri’s devotion – with her gaze pointed upwards, the cross raised ardently before her, and one hand on her heart, she inspires the viewer to lift their thoughts to things above.
4. The Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel
Not only does the Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel honor the major Marian apparition of the New World – it also portrays various significant Catholics from the history of the Americas, including St. Kateri! Designed to give the viewer the impression of the apparition, the chapel’s sinuous blue walls are covered with the people of North, Central, and South America, carrying candles in procession to Our Lady. Here, Kateri is shown robed in green and gold, holding a candle as she journeys beside other pilgrims.
Source:
Rohling, Geraldine M., PhD, MAEd. The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception: Guide and Tour Book. Washington, D.C.: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 2018.
