Claude Chauchetière, S.J. "The Life of the Good Catherine Tekakwitha, said now Saint Catherine Tekakwitha" (1695)

Chapter 11

God had guided the Saints along roads unknown to men and guided Catherine to the Sault in an extraordinary manner without having being discovered. When it had become known that the three visitors from the Sault were gone and Catherine was not in the longhouse, which suspicion was raised. They had hastened to carry the news to Catherine’s uncle, although he was an evil man and enemy of those that came from the Sault. Her uncle hastily went to find the travelers while returning to the village.

He had searched thoroughly for his niece, but the three travelers eluded this old man through disembarking and hiding in the forest. When they were near Fort Orange, her brother-in-law had decided to go to get bread. He had left Catherine with this good Native from the Mission of Lorette, who lived many years in continency with his wife. And as her brother-in-law left them that her uncle was approaching him. Her brother-in-law had seen the old man, but he was too near to avoid and without being known, because Catherine’s uncle had not recognized his son-in-law that they both continued on their way. When her brother-in-law returned that he told her of his adventure. Catherine had seen it as always a particular sign from the providence of God to her. She was encouraged to abandon herself entirely to God and profit of the occasions He gave to her salvation.

Her voyage was a continual prayer and the joy she felt could not be explained when she was approaching the Mission of the Sault. This is the young Native girl of twenty-one years old, who has remained saintly and pure, and triumphed over the vice and infidelity. Here is the Saint Genevieve of New France, the treasure of the Sault and whom has sanctified the roads from the Sault to the Mohawks, where along many predestined souls have passed after her. When she had found herself far from her own country and there was no longer to fear her uncle, which she gave herself entirely to God and do in the future all that was to be most agreeable to Him. She had arrived in the autumn of 1677, and having made an uninterrupted voyage, because of her great desire to arrive at her destination.

Father de Lamberville gave letters to Catherine to bring with her, which he wrote to Fathers Fremin and Cholenec at the Mission. When she arrived, she gave the letters in their hands. After reading them that they were delighted to receive a treasure, because the words of the letter were, “I am sending you a treasure, guard it well!”

Her face had said more than the letters. We could not say the joy that she had then in the land of light and freed from spiritual troubles. She was content of having good companions and to hear everyday several Masses, and especially having to receive often Communion. She was delivered from the persecutions endured in her own country and in her longhouse, because she was not able to serve God as she had wanted. She arrived at the Sault when the chapel was a cabin made only of bark, where she satisfied her devotion and was more devoted than the older Christians.