Podcasts about mother seton

1/6/24 6am CT Hour - Rob Judge/ Dr. Annabelle Moseley John, Glen and Sarah chat about snowstorms in the weather, certifying Trump's election, NFL Football results and Mystery Music Monday. Rob shared the life of Mother Seton as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first American Saint. Dr. Annabelle gives tips on how to honor and keep the Holy Name of Jesus in the month of January.

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious Lectionary: 207The Saint of the day is Saint Elizabeth Ann SetonSaint Elizabeth Ann Seton's Story Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of 46 years while raising her five children. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a true daughter of the American Revolution, born August 28, 1774, just two years before the Declaration of Independence. By birth and marriage, she was linked to the first families of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high society. Reared a staunch Episcopalian, she learned the value of prayer, Scripture and a nightly examination of conscience. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use for churches but was a great humanitarian, teaching his daughter to love and serve others. The early deaths of her mother in 1777 and her baby sister in 1778 gave Elizabeth a feel for eternity and the temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far from being brooding and sullen, she faced each new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hopeful cheerfulness. At 19, Elizabeth was the belle of New York and married a handsome, wealthy businessman, William Magee Seton. They had five children before his business failed and he died of tuberculosis. At 30, Elizabeth was widowed and penniless, with five small children to support. While in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action through family friends. Three basic points led her to become a Catholic: belief in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction that the Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ. Many of her family and friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in March 1805. To support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore. From the beginning, her group followed the lines of a religious community, which was officially founded in 1809. The thousand or more letters of Mother Seton reveal the development of her spiritual life from ordinary goodness to heroic sanctity. She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of loved ones (her husband and two young daughters) and the heartache of a wayward son. She died January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Reflection Elizabeth Ann Seton had no extraordinary gifts. She was not a mystic or stigmatic. She did not prophesy or speak in tongues. She had two great devotions: abandonment to the will of God and an ardent love for the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote to a friend, Julia Scott, that she would prefer to exchange the world for a “cave or a desert.” “But God has given me a great deal to do, and I have always and hope always to prefer his will to every wish of my own.” Her brand of sanctity is open to everyone if we love God and do his will. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Patron Saint of: Catholic SchoolsEducators/TeachersLoss of ParentsWidows Enjoy this meditation on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Friends of the Rosary, Happy New Year in Christ! Today, January 4, the first Saturday of the month, we celebrate the memorial day of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821), the first citizen of the U.S. to be canonized a saint. She is the patron saint of Catholic schools, widows, loss of parents and children, and people ridiculed for their piety. In Maryland, Elizabeth Ann Seton, Mother Seton, founded a congregation of sisters — the Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph — and started the first Catholic grade school in America. Her mission to educate the poor and teach in orphanages formed the beginning of the American parochial school system. Ave Maria!Jesus, I Trust In You!Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Pray for Us! Come, Holy Spirit, come! To Jesus through Mary! + Mikel Amigot | RosaryNetwork.com, New York • Enjoy this video and enhance your faith in our newly released Holy Rosary University iOS app • ⁠January 4, 2025, Today's Rosary on YouTube | Daily broadcast at 7:30 pm ET   

