Black Elk: Famous Medicine Man to Catholic Convert/Catechist

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Maryam

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Hi all,
I tend to like to research Catholic historical figures that are little known and was pleasantly surprised to find that a famous Medicine Man named “Black Elk” who was part of the Oglala Sioux Nation was a convert to Catholicism.

Among his peers was “Sitting Bull” and he was at the massacre of Wounded Knee. Around 1904 he converted and was baptized into the Catholic faith on the feast day of “St. Nicholas” Dec. 6th and took the Christian name of “Nicholas”.

For close to 40 years Black Elk was a ** CATECHIST ** teaching the Catholic faith and gave up being a medicine man.

I absolutely loved his DEFENSE of showing honor to ** OUR LADY ** in a conversation with a Protestant Minister in this quote:

** Black Elk was not only a powerful preacher but he also knew how to defend his faith. Once when a Protestant minister asked him why he honoured the Blessed Virgin, the following exchange took place. Black Elk asked him: “Are the angels good people?” “Yes.” “And the Holy Ghost?” “Yes.” “Well, then, if all these honoured her, why shouldn’t I?” **

Here is a link on a Native American Catholic website that contains a page on “Black Elk”…

peace.mb.ca/00.Native/nlrnz02.htm

Also be sure to check out the page on this website regarding the prophecies of “Shining Shirt” who was of the Flathead tribe as to the coming of Christianity, Black Robe missionaries and so on… An interesting read for sure!!!

God bless all
 
Wow, this is great. Thanks!

I know about Blessed Kateri. Are there any other notable Native American converts to Catholicism?

Is Black Elk up for consideration as “Servant of God”?

Lily628
 
" In spite of illness and suffering he remained cheerful and uncomplaining. As his life drew to a close, he confided to his daughter Lucy that he was well prepared. He said that a sacred man, a very holy priest from overseas, came every day and prayed with him. No one doubted him."What do you want to bet it was Saint Padre Pio:hmmm:
 
** lily ** I don’t know if Black Elk is up for consideration as a Servant of God yet… Maybe somebody else may know better than I.

As you may already know Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha has a strong group of people pushing for her canonization.

Every year there is a “Tekakwitha Conference” that is held and I believe for this year it will be held in Arizona, I could be mistaken.

** Lisa ** Wow… that would really be something if that Holy man were indeed Padre Pio!
I have been thinking hard on the prophecies of “Shining Star’s” concerning the coming of the Black Robes and how his tribe had sent out several groups on a long journey to find the Black Robes in order to be instructed on the Christian faith and everytime a group was sent out they were killed along the way.

Ok, I am babbling now…lol

God bless all
 
**"Lisa **Wow… that would really be something if that Holy man were indeed Padre Pio! "I wonder if there is a site with more detail on the Holy Priest from over seas,man I really want to know if it was Saint Padre Pio:D
 
I have read about a very different intepretation of Black Elk’s conversion to Catholicism. This version is available at the following website:

college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/naind/html/na_004200_blackelk.htm

I found the following line particularly interesting:
“During Black Elk’s young adulthood, missionaries attempted to convert the Oglala Lakotas to Christianity, and not many escaped the intense measures inflicted upon those who resisted. Black Elk was no exception. He attempted to understand Christianity after he was subjugated to it, and was baptized Nicholas Black Elk on December 6, 1904, at the Holy Rosary Mission near present-day Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Although the role of staunch Catholic was forced upon him, he played it well to appease his oppressors.”

Interesting. I wonder which version of his conversion is accurate. Probably, as with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle…

Tony
 
As far as I have always heard, Black Elk was a sincere Catholic. The language of the account which suggests he was only playing at Catholicism is rather negative. I wonder at the agenda of the author.
 
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lily628:
Wow, this is great. Thanks!

I know about Blessed Kateri. Are there any other notable Native American converts to Catholicism?

Is Black Elk up for consideration as “Servant of God”?

Lily628
Click to expand...
San Juan Diego of Mexico (he was native and Mexico is a North American country).
 
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