BLESSED FATHER FRANCIS SEELOS
INTERCEDE FOR US WITH GOD!

BEATIFICATION: APRIL 9, 2000--St Peter's Square, Vatican City

Speaking about Blessed Fr. Francis Xavier Seelos (1819-1867), whose feast-day will be October 5, the Holy Father said at the Beatification ceremony in Rome on April 9, 2000: 

3. "Give me again the joy of your help; with a spirit of fervor sustain me, that I may teach transgressors your ways and sinners may return to you" (Ps 51: 14-15). 

Faithful to the spirit and charism of the Redemptorist Congregation to which he belonged, Fr Francis Xavier Seelos often meditated upon these words of the Psalmist. Sustained by God's grace and an intense life of prayer, Fr Seelos left his native Bavaria and committed himself generously and joyfully to the missionary apostolate among immigrant communities in the United States.

In the various places where he worked, Fr Francis Xavier brought his enthusiasm, spirit of sacrifice and apostolic zeal. To the abandoned and the lost he preached the message of Jesus Christ, "the source of eternal salvation" (Heb 5: 9), and in the hours spent in the confessional he convinced many to return to God. Today, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos invites the members of the Church to deepen their union with Christ in the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist. Through his intercession, may all who work in the vineyard for the salvation of God's people be encouraged and strengthened in their task."

FROM THE HOLY FATHER'S ADDRESS TO THE PILGRIMS GATHERED IN ROME FOR THE BEATIFICATION--Monday, 10 April 2000

3. I gladly welcome the Bishops from the United States and Germany, as well as the members of the Redemptorist Congregation and all the pilgrims present for the beatification of Fr Francis Xavier Seelos. In his priestly ministry and missionary apostolate, Fr Francis Xavier was careful to discern the spiritual needs of the communities he served, and his dedication to preaching and the celebration of the sacraments brought many back to Christ.

In this Great Jubilee Year, may Blessed Francis Xavier's example inspire more young people to respond with generosity to Christ's call to take on the task of evangelization in the priesthood and religious life...