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious Lectionary: 207The Saint of the day is Saint Elizabeth Ann SetonSaint Elizabeth Ann Seton's Story Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of 46 years while raising her five children. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a true daughter of the American Revolution, born August 28, 1774, just two years before the Declaration of Independence. By birth and marriage, she was linked to the first families of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high society. Reared a staunch Episcopalian, she learned the value of prayer, Scripture and a nightly examination of conscience. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use for churches but was a great humanitarian, teaching his daughter to love and serve others. The early deaths of her mother in 1777 and her baby sister in 1778 gave Elizabeth a feel for eternity and the temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far from being brooding and sullen, she faced each new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hopeful cheerfulness. At 19, Elizabeth was the belle of New York and married a handsome, wealthy businessman, William Magee Seton. They had five children before his business failed and he died of tuberculosis. At 30, Elizabeth was widowed and penniless, with five small children to support. While in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action through family friends. Three basic points led her to become a Catholic: belief in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction that the Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ. Many of her family and friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in March 1805. To support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore. From the beginning, her group followed the lines of a religious community, which was officially founded in 1809. The thousand or more letters of Mother Seton reveal the development of her spiritual life from ordinary goodness to heroic sanctity. She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of loved ones (her husband and two young daughters) and the heartache of a wayward son. She died January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Reflection Elizabeth Ann Seton had no extraordinary gifts. She was not a mystic or stigmatic. She did not prophesy or speak in tongues. She had two great devotions: abandonment to the will of God and an ardent love for the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote to a friend, Julia Scott, that she would prefer to exchange the world for a “cave or a desert.” “But God has given me a great deal to do, and I have always and hope always to prefer his will to every wish of my own.” Her brand of sanctity is open to everyone if we love God and do his will. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Patron Saint of: Catholic SchoolsEducators/TeachersLoss of ParentsWidows Enjoy this meditation on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Today, Fr. Kirby discusses the story of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as she journeyed from a Protestant social elite to her profound encounter with God within the Catholic Church.  Have you visited Mother Seton's Church or School before? Share in the comments!  —Morning Offering with Fr. Kirby, January 4, 2023—   ————————   Every morning, join Father Jeffrey Kirby as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Kirby guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength.  Let us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)   

Episode 401 debuts on December 15, at 8:00 PM Eastern. Rebroadcasts will take place according to the Crusade Channel programming schedule (note: all times listed are Central time). The topic is Catholic Confederates. Our guest is Dr. Gracjan Kraszewski. Catholic Confederates Faith and Duty in the Civil War South — book by Dr. Gracjan Kraszewski The little known and often-surprising history of Catholic Confederates (review on Catholic World Report) — by Piers Shepherd, at catholicworldreport.com  Catholicism and the Old South — by Gary Potter, at catholicism.org Bishop William Henry Elder — Wikipedia article Bishop Patrick Neeson Lynch — Wikipedia article Father Emmeran M. Bliemel, O.S.B. — Wikipedia article Daughters of Mother Seton in the War between the States — by The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, at catholicism.org MapleGracjanSyrup (Dr. Kraszewski's YouTube channel) ‘Facts about Slavery Never Mentioned in School,' — by Dr. Thomas Sowell, at catholicism.org “Reconquest” is a militant, engaging, and informative Catholic radio program featuring interviews with interesting guests as well as commentary by your host. It is a radio-journalistic extension of the Crusade of Saint Benedict Center. Each weekly, one-hour episode of Reconquest will debut RIGHT HERE on Wednesday night at 8:00 PM Eastern (7:00 PM Central). It will then be rebroadcast according to the Crusade Channel programming schedule (note: all times listed are Central time).

I feel like I have a personal connection with Mother Seton. My great, great, great Aunt Mary or Sister Olivia, lived in Emmitsburg and was a member of the Sisters of Charity, she taught at the local Catholic High School. When Aunt Mary would come to Nashville for a visit, she always brought me some sort of trinket from Emmitsburg along with tales about the life of St. Elizabeth and her path to sainthood. This was in the early 70's and she was canonized in 1975. As a young child, I loved to listen to her stories. Of course, the trinkets and stories were also a way to entice me to join the religious order as I got older. Although God called me to be a mom instead of a religious sister, the life of St. Elizabeth has touched me in many ways over the years. One of my most treasured gifts from Aunt Mary, is a bone relic from St. Elizabeth. I keep it in my office as a reminder that St. Elizabeth can be called on to intercede in prayers, I know that when I feel overwhelmed, worried, uncertain on my next move or simply tired from a busy day that she understands. Like most moms, she wore many hats and tirelessly served. Even though it isn't an official title from the church, I consider her the patron saint of multi-tasking for mothers. I believe that she knows exactly how to intercede when I call on her for prayers. Like most mothers, Elizabeth poured herself out to those around her through her words, actions and prayers. She cultivated deep relationships where she was a source of encouragement and teaching of the Catholic faith. Elizabeth's life was filled with responsibilities, demands and new adventures and Even though Elizabeth was always going from task to task, she also craved time for quiet reflection and solitude so she could spend time with Christ. St. Elizabeth is quoted as saying, “the nearer a soul is truly united to God the more its sensibilities are increased to every being of His creation; much more to those whom it is bound to love by the tenderest and most endearing ties.” There is so much more to share, but hopefully you have an idea of why this saint is so important to me and for all mothers. I want to share 3 powerful life lessons that I have learned over the years from the life and example of St. Elizabeth. The first lesson is to meet everyone with charity, including those who are difficult to love or for that matter challenging to even be around. The second powerful lesson that I learned is to be still in the presence of God. As I shared, St. Elizabeth lived a dynamic life, as a busy mom in the middle, you probably know how this feels,right? . She accomplished so much in her brief 46 years here on earth. Through her journals and letters, it is clear that St. Elizabeth desired quiet moments with God. The third lesson is to follow where God leads with open hands and a heart full of grace. The life of St. Elizabeth took many unexpected turns and twists. The life of St. Elizabeth contains many lessons for mid-life moms. Jennie is a Catholic Life Coach, Podcaster, Speaker and founder of Catholic Moms in the Middle. She equips and encourages middle-life moms to reconnect in their faith by breaking spiritual strongholds so they can finally lose the weight they've struggled with for years, to reconnect in their marriage and to discover where God is calling them in this new season of life.

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious Lectionary: 207The Saint of the day is Saint Elizabeth Ann SetonSaint Elizabeth Ann Seton's Story Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of 46 years while raising her five children. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a true daughter of the American Revolution, born August 28, 1774, just two years before the Declaration of Independence. By birth and marriage, she was linked to the first families of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high society. Reared a staunch Episcopalian, she learned the value of prayer, Scripture and a nightly examination of conscience. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use for churches but was a great humanitarian, teaching his daughter to love and serve others. The early deaths of her mother in 1777 and her baby sister in 1778 gave Elizabeth a feel for eternity and the temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far from being brooding and sullen, she faced each new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hopeful cheerfulness. At 19, Elizabeth was the belle of New York and married a handsome, wealthy businessman, William Magee Seton. They had five children before his business failed and he died of tuberculosis. At 30, Elizabeth was widowed and penniless, with five small children to support. While in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action through family friends. Three basic points led her to become a Catholic: belief in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction that the Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ. Many of her family and friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in March 1805. To support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore. From the beginning, her group followed the lines of a religious community, which was officially founded in 1809. The thousand or more letters of Mother Seton reveal the development of her spiritual life from ordinary goodness to heroic sanctity. She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of loved ones (her husband and two young daughters) and the heartache of a wayward son. She died January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Reflection Elizabeth Ann Seton had no extraordinary gifts. She was not a mystic or stigmatic. She did not prophesy or speak in tongues. She had two great devotions: abandonment to the will of God and an ardent love for the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote to a friend, Julia Scott, that she would prefer to exchange the world for a “cave or a desert.” “But God has given me a great deal to do, and I have always and hope always to prefer his will to every wish of my own.” Her brand of sanctity is open to everyone if we love God and do his will. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Patron Saint of: Catholic SchoolsEducators/TeachersLoss of ParentsWidows Enjoy this meditation on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Saint of the Day, Copyright Franciscan Media

Presented by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement to help the humanitarian work of St. Christopher's Inn, the Ave Maria Hour first aired on April 26, 1935, on radio station WOR. The program continued to air until 1969, and was heard on more than 350 stations, including the Armed Forces Radio Service. The show presents dramatizations of the lives of the saints, stories from the Gospel, and inspiring accounts of faith. GSMC Classics presents some of the greatest classic radio broadcasts, classic novels, dramas, comedies, mysteries, and theatrical presentations from a bygone era. The GSMC Classics collection is the embodiment of the best of the golden age of radio. Let Golden State Media Concepts take you on a ride through the classic age of radio, with this compiled collection of episodes from a wide variety of old programs. ***PLEASE NOTE*** GSMC Podcast Network presents these shows as historical content and have brought them to you unedited. Remember that times have changed and some shows might not reflect the standards of today's politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Golden State Media Concepts or the GSMC Podcast Network. Our goal is to entertain, educate give you a glimpse into the past.

