 On April 29 I had the happiness of attending the opening night of an original play on the life of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton at St. Thomas the Apostle School in Miami, FL. Sr. Veronica Berg, a docent at the shrine, accompanied me. Rev. Daniel Kubala, who made his seminary at Mt. St. Mary's, is the pastor of the parish. Adriana Medina, the author, made a pilgrimage to the Shrine while she was writing the play. The script was very faithful to the life of St. Elizabeth Ann and showed much feeling for our saint. Congratulations to all involved!!! This issue completes our series on the lives of the children of St. Elizabeth Ann. Her oldest child, Annina, and youngest child, Rebecca, both died as teenagers. Richard, the middle child, was only in his twenties when he died at sea. Their short lives showed the influence of their saintly mother. The Basilica has been chosen as one of eight Jubilee 2000 Stational Churches in Maryland for the Archdiocese of Baltimore. This is a very special honor. Our Jubilee Door at the entrance to the Basilica reminds us to open wide our hearts to Christ and give thanks for all the doors God opens for us. As we prepare for the Great Jubilee let us pray that God will draw us more deeply into His presence and the wonders of His love for us. Devotedly, The Seton Way Editorial Board: Typing & Layout
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1 to care for their father. A year later, however, the arrival of Rebecca on August 20 brought joy amid sorrowful remembrances. Just after Rebecca's birth, William determined to go to Italy for his health. Anna Maria was to accompany her parents. William, Richard, and Catherine were cared for by Rebecca Seton and Eliza Sadler. Rebecca was very ill, and it is likely the Sadlers had most of the responsibility for the children. Baby Rebecca and a nurse went to Mary Post. William's death and the time with the Filicchis, where Anna Maria became Annina, brought Annina and her mother closer. On their return, Elizabeth watched her daughter grow into a lovely young lady. By 1807 when she was 12 she had become a real comfort to her mother. Shortly after their arrival in Emmitsburg, Annina fell in love with Charles Du Pavillon, a student at Mount St. Mary's and a friend of her brothers. Although fearful that Anna was too young to make such a commitment, Elizabeth allowed her to stay in Baltimore for a visit and time with Charles before his return to Martinique. By the time Charles announced his marriage in Martinique in 1811, Mother Seton could see the ravages of tuberculosis, "the Seton complaint," in Anna. She told Julia Scott, "My precious comfort and friend is undergoing all the symptoms which were fatal to our Cecilia and so many of the family." In spite of her illness, Annina took charge of a small class and entered the community. In January 1812 she was anointed and made her vows as a Sister of Charity. Annina died on March 12 and was buried next to Harriet and Cecilia in the wood. Elizabeth in anguish prayed to Jesus to, "Pity a Mother, a poor Mother that she may persevere with you in the garden... perfectly resigned in her long agony." Letters of comfort came from her sister Mary Post, from Bishop John Cheverus in Boston, and her many friends. Mother Seton needed the comfort and would need it even more over the next few years. She worried about William and Richard when they were at Mt. St. Mary's and later as they worked at a variety of professions. Shortly after Anna's death Rebecca's health became a concern. Bec was just ten when Annina died. During that winter, she slipped on an ice patch and hurt herself. |
She kept her injury secret, and it was only after
she began to limp that her mother realized something was wrong. Mary
and Wright Post were in Emmitsburg
visiting, and Dr. Post examined Rebecca, but held no hope of
recovery. Other doctors were consulted, but came to the same
conclusion. By Christmas of 1812 when she made her First Communion,
Elizabeth told Julia Scott that, "lovely gay little Bec," was so lame that
she was confined to her mother's room. In the warm weather she was
sometimes taken to the Mount in a little cart for an outing. More
doctors were consulted by Bec continued to decline. In 1815 she went
to Philadelphia for treatment. She wrote to her mother that, "My
tumor is getting very soft and my hip is nearly even with the
other." When Rebecca returned, Elizabeth informed Julia Scott that,
"Her fatigue from the journey makes it impossible to judge the effect of
what has been done for her by Doctor Physick." Rebecca's suffering continued and on November 4, 1816, she died. John Dubois notified Simon Bruté that, "Our angel died this morning a little before four o'clock. The mother is a miracle of divine favor... She held this child in her arms without dropping a tear all the time of her agony..." In December Bishop Cheverus on a visit to Baltimore came to console Mother Seton and found her worn out but full of faith. By 1816 William had gone to Leghorn to work with the Filicchis and Richard at eighteen was given a position in Luke Tiernan's counting house in Baltimore. At first he did well but by February 1817 Elizabeth reported to Antonio Filicchi that he would probably be in need of a job in the spring. Tiernan's son was returning from Europe and economic conditions following the war of 1812 had not appreciably improved. Dick spent the summer in Emmitsburg hunting and fishing with the Mount seminarians and awaiting William's return from Italy. Kindness itself, Antonio Filicchi agreed to take Richard into his business. His mother warned her friend of Dick's quick temper and selfishness. By that time she had discovered that Luke Tiernan had covered Richard's expenses after he spent Filicchi's generous allowance and extra money that Kit had given him. Continued on page 4 |
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