The Bright Lights of New York City

Details: 14 January 2011

What would you be willing to give up for God?

The answer is found by gazing at a crucifix. In 1774, Elizabeth Bayley was born into a wealthy family in New York City. Her father was a physician and her mother, a daughter of an Anglican minister. At the age of 20, she married a wealthy merchant named William Seaton, with whom she had five children. With time, illness and financial troubles shook her family. When it was recommended that William seek a warmer, drier climate, they set sail for Italy.

Not long after arriving, William’s illness progressed to the point of death. It was during this time, due in part to the influence of their host family who were business associates, she was exposed to Catholicism. Eventually, after the death of her husband, she made it back to New York City.

After returning, while sitting in the pews of her Episcopal church, she would gaze out the window and down the street to the local Catholic church with the internal message, ‘I am present in the Most Blessed Sacrament here, not where you are.’

Before long she knew what she needed to do. I refuse to believe she lacked a premonition knowing she would lose her friends if she joined the Catholic Church. Despite this, she entered the Catholic Church in 1805, losing her friends in the process. After becoming involved with Catholic education she went on to found the Sisters of Charity in Emmetsburg, Maryland, dedicating her life to serving the poor and needy. She died in the year 1821.

As St. Elizabeth was growing old a little boy named John Neumann was born in Pranchatice, Bohemia to a family of humble means. He eventually entered the seminary and was told he would not be ordained in his native land because of the over abundance of priests! After hearing there was a dire need for priests in the United States, especially to the growing immigrant population, he decided to leave in the middle of the night to avoid a tearful goodbye with his beloved mother. He never saw her again. After his ordination to the priesthood in New York City he became one of a handful of priests to serve around 200,000 Catholics.

One of the joyful moments of a newly ordained priest is to offer a Mass of thanksgiving the day after their ordination in the presence of their family and friends. St. John Neumann offered his in the absence of his family. St. John went on to become the fourth bishop of Philadelphia and became one of the fathers of the Catholic schools in the United States. Even now miracles have been occurring through his intercession, many of whom are with children.

What are we willing to give up for God? Jesus said, "No one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundred fold now in this time … and in the age to come" (Mk 10:29-30). Many of us might not have to give up family or friends for Jesus but whenever a sacrifice is made of time, talent and treasure for Jesus who lives in the poor, we are denying ourselves to the benefit of others and are laying up treasure in heaven. Thanks for assisting those in need by helping Catholic Social Services!