American Saint: The Life of Elizabeth Seton Hardcover – March 4, 2014

Why would Maya Angelou, Caroll Burnet, and Gloria Steinam write promo blurbs for the life of a saint? That's why I read this book. I wanted to know what they saw in the life of Elizabeth Seton. I found out: an outstanding human being portrayed in a novel-like biography that is hard to put down once you start.Joan Bartel details the winding path of this remarkable woman from the upper echelons of New York Society in the late 1700's, through a wonderful marriage, cruel bankcruptcy, loss of wealth and priviledge, tragic family deaths, and triumph of love and conviction. Along the way you feel as if you are facing the raging disease and poverty of the wealthiest city in the world which surrounded the enclave of the priviledged. Elizabeth Seton stepped out of that world, even before it rejected her!Elizabeth Seton's natural gift of deep human feeling, religious insight, and active charity for the desperate parts of society surrounding her, grow in the face of unimaginable obstacles thrown in her path. Her empathetic victory over adversity and her establishemnt of a community of like minded heroic women survives in her living legacy today. For anyone who feels like giving up in the pursuit of a goal in life, here is your guiding star. Knowing that Elizabeth faced and felt all the dimensions of real human living as we all do makes her attractiveness live on all these years since her death. Looking for a friend on the other side of death? Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton is waiting to make your aquaintance.

Very much enjoyed this interesting account of the life of Elizabeth Ann Seton. Occasionally, the authors demand that she represented early feminism seemed more than a bit forced, but didn't interfere significantly. I visit the Shrine in Emmitsburg regularly where one can see the first stone house occupied by Elizabeth as well as the house she moved in to and in which she eventually died. Her grave site is close by surrounded by family members and other Sisters mentioned in the book. Truly a powerful space of peace and history.

This was a book club selection by a reviewer in our little Episcopal ladies’ book club. I did read the entire book. I just found it hard to follow as the author skipped back and forward on her timeline. I can’t put my finger on why, exactly, but though the book included many semi-interesting facts about this woman, her familiars, and the times, I found it dryand not engaging. I sent it on to a friend right after our review day. The book seemed to appeal to about half of our group. It just was just not a pleasure for this girl to read.

I have been researching my 2x great grandmother's branch of the family, the Seaton's, which trace back to Scotland, where the spelling was Seton, prior to ancestors immigrating to the Virginia Colonies. So learning of Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, was of interest to me, and to try and figure out if her husband and children fit into this branch of my family. It's a wonderful and colorful account of this special woman, nevertheless, as well as a very inspirational life story. There is also a beautiful forward by Maya Angelou.

The book was well written and I could easily put myself into the story. So full of suprises and interesting details about the beginning of the the Catholic nuns in America. As a product of 8 years of Catholic School I can see how some of the traditions were still intact with the nuns teaching us. Good book. I would recommend it but not for the faint at heart.

I was curious about this American saint. It was interesting but tended to overemphasize the difficult life she had once her husband died. i didn't realize she lived during the American Revolution and was part of the rich social class of colonial New York. I recommend it to those who are familiar with her name and what to learn about the woman.

This is not your typical lives-of-the-saints, it is a gripping story of a real woman who defied the conventions of her time to follow her heart on a spiritual journey. Joan knows this woman intimately and shares with us Elizabeth's joys and sorrows, her triumphs and loses, the prompting of her heart.

Extremely disappointing and jaundiced. I have read other biographies and this is the only one that made me wonder how Elizabeth Ann ever was canonized! I think this author's interpretation of events that she selected to feature does a great disservice to Mother Seton. We miss out on important information about her husbands family bankruptcy; how she sold precious itmes inherited from her own father to finance the voyage to Italy; how Elizabeth anguished at the starving infants and offered to nurse them herself. So many accomplishments at the time of her death! I think it's better to give more information and let the reader interpret her character.

Joan Barthel weaves a very real Elizabeth growing in her awareness of God in her life, first in the natural world around her, then through her reading of the Scriptures, followed by her unfolding life as mother,wife and leader. Using Elizabeth's letters to her family, friends, directors, Joan shows how Elizabeth's consciousness of God's great love for her increasingly opens to new levels and stages.As this happens, her spirituality informs her life and decisions. She is no push-over. She discerns well and lives with her decisions knowing that they are God's will in her life.I recommend it to anyone growing in their spiritual life.