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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
b.1775 d.1821
Feastday: January 4
Elizabeth Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be
canonized by the Catholic Church.
Born two years before the American Revolution, Elizabeth grew up
in the "cream" of New York society. She was a prolific reader, and
read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels.
In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth's early life
was quiet, simple, and often lonely. As she grew a little older,
the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support and comfort;
she would continue to love the Scriptures for the rest of her life.
In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with
whom she was deeply in love. The first years of their marriage were
happy and prosperous. Elizabeth wrote in her diary at first autumn,
"My own home at twenty-the world-that and heaven too-quite impossible."
This time of Elizabeth's life was to be a brief moment of earthly
happiness before the many deaths and partings she was to suffer.
Within four years, Will's father died, leaving the young couple
in charge of Will's seven half brothers and sisters, as well as
the family's importing business. Now events began to move fast -
and with devastating effect. Both Will's business and his health
failed. He was finally forced to file a petition of bankruptcy.
In a final attempt to save Will's health, the Setons sailed for
Italy, where Will had business friends. Will died of tuberculosis
while in Italy. Elizabeth's one consolation was that Will had recently
awakened to the things of God.
The many enforced separations from dear ones by death and distance,
served to draw Elizabeth's heart to God and eternity. The accepting
and embracing of God's will - "The Will," as she called it - would
be a keynote in her spiritual life.
Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family
and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church.
In Italy, Elizabeth captivated everyone by her own kindness, patience,
good sense, wit and courtesy. During this time Elizabeth became
interested in the Catholic Faith, and over a period of months, her
Italian friends guided her in Catholic instructions.
Elizabeth's desire for the Bread of Life was to be a strong force
leading her to the Catholic Church.
Having lost her mother at an early age, Elizabeth felt great comfort
in the idea that the Blessed Virgin was truly her mother. She asked
the Blessed Virgin to guide her to the True Faith. Elizabeth finally
joined the Catholic Church in 1805.
At the suggestion of the president of St. Mary's College in Baltimore,
Maryland, Elizabeth started a school in that city. She and two other
young women, who helped her in her work, began plans for a Sisterhood.
They established the first free Catholic school in America. When
the young community adopted their rule, they made provisions for
Elizabeth to continue raising her children.
On March 25, 1809, Elizabeth Seton pronounced her vows of poverty,
chastity, and obedience, binding for one year. From that time she
was called Mother Seton.
Although Mother Seton was now afflicted with tuberculosis, she
continued to guide her children. The Rule of the Sisterhood was
formally ratified in 1812. It was based upon the Rule St. Vincent
de Paul had written for his Daughters of Charity in France. By 1818,
in addition to their first school, the sisters had established two
orphanages and another school. Today six groups of sisters trace
their origins to Mother Seton's initial foundation.
For the last three years of her life, Elizabeth felt that God was
getting ready to call her, and this gave her joy. Mother Seton died
in 1821 at the age of 46, only sixteen years after becoming a Catholic.
She was canonized on September 14, 1975.
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