BLESSED FRANCIS XAVIER SEELOS
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, born in Füssen, 11th
January 1819.His father was a Textile merchant and his son was baptised the same day as his birth.He was the 6th of 12 children born to Mang and Frances Schwarzenbach Seelos.He was named after St Francis Xavier. They lived at Spitalgasse 13, along from the Spitalkirche on the opposite side of the road.A plaque has been placed on the house to show he was born there and it's importance to Füssen.
The house where Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos was born.The plaque above is on the front of it.
When Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos was 11 years old his father became Sacristan of St Mang Basilica.This was due to the Industrial Revolution in the UK.The new textile process used there meant that Francis father could no longer make a living.By God's grace he found a job as sacristan of St Mang following the death of the previous sacristan.(3)
Francis noted all these things and later told his mother that their desperate plight had made him more understanding of the needs of others.He was always grateful that his mother prayed the rosary daily with the family.
House of the Sacristan of St Mang(Photo below)
Francis was confirmed before he made his 1st Holy Communion on 3rd September 1828.Nearly two years later at the age of 11,he made his 1st Holy Communion on the 2nd April 1830.
The boys school Francis attended between the age of 6 and 12 years was located on the second floor of this building.It now houses the Indoor Market on the ground floor.It was origionally called the "Kornhaus".It was then a marketplace for grain.Up 60 boys attended the school when Francis was there. It is located on the Corner of Schrannengaße and Brunnengaße.(2)
He made his basic education in Füssen before continuing his studies at the Institute of St Stephen in Augsburg.He graduated from there at the age of 20.He left Füssen for good at the age of 23. He then went to the University of Munich,where he completed his studies in Philosophy.
He entered the Diocesan seminary on 19th September 1842 and started his studies for the priesthood.He wasn't to stay there long.He met some Redemptorists and became very interested in their way of life and mission.They had been founded to evangelise the most abandoned and down-trodden.He was so taken by the charism of the order that he joined it on November 22nd 1842.He had joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer ,so as to be able to help the German speaking immigrants in the United States of America.Many had left Germany to travel there for a new life.When they got there,they found that there spiritual needs were not adequtely cared for.It was his longing to help them that eventually saw Francis leave Germany for America.On the Feast of St Patrick,March 17th 1843 he left the port of Le Havre,France.He never went to visit his family before departing,instead he informed them in a letter.
He arrived in New York on 20th April.
Francis always claimed from an early age that he had a vocation to become a priest.So it was, on the 22nd December 1844,having completed both his Noviciate and studies,he was ordained a Priest at the Redemptorist Church of St James,Baltimore,Maryland,USA.
A couple of months after his ordination he was posted to the Parish of St Philomena in Pittsburgh.He was to stay in this post for 9 years.His first Parish Priest was St John Neumann and he was Assistant Pastor under the Saint for 6 years.St John Neumann was Superior of the order.Francis took over as Superior and Pastor of the church for the next 3 years.He also became the Redemptorist Novice Master.
He had a great understanding and love for St John Neumann and the two of them preached many missions together.
It was in the Parish of Pittsburch that Blessed Seelos became renouned for healing the sick and suffering members of the community.He would go with them into the church and pray with them at the Lady Altar.He would then give them a blessing.Many cures were reported due to the prayers of the Blessed.
The teaching of the faith to children was one of the most important things he could do in his ministry.He strived at all times to do this so as to allow the Christian Church to grow in the community.He was kind and understanding and people travelled miles and waited hours to have him hear their confessions and be their Spiritual Director.It was claimed by many that Francis had the ability to read hearts.
He was transferred in 1854 to Baltimore and again in 1857 to Cumberland and in 1862,he was Rector to St Mary's Church and Novitiate, Annapolis,Maryland.
Throughout his life Francis had a great love for Our Lady.He asked his two unmarried sisters regulaly to pray for him at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Mountain(Frau am Berg Kirche).He told his brother that he had been told by Our Lady he was going to be a missionary in America.
Photo of the Frau Am Berg Kirche
All during this time he made confession easier for people.He could hear confessions in Deutsch,English & French,he also didn't worry about the colour of a man's skin.Anyone was welcome to come to this priest who lived a simple life and was able to communicate with all,no matter how life had treated them.His name was even put forward to be Bishop of Pittsburgh.He wrote personally to the Holy Father,Pope Paul IX saying he was not adequate to accept such an esteemed post.Francis was over-joyed when someone else was named to the post.
When he was in charge of St Peter & St Paul Parish in Cumberland and prefect of the Redemptorist seminarians he would often get them to sing his favourite hymn to Our Lady.
[Our Lady of Bavaria Shrine on the Calvary Mountain Meadow.(Photo Below)Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos had a great love for the Patron of his homeland State,Bavaria.This shrine was not built when he lived in Füssen.]
(More on Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos will follow)
He was Beatified by Pope John Paul 2 on 9th April 2000.Many members of the Füssen congregation made a pilgrimage to Rome to be there for the great occasion. He was reburied in St Mary's Assumption Church New Orleans in October 2000 after a funeral Mass at the Cathredral.On the way tos St Mary's he was Given a Police escort.(1)
Shrine of the Blessed Seelos in St Mang Basilica,Füssen.
More about Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos will follow soon
SPECIAL MASS TIMES IN BLESSED SEELOS SHRINE NEW ORLEANS 2008
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Seelos Birthday Healing Mass: Sunday January 13, 2008 at 1PM
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Seelos Day in New Orleans Mass: Sunday April 27, 2008 at 1PM (Luncheon following)
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Seelos Memorial Feast Day Mass: Sunday October 5, 2008 at 1PM (and Evening Gala)
ALTAR IN ESCHACH CHAPEL HAS BLESSED SEELOS RELIC
Eschach is a tiny hamlet situated at the top of a hill between Füssen and Hopfen am See.It enjoys magnificent views of the two towns as well as the beautiful Allgäuer Alps.
Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos may well have visited this small chapel which serves the local agricultural community.Mass is celebrated there twice yearly.Once in Spring and also in Autumn.
It has recently been renovated in record time by members of the local community under their own steam.
Many thanks must go to all who helped in the venture,especially the Sacristan of the Chapel,Mrs Irmi Reiss who helped co-ordinate the whole venture.
The whole of the chapel including pictures,walls and doors underwent a spring clean!
The altar of Eschach Chapel which has the relic of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos in it
On Monday 5th November 2007,Monsignor Karlheinz Knebel,Regional Dean and Parish Priest of Füssen,Hopfen & Weisensee celebrated Mass in the newly redecorated chapel and blessed it.
the Music was by Albert Frey on Horn and Petra Bader on Guitar.
Then followed a small procession to the Chapel.
When we reached the Chapel Monsignor blessed it with Holy Water.
Mass then continued inside the chapel which was full to overflowing.
After Mass