The Setonian images chosen for the Second Week of Advent highlight the influences in the life of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. All these images can be found in the University Chapel on campus. The middle image is a stained glass window featuring two of Mother Seton's favorite saints. One is of St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) known as the gentleman’s saint, bishop of Geneva and founder of the Visitation Sisters with St. Jane de Chantal. His famous book, Introduction to a Devout Life was a major influence on Seton’s spiritual life. The book highlights how all people, especially laity, can live holy lives amidst the allurements of the secular world. This book was always in her possession, and she had many sections memorized as it helped her to navigate the spiritual world, especially after the death of her husband and her conversion to Catholicism. This book is still popular and widely read today and is one of my favorite spiritual books and DeSales is one of my favorite saints.
St. Vincent de Paul (1581-1660), a French priest from Paris, was a champion of the poor and founded the Order of priests known as the Congregation of the Missions. Along with St. Louise de Marillac, he also founded the Daughters of Charity. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was influenced by this holy priest’s life and mission to help others in her own outreach to the poor and abandoned of society. When she founded the Sisters of Charity, it was DePaul’s rule of life that she used to guide her congregation of sisters.
The other two images represent the influences Mother Seton had on others. The window on the left highlights the foundation she made in Emmitsburg, Maryland of the first Catholic School she started and the beginnings of her Sisters of Charity. The window on the right highlights The Sisters of Charity in Convent Station, New Jersey who were established by Mother Xavier Meaghan (1825-1915) thanks to the influence of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. This was the site of the first Seton Hall College. These influences of Mother Seton continue today.
Isaiah, the stem from Jesse, John the Baptist, repent and prepare the way of the Lord are just some of the themes of this holy season of Advent for us to reflect on in our preparation for the Birth of Christ. These influences challenge us in our own spiritual lives but also challenge us to become good influencers of others who we encounter each day and the impact we too can have on society. In today’s Second Reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans, he urges us to “Welcome one another, then as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God.”
How are we welcoming and influencing others in hospitality and charity? What influences us at the present moment and is it leading us to Christ or distracting us from Him? Some things to ponder this week.
