Page 24 - Michael 2024 May

u decay of poor sinking nature enough to shorten my
perspective of every scene beyond the present mo-
ment… I do what I can to stand on the narrow path
that leads to God alone.”
Deep inside, Mother Seton was going through a
profound crisis of aridity, desolation, and even an-
guish. Nothing appeared on the outside, but her let-
ters to her spiritual director revealed her trial. This
suffering did not prevent her from writing: “I try to
make my very breathing a continual thanksgiving.” Re-
membering her friends, she wrote: “The accidents of
life separate us from our dearest friends, but let us not
despair. God is like a looking glass in which souls see
each other. The more we are united to Him by love,
the nearer we are to those who belong to Him.”
Children of the Church
Mother Seton also worked to catechize the chil-
dren of the neighborhood. Some poor girls came to
the school, but in 1812, the majority of the students
were from the wealthy classes who paid for their
boarding and tuition. Soon, the proportions were re-
versed and up to forty poor girls received free lessons,
books and meals.
Other works, such as caring for the poor and sick,
were occasionally undertaken by the Daughters of
Charity. But soon the Archbishop of Baltimore called
for a foundation in his episcopal city. In 1814, Moth-
er Seton sent a swarm of sisters to Philadelphia. In
1817, the Diocese of New York also welcomed Sis-
ters, whose first task was to care for the city’s many
orphans.
At the beginning of the summer of 1820, the Moth-
er’s health deteriorated: she suffered from coughing,
migraines and fever. At the insistence of Father Du-
bois, the construction of a new building at the con- Tomb of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton at the
vent-school began, and Mother Seton had to endure National Shrine of Emmitsburg, Maryland
the fatigue of supervising the building site. Soon she daughter, Catherine Seton (1800-1891), who became a
was forced to stay in bed, but she was faithful to the nun in the Irish Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy.
rule as best she could, and continued to encourage By 1821, twenty houses existed in the United States.
the Sisters. In mid-September, she received the Sac- Later, several of them, including the one in New York,
rament of Extreme Unction. However, she showed would become separate institutes.
improvement. The feast of Christmas was celebrated
with anxiety because everyone knew that Mother Su- St. Elizabeth Seton suffered in her search for the
perior was dying. truth, and to remain faithful to that truth, once recog-
On January 1, she received Communion for the nized. Belonging to the Church of Christ was of special
importance to her. May she obtain for us also a great
last time. After thanking all the Sisters present, she fidelity to the Church, the Bride of Christ, and an ever
said: “Be children of the Church! Be children of the more intense dedication to its service!
Church!” One night, a sister who was watching over
her, heard her say the words of a prayer that Pope Pius Dom Jean-Bernard Marie Borie, Abbot
VII had just composed: “May the most just, the most and the monks of the abbey
high and the most amiable will of God be in all things This article is reprinted with permission from the
fulfilled, praised, and exalted above all forever!” Abbey of Clairval, France, which every month pub-
Shortly before dawn on January 4, 1821, at the lishes a spiritual newsletter on the life of a saint in
age of forty-six, she gave up her soul to God. She English, French, Italian and Dutch. Their postal ad-
was buried in the community’s cemetery. The Na- dress is Abbaye Saint-Joseph de Clairval, 21150
tional Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is now lo- Flavigny sur Ozerain, France. The website is: www.
cated there. At Mother Seton’s side was her youngest clairval.com.

24 MICHAEL May/June/July 2024 www.michaeljournal.org