Blazing the Trail

Four remarkable women stand apart as women who boldly carried their faith into the heart of American life: Saints Elizabeth Ann Seton and Frances Xavier Cabrini, and Servants of God Dorothy Day and Thea Bowman.

Building on the success of Set the World on Fire, renowned spiritual author and retreat leader Vinita Hampton Wright now offers Blazing the Trail, a powerful four-week retreat with the American Women of the Church to help you connect personally with some of the Church’s most influential female visionaries and activists. Spanning three centuries of American history, the dramatic lives of these women will inspire you to cultivate grit, humility, discernment, vision, courage, and strength.

Each week of your retreat begins with weekend reading and prayer to introduce the woman and the spiritual theme of the week, followed by five days of morning and evening prayers. Much of the text comes from the women’s own writings. Scripture, reflection questions, and action steps are thoughtfully crafted to help you engage personally with each woman and her wisdom for living out your faith:

• Week one: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton—considered the mother of American Catholic education, Seton’s pursuit of truth transformed her journey from Episcopal convert to Catholic founder, revealing how faith can redefine your calling.
• Week two: St. Frances Xavier Cabrini—a determined Italian immigrant whose missionary work brought hope and purpose to thousands of orphans and impoverished children in New York City during the late 1800s—offers a lesson in how perseverance and faith can change the world.
• Week three: Servant of God Dorothy Day—a social activist of the twentieth century who poured her heart out for the poor and the marginalized while unabashedly criticizing hypocrisy in the Church—dares us to match our bold declarations of faith with equally bold actions.
• Week four: Servant of God Thea Bowman— A Black religious sister and dynamic teacher who, through her love, liturgy, and voice, inspires us to embrace our full selves and to love others without reservation.

This retreat goes beyond simply reading about saints—it invites you to integrate the wisdom of these extraordinary women into your everyday life. Through scripture, prayer, and their own words, Blazing the Trail calls you to grow spiritually and take meaningful action, guiding you toward a deeper, more courageous faith.