Mother Seton Inspires Pilgrims in 2003

As hundreds of pilgrims gathered in the Basilica of the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton on January 4, 2003 to celebrate the Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann, sunlight reflected on the snow covered lawns around the Stone House and the White House where she had gathered the first groups of sisters to begin instruction of young children. The bright blue sky was a gift of hope amid the dark news of international tensions, fear, and threats of war. The diverse group of worshipers joyfully welcomed Father Stephen Trzecieski, C.M.; and Father William O'Brien, C.M.; concelebrants with Father Michael Kennedy, C.M.; principal celebrant as the procession entered sanctuary.

In his homily, Father Kennedy proposed Elizabeth Ann Seton as a model for remedying the ills of the modern family; "and our modern family," he observed, "is in trouble. Mother Seton suffered and experienced the same problems in her day that are plaguing our families today."

He cited examples, so common today, of children isolated due to two working parents, illness and death of a parent, second marriages and their impact on children, frequent changes of residences to new cities, overcrowding, foster parents, and loss of income with consequent impoverishment.

St. Elizabeth Ann, he noted, suffered them all. He traced some events of isolation and loneliness of the saint. When she was only two, her mother died; and, as a physician, her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, gave long hours in his practice to meet the needs of the sick, but was seldom home for his little daughter. When the doctor married Charlotte Barclay, Elizabeth received only coldness from her new stepmother. From earliest years, however, to combat loneliness, our saint had gifts of prayer and a great sense of God's presence.

As another example, Father spoke of her second family growing out of space and bedrooms. So it was Elizabeth who was sent off to live with an uncle. As a serious and disciplined youngster, she found an answer to her sadness in learning, reading, playing the piano, singing, conversing with friends and studying her Bible. All these interests helped to advance her maturity and social consciousness.

As a young mother of five, she watched her husband's trading and shipping business decline into bankruptcy. At the same time she saw his health fail despite all efforts to assist him. Elizabeth Ann witnessed William's death at the close of a sea voyage begun in an attempt to relieve his symptoms. Although she was familiar with opulence, she remained steadfast in faith and humility as she adjusted to poverty and struggled to provide for her family.

Father Kennedy stressed that our first native born American saint is God's gift to our day. He offers her as a perfect model to troubled teenagers, struggling mothers, discouraged widows, and to all Americans searching for the hand and love of the Lord in family life.

The visitors listening to Father's homily later expressed their appreciation of this new view of St. Elizabeth Ann. The congregation was diverse. Many families had small children sitting close in the pews. Other sections of the basilica showed clusters of senior citizens, sisters from other religious communities, seminarians and alumnae of St. Joseph's College and

other Daughters of Charity school. All gathered found new interest in learning how events in the life of Mother Seton are actually relevant in 2003.