Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton (August 28, 1774 – January 4, 1821) was a Catholic religious sister in the United States and an educator, known as a founder of the country's parochial school system. After her death, she became the first person born in what would become the United States to be canonized by the Catholic Church (September 14, 1975). She also established the first Catholic girls' school in the nation in Emmitsburg, Maryland, where she likewise founded the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity.
Catholic Convert
Originally raised in what would become the Episcopal church, Elizabeth was married in 1794 and had five children. Her husband died in 1803 of tuberculosis after nine years of marriage when Elizabeth was 25 years old while her and her husband were in Italy. While in Italy she found the Catholic church and was later confirmed in 1805 after returning to the United States.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
—Psalm 23:1
She suffered many hardships as a widow but managed to establish St. Joseph's Academy and Free School in Maryland in 1809. She also established a religious community dedicated to the care of the children of the poor. This was the first congregation of religious sisters founded in the United States. The school was the first free Catholic school in the United States. The congregation of religious sisters was originally known as The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's. Later the sisters adopted the rule of The Daughters of Charity. Elizabeth's favorite prayer was Psalm 23. Her story is inspirational and facinating, read more about it.
