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14 September 1975
Yes, Venerable Brothers and beloved sons and daughters! Elizabeth
Ann Seton is a Saint! We rejoice and we are deeply moved that our
apostolic ministry authorizes us to make this solemn declaration before
all of you here present, before the holy Catholic Church, before our
other Christian brethren in the world, before the entire American
people, and before all humanity. Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is a
Saint! She is the first daughter of the United States of America
to be glorified with this incomparable attribute! But what do we mean
when we say: «She is a Saint»? We all have some idea of the
meaning of this highest title; but it is still difficult for us to make
an exact analysis of it. Being a Saint means being perfect, with a
perfection that attains the highest level that a human being can reach.
A Saint is a human creature fully conformed to the will of God. A
Saint is a person in whom all sin-the principle of death-is cancelled
out and replaced by the living splendor of divine grace. The analysis
of the concept of sanctity brings us to recognize in a soul the mingling
of two elements that are entirely different but which come together to
produce a single effect: sanctity. One of these elements is the human
and moral element, raised to the degree of heroism: heroic virtues are
always required by the Church for the recognition of a person's
sanctity. The second element is the mystical element, which express
the measure and form of divine action in the person chosen by God to
realize in herself-always in an original way-the image of Christ
(Cfr. Rom. 8, 29).
The science of sanctity is therefore the most interesting, the most
varied, the most surprising and the most fascinating of all the studies
of that ever mysterious being which is man. The Church has made this
study of the life, that is, the interior and exterior history, of
Elizabeth Ann Seton. And the Church has exulted with admiration
and joy, and has today heard her own charism of truth poured out in the
exclamation that we send up to God and announce to the world: She is
a Saint! We shall not now give a panegyric, that is, the narrative
which glorifies the new Saint. You already know her life and you will
certainly study it further. This will be one of the most valuable
fruits of the Canonization of the new Saint: to know her, in order
to admire in her an outstanding human figure; in order to praise God
who is wonderful in his saints; to imitate her example which this
ceremony places in a light that will give perennial edification; to
invoke her protection, now that we have the certitude of her
participation in the exchange of heavenly life in the Mystical Body of
Christ, which we call the Communion of Saints and in which we also
share, although still belonging to life on earth. We shall not
therefore speak of the life of our Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. This
is neither the time nor the place for a fitting commemoration of her.
But at least let us mention the chapters in which such a commemoration
should be woven. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton is an American. All
of us say this with spiritual joy, and with the intention of honoring
the land and the nation from which she marvellously sprang forth as the
first flower in the calendar of the saints. This is the title which,
in his original foreword to the excellent work of Father Dirvin, the
late Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, attributed to her
as primary and characteristic: «Elizabeth Ann Seton was wholly
American»! Rejoice, we say to the great nation of the United
States of America. Rejoice for your glorious daughter. Be proud of
her. And know how to preserve her fruitful heritage. This most
beautiful figure of a holy woman presents to the world and to history
the affirmation of new and authentic riches that are yours: that
religious spirituality which your temporal prosperity seemed to obscure
and almost make impossible. Your land too, America, is indeed
worthy of receiving into its fertile ground the seed of evangelical
holiness. And here is a splendid proof-among many others-of this
fact.
May you always be able to cultivate the genuine fruitfulness of
evangelical holiness, and ever experience how-far from stunting the
flourishing development of your economic, cultural and civic vitality
-it will be in its own way the unfailing safeguard of that vitality.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton was born, brought up and educated in New
York in the Episcopalian Communion. To this Church goes the merit
of having awakened and fostered the religious sense and Christian
sentiment which in the young Elizabeth were naturally predisposed to
the most spontaneous and lively manifestations. We willingly recognize
this merit, and, knowing well how much it cost Elizabeth to pass over
to the Catholic Church, we admire her courage for adhering to the
religious truth and divine reality which were manifested to her
therein. And we are likewise pleased to see that from this same
adherence to the Catholic Church she experienced great peace and
security, and found it natural to preserve all the good things which
her membership in the fervent Episcopalian community had taught her,
in so many beautiful expressions, especially of religious piety, and
that she was always faithful in her esteem and affection for those from
whom her Catholic profession had sadly separated her.
For us it is a motive of hope and a presage of ever better ecumenical
relations to note the presence at this ceremony of distinguished
Episcopalian dignitaries, to whom-interpreting as it were the
heartfelt sentiments of the new Saint-we extend our greeting of
devotion and good wishes. And then we must note that Elizabeth Seton
was the mother of a family and at the same time the foundress of the
first Religious Congregation of women in the United States.
Although this social and ecclesial condition of hers is not unique or
new (we may recall, for example, Saint Birgitta, Saint Frances
of Rome, Saint Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, Saint Louise
de Marillac), in a particular way it distinguishes Saint Elizabeth
Ann Bayley Seton for her complete femininity, so that as we proclaim
the supreme exaltation of a woman by the Catholic Church, we are
pleased to note that this event coincides with an initiative of the
United Nations: International Women's Year. This program aims
at promoting an awareness of the obligation incumbent on all to
recognize the true role of women in the world and to contribute to their
authentic advancement in society. And we rejoice at the bond that is
established between this program and today's Canonization, as the
Church renders the greatest honor possible to Elizabeth Ann Bayley
Seton and extols her personal and extraordinary contribution as a woman
-a wife, a mother, a widow, and a religious.
