Elizabeth Ann Seton First American woman canonized by the Roman Catholic Church Date of Birth: 28.08.1774 Country: USA

1. Biography of Elizabeth Ann Seton
2. Early Life
3. Marriage and Conversion
4. Loss and Conversion to Catholicism
5. Founding a Religious Community

Biography of Elizabeth Ann Seton

Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first American-born citizen to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church on September 14, 1975. She opened the first Catholic school in Emmitsburg, Maryland and founded the first American religious congregation, the Sisters of Charity.

Early Life

Elizabeth was born on August 28, 1774 in New York City. She was the second child of Dr. Richard Bayley and Catherine Charlton, both descendants of the region's earliest settlers. Elizabeth's father's parents were French Huguenots who lived in New Rochelle, New York, and her father served as the chief health officer at the New York port. Her mother's father was a priest at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Staten Island, and her uncle John Charlton was a prominent New York physician. Elizabeth's mother passed away when she was three years old, and her father remarried in 1778. Elizabeth and her older sister were cared for by their uncle and his wife in New Rochelle while their father studied in London. Elizabeth experienced depression after losing her mother for the second time and wrote about her struggles in her diaries. Her diaries also revealed her natural inclination for contemplation, her love for nature, poetry, and music, especially playing the piano.

Marriage and Conversion

On January 25, 1794, 19-year-old Elizabeth married William Seton, a wealthy businessman involved in import trade. They had five children together, including Catherine Seton, who later became the first American to join the Sisters of Charity. Despite having a large family and household responsibilities, Elizabeth continued to care for the poor, a value instilled in her by her father and stepmother. She organized a group of women from affluent families known as the "Ladies of Charity" to visit the homes of the poor and provide assistance.

Loss and Conversion to Catholicism

In 1802, Elizabeth's husband faced financial ruin after several of his ships were lost, and his health declined. Doctors advised him to seek a warmer climate, so Elizabeth accompanied him and their eldest daughter on a trip to Italy. However, William passed away in the port of Leghorn on December 27, 1803. Elizabeth and her daughter were taken in by her husband's Italian business partners, and it was in Italy that she became acquainted with the Catholic Church. Upon returning to the United States, Elizabeth converted to Catholicism in March 1805 at the only Catholic church in New York at the time.

Founding a Religious Community

To support herself and her children, Elizabeth opened a school for young ladies. However, when news spread of her conversion to Catholicism, she lost most of her students. Fortunately, she met Father Louis William Valentine Dubourg, a Catholic priest who convinced her to establish a religious school to meet the educational needs of the small Catholic community in America. In 1809, Seton moved to Emmitsburg and with the support of the Sulpician Fathers, she opened the Saint Joseph's Academy and a free school for Catholic girls. On July 31, 1810, she founded the religious community in Emmitsburg dedicated to caring for underprivileged children. This was the first congregation of religious sisters in the United States, and their school became the first free Catholic school in America. The community was initially called the "Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph." From that point on, Elizabeth became known as Mother Elizabeth Seton. She dedicated the remainder of her life to the growth and care of her community. She had to bury two of her daughters, and she herself passed away from tuberculosis on January 4, 1821, at the age of 46. Today, her remains rest in the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, a shrine built in her honor.