Seelos, FRANCIS X., b. at Füssen, Bavaria, January 11, 1819; d. at New Orleans, La., October 4, 1867. When a child, asked by his mother what he intended to be, he pointed to the picture of his patron, St. Francis Xavier, and said: “I’m going to be another St. Francis.” He pursued his studies in Augsburg and Munich, and entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, offering himself for the American mission; he arrived in America on April 17, 1843. The following year, May 16, 1844, he made his religious profession at the Redemptorist novitiate, Baltimore, and seven months later he was ordained by Archbishop Eccleston of Baltimore. He was assigned to St. James’s, Baltimore. In May, 1845, he was sent to Pittsburg, where he had as superior Yen. John Neumann. In 1851 Father Seelos was appointed superior of the Pittsburg community, where he labored untiringly for nine years. His confessional was constantly besieged by crowds of people of every description and class. It was said by many that he could read their very souls. From Pittsburg, he was transferred to St. Alphonsus’s, Baltimore, where he fell dangerously ill. On his recovery he was appointed prefect (spiritual director) of the professed students, and he succeeded in winning the love and esteem of all who’ were privileged to be under his spiritual guidance. In 1860 his name was proposed for the vacant See of Pittsburg, but humbly refused the honor. The year 1862 found him again at mission work. In 1866 he was summoned to Detroit, and in September of the same year to New Orleans, Louisiana. The cause of his beatification is in progress.
CORNELIUS J. WARREN