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Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Catechist, Saint
Servant of God Nicholas Black Elk (1863—1950) is popularly celebrated for his fascinating spiritual life. How could one man, one deeply spiritual man, serve as both a traditional Oglala Lakota medicine man and a Roman Catholic catechist and mystic? How did these two spiritual and cultural identities enrich his prayer life? How did his commitment to God, understood through his Lakota and Catholic communities, shape his understanding of how to be in the world?
To fully understand the depth of Black Elk’s life-long spiritual quest requires a deep appreciation of his life story. He witnessed devastation on the battlefields of Little Bighorn and the Massacre at Wounded Knee, but also extravagance while performing for Queen Victoria as a member of “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West Show. Widowed by his first wife, he remarried and raised eight children. Black Elk’s spiritual visions granted him wisdom and healing insight beginning in his childhood, but he grew progressively physically blind in his adult years. These stories, and countless more, offer insight into this extraordinary man whose cause for canonization is now underway at the Vatican.
To fully understand the depth of Black Elk’s life-long spiritual quest requires a deep appreciation of his life story. He witnessed devastation on the battlefields of Little Bighorn and the Massacre at Wounded Knee, but also extravagance while performing for Queen Victoria as a member of “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West Show. Widowed by his first wife, he remarried and raised eight children. Black Elk’s spiritual visions granted him wisdom and healing insight beginning in his childhood, but he grew progressively physically blind in his adult years. These stories, and countless more, offer insight into this extraordinary man whose cause for canonization is now underway at the Vatican.
122 pages, Paperback
Published December 15, 2020
19 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Jon M. Sweeney
110 books85 followersJon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar and writer of popular history. He is married, the father of three, and lives in Montpelier, Vermont. He has worked in book publishing for 25 years: after co-founding SkyLight Paths Publishing, he was the editor in chief and publisher at Paraclete Press, and in August 2015 became editorial director at Franciscan Media Books.
He has written more than 20 books, seven about Francis of Assisi, including "When Saint Francis Saved the Church" and "The Complete Francis of Assisi." HBO has optioned the film rights to "The Pope Who Quit."
Jon's first 20 years were spent as an involved evangelical (a story told in the memoir "Born Again and Again"); he then spent 22 years as an active Episcopalian (see "Almost Catholic," among others); and on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi in 2009 he was received into the Catholic Church. Today, Jon is a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a rabbi. He loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say that he's "spiritual but not religious."
In all of his writing, Jon is drawn to the ancient and medieval (see "The Road to Assisi," and "Inventing Hell"). Many of his books have been selections of the History Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, and Quality Paperback Book Club.
He has written more than 20 books, seven about Francis of Assisi, including "When Saint Francis Saved the Church" and "The Complete Francis of Assisi." HBO has optioned the film rights to "The Pope Who Quit."
Jon's first 20 years were spent as an involved evangelical (a story told in the memoir "Born Again and Again"); he then spent 22 years as an active Episcopalian (see "Almost Catholic," among others); and on the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi in 2009 he was received into the Catholic Church. Today, Jon is a practicing Catholic who also prays regularly with his wife, a rabbi. He loves the church, the synagogue, and other aspects of organized religion. He would never say that he's "spiritual but not religious."
In all of his writing, Jon is drawn to the ancient and medieval (see "The Road to Assisi," and "Inventing Hell"). Many of his books have been selections of the History Book Club, Book-of-the-Month Club, and Quality Paperback Book Club.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 1, 2021
Good factoids but generally disappointing.
The author gives excellent facts and provides wonderful primary sources to help the reader begin to understand the person that is Nicholas Black Elk. Yet, as the author writes, “And as I said, every writer has an agenda. I’m sure that I do, too.” Oh, he does, and it comes through clearly and at times quite heavy-handedly. His own bias about things took me, at times, outside of learning about Nicholas Black Elk. The author also puts emotional aspects onto his subject without giving evidence for it and has a way of playing fast and loose with different identity groups. Overall, the text offers some remarkable facts and information about Nicholas Black Elk which are great. The author also gives some great resources about other writers to turn to and read. However, I find his style of writing and the selective sourcing to be two things that detract from this book's intention. I just found myself disappointed in what I read, not unhappy about the subject but about how the author approached it. After reading this text, I find myself wanting to learn more about Nicholas Black Elk.
