About The Oldest Saint In America
The first canonized saint born in the United States
In Christian theology, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness to God. Saints are typically venerated or honored for their virtues, their contributions to the faith, or their acts of piety and charity.
In the Catholic Church and some other Christian denominations, the process of canonization is used to formally recognize a person as a saint. Once canonized, a saint is considered to be in heaven and is believed to be able to intercede on behalf of those who pray to them.
Elizabeth Ann Seton, also known as Mother Seton, was the first native-born American to be canonized as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. In 1809, she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's, the first Catholic religious community for women in the United States.
The National Women's History Museum recognizes Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton as the first American to be canonized as a saint. Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception acknowledges her as the first American to be canonized as a saint. The Catholic Apostolate Center describes her as the first American Saint.
Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, also known as Mother Seton, was born on August 28, 1774, in New York City. Elizabeth Seton was raised in a prominent Episcopalian family and married William Magee Seton in 1794.
The couple had five children. After her husband's death in 1803, Elizabeth converted to Catholicism in 1805. She went on to found the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's, the first religious community for women established in the United States.
Mother Seton also established the first Catholic girls' school in the United States in Emmitsburg, Maryland. She dedicated her life to serving the poor and educating children. Her work in education and charity laid the foundation for the Catholic school system in the United States.
Elizabeth Ann Seton was known for her deep faith, devotion to God, and her commitment to serving others. She died on January 4, 1821, in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
On September 14th, 1975, she was canonized as a saint by Pope Paul VI in recognition of her holiness and contributions to the Catholic Church in the United States. Today, she is venerated as a patron saint of Catholic schools, widows, and the death of children.
Elizabeth Ann Seton also lived in Staten Island, New York. After her husband's health began to decline, the Seton family moved to Staten Island in 1803 in the hope that the country air would be beneficial for him.
They lived in a home known as the "White House" on the grounds of what is now the Seton Shrine in Staten Island. Elizabeth Seton's time in Staten Island was a significant period in her life, marked by personal challenges and spiritual growth.
A Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is located in the Church of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, a Roman Catholic parish church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York at 7 State Street, between Pearl and Water Streets in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City.
The shrine not only honors St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, but also commemorates her significant contributions to Catholic education and social services in the United States. It serves as both a religious site and a historical landmark, offering visitors insight into an important figure in American Catholic history and the development of religious communities in the United States.