Attending the Mass of Nicholas Black Elk, Servant of God, at Holy Rosary Mission

Today, I had the opportunity to attend the Mass commemorating the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Cause for Canonization of Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk at Sacred Heart Church Pine Ridge of the Oglala Lakȟóta Catholic Community. 

Bishop Scott Bullock of the Diocese of Rapid City presided at the 10:30 a.m. Mass, with many Jesuit priests concelebrating from throughout the diocese. The Mass was also attended by descendants of Nicholas Black Elk, students from Maȟpíya Lúta – Red Cloud School, and other guests from near and far. It was especially nice to see familiar faces I hadn't seen in two years at the outdoor reception that followed the Mass.

Many people are familiar with the first forty years of Nicholas Black Elk's life through the 1932 bestseller Black Elk Speaks, written by John G. Neihardt. However, many are unaware of the remaining forty-plus years of his life as a catechist for the Catholic Church, teaching the Lakota people the Way of the Good Red Road.

Black Elk took the name Nicholas because he was baptized on December 6, the Feast of St. Nicholas. His body is buried in St. Agnes Catholic Cemetery in Manderson, South Dakota.

In his homily, Bishop Bullock reflected on the Gospel reading from Matthew 5:1–12a, the Sermon on the Mount, specifically the passage: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”

Nicholas Black Elk lived as a peacemaker and sought to reconcile his Lakota culture with his Catholic faith. As an adopted child of God, baptized into the Catholic faith, he went on to share that faith with more than 500 Lakota men, women, and children.

Nicholas Black Elk's Cause for Canonization continues to move forward. His canonization would require two approved miracles. You can learn more about his Cause for Canonization through this one-hour, online documentary: https://www.rapidcitydiocese.org/docmentary-nbe/

Special thanks to all the “missionaries of hospitality” who helped put on this anniversary event at Holy Rosary Mission.

Servant of God, Nicholas Black Elk, pray for us.