Elizabeth was born into socially prominent, long-standing families in the American colonies. Both early in life, as a Protestant, and later in life, as a Catholic, she dedicated considerable time to helping widows and orphaned children.
Her lasting legacy is not only the parochial school system or the Sisters of Charity, both of which she founded, but that she was the first person born in America to be canonized as a Saint.
Birth and Family Circumstances of St. Elizabeth
Elizabeth's father was Dr. Richard Bayley — son of two French Huguenots who settled in New York — was born in Connecticut and educated in England. He was a professor at Columbia University. Elizabeth's mother was Catherine Charlton. Catherine's father — Elizabeth's grandfather — was pastor at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Staten Island, New York.
Elizabeth was the second of three children. Her mother died when she was quite young, and as a result of her father remarrying, she also had seven step-siblings. It is known that Elizabeth received a good education via her father, that she was well-read and pious.
St. Elizabeth's Marriage and Children
Elizabeth married William Magee Seton on January 25, 1974. Some sources document the marriage having taken place in St. Paul's Church, New York, others in the home of Mary Bayley Post. William Seton was a first-generation American and heir to a shipping industry.
Elizabeth and her sister-in-law Rebecca spent a great deal of time involved in philanthropy. As they went around on missions of mercy, they became known as the "Protestant Sisters of Charity." In addition, Elizabeth helped found the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children. During this period of time, Elizabeth and William had five children.
The Napoleonic war resulted in the seizure of many ships in the Seton shipping industry. The death of William's father left William and Elizabeth with bills and a great many relatives to help. William became sick, and followed the doctor's recommendation for a sea voyage. Shortly after being released from quarantine in Italy, William died, leaving Elizabeth a widow.
St. Elizabeth's Call to Religious Life
Elizabeth's eldest daughter, Anna, had traveled with her parents to Italy. Following William's death, both Elizabeth and Anna became ill. They lodged with the Filicchis for almost half a year as they recovered, both in body and spirit. The Filicchis, like most families in Italy, were Catholic. Elizabeth started attending services with them, and found herself drawn to the Catholic faith.
Upon returning to New York in 1804, her sister-in-law died. Elizabeth was thrust into spiritual uncertainty. Despite pressure from the Anglican Mr. Hobart, Elizabeth continued to study the Catholic faith, correspond with Bishops Cheverus and Carroll, and added fasting to her religious routine. In 1805, she was formally received into the Catholic Church, and was promptly ostracized by her Protestant family and friends. Financial support, which had earlier been forthcoming, due to her being a widow with five children, stopped, leaving Elizabeth in dire straits.
Notable Actions of Saint Elizabeth While in the Church
With children to support and little financial and emotional support from her family, Elizabeth was forced to find employment. She first taught at a school for boys in the suburbs of New York, but the school was forced to close down by the state on rumors that it was attempting to convert or subvert the boys from their Protestant religion. With the help of a few friends, Elizabeth then opened a boarding-house for boys. However, when her sister-in-law Cecilia became ill, conversed with Elizabeth, and then decided to convert, Elizabeth was blamed. Threats were made by the government to have her expelled from the state.
After much thought, prayer, and consultation with various religious figures in her life, Elizabeth went to Baltimore in June 1808 at the behest of Father Dubour. She opened the St. Joseph's School for Girls. St. Joseph's School for Girls was the beginning of the parochial school system in America.
A $10,000 gift, given by a Virginian convert by the name of Samuel Cooper, was used to found a school for teaching the poor. A farm was purchased, and became the beginning of a new religious community. Elizabeth Seton took her vows privately, with Archbishop Carroll presiding.
The women — many had joined Elizabeth at the school — moved out to the farm land and incomplete farm house. Their small community banded together. The order was to be part of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul (in Paris), but again, Napoleon affected Elizabeth's life from afar. The three nuns that were to travel from France and give the women instruction were denied permission to leave the country. After dealing with this difficulty, their rule was modified slightly (by permission of the Archbishop) and they became known as the Daughters of Charity of St. Joseph, with Elizabeth as the superior.
Under Elizabeth's guidance, the order grew, establishing more schools, free schools, orphanages, and hospitals. The founding and continued development of the order became Elizabeth's entire life.
St. Elizabeth's Death and Sainthood
Elizabeth was elected as superior of the order a third time in 1819, over her protests of being too sick and old. She lived two more years, fulfilling her duties. She died January 4, 1821. She was beatified March 17, 1963 by Pope John XXIII and canonized September 14, 1975 by Pope Paul VI.
St. Elizabeth's Lasting Legacy
Saint Elizabeth is the patronage of: death of children, loss of parents, people opposed to Church authorities, people ridiculed for their piety, people with law problems, and widows.
In her life, Elizabeth had to deal and overcome almost all of these issues. Her lasting achievements of founding the parochial school system and the Daughters of Charity of St. Joseph will be remembered as long as the faith and piety that helped define her as a saint.
Sources:
- Guiley, Rosemary Ellen. (2001). The Encyclopedia of Saints. Visionary Living, Inc. Checkmark Books, New York, NY. ISBN 0816011342.
- Randolf, B. (1914) Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint. The Catholic Encyclopedia. San Diego, Catholic Answers, 2007.
- St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Emmitsburg Area Historical Society.
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