Who was St. Elizabeth Ann Seton?

The Life of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was a remarkable woman who became the first canonized saint born in the United States. She was canonized on September 14, 1975. Elizabeth's life was full of different roles: she was a wife, mother, widow, educator, and spiritual leader.

Elizabeth was born in New York City on August 28, 1774, into a well-known Anglican family. Her parents were Dr. Richard Bayley and Catherine Charlton. Sadly, Elizabeth's life had its share of challenges. She passed away in Emmitsburg, Maryland on January 4, 1821.

Her family had deep roots in America. Elizabeth's grandparents were among the first people to settle in the New York area. On her dad's side, her grandparents were William Bayley and Susannah LeConte, who were French Huguenots. Her mom's parents were Mary Bayeux and Dr. Richard Charlton, who lived on Staten Island where Dr. Charlton was a pastor.

Elizabeth's dad, after his first wife's death, married Charlotte Amelia Barclay, a member of the Roosevelt family in New York. Unfortunately, this marriage had problems and ended in separation. They had seven children, including Guy Carleton Bayley, whose son, James Roosevelt Bayley, later became a bishop and archbishop in the Catholic Church.

Elizabeth and her sister faced rejection from their stepmother. When their father went abroad for his medical studies, they stayed with their uncle and aunt in New Rochelle, New York. This separation and the family conflicts led to a tough time for Elizabeth, which she later described in her journal as a period of depression and darkness.

Despite these challenges, Elizabeth had a love for nature, poetry, and music, especially the piano. She often wrote in her journal about her feelings, religious thoughts, and favorite readings.

In 1794, Elizabeth married William Magee Seton, son of William Seton, Sr. and Rebecca Curson Seton. Their wedding was witnessed by Samuel Provoost, the first Episcopal bishop of New York, in the Manhattan home of Mary Bayley Post.

The Life and Family of William Magee Seton

William Magee Seton was an important figure in early American history, with a fascinating family background. He was the eldest of thirteen children from his father's two marriages. His father first married Rebecca Curson, and after her death, he married Anna Maria Curson, Rebecca's sister.

William was well-educated in England and became a key figure in his family's business, the William Seton Company. This company was involved in importing and exporting goods and was quite successful. William even made connections in Europe, like with Filippo Filicchi, a famous merchant from Italy.

The Setons were a well-known family in New York and were active members of the Trinity Episcopal Church. Elizabeth Seton, William's wife, was deeply involved in the church under the guidance of Rev. John Henry Hobart, who later became a bishop.

Elizabeth was not only a devout church member but also actively helped others. She and her sister-in-law, Rebecca Mary Seton, often cared for sick and dying people in their community. Elizabeth also co-founded The Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children in 1797 and served as its treasurer.

William and Elizabeth had five children: Anna Maria, William, Richard Bayley, Catherine Charlton, and Rebecca Mary. Their family faced several challenges. Anna Maria and Rebecca both suffered from tuberculosis and died young. Anna Maria even took vows as a Sister of Charity on her deathbed. Richard, who worked for the United States Navy, tragically died at sea near Liberia.

Catherine Charlton, also known as Josephine, was talented in languages and music. She was with her mother, Elizabeth, when she passed away. Later, Catherine joined the Sisters of Mercy and spent over forty years helping prisoners in New York.

Their son, William, became a lieutenant in the United States Navy and had a large family. Among his children, Archbishop Robert Seton and Helen (Sister Mary Catherine) became notable figures in their own right.

Challenges Faced by Elizabeth and William Magee Seton

Elizabeth Seton experienced significant challenges following the death of her father-in-law, William Seton, Sr., in 1798. This event dramatically changed her life and that of her husband, William Magee Seton.

With the passing of William Seton Sr., the responsibility of the family business and the care of William's younger half-siblings fell on Elizabeth's husband. During this difficult time, Elizabeth was about six months pregnant with their third child. Despite this, she took on the significant task of managing the care of both her immediate family and her husband's younger siblings in their home.

