Historical Timeline of Blessed Seelos’ life

Seelos begins primary school at age 5 in the Volksschule, a one-room school for boys nicknamed “the old Kornhaus” because the first floor was previously the marketplace for the sale of corn to the townsfolk. Along with the standard studies, singing was a large part of Seelos’ school life. He was taught hymns and folk songs, enthusiastically sang at the children’s Mass, and learned to play violin. He retained a love of singing all his life.

Seelos receives his first Holy Communion “with very great devotion,” notes his sister, Antonia. Throughout his childhood, Seelos had displayed many signs of his calling to the priesthood, one of them being to “play priest” with his friends around a small altar he built at home. He was also an altar boy and helped his father in the local church, where he was “wholly in his element,” according to Antonia.

The first six Redemptorists arrive on U.S. soil from Vienna, Austria, to minister to the influx of German-Catholic immigrants who were without churches or German-speaking priests. They were the first to come to the United States and the first to undertake an overseas mission of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. For the first seven years, they suffered many hardships on the American frontier. | Shown above, illustration of New York City and the East River, 1848.

Seelos joins the Greater Latin Marian Confraternity, nourishing his devotion to Mary learned at home in his childhood. He is in good company, following in the footsteps of fellow members St. Alphonsus, St. Francis de Sales, St. Stanislaus, St. Peter Claver, St. Therese, St. Bernadette and many more.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), is canonized in Rome by Pope Gregory XVI.

Seelos begins attendance at Ludwig-Maximilian University at Munich, where he studies philosophy and, briefly, theology. In addition to singing and playing his violin, he also learns to fence and to dance, as is considered fitting for the formation of a well-educated young man of university status. His fellow student and friend, Anton Schirsner, said, “He liked to sing, and during the sung Mass he let his voice have full sway. Sometimes I said to him, ‘Seelos, don’t shout so loud,’ but to no avail. He didn’t pay any attention to me; he was completely carried away by the enthusiasm of his soul.” | Shown above, line engraving of Ludwig-Maximilian University at Munich by Gustav Seebergerafter. c 1840.

After finishing his philosophy studies at the University of Munich, Seelos attends their School of Theology for only one year. It was during this time that he decides to ask for admission into the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, wanting to become a missionary in the United States. It was taken for granted among his family that Seelos would become a priest, but they were not expecting that he would move across the ocean! During a vacation at home he reveals his decision to his father, who approves of his desire to pursue his calling in America but wisely promises not to say anything to his mother until necessary.

On the feast day of St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians, Seelos receives notification of his acceptance as a novice from Fr. Alexander Czvitkovicz, the superior of the Redemptorist mission in America. That feast day was ever afterward memorable to him, and he writes several poems in St. Cecilia’s honor.

After dashing off a short letter of farewell to his family 15 minutes before boarding the St. Nicholas, Seelos sets sail from Le Havre, France, bound for missionary life in the United States.

Seelos begins his year as a novice at St. James the Less. During a ceremony of investiture, he puts aside his secular clothing and begins wearing the distinctive Redemptorist habit. In a response to the celebrant’s question of what Seelos desires, he responds, “…I most humbly and earnestly beg Your Reverence that, despite my unworthiness of so great a favor you will, out of love for Jesus Christ, receive me as the least and most unworthy of all the brothers in this Congregation in which I hope with the aid of divine grace to persevere unto the end of my life.” | Shown above, a sketch of St. James the Less.

Seelos is ordained a priest at the Redemptorist Church of St. James in Baltimore, MD. He celebrates his first Mass as a priest three days later, on Christmas Day. In a letter home, he tells his family of his prayers during that Mass, “I certainly did include all of you in them and recommended you to him whom I had so closely before me and touched with my own hands… Holy Guardian Angels, tell it to them, so that they can share in the joy, share in my prayers, that I may not have the misfortune to be rejected as an unworthy dispenser of the mysteries of God.”

