Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton,

Pema Chodron, and

Immaculee Ilibagiza

Courtney Alfery
Dr. Von Schlichten
SRT 290 01
14 November 2016
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
-August 28,1774- January 4, 1821 (46 years old) -William Seton died in Italy, leaving Elizabeth poor, alone with their 5 kids, and thousands of
miles away from home
-first American-born person to be canonized
-While in Italy, Seton was introduced to Roman Catholicism by the Filicchi’s
-Born in New York
-Returns home in 1805, converts to Roman Catholicism (also in 1805)
-Episcopalian for most of her life
-Relocated to Maryland due to friendly environment for Catholics
-Father was Dr. Richard Bayley
-Opens a school in Baltimore
-At 19 years old, married William Seton
-Relocates to Emmitsburgh, MD
-In the early 1800s, the couple had to file for bankruptcy
-Founds the Sisters of Charity
-Moved to Italy once William Seton fell ill
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Roman Catholicism
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton blended with Roman Catholicism in many ways. I would say the most obvious way would be how she

embodied the Catholic social teaching principle of “promoting the family”. According to an online explanation of this Catholic social teaching

principle, “the first social consideration, in order and importance, is the family. It is the basic unit of society, and it predates and in a sense

surpasses all other societies in a community” (Kaczor). According to an online biography of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, “Elizabeth's deep

concern for the spiritual welfare of her family and friends eventually led her into the Catholic Church”. I am astounded at how Elizabeth Ann

Seton picked herself and her family up after the death of her husband, and just pushed through all the hardships to make sure her family

was taken care of. One of the ways one could view Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton as working against her religion, would be the fact that she took

on a large family on her own once her husband passed. Catholicism seems to put great focus on the fact that a family should be raised by a

great marriage, although I believe she did the absolute best that she could have given her circumstances. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton also

showed that her values aligned with Roman Catholicism through her devotion to teaching and founding of the Sisters of Charity. This would

be a great example of her hard work for the common good of others.
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and Roman Catholicism Cont’d
Another way Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton blends with Roman Catholicism would be how well connected she was with receiving the Holy

Eucharist. This is an important aspect of Roman Catholicism because of the great emphasis that is put on the fact that the Eucharist is the

body of christ, which is an example of transubstantiation. Seton was able to connect to God on a great spiritual level through receiving the

Holy Eucharist and this was something she often sought out.

She also had a positive attitude toward death. She knew it was inevitable, she had already been through grief extensively, and she

was at peace with the idea of her own death. This blends well with Roman Catholicism because of the various lives that are celebrated after

death, such as Jesus, Saints, and even loved ones that we gather to celebrate after death today. Also, Roman Catholics put great emphasis on

the fact that the deceased will meet again in Heaven. I believe that Seton took great comfort in knowing that and, in turn, was able to have a

more positive outlook on death.

Pema Chodron
-Born Deirdre Blomfield-Brown in 1936, in New York City

-Attended Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley

-Taught as an elementary school teacher for many years in both New Mexico and California

-Has two children and three grandchildren

-Before Pema Chödrön became a world-renowned Buddhist teacher and best-selling author, she had what she calls a “conventional” life and marriage

-Suddenly, her entire world came crashing down in a matter of seconds when her then-husband blurted out that he wanted a divorce and was having an
affair

-While in her mid-thirties, Pema traveled to the French Alps and encountered Lama Chime Rinpoche, with whom she studied for several years

-Became a novice nun in 1974 while studying with Lama Chime in London

-His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa came to England at that time, and Pema received her ordination from him

-At the request of the Sixteenth Karmapa, she received the full monastic ordination in the Chinese lineage of Buddhism in 1981 in Hong Kong

-Pema currently teaches in the United States and Canada and plans for an increased amount of time in solitary retreat under the guidance of Venerable
Dzigar Kongtrul Rinpoche

-Pema is interested in helping establish the monastic tradition in the West, as well in continuing her work with Buddhists of all traditions, sharing ideas
and teachings

-She has written several books: “The Wisdom of No Escape”, “Start Where You Are”, “When Things Fall Apart”, “The Places that Scare You”, “No Time to
Lose” and “Practicing Peace in Times of War”, and most recently, “Smile at Fear”
Pema Chodron and Buddhism
Buddhism is essentially comprised by Four Noble Truths, the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the

end of suffering, and the truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering. Pema Chodron blends well with these truths because of the fact

that she was completely immersed in suffering after her husband asked for a divorce and came clean about his affair. This rocked her world

all while helping her evolve into the noble person she is today. Pema did not allow her suffering to make her bitter. Instead, she proved to

blend with Buddhism through her accepting the suffering, accepting the truth behind it, and embracing the path that led her to end of

suffering.