Elizabeth's role in the Seton household extended beyond caregiving. She also engaged in teaching, providing education to her sisters-in-law Charlotte, Henrietta (also known as Harriet), and Cecilia. This experience marked Elizabeth's first venture into teaching, a field in which she later made significant contributions.

The Seton family faced a severe financial crisis when their business, the William Seton Company, went bankrupt in 1801. This unfortunate turn of events resulted in the loss of all their possessions, including their home in lower Manhattan. Adding to these difficulties, William Magee Seton's health started to decline as he showed signs of tuberculosis, a serious lung disease, further complicating their already challenging situation.

These hardships in Elizabeth and William Magee Seton's life highlight the struggles they faced, including financial distress and health issues, during a pivotal time in their lives.

Elizabeth Seton's Journey Through Tragedy and Transformation

In 1803, Elizabeth Seton, her husband William Magee Seton, and their daughter Anna Maria went to Italy, hoping the warmer climate would improve William's health. However, upon arrival in Livorno, Italy, they faced another challenge. Due to concerns about yellow fever, which was common in New York at that time, the Italian authorities placed them in quarantine at a San Jacopo lazaretto, a type of hospital for quarantinable diseases. This was a tough time for them, made a bit easier by the help of the Filicchi family, who provided support and advocacy during their isolation. Tragically, William Magee Seton passed away in Pisa just two weeks after they were released from quarantine, leaving Elizabeth a widow with five young children at the age of 29.

This trip to Italy was a turning point for Elizabeth and her daughter, who was now named Annina. They were hosted by Antonio Filicchi and his wife, Amabilia, who introduced Elizabeth to Roman Catholicism. Elizabeth became curious about the religion, asking many questions about Catholic practices and beliefs. Her memoir, "The Italian Journal," written for her sister-in-law Rebecca Seton, details her intense personal journey and eventual conversion to Catholicism. Antonio Filicchi, who had business interests in America, returned with them to the U.S., continuing to instruct Elizabeth in the faith and providing both emotional and financial support.

When Elizabeth returned to New York in 1804, she faced opposition from family and friends due to her new religious beliefs. The death of her close sister-in-law Rebecca caused her further distress. Elizabeth struggled financially, needing to frequently move to more affordable housing while caring for her five children, all under the age of eight.

During this time, Elizabeth found solace and guidance in her faith, especially in the Virgin Mary. She sought advice from several clergy members, including Rev. John Cheverus, the first bishop of Boston, and his associate Rev. Francis Matignon. After resolving her doubts and fears, Elizabeth fully embraced Roman Catholicism. She professed her Catholic faith on March 14, 1805, at St. Peter's Church in Manhattan, received her First Communion, and was confirmed the next year by Bishop John Carroll. During her confirmation, she added the name Mary to her own, often signing herself as "MEAS" for Mary Elizabeth Ann Seton.

Elizabeth's early years as a Catholic were difficult. She faced anti-Catholic prejudice, which hindered her efforts to start a school. She briefly worked at a school run by a Protestant couple, but it failed financially. Her next venture, a boarding house for boys, also faced challenges. Additionally, her conversion to Catholicism caused distrust among Seton family members, especially when her sisters-in-law Cecilia and Harriet also converted.

Despite these setbacks, Elizabeth remained faithful and optimistic. She believed that God had a plan for her and prioritized her children above all else, viewing them as her most important responsibility.

The Founding of a Sisterhood: Elizabeth Seton's New Chapter

In 1806, Elizabeth Seton met Rev. Louis William Dubourg, a moment that would significantly change her life. Rev. Dubourg, since 1797, had hoped to establish a group of religious women to teach girls in Baltimore, Maryland. He, along with Bishop John Carroll, invited Elizabeth to Baltimore to help realize this vision. The French priests of the Society of Saint Sulpice (Sulpicians), who had moved to Maryland, supported her in creating a plan that would also benefit her children. The Sulpicians aimed to start a small school focused on religious education.

