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making Baltimore the metropolis. Archbishop Caroll In these early days, they had to go down to the
decided to establish the first American seminary at river to do the laundry. But for the Mother, the import-
Mont Sainte Marie. Father Louis Du Bourg, a French ant thing was to accomplish God’s will: “The first end
Sulpician priest who was founding a Catholic school I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God;
near the new seminary, talked with the young widow secondly, to do it in the manner He wills it; and thirdly
about establishing a school for girls that she could dir- to do it because it is His will.” Indeed, God, who loves
ect. After some thought and consultation, Elizabeth us infinitely, directs all events by his Providence and
accepted and went to Baltimore. makes everything work together
The school opened by Sep- for the good of those who love him
tember 1808, with Mrs. Seton’s (Rom 8:28).
daughters and four boarders. Mother Elizabeth worked act-
In January 1809, other children ively for the construction of a
were entrusted to her to prepare school, with a boarding school and
for their First Communion. Father lodging for the Sisters. From Italy,
Du Bourg, however, had a more the Filicchis generously subsidized
far-reaching view; responding to her works; she often wrote to them
Elizabeth’s desire, he initiated her and even asked them one day, in all
into the religious life. Young girls simplicity, how much money she
joined the nascent congregation, could count on. She also received
and a regular life was established. help from a wealthy convert, Mr.
They even began to call Elizabeth Samuel Cooper, who later entered
“Mother”. Kneeling before the the seminary of Mont Sainte Marie
small group of her new daughters, and became a priest. A year later,
Mother Seton said to them, “How the little school became St. Jo-
can I teach others, I who know so seph’s Academy, dedicated to the
little myself, who am so wretched education of Catholic girls.
and imperfect?” But trusting in the The low gate
power of God’s grace, she said,
“We know certainly that our God Throughout her religious life,
calls us to a holy life. We know that Portrait of Elizabeth Ann Seton Mother Elizabeth enjoyed the sup-
He gives us every grace, every by Amabilia Filicchi port of her successive confessors,
abundant grace; and though we Sulpician priests. This help was
are so weak of ourselves, this grace is able to carry us particularly valuable to her when, in 1810, a new ec-
through every obstacle and difficulty.” clesiastical superior, Father David, also a Sulpician,
The Sisters adopted a uniform habit, the one the was given to her Institute. For several months, the
foundress had worn since her return from Italy. Father foundress was confronted with the incomprehension
Du Bourg was named ecclesiastical superior. On June of this priest, who came to seek to provoke her depar-
2, 1809, four Sisters appeared for the first time in pub- ture from the motherhouse. But he was soon replaced
lic in habit, with Mother Seton who had made her first by Father Dubois, to the great relief of the Sisters.
vows of obedience, chastity and poverty alone in the In 1811, the community took the name of Sisters
hands of Archbishop Caroll. The first female congre- of Charity of St. Joseph and adopted the rule of St.
gation on American soil was born. Its motto combines Vincent de Paul and St. Louise de Marillac. Like the
three phrases from the New Testament: The charity daughters of St. Vincent, the Sisters had “for enclos-
of Christ urges us (2 Cor 5:14) — The good news is ure, obedience; for grille (grid), the fear of God.” Moth-
proclaimed to the poor (Mt 11:5) — One heart, one er encouraged them to pray: “We must pray without
soul (Acts 4:32). ceasing, in every occurrence and employment of our
Having also converted to Catholicism, Elizabeth’s lives—that prayer which is rather a habit of lifting up
young sisterin-law, Cecilia Seton, presented herself the heart to God, as in a constant communication with
to enter the community. She was welcomed with joy, Him.” She also encouraged them in humility: “The gate
despite her failing health. Her arrival hastened the of heaven is very low; only the humble can enter it.”
realization of the project to move the community to The foundress had to bear many crosses, due to
a property acquired in the mountains, where the air internal misunderstandings, the death of two of her
was healthier, in Emmitsburg, Maryland, forty-five daughters and of several young nuns. In the face of
miles (75 km) from Baltimore. The move took place in these trials, she acknowledged: “Faith lifts the soul,
1809. However, the house was not ready to welcome hope supports it, experience says it must, and love
the Sisters who temporarily crowded into the lodging says… let it be!” Having been ill herself for a long
of Father Dubois, another Sulpician in charge of the time, she said: “I am going toward dear eternity so
local mission. gently and almost imperceptibly… I feel the general u

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