St Elizabeth Ann Seton was a Catholic convert from Episcopal Protestantism, foundress of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, and the first native-born American saint in the Church.
Read the full St Elizabeth Ann Seton novena on the novena page. You can also learn more about novenas here.
What Is Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton the patron saint of?
St Elizabeth Ann Seton is the patron saint of in-law problems, against the death of children, widows, death of parents, and opposition of Church authorities.
St Elizabeth Ann Seton was a Catholic convert from Episcopal Protestantism, foundress of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, and the first native-born American saint in the Church. Pray this novena for in-law problems, against the death of children or parents, and for widows.
St Elizabeth Ann Seton was born Elizabeth Ann Bayley, to a prosperous Episcopal family, in New York City on August 28, 1774.
Her mother died when she was just three years old.
As a child, she was a great reader, and in particular the Bible became her lifelong reading.
When she was 19, she married William Magee Seton, a successful businessman.
They had five children together, but William’s business went bankrupt, his health deteriorated, and he died of tuberculosis in 1803.
Before his death, they had traveled to Italy in hopes of restoring his health, and it was there that Elizabeth encountered the Catholic Faith.
A few years after her husband’s death, impelled by a strong desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist, she became Catholic.
In 1809, Elizabeth moved to Emmitsburg, Maryland. There she founded the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s, the first female religious community in the U.S.
She also founded a school in Baltimore, Maryland, and became dedicated to education and helping the poor.
On March 25, 1809, Elizabeth made the evangelical vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Mother Seton, as she was called since taking vows, died in 1821 at the age of 46.
She was beatified by Pope John XXIII on March 17, 1963 and was canonized by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975.