Read more about what Sister Judy Metz has to say in her article, which you can find here: https://via.library.depaul.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1344&context=vhj

Mother Seton and St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (also known as Edith Stein) witnessed to a way of living and dying modeled on the ultimate sacrifice Christ accomplished on the Cross.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Irenaeus suffered greatly in their lives and were deeply “acquainted with grief.” Instead of leading to despair, suffering made them fully alive to the beauty of the world and to the gift of God's grace.

A lot of us know St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as the first American-born saint or the Foundress of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's. But few of us know Mother Seton as intimately as Sister Betty Ann McNeil. In this episode, Sister Betty Ann gives us some insight into who Mother Seton was and how she lived her life.

It will be 70 years on April 11th, that Ann's parents brought her to the grave of Mother Seton in hopes of their daughter being cured. It was Good Friday, and by Easter Monday, Ann was cured showing no signs of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Just a few days prior the doctors thought her situation hopeless.

Antonio was part of the family that would be instrumental in teaching Elizabeth the Catholic faith.

Part 2 | Richard Bayley was a prominent New York City physician and the first chief health officer of the city. An expert in yellow fever, he helped discover its epidemiology, improved city sanitation, performed the first successful arm amputation at the shoulder, and authored the Federal Quarantine Act of 1799.

Richard Bayley was a prominent New York City physician and the first chief health officer of the city. An expert in yellow fever, he helped discover its epidemiology, improved city sanitation, performed the first successful arm amputation at the shoulder, and authored the Federal Quarantine Act of 1799.

A romantic but heart wrenching love story, this episode explores the life of Sam Seton, Elizabeth's brother-in-law. Elizabeth was the only mother figure in his life from the age of three. You can see Elizabeth's influence on him throughout his life.

In giving their lives, strength, and sufferings for their daughters and sisters, sons and brothers, St. Josephine Bakhita and Mother Seton are eternally united in the life, strength, and suffering of their Beloved Lord.

St. John Bosco and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton presented lessons of love and gentleness to the most vulnerable of children. Their gentle instruction inspired their respective countries through the many thousands of pupils who would be taught by the communities they founded.

Who was William Magee Seton before he married Elizabeth, and how did God use him to get Elizabeth to where he needed her to be? Find out in this week's episode!

We are back after our hiatus! Listen to Fr. Ted's homily from Mother Seton's Feast Day Mass!

Full Text of ReadingsMemorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious Lectionary: 213All podcast readings are produced by the USCCB and are from the Catholic Lectionary, based on the New American Bible and approved for use in the United States _______________________________________The Saint of the day is Saint Elizabeth Ann SetonMother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage. All this she did in the span of 46 years while raising her five children. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a true daughter of the American Revolution, born August 28, 1774, just two years before the Declaration of Independence. By birth and marriage, she was linked to the first families of New York and enjoyed the fruits of high society. Reared a staunch Episcopalian, she learned the value of prayer, Scripture and a nightly examination of conscience. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use for churches but was a great humanitarian, teaching his daughter to love and serve others. The early deaths of her mother in 1777 and her baby sister in 1778 gave Elizabeth a feel for eternity and the temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far from being brooding and sullen, she faced each new “holocaust,” as she put it, with hopeful cheerfulness. At 19, Elizabeth was the belle of New York and married a handsome, wealthy businessman, William Magee Seton. They had five children before his business failed and he died of tuberculosis. At 30, Elizabeth was widowed and penniless, with five small children to support. While in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action through family friends. Three basic points led her to become a Catholic: belief in the Real Presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and conviction that the Catholic Church led back to the apostles and to Christ. Many of her family and friends rejected her when she became a Catholic in March 1805. To support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore. From the beginning, her group followed the lines of a religious community, which was officially founded in 1809. The thousand or more letters of Mother Seton reveal the development of her spiritual life from ordinary goodness to heroic sanctity. She suffered great trials of sickness, misunderstanding, the death of loved ones (her husband and two young daughters) and the heartache of a wayward son. She died January 4, 1821, and became the first American-born citizen to be beatified (1963) and then canonized (1975). She is buried in Emmitsburg, Maryland. Reflection Elizabeth Ann Seton had no extraordinary gifts. She was not a mystic or stigmatic. She did not prophesy or speak in tongues. She had two great devotions: abandonment to the will of God and an ardent love for the Blessed Sacrament. She wrote to a friend, Julia Scott, that she would prefer to exchange the world for a “cave or a desert.” “But God has given me a great deal to do, and I have always and hope always to prefer his will to every wish of my own.” Her brand of sanctity is open to everyone if we love God and do his will. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is a Patron Saint of: Catholic Schools Educators/Teachers Loss of Parents Widows Click here for a meditation on St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Saint of the DayCopyright Franciscan Media

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Peter Canisius witnessed to the faith through their charitable actions and works of kindness—a strength they received from relying on the loving heart of Mary.

