St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, January 4
Born in New York in 1774, Elizabeth Ann Seton was a widowed mother of five who became Catholic in 1805. She founded the Sisters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and the first free Catholic school for girls in the U.S. In 1975 she became the first native-born American saint.
On the U.S. liturgical calendar, January 4 is a memorial: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious.
Other saints on January 4
- St. Angela of Foligno, mystic (1309)
Name days on January 4
In countries that keep name days, January 4 is the day for people named Elizabeth.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Elizabeth | November 17 |
January 4 on the calendar
January 4 is the 4th day of the year, with 361 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Sunday |
| 2027 | Monday |
| 2028 | Tuesday |
| 2029 | Thursday |
| 2030 | Friday |
Keeping January 4
January 4 falls in the Christmas season. As a memorial, the saint is named in the opening prayer of every Mass celebrated that day. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Elizabeth, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around January 4
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| January 1 | Mary, Mother of God |
| January 2 | Sts. Basil and Gregory |
| January 3 | Most Holy Name of Jesus |
| January 5 | St. John Neumann |
| January 6 | St. André Bessette |
| January 7 | St. Raymond of Penyafort |
The day before, January 3, is the day of Most Holy Name of Jesus. The day after, January 5, belongs to St. John Neumann. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.