Hi, this is Kylie. Thank you all for listening to Lent with the Saints and for sending in your questions. I loved hearing from you. I will be answering three of your questions in a bonus episode this weekend. This special episode comes out on Sunday at lentwiththe Saints.com or wherever you listen to the podcast. Back in New York, Elizabeth and her family depend on the charity of their wealthy Protestant community. But she cannot forget her time in Italy and her discovery of the Holy Eucharist at the Catholic Mass. Will Elizabeth risk everything by leaving her Protestant community for the Catholic Church? The Saints, Adventures of Faith and Courage. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Episode 4, Hazard Yet Forward. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com Good afternoon, Reverend Hobart. Elizabeth, I'm glad you could meet with me this evening. Come, sit down. How are the children? They are well, healthy and happy. How is the boys' school shaping up? I have seven boys enrolled. There certainly is a high demand for tutors. I told you there would be. I find them difficult to control. Perhaps I'd do better with girls. No one cares about educating their daughters like they do their sons. You're trying to earn bread for your children. Be practical. Don't you think people would be interested in a few essential classes for girls? Especially among the poorer families. Every girl should learn to read and figure and many don't get that opportunity. Do you think? I think you should persevere with the boys' school. Yes, Reverend. But that's not what you came to talk about, is it? Reverend, I have a confession to make. I did not share my whole heart with you in my letters from Italy. You have nothing to apologize for. You were grieving your beloved husband. I was happy to give you what comfort I could from across the ocean. It's worse than that. Oh, please don't be severe with me. Mrs. Seton, what are you talking about? Reverend, you joked that I might be attracted to the beautiful Catholic churches in Italy. I was. I attended a mass there with the Felicis and... Oh, Reverend Hobart, I could not help but be moved by the blessed sacrament. Their real presences... That doctrine of transubstantiation is the vilest species of idolatry. Episcopalians have communion. We commemorate our Lord's sacrifice, but the flesh and blood they worship, we vehemently reject. Some Episcopalian preachers believed Catholics can be saved just as other Christians. It is idolatry, Elizabeth. That practice of the papest church we must ever renounce and abhor. When I see a person who's sincere and ardent piety, I have always thought worthy of imitation and an honor to the church in which it was quickened and cherished. When I see such a person in danger of forsaking it and associating herself with a church which my sober judgment tells me is corrupt and sinful, I cannot be otherwise than deeply affected. Yes, Reverend. We will speak about this at length another time. Until then, you might read Dissertations on the Prophecies by Thomas Newton. I have a copy in my library. I would like that. Elizabeth, do not forget. You will be held accountable at the final judgment for your children and the state of their souls. I will not lead them astray, Reverend. I will find God's will and follow it. The Last Word Heavenly Father, where are You leading me? William, help me! I hold my little ones again, but my heart cries out. They are fatherless. I know that You, Lord, are the Father of the fatherless and the Helper of the helpless. But I still feel helpless not only to support myself, but even to do what is pleasing to You. Until You show me the way You want me to walk in, I will trudge on the path I was born in and go to the Episcopalian Communion where I used to find You present. Amen. The Last Word Will, stop bouncing on the bed. You'll wake the baby and I just got her to fall asleep. Yes, Mama. Do we really have to move? Yes, dear. You'll like the new house. It's very cozy. So it's smaller than this one? Yes, it is. Hop into bed, Will. Can we see the prayer from Italy? Which prayer? The Hail Mary. A Nina. We know it too. A Nina taught us. I'm sorry, Mama. I know you told me not to do it once we were in New York, but I just wanted someone to pray it with me. I should not have asked you to keep it a secret, but I'm afraid some of our friends would not like to hear you pray to Jesus through Mary. I won't pray it anywhere but here. Me neither. Very well. Come to me. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Dear Antonio, I'm delighted to report that I found a small, neat house about a half mile outside Manhattan. We will occupy the upper room and rent the first floor out as soon as I can find a tenant. I visited Reverend Hobart today. He... He is not a man given to compromise, but the idea that I am in error has startled my soul so much that I cannot stop my search. I am going to visit the priest you spoke of when I last saw you. I am afraid to tell anyone, even Julia. I hope he is as kind as you say he is. William, I might become a Catholic. I'm not sure what you'd think of that. Do you remember the night I played my violin for you for the first time in the garden at my uncle's house? That's all. Beautiful. I loved it. Thank you, William. Are you nervous to play in front of the party tomorrow? No. I've grown up doing it whenever my father had his doctor friends over. Not the smallest bit of fray you might mess up in front of New York High Society. You know I'm not frightened