Wednesday before Epiphany

The Month of January Dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus

Saint: Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, "Mother Seton," Wife, Mother, Foundress (1774-1821)

Readings of the Day

Rule of Saint Benedict: Prologue 21-32 

Mass: 1 Jn 3:7-10; Resp Ps 98; Jn 1:35-42   

The Lord comes.

MARY, QUEEN OF PEACE,

PRAY FOR US.

JESUS, LOVER OF SOULS,

HAVE MERCY ON US.

God has given me a great deal to do, and I have always, and hope always, to prefer His will to every wish of my own.

(Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton)

Today we have the privilege to commemorate the first native-born American to be canonized, Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton. Something Archbishop Francis Patrick Kenrick (1797-1863) said about Mother Seton speaks volumes: "Elizabeth Seton did more for the Church in America than all of us bishops together." With the Archbishop's tribute, we rejoice as Pope Saint Paul VI did, when he canonized Elizabeth Ann Seton, September 14, 1975. 

Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Saint! We rejoice and are deeply moved that our apostolic ministry authorizes us to make this solemn declaration before all of you here present, before the holy Catholic Church, before our other Christian brethren in the world, before the entire American people, and before all humanity. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a Saint! She is the first daughter of the United States of America to be glorified with this incomparable attribute! ...

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is an American. All of us say this with spiritual joy, and with the intention of honoring the land and the nation from which she marvelously sprang forth as the first flower in the calendar of saints. This is the title which, in his original foreword to the excellent work of Father Dirvin, the late Cardinal Spellman [1889-1967], Archbishop of New York attributed to her as primary and characteristic: "Elizabeth Ann Seton was wholly American"! Rejoice, we say to the great nation of the United States of America. Rejoice for your glorious daughter. Be proud of her. And know how to preserve her faithful heritage.*

Behold a wise woman who has built her house. She feared the Lord and walked in the right path.

(Entrance Antiphon, Mass)

SAINT ELIZABETH ANN SETON,

PRAY FOR US.

*You will find this homily in its entirety on www.vatican.va. I am sorry that time does not permit me to tell you something about the life of our beloved "wholly American" saint. For more on the life of this powerful saint, please see the website for the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in Emmitsburg MD (setonshrine.org). A nice summary of her life is found on the Catholic News Agency website (catholicnewsagency.com), "St. Elizabeth Ann Seton."

Today's photo: I found this sweet thing Monday afternoon and thought Mother Seton might like it. His holy arm.

© Gertrude Feick 2023