Novena to Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
August 19-27, 2024

As we prepare for the celebration of the 250th anniversay of the birth of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, on August 28, 2024, we invite all to pray a novena to our patoness Saint! The prayers are below each picture. If you click on the picture, it will take us to our YouTube page where you can watch (and pray along with) the prayer leaders for each day of the novena. The prayers and videos are also on our Facebook page. The videos go live each day at 8:00am. We will also send out a flocknote each day with a link to this page. Please pray with us!!

Today let us pray for all those who have lost a spouse or significant other. Let us ask for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton’s intercession that all who have had a loved one die find comfort and feel God’s love!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Dear God, we know that we should rejoice at death. Someone is returning to You! Yet, death is so hard to bear, especially when it’s someone we love so dearly.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, your husband died very young. You loved him so much. Yet he was taken away from you. Not only did you have to suffer being poor, but he died and left you alone to care for your children.
We can’t imagine the heartbreak you must have experienced through that loss. But you did not wallow in your grief, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. You grew closer to God through it all!
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, please be close to all those who have lost a spouse or significant other. If possible, help them to become closer to God through this experience. Grant them comfort for their sorrow. Encourage their family members and friends to offer them the love they need.

Please pray for all who have experienced loss of any kind. We ask that you intercede on behalf of all the holy souls in Purgatory, especially those among our own families and friends!

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Let us pray.
Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 
Today let us pray for all those who are converts to the Catholic faith. Those who are converts to Catholicism face unique challenges but also such joys. Let us also pray for all to have a continual reconversion so we may feel that same joy always!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen

Dear God, inspire in us a new love for you each day.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, when you journeyed to Italy for your husband’s health,  the last thing you expected to find was a new faith. Being a convert certainly wasn’t easy when you lost many of your friends and family members over it. But the love you had for God was much stronger than any prejudice you may have received. Watching the joy of a new convert is so inspiring. They truly become children again, fascinated by faith and God’s love. As a faithful person, it’s easy to fall into routine. We want the joy of a convert again! Please inspire us to have the same sort of joy you felt on entering the faith every day of  our lives. Help us to see each new morning as another opportunity to be loved by God. Allow us to have a childlike faith that gets excited at tradition and learning new things about our Creator. Intercede for us, that our hearts may be on fire with excitement over God!

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us
Let us pray.

Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 
Today let us pray for all teachers and educators. They have such a huge responsibility to care for the next generation! Consider how God might be calling you to be a teacher in some way.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear God, please bless all teachers. What a mighty responsibility you have placed upon their shoulders!
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, you began a school to support your family. However, your calling became so much greater. You were at the start of Catholic education in America. Please be with all educators as they shape the minds of the next generation. Provide for them patience to deal with many behaviors. Offer them prudence in what to teach. Most of all, allow them to have opportunities to witness to God! No matter our calling, we too are called to be  teachers -  teachers of Christ! We have the opportunity to teach Christ to everyone we meet. Point us towards the greatest Teacher of all as an example. Intercede on our behalf and on the behalf of all those we encounter. Help us to emulate Christ’s teaching example as you did!

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Let us pray.
Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.


Today let us pray for all parents. Let us ask St. Elizabeth to watch over all parents: biological, adoptive, foster, and spiritual parents.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear God, we know that the gift of parenthood comes from You. Thank You for this wonderful example You have given us!St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, you were a mother to so many more people than just your own children. In addition to your five children, you were also a mother to your husband’s siblings, your religious sisters, and your students. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, inspire us to live out our motherhood or fatherhood in whatever way God has destined for us. Help us to inspire the next generation. Grant us patience to love, and allow us to be  good role models to all children in our care. Help us to defend life, especially the lives of the unborn. Pray that we may always be loving, merciful, and kind to all children, especially our own.

