June - Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos

National Shrine of
Blessed Francis
Xavier Seelos
In the Redemptorist Church
of Saint Mary’s Assumption
Volume LIII
Number 6
919 Josephine Street
www.seelos.org
New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 525-2495
June 2014
ake her known!
In 1866—the year that Father Seelos was transferred to New
Orleans—Pope Pius IX entrusted the original Icon of Our Mother
of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists for public veneration in
the Church of Saint Alphonsus in Rome. The Holy Father asked the Redemptorists
to “make her known to the world.” Pius IX himself did all in his power to foster
devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help: he established the Feast in her honor
on June 27; he inaugurated the Archconfraternity of Our Lady of Perpetual Help
and placed Saint Alphonsus Liguori first among its members. In 1874, authentic
reproductions of the Icon were made in Rome; one of the first four to arrive in
America was received in New Orleans. A Redemptorist in New Orleans records on
December 8, 1874: “The new painting of Our Lady of Perpetual Help from Rome was
solemnly carried in procession in St. Alphonsus’ Church, and from that moment exposed
to the veneration of the faithful. Numbers are seen kneeling before it every day,
and I have no doubt but that our dear Mother rewards their piety.” Redemptorists
have certainly embraced the appeal of Pius IX in making her known; consequently, Our
Mother of Perpetual Help is now one of the most beloved images of Mary worldwide.
“We arrived in Rome. . . . First we went to Saint Mary Major and then to the church of Saint Alphonsus where
there is a picture of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a title that suits the blessed Virgin so well! We need her
perpetual help so much, we who are so weak and stumbling! For a long time now, and particularly for the last
three years, I have been under her special protection. This is how it happened: three years ago I had many
difficulties regarding my interior life—fears, anxieties, periods of darkness: I wanted to serve God, I was
afraid of offending him, I couldn’t see things straight, I suffered; so I placed myself with all my heart under the
protection of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. I implored her to guide my footsteps as she had guided those of the
Infant Jesus, and to lead me in all things in Jesus Christ; in such a way as to console as much as I could the heart
of Jesus that sees and loves us. So it was very sweet for me to stand beneath the picture of our so dear and good
Mother on my very first day, in my very first hour. Need I say that I commended you to her from all that is best
in my heart, and I said for you as much as for myself, ‘Our Lady of Perpetual Help, grant me your all powerful help
and the grace always to ask for it.’” —Blessed Charles de Foucauld, in a letter dated November 8, 1896.
M aking H im k nown
Nationally recognized artist,
Nicholas Markell (right), was
recently commissioned to write
the Icon of Bl. Seelos for
Saint John the Baptist Catholic
Church in Savage, MN. The
unveiling & blessing of the
Icon will occur on Pentecost,
June 8. Father Michael Tix
(left), pastor of St. John’s,
& Brother Bruce Davidson
C.Ss.R. (center), apply their
artistic touch in the studio.
message fro m th e ed i to r
According to Joan Barthel in her new book, American Saint:
The Life of Elizabeth Seton (St. Martin’s Press, 2014), the
requirement of miracles in the saint-making process is more controversial
than the time, expense, and politics involved. She quotes an unnamed
theologian in Rome: “To what extent is our asking for these jack-in-the-box
signs the same kind of sin that Jesus condemned when he told the people,
‘You’re always asking for signs!’ The argument for Pope John XXIII is that
he created such love around him, his whole life was a kind of miracle. Isn’t
it rather macabre now to ask him to start curing polio cases?” Barthel
also provides an alternate viewpoint on the necessity for miracles by an
unnamed priest who worked for the Elizabeth Seton cause: “We don’t want
to force God’s hand; we just want him to keep us from making a big mistake.”
A miracle was needed to beatify Pope John XXIII in the year 2000; a
second miracle was waived to canonize him in May of this year. Perhaps
the argument that his whole life was a kind of miracle sufficed. This of
course begs the inevitable question for all causes of nonmartyrs: if now
only one approved miracle prevents the Church “from making a big mistake”
in the candidate’s beatification, could that holy person’s whole life be seen,
in and of itself, as a kind of miracle for canonization?
In the last several decades the number of miracles (medical cures)
needed in the canonization process has been reduced from four to two;
one alone can suffice when a holy person like Pope John XXIII is so widely
venerated. Should the Church then eliminate altogether the millenniumold requirement of miracles? While no doubt enticing, if this inexplicable
supernatural component were entirely removed, would not the saint-making
process largely become an enterprise of the “human dimension” — namely,
a matter of tenacity, finances, and politics? To paraphrase Saint John
Paul II: duly verified extraordinary healings are like a “divine seal” on the
sanctity of the candidate and “a sign of God” that legitimizes the cult.
