The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-08-12
MOHAWK GIRL ADVANCED FOR
 RATIFICATION
First Approval Granted in Case of Catherine
 TekakWitha
BY ALDO FORTE

United Press Stan COrrespOndent)
 Vatican City, Aug. 12-(UP The first important step toward the justification of an American Indian, Catherine Tekakwitha, has been taken by the Holy Congregation of Rites.
 After an examination, lasting more than two years, of a large collec- tion of evidence, the historical sec- ton of the Congregation has given It's approval to the justification acts of the Indian and, at the same time, has transmitted the case to the or dinary section of the Congregation Itself.
 Proceedings for the justification of Catherine TekakWitha, Lily of the Mowhawks," were begun by the Bisho pof Albany in 1881.
 Pope Receives Petitions
 On July 16 Pope Plus granted a special audience to Mgr. Egidio Vagnozzi, auditor of the Apostolic Delegation of Washington, who, dur ing the audience, presented the Pontiff with 70 petitions for the speedy conclusion of the beatif1ca- ton of the Indian girl. The peti- tions were written in Indian scrip ture and local dialects of the 1n- dian Catholic missions of the United States and Canada and were de- iivered to the Pope enclosed in an ancient wooden coffer 250 years old and precisely of the epoch of the sLily of the MohaWks."
 Catherine Tekakwitha was born at Ossernenon in 1856. He'd father was an Iroquois chieftain and her mother an Algonquin Christian souaW. In 1870 the entire village of Ossernenon was wiped out by a plague of smallpox with the sole exception of the year old Indian girl, who went to live with a pagan uncle in a nearby village.
 According to ecclesiastics of the Holy Congregation of Rites, the most amazing facts of the Indian martyrs life were that she never met nun, never went to school and never read h book. She lived "A years.
 Baptized by Jesuits
 When Catherine was 20 years pld missionary fathers Of the Com pany of Jesus, who were later known under the name of Canadian Martyrs and glorified a few years ago by Pope Plus, visited the small village preaching the Gospel. AL thougfh she was strongly attracted to the new religion, Catherines uncls and the superstitious 1roquols tribssmen would not permit her to be baptized. However, on Easter sun day. 1876, the Indian girl was hastily maptized b ythe Jesuits who, fearing reprisals from the Indians sent her to the mission of Salt-St. Louis in Canada with a letter ol presentation to that Cathollc miS- sion which read:
 Catherine TekakWitha IS forced to seek refuge in your mission III Salt. May she, under your pre- cious guide, gain the glory ol the Almighty for the salvation of a soul which we are sure IS extreme iy dear to God"
 The long and dangerous trip, now ever had a fatal effect on the trall health of the youthful girl. In the summer of 1877, Ia months pelore her death. she received her first Holy Communion. She continued "oih ing for the missionary 1atners oi the mission, preaching the Gospei to the Indians, who adored her. III a winter storm in 1880, on her way hack to the mission from a sermon she was found half frozen to oeatn in the woods. After two months or high fever she died on Holy Weo- nesday. Her funeral was helo on Good Friday.
 Proceedings Long Delayed
 Tthe various historical events oi Canada and the mishaps ol tne .Jes1it fathers, who were flrst 1orceu to leave the mission of St. Francls and later banned from the country, delayed proceedings to sanctl1y the young Indian. ..
 The road to sainthood h tiie Roman Catholic church si a lengthy and exhaustive journey. steps to- ward justification, the ilrst HhpoI- tant milestone toward canonlzaIioii' include examination Of the canolr dates writings, if any, collection oi evidence on martyldom or heroic yractice of the theological virtues faith. hope and charity-and the So,r great moral vortues-prudence' Justice. fortitude and temperance.
 When proceedings for elevation to the honors of the altar have reached that point, evidence of two miracles $ is required for justification, and later two more for the subsequent and final goal, canonization, which usually takes two more years.
 Another American candidate TOT sainthood is Mother Elizabeth Se- ton. who founded the Catnollc parochial school system and the BIS ters of Charity in the uniteo States. Catholics have been seek ing the canonization of Mother Seton since 1907