The Approved Miracle for Mother Seton's Canonization
The Approved Miracle for Mother Seton’s Canonization
A major miracle for Mother Seton’s canonization was the cure of 4-year-old Anne Theresa O’Neill. Born in Baltimore, the child developed advanced leukemia in 1952. Despite doctors trying every possible treatment, she grew more sick. Her case was considered hopeless. She suffered terribly and could not eat, and during Holy Week all signs indicated she would soon die. Doctors told her parents it would be within two weeks. But the nun supervisor of the children’s ward at St. Agnes Hospital was devoted to Mother Seton. She gave Anne’s mother, a woman of faith, prayers for Mother Seton’s intercession and had her give them to relatives and friends. She pinned a cloth touched to Mother Seton’s remains onto Anne’s hospital gown. During the novena, the child began to improve, even sit up and eat, and a month later was discharged. Constant tests over ensuing years showed everything to be normal with her health. At 53, Anne, her husband and children attended the canonization of Mother Seton in Rome. — Joseph Pronechen
In 1952, when Ann O’Neill was a little girl, she was cured of leukemia, and the cure was attributed to Elizabeth Ann Seton’s intercession. Her cure is one of the miracles that made Elizabeth Ann Seton a saint. Pictured: Ann O’Neill visiting the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, July 2018. Photo source: The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Facebook
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton holds a unique place in history as the first individual born in the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. Her journey from a devout Episcopalian upbringing to a life of Catholic devotion and service reflects an extraordinary transformation marked by resilience and faith. Among the miracles attributed to her intercession, the remarkable healing of Anne Theresa O’Neill stands as a testament to the power of prayer and divine intervention. This extraordinary event played a pivotal role in Mother Seton’s elevation to sainthood.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: A Brief Biography
Born on August 28, 1774, in New York City, Elizabeth Ann Bayley came from a prominent family with British and French roots. Her early life was marred by tragedy; she lost her mother at a young age and faced rejection from her stepmother. Despite these challenges, Elizabeth displayed a natural inclination toward introspection and spirituality. She married William Magee Seton, a wealthy merchant, and together they had five children. However, financial misfortunes and her husband’s declining health led the family to Italy in 1803 in search of recovery.
In Italy, Elizabeth encountered the Catholic faith through the Filicchi family, who provided her with support after her husband’s death. Deeply moved by their faith and the teachings of the Church, Elizabeth converted to Catholicism in 1805. Her decision alienated her from her Protestant family and friends, but it also marked the beginning of her life’s mission. She went on to establish the Sisters of Charity, the first Catholic sisterhood in the United States, dedicated to education and service. Her work laid the foundation for Catholic education in America, and she remained a guiding figure for the community until her death in 1821.
Elizabeth’s legacy was further cemented through the miraculous healing of a child decades later—an event that affirmed her sanctity and led to her canonization.
The Case of Anne Theresa O’Neill
Anne Theresa O’Neill was born on October 7, 1947, in Baltimore, Maryland. She enjoyed a healthy childhood until early 1952 when she began showing alarming symptoms, including pale skin, lethargy, and unusual bruising. Her condition was diagnosed as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a fatal disease at the time with no effective treatments.
Anne’s prognosis was grim. Medical interventions, including blood transfusions and experimental drugs like aminopterin, failed to halt the progression of her illness. Her health deteriorated rapidly, and by March 1952, doctors informed her family that there was no hope for recovery. Her parents, devastated by the news, sought comfort in their faith.
Sister Mary Alice Fowler, a supervisor at St. Agnes Hospital’s children’s ward, introduced the family to the intercessory power of Elizabeth Ann Seton. A relic of Mother Seton, a cloth touched to her remains, was pinned to Anne’s gown, and a novena—a series of prayers over nine days—was initiated. Anne’s mother, a woman of great faith, rallied family and friends to join in prayer, asking Mother Seton to intervene on her daughter’s behalf.
The Miraculous Healing
During the novena, Anne’s condition began to change inexplicably. Her strength returned, and she could sit up, eat, and eventually walk. On April 27, 1952, Anne was discharged from the hospital, her recovery described by doctors as nothing short of miraculous. Follow-up examinations over the next several years confirmed that her leukemia was completely gone. Bone marrow tests conducted in 1956 and again in 1957 showed no evidence of the disease, and she remained in good health well into adulthood.
This extraordinary recovery defied all medical understanding of the time. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia in the 1950s was universally fatal, with no survivors documented beyond a few months. Anne’s case was thoroughly investigated by medical experts and Church authorities, who concluded that her healing was scientifically inexplicable and could only be attributed to divine intervention through the intercession of Elizabeth Ann Seton.
The Path to Canonization
The healing of Anne Theresa O’Neill became one of the two miracles required for Elizabeth Ann Seton’s canonization. In 1963, Pope John XXIII beatified her, recognizing her as a model of faith and service. Twelve years later, on September 14, 1975, Pope Paul VI canonized her in a solemn ceremony outside Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome. Anne, who had been a teenager during the beatification, attended the canonization as a grown woman and mother, a living testament to the miracle that had transformed her life.
In his homily, Pope Paul VI celebrated Mother Seton as a “glorious daughter” of the United States, whose life embodied the virtues of charity, humility, and devotion. Her canonization coincided with International Women’s Year, highlighting her contributions to society as a woman of faith and leadership.
A Medical and Spiritual Marvel
The case of Anne Theresa O’Neill underscores the profound interplay between faith and medicine. In the 1950s, leukemia was a death sentence for children, with no effective treatments to offer hope. Anne’s recovery, occurring decades before medical advancements in cancer treatment, remains a striking example of what the Church recognizes as a miracle—a divine act beyond the scope of human explanation.
This event also highlights the Church’s rigorous process of investigating miracles. Physicians and theologians work collaboratively to ensure that claims of divine intervention meet stringent criteria. Anne’s healing, validated by medical experts and ecclesiastical authorities alike, stands as a powerful affirmation of Mother Seton’s sanctity.
Legacy and Inspiration
Today, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton’s life and miracles continue to inspire millions. Her legacy as a pioneer of Catholic education and a symbol of unwavering faith resonates across generations. The miraculous healing of Anne Theresa O’Neill serves as a reminder of the power of prayer and the enduring presence of the divine in the lives of the faithful.
For Anne and her family, the miracle was not just a moment of grace but a life-changing encounter with God’s love and mercy. As Anne herself later reflected, the experience strengthened her faith and deepened her appreciation for the intercessory power of the saints. For the world, it reaffirmed the Church’s belief in God’s ongoing interaction with humanity, offering hope and inspiration to all who seek solace in faith.
Based on the article “The Approved Miracle of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton”, by Marie-Alberte Boursiquot, M.D., and Shirley E. Reddoch, M.D.
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Thanks for sharing this Over the past year Ann and I have become friends
She seems like a spiritual and normal person living in simplicity about being chosen as one of the miracles attributed to Mother Seton for her canonization