Last week, we looked at her life leading up to her conversion. This week, let’s look at the events that surrounded her conversion. In 1803, She travelled with her husband to Italy in hopes that the milder climate would heal his tuberculosis. After a month quarantine, William was released but died ten days later. Elizabeth and her eldest daughter, Anna Maria, were welcomed into the home of the Filicchi family awaiting their return trip to New York.
They were welcomed into a home where the Catholic faith was lived devoutly through daily prayer, weekly mass, and spiritual conversations. That witness stirred a deep desire for the Eucharist. She continued to search and pray. Upon her to New York, she found herself in a great turmoil. The truth of Jesus presence in the Catholic Church could not be dismissed, but the family and social pressure was immense. Finally, in 1805 she made her profession of faith and entered the Catholic Church. Her faithfulness to the Holy Spirit was rewarding, but she found herself cut off from family and friends in New York. The Filicchi family remained steadfast in her corner and provided for her and the children. Her conversion was obviously the work of God, but it couldn’t have happened without the example of the Filicchis. Remember that as you and your family live out your faith.
Daily prayer, weekly Mass and spiritual conversations not only pave the way to heaven for you and your family, you may be bringing along a saint.