Religious · Feast day January 4
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
The feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is January 4, a memorial in the US Catholic calendar. Traditionally invoked as patron of Catholic schools and widows. Below: a short life and 2 sourced quotations in their own words.
| Feast day | January 4 |
|---|---|
| In the US calendar | Memorial |
| Title | Religious |
| Died | 1821 |
| Patron of | Catholic schools, widows |
| In their own words | 2 sourced quotations · 1 attributed saying (source unconfirmed) |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
A merchant’s daughter of New York, Episcopalian wife and mother of five, widowed at twenty-nine in Italy, where the faith of her hosts drew her to the Catholic Church at the cost of family and friends.
Invited to Maryland, she opened a school and founded the Sisters of Charity, beginning the American parochial school system. She was the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized.
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. Elizabeth Ann Seton as patron of Catholic schools and widows.
Saints with the same patronage
- St. Jane Frances de Chantalwidows · August 12
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In their own words
Each quotation names the work it comes from. Bless quotes these in the comments beside the verses listed under In Scripture.
We must pray without ceasing, in every occurrence and employment of our lives, that prayer which is rather a habit of lifting up the heart to God as in a constant communication with Him.
The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner He wills it; and thirdly, to do it because it is His will.
Attributed, source unconfirmed
These sayings circulate under the saint’s name, but no source has been confirmed. Bless shows them with that label.
Live simply, so that all may simply live.
In Scripture
In Bless, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s words appear in the comments beside these verses. This page’s labels say how each is linked: “on this verse” means the saint wrote about that very verse; “on this theme” means the quotation shares its theme. Scripture is quoted from the Catholic Public Domain Version.
On this theme
Unto the end. A Psalm of David. To you, Lord, I have lifted up my soul.
Psalm 24:1 · CPDV Beside their words: “We must pray without ceasing, in every occurrence and employment of our lives, that…”
On this theme
May your kingdom come. May your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth.
Matthew 6:10 · CPDV Beside their words: “The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it…”
On this theme · source unconfirmed
But in response, he said to them: “Whoever has two coats, let him give to those who do not have. And whoever has food, let him act similarly.”
Luke 3:11 · CPDV Beside their words: “Live simply, so that all may simply live.”
On this theme
Jesus said to them: “My food is to do the will of the One who sent me, so that I may perfect his work.
John 4:34 · CPDV Beside their words: “The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it…”
On this theme
Pray without ceasing.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 · CPDV Beside their words: “We must pray without ceasing, in every occurrence and employment of our lives, that…”
On this theme · source unconfirmed
But, having nourishment and some kind of covering, we should be content with these.
1 Timothy 6:8 · CPDV Beside their words: “Live simply, so that all may simply live.”
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton keeps January 4 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of January.
All the saints of January Born on January 4? A saint for every day
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