St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821)

Elizabeth Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be canonized. Born two years before the American Revolution, on August 28, 1774, Elizabeth grew up in the "cream" of New York society. She was a prolific reader, and read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels. In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth's early life was quiet, simple, and often lonely. As she grew a little older, the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support and comfort. In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with whom she was deeply in love. The first years of their marriage were happy and prosperous. This time of Elizabeth's life was to be a brief moment of earthly happiness before the many deaths she was to suffer. Within four years, Will's father died, leaving the young couple in charge of Will's seven half brothers and sisters, besides their own 5 children, as well as the family's importing business. Both Will's business and his health failed. He was finally forced to file a petition of bankruptcy. In a final attempt to save Will's health, the Setons sailed for Italy, but he died of tuberculosis soon after they arrived.

Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church, thanks also to the influence of the Fellicchi family with whom they stayed while in Italy. Elizabeth was baptized in St Peter’s church, New York City in 1805. At the suggestion of the president of St. Mary's College in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth started a school in that city. She and two other young women, who helped her in her work, began plans for a new order, which was to be named Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. They established the first free Catholic school in America. When the young community adopted their rule, they made provisions for Elizabeth to continue raising her children. On March 25, 1809, the new Mother Seton pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Although Mother Seton was now afflicted with tuberculosis, she continued to guide her children. By 1818, in addition to their first school, the sisters had established two orphanages and another school. Mother Seton died in January 4, 1821 at the age of 46, only sixteen years after becoming a Catholic. She was canonized on September 14, 1975. On that day both Episcopalians and Catholics rejoiced. She is the patron of the Catholic schools in the USA.

St Elizabeth Ann Seton

St Elizabeth Seton (1774-1821)

Elizabeth Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be canonized. Born two years before the American Revolution, on August 28, 1774, Elizabeth grew up in the "cream" of New York society. She was a prolific reader, and read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels. In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth's early life was quiet, simple, and often lonely. As she grew a little older, the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support and comfort.

In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with whom she was deeply in love. The first years of their marriage were happy and prosperous. This time of Elizabeth's life was to be a brief moment of earthly happiness before the many deaths and partings she was to suffer. Within four years, Will's father died, leaving the young couple in charge of Will's seven half brothers and sisters, besides their own 5 children, as well as the family's importing business. Now events began to move fast - and with devastating effect. Both Will's business and his health failed. In a final attempt to save Will's health, the Setons sailed for Italy, but he died of tuberculosis soon after they arrived.

Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church, thanks also to the influence of the Fellicchi family with whom they stayed while in Italy. Elizabeth was baptized in St Peter’s church, New York City in 1805.

At the suggestion of the president of St. Mary's College in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth started a school in that city. She and two other young women, who helped her in her work, began plans for a new order, which was to be named Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. They established the first free Catholic school in America. When the young community adopted their rule, they made provisions for Elizabeth to continue raising her children. On March 25, 1809, the new Mother Seton pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. 

Remains of St Elizabeth are in her National Shrine in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Although Mother Seton was now afflicted with tuberculosis, she continued to guide her children. By 1818, in addition to their first school, the sisters had established two orphanages and another school. Today six groups of sisters trace their origins to Mother Seton's initial foundation. Mother Seton died in January 4, 1821 at the age of 46, only sixteen years after becoming a Catholic. She was canonized on September 14, 1975. On that day both Episcopalians and Catholics rejoiced. She is the patron of the Catholic schools in the USA.

St. John Neumann

Today we celebrate the feast of a beloved Saint who was canonized on the same day that I was ordained a priest, June 19, 1977. St John Neumann was born in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia in 1811, and he was nearing his ordination when his bishop stopped all ordinations because he had too many priests. John wrote to other European bishops with the same response – too many priests. How times have changed because today we have the opposite situation with lack of vocations. Since John had learned some English from fellow American workers where he used to work, he decided to write to the US Bishops, and the New York bishop accepted him, and ordained him, and assigned him to a parish that spanned 90 miles by 150 miles long in territory. He was one of 36 priests who were taking care of over 200,000 Catholics in New York state. He travelled from town to town, baptizing, marrying and burying people in various mission stations. Frequently he celebrated Mass on the kitchen table in homes he visited. Because he felt isolated at times, he joined the Redemptorists, an order dedicated to help the poor and the abandoned. In 1852, he became the Bishop of Philadelphia, one of the dioceses who had parish schools, started by St Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose feast we celebrated yesterday. Because he loved people so much, he learned a few extra languages so that he could hear their confessions, including Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and even Gaelic, so much that an Irish woman rejoiced by saying ‘Thank God he sent us an Irish priest!’ In one of his visits to Germany, he once reached a house drenched with the rain. And when the owner of the house asked him to change his shoes, he responded by saying “The only way I can change my shoes is to put my left shoe on my right foot, and my right shoe on my left foot. This is the only pair of shoes I have.” So he walked in bare feet until his shoes dried up. St John Neumann died on January 5, 1860, at the age of 48. Today, American Catholics as well as Czechs and Slovak Catholics rejoice with their beloved Saint.

Incidentally, yesterday's saint Elizabeth Ann Seton died exactly 200 years ago, on January 4, 1821. She started the Catholic school system in the USA and was the first American born saint to be canonized. To read her biography go to: 

https://dungiljan.blogspot.com/search?q=St+Elizabeth+Ann+Seton

St Elizabeth Ann Seton

Elizabeth Bayley Seton was the first native born American to be canonized. Born two years before the American Revolution, on August 28, 1774, Elizabeth grew up in the "cream" of New York society. She was a prolific reader, and read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels. In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth's early life was quiet, simple, and often lonely. As she grew a little older, the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support and comfort. 

