Francis Xavier Seelos facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedFrancis Xavier Seelos CSsR |
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| Religious, priest and missionary | |
| Born | January 11, 1819 Füssen, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Confederation |
| Died | October 4, 1867 (aged 48) New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church (United States & Redemptorists) |
| Beatified | April 9, 2000, Vatican City, by Pope John Paul II |
| Major shrine | National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, St. Mary's Assumption Church, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States |
| Feast | October 5 |
Francis Xavier Seelos (born January 11, 1819 – died October 4, 1867) was a kind German priest. He belonged to a group called the Redemptorists. He became a missionary and traveled to the United States to help people. Later in his life, he went to New Orleans to care for people sick with yellow fever. He sadly caught the disease himself and passed away.
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Early Life and Becoming a Priest
Francis Xavier Seelos was born in Füssen, a town in what was then the Kingdom of Bavaria. This was on January 11, 1819. He was one of 12 children in his family. On the same day he was born, he was baptized at the Parish Church of St. Mang.
He went to middle school in Augsburg and finished in 1839. After that, he studied philosophy at a university in Munich. From a young age, Francis wanted to become a priest. So, in 1842, he joined a seminary to study for the priesthood.
Francis read letters in a Catholic newspaper called Sion. These letters were from Redemptorist missionaries. They talked about how many German-speaking immigrants in the United States needed spiritual help. After visiting the Redemptorists, he decided to join them. He wanted to become a missionary in America.
He was accepted by the Redemptorists in November 1842. The next year, on March 17, he sailed from France. He arrived in New York on April 20, 1843. After finishing his studies, Francis was ordained a priest on December 22, 1844. This happened at the Redemptorist Church of St. James in Baltimore, Maryland.
Working as a Missionary in America
After becoming a priest, Father Seelos worked for nine years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He served at St. Philomena Parish. At first, he was a curate (an assistant priest) to John Neumann, who was in charge of the Redemptorist community there. Later, Father Seelos became the leader himself and then the pastor for three years.
During this time, he also taught new Redemptorist members. He and John Neumann often preached missions together. Father Seelos said that Neumann taught him how to live an active life as a priest. He also said Neumann was a great spiritual guide.
People described Father Seelos as a tall, kind, and dignified man. He had a friendly and open face. Even though he was from Germany, he spoke English very well.
Helping People as a Confessor
Father Seelos was known for being kind and understanding. He quickly became famous as a great confessor and spiritual director. People traveled from far away to see him. His confessional was open to everyone. He said, "I hear confessions in German, English, French, of Whites, and of Blacks."
He lived a simple life and spoke in a way that everyone could understand. His sermons were full of Bible stories and were easy for even the simplest people to follow. Father Seelos was known for always having a smile and a generous heart. He especially cared for those who were in need or felt left out.
Teaching Children and Leading Parishes
One of Father Seelos's most important jobs was teaching children about faith. He loved this work and believed it was key for Christian communities to grow.
In 1854, he became the pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Baltimore. In 1857, he moved to Cumberland, Maryland, to lead Sts. Peter and Paul Church. Then, in 1862, he became pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Annapolis.
As a leader for students, he was always a kind and happy pastor. He carefully looked after his students and made sure they learned their faith well. Most importantly, he wanted to inspire these future missionaries. He taught them to be excited, willing to make sacrifices, and eager to help people.
In 1860, Father Seelos was considered to become the Bishop of Pittsburgh. But Pope Pius IX allowed him to be excused from this big responsibility. From 1863 to 1866, he traveled as a missionary. He preached in English and German in many states, including Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.
In October 1865, Father Seelos preached a special two-week mission at St. Mary of Victories Church in St. Louis, Missouri. This church now has a small shrine in his honor. It also has a special item called a first-class relic, and one of the few known death masks of Father Seelos.
After working for a year in Detroit, Michigan, Father Seelos was sent to New Orleans in 1866. He became the pastor of the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption.
His time in New Orleans was short. In September, he became very tired from visiting and caring for people who were sick with yellow fever. He caught the disease himself. After several weeks, he passed away on October 4, 1867. He was 48 years old.
Honoring Father Seelos
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Father Seelos's writings about faith were approved in 1912. This meant that the process to recognize him as a saint could begin. He was given the title Servant of God.
On April 9, 2000, Pope John Paul II declared Father Seelos "Blessed" in St. Peter's Square. This is an important step towards becoming a saint. In his speech, the Pope said that Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos encourages people to feel closer to Christ through the sacraments of Penance (confession) and the Eucharist (Holy Communion). He also hoped that Father Seelos would inspire all who work for God's people.
Father Seelos is remembered in the Martyrology (a list of saints and blessed people) on October 5.
The National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos is located in St. Mary's Assumption Church in New Orleans. This church was the first German Catholic Church in New Orleans and Louisiana. The Shrine has the official picture of Father Seelos used for his beatification. It also has photos showing his life as a missionary. The most important part of the Shrine is a special container called a sacred reliquary. This holds the remains of Father Seelos. St. Mary's Church is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Another church, the historic St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in New Orleans, was renamed Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Catholic Church in his honor. Also, after two Catholic elementary schools in Wexford, Pennsylvania, joined together, the new school was named Blessed Francis Seelos Academy.
