Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, first person born in the USA to be recognized as a saint. She was a wife, mother, widow, convert, founder of a religious order, and founder of the parochial school system in the USA. With faith she lived through difficulties: family bankruptcy, sickness, death of her husband, bigotry against Catholics, economic trials again, and interpersonal conflicts.
Here we have one woman, one life that profoundly affected the church in the USA – catholic schools, hospitals, orphanages, social service, and foreign missions. Mother Seton always dedicated her energy and life to serve others, especially the poor. She used what she had at her disposal to create something new. She shared her knowledge and talents to build a new Catholic church in the USA.
In today’s Gospel Jesus extends the invitation to the first disciple: Come and you will see. After that, they dedicated their lives to sharing the joy of their encounter with the Prince of Peace. Mother Seton did the same. She spent her life proclaiming her joy.
Image: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-elizabeth-ann-seton-105.