WRFH/Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM - Soldiers of Christ: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Episode Date: February 28, 2024

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first American born citizen to be given the title of Saint, and she founded the religious order of the Sisters of Charity in Maryland. She is the patron saint of Catholic schools, widows, and seafarers and her feast day is celebrated on January 4th. 

Hi, I'm Faith Royce and this is Soldiers of Christ on Radio Free Hillsdale, a feature where I highlight the life of Catholic and Orthodox saints. Today's saint is Elizabeth Anne Seton, who was the first American-born citizen to be given the title of saint. Elizabeth Ann Bailey was born to a prominent Episcopal family in New York on August 28, 1774. She tragically lost her mother at a very young age, so she became attached to her father, who spent his day. working as a physician. Elizabeth grew up in wealthy circles, quickly becoming a beautiful and lively young woman. She was quite popular at parties, and it was not long before a wealthy young man named William Seton fell in love with Elizabeth, and they were married in 1794. Over the next few years, Elizabeth had five children. Her husband spent his days working in his family's shipping

business, until the death of his father, which sent the business into a financial spiral. He was filled with worry, imagining himself being placed in debtor's prison, while Elizabeth secured her trust fully in God, saying, I think the greatest happiness of this life is to be released from the cares of what is called the world. About two years later, the family was officially bankrupt. Elizabeth spent the next summer with her father, who was a health officer on Staten Island. By the end of the summer, her father became ill with yellow fever and passed away, leaving Elizabeth wrought with grief.

She found herself turning to the scriptures in prayer, and she wrote in a letter that her soul was sensibly convinced of an entire surrender of itself and all its faculties to God. In 1803, the family took a trip to Italy due to her husband William's poor health. Upon arrival, they were quarantined for 40 days in a stone tower, where she describes the most gruesome experience she has ever endured. She tended to William, who is now coughing up blood, and tried to come for her daughter, Anna Marie.

Two days after Christmas in Pisa, William passed away at the age of 37. During the rest of her time in Italy, she attended the Catholic churches with her friends and was deeply drawn in by belief in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist. She returned to New York, where she officially became Catholic in 1805. Attempting to support her family, she opened a boarding house for schoolboys, but when her sister-in-law also converted to Catholicism, many of their donors withdrew in anger. The president of St. Mary's College in Baltimore offered her a teaching job,

so she accepted and left New York in 1808. A year later, she pronounced her religious vows and was given some property in Maryland. She, along with her three daughters and sister-in-law, founded the Sisters of Charity. Over the next several years, Mother Seton sent a group of sisters to Philadelphia to take care of an orphanage and sent others to New York. By the time of her death, there was a woman. over 20 communities of the Sisters of Charity, who oversaw free schools, hospitals, and orphanages. Eventually, Elizabeth fell ill with tuberculosis, which caused a slow and painful death.

She passed away on January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born saint to be canonized. She is the patron of Catholic schools, widows, and seafarers, and her feast day is celebrated on January 4th. We take inspiration from this passionate and loving saint, for she is a very first. said, how sweet the presence of Jesus to the longing, harassed soul. It is instant peace and balm to every wound. Thank you for listening to Soldiers of Christ. I'm Faith Roy's with Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM.