Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, saint of 12 October 2020

The story of Blessed Francesco Saverio Seelos

Zeal as a preacher and confessor also led Father Seelos to works of compassion.

Born in southern Bavaria, he studied philosophy and theology in Munich. After hearing about the work of Redemptorists among German-speaking Catholics in the United States, he came to this country in 1843. Ordained in late 1844, he was assigned for six years to St. Philomena's parish in Pittsburgh as an assistant to St. John Neumann. Over the next three years, Father Seelos was superior in the same community and began his service as novice master.

Several years followed in the parish ministry in Maryland, along with responsibility for the formation of Redemptorist students. During the civil war Fr. Seelos went to Washington, DC, and appealed to President Lincoln not to enlist those students for military service, although some eventually were.

For several years he preached in English and German throughout the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. Assigned to the community of the Church of St. Mary of the Assumption in New Orleans, Fr. Seelos served his Redemptorist brethren and parishioners with great zeal. In 1867 he died of yellow fever, having contracted that disease while visiting the sick. He was beatified in 2000. The liturgical feast of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos is October 5.

Reflection

Father Seelos worked in many different places but always with the same zeal: to help people to know the love and compassion of God. He preached the works of mercy and then engaged in them, even risking his own health.