“Oh my God, forgive what I have been, correct what I am, and direct what I will be.”
Elizabeth was born in 1774, the 2nd child to an Episcopalian family who grew up in the upper class of New York society. She lost her mother at the age of 3 and turned to prolific reading in her quiet, simple, and often lonely state. Her father remarried, and their stepmother took the girls to their church’s social ministry and on charitable rounds. The couple had 5 more children but the marriage ended in separation. The stepmother rejected Elizabeth and her sister during the breakup. As she grew, the Bible became her continual instruction, support and comfort.
At the age of 19, she married William Seton, who was young and wealthy. They were very happy, deeply in love, and had 5 children. Her father-in-law passed away, leaving them with the care of his large family, and an importing business. William’s health began to fail, along with the business, and they were forced to file for bankruptcy. They moved to Italy to be with their business friends, but his health worsened, and he died of tuberculosis.
She felt alone, but was drawn to God, and her deep concern for the spiritual welfare of family and friends led her to return to New York. Growing up without her mother, she felt great comfort in the idea that the Blessed Virgin was truly her mother and asked for guidance to the True Faith through Catholic Catechism and entered the Church in 1805.
Several difficult years later, she moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland, and at the suggestion of the president of St. Mary’s College in Baltimore, she started a school. It had originally been secular, but once news spread of her Catholic faith, several students were removed by their families. She joined two other young women with plans for a Sisterhood, and together they established the 1st free Catholic school in America.
In 1809, she pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and was called Mother Seton. She then founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, the 1st community for religious women established in the States. It was based on St. Vincent de Paul and his Rule for the Daughters of Charity in France. She was afflicted with tuberculosis, but still continued her work, and with her fellow sisters, established 2 orphanages and an additional free Catholic school.
She died of her illness in 1821 at the age of 46. Today, 6 groups of Sisters can trace their origins back to Mother Seton’s initial foundation.
She was canonized in 1975 by Pope Paul VI and is the 1st native born American to be canonized by the Catholic Church.
“If I had to advise parents, I should tell them to take great care about the people with whom their children associate. Much harm may result from bad company. And we are inclined by nature to follow what is worse than what is better.”
She is the patron saint of problems with in-laws, against the death of children, widows, death of parents, and opposition of Church authorities.
Her feast day is January 4.
For God’s Glory.