Seelos finally hears his first confessions. Although he had faculties to do so for more than two months, he does not think he is ready because of his imperfect knowledge of the English language. Moreover, in a letter home he says that he is not inclined to learn English! However, out of necessity he heard confessions in German, English and French, and of whites and blacks. He notes that his first time “turned out well… It was clearly a grace of God.” Indeed it must have turned out well; Seelos becomes a much-sought-after confessor for the rest of his life.

Seelos is assigned to St. Philomena parish in Pittsburgh as assistant pastor, under the guidance of Fr. John Neumann, who would eventually become St. John Neumann. Seelos says of Neumann, “He loved me as his own son. Above all, the example of his virtuous life is always before my eyes – his constant modesty, his great humility, and his all-conquering long-suffering.” | Shown above, a photo of St. John Neumann.

At twenty-eight years old and just three years after taking his own vows, Seelos is appointed novice master at St. Philomena’s. His appointment was short-lived – a mere 16 months – because the Superior of the American Mission decided that the novices should be under his watchful eye in Baltimore. But even though his stint as novice master was brief, Seelos had a lifelong effect on the novices entrusted to him, leading them by example and with gentle compassion. 

Twelve Redemptorists arrive in New York after a tempestuous sixty-two day trip trip across the Atlantic. They begin to preach a parish mission at St. Joseph’s Church, where they hear an estimated 6,000 confessions and give first holy Communion to 60 adults and 400 children. This is the first organized English mission in the country; it sparks a parish-mission movement that spreads across America, including St. Philomena parish where Seelos stood at the helm.

Seelos is granted his naturalization papers, becoming a U.S. citizen. | Shown above, Seelos’ Declaration of Intent for U.S. Citizenship, c. 1848.

Coming out of the confessional just before supper, as he stretches himself to get rid of the stiffness in his arms and legs, blood suddenly begins pouring out of Seelos’ mouth. He has suffered a violent hemorrhage and is hospitalized for 4 weeks. In true Seelos fashion, he says in a letter to his sister, Sr. Damiana, “You can see from this how fortunate I feel in this sickness, and how I truly consider it as one of the greatest gifts of grace from the Lord.” 

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 has created an “unhealthy situation” at the seminary. The man responsible for Seelos’ reassignment, Fr. Augustine Hewit, says, “The one whom I think best fitted for it is Fr. Seelos. He is a saint in spirituality, and an angel in sweetness.” Naturally, Seelos wins the hearts of everyone there almost immediately. Within a few months, the number of seminary students doubles. Fr. Mueller does not take this news very well. | Shown above, a sketch of the monastery and church at Cumberland by Fr. Louis Dold, the church’s second pastor (1851-1853).

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 states, “The only thing I have against Fr. Seelos is that he has not the judgement, wisdom, and reflection, the manner and method to direct the students in the spirit of the Congregation.” Seelos is devastated by his removal from office, but continues as rector and pastor of St. Mary’s parish. | Shown above, a photo of Fr. Michael Mueller.

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 “good confession” if they did not confess to him. Fr. Benedict Neithart, who attended many missions with Seelos, said, “Everybody flocked to him for confession, instruction, and consolation. Indeed, he became all unto all.” Fr. Thaddeus Anwander, another fellow missionary, relays this humorous anecdote: “He could not very plainly preach in English and one day trying his very best, an Irish lady remarked, though she understood very little what he said, ‘It does me good to see that holy priest struggle so hard.’” It seems everyone could relate to Blessed Seelos!

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. He replies, “For a year and then I will die of yellow fever,” which is exactly what will happen. Though this assignment is known to fellow Redemptorists as the most difficult and dangerous post in America, all the fathers and brothers who had known Seelos in the North often remark that he seems much happier than ever before. He declares, “Here I’ll rest my bones in the grave; for I think I have wandered enough.” | Shown above, St. Mary’s Assumption Church.

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 no one doubts that he would be up again soon. However, nine days later Seelos is still severely weak, exhausted and listless. Toward the third week, his mind begins to wander and deliriousness sets in, though he doesn’t suffer from fever. Through it all and in true Seelos fashion, he retains “a kind tone and a smiling face,” states Fr. Neithart. He continues, “Many a time did his heroic cheerfulness draw tears from our eyes.”