Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos succumbs to yellow fever. Fr. Neithart writes of his passing moments, “Our dear dying Father remained conscious to his last breath. His lips continually moved in prayer. His eyes were fixed on the crucifix until they could see no more. A supernatural brightness appeared to illuminate his dying countenance. His joy, […]
Fr. Neithart recounts, “On the 17th of September, while the community was at table, it was noticed that Fr. Seelos looked unusually depressed, jaded, and pale. All perceived the clearest marks of the yellow fever about his eyes.” Innumerable prayers and Private Masses are said by thousands. After a few days, the fever breaks and […]
“That fatal monster” yellow fever arrives. 11 priests and brothers in the area are taken ill. Four will perish. Fr. Benedict Neithart is an eyewitness to the events in New Orleans. | Shown above, “En Route for Kansas – Fleeing from the Yellow Fever” sketch by H. J. Lewis.
After serving less than a year in Detroit, Seelos is transferred to St. Mary of the Assumption parish in New Orleans, Louisiana. A prophetic moment happens on the way to New Orleans. A Sister of Notre Dame who is on the same train asks him if he is going to stay long in the city. […]
Seelos is stationed, in his words, “only as a simple father” at St. Mary’s parish in Detroit, Michigan. His new superior, Fr. Francis van Emstede, says, “Fr. Seelos did everything willingly and cheerfully; that at all times he showed such a childlike and pious joyfulness and knew how to entertain everyone in his presence in […]
Seelos is appointed as superior of the parish mission band and departs from his beloved Annapolis, bound for missions across 10 states in 2 years. No matter where he goes, he is always sought out by clergy and the people alike. It is said that people seemed to think that they had not made a […]
As the Civil War rages on, it becomes Seelos’ duty as Redemptorist rector to keep the students (and himself) out of military service, which is against Redemptorist rules. In an effort to avoid the draft, Seelos consults with the provincial and the community, who decide to quickly ordain twenty of the twenty-three students. However, Seelos […]
Seelos is removed as prefect of students due to a series of negative and grossly inaccurate letters written to the Redemptorist superior general in Rome, chiefly by Fr. Mueller, who Seelos replaced as prefect in 1857. Seelos’ appointment apparently did not sit well with Mueller, who’s letters betrayed a smoldering vindictiveness toward his replacement. He […]
Because of the harsh weather in Cumberland, the Redemptorists decide to move the students to the milder climate of Annapolis, and their beloved prefect Seelos with them. He was delighted at this move, stating in a letter to his sister Antonia, “Annapolis is now so wonderful that it really is too beautiful for me.” He […]
Seelos’ joy of being appointed to St. Mary’s is short-lived. Only a month after arriving he is transferred to Cumberland, Maryland to become the superior and prefect of students at the Redemptorist seminary. This sudden change is due to multiple student criticisms about the current prefect, Fr. Michael Mueller, and his rigid, melancholy personality which […]