Day 3: Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
Ordained a priest in 1844, Father Seelos served at various parishes throughout the East Coast and the Midwest as a member of the Redemptorist community in the United Sates. In addition to mentoring seminarians for several years, he also spent a portion of his priesthood travelling throughout the United States preaching parish missions. He was an excellent preacher and his joyful personality helped many people find their way back to the Sacrament of Confession. Father Seelos spent endless hours in the Confessional and thousands of people experienced God’s mercy there through his gentleness. Father Seelos emphasized the importance of daily prayer, and the need to prioritize prayer even more than usual in times when we are busy, facing difficult temptations, or feel weak in faith.
During his travels, he preached at parishes in the Diocese of Toledo during the 1860s including: Saint Patrick Historic Parish in Toledo, Saint Francis de Sales Parish in Toledo, Sacred Heart Parish in Shelby, and Holy Trinity Parish in Bucyrus. In 1866, he became pastor of Saint Mary of the Assumption Parish in New Orleans where he focused his ministry on the poor. During that time there was a Yellow Fever epidemic in New Orleans. Father Seelos caught the deadly virus while serving the poor. He died on October 4, 1867 at age 48. While he is not yet canonized a saint, Pope John Paul II declared him “blessed” in 2000.
During the Mass declaring Father Seelos “blessed”, Pope John Paul II said this:
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.[1]
Questions for Reflection
Father Seelos taught that prayer is even more important than normal when we are stressed, overwhelmed, or doubting. How can you make more time for prayer in your daily routine as you face challenges created by COVID-19? What deeper questions have surfaced in your soul as you experience fear and anxiety because of this pandemic?
Teaching seminarians had an important place in the ministry of Father Seelos. How can you support the men from our diocese who are currently studying to become priests?
Prayer
Lord God,
You called Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos to serve the people of the United States with kindness and zeal. Inspire many men in our diocese to become priests. Strengthen seminarians to persevere in answering God’s call. Grant these men the grace to become effective preachers, gentle confessors, and joyful missionaries, especially to the poor and the forgotten. May their ministry help us experience your divine mercy in our lives.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, pray for us!
[1] Pope John Paul II, Homily of the Holy Father, April 9, 2000. Available online: https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/homilies/2000/documents/hf_jp-ii_hom_20000409_beatifications.html