May the dynamism and authenticity of her life be an example in our
day-and for generations to come-of what women can and must
accomplish, in the fulfillment of their role, for the good of
humanity. And finally we must recall that the most notable
characteristic of our Saint is the fact that she was, as we said, the
foundress of the first Religious Congregation of women in the United
States. It was an offspring of the religious family of Saint
Vincent de Paul, which later divided into various autonomous
branches-five principal ones-now spread throughout the world. And
yet all of them recognize their origin in the first group, that of the
Sisters of Charity of Saint Joseph's, personally established by
Saint Elizabeth Seton at Emmitsburg in the Archdiocese of
Baltimore. The apostolate of helping the poor and the running of
parochial schools in America had this humble, poor, courageous and
glorious beginning. This account, which constitutes the central
nucleus of the earthly history and vorldwide fame of the work of Mother
Seton, would merit a more extended treatment. But we know that her
spiritual daughters will take care to portray the work itself as it
deserves.
And therefore to these chosen daughters of the Saint we direct our
special and cordial greeting, with the hope that they may be enabled to
be faithful to their providential and holy institution, that their
fervor and their numbers may increase, in the constant conviction that
they have chosen and followed a sublime vocation that is worthy of being
served with the total gift of their heart, the total gift of their
lives. And may they always be mindful of the final exhortation of
their Foundress Saint those words that she pronounced on her
deathbed, like a heavenly testament, on January 2, 1821: «Be
children of the Church». And we would add: for ever! And to all
our beloved sons and daughters in the United States and throughout the
entire Church of God we offer, in the name of Christ, the glorious
heritage of Elizabeth Ann Seton. It is above all an ecclesial
heritage of strong faith and pure love for God and for others-faith
and love that are nourished on the Eucharist and on the Word of God.
Yes, brethren, and sons and daughters: the Lord is indeed wonderful
in his saints. Blessed be God for ever!
Alors que Nous proclamons l'élévation d'une femme au rang suprême
par l'Eglise catholique, Nous relevons avec joie que cet événement
coïncide avec une initiative des Nations Unies, l'Année
internationale de la Femme. Ce programme vise à promouvoir une
meilleure prise de conscience des obligations qui incombent à tous pour
reconnaître le véritable rôle des femmes dans le monde, et pour
contribuer à leur authentique avancement dans la société. Et Nous
nous réjouissons du lien qui est établi entre ce programme et la
canonisation d'aujourd'hui, alors que l'Eglise rend le plus grand
honneur possible à Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, et exalte son
apport personnel extraordinaire comme femme, comme épouse, comme
mère, comme veuve, comme religieuse. Puissent le dynamisme et
l'authenticité de cette vie être un exemple pour notre époque - et
pour les générations à venir - de ce que les femmes peuvent et
doivent réaliser, dans le parfait accomplissement de leur rôle, pour
le bien de toute l'humanité.
Vemos hoy exaltar al supremo honor de los altares a la Madre Isabel
Ana Bayley Seton. Ella encarna de manera admirable el ideal de una
mujer como joven, esposa, madre, viuda y religiosa. Pueda el
ejemplo, la luz y dinamismo admirables que se desprenden de la nueva
Santa ser siempre una guía para las actuales generaciones femeninas;
de modo especial durante el presente Año International de la Mujer.
Liebe Söhne und Töchter! Die Heiligsprechung der seligen
Elisabeth Ann Bayley Seton gewinnt im internationalen Jahr der
Frau eine besondere Bedeutung. Die neue Heilige ist in ihren
einzelnen Lebensabschnitten als Frau, ais Mutter, ais Witwe, ais
Ordensfrau ein leuchtendes Vorbild, wie die christliche Frau in
jeder Lebenslage in der Nachfolge Jesu Christi ihre Sendung zum
Wohle der Mitmenschen zu erfüllen hat. Möge sie uns allen eine
mächtige Fürsprecherin am Throne Gottes sein!
Concludiamo ora il nostro discorso con una parola per i fedeli di
lingua italiana, perché anche ad essi la nuova Santa, che conobbe ed
amò l'Italia, propone l'alto esempio del suo singolare itinerario
spirituale. Autentica figlia del nuovo Mondo, ella già sposa e
madre approdò ai lidi italiani, e fu qui che, dopo l'immatura
scomparsa del consorte, in lei e per lei ebbe inizio quel profondo
travaglio interiore che, sotto la mozione dello Spirito, dopo
un'assidua ricerca personale, ma anche grazie ai contatti con una
buona ed amica famiglia Livornese dei Signori Filicchi, la portò ad
abbracciare la fede cattolica. Il soggiorno in Italia segnò,
dunque, per lei l'«ora di Dio», un momento privilegiato cioè, da
cui scaturirono poi coraggiose decisioni ed operose realizzazioni per il
bene della sua Patria e della santa Chiesa. Confidiamo e preghiamo
che anche a questa terra, da Dio benedetta, Santa Elizabeth Ann
Seton voglia riguardare dal Cielo con affetto singolare, estendendo
ad essa il potere della sua intercessione ed illuminandola con la luce
delle sue virtù genuinamente evangeliche.
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