Some Background:
The life of
Elizabeth Ann Seton, whom we remember today, inspires the modern
American woman like no other.
There is nothing that is asked of any
of us that was not asked of this first canonized American born Saint.
She knew each of our joys; she lived with each of
our sorrows.
Daughter in a wealthy prominent New
York City Anglican family of Revolutionary times, orphaned at three,
child of a broken home when her beloved Father divorced his second
wife; debutante,
vivacious socialite wife of successful business man, mother of five,
caregiver, widow,
impoverished dependent on friends, stranger in a foreign land in Italy,
abandoned by friends and family upon her embracing of the Eucharistic
Presence in the Roman Catholic tradition;
musician, poet, writer, nurse, teacher,
great friend, Revolutionary, mystic, Foundress of
the Sisters of Charity in America.
For details and more information
regarding St. Elizabeth Ann Seton please consult:
www.domestic-church.com/CONTENT.DCC19980101/SAINTS/STESETON.HTM
BOOK: The Soul of Elizabeth Seton by
Joseph Dirvin
Price $9.56
January 4, 2008
Memorial of Elizabeth Ann
Seton
Meditation and
Prayer by Margaret Bryant
The Lamb
We are
encouraged in the Gospel:
Behold the Lamb
of God
Paschal
Spirituality dominated Elizabeth's life.
Psalm 23, her
favorite prayer…My shepherd is the Lord…
Suffering
quietly and dynamically placed on the altar
for Resurrection
Behold the Lamb
of God.
With Elizabeth
Seton
may I see Christ
in His Suffering
in His death
in His communion
with the Father
in His humanity
and Resurrection
Behold the Lamb
of God.
The Child
The First
Reading begins:
"Children let no
one deceive you."
Elizabeth cherished every child.
Mind and body of
the poor, orphaned, and ill
found nurture
and direction in her.
Values education
consumed her life:
"Children let no
one deceive you."
Elizabeth
Seton's most frequent admonition to her Sisters:
"Be children of
the Church."
With Elizabeth
Ann Seton
may I realize
the impact of my life
on the values
formation of children around me…
Educating,
leading forth,
The best
in everyone I meet.
"Children let no
one deceive you."
The Woman
Elizabeth
Ann Seton, the Woman changing the world is celebrated in the
Responsorial psalm:
All
the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
This woman in
all of the best of femininity saw the face of Christ
in the poor of
every type:
the sick,
hungry, orphaned, discriminated against, oppressed, addicted.
Now all the ends
of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
With Elizabeth
Seton
may I simply
be....a woman of faith….
in each moment
accepting the face of Jesus
in His poor.
Simply singing:
Now all thee
ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
Mother Seton
move me closer to the Epiphany Star.
to the Lamb
to the Child
to another
Blessed woman.
Amen.
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