In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with whom she was deeply in love. The first years of their marriage were happy and prosperous. This time of Elizabeth's life was to be a brief moment of earthly happiness before the many deaths and partings she was to suffer. Within four years, Will's father died, leaving the young couple in charge of Will's seven half brothers and sisters, besides their own 5 children, as well as the family's importing business. Now events began to move fast - and with devastating effect. Both Will's business and his health failed. He was finally forced to file a petition of bankruptcy. In a final attempt to save Will's health, the Setons sailed for Italy, but he died of tuberculosis soon after they arrived.  Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church, thanks also to the influence of the Fellicchi family with whom they stayed while in Italy. Elizabeth was baptized in St Peter’s church, New York City in 1805.
At the suggestion of the president of St. Mary's College in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth started a school in that city. She and two other young women, who helped her in her work, began plans for a new order, which was to be named Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. They established the first free Catholic school in America. When the young community adopted their rule, they made provisions for Elizabeth to continue raising her children. On March 25, 1809, the new Mother Seton pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Although Mother Seton was now afflicted with tuberculosis, she continued to guide her children. By 1818, in addition to their first school, the sisters had established two orphanages and another school. Today six groups of sisters trace their origins to Mother Seton's initial foundation. Mother Seton died in January 4, 1821 at the age of 46, only sixteen years after becoming a Catholic. She was canonized on September 14, 1975. On that day both Episcopalians and Catholics rejoiced. She is the patron of the Catholic schools in the USA.

St Elizabeth Ann Seton

Elizabeth Bayley Seton was the first native-born American to be canonized. Born two years before the American Revolution, on August 28, 1774, Elizabeth grew up in the "cream" of New York society. She was a prolific reader and read everything from the Bible to contemporary novels. In spite of her high society background, Elizabeth's early life was quiet, simple, and often lonely. As she grew a little older, the Bible was to become her continual instruction, support, and comfort. 

In 1794, Elizabeth married the wealthy young William Seton, with whom she was deeply in love. The first years of their marriage were happy and prosperous. This time of Elizabeth's life was to be a brief moment of earthly happiness before the many deaths and partings she was to suffer. Within four years, Will's father died, leaving the young couple in charge of Will's seven half brothers and sisters, besides their own 5 children, as well as the family's importing business. Now events began to move fast - and with devastating effect. Both Will's business and his health failed. He was finally forced to file a petition of bankruptcy. In a final attempt to save Will's health, the Setons sailed for Italy, but he died of tuberculosis soon after they arrived.
Elizabeth's deep concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church, thanks also to the influence of the Fellicchi family with whom they stayed while in Italy. Elizabeth was baptized in St Peter’s church, New York City in 1805. 

At the suggestion of the president of St. Mary's College in Baltimore, Maryland, Elizabeth started a school in that city. She and two other young women, who helped her in her work, began plans for a new order, which was to be named Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. They established the first free Catholic school in America. When the young community adopted their rule, they made provisions for Elizabeth to continue raising her children. On March 25, 1809, the new Mother Seton pronounced her vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. 

Although Mother Seton was now afflicted with tuberculosis, she continued to guide her children. By 1818, in addition to their first school, the sisters had established two orphanages and another school. Today six groups of sisters trace their origins to Mother Seton's initial foundation. Mother Seton died on January 4, 1821, at the age of 46, only sixteen years after becoming a Catholic. She was canonized on September 14, 1975. On that day both Episcopalians and Catholics rejoiced. She is the patron of the Catholic schools in the USA.

St John Neumann

St John Neumann (1811-1860)

Today we celebrate the feast of a beloved Saint who was canonized on the same day that I was ordained a priest, June 19, 1977. St John Neumann was born in Bohemia, Czechoslovakia in 1811, and he was nearing his ordination when his bishop stopped all ordinations because he had too many priests. John wrote to other European bishops with the same response – too many priests. How times have changed because today we have the opposite situation with lack of vocations.

Since John had learned some English from fellow American workers where he used to work, he decided to write to the US Bishops, and the New York bishop accepted him, and ordained him, and assigned him to a parish that spanned 90 miles by 150 miles long in territory. He was one of 36 priests who were taking care of over 200,000 Catholics in New York state. He travelled from town to town, baptizing, marrying and burying people in various mission stations. Frequently he celebrated Mass on the kitchen table in homes he visited. Because he felt isolated at times, he joined the Redemptorists, an order dedicated to help the poor and the abandoned. In 1852, he became the Bishop of Philadelphia, one of the dioceses who had parish schools, started by St Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose feast we celebrated yesterday. Because he loved people so much, he learned a few extra languages so that he could hear their confessions, including Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch and even Gaelic, so much that an Irish woman rejoiced by saying ‘Thank God he sent us an Irish priest!’ In one of his visits to Germany, he once reached a house drenched with the rain. And when the owner of the house asked him to change his shoes, he responded by saying “The only way I can change my shoes is to put my left shoe on my right foot, and my right shoe on my left foot. This is the only pair of shoes I have.” So he walked in bare feet until his shoes dried up. St John Neumann died on January 5, 1860, at the age of 48. Today, American Catholics as well as Czechs and Slovak Catholics rejoice with their beloved Saint.