Elizabeth Ann Seton

Elizabeth Bayley Seton Anna ( born August 28, 1774 New York City; † January 4, 1821 in Emmitsburg, Maryland) is foundress of the Sisters of Charity and the first -born in the United States saints.

Life

Anna Elizabeth Bayley was the daughter of Dr. Richard Bayley († 1801 ), a well-known New York physician, and his wife Catherine Charlton († 1777). She grew up as a member of the Episcopal Church, a branch of the Anglican Church. On January 25, 1794, she married at the age of 19 years the rich ship merchant William Magee Seton. The couple had five children together.

William came in the following years in financial distress. When he became ill with tuberculosis and died in December 1803, he left his young, penniless woman with five children.

Elisabeth then converted to Catholicism and became a teacher in order to give their children a proper education. With the vision that all children, both boys and girls, a right to free education have, Elisabeth eventually founded her first Catholic school in Baltimore.

In March 1809 she founded with the support of Archbishop John Carroll of Baltimore, the Sisters of Charity, a sisterhood modeled after the rule of St. Vincent de Paul. She stood by the Community for almost ten years ago as Superior General, with her ​​special love was the people in need. She died at the age of 47 on January 4, 1821 from tuberculosis.

Their beatification took place in 1963 by Pope John XXIII. , She was called by Pope Paul VI on 14 September 1975. canonized. Your feast day is January 4.