Gracious God, we give you thanks today for Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, who found life in your love. Her faith in you released hidden springs of strength, freedom and initiative for the service of your people. In the Eucharist, in the city street, in the classroom and in the homes of those living in poverty, she knew your Son and loved Him. Her vision of eternity transfigured her sense of the needs of her times, and made her service joyful and farsighted. With her faith may all who follow her example go on serving and praising you in fidelity to the heritage she has given them. We ask this in the name of your Son, Jesus, in whose Spirit we live, now and forever. Amen.
– adapted by Sr. Regina Bechtle, from SCNY’s prayer for the Bicentennial of her birth (1974).
Beautiful
“Her vision of eternity transfigured her sense of the needs of her times.” Elizabeth’s rootedness in her dear Eternity was a significantly particular lens through which she would call herself, her daughters in Charity, her Church to take action in faithfulness to God’s Will. What an effective “divining rod”! What an example to us all.