Pope Francis’s address to Congress was remarkable in surprising ways and especially relevant for the Santa Maria Valley in northern Santa Barbara County. The Pope made examples of four historical figures (“great Americans”) in calling for a more egalitarian and compassionate American society. Only one was a woman, but think about the woman the Pope chose.
First, consider one woman the Pope might have spoken about, but didn’t: Elizabeth Ann Seton. She was the first U.S.-born person to be canonized a saint by the Catholic Church. This year is the 40th anniversary of her canonization. Seton was a devoted spouse and then a young widowed mother of five children. She was also an educator who founded the Sisters of Charity — the first women’s religious order started in the United States. The Sisters of Charity have played an important role in education and health care in our country. They are famous for their compassionate service as nurses to wounded soldiers of the Union and Confederate armies during the Civil War.
The Pope had a ringer and sure bet in spotlighting Seton. A great wife, mother, church woman, and citizen.