St. Faustina and Mother Seton inspire us to bring our little bits of good will to the small tasks before us, and trust that God can accomplish great things through them.

The angels surround us, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton believed. God and his angelic servants are here to help us whenever we turn to them, in every season of life.

St. Vincent de Paul and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton weren't holy card or fairy-tale figures, but flesh and blood human beings who struggled with earthly dreams. Their lives suggest a way forward for all of us who suffer the tension between a comfortable life in the world and a life thrown open to Christ.

Bishop Lori's following of Bishop Bayley - 8th Archbishop of Baltimore

Welcome to season 2! Sister Mary Clare Hughes reflects on Mother Seton's canonization day in 1975.

We don't like to put ourselves under the authority of another. For us, power is often synonymous with oppression. But in Christ, and in Our Lady, Mother Seton, and the saints, power exists in the framework of love. And when Love is what rules us, everything changes.

Throughout their lives, St. Anne and Mother Seton had little idea of the glorious destiny God had in mind for them. They show us how to be faithful to God in all things, and to trust in his perfect plan for our lives.

When Americans celebrate the 4th of July, they think of freedoms- all sorts of freedoms. I was curious about the Catholics that helped bring those new ideas of freedom to this new country. What I found was St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, or Mother Seton, our earliest American saint!

Lost car keys or a feverish child might not seem like a big deal in the grand scheme of life, but it's in the small, everyday things that we find a multitude of ways to love.

The month of June as June 23 is International Widows Day. Isabella Graham would start with Elizabeth and several other prominent women of New York, the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children.

The difference is great between the young African tribesman in Uganda and the religious foundress from New York City. But we are reminded of their similarities through their different spiritual gifts in the same Spirit and their different forms of service for the same Lord.

The Patroness of The Impossible

A brave Daughter of Charity takes on the wild west. The book mentioned in this episode, "At the end of the Santa Fe Trail" is available in our gift shop!

Louise de Marillac was beatified by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 and, on March 11, 1934, she was canonized by Pope Pius XI. Her feast day is May 9 (changed from March 15 in 2016). Her remains are enshrined in the chapel of the motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity at 140 rue du Bac, Paris.

Catherine Charlton Seton (1800-1891) born June 28, the fourth child and second daughter of Elizabeth Bayley and William Magee Seton. She was just 3 and ½ when her father died and went on to become a religious sister.

Rev. Simon Gabriel Brute de Remur, S.S., (1779-1839) was born in France, became a physician in 1803, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1808. He came to the United States in June 1810, bringing an extensive library of several thousand volumes with him which he shared with Elizabeth. Brute served at both St. Mary's College and Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland, and Mount St. Mary's, Emmitsburg, Maryland, where he developed deep spiritual bonds with Elizabeth Seton. He became the spiritual director and chaplain for the Sisters of Charity.

If we knew the crosses in store for our lives before they were given to us, we may despair and give up immediately. Saint Jean Baptiste de la Salle and Mother Seton show us how to take our crosses with full trust in God one day at a time.

The rituals of Holy Week evolved over centuries to help us enter more deeply into the Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ. Through her own experiences of suffering and joy, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton's life was a mirror of Christ's Passion and Resurrection.

A few weeks after her conversion, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton celebrated the Annunciation by receiving Holy Communion for the first time. Thereafter, even in moments of poverty, loss and death, Elizabeth would follow Mary's example with grace, courage, and a mission to serve others.

Finding joy within sorrow

In difficult times, the Saints model courage rooted in Christ

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. Peter Canisius witnessed to the faith through their charitable actions and works of kindness—a strength they received from relying on the loving heart of Mary.

