Our saint for today was the first native born American to be canonized as saint of the Catholic Church. She was also the one who established the first religious order for women in the United States. Strange it may be, St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was born into a prominent Episcopalian family on August 28, 1774 in New York City. Her father was a health officer in the city. When she was three years old, her mother, a daughter of a Protestant Episcopalian minister died. As a young girl, Elizabeth she was an avid reader of stories and novels. As she grew older, she became an ardent reader of the Bible. Although she belonged to a family of high social standing, she was simple, humble and quiet. The Bible became her source of instruction, support and consolation, especially due to the fact that she was inclined to contemplation. In 1794, Elizabeth married William Seton, a wealthy businessman. Being a young society matron, she happily served her family and took care of the poor and the needy. The first years of married life was prosperous and happy. But soon, William’s father died leaving them seven half brothers and sisters to care for, and the management of the family business. The impact of what happened took a tool on William’s health. He got sick of tuberculosis and gave up his business. They went on a trip to Italy, hoping to get cured. When they reached Livorno, William’s illness became worse. He died in Italy in December 1803. Before returning to the United States, Elizabeth and her daughter, Anna Maria spent a few months in the house of their former business associates who introduced her to Catholicism. She was deeply impressed especially with the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. It was the strong force which attracted her to become a Catholic. She also felt great comfort to know that the Virgin Mary was truly her mother and asked Mary to guide her to the true faith. After a year of searching she finally embraced the Catholic faith. This decision caused her social discrimination since she had many Protestant friends. As a devoted Catholic, her favorite prayer was Psalm 23. She became deeply devoted to the Eucharist, to the Virgin Mary and the reading of Scriptures. Encouraged by some Catholic priests, in 1808, she moved with her family to Baltimore to open a school for girls. Catholic women came to join her. Soon they decided to establish a religious congregation. They moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland and formally started their religious life on July 31, 1809. They were called Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, with Elizabeth Seton as superior, a duty which she held for 12 years. They adopted a Rule from the French Daughters of Charity based on the Rule of St. Vincent de Paul and it was approved by Archbishop John Carroll in 1812. The first Sisters made their religious profession on July 19, 1813. In 1814, they founded an orphanage in Philadelphia, then in New York by 1817. While she was at Emmitsburg, two of her daughters died of tuberculosis, and she herself was also attacked by the disease. She spent the rest of her life directing St. Joseph’s Academy and her growing community. She died on January 4, 1821 at 46 years old, only 16 years after becoming a Catholic. She was beatified by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963 and was canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975.
How do I nourish my Catholic faith? Do I pray, follow the Commandments, read the Bible and perform good works?
