Elizabeth and her friends served each other in a variety of capacities: as role models and mentors, as substitute mothers, sisters, and as loving peers. For Elizabeth, who did not have the benefit of a mother’s tender love, her close friends created a network of people who offered her physical, psychological, and spiritual support. Each of her friendships was unique and held a special place in her life. […] They shared that which was most precious with openness and freedom, and for each other they were truly a mirror of God’s love.

– Sr. Judith Metz, S.C. “The Key Role of Friendship in the Life of Elizabeth Bayley Seton,” Vincentian Heritage Journal: Vol. 29 : Iss. 1, Article 2.