Henry J. Wessling was one of a large family of German descent, whose parents as well as the children were identified with the activities of the German Church in Boston, Holy Trinity. One of his sisters is a Sister of Notre Dame in Roxbury, Mass.¹ His parents were noted as fine Catholics and all the children have kept true to the ideals taught them.

The lad, Henry, went through the course offered by Boston College from First Rudiments,² as they called the lowest class in those days, up to the completion of his Sophomore year. Then, with the Premium in General Chemistry tucked under his arm and having been declared Worthy of Honorable Mention in his class, he presented himself at the Novitiate in Frederick, Maryland on August 14, 1899. All who knew him in those early days speak of the ardor and zeal of the young novice. In latter years he enjoyed telling the young men stories of the wonderful walks and picnics and the primitive housing conditions which prevailed in Frederick.

He was among those who made the historic journey from Frederick to St. Andrew-on-Hudson when that house was opened. He was a Junior.³ Soon he was on his way to Woodstock for his philosophical studies and extra work in the sciences.⁴ It is interesting to note that in the third year he was made Assistant Librarian.

His first assignment as a Regent was for two years teaching at Holy Cross College, Worcester, Mass. There he taught General and Analytical Chemistry and Mathematics.⁵

Quite a few men from Maryland-New York Province were being sent year by year to Canisius College, Buffalo, after the joining of the Buffalo Mission to that Province. Among them came Mr. Wessling who taught there the same subjects as at Holy Cross, with the addition of Geology.⁶ This last study was vastly helped by the possibilities which Niagara Falls and the river below gave to the incipient geologist. Many were the stories he was later able to tell of the trips with other Jesuits who were interested.

After two years of such teaching he was well on the way to recognition as a scientist of the first rank when the Lord, in His Providence, permitted the accident which was to change his whole life. Father Repetti, who was at Buffalo at the time of the accident, tells that story and I quote: "On Saturday afternoon (in early October, 1910) Mr. Wessling made up a a silvering mixture and left it standing on the table in his private laboratory. On Monday morning⁷ he went from the refectory to the Seismograph room, changed the records and went to his private laboratory on the fourth floor of the College building. He looked at the beaker containing the silvering mixture and noticed a precipitate which he did not expect. He put out his hand to draw the beaker towards him and, as soon as he gave it the first motion, there was an explosion which was so rapid that he did not have the time to close his eyes. The cause of the explosion was the presence of fulminating silver which formed when the solution was left standing. Mr Wessling did not know it. The greater force of the explosion was directly upward and it left a blotch on the ceiling about three feet in diameter. He tried to wash out his eyes at the faucet but there was an extremely small force of water. He went to the faucet in the lecture room adjoining, but could not get much water there. He then left the lecture room, walked along the corridor and called for help, Mr. Harry Kelly, (now Father) heard him, came out of his room, led him into the bath room and tried to wash his eyes there. The water was insufficient and they ran down to the first floor. There was ample water on the first floor, but it was too late. As soon as possible he was taken to the hospital and remained there until Christmas holidays when he was taken to New York. The treatment in the hospital consisted, at first, of putting two set of drops into his eyes, successively; one set was supposed to contract the eye-ball and the other to expand it. The purpose was to force out any pus which might form. The treatment was so painful that he had to refuse it at times. Later, he said that the pain for the first four or five days was so great that he it was all he could do to prevent himself from tearing out his eyes completely. The whole interior of the eye was unhurt; the blindness was due to the fact that the cornea in the front of the eye was baked so that it became like a piece of frosted glass." So far Father Repetti.

In the beginning of 1911 Mr. Wessling was taken to New York for some operations on his eyes. He remained there until May when he was taken on to Washington.

In a confidential mood one day he told a story of something which happened while he was undergoing the operations in New York which is another indication of the strong character and set purpose of the man. The pains he suffered were so severe that frequently he was given morphine to relieve him. He said he got frightened one day when he realized that he was looking forward to the needle and had great longing for the same. He sent for Father Hanselmann and put the case before him. How it was remedied we do not know but soon there was never fear in that regard for Mr. Wessling.⁸

In the fall of the year began the wonderful undertaking of a blind Jesuit. He entered the Long Course of Theology at Woodstock with his class.⁹ In no time he was able to manoeuvre without help in the house and on the paths outside. He had a marvelous memory and retained practically everything he heard in class. His classmates, particularly Father Tivnan,¹⁰ read over the matter with him. The thoroughness with which he learned the matter was well shown in later life when he was an authority on moral matters and ever ready to question anybody when there was the slightest divergence from orthodoxy. At the end of the four years he was given a short examination but used to claim, jokingly, that he had never renounced his right to the profession and could call upon superiors at any time to give him the ad grad examination. If he had, there is no doubt in the minds of those who talked over the theological matters with him that he would have passed brilliantly.

