Learn about Holiness from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur reviews Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Spiritual Portrait, a spiritual biography of the popular American saint. 

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Spiritual Portrait

By Father Joseph I. Dirvin, CM

Published by Ignatius Press

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) was a wife, mother, and consecrated religious. On September 14, 1975, she became the first American-born saint to be canonized. In honor of the 50th anniversary of her canonization, Ignatius Press has reprinted The Soul of Elizabeth Seton by Father Joseph I. Dirvin, CM, initially published in 1990, under the new title of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Spiritual Portrait.  

Wife, Mother, Teacher, and Founder of Religious Order 

This new edition offers a short biography of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, written by Sister Betty Ann McNeil, D.C. Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born in New York on August 28, 1774. She was raised Episcopalian and married William Seton, whom she loved very much, when she was nineteen. They had five children. In 1803, William, Elizabeth, and their oldest daughter sailed to Italy, hoping to improve his health. He died soon after Christmas.

While in Italy, Elizabeth was introduced to the Catholic faith, and due to much soul-searching, she converted after she returned to America.  At that time, there was much anti-Catholic sentiment in New York and she found it hard to support her family. She was offered the opportunity to move to Maryland and begin a school for girls. She ultimately became the leader of the Sisters of Charity in the United States. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton made valuable contributions to both the development of Catholic education and religious life in the United States. 

An Exploration of Her Spiritual Life 

Father Joseph I Dirvin, CM, holds Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton up as a role model of Christian life.

Elizabeth Seton had the kind of simple, serene faith, unfaltering hope, and practical love of God and man that the modern world needs desperately, (31)

He explores St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s spiritual life thematically, rather than chronologically.  

There are chapters on her focus on eternity, desire to follow God’s will wherever it might lead, prayer life, love of Jesus and the Blessed Mother, living as a disciple of Christ, conversion to Catholicism, and ways she had a spirit similar to that of Saint John the Baptist in terms of evangelizing.  

Father Dirvin utilizes many quotes from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s copious writings. She wrote many letters as well as instructions for her children and her sisters in the religious community. This is a well-researched book and illustrates that there is much to emulate in Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s life of holiness.  

However, while this book was initially published in 1990, it reads like a book written much earlier, when hagiographic writing was more in style. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is held up as almost perfect, as opposed to a human woman who truly struggled when her life was hard, as when her husband and daughters died and when her children caused her heartache. She also weighed for a long time her decision to leave the Episcopal Church for the Catholic Church. It was by no means an easy choice. I find it hard to relate to saints who are portrayed in such an idealized way. I know from other reading that Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton had her flaws and failings. Was she holy? Absolutely. But she was also human like us.  

If you are not already familiar with this remarkable woman, I suggest reading Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Spiritual Portrait in conjunction with a more modern biography to obtain a more balanced portrait of her life. I recommend either Elizabeth Seton: American Saint by Catherine O’Donnell or American Saint: The Life of Elizabeth Seton by Joan Barthel.  

Ask for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Spiritual Portrait at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Ignatius Press.

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Copyright 2025 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
Images: (top) detail from cover
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