James Keller

Here is a comprehensive profile of James Keller (1900 – 1977), the American Catholic priest and inspirational figure:

James Keller – Biography & Contribution

Early Life & Formation

• James Keller, M.M. (Maryknoll) was born June 27, 1900 in Oakland, California.

• His father was an Irish immigrant originally named “Kelleher,” who later changed his name to Keller to avoid anti-Irish bias; his mother, Margaret Selby, had Irish and Portuguese ancestry.

• He was the fourth among six children in a devout Catholic household.

• After a short period in the U.S. Army, he entered seminary training in Menlo Park, California.

Religious Vocation & Maryknoll

• Inspired by members of the Maryknoll Order (which focused on foreign missions), Keller joined Maryknoll, studying in New York and preparing for missionary work.

• He was ordained on August 15, 1925, unusually in his home parish in Oakland, rather than in the usual seminary location.

• Though Maryknoll was intended for overseas missionary work, Keller never went abroad on mission; instead, he worked within the U.S., especially in promoting mission awareness, fundraising, and spiritual outreach.

Founding The Christophers

• In 1945, Keller founded The Christophers, an inspirational Christian movement aimed at helping ordinary people live out Christian principles in daily life.

• He coined the name “Christopher” from Greek roots meaning “Christ-bearer.”

• The motto he chose was from a Chinese proverb: “It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

• The Christophers produced a weekly inspirational television program, “Christopher Closeup,” which aired on ABC in its early years. When ABC canceled it in the 1960s, Keller continued its broadcast in independent syndication, and also produced radio versions.

• The organization also sponsors the annual Christopher Awards, honoring media that “exemplify the human spirit.”

Later Years & Legacy

• Father Keller eventually retired from his active work in the Christophers in 1969, largely due to declining health.

• He passed away on February 7, 1977.

• His legacy continues through The Christophers, the awards, and his writings and broadcasts that encourage hope, personal responsibility, and constructive living.

Key Themes & Approach

• Hope & empowerment: Keller believed in the potential of every person, even quiet or obscure ones, to make positive contributions.

• Mission in everyday life: He emphasized that Christian mission was not just for clergy or overseas, but could be lived by ordinary people in their daily contexts.

• Light over criticism: Through his motto of lighting candles rather than cursing darkness, he encouraged active positivity rather than negativity.

• Media & communication: He used radio, television, books, columns, and newsletters to spread his message broadly, long before such tools were common for religious outreach.

Selected Quotes

Here are several commonly cited sayings attributed to James Keller:

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.”
“It is so often true that whether a person carries with him an atmosphere of gloom and depression or one of confidence and courage depends on his individual outlook.”
“Three hundred years ago a prisoner condemned to the Tower of London carved … ‘It is not adversity that kills, but the impatience with which we bear adversity.’”
“Hope opens doors where despair closes them.”
“Hope cherishes no illusions, nor does it yield to cynicism.”
“My center is giving way, my right is pushed back, my left is wavering. The situation is excellent. I shall attack!”

These quotes reflect his emphasis on optimism, perseverance, and personal agency.