Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton glorified in motion and in religion a singular standing amongst her countrymen.
Meet Mom Elizabeth Ann — the primary American-born saint.
She was a local of New York Metropolis, born on the eve of the American Revolution.
“She was a very erudite, robust, unbiased girl, a socialite from a really revered household, and a patriot very within the occasions of the day and the struggle for independence of the brand new nation,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York, informed Fox Information Digital in an interview final yr about Seton.
MEET THE AMERICAN WHO REPORTED THE FIRST SENSATIONAL UFO ENCOUNTERS, PURITAN LEADER JOHN WINTHROP
“She was additionally a loving spouse and mom. She was very robust in her Anglican religion, however felt this mysterial tug to the Roman Catholic religion, at a value of nice sacrifice. She embraced that religion right here in New York.”
Dolan was within the Vatican, he mentioned, for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s canonization below Pope Paul VI in 1975.
Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton (1774-1821), founder and first superior of the Sisters of Charity, was born to a rich New York Protestant household. She married William Seton in 1794 — and after his demise in 1803, she transformed to Catholicism in 1805, opened a women’ college in Baltimore in 1808, took vows in 1813 and have become mom superior of the Sisters of Charity. Beatified in 1963, she was canonized as the primary American-born saint in 1975. (Hulton Archive/Getty Photographs)
“She was an enthralling little lady, small-boned and dainty, with nice brown eyes and a face like a cameo, who from the very first cherished God and wished to be good,” writer Mary Reed Newland wrote in “The Saint Ebook” in 1979.
But Seton suffered tragedy early in life, shedding her mom at age three, then enduring excessive hardship as a widowed mom of 5 youngsters by age 30.
“Rejoice on your superb daughter.” — Pope Paul VI
She misplaced two of these youngsters to tragic deaths within the decade that adopted.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton additionally knew poverty after which prejudice and rejection from the New York Metropolis institution upon her conversion to Catholicism.
“God is with us — and if sufferings abound in us, his consolations additionally vastly abound, and much exceed all utterance,” Seton wrote in her journals.
“[I was] not solely prepared to take my cross however kissed it, too.”
Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. “I’ve at all times been fascinated by [Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton] and simply proud to say her as a New Yorker,” Dolan informed Fox Information Digital in an interview final yr. “I search her intersession on behalf of the religion every morning.” (Spencer Platt/Getty Photographs)
She overcame adversity to pioneer Catholic training in America, type the Sisters of Charity, a nationwide community of non secular communities, and, after her demise, intercede within the miraculous restoration of three terminally ailing individuals round america.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND WHY ‘MEAN GIRLS’ ARE OFTEN SO POPULAR — EVEN AS ADULTS
The unimaginable acts of therapeutic, each unexplained by science, propelled her to sainthood greater than a century after a quick life crammed with unimaginable drama and achievement.
“She cherished God and she or he cherished to do his will,” Anne Merwin, writer of “Saints By Our Facet: Elizabeth Ann Seton,” informed Fox Information Digital.
“She put her religion forward of every thing.”
Baby of the Revolution
Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in colonial New York Metropolis to Richard and Catherine (Charlton) Bayley on Aug. 28, 1774.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was born and raised in New York Metropolis. Her former house at 7 State Avenue, on the far southern tip of Manhattan, is now the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox Information Digital)
It was a metropolis in turmoil, bursting on the seams with new settlers, battling infectious illness and on the point of insurrection.
Her mother and father have been distinguished members of the Episcopal Church. Richard Bayley was a famend epidemiologist, New York Metropolis’s first chief well being officer and an skilled in yellow fever, which regularly swept over the American colonies with lethal outcomes.
“As a toddler of the American Revolution, Elizabeth possessed the identical qualities its leaders had: religion, foresight and fortitude,” writer Merwin writes.
American colonists toppled a statue of King George III on Bowling Inexperienced in Decrease Manhattan on July 9, 1776. Elizabeth Ann Bayley, the primary American saint, was born steps away from Bowling Inexperienced simply two years earlier. (William Walcutt (1819-1895); painted 1857)
She married William Magee Seton in 1794. His father, additionally William, was a rich transport service provider and treasurer of the Financial institution of New York, which was based by their neighbor, Alexander Hamilton.
MEET THE AMERICAN WHO INSPIRED THE NATION IN TWO WORLD WARS: CHRISTIAN SOLDIER SGT. ALVIN YORK
On the time of their marriage, struggle hero Hamilton was the primary secretary of the U.S. Treasury.
“Elizabeth socialized with elite New Yorkers of her time,” writes the web site of St. Peter’s Church in Manhattan.
