“All her many struggles make her more compassionate to people. “

Catherine O’ Donnell

WHO IS CATHERINE O’DONNELL?

Catherine O’Donnell is an historian of religion and early America.  She is professor of history at Arizona State University and the author of Elizabeth Seton: American Saint (Cornell University Press, 2018).  She can be reached at codonnell@asu.edu

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton & New Beginnings

In this episode, Catherine O’Donnell tells us about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton & New Beginnings. She explains:
– Who was St. Elizabeth Ann Seton?
– How difficult was her life?
– What gave her the strength to endure and start again multiple times in her life?
– What can we learn from her writings and her life?

I actually only heard about St. Elizabeth Ann Seton when I came to New York. Even then I was barely interested in her life. As I looked at the year and everything the whole world has been through I was looking forward to doing a podcast that could inspire people. And who better than Mother Seton. For an ordinary woman beset with so much tragedy, she beat the odds to establish the Daughters of Charity.

In fact, she’s such an inspiration according to me simply because she started over and over again despite the may setbacks. Grief is also so central to her life and anyone who is grieving would find her words comforting. On what is her 200th anniversary on 5th Jan 2021, it seemed like an apt episode.

I appreciate Catherine for talking to us. She’s obviously spent a lot of months researching St. Seton. She’s familiar with her writings and her letters. She had also spent time with the sisters of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton so she has spoken to the people that still carry on her legacy.

It was really great to talk to her as her enthusiasm shows. She’s so honest about her initial and final impressions of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. I’m sure many people who want to read more about this American saint would be happy to pick up her book.

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