“Oh, come without fear or trembling! I promise to receive you with all gentleness.”

Portrait of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos

Preacher, Miracle Worker, Friend

The heroic and miraculous religious life of the “Cheerful Ascetic” Redemptorist Father Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R. (1819-1867) inspires legions of the clergy, religious, laity and specifically those seeking a miracle of healing throughout the world.

Beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2000, Fr. Seelos possessed great mystical gifts due to his life of intense prayer and penance. His innate kindness, understanding and dedication to the needs of the faithful from all walks of life makes him an outstanding model for those in religious life and laity alike. As a missionary preacher and lifelong friend of the poor and destitute, Seelos was a spiritual father to tens of thousands, giving counsel and hearing the confessions of all who came to him. Despite his untimely death at age 48, so profound was his apostolic zeal that sickness, persecution, and even the upheaval caused by civil war could not stop him.

Learn more about Bl. Seelos | Visit the Shrine

Praise & Thanksgiving

When I was diagnosed with Melanoma, a friend gave me a Blessed Seelos candle and prayer card. I lit the candle and prayed everyday for a successful surgery. My cancer is now gone and the PET scan did not show any other spots. Thank you God and Blessed Seelos!

My wife underwent gallbladder surgery and the surgeon nicked her colon. 24 hours later she was in severe sepsis. She was admitted to intensive care and sedated for two weeks. During that period, a friend sent me a relic of Fr. Seelos which I pinned to my wife’s bedding asking for his intercession. The doctor told me that her survival was precarious. One week later, that same doctor looked at her and declared, “It’s a miracle,”and I believe he was right.

My daughter went to the ER with acute symptoms of abdominal pain and blood in her urine. It was presumed she had kidney stones. After taking her to surgery twice in five days, a CT scan revealed a large mass in her kidney, thought to be renal cancer. A family member asked her prayer group to pray to Blessed Seelos for his intercession and for healing. In a third surgery, the kidney was removed. Pathology revealed that a vessel had ruptured and there was a large blood clot – NO TUMOR and NO CANCER. We attribute this to Blessed Seelos’ intercession.