More commonly known as Père Antoine, Friar Antonio de Sedella OFM. Cap., was born in 1730, in Spain. Rector of Saint Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1788 to 1790 and again from 1795 until his death in 1829, upon becoming a Capuchin Friar he was sent to Louisiana as Commissary of the Inquisition in 1779, but was deported by Governor Miro for fear of an uprising.
He returned in 1783, as priest of Saint Louis Cathedral where he soon became the idol of the French population during his long pastorate. Working tirelessly to free women of color and their children, the date-palm sheltering the rude hut in which he lived is the subject of stories by Aldrich, Dimitry, and Lafcadio Hearn.
His death, on January 18, 1829, was looked upon in Louisiana, by "Catholic and Protestant alike, as a calamity. All New Orleans went into mourning. The funeral rites were observed with a pomp hitherto unknown to the city." The old Friar was laid to rest in St. Louis Cathedral among the people he had served to selflessly. It was widely believed that Père Antoine had been a living saint.
In his lifetime of service to St. Louis Cathedral, he is said to have baptized Marie Laveau and many of her children, performed her wedding ceremony and, together with her, did much to advance the state of the poor, the imprisoned, and the slave population in New Orleans.
Along the years, many people reported having seen Père Antoine walking slowly down the small alley named for him alongside his St. Louis Cathedral. He is mostly drawn to the early mornings when the French Quarter is quieter, but has also been discovered disappearing into the mist of a winter afternoon. In these sightings, he usually doesn't appear to notice anyone because he is almost always reading his breviary. People who have seen him like this experience a feeling of comfort, no matter what they have been doing the night before. Sometimes though, he's a little more active. One woman was taking a short cut through the alley on a rainy afternoon, on her way to lunch. Tottering on high heels, she tripped straight into the arms of a black-robed man with a sharp nose and a stern expression. After righting herself with the aid of her rescuer, she brushed off her skirt and looked up to see, nobody. The helping hand was invisible, but she heard a disembodied voice whisper a short phrase in French. Although she did not know what the good Father said, she reported experiencing a sense of peace.
At midnight Mass at St. Louis Cathedral, some worshippers have told of seeing Père Antoine walking near left side of the main altar, holding a candle. He is distinguishable partly because his Capuchin robe contrasts with the more celebratory garments of the Archbishop and other priests, and partly because he seems to fade away as he approaches. Perhaps he prefers the Latin Mass, as he knew it. We pray that the good Friar has now found rest.
He returned in 1783, as priest of Saint Louis Cathedral where he soon became the idol of the French population during his long pastorate. Working tirelessly to free women of color and their children, the date-palm sheltering the rude hut in which he lived is the subject of stories by Aldrich, Dimitry, and Lafcadio Hearn.
His death, on January 18, 1829, was looked upon in Louisiana, by "Catholic and Protestant alike, as a calamity. All New Orleans went into mourning. The funeral rites were observed with a pomp hitherto unknown to the city." The old Friar was laid to rest in St. Louis Cathedral among the people he had served to selflessly. It was widely believed that Père Antoine had been a living saint.
In his lifetime of service to St. Louis Cathedral, he is said to have baptized Marie Laveau and many of her children, performed her wedding ceremony and, together with her, did much to advance the state of the poor, the imprisoned, and the slave population in New Orleans.
Along the years, many people reported having seen Père Antoine walking slowly down the small alley named for him alongside his St. Louis Cathedral. He is mostly drawn to the early mornings when the French Quarter is quieter, but has also been discovered disappearing into the mist of a winter afternoon. In these sightings, he usually doesn't appear to notice anyone because he is almost always reading his breviary. People who have seen him like this experience a feeling of comfort, no matter what they have been doing the night before. Sometimes though, he's a little more active. One woman was taking a short cut through the alley on a rainy afternoon, on her way to lunch. Tottering on high heels, she tripped straight into the arms of a black-robed man with a sharp nose and a stern expression. After righting herself with the aid of her rescuer, she brushed off her skirt and looked up to see, nobody. The helping hand was invisible, but she heard a disembodied voice whisper a short phrase in French. Although she did not know what the good Father said, she reported experiencing a sense of peace.
At midnight Mass at St. Louis Cathedral, some worshippers have told of seeing Père Antoine walking near left side of the main altar, holding a candle. He is distinguishable partly because his Capuchin robe contrasts with the more celebratory garments of the Archbishop and other priests, and partly because he seems to fade away as he approaches. Perhaps he prefers the Latin Mass, as he knew it. We pray that the good Friar has now found rest.
