Pilgrimage Packet & customizable flyer - National Shrine of Saint ...

The Life of Saint Elizabeth Ann SetonMr. and Mrs. William Magee Seton andtheir oldest child, Anna Maria, 8, embarkedon a pilgrimage of faith in the fall of 1803,from New York to Leghorn (Livorno), Italy.The Shepherdess sailed across the Atlanticcarrying the Setons to a milder climate whichcould restore the health of William Magee,35, husband, father of five children (ages 14mos. to 8), and prominent businessman.The Setons’ journey of hope initiated thechain of events that led to Elizabeth BayleySeton converting to Roman Catholicismand her remarkable establishment of thefirst apostolic community of religious womenin the United States. The National Shrineof Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton stands todaywhere she prayed and worked, offering allher life’s joys and sufferings to AlmightyGod. Today pilgrims continue to discoverthe natural beauty and peace so familiar toSaint Elizabeth Ann who shares her wisdomwith all who visit her valley home, whichshe called, a “Valley of Blessings.”“ You will believe because you knowhow blessed they are who rest on ourHeavenly Father—not one struggle nordespondent thought to contend with—confiding Hope and consoling Peacehas attended my way thro’ storms anddangers that must have terrified a Soulwhose Rock is not Christ.”—Saint Elizabeth Ann SetonThe Life of Elizabeth Ann Seton,a Saint for Our TimesElizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was bornAugust 28, 1774, in New York, shortlybefore the American Revolution. Wealthyand socially prominent, the Bayley andSeton families were acquaintances offamous colonists who molded Americanhistory like George Washington, AlexanderHamilton, and Gouverneur Morris.Elizabeth’s parents were Dr. RichardBayley, New York’s first Public HealthOfficer, and Catherine Charlton, daughterof the rector of St. Andrew’s EpiscopalChurch on Staten Island. Elizabeth mayhave been baptized at Trinity Church onlower Broadway, though the Great Fireof 1776 destroyed all records. She was afervent communicant of the ProtestantEpiscopal Church until her conversionto Catholicism 30 years later. In her ownwords, it was during her youth that her“enthusiastic love of God and admirationof His works” were nurtured. Elizabeth’smother died when she was not yet three.A year later, her father married CharlotteAmelia Barclay, daughter of AndrewBarclay and Helena Roosevelt Barclay.She and her sister Mary Magdalen, spentthe greater part of their early years withUncle Will Bayley, their father’s brother,and his large family in New Rochelle andreceived an excellent education. Elizabethunderstood French well.About 1791, she met William Magee Seton,scion of an ancient Scottish family and heirto the family’s considerable shipping andimporting interests. Nineteen-year-old BettyAnn married twenty five- year-old WilliamMagee January 25, 1794. The couple wereactive members of New York’s younger socialset. Initially living in the Seton family homeat 61 Stone Street when expecting theirfirst child, they moved to 27 Wall Street,near the Alexander Hamiltons. Elizabethdescribes these years later: “My own home at20—that and heaven, too, quite impossible!”Anna Maria was born May 3, 1795. WilliamSeton III was born the following year, onNovember 24. William Magee’s father diedin 1798, and the young Setons returnedto Stone Street to care for Will’s youngerhalf-brothers and half-sisters.Three more children were born to Willand Betty: Richard, Catherine and Rebecca.Elizabeth seized every opportunity to shareher personal service and worldly abundancewith the city’s needy, especially poor widowswith young children. She along with herfriends was a founding member of theSociety to Aid Poor Widows with YoungChildren in 1797. The country’s undeclaredwar with France took its toll on the Seton-Maitland Company shipping business,and the firm was forced into bankruptcy.In August 1801, Elizabeth’s beloved fatherdied tending yellow fever victims. The mostcrushing blow came when tuberculosisafflicted William Magee. To restore hishealth, he and Elizabeth decided on a“change of air” and a visit to businessfriends, the Filicchi brothers, Antonio andPhoto courtesy of Daughter of Charity Provincial Archives,Emmitsburg, MDFilippo, at Leghorn, Italy. Eight-year-oldAnna Maria accompanied them. William’shealth seemed to improve during the7-week voyage, but upon arrival at Leghorn,port authorities quarantined them for amonth in San Jacopo Lazaretto. Eight daysafter his release, William Magee died inPisa. Antonio and Amabilia Filicchi openedtheir home to the young widow and herdaughter. For the first time, Elizabeth wasexposed to Roman Catholicism and foundthe Filicchis’ deep faith to be one whichcorresponded perfectly to her soul’s needs.Elizabeth and Anna, now called Annina,sailed to New York six months later. Joyfullyreunited but the little family faced muchreduced circumstances. During the nextyear, Elizabeth examined the Catholic faiththoroughly, her conscience and emotionsin turmoil. Most disheartening were herunsuccessful efforts to support her familyby teaching and related jobs; her leaningstoward Catholicism repulsed the familiesshe tried to serve, and misunderstandingsled them to withdraw their children fromher tutelage. Her final decision to enter theCatholic Church brought total alienationfrom all but her dearest friends and relatives.On March 14, 1805, at St. Peter’s Churchon Barclay Street, she made her professionof faith and on March 25 received HolyCommunion for the first time as a RomanCatholic. She was confirmed there a yearlater by Bishop John Carroll. ElizabethOver »