Declared Venerable
Declared Venerable
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This section covers Elizabeth Seton's first first major progress toward sainthood. The announcement of Mother Seton being declared Venerable would come almost 20 years after the cause was allowed to proceed in 1940. Being declared Venerable meant that the Pope has recognized Elizabeth had lived with "heroic virtue." Declaration of Venerability acknowledges that the candidate was found to have embodied high degrees of faith, hope, charity, justice, etc. Thankfully, after this announcement, the process would begin to move faster and further progress would be made in the next couple of years.Â
Cathedral of Mary our Queen in Baltimore
On December 18, 1959, Elizabeth Ann Seton and Jeremy of Wallachia were declared "Venerable Servants of God" by Pope John XXIII. Mother Claudia and Reverend Daniel H. Brennan's hunch that an announcement was soon coming two years previously was proven to be correct.
Pope John XXIII also honored the Diocese of Leghorn and the Filicchi family for their hospitality to the Seton family and for their role in Elizabeth's conversion. The Pope said that, even before this announcement, Mother Seton had long been recognized as the first "flower of sanctity" in North America.
A-103.010_DeclaredV.pdfProclamation of Venerability
Proclamation of Venerability
By Pope John XXIII
Celebration at Seton Hill
Celebration at Seton Hill
Throughout this process, the Sisters of Charity were frequently in contact with Rome and the promoters of the cause. Vice-Postulator John P. McGowan advised those sisters who wished to be present for the proclamation to be in Rome no later than the 14th of December.
The document to the left shows the program for the Mass ceremony at Seton Hill held in honor of Mother Seton being Declared Venerable. There is a note at the top that tells us that this is when the statue of Elizabeth was installed at Seton Hill. Originally, the statue was placed in front of the new residence, Havey Hall. It has since moved to the front of the Administration Building.
A-103.009_ProgramVenerable.pdfPage updated
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