January 4 2021 - St. Elizabeth Ann Seton - Becoming an Epiphany for others

 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 multitudes more have been educated, cared for, served in her schools, social service centers, and hospitals throughout this country and throughout the world.

Elizabeth Seton was the first person native to American soil to be canonized, and she wasn’t raised a Catholic; rather, as you might know, she was the daughter of a 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 her husband losing his business and falling into bankruptcy. The Setons lost their home, and the stress caused her husband’s tuberculosis to worsen. The Setons were taken in by a good Italian family, but within 6 weeks, her husband was dead. 

Widowed and destitute, Elizabeth, with her children, continued to live with the Catholics who shared their simple faith with her. She was so touched by their goodness and their faith, particularly to the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin, that she decided to convert to Catholicism, despite the stern opposition from her Episcopalian friends. 

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.

Yesterday, we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany, in which the goodness and light of the Lord is revealed to the nations. The Lord continues to reveal his goodness and light through his Church, through Ordinary Catholics living out their faith with great devotion. Because of that Italian catholic family, shining with the light of the Lord, a saint was born, through whom the Lord has taught and healed multitudes. 

Mother Seaton became an epiphany for others, and we are called to do the same, through acts of goodness and charity and devotion. But, this means going out of our way when we hear that someone has fallen on rough or tragic times—for it is in those dark times, that we are called to bring the light of Jesus, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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That all Christians may grow in charitable attentiveness to the needs of the poor in our midst.

That all those searching and longing for Christ may find him through the witness of His Holy Church.

Through the intercession of Mother Seaton, patron saint of teachers, that all teachers, may share their knowledge with gentleness, patience, and concern for their students.  

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord