On 5 October, the Redemptorist family commemorates Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R., a humble Redemptorist missionary priest remembered for his joyful spirit, tireless pastoral care, and deep love for the poor and the sick. For the Redemptorist family, his memorial is a day of gratitude and inspiration, recalling how his missionary zeal embodied the charism of St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Francis Xavier Seelos was born on 11 January 1819 in Füssen, Bavaria (Germany). Drawn to the missionary spirit of the Redemptorists, he entered the congregation and was ordained a priest in 1844. Only weeks later, he sailed to the United States, leaving his homeland to serve the growing Catholic immigrant population.
He worked closely with St. John Neumann, serving first as curate and then as novice master in Baltimore. Known for his warmth and accessibility, Seelos became a trusted confessor and spiritual guide. His life, though brief—he died at age 48 from yellow fever in New Orleans in 1867—was filled with holiness and selfless service.
Blessed Seelos distinguished himself by his Pastoral Care.He tirelessly visited families, instructed children, and preached parish missions that drew crowds by his clarity and kindness. Secondly, he worked on the Formation of Priests. As novice master, he guided young Redemptorists with patience and wisdom, forming them in prayer, humility, and zeal for souls. Finally, his zeal for the ministry to the Sick. In Pittsburgh and New Orleans, he became known for his compassion toward the sick and dying, especially during outbreaks of epidemics.
His reputation for holiness grew not through dramatic deeds, but through his daily fidelity and approachable manner.
One of Seelos’s greatest contributions was his mission to immigrants in the United States. Speaking both German and English, he ministered especially to German-speaking Catholics who often felt isolated in their new homeland. He bridged cultures, defended the dignity of newcomers, and made the Church a place of welcome and hope.
Even today, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos is remembered as a “cheerful ascetic,” a man of joy who showed Christ’s mercy to all. His shrine in New Orleans remains a place of pilgrimage and healing.
Prayer in honor of Blessed Seelos
O God, who made your priest Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos
outstanding in love, that he might proclaim the mysteries of redemption
and comfort those in need,
grant, through his intercession,
that we may be zealous in your service
and joyful in bearing our daily cross.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
