A Long Letter from F.: Chapters 1-16 Summary

With Chapter 1, F. begins to tell the story of Catherine Tekakwitha's final weeks. In 1677, Catherine hears of the Mission of Saint-Louis from a Onneyout missionary. Father de Lamberville arranges for her to travel upriver to the Mission. She does not worry about breaking her promise to her uncle. De Lamberville blesses Catherine, and she leaves the village. In Chapter 2, she is met at the mission by the head priests, Claude and Pierre. She carries a letter of introduction from de Lamberville. She is assigned a mistress, and Iroquois convert christened Anastasie. Catherine prays daily at a cross by the river.

In Chapter 3, the priests and Anastasie try to convince Catherine to marry. They have a young man in mind, but Catherine does not want to marry. She also wants to begin...