EMMITSBURG—A half century ago, there were no American-born saints in the Roman Catholic church—a curious distinction in a country grounded in religious freedom and expression. That changed on Sept. 14, 1975, with ceremonies canonizing 19th-century nun Elizabeth Ann Seton.
This month, the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Seton’s canonization with three days of family events, Sept. 12-14, honoring one of the most important figures in the history of the American Catholic Church.