Our Saints and Holy Figures
Our Mother of Perpetual Help
In 1866 Pope Pius IX entrusted the miraculous icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help to the Redemptorists at St. Alphonsus Church in Rome because this was the location where this icon was first venerated before the church was destroyed. The Pope told the Redemptorists “to make her known throughout the world,” thus establishing the church as a Shrine housing this treasure. Ever since, Our Mother of Perpetual Help has been the special protector of the Redemptorists, and they have strove to make her known throughout the world.
St. Alphonsus Liguori, C.Ss.R.
Bishop, Doctor of the Church, and the founder of the Redemptorist Congregation, St. Alphonsus was born on September 27, 1696, at Marianella, near Naples, Italy. In 1723, he had a vision and was told to consecrate his life solely to God. On December 21, 1726, he was ordained and spent the next six years giving missions throughout Naples. Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer on November 9, 1732. For thirteen years Alphonsus lived in Goths near Naples where he fed the poor, instructed families, reorganized the seminary and religious houses, and wrote. He died on August 1,1787. He was beatified in 1816 and canonized in 1839. In 1871, Alphonsus was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX. His writings on moral, theological, and ascetic matters had great impact and have survived through the years, especially his Moral Theology and his Glories of Mary. He is the patron of confessors, moral theologians, and the lay apostolate.
Other Redemptorists Saints & Blesseds
St. John Neumann
Friday, January 5, marks the feast day of Redemptorist St. John Neumann. Gifted with outstanding organizing ability, St Neumann was the first ecclesiastic to organize a diocesan school system in the United States. Canonized in 1977, he became the first U.S. male saint.
St. Gerard Majella
October 16 marks the feast day of St. Gerard Majella. Catholics throughout the world honor St. Gerard as the patron saint of expectant mothers and families, and his reputation as "The Mothers' Saint" continues to this day.
St. Clement Hofbauer
March 15 marked the feast day of Redemptorist St. Clement Hofbauer. St Clement is often called the second founder of the Redemptorists congregation for his ceaseless efforts to spread our apostolate throughout the world. Learn more here.
Blessed Francis Seelos
January 11 is the birthday of Blessed Seelos who gave witness not only in his zeal and prayerful union with the Lord, but also in the pleasant disposition and cheerful attitude which he brought to all his pastoral duties.
Additional Redemptorist Blesseds and Venerables:
Blesseds: Gennaro Sarnelli, Peter Donders, Kaspar Stanggassinger, Dominik Trcka, Mykolay Charnetskyi, Vasyl Velychikovskyi, Zynoviy Kovalyk, Ivan Ziatyk
Venerables: Joseph Passerat, Vitus Michael Di Netta, Alfred Pampalon, Jose Javier Gorosterratzu Jaunarean, Ciriaco Olarte Y Perez De Mediguren, Miguel Goni Ariz, Julian Pozo Y Ruiz De Samaniego, Pedro Romero Espejo, Victor (Victoriano) Calvo Lozano, Maria Celeste Crostarosa, O.Ss.R.
Get Connected to Mary
The Redemptorists also host social media sites dedicated to Our Mother of Perpetual Help.
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