What Moms Can Learn from Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Laura Radziwon ponders how Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint, offers timeless parenting lessons for families.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, whose feast we celebrate today, is the first saint who was born in the United States of America. Not only was she an educator and a loyal wife and mother to five children, but after her husband died she devoted her life to Catholicism and established the first Catholic school in the US (and founded the first American congregation of religious sisters, the Sisters of Charity!). Her legacy includes six religious communities with more than 5,000 members, plus hundreds of schools,  social service centers, and hospitals throughout the world. While she lived in the 18th and 19th centuries, her unwavering faith, commitment to education, and dedication to service offer essential lessons for parents in the 21st century. 

Faith as the Foundation:

Saint Elizabeth prioritized her faith as the foundation of her life, thus instilling a strong sense of faith in her children. Additionally, her spirituality was not confined to the Church; instead, she integrated it into her everyday life. As parents, following her model helps us understand the importance of fostering a spiritually rich environment at home. By incorporating faith into daily routines, we make spirituality a practical and integral part of family life.  

Education as a Priority:

Saint Elizabeth had a deep commitment to education. As a mother, she valued the intellectual and spiritual development of her children. We parents can emulate this by prioritizing our children's education and encouraging a love for learning, both secular and religious, and be active participants in our children’s learning.  

Adaptability in the Face of Challenges:

Saint Elizabeth faced numerous challenges, including the death of her husband and financial difficulties. Despite these hardships, she remained resilient and adaptable. Facing adversity with faith and courage is one of the many ways we can teach our children to navigate challenges with grace and grit.  

Modeling Virtue:

Saint Elizabeth lived a life of virtue and was known for her kindness, humility, and charity. We can follow her example by striving to model virtues such as patience, generosity, and compassion for our children. We can especially do this during the hard moments with our children and show how virtues can be presented in all situations, no matter the emotions that we are experiencing. 

Teaching by Example:

Saint Elizabeth understood the power of teaching by example (and we all know children will always do as we do, not as we say!). Parents, let us inspire our children by living out the values and principles we wish to instill in them and by creating a consistent and positive influence. We can surround our children with other adults who can also create a consistent and positive influence in our children’s lives, live out virtues such as love, humility, and patience, and have a profound impact on our children’s character development.  

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Parents, let us inspire our children by living out the values and principles we wish to instill in them and by creating a consistent and positive influence. #CatholicMom

By reflecting on the life of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, modern day parents can find inspiration to integrate faith into parenting, navigate challenges with resilience, and prioritize the spiritual, emotional, and intellectual well-being of our families. 

Copyright 2024 Laura Radziwon
Images: Jim.henderson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Canva