Cristy Li

St. Elizabeth Ann Bayley-Seton (1774-1821)

(Franciscan Media) Mother Superior Seton, is one of the keystones of the American Catholic Church, she founded the first American religious community for Women the Sister’s of Charity, she opened the first parish school and established the first American Catholic orphanage–all this she did in the span of 46 yrs while raising five children.

Elizabeth Ann Bayley-Seton is a true daughter of the American Revolution, born on the 28 August, 1774 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 by her mother and stepmother, she learned the value of payer, Scripture and a nightly examination of her conscience. Elizabeth’s father, Dr. Richard Bayley, did not have much use of Churches but was a good humanitarian, teaching his daughter to love and serve others.

The early deaths of Elizabeth’s mother in 1777 and her baby sister in 1778 have her a feel for eternity and the temporariness of the pilgrim life on earth. Far frpm being brooding and sullen, she faced each new ‘holocaust’ as she put it, with hopeful cheerfulness.

At the age of 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, by the age of 30, Elizabeth was widowed, penniless with five small children to support.

While in Italy with her dying husband, Elizabeth witnessed Catholicity in action through family and friends. Three basic points led to her becoming Catholic: Belief in the real presence, devotion to the Blessed Mother and the conviction that the Catholic Church led back to to the Apostles and Jesus Christ. Many of her family and friends rejected her when she later became Catholic in March, 1805

To support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore and from the beginning, her group followed the lines of a religious community which was officially founded in 1809

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Related: Prayer by Elizabeth Ann Seton –Leonie’s Longing

(uCatholic) In a world of fiercely guarded corporate names and logos, it should be easy to understand this feast–the letters ‘IHS’ are an abbreviation of Jesous, the Greek name for Jesus.

The feast of the Holy Name (traditionally celebrated as the Feast of Circumcision) is a major Feast of the Church, it reflects the significance of  the Holy Name Jesus–the name Jesus, is from the Hebrew Joshua or ‘Yeshua is Salvation’ or “Yahweh will save.”

St. Paul might claim credit for promoting devotion to the Holy Name because Paul wrote in Philippians 2:9 “Therefore God has exalted  Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.”

This devotion became popular because of the 12th century Cistercian Monks and Nuns but especially through the preaching of St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444) a Franciscan.

Bernardine used devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus as a way of overcoming bitter and often bloody class struggles and family rivalries or vendettas–the devotion grew partly because of Franciscan and Dominican ministers, it spread even more wildly after the Jesuits began promoting it in the 16th century.

In 1530 Pope Clement V approved an Office of the Holy Name for the Franciscans–in 1721, Pope Innocent XIII extended this Feast to the entire Church.

This Feast invites us to a continual remembrance of the veneration of the Holy Name in order that God may plant in us and in every heart, the love of Him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Related: For Today’s Holy Scripture Readings and More, Visit:  -USCCB

Litany of the Most Holy Name of Jesus –Catholic Culture

Becoming Beacons of Light Like the Wise Men -Deacon Omar Gutierrez, Natl Catholic Register

Saint Basil the Great (329-379) Image Courtesy: Pinterest

(CNA) Saint Basil, one of the most distinguished Doctors of the Church and Bishop of Ceasarea was one of ten children of St. Basil the Elder and St. Emmelia according to Independent Catholic News, several of his brothers and sisters are also honored among the Saints.

Saint Basil ranks afters Althanasius as a defender of the Asian Church against the heresies of the 4th century, especially Aryanism which denied the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

With his friend ‘Gregory of Nazianzus’ and his brother Gregory of Nyssa, he is part of the trio known as ‘The Three Cappadocians’  of which he was the most important in practical genius and theological writings, rightly placing him as one of the greatest teachers of the Church.

Basil resisted pressure from the Emperor Valens, who wanted to keep him in silence and admit the heretics to communion. No wonder when the Great St. Althanasius died, the responsibility of being the defender of the faith against Aryanism fell upon Basil.

Seventy two years after Basil’s death the Council of Chalcedon described him as ‘the great Basil, minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth.”

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