(serie 50 por 50) In January, Suzanne Larson attended the 2025 Feast Day celebration and kickoff of the yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of Elizabeth Ann Seton’s canonization. It was not her first visit — not by a long shot. Larson and her family hold the first American-born saint in their hearts in a special way. Her family history is tied to a miraculous event that became an integral part of Elizabeth’s road to sainthood.
Suzanne’s first cousin is Ann O’Neill, the little girl who was cured of cancer after her mother placed her on the altar and prayed to Mother Seton. Her cousin’s healing was one of the miracles cited by Pope Paul VI during the canonization ceremony in 1975. According to Suzanne, that was not the only time Elizabeth Ann Seton interceded on behalf of her family.
“My dad had a massive heart attack in 1970 while on duty as a Baltimore city police officer,” Suzanne said. “My Aunt Sis (Ann’s mother) and (cousins) Ann, Celine, Jeannie, Theresa, and Mary became my refuge at a terrible time in my life. My Aunt Sis got a sign of the Rose while my dad was actually in cardiac arrest. She told my mom not to worry. My dad survived and I’m sure lived much longer than anyone would have ever guessed. My aunt taught me love, faith and empathy.”
Pie de foto: Suzanne and Ann’s family and friends on January 4, 2025, at the Seton Shrine | First row: Natalie Cooper, Jessica Furr, Celine O’Neill, Ann O’Neill, Gerard Hooe | Back row: Amy Denner, Suzanne Larson, Joanie Hynes, Annemarie Burda, Lisa Vaccaro-Cullum
50 for 50 es una serie de relatos de gente corriente para conmemorar el 50 aniversario de la canonización de Elizabeth Ann Seton como primera santa estadounidense nacida en el país.