“Saints by Our Facet: Elizabeth Ann Seton” (2014) was written by Anne Merwin, who — like Seton — was an Episcopalian who transformed to Catholicism as an grownup. The writer solely realized of Seton’s unimaginable story after shifting to Maryland and changing into crammed with the spirit of the primary American-born saint. (Courtesy Pauline Books and Media)
“With assistance from a number of different girls together with Mrs. Alexander Hamilton, Elizabeth Seton organized New York’s first personal charity, the Society for the Aid of Poor Widows with Small Youngsters, at Trinity Church.”
“Elizabeth socialized with elite New Yorkers of her time.” — St. Peter’s Church of NYC
The great instances quickly ended.
The Setons’ transport enterprise went bankrupt amid piracy and ongoing battle in Europe. Her younger husband grew ailing.
The couple, with their oldest daughter Anna Maria, made the lengthy journey to Italy in 1803 “to assist in his restoration,” the church writes.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, born in New York Metropolis in 1774, “was impressed with [the] religious Catholicism” of these she met in Italy, who took her in when her husband handed away. “When she and her daughter returned to New York a yr later, and to the horror of Elizabeth’s household and buddies, she determined to transform.” (Fox Information Digital; Getty Photographs)
Writer Merwin notes he was additionally doubtless searching for reprieve from collectors. William Seton died of tuberculosis in Italy on Dec. 27, leaving Seton a widow removed from house.
“His enterprise companions, the Filicchi household (of Italy), prolonged hospitality to Elizabeth and her daughter,” the church and different biographers notice.
“Elizabeth was impressed with their religious Catholicism. When she and her daughter returned to New York a yr later, and to the horror of Elizabeth’s household and buddies, she determined to transform.”
KIRK CAMERON AND HIS BOOK PUBLISHER OBJECT TO ‘INCLUSIVITY’ EDITS OF R.L. STINE BOOKS: ‘WOKEISM IS A VIRUS’
She was obtained into St. Peter’s Church on March 14, 1805. Eleven days later, “she made her First Communion with extraordinary fervor,” in accordance with church paperwork.
St. Peter’s was the one Catholic Church in New York Metropolis on the time — a testomony to the shock it will need to have been to family and friends that she’d be part of such a minority congregation.
St. Peter’s Church continues to be there immediately, although in a more moderen constructing, at 22 Barclay Avenue, steps from the World Commerce Heart. It’s the oldest Catholic parish in New York State.
The Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is situated within the Church of Our Girl of the Holy Rosary, proven right here on Oct. 27, 2020 in New York Metropolis. The construction opened in 1965. (John Lamparski/Getty Photographs)
She opened a faculty for boys, although it quickly collapsed after New York Metropolis households eliminated their youngsters from it after studying she had transformed to Catholicism.
With little revenue, with 5 youngsters, and now branded a non secular pariah within the eyes of the town through which she was raised, Elizabeth Ann Seton moved to Maryland — and devoted her life to Christ.
Training, religion and three miracles
Seton was provided a educating job at St. Mary’s School by Catholic leaders in Baltimore, the place the church was extra firmly established.
“She accepted and left New York for good on June 8, 1808,” notes the Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Baltimore.
View of a constructing that homes the Mom Seton Guild corridor (4 East Important Avenue) and the Knights of Columbus Brute Council No. 1860 (9 East Important St.) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The photograph was taken on the day that Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), who based the Sisters of Charity of St Joseph’s, was canonized by Pope Paul VI in Rome. She turned the primary native-born American Roman Catholic Saint. (Ann E. Zelle/Getty Photographs)
Earlier than lengthy, she opened a Catholic college devoted to educating women.
“Catholic girls from across the nation got here to affix her work and, over time, they created a convent,” writes the Nationwide Ladies’s Historical past Museum.
“The ladies quickly moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland, the place they formally started their non secular life as Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s on July 31, 1809. This was the primary sisterhood in america.”
MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY STUDENTS LAUNCH PROTESTS AFTER SCHOOL AXES MAJORS LIKE MATH, ENGLISH, RELIGIOUS STUDIES
Her work as an educator and religion chief was thriving. However tragedy struck Seton once more.
Two of her daughters, simply teenagers on the time, died of tuberculosis: Anna Maria in 1812 and Rebecca in 1816.
“By no means can a toddler know what a mom suffers,” Seton as soon as wrote. “Our God alone is aware of a mom’s coronary heart and he’ll pity us.”
View of a statue of Elizabeth Ann Seton within the Shrine Chapel on the Basilica on the Nationwide Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Emmitsburg, Maryland, on Sept. 14, 1975. The photograph was taken on the day that Seton (1774-1821) was canonized by Pope Paul VI in Rome. (Ann E. Zelle/Getty Photographs)
The Sisters of Charity started sending missions across the nation.
Her instance of religion was so robust that her identify was known as upon by therapeutic prayers of the trustworthy properly into the twentieth century. She is credited with three miracles.