More commonly known as Père Antoine, Friar Antonio de Sedella OFM. Cap., was born in 1730, in Spain. Rector of Saint Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, Louisiana, from 1788 to 1790 and again from 1795 until his death in 1829, upon becoming a Capuchin Friar he was sent to Louisiana as Commissary of the Inquisition in 1779, but was deported by Governor Miro for fear of an uprising.
He returned in 1783, as priest of Saint Louis Cathedral where he soon became the idol of the French population during his long pastorate. Working tirelessly to free women of color and their children, the date-palm sheltering the rude hut in which he lived is the subject of stories by Aldrich, Dimitry, and Lafcadio Hearn.
His death, on January 18, 1829, was looked upon in Louisiana, by "Catholic and Protestant alike, as a calamity. All New Orleans went into mourning. The funeral rites were observed with a pomp hitherto unknown to the city." The old Friar was laid to rest in St. Louis Cathedral among the people he had served to selflessly. It was widely believed that Père Antoine had been a living saint.
In his lifetime of service to St. Louis Cathedral, he is said to have baptized Marie Laveau and many of her children, performed her wedding ceremony and, together with her, did much to advance the state of the poor, the imprisoned, and the slave population in New Orleans.
Along the years, many people reported having seen Père Antoine walking slowly down the small alley named for him alongside his St. Louis Cathedral. He is mostly drawn to the early mornings when the French Quarter is quieter, but has also been discovered disappearing into the mist of a winter afternoon. In these sightings, he usually doesn't appear to notice anyone because he is almost always reading his breviary. People who have seen him like this experience a feeling of comfort, no matter what they have been doing the night before. Sometimes though, he's a little more active. One woman was taking a short cut through the alley on a rainy afternoon, on her way to lunch. Tottering on high heels, she tripped straight into the arms of a black-robed man with a sharp nose and a stern expression. After righting herself with the aid of her rescuer, she brushed off her skirt and looked up to see, nobody. The helping hand was invisible, but she heard a disembodied voice whisper a short phrase in French. Although she did not know what the good Father said, she reported experiencing a sense of peace.
At midnight Mass at St. Louis Cathedral, some worshippers have told of seeing Père Antoine walking near left side of the main altar, holding a candle. He is distinguishable partly because his Capuchin robe contrasts with the more celebratory garments of the Archbishop and other priests, and partly because he seems to fade away as he approaches. Perhaps he prefers the Latin Mass, as he knew it. We pray that the good Friar has now found rest.
He returned in 1783, as priest of Saint Louis Cathedral where he soon became the idol of the French population during his long pastorate. Working tirelessly to free women of color and their children, the date-palm sheltering the rude hut in which he lived is the subject of stories by Aldrich, Dimitry, and Lafcadio Hearn.
His death, on January 18, 1829, was looked upon in Louisiana, by "Catholic and Protestant alike, as a calamity. All New Orleans went into mourning. The funeral rites were observed with a pomp hitherto unknown to the city." The old Friar was laid to rest in St. Louis Cathedral among the people he had served to selflessly. It was widely believed that Père Antoine had been a living saint.
In his lifetime of service to St. Louis Cathedral, he is said to have baptized Marie Laveau and many of her children, performed her wedding ceremony and, together with her, did much to advance the state of the poor, the imprisoned, and the slave population in New Orleans.
Along the years, many people reported having seen Père Antoine walking slowly down the small alley named for him alongside his St. Louis Cathedral. He is mostly drawn to the early mornings when the French Quarter is quieter, but has also been discovered disappearing into the mist of a winter afternoon. In these sightings, he usually doesn't appear to notice anyone because he is almost always reading his breviary. People who have seen him like this experience a feeling of comfort, no matter what they have been doing the night before. Sometimes though, he's a little more active. One woman was taking a short cut through the alley on a rainy afternoon, on her way to lunch. Tottering on high heels, she tripped straight into the arms of a black-robed man with a sharp nose and a stern expression. After righting herself with the aid of her rescuer, she brushed off her skirt and looked up to see, nobody. The helping hand was invisible, but she heard a disembodied voice whisper a short phrase in French. Although she did not know what the good Father said, she reported experiencing a sense of peace.
At midnight Mass at St. Louis Cathedral, some worshippers have told of seeing Père Antoine walking near left side of the main altar, holding a candle. He is distinguishable partly because his Capuchin robe contrasts with the more celebratory garments of the Archbishop and other priests, and partly because he seems to fade away as he approaches. Perhaps he prefers the Latin Mass, as he knew it. We pray that the good Friar has now found rest.
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