All through these years there was naturally in the heart of Mr. Wessling the hope that he might so fit himself that a dispensation from the blindness might be obtained, but he had to see his class ordained and the fourth year finished and still no apparent hope for ordination.¹¹ He never gave up hope, although we can imagine what longings and doubts must have assailed his soul.

The year 1916 finds him marked in the Province Catalogue as "Parat exercitia spiritualia" at St. Andrew-on-Hudson where many of his companions were going through their tertianship.

The answer to his and his friends' prayers finally came and permission for his ordination arrived from Rome. Probably Cardinal O'Connell,¹⁶ who took a great interest in his case, had much to do in getting the dispensation, but Cardinal Cerretti would seem to have come strongly into the picture.

Cardinal Cerretti's interest is shown by a letter from Father Repetti and again I quote: "It is quite generally believed that Cardinal O'Connell obtained the dispensation for Father Wessling's ordination, but I believe I have the true story, given in recreation by Father Maas¹⁷ when I was Minister at St. Andrew.

"Mr. Wessling's accident happened in the first part of October, 1910, and I was in Buffalo at the time. He remained in the hospital until the end of the year and was taken to New York for some operations on his eyes. From there he was brought here, to Washington, about May. At the time Cardinal Cerretti was Secretary to the Delegate and became acquainted with the case."

Father Maas' account is as follows: 'During the last war (First World War) Cerretti was Apostolic Delegate to Australia and had to go to Rome via the United States on account of the war in Europe. In passing through the United States he learned that Mr. Wessling had not been ordained and said that he would take up the matter in Rome.¹⁸ He went to the Pope for a dispensation, and the Pope said, 'Get me a precedent.' Cerretti at once went to Bucceroni¹⁹ who knew all the ecclesiastical scandals of the last 300 years, and he told how a Spanish Provincial had ordained a blind man. Cerretti told this to the Pope, who said, 'If a Jesuit Provincial can ordain a blind man, I suppose the Pope can.' And the dispensation was granted.'

"No doubt Cardinal O'Connell did what he could but I do not think Father Maas ever told anything of which he was not certain." So far Father Repetti.

In the dispensation for Father Wessling it is distinctly stated that it is not to be taken as a precedent. It was a unique and unprecedented favor for the Holy See to grant such a dispensation but the years proved how right they were who favored it.

In the domestic chapel, at St. Francis Xavier's, in New York, Father Wessling was ordained subdeacon and deacon on December 15 and 17, 1917 by Bishop Collins.²⁰ From there he went to Boston and on December 19 was ordained priest by Cardinal O'Connell in the Church of the Immaculate Conception where he was to spend practically all his life as a priest.

In the beginning he was allowed to say to Masses: the votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin and the Mass for the Dead. Later in 1919 he obtained in addition permission to say the Masses de Sacratissimo Corde Jesu and de Spiritu Sancto. The Masses were to be said privately either in a private chapel or in a semipublic oratory. Through the years while in Boston he said Mass at 7 a.m. every morning in the High School Chapel. According to the dispensation there was to be either a priest or a deacon present. However at the same time as the additional Masses were added to Father Wessling's list, permission was granted for him to say Mass with only a scholastic or a lay-brother present, so safely was the Mass said.

In 1918 - 1919, Father Wessling made his tertianship at St. Andrew-on-Hudson.²¹ When it was finished he came to Boston College High School where he was to spend the rest of his life. He made his Last Vows on February 2, 1920.

From the beginning he became the confessor of the children across the street, in the Home,²² and seldom, up to the end, was he absent when they trouped over every Friday morning to be shriven. Gradually he attracted a host of penitents. A week never passed when a number of secular priests did not come to his room for confession and many used to talk their problems over with him afterwards.

From 1924 to 1927, Father Wessling was Spiritual Father of the students in our High School. He inspired the boys with a desire to help the Missions and his mite boxes brought much relief to many a needy mission.

About 1924 a benefactor offered to send Father Wessling and a companion to Lourdes to seek a miracle. This Very Rev. Father General thought it better not to allow. The same benefactor financed a trip to the Shrine in Quebec, St. Anne de Beaupré, whither Father Joseph Hurley accompanied him. There he met and talked for over a hour with the renowned Brother André but the Lord evidently wanted him to continue his good work as a blind priest.

Ever eager to do more, he ambitioned and became head of the House Library. That would seem almost an impossible task for a blind man. However, he got a secretary whose work he carefully supervised. He made a study of cataloguing and library care and finally had one of the most orderly libraries to be found in any of our houses. He seemed to know practically every book in the library and there were well over 45,000 volumes there. Frequently when you were seeking a book, he would walk you into the library, stop before a certain shelf and tell you the book ought to be there, and it was.

