Women Saints part 9

Saints Elizabeth Seton

Elizabeth's parents were wealthy and well-known Episcopalians in New York. Her mother died when she was young and Elizabeth's father saw to her schooling.

When Elizabeth was nineteen, she married William Seton. They traveled to Leghorn, Italy, but William was very sick and he died there. The devoutly Catholic Filicchi family, who became Elizabeth's lifelong friends, took her into their home to comfort her in her grief. Before she left Italy, she began to learn about the Catholic religion.

Elizabeth returned to New York and became a Catholic. Archbishop Carroll asked her to open a school for girls in Baltimore. Other women who shared Elizabeth's religious life called her "Mother Seton". With these women, Elizabeth formed the Sisters of Charity. The small group of sisters grew in number until there were Sisters of Charity throughout New York and in many other states.