St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Died: 1821
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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My mother, Maureen Elizabeth, loved to visit the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsberg, MD. She drew great strength and inspiration from her patron saint, and in her declining years, sought to be more like this kind woman. My mother was also a teacher and bore 10 children into this world, and like Mother Seton, my mother was widowed very early in life.
I knew so little about St. Elizabeth until I visited her shrine last year. I was deeply moved by her story and her commitment to God. This was a wonderful way to learn even more about our American saint. Thank you for publishing the article.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is my saint for the next 3 months. My sisters and I each draw a saint's name each quarter. We read about, pray to, & emulate our saint. In my readings, I discovered that I was pregnant with my son when St. Elizabeth Seton was canonized by Pope Pau VI. I gave birth to him 11 days later. "Saint Elizabeth, please pray that Mother Mary guides my son back to the Catholic Church that he was baptized in, and that my husband is guided into the Church also. Thank you for choosing me!"
My husband was unable to get hired after a year. He was fired unfairly and "blacklisted" from any jobs in our area. I have done many novenas over the year. When I began to pray for help from Elizabeth Seton, who I consider my patron saint, having taking her name at my confirmation, he received word from his old boss who re-hired him today.
Thank you for prayers answered.
I think you should add the symbol or colour of saint Elizabeth ann seton and what she is the saint of . . . .
Wow! Elizabeth really is inspiring! 1000x better then St. Joan of Arc! This article was amazing!
St. Elizabeth Anne Seton, please pray for us.
St Elizabeth Ann Seton, I love to imitate you and I loathe to realize how unworthy I am. Like you I love nature, poetry and reading. Pray for me and all my family members to seek to do God's will, to do it in a manner that pleases Him. Dear St. Elizabeth heal all children who have received the horrific diagnosis of fragile X, with which comes pervasive developmental delays, seizures, abnormal and inappropriate behaviours. HELP, HELP, HELP. With your intercession I believe God hears and answers our prayers. Amen.
Dear Saint,
Pray for me become a man of God. Intercede for me with our Blessed Mother so that I would become a righteous and devout catholic. Amen.
Thank you Vie for the Novena prayer .
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton please intercede for all who seek knowledge of you and their family needs. Thank you for your example and bless us so that we may find the courage and determination to follow God's Will.
I loved this article. I want to know more about this wonderful Saint.
St,Elizabeth please pray for me and my family
god bless Amen
4th jan 2013:st elizabeth ann seton sc pray for us!
happy feast day St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. thank you for your intercessions to the Most Holy Trinity.
This was VERY VERY VERY VERY helpful. I have to do a areport on her, and this is the only site that I used! Thank You
Elizabeth
i am doing a report on her tomorrow
Shes cool
I am a 75 yr old lady, a convert since l976 and I chose St Elizabeth A nn Seton as my confirmation name as I was a widow, a convert, and she was the first in the US. I looked up this information to use on the back of my funeral bulletin . Since none of my children are Catholic I wanted them to know about her. I am in good health right now but I do believe we need to be ready at all times. I do hope I get to see her shrine and visit NY city.
wow this really helped she is so interesting :pp i think alot of ppl will think that she should be in the to 50 saints lol
I'm doing my saint report on her and it is do tomorrow