Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton experienced loss time and time again throughout her life. From each trial she faced, her resolve grew and she turned personal grief into community betterment. By the time of her death at 46 years old, she had played a massive role in developing the American Catholic Church.
Elizabeth Ann Seton was born in 1774 to a prominent couple in New York City. At the age of 3, Elizabeth lost her mother to childbirth complications, with the newborn passing not long after. Her father remarried to provide his two remaining children with a stepmother who often took Elizabeth on charitable rounds for her church. Elizabeth’s father and stepmother had five children together before the relationship ended in separation and Elizabeth was rejected by her stepmother.
At the age of 19, Elizabeth married a wealthy businessman and had 5 children. When her father-in-law passed, Elizabeth and her husband William took in William’s 6 younger siblings. William’s worsening tuberculosis motivated the couple to move to the more favourable weather of Italy where he passed not long after arriving. Her late husband’s Italian business partners introduced Elizabeth and her eldest daughter to Catholicism.
Elizabeth was received by the Catholic church upon her return to New York in 1805. As was common for widows of high social standing, Elizabeth started an academy for young ladies in order to provide for her large family. Students were pulled from her academy, however, when news of her Catholicism spread.
In 1809, Elizabeth moved to Maryland and founded Saint Joseph's Academy and Free School, a school dedicated to educating Catholic girls. This was the first free Catholic school in America. Elizabeth dedicated the rest of her life to growing her congregation of religious sisters who cared for impoverished children. She passed away in 1821, and her remains can be visited at the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
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