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- February 18, 2020
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is known by many catholic faithful due to her dedication in helping the poor and the sick in the community. Elizabeth Ann Seton was born in the year 1774 as an Episcopalian by a wealthy family. Her father was a doctor and he was able to provide the family with a good life. Sadly, Elizabeth’s mother died while she was three years old and she grew up under her father’s care. When she attained the age of nineteen, Elizabeth got married to William and together had five children. She spent most of her time looking after her young family. She also got time to look after the poor in the society. At this time, she still continued with her Episcopal beliefs.
During the late 1700s, Elizabeth’s life and that of her family changed drastically. This is because her husband, William got ill as he suffered from tuberculosis. Things became worse by the day as his condition deteriorated. The couple decided to seek help and decided to travel to Italy together with their eldest daughter. Sadly, William’s condition had become worse and died from tuberculosis a few weeks later. After the loss, Elizabeth and her daughter decided to stay a few more months in Italy under her husband’s business associates care. It is during her stay in Italy that Elizabeth got to learn of the catholic faith. After returning from Italy, Elizabeth developed conflicting feelings between the catholic and episcopal faiths. At some point, she chose to become a catholic and was officially converted on March 1805. A year later, she was confirmed and chose the name Mary for herself. Her decision to become a catholic was met by many challenges including discrimination. At some point, parents withdrew their children from a home Elizabeth had opened after the discovery that she was a catholic.
It is in 1808 that Elizabeth opened a girl’s school after accepting an invitation from several priest to relocate to Maryland. Due to her good work of helping the community, women joined her and together formed a convent. A year later, the women formed the first sisterhood in the United States and Elizabeth was given mother title. She served as a mother for twelve years. Due to her dedication and devotion to impact positive change to the community, Elizabeth was later canonized as a saint. It is important to note that she is the first American to be canonized as a saint. Intersessions to mother Seton has attributed to several people bring cured. Ann, a four year old girl was diagnosed with acute leukaemia. At this time, there was no cure for the illnesses and patients suffered until death. Ann’s cure can after sisters prayed Seton. Also, a sister who was suffering from pancreatic cancer received healing after praying to Seton. Another miracle that is attributed to Saint Seton is when sisters placed a piece of Seton’s bone on a man who was suffering from meningitis and was healed. Doctors were unable to explain how there three people got cured hence it was considered as miracles from Seton.
