Two hundred years ago, Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton founded
the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, the first new community for religious
women to be established in the United States.
Her new community would also staff the first free Catholic School for
girls in this country. 1000s of women
over the last two hundred years have dedicated their lives through consecrated
service in Mother Seton’s religious communities, and 10s of thousands have been
educated, cared for, served in her hundreds of schools, social service centers,
and hospitals throughout this country and throughout the world.
Who was this remarkable woman who impacted the history of
our nation so profoundly? Elizabeth Seton was born, not a Catholic, but was the
daughter of a very wealthy Episcopalian family from Manhattan New York. She married a wealthy businessman at the age
of 19, and raised 5 children in wealthy New York social circles. A dispute between the United States and the
French Republic led to a series of attacks on American shipping. The loss of several
of her husband's ships led William Seton into bankruptcy, and the Setons lost
their home in lower Manhattan. Through
most of their married life, William Seton suffered from tuberculosis. The
stress worsened his illness and he died in 1803.
When all seemed lost—widowed, destitute, Elizabeth was taken
in by an Italian family who had worked with her husband. This good Italian family introduced Elizabeth
to Roman Catholicism. Despite stern opposition from her Episcopalian friends, Elizabeth
was received into the Catholic Church on March 4, 1805.
Here’s a woman who became Catholic and ultimately a saint
because she was treated with great kindness by Catholics at a moment of great
tragedy—by ordinary Catholics who were simply living their faith with deep
devotion to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin.
Friends, we must never underestimate the power of living our
faith and reaching out in kindness to those in need. Because of that family of Italian Catholics,
probably immigrants, thousands and thousands of people would be served,
educated, and cared for through the charity of Mother Seton and her religious
communities.
Elizabeth Seton was the first person native to American soil
to be canonized, and she wasn’t raised a Catholic, but she was cared for by
Catholics, evangelized by ordinary Catholics and their love for the Eucharist
and Mary.
God can do extraordinary things through our small acts of
kindness and through our simple faith.
May St. Elizabeth Ann Seton help all of us to serve God in our daily
service with sincere faith for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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