Elizabeth Ann Seton holds a special place as the first American-born Saint. Born in 1774 in New York City, she was deeply spiritual even at a very young age. She seemed to hold an innate understanding of the connection between God and Nature and Self. Reflecting on a profound and enlightened moment when she was only 14 years old, she wrote:
Found an outlet in a meadow; and a chestnut tree with several young ones growing around it, found rich moss under it and a warm sun. Here, then, was a sweet bed -the air still a clear blue vault above-the numberless sounds of spring melody and joy the sweet clovers and wildflowers I had got by the way, and a heart as innocent as human heart could be, filled even with enthusiastic love to God and admiration of His works …. God was my Father, my all. I prayed, sang hymns, cried, laughed, talking to myself of how far He could place me above all sorrow. Then I laid still to enjoy the heavenly peace that came over my soul; and I am sure, in the two hours so enjoyed, grew ten years in the spiritual life …. The wintry storms of time shall be over and the unclouded spring enjoyed forever.
In 2017, Yogacharya David visited her home in Emmitsburg In his blog on June 24th, he wrote that Mother Seton “promoted a novel idea of free education for those who could not afford it. There was no effort to convert protestant students, all were treated equally. She was also not in favor of corporal punishment, she disciplined with love.” He likened her lifetime to that of Mother Hamilton’s, saying that “Visiting the Basilica a day after Gettysburg, we felt a spiritual baptism that washed away the suffering we had continued to feel from those battlegrounds and its history. It is easy to think of Mother Seton and Mother Hamilton as kindred spirits.”
Carla Hickenbottom also noticed something remarkable while visiting the basilica at Mother Seton’s home. “I walked over and touched the wooden carving where the bone was kept underneath and immediately felt a very powerful spiritual charge. It was a delightful and surprising gift after hearing about her life and all the wonderful things she had done. … It felt like a huge spiritual waterfall of healing that continues to fill me with such gratitude to God, Gurus and Saints.”
As with so many of the greatest souls, Mother Seton’s life was filled with trials and suffering but also of great victories. She started the first Catholic girls’ school which paved the way for Catholic education in the US for centuries to come.
She passed away in 1821 in Emmitsburg and was canonized into Sainthood on September 14, 1975. Today she is memorialized by Seton Hall University in New Jersey, as well as the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine on State Street in Manhattan. However, it is her home in Emmitsburg that offers a powerful spiritual gift for all who are open to receive it.