American Saints

This week contains the feast days of two American 'firsts':

Today (January 4) is the feast day of Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first American-born saint. Socialite, wife, mother, widow, convert, founder of a religious order, teacher... this woman born (1774) just before the American Revolution epitomized what we might think of as the pioneering and adaptable spirit of our country at that time. She died in 1821.

Please click here for a brief or extended description of her life and work.

Tomorrow (January 5) is the feast of the first American Bishop to be canonized, Czech-born John Neumann.(1811-1860) He too was instrumental in building Catholicism in the United States, particularly the parochial school system in Philadelphia. A gifted linguist, he was able to minister to various immigrant communities in their native tongues.
Again, here are brief and extended biographies of the saint.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton and St. John Neumann, pray for us!