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Let us pray.
Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today let us pray for all married couples. May they be strengthened in their vocations to both God and one another!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear God, we know that marriage is a sign of how much You love us. Thank you for the great gift of marriage!
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, you are one of a few saints who were married. You loved your husband very much. We’re sure his death saddened you greatly. Please be with all married couples. Help them to grow in love for one another and be a witness to the love that God has for the world. Give them the grace to remain faithful to one another and bless their union with children, if it is God’s will for them. Please also bless us in our own vocation. Help us to be loving, kind, and faithful on whatever path God has placed us. Please grant us patience to discover His will, and the opportunity to witness to Him no matter where He has placed us. Intercede on our world’s behalf for the upholding of marriage and family. Allow us to be a witness to the good of married life, whether in our own marriage or in supporting and encouraging Catholic couples in their vocations. Please pray for more faithful, loving, and fruitful marriages!

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Let us pray.
Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Today let us pray for all of our families. May there be a renewal of closeness among family members! Let us also ask St. Elizabeth Ann Seton to especially watch over all children who have lost family members.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Dear God, thank you for our families!
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, your early life was certainly difficult! You lost both your mother and a sibling before the age of 5. It must have been so difficult for you to suffer those losses at such an early age! It was a foreshadowing of the suffering you were to face at your husband’s death. After all of this tragedy, you must have really valued the families who you had left. Sometimes, disagreements with our families keep us from loving them the way we should. It is so easy to hold grudges instead of offering forgiveness. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, if there is negativity in our family, please help us to be the ones to forgive. Inspire us to always be there for one another, and have each other’s best interests at heart. Grant us opportunities to offer sacrifices for one another’s blessings. Help us to inspire one another, cheer on one another, laugh together, support each other, and love each other as Christ would. Most of all, help our families to be  witnesses to God in all we do. Help others to look at our families and think of God!

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Let us pray.
Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today, let us pray for a greater devotion to Mary. Consider your own relationship with the Blessed Mother. If it could use improvement, ask St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for help!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear God, thank you for the example of the Blessed Mother. What an inspiration she is to us!
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, one of the things that brought you to the Catholic faith was the Blessed Mother. Having lost your own mother, the thought of having one in heaven watching over you made you happy. Not everyone has such an easy relationship with the Blessed Mother, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, especially those who are converts like yourself. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, please help us to draw closer to the Blessed Mother. Help us to feel her protection. Inspire us with her example. Encourage us to draw close to her through the recitation of the Rosary. Most of all, help us to know her Son by getting to know her love for Him.

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Let us pray.
Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today, let us pray for a greater understanding of the Eucharist. Make sure you thank God for this wonderful gift today!

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Jesus - how blessed are we that we get to receive You, Body and Blood, through the Most Holy Eucharist!
Another factor that made you consider Catholicism, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, was the Eucharist. You were intrigued by the fact that the Church could trace itself back to the very beginning, back to this moment. And how could you not be enthralled by the Eucharist! It wasn’t enough for Our God to become Man for us; He also became Food for us too! St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, inflame our hearts with the desire to be united to Jesus in the Eucharist. Open our  hearts to opportunities to draw closer to Him through the Eucharist: by attending Daily Mass, making a Holy Hour at Adoration, or by becoming a Eucharistic Minister. When our hearts are seized with doubt about the True Presence, quiet our fears and remind us of God’s love. Pray that we may have opportunities to feel on fire with this True Love to quell all our doubts. Place people in our lives who will encourage us in this devotion. Help educate our minds to know what our hearts already do. Intercede for us, that we may come to know our Lord through the worship of His Body and Blood!

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Let us pray.
Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Today, let us pray for an increased openness to God’s will in our lives. Consider how God might have been speaking to you through this novena.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear God, we  know that Your Will is the best path for us. But sometimes, we find it hard to trust.
You too must have found it hard to trust God all the time, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Your life was certainly filled with hardships. Yet through it all, you never waved from “The Will” - following God wherever He led you. We too have faced many trials in our lives. Our need for control causes us to want to go our own way, to forge our own path and think that we know better than God. Please help us to trust Him, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Remind us that His will has brought us to where we are now. Show us that only He knows the future, not us. Pray that we may always remain on the path that leads to God, just as you did. Intercede for us, that we may never waver from following God’s will.

Please also pray for our intentions:
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, pray for us!

Let us pray.
Lord God, you blessed Elizabeth Seton with gifts of grace as wife and mother, educator and foundress, so that she might spend her life in service to your people. Through her example and prayers may we learn to express our love for you in love for our fellow men and women. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.