What if the Church instead applied the requirement of only one miracle
to all causes? If so, our arduous task in finding that additional miracle
needed for Seelos’ canonization would be eliminated. However enticing that
may be, I am confident that Seelos and others will stand up to the usual
scrutiny and process over time. While it’s the sum of all the saint-making
parts, the particular component of validating posthumous medical cures in
the overall process can help assure the faithful that “saints have earned
their haloes” when seeking their intercession! Admittedly, we can already
speak from personal experience about the powerful intercession of Blessed
Seelos, and we can believe that he is already a saint — but until God wills it,
it is far better not to force God’s hand!
Byron Miller, C.Ss.R.
Pope John Paul II at the April 9, 2000
Seelos beatification ceremony with
Redemptorist Postulator General,
Reverend Antonio Marrazzo.
“There is no Redemptorist, priest or
Brother, present in time or departed
from it, who has not loved our Lady
and led others to this love as well.
And since the sacred image was given
into our keeping in 1866, every son
of Saint Alphonsus has seen in the
Perpetual Help picture a fulfillment
of our founder’s prophetic guarantee
that the Mother of God will ever
cherish every member of the
Congregation.”
—Fr. Thomas H. Cosgrove, C.Ss.R.
Seelos Center Services

Pilgrimages to Seelos Shrine &
Museum. Call Center: 504-525-2495,
Open Mon-Fri, 9 to 3; Sat, 10 to 3:30.
 Daily Prayer Message 504-586-1803
 Blessings of the Sick with a Seelos
Crucifix in designated area hospitals:
East Jefferson
Gerry Heigle:
504-482-4404
Teresa LaCour: 504-887-0214
Ochsner (Kenner)
Linda DiMaggio:
504-287-8732
B. J. Chauvin:
504-427-5469
Ochsner (Jefferson)
Mark/Monica Surprenant 504-895-5371
Marie Giorlando
504-568-0522
Earl Moraga
504-428-5141
Uptown/Innercity
Dennis Waldron:
504-442-6336
Westbank
Darren Harris:
504-834-6722
Mary Grace Orsag:
504-367-7515
Abbeville/Erath/Lafayette
Boniface ‘Boni’ Suire: 337-937-5675
Alexandria
Deacon Bill /Joan Travis: 318-664-7069
Baton Rouge
Gloria Bacque: 225-753-3800
Bogalusa
Mary Haaga: 985-735-1056
Covington
Dr. Ann Logarbo:
985-886-0218
April Mayo:
985-892-1828
Denham Springs
Kathy Newcomb: 225-665-1924
Houma/Thibodaux
Dan Montz, L.P.C.:
985-446-1805
Iota
Anne Ritter: 337-254-8451
Lacombe/Abita Springs
Billy Bachemin: 985-288-7006
Lake Charles
Lisa Verrette:
337-274-4810
Mandeville
David Brumfield: 985-886-9235
Lisa & Eric Johnsen:
985-276-4445
Mississippi
C. Corolla (Carriere): 601-916-4233
New Iberia/Abbeville/Jeanerette
Rachel Gonsoulin: 337-224-7855
Opelousas
Suzanne Pitre:
337-351-8489
Ponchatoula/Hammond
Gasper Corpora:
225-294-5938
Prairieville/Gonzales
M/M Claude Bourgeois 225-673-6688
Shreveport/Bossier City
Tom & Marjorie Rivers: 318-797-3116
Slidell
Mary Jo Stewart:
985-502-9033
St. Bernard/Arabi
Patricia Noote: 504-756-4163
Seelos Center Devotionals
Purgatory-The Forgotten Church:
New 85-min. HD-DVD documentary
questions, Is purgatory real? Can the
living help alleviate the anguish of the
dead? (Donation: $25, incl.p/h)
2014 Annual Appeal - Statement of Intent
 Yes, Father Byron, I am able to support the Seelos Shrine and
Canonization Cause through my prayers.
 Yes, I want to support the cause of Blessed Francis Seelos in gratitude
for Graces Received & Prayers Answered. $_______ to be used for this
specific need:
Seelos, The Cumberland Years:
Fr. Burkey’s 92-pg. account of how  the ministry at the National Shrine of Bl. Francis Seelos.