In this episode we meet a family that helped Elizabeth establish her school and became life long friends including helping her the last few months of her life. We hear from two Junior History Interpreters who play two Harper students who attended Mother Seton's school in Emmitsburg, MD and what it is like to portray them.

Sr. Regina Bechtle, Sister of Charity from New York speaks on Elizabeth Boyle whose birthday is October 16th 1790 (her 230th!)

Check out this bonus episode from Fr. Ted on Blessed Stanley Rother's Feast Day. Did you think Mother Seton was the only saint from Emmitsburg? Think again...!

Monday, January 4, 2016 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774-1821) Mother Seton is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church. She founded the first American religious community for women, the Sisters of Charity. She opened the first American parish sc

Summary of today's show: The Daughters of Charity were founded in France in the 17th century as a different kind of religious community active in serving the poor and that charism continues to today, including in the Archdiocese of Boston. Scot Landry and Susan Abbott are joined by Sr. Denise LaRock to discuss her own vocation story; the story of the founding of the order and how St. Elizabeth Ann Seton brought the community to the United States; and Sr. Denise's work helping young women discern a vocation to religious life. Listen to the show: Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Susan Abbott Today's guest(s): Sr. Denise LaRock, D.C. Links from today's show: Today's topics: Daughters of Charity 1st segment: Scot welcomed Susan Abbott as a co-host on Monday in addition to her usual Thursday spot. Susan talked about being in the middle of sacrament season in faith formation: first reconciliation, confirmation, and first communion. She prayed for the children and their parents. Scot said today they will profile the Daughters of Charity religious order and some great saints have been connected with the order, including St. Vincent de Paul and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. 2nd segment: Scot and Susan welcome Sr. Denise LaRock, D.C. from the St. Louise Province of the Daughters of Charity with headquarters in Baltimore. Scot asked her about how she heard God's call to religious life. She said she was in 7th grade in a boarding school with the Visitation Sisters. It was through the prayerfulness and generosity of those Sisters that she began to consider it. She didn't even have the seed of faith planted until she started at the school in fourth grade. The school was in Frederick, Maryland. In high school at another boarding school she got the prompting again. Even when wasn't thinking about religious life, she continued to go to daily Mass. Sr. Denise went to Franciscan University of Steubenville and at the end of her time there that she started seriously discerning. She looked at a lot of orders, but wrote a letter to the Daughters of Charity. She had prayed with each packet she got from each order. She began her student teaching and went to the Daughters of Charity school her brother attended to check out the order. She was attracted to the order because she wanted to serve the poor. They also ran schools, had foreign missions, and wore a habit, and all those were attractive to her. She liked that each sister was unique and different, yet so united in prayer, community, and service. The atmosphere of prayer at Steubenville was key to her hearing the call of God in her vocation. She said at Steubenville there was positive peer pressure to go to daily Mass. There was also a kind of living in community through the Franciscan University household system. She also saw many religious sisters on campus. Scot said telling your family about a religious vocation is often difficult. Sr. Denise said her foster family was supportive when she first brought it up, but they wanted her to wait some time before entering the order. She said young women don't always get that support from their parents. She said pressure from families is often a big influence on young men and women not answering the call. Often when the parents see how happy the young women is in religious life, they come around and they even become connected to the community. Sr. Denise said she started as an elementary school school. She worked at Mother Seton Academy in Baltimore, serving very poor children. She also worked with teaching children of migrant farm workers in Florida, following the children as families moved with the harvests. she said the sisters often got involved in immigration issues. She noted how workers often were disposable, so when the harvest ended they would be harassed into leaving and being deported. She talked about the stories of some of the immigrants, talking about why people are so desperate to risk the dangers of illegal border crossings. They are desperate to raise their families, to feed them and to keep them safe from the violence in Mexico, they are willing to risk coming here. Scot said these people are our brothers and sisters in Christ. At a time when she was teaching in Georgia, she was on a retreat when the province was considering a new leadership team. The old vocation director was elected to the leadership team, so Sr. Denise said she was willing to take over the job, even though she had been preparing to go to Bolivia for a mission. She said it's been a wonderful ministry. She notes a lot of women don't enter the order, but it's a blessing to see so many women on