Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos

Biography

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, also known as Father Seelos, Francesco Saverio Seelos, or Franz Xaver Seelos, was born on 11 January 1819 in Füssen, Bavaria, Germany. He was one of twelve children born to Mang and Frances Schwarzenbach Seelos and was named in honor of Saint Francis Xavier. Raised in a devout Catholic family, Francis demonstrated a strong desire to become a priest from an early age.

After completing his basic studies in Füssen, Francis graduated from the Institute of Saint Stephen in Augsburg, Germany in 1839. He then pursued further studies and obtained a degree in philosophy and theology from the University of Munich. Subsequently, on 19 September 1842, Francis entered the Saint Jerome seminary in Dillingen an der Donau, Germany.

During his time at the seminary, Francis became acquainted with the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, commonly known as the Redemptorists. Impressed by their mission to work with the poorest, the abandoned, and immigrants, Francis decided to join the congregation on 22 November 1842. He felt a strong calling to minister to German immigrants in America, which led him to leave the seminary on 9 December 1842 and set sail for the United States on 17 March 1843. He arrived in New York on 20 April of the same year.

Francis was ordained to the priesthood on 22 December 1844 at the Redemptorist Church of Saint James in Baltimore, Maryland. He then began serving at Saint Philomena parish in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he dedicated nine years of his life. For six of those years, Francis served as an assistant pastor to Saint John Neumann, who later became a saint himself. During this time, he became deeply rooted in the Redemptorist teachings, leading a simple life and preaching a message of simplicity and accessibility to those in need. His sermons drew large crowds from neighboring towns, and there were often long lines of people waiting to confess their sins to him. Francis also had a special affection for working with children.

After his time in Pittsburgh, Francis was transferred to various parishes in Maryland, including Baltimore, Cumberland, and Annapolis. In 1860, he was proposed as the bishop of Pittsburgh but humbly requested to be excused from this position, an appeal which was granted by Pope Pius IX.

During the American Civil War, in 1863, as the Superior of the Redemptorist Seminary, Francis Seelos met with President Abraham Lincoln to discuss the exemption of seminarians from active military duty. He successfully obtained an agreement not to send seminarians to the frontlines. However, this act led to him losing his position as Prefect of Students as he was deemed too lenient.

From 1863 to 1866, Francis became an itinerant mission preacher, traveling across the United States to deliver sermons in both English and German. He preached in states such as Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin. In 1866, he heard of the influx of German immigrants in New Orleans, Louisiana, and subsequently began serving as a pastor at a Redemptorist church there.

During his time in New Orleans, Francis immersed himself in his pastoral duties and worked tirelessly to assist those affected by the yellow fever epidemic. Tragically, he contracted yellow fever himself and succumbed to the illness on 4 October 1867. He was laid to rest in a crypt beneath the floor of Saint Mary's Assumption Church in New Orleans.

Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos was beatified on 9 April 2000 by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Italy. He is venerated for his unwavering faith, simplicity of life, dedication to serving the poor and marginalized, and his miraculous healing of Angela Boudreaux from inoperable liver cancer in 1966. His feast day is celebrated on 5 October (Optional Memorial) in most calendars, although some calendars observe it on 4 October (2001 Roman Martyrology) or 12 October. Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos is remembered as a compassionate and humble servant of God, committed to the spiritual well-being of others.