St elizabeth ann seton biography short

American Roman Catholic educator and saint (–)

Elizabeth Ann Bayley SetonSC (August 28, – January 4, ) was a Catholic religious sister in the United States and an educator, known as a founder of the country's parochial school system. Born in New York and reared as an Episcopalian, she married and had five children with her husband William Seton. Two years after his death, she converted to Catholicism in

Seton established the first Catholic girls' school in the nation in Emmitsburg, Maryland. There she also founded the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity.

After her death, Seton was the first person born in what would become the United States to be canonized by the Catholic Church (September 14, ).

Biography

Early life

Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born on August 28, , the second child of a socially prominent couple, surgeon Richard Bayley and his wife Catherine Charlton of New York City. The Bayley and Charlton families were among the earliest European settlers in the New York area. Her father's parents were of FrenchHuguenot and English descent and lived in New Rochelle, New York. Numerous Huguenots had emigrated to North America in the late

Via Restored Traditions

January 4—Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious—Memorial: USA

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Patron Saint of Catholic schools, widows, loss of parents and children, and people ridiculed for their piety
Invoked against in-law problems and those who oppose the Church
Canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14,
Liturgical Color: White
Version: Full &#; Short

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Quote:
I often asked [William] when he could not speak, ‘You feel my love that you are going to your Redeemer’ and he motioned yes with a look up of Peace at a quarter past 7 on Tuesday morning 27th December—his Soul was released—and mine from a struggle next to death. ~Journal of Saint Elizabeth

Reflection: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first citizen of the United States to be canonized a saint. She was born in New York into a prestigious and loving Anglican family of strong faith just two years before the Declaration of Independence was written. Her father was a well-respected physician. Unfortunately, her mother died when Elizabeth was only three. One of her sisters would die a year later. Her father remarried shortly after, and he and his new wife had seven children. Elizabeth was very fond of her stepmother and often accompanied her on charitable rounds caring for the poor. Sadly, when her stepmother and her father eventually separated, Elizabeth’s stepmother abandoned her, leaving young Elizabeth without a mother once again.

After a materially comfortable but difficult childhood, Elizabeth entered into a beautiful marriage at the age of nineteen with a wealthy shipping magnate named William Seton, with whom she had five children. While Elizabeth was pregnant with their third child, her father-in-law died, so the couple took William’s six younger siblings into their home to care for them. Soon after, a shocking event occurred. William’s business went bankrupt and the entire family had to abandon their home and move in with Elizabeth’

Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York City on August 28, to a prominent Episcopal family, and lost her mother at the age of three. In , at the age of 19, Elizabeth married William Magee Seton, a wealthy businessman with whom she had five children. William died of tuberculosis in , leaving Elizabeth a young widow. After discovering Catholicism in Italy, where her husband had died, Elizabeth returned to the United States and entered the Catholic Church in in New York.

After a number of difficult years, Elizabeth moved in to Emmitsburg, Maryland, where she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph&#;s, the first community for religious women established in the United States. She also began St. Joseph&#;s Academy and Free School, planting the seeds of Catholic education in the United States. Her legacy now includes religious congregations in the United States and Canada, whose members work on the unmet needs of people living in poverty in North America and beyond.

Mother Seton, as she is often called, was canonized on Sunday, September 14, in St. Peter&#;s Square by Pope Paul VI. She was the first citizen born in the United States to be given the title of “Saint.” Her remains are entombed in Emmitsburg in the Basilica at the National Shrine that bears her name.

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You can learn how Elizabeth Ann Seton became a saint in our animated video, Betty Bayley Becomes A Saint, especially for children and teens.

Read some of her quotes and favorite prayers

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first American to be canonized as a saint. She was raised Episcopalian, but later converted to Catholicism. Through the struggles and tragedies she faced in life, she remained devout. She is the founder of the first Catholic schools in the United States and is the patron saint of Catholic schools, widows, and seafarers.

Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was born into a wealthy Episcopalian family in New York City on August 28, Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, was a doctor and one of the first health officials in New York City. Her mother, Catherine Charlton Bayley, died when Elizabeth was only three years old.

At age nineteen, Elizabeth married William Magee Seton on January 25, Together they had five children, Anna Maria, William, Richard, Catherine, and Rebecca. Seton enjoyed a full life of loving service to her family, care for the underprivileged, and religious development in her Episcopal faith.

In the late s, a double tragedy visited Seton. The Seton family’s life took a turn when her husband William became ill. He suffered from tuberculosis and continued to grow worse. Hoping to improve his health, the couple and their eldest daughter Anna Maria decided to go to Italy. On November 19th, they arrived in Leghorn and were placed in quarantine. They were released from quarantine on December 19. William died 8 days later. Waiting to return to the United States, Seton and Anna Maria spent several months with the Filicchi brothers who were business associates of her husband.

While in Italy, Seton learned about Roman Catholicism for the first time. She was especially drawn to the doctrine of the Eucharist as the real body of Christ.

She returned to New York in June After her return, she continued to feel conflicted between the Episcopal and Catholic faiths. After almost a year, she officially converted to Roman Catholicism on March 14, She was confirmed in and chose Mary as her confirmation name. Seton admired the Virgin Mary an