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Also known as: Francesco
Saverio Seelos; Father Seelos
Profile
One of twelve children born to Mang and Frances Schwarzenbach Seelos, he
was named for Saint Francis Xavier; his father was a textile merchant who
became parish sacristan when Francis was 11. Confirmed on 3 September
1828, and made his first Communion on 2 April 1830. The boy wanted to be a
priest from an early age, and often claimed he would be another Francis
Xavier.
Completed his basic studies in Füssen. Graduated from the Institute of
Saint Stephen in Augsburg in 1839. Received a degree in philosophy and
theology from the University of Munich. Entered the Saint Jerome seminary,
Dilligen on 19 September 1842.
Became familiar with the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (The
Redemptorists), and their mission to work with the poorest, the abandoned,
and immigrants. He joined on 22 November 1842. Feeling a call to minister
to German immigrants to America, he left the seminary on 9 December 1842,
sailed for the America on 17 March 1843, and arrived in New York on 20
April . Ordained in the Redemptorist Church of Saint James in Baltimore,
Maryland on 22 December 1844.
Worked nine years at Saint Philomena parish, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, six
of those years as assistant pastor to, and spiritual student of Saint John
Neumann, and the other three as superior and novice master of his
Redemptorist community. Faithful to the Redemptorist teachings, he led a
simple life, preached a simple message, and was always available to those
in need. His sermons drew crowds from neighboring towns, there were lines
outside his confessional, and he never tired of working with children. He
heard Confessions in English, German, and French, from black and whites
and anyone else with a burden.
Transferred to parish ministries in Baltimore in 1854, Cumberland in 1857,
and Annapolis in 1862. Proposed as bishop of Pittsburgh in 1860, but he
begged to be excused "from this act of God", and his desire was granted by
Pope Pius IX.
In 1863, during the American Civil War, all men were obliged to be
available for active military duty. Seelos, as Superior of the
Redemptorist Seminary, met with President Abraham Lincoln, and obtained an
agreement not to send seminarians to the front. Seelos soon after lost his
position as Prefect of Students for being "too lenient".
From 1863 to 1866 he lived as an itinerant mission preacher in both
English and German in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New
Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. Hearing
of an influx of German immigrants to New Orleans, he pastored a
Redemptorist church there beginning in 1866. He worked with yellow fever
victims until he was taken by the illness the next year.
Born
11 January 1819 at Füssen, diocese of Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany, and
baptized on the same day
Died
4 October 1867 of yellow fever; buried in a crypt beneath the floor of
Saint Mary’s Assumption Church, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
Beatified
9 April 2000 by Pope John Paul II at Rome, Italy; responsible for the
miraculous healing from inoperable liver cancer of Angela Boudreaux in
1966
Canonized
pending
Readings
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer, let the words of my mouth and the
meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight. I offer praise to You
for the grace You have bestowed on Your humble missionary, Father Francis
Xavier Seelos May I have the same joyful vigor that Father Seelos
possessed during his earthly life to love You deeply and live faithfully
Your gospel. Amen.
-Byron Miller, C.Ss.R.
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Faithful to the spirit and charism of the Redemptorist Congregation to
which he belonged, Father Francis Xavier Seelos often meditated upon these
words of the Psalmist. Sustained by God's grace and an intense life of
prayer, Fr Seelos left his native Bavaria and committed himself generously
and joyfully to the missionary apostolate among immigrant communities in
the United States.
In the various places where he worked, Father Francis Xavier brought his
enthusiasm, spirit of sacrifice and apostolic zeal. To the abandoned and
the lost he preached the message of Jesus Christ, "the source of eternal
salvation" (Heb 5: 9), and in the hours spent in the confessional he
convinced many to return to God. Today, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
invites the members of the Church to deepen their union with Christ in the
sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist. Through his intercession, may all
who work in the vineyard for the salvation of God's people be encouraged
and strengthened in their task."
-Pope John Paul II at the beatification ceremony for Blessed Francis
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintf30.htm
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