Seelos retained his prayerful & play-  “Extreme Makeover” Phase of the Seelos Shrine & Museum.
ful spirituality, despite trials in Mary-  other item(s) designated below:
THANK YOU!
land. (Donation: $19 - incl. p/h)
____________________________________
Please cut & return to:
3rd Class Relic Cross: 4” wooden ____________________________________
National Shrine of
crucifix touched to Seelos’ original
Bl. Francis X. Seelos
919 Josephine Street
cross & touched to a rare hair clipping Name _____________________________
New
Orleans, LA 70130
preserved at the time of his death in
1867. (Donation: $10, incl. p/h)
Address ___________________________________________
Statue of Bl. Seelos, Roman Inc.
City ______________________ ST ____ ZIP _____________
exclusive 8-1/4” in bronze tone, fine
detail, resin-stone mix. (Donation:  Visa  Mastercard  Discover
$38 - incl. p/h)
__ __ __ __
__ __ __ __
__ __ __ __
__ __ __ __
Job’s Tears Rosary with color
image of Seelos as divider medal. Exp. Date: __ __ /__ __
 A gift of $100 allows our
Great gift idea! ($18 - includes p/h) Last 3 digits on signature line: __ __ __
hospital blessers to distribute
complimentary rosaries and
American Miracle-Worker: 60-min. Signature:
other spiritual items to the
“Journeys of Faith” DVD by Bob
sick & bedridden.
& Penny Lord; as seen on EWTN ______________________________
(Donation: $23 - incl. p/h)
 A gift of $50 supports the
Seelos, Tireless Intercessor,
68-min. documentary on Seelos’
miraculous life; as seen on EWTN.
(Donation: $25 for DVD - incl. p/h)
Seelos Scapular: B&W images of
Seelos & Mother of Perpetual Help,
each measuring approx. 3/4” on cord
necklace. (Donation: $11 - incl p/h)
Seelos Oil, in 1/2 oz. amber bottle
for use when praying over people
for healing; to bless family, homes,
objects. (Donation: $6 - incl. p/h)
Special $20 offering to
enroll fathers, living or
deceased, in Perpetual
Mass League only during
the month of June in honor
of Father’s Day!
annual Bl. Seelos Scholarships
awarded to qualified
students in the New Orleans
Archdiocese.
 Due to Postal Service price
increases, a gift of $12 helps
defray the cost of printing
& mailing this newsletter for
one year.
Special $10 offering to enroll
fathers in One-Year Mass League.
 A gift of $500 will advance
the current renovation of
the Seelos Shrine & Seelos
The Seelos Center fully & solely
Museum, constructed in the
assumes that which is necessary for
years 2000 & 1986, respectively.
the canonization of Bl. Seelos &
Our gift to you in return is a
Seelos Medals: Made of nickel silver,
it maintains a national shrine
recently published Seelos biography.
to house his sacred remains
round 3/4” dia. with loop, antique
Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery.
A monthly newsletter for friends of
BL. FRANCIS X. SEELOS
Denver Provincial Superior:
Very Rev. Harry Grile, C.Ss.R.
Seelos Center Executive Director / Editor:
Rev. Byron Miller, C.Ss.R.
Seelos Center Administrators: Joyce Bourgeois,
Olivia Bourgeois, Nick Punch, Maureen Vicknair
Vice-Postulators: Frs. John Vargas & Byron Miller
 Seelos
2nd & 3rd-Class Relics/ Seelos
Pamphlets & Prayer Cards in English,
Spanish, Vietnamese. Call Seelos Center,
504-525-2495 or 2499.
Seelos Center News
and embody his spirit
in ministry and outreach.
finish, finely crafted in the U.S. (Donation: $4 each or 2/$6 - incl. p/h)
 A Seelos Vigil Candle will burn near his
sacred resting place in Seelos Shrine, New
Orleans, for a $3 offering.
Please consider the National Shrine of
Blessed Francis Seelos
for your employer matching gift program.
Fed. Tax ID #72-0576253
Seelos Center News (USPS 4472) published monthly
by the Redemptorists / National Shrine of Bl. F.X. Seelos
Subscription is $12 per year.
The Seelos Shrine is a member of the National Assoc.
of Shrine & Pilgrimage Apostolate (NASPA)
sulphur, la
In 2012, my 2-1/2 year old granddaughter
had removed her seat belt and landed on
her head when she fell out of a non-moving
vehicle. She suffered an arachnoid cyst on
the left temporal lobe of her brain. A fellow
parishioner told me about Bl. Seelos and
we visited the Seelos Center. I started to
pray daily for Seelos’ intercession for her.
