On a bitterly cold January day in 1809, a widowed New York socialite named Elizabeth Ann Seton stepped off a stagecoach in this small Maryland mountain town, her five children huddled around her, everything she owned packed into a few trunks. She had been born wealthy, married wealthy, converted to Catholicism after her husband's death—and lost everything. New York society had shunned her. Her own family had disowned her. Now, at the invitation of a French priest who believed in her vision, she had come to Emmitsburg to found America's first free Catholic school for girls.
Within six years, Mother Seton would establish the Sisters of Charity, the first religious community for women founded in the United States. Her tiny stone house at the base of St. Mary's Mountain became the motherhouse of a congregation that would eventually operate hundreds of hospitals, schools, and orphanages across America. When Elizabeth died in 1821 at age forty-six, worn out from tuberculosis and grief—she had buried her husband and two daughters—she left behind a legacy that would transform American Catholic education and healthcare.
Today, Emmitsburg hosts two major national shrines within three miles of each other. The National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton preserves the White House and Stone House where Mother Seton lived, the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception where she is entombed, and the peaceful grounds where she walked with her Sisters. On the mountain above, the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes—the oldest American replica of the Lourdes grotto—has drawn pilgrims since 1875. Together, these sites make Emmitsburg one of the most significant Catholic pilgrimage destinations in the United States.
📜 History & Spiritual Significance
Elizabeth Ann Bayley was born August 28, 1774, in New York City to a prominent Episcopalian family. Her father, Dr. Richard Bayley, was the first health officer of the Port of New York and a professor at Columbia College. At nineteen, she married William Magee Seton, a wealthy merchant, and the couple had five children. Elizabeth became known in New York society for her charitable work, co-founding the Society for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children.
When William's business failed and his health collapsed, the Setons traveled to Italy hoping the climate might cure his tuberculosis. He died in Pisa in December 1803, leaving Elizabeth stranded with her eldest daughter. During their months in Italy, the kindness of Catholic friends and the beauty of Catholic worship touched Elizabeth deeply. She returned to New York and, after two years of study and prayer, entered the Catholic Church on March 14, 1805—a decision that scandalized her Protestant family and friends.
Ostracized and impoverished, Elizabeth struggled to support her children by running a small school. In 1808, Father William DuBourg invited her to Baltimore to establish a Catholic school for girls. The following year, at the encouragement of Father John Dubois, she moved to Emmitsburg to found what would become the first Catholic free school in America.
On March 25, 1809, Elizabeth took her first vows and assumed the title Mother Seton. The Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph's, modeled on the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, was formally established in 1812. By the time of Mother Seton's death on January 4, 1821, the community had grown to 50 sisters operating schools in Philadelphia and New York as well as Emmitsburg. Today, six distinct communities trace their heritage to Mother Seton's foundation, collectively serving millions through schools, hospitals, and social services.
Pope Paul VI beatified Elizabeth Ann Seton in 1963, and Pope Paul VI canonized her on September 14, 1975—the first native-born American citizen to be declared a saint. Her liturgical feast day is January 4.
The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, meanwhile, originated when Father John Dubois constructed a rough stone cavity on the mountainside in 1805, placing in it an image of the Blessed Virgin. After the 1858 apparitions at Lourdes, France, Father John McCloskey—later to become America's first cardinal—commissioned a replica of the Lourdes grotto at this site. Completed in 1875, it became a place of pilgrimage that today welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually.
☩ Pilgrimage Sites in Emmitsburg
National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton
Tomb of America's first native-born saint
The shrine complex encompasses the original buildings where Mother Seton lived and worked, preserved with period furnishings and personal artifacts. The White House, a simple frame structure, served as the first school. The adjacent Stone House became the motherhouse of the Sisters of Charity. Both buildings have been carefully restored to their early 19th-century appearance.
The Basilica of the National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, completed in 1965 and elevated to minor basilica status by Pope Francis in 2025, houses Mother Seton's tomb beneath the altar. The modernist structure features striking stained glass and a peaceful atmosphere for prayer. A museum traces Mother Seton's life from New York socialite to frontier foundress.
National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes
America's oldest Lourdes replica
Set on the forested slopes of St. Mary's Mountain, the Grotto replicates the rocky cavity at Massabielle where Our Lady appeared to St. Bernadette in 1858. The life-size statue of Mary stands in the upper niche, with Bernadette kneeling below. Pilgrims gather here for outdoor Masses, rosary processions, and quiet prayer.
The 75-acre grounds include the Stations of the Cross winding up the mountainside, the Corpus Christi Chapel, the Pangborn Memorial Campanile with its 14 bells, and numerous grottos and shrines honoring various Marian titles and saints. The glass-enclosed St. Mary's Chapel on the Mount offers panoramic views of the Catoctin Mountains.
