SAINT FEAST DAY 4 JANUARY: ST ELIZABETH ANN SETON

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JANUARY

Saints celebrated on the 4th of January

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SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON, FOUNDRESS

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton grew up in New York society's upper class. In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with whom she was deeply in love. William's father died within four years, leaving the young couple responsible for William's seven half-brothers and sisters and the family's import business. Shortly thereafter, her husband's business and health failed. William died of tuberculosis. Elizabeth's only consolation was that he had recently awakened to the things of God.

SHE BECAME A CATHOLIC

Elizabeth's serious concern for the spiritual well-being of her family and friends eventually led her to the Catholic Church. She asked the Blessed Virgin to lead her to the true faith and officially joined the Catholic Church in 1805.

THEY MADE PLANS FOR A SISTERHOOD

At the suggestion of the Rector of St Mary's College in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth established a school in that city. The school was originally secular, and when news of their conversion to Catholicism spread, several parents withdrew their girls from school. It was then that Seton and two other young women who helped her with her work began making plans for a sisterhood. They founded the first free Catholic school in the United States.

When the young sisterhood began, they made sure that Elizabeth could continue to raise her children with her. On March 25, 1809, Elizabeth Seton took her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. From that time on, she was called Mother Seton.

THE RULE WAS OFFICIALLY RATIFIED

Although Mother Seton had tuberculosis herself, she continued to raise her own children. The sisterhood rule was officially ratified in 1812. It was based on the rule that St. Vincent de Paul wrote for his Daughters of Charity in France.

Today six sister groups can trace their origins back to Mother Seton's original foundation. Mother Seton died in 1821 at the age of 46 - sixteen years after she became Catholic. She was beatified by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963, and canonised by Pope Paul VI on on September 14, 1975.