On her surgery date in 2013, the doctor
told us that he would have to make a 3 cm.
hole in her skull near her left ear to locate
the cyst and place fenestations in the cyst
to drain the fluid out of it. Everything went
smoothly and she has recovered rapidly.
Her brain structures have returned to
normal. My prayer every day is in thanksgiving to Bl. Seelos for guiding the hands of
the surgeon and for watching over Haylee
during her recovery. I also dedicate her to
Bl. Seelos and ask him to watch over and
protect her throughout her life.
harvey, la
I asked for three favors: to help stop and
control my panic attacks and nervousness
during the days prior to my operation; for
a successful operation and recovery; to be
found cancer-free during my three months
after the operation. All favors asked of
Father Seelos were granted!
austin, tx
When our son, Henry, was three he needed
surgery to cut his fingers apart. The fingers
on each hand had completely webbed
together. The question was whether new
skin around each finger would grow under
the bandages. When visiting New Orleans
we were told about a healing shrine and
a Redemptorist priest, Bl. Seelos. We
TESTIMONIALS
visited the shrine and asked for healing.
Immediately, a lovely group of people
at the shrine gathered and prayed for
Henry. When the doctor removed the
bandages, he used the word “miracle”!
When successful, this surgery is supposed
to last eighteen months. Henry’s hands are
still functioning. He is twelve and still has
his genetic disease, Epidermolysis Bullosa.
He plays the bells at his school. All of his
fingers and toes have grown together, but
he can handle the bells and loves it! (I’m
also asking God to give Henry the cheerful
and enthusiastic personality of Fr. Seelos;
this prayer is being answered!)
libby, mt
I was happy to visit the Seelos Shrine for
the fourth time, and to pray the rosary in
front of the Seelos tomb for the first time.
This was my husband’s first visit; my
sister and brother agreed to come, and
I am especially thankful for my brother’s
special return to the Catholic faith, after an
absence of almost thirty-five years.
terrytown, la
In 1979 I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C
and cirrhosis of the liver and was placed on
the transplant list. Transplants are based
on the Meld Score and mine was too high.
I asked Fr. Seelos to aid in lowering it and
to intercede for me if possible in avoiding a
transplant. I have been tested for Hepatitis
C several times and it can no longer be
detected. My health has remained steady
and my Meld Score is too low to remain on
the transplant list. I am still considered a
high risk patient and not a good candidate
for surgery, but I know with the assistance
I receive from Bl. Seelos, I may never
need surgery. I continue to attend all the
Seelos healing Masses and truly believe
it is through his intervention that I am still
alive to offer my prayers and gratitude.
briarcliff, tx
I first met Fr. Joseph Elworthy & Angela
Boudreaux [former Seelos Ctr. director &
secretary] in 1985, and what a blessing
they were to me. Having visited the
shrine several times since leaving LA in
1997, I find it a beautiful dedication that
you workers have done for Bl. Seelos.
After my wife and I moved to Texas,
we were spiritually brought back to the
Seelos Center after reading the newsletter.
harvey, la
In 2012, the balloon procedure was
unsuccessful in my artery because there
was so much calcification. A laser procedure
was scheduled. I had been praying all along
to Bl. Seelos and I visited the shrine several
times praying for this blockage to dissolve.
What the doctor discovered surprised him.
The blocked artery did clear, but another
artery, easier and less dangerous to get
to, was now 90% blocked. A stent was
placed and I owe Bl. Seelos my gratitude.
SAVE THE
DATES!
OCT 5, 2014
1:00 PM:
seelos feast
day MASS
OCT 19, 2014
5:30 PM:
SEELOS GALA
Fr. Ted Lawson, C.Ss.R.
at the April Seelos Mass
please visit seelos.org or follow us on facebook!
Come & discover
catholic shrines
why Fr. Seelos
of new orleans
was so happy
to call New
“New Orleans appeals to visitors in a variety
Orleans home!
of ways! This alluring city of old-world
charm & architecture, legendary hospitality
& music, distinctive culture & cuisine,
also has a long history permeated by the
Catholic faith. Catholicism continues to be
a source of enrichment for those who visit
or call New Orleans home. Blessed with an
unparalleled number of renowned Catholic
shrines, no trip to New Orleans is complete
without experiencing the many sacred sites
58-minute DVD, that welcome guests of all faiths each year.
In a city that inspires so many—from artists
a FOCUS TV
to authors, from musicians to magicians
production.
—let these shrines inspire your faith in a
($20 donation,
profound way!”—Fr. Byron Miller, C.Ss.R.
incl. p/h.)
Make a Self-Guided Retreat with Bl. Seelos: All 6 for $15, incl. p/h
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