The author gives excellent facts and provides wonderful primary sources to help the reader begin to understand the person that is Nicholas Black Elk. Yet, as the author writes, “And as I said, every writer has an agenda. I’m sure that I do, too.” Oh, he does, and it comes through clearly and at times quite heavy-handedly. His own bias about things took me, at times, outside of learning about Nicholas Black Elk. The author also puts emotional aspects onto his subject without giving evidence for it and has a way of playing fast and loose with different identity groups. Overall, the text offers some remarkable facts and information about Nicholas Black Elk which are great. The author also gives some great resources about other writers to turn to and read. However, I find his style of writing and the selective sourcing to be two things that detract from this book's intention. I just found myself disappointed in what I read, not unhappy about the subject but about how the author approached it. After reading this text, I find myself wanting to learn more about Nicholas Black Elk.
November 10, 2020
Jon M. Sweeny pens another fascinating biography and this time about a Native American who has too long gone shrouded in misunderstanding and mythologizing. Born in 1886, the medicine man turned Catholic catechist in his forties, Black Elk adopted the first name "Nicholas" after his baptism which happened on the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas, (December 6th).
So many intriguing stories await you in this book. We learn many things, including that Black Elk was the 6th in a generation of holy men in his family who had a powerful life-guiding vision at 9 years old. His early life spans the time of the final genocidal massacres, battles, and forced removal of the Natives peoples from the prairie lands of North American by the U.S. government onto reservation lands.
This book dispels common misconceptions that originating from the best-selling book in the world on a Native American: "Black Elk Speaks" written in the 1930s by John G. Neihardt. Neihardt, at the time, hoped to pen the story that interested him the most of "the lost Indians", the mystique of the conquered but honorable savage, and Native mystic spirituality inherent to Native Americans and their holy medicine men. He carefully, left out parts of Black Elk's life that didn't fit this narrative and an incomplete picture of the man resulted and left a lasting impression.
Sweeny's book works mainly to convey the fullness and complexity of a life that was fully attuned to the rituals and ways of the Oglala Lakota as well as the firm convictions and commitments Black Elk held as a missionary, teacher, and catechist in his adherence to his Catholic faith and belief. He is now under consideration for canonization; and learning about his remarkable life, and the lives and plight of the first residents of the Americas that we have too-quickly forgotten, makes this read a worthy and enjoyable one.
So many intriguing stories await you in this book. We learn many things, including that Black Elk was the 6th in a generation of holy men in his family who had a powerful life-guiding vision at 9 years old. His early life spans the time of the final genocidal massacres, battles, and forced removal of the Natives peoples from the prairie lands of North American by the U.S. government onto reservation lands.
This book dispels common misconceptions that originating from the best-selling book in the world on a Native American: "Black Elk Speaks" written in the 1930s by John G. Neihardt. Neihardt, at the time, hoped to pen the story that interested him the most of "the lost Indians", the mystique of the conquered but honorable savage, and Native mystic spirituality inherent to Native Americans and their holy medicine men. He carefully, left out parts of Black Elk's life that didn't fit this narrative and an incomplete picture of the man resulted and left a lasting impression.
Sweeny's book works mainly to convey the fullness and complexity of a life that was fully attuned to the rituals and ways of the Oglala Lakota as well as the firm convictions and commitments Black Elk held as a missionary, teacher, and catechist in his adherence to his Catholic faith and belief. He is now under consideration for canonization; and learning about his remarkable life, and the lives and plight of the first residents of the Americas that we have too-quickly forgotten, makes this read a worthy and enjoyable one.
February 4, 2025
This book was so great. It puts to rest some of the false narrative from both Native, Catholics, and secular sources, and paints a more holistic view of an incredible man.
For anybody seeking how their beliefs, which may not be fundamentally Christian, work when viewing them through a biblical lense, this is for you. A spiritual leader in the Native community, who never rescinded his spiritual and cultural identity, yet was so committed to Christ that he is up for sainthood.
What a life! Well written!
For anybody seeking how their beliefs, which may not be fundamentally Christian, work when viewing them through a biblical lense, this is for you. A spiritual leader in the Native community, who never rescinded his spiritual and cultural identity, yet was so committed to Christ that he is up for sainthood.
What a life! Well written!
January 15, 2023
Well written book about Black Elk's life. This book gives information about Black Elk's conversion to Catholicism. He was very active as a catechist and translator of holy scripture into his language. There is a movement to have him declared a Saint which is discussed at the end of this book.
September 7, 2025
A different kind of read. I would have been far happier if the author stuck to the topic and described the miracles ascribed to Black Elk and spent less time criticizing other authors!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews