Final Essay UNIV 100 - Seelos PDF

Preview

Summary

This essay was required to pass my section of the UNIV 100 class for freshmen....

Description

University of Louisiana at Lafayette

Blessed Father Francis Xavier Seelos A Biography

Ada F. Tusa History of American Catholicism Professor Richard Fossey 19 October 2015

Tusa 1 Ada F. Tusa Professor Fossey History of American Catholicism 19 October 2015 Blessed Father Francis Xavier Seelos The influence of Father Francis Xavier Seelos deeply permeates the landscape of Catholicism both globally and locally. Being European but ultimately settling in Southern Louisiana, Father Seelos has showcased diversity but consistency by positively affecting many different populations in similar ways. It is said that Seelos “possessed great mystical gifts due to his intense prayer life” (www.seelos.org/index). Indeed, his cheerful, holy, perseverant passion for ministry makes him a “model for clergy, religious, and laity” today (www.seelos.org/index). Seelos was born on January 11, 1819, in Fussen, Bavaria, Germany, and he was baptized on the same day in the church of St. Magnus, known as St. Mang’s to the locals (seelos.org/lifebiography). His immediate baptism was due not to illness or concern, but because it was custom of the day (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). Fussen, which was composed primarily of farmers, stone masons, and wheat mill owners at the time, is a small town located sixty miles from the capital of Bavaria (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). Found in the heart of the town was the St. Mang Monastery, a Benedictine foundation in which the community was heavily involved; with fifteen hundred inhabitants of the town, almost ninety-nine percent of this population was Catholic (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). Seelos was born into a devout Catholic family that was led by a cloth maker father, Mang, and a housewife mother, Frances (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). His father was known

Tusa 2 as a hardworking, upright man, and his mother was a humble, selfless servant of her family and Creator (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). According to Hoegerl and von Stamwitz, “Francis would inherit his father’s joyful spirit as well as his quiet dignitiy.” Mang and Frances begot twelve children (three of which passed away in early infancy): Elizabeth, twins Mariana and Xaveria, Josephine, Ambrose, Francis Xavier, Antonia, Frances, Ulrich, Anna, Adam, and Kunigunda (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). In total, three entered religious life, three married, two remained single, and one died at the age of nineteen in a tragic incident (Hoegerl and von Stamwitz 6). Francis Xavier experienced some illness in his initial years; despite this, however, he displayed a strong sense of intelligence and virtue (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). Hoegerl and von Stamwitz share that Seelos suffered from severe intestinal pains and life-threatening worms. It is expressed that he suffered much but he was focused and competent nonetheless. A specific explanation of his religious aptitude, interestingly, includes a story from his childhood. In his early education, Francis Xavier was exposed to the lives of many saints, and one of the saints discussed was St. Francis Xavier (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). Upon exposure to this topic, young Seelos expressed, “I will be a Francis Xavier” (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). Seelos’s childhood home was an environment conducive to religious strength and spiritual growth: “Morning Mass, the thrice-daily recitation of the Angelus, and family spiritual reading after dinner were part of the daily routine” (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). The remainder of each day consisted of working for the parents and schooling for the younger children (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos).

Tusa 3 The Seelos family did not adopt a lavish lifestyle. They were indeed “poor but not destitute” (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). The industrial revolution, however, did hinder Mang’s ability to flourish economically because his trade was becoming obsolete (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). Over time, divine providence aided by allowing Mr. Seelos to be sacristan at St. Mang’s (catholicism.org/blessed-seelos). Francis Xavier was named after none other than St. Francis Xavier (Hoegerl and von Stamwitz 11). It is reported that Francis Xavier had “expressed a desire for the priesthood since childhood” (seelos.org/lifebiography). Furthermore, he had considered a vocation to the Jesuits in his teenage years (Hoegerl and von Stamwitz 11-12). In 1842, Seelos entered the diocesan seminary after studying philosophy (seelos.org/lifebiography). He then met with the missionaries at the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C.Ss.R) and decided to affiliate himself with them. The Redemptorists are an order of “Roman Catholic priests and lay brothers founded by St. Alfonso Maria de’Liguori at Scala, Italy, in 1732” (Britannica). With the Congregation, Seelos chose to chiefly serve the German-speaking immigrants who settled in the United States (seelos.org/lifebiography). Seelos was officially accepted into the Congregation on November 22, 1842 (seelos.org/lifebiography). He told his younger brother Adam that he would be leaving by expressing: “Today we will not study; last night the Blessed Mother told me that I’m to become a missionary in America” (Hoegerl www.seelos.org/lifearticle1). In spring of 1843, he sailed from Le Havre, France, to New York, where he focused on training as a novitiate and studying theology (seelos.org/lifebiography). His departure from his family deeply affected him emotionally, for he held intimate relationships with his parents and many siblings (Hoegerl

Tusa 4 www.seelos.org/lifearticle1). He chose to avoid a final goodbye by leaving behind a letter for his family instead (Hoegerl www.seelos.org/lifearticle1). In December of the following year, 1844, Seelos was ordained by Archbishop Samuel Eccleston in Baltimore, Maryland, in the Redemptorist Church of St. James (seelos.org/lifebiography). Once ordained, Father Seelos served St. Philomena’s parish in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for nine years (www.americancatholic.org). Here, he became the assistant pastor with St. John Neumann and later became Superior and pastor (www.americancatholic.org). In this community, he was known as an especially gifted confessor (Hoegerl www.seelos.org/lifearticle1). It is recorded that some parishioners waited hours to receive the sacrament from him (Hoegerl www.seelos.org/lifearticle1). One of Father Seelos’s primary missions was to instruct children in faith. He enjoyed helping the young ones of the community grow in Christianity (seelos.org/lifebiography). Although from 1854 to 1862 he was transferred to and from multiple places, including Baltimore, Cumberland, and Annapolis, he remained focused on this ministry as the Prefect of Students (seelos.org/lifebiography). He aspired to inspire the hearts of those who would potentially lead the future Redemptorist missionaries (seelos.org/lifebiography). It was St. John Neumann who inspired Seelos to preach so passionately (seelos.org/lifebiography). Seelos once said that Neumann “ha[d] introduced [him] to the active life” and “guided [him] as a spiritual director and confessor” (seelos.org/lifebiography). In 1860, Seelos was proposed as a candidate for Bishop of Pittsburgh, but he was given permission to be excused by Pope Pius IX (seelos.org/lifebiography). Instead, he dedicated himself to being a missionary in Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New

Tusa 5 York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin (seelos.org/lifebiography). He preached in both English and German countrywide (americancatholic.org). During the Civil War, Father Seelos led Redemptorist seminaries in Maryland (www.americancatholic.org). When a draft order was issued for seminarians to join the Union army, Seelos and another Redemptorist went to Washington, D.C., to appeal to President Lincoln for an exemption (Dawes and Nolan 57). According to Dawes and Nolan, “Lincoln met them kindly but gave no assurance of exemption.” Even the Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton, “admonished them to keep their young Irish Catholics in New York from rioting against the recently enacted draft laws” (Dawes and Nolan 57). Ultimately, some seminarians were drafted despite the Redemptorists’ efforts (www.americancatholic.org). In 1866, Father Seelos was sent to New Orleans, Louisiana, to serve in the growing Redemptorist community there (seelos.org/lifebiography). Upon his arrival to his new destination, he declared, “It is good to be here in the bright warm south… Here is my home … Here I’ll rest my bones … for I think I have wandered enough. I shall never leave New Orleans” (holymotherchurch.org). Indeed this is where God would end Father Seelos’s holy journey on earth. Here he became the pastor of St. Mary of the Assumption Church, the first German Catholic Church in both New Orleans and Louisiana, and actively cared for the poor and ill, especially those who were immigrants (seelos.org/lifebiography). Some claim that Seelos chose to serve the deprived and the sick simply because he himself was able to empathize (catholic.org/saints). The aforementioned suffering experienced in the early stages of his life could have indeed influenced his generosity with these individuals.

Tusa 6 In the month of September, unfortunately, Father Seelos contracted yellow fever after visiting numerous sufferers of the disease (seelos.ord/lifebiography). As he grew increasingly sick, the New Orleans newspaper posted daily updates on his health (catholic.org/saints). When the community heard of his passing on October 4, 1867, at the age of fourty-eight, many mourners came to St. Mary’s Assumption, despite the spreading disease and dangerous hurricane that threatened (catholic.org/saints). This depicts the true love with which the community cared for Father Seelos. Father Seelos possessed a deep devotion for the Blessed Sacrament as well an innately kind and generous character (Dawes and Nolan 58). He was well-known as a compassionate confessor because of his ability to understand and respond to others (seelos.org/lifebiography). Furthermore, he was able to make the sacrament of Confession peaceful, pleasing, and purposeful (Hoegerl www.seelos.org/lifearticle1).His simple lifestyle and availability for others attracted several individuals to visit him from neighboring towns (seelos.org/lifebiography). Seelos preached relatable sermons that were “understood even by everyone, regardless of education, culture, or background” (seelos.org/lifebiography). People truly believed that he was capable of reading hearts (Hoegerl www.seelos.org/lifearticle1). On April 9th of the Solemn Jubilee Year 2000, Father Seelos, among four others, was declared “Blessed” by Pope John Paul II in Vatican City (seelos.org/beatification). According to Seelos.org, he was the sole North American beatified during that year. At the ceremony, Archbishop Francis B. Schulte of New Orleans shared a biography of Blessed Francis Seelos, and many parishioners from St. Mary’s Assumption and Redemptorists alike were in attendance (seelos.org/beatification). It is reported that the event was very emotional for those who had

