Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was the mother of five. Widowed at the age of 29, she worked hard to support her children. Tragically, two daughters died in childhood. She became a Catholic in 1805. She started the first Catholic grade school in the United States, and founded the American branch of the Daughters of Charity. Elizabeth became the first American-born female saint in 1975. Her feast day is January 4.

Excerpted from Come, Follow Me (grade 8) by Rev. Bernard Marthaler, OFM Conv. and Rev. Gerard Weber. Copyright © 1998 by Benziger Publishing Company, PO Box 544, Blacklick, OH, 43004-0544. Used with permission of the publsiher.