Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Devotion

Prominent New Yorker, wife, mother, widow, convert, educator, 
foundress of the Sisters of Charity, first American-born saint, and our patroness 

 
Lord God, the giver of all good gifts, you blessed Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton with gifts of grace as wife, mother, educator and foundress of the Sisters of Charity, so that she might spend her life in service to your people.  Through her prayers and example, may our families, particularly the young members of the Church, learn to express their love for you, as she did, in service and love for our fellow men and women.  We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who is Lord forever and ever.  Amen. 

Ubi Caritas

Where charity and love are, there is God. The love of Christ has gathered us together, let us rejoice and be glad.  Let us fear and love the living God, and let us love one another with a sincere heart. Where charity and love are, there is God. When therefore, we are assembled together, let us take heed that we be not divided in mind. Let malicious quarrels and contentions cease, and let Christ, our God, dwell among us.  Where charity and love are, there is God.  Let us also, with the blessed, see your face in glory, O Christ, our God, there to possess immeasurable and happy joy forever and ever.  Amen. 
 Intercessions (Priest:)  Let us pray to God in the words of Mother Seton: (All:) 0 Father, the first rule of our dear Savior's life was to do Your Will. Let His Will of the present moment be the first rule of our daily life and work, with no other desire but for its most full and complete accomplishment. Help us to follow it faithfully, so that doing what You wish, we will be pleasing to you.  Amen.  

 [Silently make your petitions known to Mother Seton.] 

Mother Seton, be a mother to us.  Inspire us, intercede for us, and be with us.  

You know the sacrament of Holy Matrimony; teach us to support all families with faith and truth. You know the love of a good spouse; intercede for all married couples. You know the stirring of the child in your womb; intercede for every unborn child. You know the miracle of giving birth; pray for mothers tempted by abortion. You know the cry of a little child; inspire us to protect the littlest and most vulnerable. You know the pain of the widow; inspire us to seek out those who are most in need. You know the loneliness of the orphan; consecrate us to the protection of children. You know the searching of the adolescent; open our eyes to the wonder of their lives. You know of the vocation of the teacher; inspire us to teach the Gospel to the young. You know the vows of religious life; pray that we might be faithful to our vows and promises. You know the journey of the dying; be with us as we journey toward death with those whom we love. 

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, you are a saint for our time:  You are a woman of faith, for a time of doubt and uncertainty; you are a woman of love, for a time of coldness and division; you are a woman of hope, for a time of crisis and discouragement.  Intercede for the Church and for our country.  Amen. 
 
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. – Mother Seton 

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