Born in New York in 1774, her parents were members of a prominent Episcopalian family. 

Elizabeth lost her mother at the age of three. When she was nineteen she married William Magee Seton, a wealthy businessman, and together they had five children. 

But William died of tuberculosis in 1803, leaving Elizabeth a young widow. 

After discovering Catholicism in Italy, where her husband had died, Elizabeth returned to New York and entered the Catholic Church. 

There, she started an Academy which, initially, was quite successful, but several families withdrew their children when they discovered Elizabeth had become a Catholic. 

In 1809, she moved to Emmitsburg, MD under the advisement of a French priest and there, began St. Joseph’s Academy and Free School, an effort which would plant the seeds for Catholic education across the United States. 

She also founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph. 

In 1811, the Congregation adopted the rules of the Daughters of Charity, founded by St. Vincent De Paul. 

Her legacy now includes religious congregations whose members work to meet the needs of those in poverty across North America, and beyond. 

Elizabeth Ann Seton died on this day in 1821 at the age of just 46, and was canonized in 1975 by St. Pope Paul VI. 

She was the first citizen born in the United States to be given the title “Saint”. 

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, please pray for us.