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Also known as: Elizabeth
Ann Bayley Seton; Mother Seton
Profile
Born into a wealthy and influential Episcopalian family, the daughter of a
physician, and raised in the New York high society of the late 18th
century. Her mother died when Elizabeth was three years old, her baby
sister a year later. She married the wealthy businessman William Magee
Seton at age 19, and was the mother of five.
About ten years into the marriage, William's business failed, and soon
after he died of tuberculosis, leaving Elizabeth an impoverished widow
with five small children. For years Elizabeth had felt drawn to
Catholicism, believing in the Real Presence in the Eucharist and in the
lineage of the Church going back to Christ and the Apostles. She converted
to Catholicism, entering the Church on 14 March 1805, alienating many of
her strict Episcopalian family in the process.
To support her family, and insure the proper education of her children,
she opened a school in Boston. Though a private and secular institution,
from the beginning she ran it along the lines of a religious community. At
the invitation of the archbishop, she established a Catholic girl's school
in Baltimore, Maryland which initiated the parochial school system in
America. To run the system she founded the Sisters of Charity in 1809, the
first native American religious community for women.
Born: 28 August 1774, New
York City, New York, USA as Elizabeth Ann Bayley
Died: 4 January 1821
Beatification: 17 March 1963 by Pope John XXIII
Canonization: 14 September 1975 by Pope Paul VI
Patronage: death of children, in-law problems, loss of parents,
opposition of Church authorities, people ridiculed for their piety,
diocese of Shreveport Louisiana, widows
Readings
We must pray without ceasing, in every occurrence and employment of our
lives - that prayer which is rather a habit of lifting up the heart to God
as in a constant communication with Him.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Our God is God. All is as He
pleases. I am the happiest creature in the thought that not the least
thing can happen but by His will or permission; and all for the best.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God;
secondly, to do it in the manner he wills it; and thirdly to do it because
it is his will.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
What was the first rule of our dear Savior's life? You know if was to do
his Father's will. Well, then, the first purpose of our daily work is to
do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner he wills; and
thirdly, to do it because it is his will.
We know certainly that our God calls us to a holy life. We know that he
gives us every grace, every abundant grace; and though we are so weak of
ourselves, this grace is able to carry us through every obstacle and
difficulty.
from the writings of Elizabeth Ann Seton
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainte04.htm |