fire for the Lord. Sr. Denise has been in town for a short visit, going to some of the schools served by the Daughters of Charity, including St. Joseph in Holbrook, as well as attending parts of the Eucharistic Congress. The province covers St. Louis to the East Coast, but there are a couple of vocation directors for the province so they split up the work. She said it's not about recruitment, so she doesn't do the hard sell. They don't just want bigger numbers, they want the women that God is calling. She often works with other religious communities and they work together to find the right communities for women who are discerning. Scot asked what advice she has for parents whose children are interested in religious life. She said they should have the conversation first with the child. In the Archdiocese of Boston, they can contact Sr. Marian Batho, the Delegate for Religious, to get material. Nothing takes the place of visiting the orders and having those experiences. Even for women interested in the Daughters of Charity, she encourages them to look at other communities. Susan said each community has a different charism, a different emphasis or focus. 3rd segment: Scot asked about the founding of the Daughters of Charity. Sr. Denise said the founding is unique. They started in 1633 when all sisters were cloistered. They were originally the servant girls of the parish charities. St. Vincent de Paul had been starting parish-based charities. St. Louise de Marillac had a rough life in her younger years and St. Vincent pulled her out of herself by getting her involved in the works of charity. She's the patroness of social workers. She was a great organizer. For the servant girls, it was very hard work and there was a lot of burnout so Louise suggested they come together to live in community in prayer. Most couldn't read or write. She was also nursing her own sick husband and she taught those skills to the young women. Today the community life and prayer are still vital, but it's in service to the poor. A lot of the terminology of the order today is different because they couldn't appear to be nuns without being in the cloister. Their original habit was the dress of the country girls. The “flying nun” habit grew out to he bonnet worn by the girls, after the order was disbanded during the French Revolution and came back. Other differences are that they don't have a novitiate, but a seminary; they live in residences not convents; and they take annual vows, not permanent vows. They have to receive permission to renew their vows each year on the Feast of the Annunciation. Mother Seton was a convert to the faith and was invited to come to Baltimore from New York to start a school for girls. The bishops asked her to start a religious community. She was living near the Sulpicians and they knew the Daughters of Charity so, because the DC couldn't come to the US because of Napoleon, they sent the rule of the order and they started the Sisters of Charity. Around 1850, the Sisters of Charity in the US most united with the Daughters of Charity in France. The Sisters of Charity continue today. Scot said in Boston we have Sisters of Charity of Halifax, of Ottawa, of Québec, of St. Mary, of Montreal, Nazareth in Kentucky, and more. Sr. Denise said not all of them are tied to Mother Seton. She said the Sisters of Charity federation connects many of those Sisters of Charity orders. Scot asked about all the ministries of the Daughters of Charity. Sr. Denise said they serve Christ in those living in poverty. The three big areas are healthcare, education, and social services. So they have sisters who work in hospitals and clinics, Catholic schools, after-school programs, GED and alternative education, Catholic Charities, meal programs, soup kitchens, social service work. St. Ann's Infant and Maternity Home in Hyattsville, Maryland is for teen moms. They do prison ministry and mission work. She has some friends in Kenya, others are Magadan, Russia, and Taiwan. Scot asked if the typical sister stay in one ministry for most of her life or does she move from one to another. Sr. Denise said it's a lot of personal discernment and discernment with the community. Much of it has to do with training and experience. She said some sisters enter already trained as doctors or nurses or teachers. Sr. Denise said over the past 5 years she's seen a change for the positive among young people toward hopefulness. They are tired of consumerism and selfishness and they are having a sense of being called to something. Scot asked where she goes to find young women. She said it's about relationship and connecting. There are women who come through their parish presence or ministries. She receives contacts through advertising or retreats or inquiries from the . Scot asked how blogging has helped her work in vocations. Sr. Denise said she tries to look at different aspects of who the Daughters are, highlighting the spirit of the Vincentian communities. It's a way to meet them online. It helps to know who it is you're looking at. She said when young people get information on communities, they often look the same, so the blog helps to share the personality of the community. Sr. Denise said she's never had regrets. She's met people who've had regrets they didn't check it out. The sisters are more than happy to welcome young women who are interested in checking them out without any kind of obligation. She's met so many wonderful people and lived with so many wonderful sisters, who supported her in prayer and helped her through tough times.