Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos


Last weekend Anthony and I made a little excursion to New Orleans where we we had some delicious beignets and cafe au lait at Cafe du Monde, walked through the French Quarter, visited St. Louis Cathedral, and most importantly, got a peek into the life of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.  He was a German priest who came over to America during the Yellow Fever Epidemic and gave his life helping those afflicted with the disease, even until it eventually took his own life.  You can read more about him at http://www.seelos.org/.

His remains are housed in St. Mary's Assumption Church.  Read more about this gorgeous church here.

I couldn't get enough of the super-ornate, arched ceiling...incredible!

This is where Blessed Francis' remains lie and also where many people quietly kneel and pray for his intercession to our Heavenly Father.  Two prayers are better than one you know, especially if Blessed Francis is pullin' for you.  :)

This is the sternum bone of Blessed Francis.  The bone closest to his heart.


This is a glass-enclosed display in the museum dedicated to Blessed Francis showing a little of the history associated with Yellow Fever and what was thought of it during his time.  We thought the antique bottles of quinine and other medicine they used to treat the disease were so cool.  History is incredible!


Saints are one of the many treasures of the Catholic Church and hopefully one day Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos will be officially regarded as one.  There are many saints today - a saint being a someone who is recognized by the Church to have lived a life of heroic virtue and charity and, because of the life he/she lived, is now believed to be in heaven.  To read more about the process of officially declaring someone a saint, go here.  To read about the lives of other saints, go here.  If you don't understand the Catholic Church's teaching on saints or other subjects, find out more here, ask questions here, or read the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  Many miracles have been performed both during and after the lives of these amazing people, so ask for their intercession in anything!  The Lord hears their prayers along with yours and will seldom refuse any request from an open heart!  Just make sure you are open to the will of God and remember that His plan might be a little different than the one you had in mind!  :)


 

4 comments

  1. Excellent post about Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos.Thanks for sharing the photos and the wonderful commentary about your visit and what interested you both.

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  2. Thank you Myke! We were blessed to be able to go! The next post about him, down the road, will be one of prayers answered. :)

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  3. I pray they will be answered for you and look forward to reading and hearing about it.
    http://seelosinfuessen.eucharisticrenewal.org/

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  4. I know about relics of Saints, but displaying Bl. Francis Seelos' breast bone seem rather disrespectful of the body of the deceased. Other than that I really enjoyed your story! I'm originally from La and hope to make a pilgramidge to New Orleans soon to see Bl Seelos' Shrine!
    My parents and I are praying to Bl Francis Seelos for my daughter's Ankylosing Spondylitis. Not necessarily a cure but a relief of her pain and debilitating fatigue.
    I have it also as it is hereditary. But my disease is in remission and I pray for my daughter to go into remission.

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