Native Americans and Name Changes

I love going to different churches because it shows the universality of the Catholic Church, but also gives insight to the local culture and traditions.  On Saturday evening, we went to the Vigil Mass at the parish of my friends Christina and Austin who live in Santa Fe. 

The weekend we were in town happened to be Indian Market and as part of the celebration, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi held a Native American Mass. 

Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis

Inside of St. Francis with Native American
decorations

The two hour long Mass included a few traditional Native American dances and readings in Navajo.  Some of the Native Americans wore their traditional clothing and others dressed up as eagles or with antlers as shown in the picture.  Their entire faces were covered! 

A somewhat blurry picture of the dancers

Much of the homily focused on one of the newest saints of the Catholic Church, St. Kateri Tekakawitha.  I knew a little bit about St. Kateri, but she is so beloved at this Mass and in the Archdiocese of Santa Fe since she is the first Native American saint.  It was interesting to me to see how proud the people were of "their" saint, and the Archbishop shared some information about the years that the community had prayed for her canonization. 


Statue of St. Kateri outside St. Francis of Assisi

Saints are so important to the Church because they are models of holiness and their lives point only to God.  Religious sisters typically take the name of a saint that they admire or who has influenced their life or discernment.  God-willing, I will receive my new religious name and habit at my investiture in August 2014.  In my community, the postulants (first years) select a few names and submit the names and a paragraph explanation of the importance of each one to the superior who ultimately selects the name after much prayer. 
Name changes throughout the Bible reflect a conversion or the beginning of a new life.  Think Abraham (from Abram), Sarah (Sarai), Peter (Simon), and Paul (Saul).  Sisters also have a name change to reflect their new life as a bride of Christ.  It doesn't mean that the "old" life was bad, but that the Sister has a new identity, kind of in the same way that a married woman takes on her husband's last name as she becomes one with him. 

I had been thinking about this post yesterday before I prayed Morning Prayer.  This part from Isaiah 62:2-5 stood out to me:

Nations shall behold your vindication,
and all kings your glory;
you shall be called by a new name
pronounced by the mouth of the Lord.
You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord,
a royal diadem held by your God. 

No more shall men call you “Forsaken,”
or your land “Desolate,”
but you shall be called “My Delight,”
and your land “Espoused.”
For the Lord delights in you,
and makes your land his spouse.

As a young man marries a virgin,
your Builder shall marry you;
and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride
so shall your God rejoice in you.

What beautiful words from scripture!