02/14/2020
The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
We wanted to revisit St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's love story this Valentine's Day...
Elizabeth met William at age nineteen. At twenty-five, William was making a name for himself as a hard-working merchant. Though they spent much of their life within a half mile of each other, their paths never crossed, largely due to their families being in separate social classes. When they did, a courtship quickly ensued with William calling Elizabeth not Betsy (as was her childhood name), but Eliza. She called him "my beloved treasure," and he in turn called her his "darling wife" when they were married shortly after. At age 24, Elizabeth's father-in-law suddenly passed. With two young children and pregnant with her third, she agreed to raise William's half siblings and suddenly found herself the mother of six additional children. Her father (a physician) was urgently called when she went into labor shortly after, and Dr. Richard Bailey found himself in the position where he might have to sacrifice his grandchild in order to save his daughter. The baby was delivered, and after several frightful minutes where Bailey had to breathe into his little lungs, it was clear both mother and child would survive.
In addition, the family business fell on William whose health was already exposing cracks in their beautiful life, and Elizabeth (contrary to the age), rolled up her sleeves to support her husband by taking on some of the paperwork. Many of us know that after nearly ten years of marriage, William's health began failing rapidly and they sought healing in Italy's warmer climate; however, William died in quarantine upon arriving. It was while mourning in Italy that Elizabeth discovered the Catholic faith.
Some say Elizabeth traveled across the ocean to save her husband's life, when in turn, by discovering salvation, the Lord saved her own.
Elizabeth and William's marriage endured great suffering, struggle, and overwhelming stress, yet their love withstood it all.