About the Redemptorists
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, moral theologian, bishop, and doctor of the Church, wrote more than 100 books in his lifetime and was especially renowned for his works on on moral theology. He founded Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris (CSsR), the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, in Naples. Pope Benedict XIV formally approved the Congregation, known as the Redemptorists, in 1749.
The Congregation’s mission, set by St. Alphonsus, is to follow the example of Jesus Christ by preaching the Word of God to the poor and the most abandoned, particularly to those who live on the margins of Church and society. Parish preaching remains a major tenet of the Redemptorists.
In 1865 Pope Pius IX entrusted the icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists, to protect and propagate this Marian religious work of art. Learn more about the history of the icon. Read how to interpret and pray with Our Mother of Perpetual Help from noted iconologist and Redemptorist Brother Dan Korn.
Apostolate of the Pen
The first Redemptorists in America were six intrepid men, three priests and three brothers. In addition to preaching the Word of God, American Redemptorists followed the Apostolate of the Pen set by St. Alphonsus.
In 1913 five Redemptorist priests who were professors in the seminary in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, founded Liguorian magazine. Now in print for more than a century, the initial circulation was 500, gained from people who had attended parish missions that were preached by the Redemptorists.
For three decades, Liguorian continued to be published at the seminary in Wisconsin. In 1932, Fr. Donald Miller served as rector of the seminary as well as editor of the magazine. Encouraging his students to write for Liguorian, the magazine came to enjoy national recognition and prominence. In 1947 Fr. Miller moved operations to Liguori, Missouri, south of St. Louis and founded the Liguori Publications and the Liguori Mission House.
The campus of Liguori, Missouri includes the business operations of Liguori Publications and St. Clement Mission Community, a healthcare facility which was built with money that Liguori Publications gave to the Province so that the Redemptorists can “care for their own.”
The Redemptorist Charism: Kitchen Table Catholics
Redemptorist Missionaries continue the charism of St. Alphonsus Liguori in the Church and in society.
“Strong in faith, rejoicing in hope, burning with charity, on fire with zeal, in humility of heart and persevering in prayer, Redemptorists as apostolic men and genuine disciples of Saint Alphonsus follow Christ the Redeemer with Hearts full of joy; denying themselves and always ready to undertake what is demanding and challenging, they share in the mystery of Christ and proclaim it in Gospel simplicity of life and language, that they may bring to people Plentiful Redemption." (Redemptorist Constitutions, No. 20)
The Redemptorist charism is preaching the good news of plentiful redemption — that Jesus loves us and knows us by name. Like the Good Shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep to find the lost sheep and rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray (Matthew 18:12, Luke 15:5), Redemptorists are called to serve and meet people “where they are” in their spiritual journey.
In addition to St. Alphonsus Liguori, other famous Redemptorists are St. Gerard Majella, the patron saint of mothers, and St. John Neumann. During the 1830s St. John Neumann was assigned a territory stretching from western New York to Lake Ontario to Pennsylvania. Because he travelled extensively to preach to Catholics, his church had no steeple. Rather, he celebrated the Mass in homes at kitchen tables.
Learn more about Redemptorist Spirituality by reading The Lexicon of Redemptorist Spirituality.
Learn more about Redemptorist Vocations. If you feel that you may have the calling to become a Redemptorist father, brother, or sister, please contact:
Father Lamar Partin
Vocation Director
Email: lpartin@liguori.org
Office: 636.223.1425
Cell: 225.573.5111
www.redemptoristsdenver.org
For More about the Redemptorists
For more information on the Redemptorists and their activities, visit:
The Redemptorists of the Denver Province
The Redemptorist Mission Team, Chicago