Buddhism also deals with Karma, and how good actions, which involve either the absence of bad actions, or actual positive acts, such

as generosity, righteousness, and meditation, bring about happiness in the long run. Pema blends well with these ideas because of her

devotion to teach and develop the monastic tradition in the West. Through doing so, she is constantly providing positive acts, and in return,

she believes this will ultimately bring her happiness. She also has consistently showed positive acts for others through her writings and

books, of which have helped people become closer with their own faith and ways of dealing with their sufferings and happiness.
Immaculee Ilibagiza
-Born in Rwanda

- Studied electronic and mechanical engineering at the National University

-Of the Tutsi people in Rwanda, Africa

-Lost most of her family during the 1994 genocide

-Hid in the bathroom of a minister's house with seven other adults to escape the Hutu’s in the 1994 genocide

-During this time, Immaculee recited 27 rosaries and forty Divine-Mercy chaplets a day— praying every waking moment.

-In 1998, she emigrated to the United States and began working at the United Nations in New York City

-Now a full-time public speaker and writer

-In 2007 she established the Left to Tell Charitable Fund, which helps support Rwandan orphans

-Holds honorary doctoral degrees from The University of Notre Dame and Saint John’s University, and was awarded The Mahatma Gandhi International
Award for Reconciliation and Peace 2007

-She is the author, with Steve Erwin, of LEFT TO TELL: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust
Immaculee Ilibagiza and Roman Catholicism

Immaculee Ilibagiza blends exceptionally well with her faith in Roman Catholicism because she showed nothing but devotion to God

and her faith during the horrific 91 days she was captured. She showed that she was constantly pursuing peace, which aligns with the Social

Teaching Principles of Catholicism. She pursued peace through using prayer to escape the cramped quarters of hiding despite the living Hell

she was in. According to Immaculee’s website, “anger and resentment about her situation were literally eating her alive and destroying her

faith, but rather than succumbing to the rage that she felt, Immaculée instead turned to prayer”. This blends with Roman Catholicism

because Immaculee was constantly reverting back to her faith and allowing God to overpower her negative thoughts and feelings. She also

recited the Rosary daily, which is something that Roman Catholics take great pride in.
Immaculee Ilibagiza and Roman Catholicism (cont’d)

Another way that Immaculee’s actions greatly portray principles of Roman Catholicism is through her ability to forgive those that did

her and her family great harm. Through prayer, she eventually found it possible, and in fact imperative, to forgive her tormentors and her

family's murderers. I would most certainly think that Immaculee’s strong faith and devotion to her religion brought about her ability to

forgive. I would imagine that Immaculee’s situation would have turned a great majority of people bitter, but the fact that she was able to turn

it into something positive is amazing. Because of her peaceful way of dealing with the emotions toward the horrific genocide, Immaculee is

now able to write, speak, and lecture about the topics that are near and dear to her heart, all while telling her story and educating many

people. This is a great example of doing what is right for the common good of others, another principle of Catholic Social Teaching.
Pema Chodron, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Immaculee Ilibagiza (Similarities)
-These three women are similar for the fact that they all used their faith to pull them through very difficult times. Pema Chodron used her

difficult situation as a reason to push herself into faithfulness regarding Buddhism and eventually her teachings. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

also used her tough situation to aid her in getting in touch with her faith and conversion to Roman Catholicism. Immaculee Ilibagiza allowed

her faith and prayer to lead her through an unimaginable situation.

-Pema Chodron, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Immaculee ilibagiza are also similar for the fact that they all emerged as much stronger

women after their horrible situations. I believe this is because they all embodied the mindset of perseverance and they tapped into their

inner faith, strength, and love for their religions to make it through and come out stronger on the other side. I also believe this has a great

deal to do with the fact that they did not lost sight of what mattered. Even if they did not always have the purest thoughts, they still pushed

through and made sure to make the best of their situations.

Pema Chodron, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Immaculee Ilibagiza (Differences)
- Pema Chodron, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and Immaculee Ilibagiza differ through the ways they dealt with their struggles and the

thoughts that came along with them. For example, Pema Chodron seemed to really allow herself to feel all the emotions and come to grips with the

fact that she was suffering and allowed herself to feel even the dark times. Immaculee seemed to turn to prayer as an escape to anytime she felt

negative feelings coming over her. I would say Seton is in the middle of the two, since she definitely allowed herself to feel dark emotions, but she

eventually used her connection with God and her faith as a way to make it through life. While I do not think any one of these women dealt with their

struggles better than the other, it is interesting to see how they each tapped into their coping mechanisms, and how their religious practices came

into play.

-These women also differ through the various ways they found connection with their faith. For example, Pema Chodron used meditation and

other various Buddhist ways to connect with peacefulness and herself. Immaculee Ilibagiza used prayer and reciting the Rosary to get her through.

Lastly, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton found great connection through receiving the Holy Eucharist. Although the women were all tapping into their inner

peace and faithfulness, they all did this via different routes. This is especially helpful for me, since it proves that it is worthwhile to find a way of

connection with God that is personalized.

Works Cited
http://pemachodronfoundation.org/about/pema-chodron/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/06/pema-chodron-divorce-lesson_n_7216638.html

http://www.hayhouse.com/authorbio/immaculee-ilibagiza

http://www.immaculee.com/about/spiritdaily.php

http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/seven-principles-of-catholic-social-teaching

http://www.pbs.org/edens/thailand/buddhism.htm