Mother Seton's White House
The modest two-story frame house where Elizabeth Ann Seton established St. Joseph's Academy and Free School in 1809. The house has been preserved as it appeared during Mother Seton's lifetime, with original furnishings and her personal belongings. Guided tours interpret her daily life and the sacrifices of the early Sisters.
Cemetery of the Sisters of Charity
Adjacent to the Seton Shrine, this peaceful cemetery contains the graves of hundreds of Sisters of Charity who served in Mother Seton's community. The simple white crosses stretching across the hillside bear witness to generations of women who followed Elizabeth's example of selfless service.
🕯️ Annual Feast Days & Celebrations
Feast of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton — January 4
Solemn Mass at the basilica honoring Mother Seton on her liturgical feast day. Special veneration of her relics and procession to her tomb. Pilgrims gather despite the winter weather to honor America's first native-born saint.
Annual Pilgrimage Weekend — Third Weekend of September
The largest annual gathering at the Grotto, drawing thousands for outdoor Masses, candlelight rosary procession, and all-night Eucharistic Adoration. Multiple bishops typically concelebrate the Sunday Mass.
Assumption of Mary — August 15
Major celebration at the Grotto with outdoor Mass at the replica Lourdes cave, followed by a Marian procession through the grounds and benediction.
Mother Seton's Birthday — August 28
Special observance at the Seton Shrine commemorating Elizabeth's birth in 1774. Mass followed by cake and celebration in the visitor center.
🛏️ Where to Stay
Sleep Inn & Suites Emmitsburg ⭐⭐⭐ — Modern hotel closest to both shrines, with complimentary breakfast. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Fairfield Inn & Suites Gettysburg ⭐⭐⭐ — Reliable chain hotel 15 minutes south, convenient for combining pilgrimage with Civil War history. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Gettysburg Hotel ⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Historic 1797 hotel on Lincoln Square, 20 minutes from Emmitsburg. Full-service with on-site dining. Website ∙ Reserve this hotel
Mount St. Mary's University Conference Center (pilgrim accommodation) — On-campus lodging at the university adjacent to the Grotto. Simple, affordable rooms available during summer and when classes are not in session. Contact the university for availability.
🚗 Getting There
By Air: Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) is 60 miles southeast, approximately 1 hour 15 minutes by car. Washington Dulles (IAD) is 55 miles south.
By Car: From Baltimore, take I-70 west to US-15 north (approximately 1 hour). From Washington DC, take I-270 north to US-15 north (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes). The Seton Shrine is in downtown Emmitsburg; the Grotto is 3 miles south on US-15 (Grotto Road exit).
By Bus: No direct public transit. Greyhound serves Frederick, Maryland; rental car or taxi required for the final 25 miles.
Note: The two shrines are 3 miles apart—easily walkable for the fit, or a 5-minute drive. Both have ample free parking.
📚 Further Reading
Books:
Joseph I. Dirvin, Mrs. Seton: Foundress of the American Sisters of Charity — The definitive biography, exhaustively researched from primary sources.
Elizabeth Ann Seton, Collected Writings — Three-volume collection of Mother Seton's letters, journals, and spiritual reflections.
Ellin M. Kelly, Elizabeth Seton's Two Bibles — Study of her spiritual development from Episcopalian to Catholic.
Online Resources:
Sisters of Charity Federation — Information on the six communities tracing their heritage to Mother Seton.
🎥 Recommended Videos
EWTN: Mother Seton Documentary — Comprehensive film on the life of America's first native-born saint.
National Shrine Grotto Virtual Tour — Walk through the 75-acre pilgrimage grounds.
The Canonization of Elizabeth Ann Seton — Historic footage from the 1975 ceremony in Rome.
🔗 Useful Links
National Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton — Mass schedule, tour information, gift shop.
National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes — Events, grounds map, pilgrimage planning.
Mount St. Mary's University — The nation's second-oldest Catholic university, adjacent to the Grotto.
Archdiocese of Baltimore — Diocesan information for America's first see.
🧭 Nearby Pilgrimage Destinations
Baltimore (95 km southeast) — America's first Catholic see, with the historic Basilica of the Assumption and the tomb of Archbishop John Carroll.
Washington, D.C. (100 km south) — National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Saint John Paul II National Shrine.
Gettysburg (15 km south) — Site of the Civil War's pivotal battle, with the Gettysburg National Cemetery and historic churches that served as field hospitals.
Philadelphia (160 km northeast) — Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, National Shrine of St. John Neumann, and sites connected to Mother Seton's early Sisters.
🪶 Closing Reflection
"The first end I propose in our daily work is to do the will of God; secondly, to do it in the manner He wills it; and thirdly, to do it because it is His will." — St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Collected Writings
