Then He Brought Him to Jesus

Then He Brought Him to Jesus

January 4, 2013

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

By Melanie Rigney

No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:9)

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. (Psalms 98:3)

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah,” which is translated Christ. Then he brought him to Jesus. (John 1:40-42)

Piety

Help me, Lord, in my continual conversion. Let my thoughts and actions today reflect Your glory to everyone I encounter, for each interaction is an opportunity for evangelization by example.

Study

You’ve probably never heard of the Filicchi families of early nineteenth-century Italy. Yet these business associates of William Magee Seton and other Italian Catholics of the time who were friends of William and his wife, Elizabeth, who we know as the first U.S.-born saint, continue to have an impact on lives today.

The Setons were quite the couple, wealthy, social, attractive, with five children. It all went smash less than ten years after their marriage. The money was gone. William contracted tuberculosis, and the Italian climate would help his health. But he would die, leaving Elizabeth and their oldest daughter, ill themselves for a time, abroad alone and reliant upon the Filicchis and other friends for several months. Eventually, Antonio Filicchi would accompany the widow and her daughter on their ship home to New York.

It was in that time of grieving that Elizabeth, raised a Protestant, began to learn about Catholicism, from the generosity and comfort the Filicchis and others provided. She found herself drawn to the Eucharist. Less than a year after her return to the United States, Elizabeth converted, a decision that was met by mistrust and disapproval by most of her family. But she persevered, and pronounced her vows four years later. The founder of the Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph’s and her sister nuns arrived in Emmitsburg, Maryland, shortly thereafter and in February 1810 opened the United States’ first free Catholic school for girls with a staff of sisters. Elizabeth was the first mother of the order, and would remain its leader until her death.

 And what of the Filicchis? You won’t find much about their later years in books or on the Internet. Yet had it not been for their warmth and support and quiet evangelization, we likely would not be observing the memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton today. They introduced Elizabeth to our faith in the same way Andrew introduced his brother to Jesus. They didn’t do it for glory or personal gain. They did it because, like Andrew, they knew there was something special about this Jesus and this Church. May we do the same when the opportunity comes our way.

Action

Who among your family or acquaintances is ripe for an introduction to this Jesus, this
Church? Pray for the wisdom to reflect him in your interactions today.