In 1808, Elizabeth moved to Maryland and began her role as a school mistress in Baltimore. The Sulpicians had a vision of creating a sisterhood similar to the Daughters of Charity of Paris, founded in 1633. They started recruiting candidates for this new community. The first member to join was Cecilia Maria O’Conway from Philadelphia, followed by others including Mary Ann Butler, Susanna Clossey, Catharine Mullen, Anna Maria Murphy Burke, and Rosetta (Rose) Landry White, a widow from Baltimore.

On March 25, 1809, in a significant ceremony, Elizabeth was the only one to take vows of chastity and obedience to John Carroll. This ceremony took place in the lower chapel at St. Mary’s Seminary on Paca Street, and she was given the title “Mother Seton.” On June 16, 1809, Elizabeth and the group of sisters appeared publicly for the first time in a uniform dress of black, inspired by the attire of Italian widows Elizabeth had seen in Italy.

Samuel Sutherland Cooper, a wealthy seminarian and convert, played a crucial role in the next phase of their journey. He bought 269 acres of land near Emmitsburg in Frederick County, Maryland, for the sisters' new home. Cooper envisioned this place as an institution for female education and character formation based on Christian values and the Catholic faith. It was also meant to serve the elderly, offer job skill development, and operate a small manufactory to help those in poverty. Cooper saw Elizabeth as the ideal person to lead the educational aspect of this establishment.

This period marked a significant transition for Elizabeth Seton, as she moved from facing personal struggles to establishing a religious community with a focus on education and service, laying the foundations for what would become a significant legacy in American religious and educational history.

Establishing the Sisters of Charity in Emmitsburg

When Elizabeth Seton and her fellow sisters arrived in Emmitsburg in June 1809, their permanent home wasn't ready yet. Rev. John Dubois, the founder of Mount St. Mary’s College and Seminary, kindly offered them his cabin on St. Mary’s Mountain to stay in temporarily. According to tradition, Elizabeth named the area where they would eventually settle St. Joseph’s Valley. Their journey as the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s officially began on July 31, 1809, in the Stone House, originally the Fleming farmhouse.

By February 1810, Elizabeth and her companions moved into St. Joseph’s House, also known as The White House. Here, Elizabeth opened St. Joseph’s Free School on February 22, 1810. This school was significant because it was the first free Catholic school for girls in the United States, staffed by sisters. Additionally, St. Joseph’s Academy started on May 14, 1810, with boarding students who paid tuition, helping to support the Sisters of Charity's charitable works. These institutions were crucial in the development of Catholic education in the United States.

The early years of the Sisters of Charity were marked by challenges, including poverty. However, many women joined their cause. From 1809 to 1820, 98 candidates came, and 86 joined the community, with seventy percent dedicating their lives to it. Unfortunately, Elizabeth also faced personal sorrow, including the deaths of her daughters Annina and Rebecca, as well as her sisters-in-law Harriet and Cecilia Seton.

The Sisters of Charity adapted the seventeenth-century French Common Rules of the Daughters of Charity for their use, under the guidance of the Sulpicians. Elizabeth trained her sisters in the spirit of St. Louise de Marillac and St. Vincent de Paul. On July 19, 1813, Elizabeth and eighteen other sisters made their first private, annual vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and service to the poor. They renewed these vows annually on March 25, the feast of the Annunciation.

Elizabeth was the first Mother of the Sisters of Charity, elected repeatedly by her community and remained in this role until her death. The Sulpicians, who founded the community, oversaw it as superior generals until 1849. Elizabeth worked closely with several Sulpicians, including Rev. Louis William Dubourg, Rev. Jean-Baptiste David, and Rev. John Dubois.

The Sisters of Charity combined social outreach with education and religious values. In 1814, Elizabeth sent sisters to Philadelphia to run St. Joseph’s Asylum, the first Catholic orphanage in the United States. They also took on a mission at Mount St. Mary’s in 1815 and started the Roman Catholic Orphan Asylum in New York in 1817. This integration of service and education marked the Sisters of Charity's significant impact on American society and the Catholic Church.