Tusa 7 longed for his beatification (seelos.org/beatification). This event indicates that Seelos is now only one step away from Sainthood. Today, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos continues to possess a wide influence in the Catholic Church, where he “invites the members of the Church to deepen their union with Christ in the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist” (seelos.org/beatification). Blessed Father Seelos’s feast day is October 5 (seelos.org/lifebiography). St. Mary’s Assumption Church contains the National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos (neworleansonline.com). The Shrine displays many artifacts that help to keep the history of this beautiful Catholic alive, including portraits, tapestries, photographs, statues, relics, and even his original cast-iron casket (neworleansonline.com). The remains of Father Seelos are also kept there in a sacred reliquary (neworleansonline.com). The church is still thriving, and it is known for its “distinctive European baroque flavor” (neworleansonline.com). Indeed, the confessionals that Father Seelos utilized more than one hundred years ago are still present today (neworleansonline.com). Father Seelos shared great wisdom during his time here on earth. One of his simply expressed but beautifully relevant thoughts follows: “Think always on the shortness of life and on the eternal happiness that we will enjoy in glory and contentment, which now we cannot even imagine" (seelos.org/lifewritings). He also expressed that "we must strive to embrace the crosses which God sends us with a willing, even joyful heart" (seelos.org/lifewritings). Dawes and Nolan wrote that “Father Seelos that if we want to be very happy, we must try to be very holy.” It is evident that Father Seelos consistently sought to improve the faithfulness and hopefulness of others. The following notions come from Seelos’s Top Ten Practical Guide to Holiness :

Tusa 8 1. Go to Mass with deepest devotion. 2. Spend a half hour to reflect upon your main failing & make resolutions to avoid it. 3. Do daily spiritual reading for at least 15 minutes, if a half hour is not possible. 4. Say the rosary every day. 5. Also daily, if at all possible, visit the Blessed Sacrament; and toward evening, meditate on the Passion of Christ for a half hour. 6. Conclude the day with evening prayer & an examination of conscience over all the faults & sins of the day. 7. Every month make a review of the month in confession. 8. Choose a special patron every month & imitate that patron in some special virtue. 9. Precede every great feast with a novena, that is, nine days of devotion. 10. Try to begin & end every activity with a “Hail Mary.” In conclusion, Blessed Father Seelos led a life of compassionate service and wholehearted hope. He provided spiritual healing while maintaining a positive disposition. In today’s fast-paced modern-day society, individuals become all too absorbed in insignificant troubles instead of striving to adopt Father Seelos’s pleasant and cheerful attitudes toward life. When stressful and despairing situations threaten, epidemics and disasters linger, and unfriendliness and suffering remain, it is important to remember the positivity of Seelos’s life and the strength of God’s love, which can overcome any obstacle.

Tusa 9

Bibliography "American Wonderworker, The Life and Miracles of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos." Catholicismorg . N.p., 22 Oct. 2004. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. "Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online." Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos – Saints & Angels - Catholic Online . N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. "Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org." Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org . N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2015. "Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos C.Ss.R." Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos C.Ss.R. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2015. "Catholic Church Teachings and Current Events. Baton Rouge, LA." Catholic Church Teachings and Current Events. Baton Rouge, LA. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2015. Dawes, Dorothy, and Charles E. Nolan. Religious Pioneers: Building the Faith in the

Tusa 10 Archdiocese of New Orleans . New Orleans, LA.: Archdiocese of New Orleans, 2004. Hoegerl, Carl, and Alicia Von. Stamwitz. A Life of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos: Redemptorist, 1819-1867. Liguori, MO: Liguori, 2000. Print. Hoegerl, Carl, C.Ss.R. "America’s Forgotten Saint." Seelos.org  (n.d.): n. pag. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. "National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos Www.seelos.org." National Shrine of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos . N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Oct. 2015. Nolan, Charles E., and Frank J. Methe. Splendors of Faith: New Orleans Catholic Churches, 1727-1930. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State UP, 2010. Print. "Redemptorist". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.  Encyclopædia  Britannica Inc., 2015. Web. 15 Oct. 2015....