It must have pleased Father Wessling very much when Father Kilroy, The Provincial, was able to send the following letter to Father Wessling's Rector in 1929. "The following is an excerpt from Fr. General's letter, commenting on my report to the Visitation. Will you please let Father Wessling have it. 'Magnae quoque aedificationi sunt quae R. Va. refert de assiduis laboribus Patris Wessling in confessionibus audiendis atque de ejus miro successu in cura bibliothecae exercenda. Velit etiam R. Va. huic bono Patri significare me ipsi, ipsiusque laboribus paterno amore benedicere!'"

Through his secretary reading to him as he appointed, he delved deeply into theological matters. The saints and writers about Mysticism were familiar to him; although he personally always kept close to the Exercises. There seemed to be no part of the globe with which he was not familiar. The people, their customs, their country - he seemed to know them all.

Although he was allowed to use the radio, it was seldom used except to keep abreast of the news. There were exceptions when a base-ball game was having a close finish.

Problems in Higher Mathematics were a delight to him. How he ever kept the figures in his head without anything written was more than the ordinary mortal could ever fathom, and he ever kept abreast of advances in Chemistry and Physics.

For twenty-five years Father Wessling was Spiritual Father of the Community. Many were the tridua and conferences he gave. It was a delight to hear how logically and clearly he was able to explain the most abstruse point. He was apt to be a little severe in his talks when there was question of failure to follow the highest ideals. Naturally an independent and strong-willed character, it was the work of years for him to make allowances for policies and theories with which he did not agree. However, his true obedience was the saving grace and in private dealing with the individuals he clearly showed that he had learned well the compassion of Christ.

In the years before the last war it was possible to take Father Wessling for an occasional automobile trip. If his companion kept up a running commentary of the scenes and happenings that were met, he found on his return that Father Wessling remembered more that happened than he did. When Pomfret was bought he soon visited it. He went all over the building, asking questions everywhere, and later one found that there was not a nook of the place with which he was not familiar. The same was true of North Andover and he needed no help in walking around Holy Cross College where he made his annual retreat.

Regularly one saw him saying his beads as he walked the corridor. Five o'clock each evening, when not a confession day, found him in the Domestic Chapel for an hour of prayer.

A few years ago, when it was learned that doctors were able to graft a cornea on the front of the eye and keep it alive, the then Father Rector and a few of the Fathers were talking over what this might mean for Father Wessling. One of the Fathers volunteered to speak to him and see what he thought of it.

When the subject was broached, Father Wessling sat quietly for a minute or two. Then he said, "No! I would not try it. I have gotten so used to my manner of life that I would have to learn to live all over again if I had my sight." The subject was dropped.

Many lay people and priests will miss Father Wessling as their father confessor. Our Community misses one who was always cheerful, found it easy to laugh, enjoyed an argument, especially on metaphysical subjects, was a fund of information on a wide variety of subjects, was truly spiritual and loved the Society ardently.

His wholesome submission to the Will of God may well be an example to all of us who knew him.

On Wednesday, January 9, after the celebration of a Requiem Mass for the happy repose of his soul by Rev. Robert A. Hewitt, S.J.,²³ he joined the noble ranks of his fellow Jesuits who lie on the sheltered hillside, amid the friendly fir trees, in the peaceful cemetery at Weston College. His priestly, Ignatian spirit cannot be forgotten. May he rest in peace.

The source material for this article was the "Woodstock Letters" of 1946. The provincial catalogues were used to trace chronologically Fr. Wessling's life as a Jesuit.

For several articles relating to Father Wessling's ordination, please see these pages.

  1. His sister Mary Adelaide became Sr. Mary Madeline, S.N.D.

  2. For a brief discussion of the academic programs sponsored by Boston College during that time period, please see this file.

  3. circa 1902

  4. circa 1903 - 1906

  5. circa 1907 and 1908

  6. circa 1909. One of his first tasks when he arrived at Canisius College was to assist in the establishing of a seismological recording station. At that time many of the Jesuit universities were linked together to form a network of such stations. "The Weichert Seismograph was installed at Canisius College ... by Mr John T. Viteck, professor of physics, and Mr Henry J. Wessling, professor of chemistry; both scholastics of the Society of Jesus ..."

Fr. Repetti was also involved in this program at Canisius College, Fordham University, and in Manila. Fr. Tondorf studied seismological observations from his post at Georgetown University. Fr. Tivnan worked to establish the Weston (Mass.) Observatory.

