In 1732, St Alphonsus [Alphonso Liguori] gathered around him, at Scala in the
ancient Kingdom of Naples, a group of men who would dedicate themselves
to the preaching of the good news of ‘plentiful redemption’ to those
who were the poorest and most abandoned in society. In 1749, Pope Benedict
XIV approved their Rule on 25 February and thus officially bring into
being the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer - commonly known as
the Redemptorists.
Among those early Redemptorists
was Br Gerard Majella who would become known the world over as the Mothers’
Saint. A little later they would welcome into their fold a young priest
called Clement Hofbauer who would also become a saint and is known as
the Apostle of Vienna. By 1858, the Congregation had reached the Americas
and one of their number became Bishop of Philadelphia - St John Neumann.
Today, the Congregation continues to grow and expand around the world
as Redemptorist priests and brothers strive to be faithful to the vision
and spirituality of St Alphonsus.
There is much to this story
which continues in the lives and ministry of today’s Redemptorists.
Redemptorists
WWW Links:
Alphonsianum
Higher Institute of Moral Theology
C.Ss.R.
Redemptor, A multi-lingual site giving lots of connections.
Redemptorist
Publications in the UK
Redemptorist
Publications in the USA
Redemptorist
Publications in Ireland
Hawkstone
Hall, Pastoral Centre in England