easily. Oh, I know that. But did you know there are a whole clan of Seatons in Scotland where my family is from and they have an excellent family motto? What is it? Hazard yet forward. Hmm. I like it. Exactly. You live by it. You belong in the Seaton family, Elizabeth, in my family. Are you proposing William Seaton? Well, would you say yes if I was? Yes! Yes, yes, yes! Hazard yet forward. Thank you for your excellent sermon, Reverend Hobart. I am glad you found it fruitful, Lady Martin. You are a gift to the Apiscopalian Church. I am but her humble servant. Good day. Speaking of giving, do you know why the Whites have dropped from the subscription to support the Seaton family? I was quite shocked to hear it. Have they had some bad luck? I thought Mr. White's position at the bank was well secured. They can still afford to give, if that is your concern. Then why? So it's true. She's becoming Catholic. I am no longer her spiritual advisor. I do not pretend to know the details of her faith life. Oh, then that must be why the school she started is such a failure, even though it's only been six months. Mrs. Seaton simply proved to be incapable of running a school. Good day. How old are you, Beck? What? And how old are you turning next? Two. And then three, four, seven. Five and six before seven. Would you like a cake for your birthday? Cake with frosting. What kind of frosting? Chocolate. Elizabeth, you won't believe what I've heard. The most ridiculous scandal. Julia, I didn't expect you until tomorrow. Everyone has withdrawn from the subscription. Yes. Lady Martin says she won't give you another penny, and she tells me Reverend Hobart is encouraging families to leave your school. My school must close, Julia. I can't manage a room full of boys. I might be better with girls. But why is Reverend Hobart shutting down the subscription? It's your only means of support. Haven't you heard? You, you didn't go to St. Peter's. It's the Irish neighborhood. You never go there. They must be lying. I've been several times to see Father O'Brien. Then, then it's true. You're going to become Catholic? Yes. I will go firmly and peaceably to the Catholic Church. But, but Elizabeth, Reverend Hobart says that... I am quite incapable of deciding all the controversies. The strictest Protestant allows salvation to a good Catholic, so to the Catholics I will go and try to be a good one. Cake? No cake today, little one. Very well. Julia, please. I'm still a Christian. If you could, if there is any way in your heart, you can continue to be my friend, my soul sister, even in this new... Of course we'll still be friends, Elizabeth. Don't be ridiculous. If you're going to the Catholics, I can't go to church with you anymore when I visit. No. But I'll still come over for Sunday luncheon right after. Thank you, dearest. Oh, stop looking so serious and come to my arms. Now that we're all clear about the Catholic bit, please explain to me how you plan to care for these five children of yours without Reverend Hobart and the subscription and the school. God will provide, Julia. And through whom? He uses you and me, Elizabeth. Unless you're receiving mana every morning when I'm in Philadelphia? I don't know. I'll say some prayers for mana. You shock me, Elizabeth Seton, but I love you. Now go on and put your children to sleep. I'll wrap my head around this. Make yourself at home, love. Say goodnight to our Julia back. Bye-bye. Good night, Beck. Anina? Yes, Mama? What are you doing? Reading. It's time for bed soon. Beck is already falling asleep. Bed, bed, Mommy. Yes, I'll put you to bed. What a lovely baby you are, Beck. But you won't be a baby for long. She is growing too quickly. What is it, Mama? Is something wrong? Anina, I've made my decision. Are we becoming Catholic, Mama? I went to Holy Trinity this morning. I sat down in the front, facing the window so I could see the spire of St. Peter's, the Catholic Church in the distance. I tried to pray, but I kept looking out the window. I knew Jesus was really present at St. Peter's. In the Eucharist? Yes. We have to go where he is. When, Mama? I will become Catholic at Easter. Me too. Don't leave me out. Willie wants to too. And Dick and Kat. Oh, my dearest children. We'll do it together. The Body of Christ. Amen. The Body of Christ. Amen. Look! There are some wildflowers peeking out. Let's weave them to the... Welcome home to the Catholic Church, Sister. Thank you. I hope I will be of some benefit to my new family. You already are. Listen, Bishop Carol wrote to me about you. About me? I've corresponded with him for some time. William actually carried letters between us for a time when he was trading between America and Italy. I had no idea. It was before you were married. But, back to the point. I told Bishop Carol that your position in New York was, well... Ruined? By my conversion? We can be blunt, Antonio. Very well. I have a letter to you from the bishop, inviting you to move to Maryland and start a girls' school. I already tried to start a school, and it was a miserable failure. He'd also like for you to found the first order of nuns in America. Order of nuns? But what about my children? We'll find a way. I will not be parted from my children. I am their mother first. Hi, this is Peter Atkinson from The Mary Beggars. Tune in to episode 5, Maryland, to hear the final installment of Elizabeth Ann Seton. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at TheSaintsPodcast.com The Mary Beggars is the entertainment division of relevant radio.
