The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-07-16
American Group to Ask Recog.
milton From Pope of Eliza
beth BayIey Seton

New York, July 16.-When a little
band of pilgrims sailed from New
York, bound for Rome, they carried
with them a petition to Pope Plus Xl
asking for canonization of the first
United States saint.
Thus the humility and devotion Of
Elizabeth Bayley Seton ITO years age
may be rewarded by sainthoOd, ano
if that happens the life Of a woman
who was reared in luxury, then suf-
fered in poverty, will assume new
significance. Now she is only Mother
Seton, founder of the Sisters of Char
ity, a legendary figure whose calm
acceptance of LIES tragedies brought
no bitterness, but enabled her to FIND
in travail the serenity of mind re-
served for those with an implicit
faith in the will of God.
She was born Aug. %, 1774, in New
York, of an old English family school,
ed in traditions of aristOcracy anc
of the Episcopal faith. Her accep-
lance of Catholicism came during the
last 16 years of her life.
AS a girl in New York she grew ur
like other girls of her time, conscious
of the turmoil of the American revo-
luton. but never touched directly by
it. She was devout. piouS and re-
strained. Until she married William
Magee Seton, her life was similar to
thousands of others who lived in low
err Manhattan. 1t was apparently a
love marriage. It linked her family.
directly related to the present Roos-
Welt family, to IN whose old world
connections Joined it with the finest in
England and Scotland.
Misfortunes Pile Up
She might have been like others II
her husbands health had not failed
early in life. She might never have
been considered for sainthood if this
had not happened. But this tragedy
gave her opportunity for displaying
that rare fortitude which has n
deared her to millions.
The mother of five children. she
went to Italy in 1903 to ave herself
and her husband. He was near death
from tuberculosis. 1t was the begin
ming of another of many tragedies.
Her mother and then her father,
whom she loved devotedly, had died.
Now her husband -.
They sailed for Italy-and were
thrown into the dreaded prison
Lazaretto because authorities thought
Seton was suffering from yellow tever.
It was a hell. unheated. damp, death
". Six months they lived there and
she wrote in her diary:
Il went to sleep and dreamed I
was in the middle aisle of Trinity
church singing with all my soul -.
My present opportunity a treasure
and my confinement of body a liberty
of soul 49,. A day of bodily pain but
peace with God"
Spiritual Struggle
He was dying when they were re-
leased. Two days after Christmas he
breathed for the last time. And she
was left in Italy with her little daugh-
ter. Ann. Their kind friends. the
Flicchis, cared for them.
She sought spiritual consolation.
With her friends she wandered into
a Catholic church, since there were
no Episcopal churches available -.
THAT kind of soft music which lifts
the mind to a foretaste of heavenly
pleasure -. I sank on my knees"
Then back to New York. For
months she wavered between one reli-
gion and then the other. Her soul
was torn by the severest pain. She
accepted Catholicism. All her friends,
even her family, renounced her, but
she accepted it as trial of faith. She
was wounded, but she would not show
her wounds. She began the ascetic
practices which marked her as a
woman apart.
The family even tried to ha-, her
deported. She bore her disgrace and
steadfastly refused to reconsider.
Without funds, humble and in dire
straits, she soon attracted the atten-
ton Of Bishop Carroll by her intel
ligence and piety.
First School Fails
She tried to establish a school for
young women. It failed. Her sister,
in-law, Cecilia, also became a Cath
Ollie. That heartened her. The M !.
Rev. William Dubourg suggested they
establish q school in Baltimore. But
that "a not enough. Although it
vas started she prayed for help In
beginning q school for educating the
poor. The wealthy Samuel Cooper
gave funds.
A site was purchased near Emmits-
burg, Nd, SO miles from Baltimore.
They had called her Mother Seton
by then. She and five other women
left Tor there. walking on country
roads. They were the first Of the
Of st. Joseph, the sisters Of
charity. They arrived 50 soon they
wefs forced to 1--we IN . log cabin.