“By no means can a toddler know what a mom suffers.” — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
Sister Gertrude Korzendorfer of New Orleans made a full restoration from pancreatic most cancers deemed inoperable by medical doctors in 1934 after beseeching assistance from Mom Elizabeth Ann.
Then, Ann Theresa O’Neill, simply 4 years outdated, was cured of acute lymphatic leukemia in Baltimore on Easter week in 1952, after Sister Mary Alice prayed to Seton on the toddler’s behalf.
“The priest had already been by to present her the ultimate blessing,” the Baltimore Solar wrote of the occasion in 1994.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton statue at St. Peter’s Church in downtown Manhattan, the place Elizabeth Ann Seton was confirmed Catholic in 1805. (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox Information Digital)
“Even many years later, famend hematologists and oncologists could be unable to clarify her restoration.”
Probably the most dramatic miracle attributed to Seton got here in Yonkers, New York, in October 1963, in room 308 of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
MEET THE AMERICAN WHO WROTE ‘BEN-HUR: A TALE OF THE CHRIST’: UNION GENERAL LEW WALLACE
“Carl Kalin, then 61 years outdated, lay in a coma with a uncommon mind illness, whereas the Sisters of Charity in your entire New York neighborhood prayed to their foundress, Mom Elizabeth Ann Seton, for his restoration,” The New York Occasions reported on the day of her canonization in 1975.
“Then a relic, a sliver of her bone, was delivered to the hospital to bolster the prayers, positioned on his physique, and some hours later he awoke.”
Longtime St. Joseph’s doctor Dr. Paul Tucci was quoted within the story.
Tapistry of Mom Elizabeth Ann Seton hanging in St. Peter’s Cathedral throughout beatification ceremonies. (David Lees/Getty Photographs)
“Medication isn’t just science and artwork,” the physician mentioned.
“There’s a certain quantity of spirit, too, and that makes for a totality of individuals. I feel it was a miracle.”
‘Human, historic, holy story’
Mom Elizabeth Ann Seton died on Jan. 4, 1821 in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
She was simply 46 years outdated.
Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton (1774-1821) was canonized as the primary American-born saint in 1975. (Hulton Archive/Getty Photographs)
She is buried on the Nationwide Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton within the city the place she died.
One other Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is discovered immediately at 8 State Avenue on the excessive southern tip of Manhattan, the oldest a part of New York Metropolis. It is the location of the house the place she as soon as lived.
Her contributions to Catholic training reside on in faculties she helped present in Maryland, and in these developed together with her curriculum or bearing her identify throughout america, within the Philippines and in Australia.
Seton Corridor, a Catholic college in New Jersey recognized nationally for its basketball program, was based by her nephew, the Rev. James Roosevelt Bayley — and named in her honor.
College students, followers and cheerleaders for the Seton Corridor Pirates help their college towards the Xavier Musketeers throughout their Large East convention common season recreation at Prudential Heart on Jan. 31, 2015 in Newark, New Jersey. Seton Corridor College is called for Elizabeth Ann Seton, the primary American-born saint. (Chris Chambers/Getty Photographs)
Her non secular communities unfold, too.
“The work of her sisters has steadily grown during the last 160 years,” states the Catholic Group of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton of Plano, Texas.
“5 of those communities are actually independently organized and are known as Sisters of Charity. The sixth is the American Daughters of Charity.”
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
The American Daughters of Charity united with the French Daughters of Charity in 1850 to type what the Catholic Group of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton calls the “largest order of non secular within the church” — it has 32,000 members the world over.
“In america, the Daughters of Charity employees hospitals, baby care establishments, house for the aged and handicapped, and faculties at each degree,” the group notes.
Pope Paul VI and President John F. Kennedy shake palms throughout their assembly on the Apostolic Palace. The pontiff obtained Kennedy in a 36-minute personal viewers. Pope Paul VI canonized Elizabeth Ann Seton, the primary American saint, in 1975. (Getty Photographs)
She was beatified on Dec. 18, 1959 and canonized on Sept. 4, 1975 — 201 years after she was born on the eve of her homeland’s struggle for independence.
“Elizabeth Ann Seton was wholly American! Rejoice on your superb daughter,” Pope Paul VI proclaimed at her canonization.
“Be happy with her. And know the way to protect her fruitful heritage,” he additionally mentioned.
“She is a human, historic and holy story,” mentioned writer Merwin of her beloved St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“There’s a lot to study, and she or he is an excellent trainer. She’s your pal. She’s at all times by your aspect.”
To learn extra tales on this distinctive “Meet the American Who…” sequence from Fox Information Digital, click on right here.
For extra Way of life articles, go to www.foxnews.com/way of life.
