(50 for 50 series) At first when my sister gave me a tiny relic of St Elizabeth Ann Seton encased in a watch-like silver pendant I found it both awesome and a little creepy. Bones! Soon, however, the relic became very important and reassuring to me. I would pray to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton holding the pendant close.
Rather than keeping her tucked in a drawer or bank vault, I wore the pendant regularly, especially when traveling, praying to her each time I put the necklace on.
One day, I said a rather hasty, less heartfelt than usual, prayer before leaving on a short trip. Soon after stopping at a rest stop along my way, with anguish I discovered that my St. Elizabeth Ann Seton pendant had fallen from its chain. I searched the car completely, returned to the rest stop, searched everywhere, and spoke with an attendant, to no avail. I felt both terribly sad and guilty that I had not treated her with my usual reverence that morning.
Although dreading telling my sister, she said, “That’s alright. She knows where she’s supposed to be,” which made me feel so much better.
Despite having returned several times to search the rest stop and still hoping that someday she may return to me, I am comforted by the notion that someone found her, and she is blessing them as she did me.
—Sharon Burtner
50 for 50 is a series of stories, quotes, clips, photos, and/or devotional statements from ordinary people to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the canonization of Elizabeth Ann Seton as the first native-born American saint.