  7. The date of the accident was October 3, 1910.

  8. Fr. Joseph Hanselmann was the Provincial of the Maryland/New York Province and his office was in New York City.

  9. circa 1912 - 1915

10. The reference to Fr. Edward P. Tivnan was an interesting one. He was from Salem, Mass. and had entered the novitiate in Frederick, Md. on the same date as Fr. Wessling. Moreover, Fr. Tivnan had completed his freshman year at Boston College before entering the Society. Like Fr. Wessling, he taught chemistry during his Regency, but at Fordham University, in New York. Fr. Tivnan later became the Rector of that school.

11. From an article in the May 10, 1914 edition of the "The New York Times"
Baltimore, Md. May 9th
"For the first time in the history of the Catholic Church in this country a blind man will be raised to the priesthood next month at Woodstock College, Md., if the pleas of Cardinal Gibbons and Cardinal O'Connell are granted by the Pope. The Cardinals will appear before the Pope and ask that a special dispensation be granted for the ordination of Henry Wessling, a student at Woodstock College."

Perhaps the newspaper had received a notice from Mr. Wessling's fellow theology students in which they collectively acted to urge that Mr. Wessling be ordained.

12. circa 1916 and 1917. Under the direction of Fr. Joseph M. Stadelman, S.J., the Xavier Society for the Blind sponsored a program for the blind which included making translations of various works of Catholic literature and distributing same throughout the country.

13. From an article in the December 26, 1917 of the "The New York Times"
Baltimore, Md. December 25th
"The Rev. Henry Wessling, a blind Jesuit priest, recently ordained under dispensation of Pope Benedict, celebrated his first Mass at Woodstock College, Md. this morning. It is said to be the first time a blind priest ever celebrated Mass in this country."

However, from an article in the "Woodstock Letters" Fr. Wessling's first Mass was said at Boston College on December 20, 1917.

And, according to the Holy Trinity parish's monthly newsletter, Fr. Wessling had remained in Boston for one week after his ordination and he had celebrated Mass every day in the chapel at the convent in Roxbury. On Christmas Eve he said a Mass at the church in the "Home".

14. In 1916 Fr. Wessling contributed an item which appeared in the 1916 edition of the "Woodstock Letters".

15. An article concerning Fr. Wessling's efforts was published in the 1917 of the "Woodstock Letters".

16. Cardinal O'Connell, no doubt, first learned of the accident at Canisius College from great-grandfather Wessling, who at that time was the head of the Suffolk County, Mass. chapter of the American Federation of Catholic Societies in addition to being a national vice-president of that organization. Cardinal O'Connell, showing his respect for the works of great-grandfather, gave the eulogy at his funeral in 1914.

17. Frs. Anton J. Maas and William C. Repetti would have been at St. Andrew-on-Hudson circa 1925. Additionally, Fr. Maas had been the Provincial of the Maryland/New York Province from 1912 - 1918.

18. From 1906 - 1910 Msgr. Bonaventura Cerretti had been assigned to the Apostolic Delegation in Washington, D.C. and from 1910 he was the Auditor to the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Falconio. (Falconio was raised to the Cardinalate in 1911 at the same time as O'Connell.) Thus it is likely that sometime between 1910 and 1914, Cerretti became first aware of Fr. Wessling's blindness and his desire to continue to prepare for his ordination. On October 5, 1914 Bishop Cerretti was named as the Apostolic Delegate to Australia and New Zealand.

From May, 1917 - May, 1921 Bishop Cerretti was the Secretary of the Roman Curia, (the head of the Congregation for Extraordinary Ecclesiastical Affairs), or a very senior member of the Vatican's diplomatic corps.

An item in the July 17, 1917 edition of the "New York Times" mentioned Cerretti's trip to Rome.
"Washington, July 16
"When Archbishop Bonaventura Cerretti sails shortly from an American port on an Italian liner for Rome to become Assistant Papal Secretary of State, the ship will be flying the papal flag under an arrangement by which Germany has promised immunity from submarine attack. ..."

So, apparently in 1917 Cerretti learned of the lack of progress in the efforts to obtain a dispensation for Fr. Wessling. Given his impending appointment in Rome, Cerretti surely would have been in a position to resolve the issue.

19. Fr. Januarius Bucceroni, S.J.

20. In 1907 Fr. John J. Collins, S.J. was made Bishop of Antiphellos and appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Jamaica.

21. It was perhaps during this period when Fr. Wessling gave his first sermon.

22. Located on Harrison Ave. was the Home for Destitute Catholic Children in Boston.

23. He was the Rector of Boston College High School at that time.

  1. Why was Fr. Wessling taken to Washington, D.C. in 1911 and what took place there? Did his stay in Washington, D.C. involve a drug dependency?

  2. What discussions took place within the decision making hierarchy of the Society regarding Fr. Wessling's future in the Jesuit order?

  3. When and under what circumstances did Cardinal Cerretti take up the cause of Fr. Wessling?

  4. Who was the anonymous "benefactor" of 1924?