Every year, the Redemptorists celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Redeemer on the third Sunday of July. Redemptorists have celebrated this feast on the third Sunday of July since 1749. The solemnity has its great importance with the beginning of the Religious Order.
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, founded by Saint Alphonsus on 9th November 1732, is a clerical missionary religious Institute of pontifical right, enjoying the privilege of exemption and having members belonging to various rites. Its purpose is to “follow the example of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, by preaching the word of God to the poor, as he declared of himself: ‘He sent me to preach the Good News to the poor’.” In this way, the Congregation shares the mandate given to the Church, which, since it is the universal sacrament of salvation, is a missionary of its very nature. It does so by responding with missionary thrust to the pressing pastoral needs of the most abandoned, especially the poor, and by devoting itself entirely to evangelization. The Redemptorist Congregation truly follows the example of Christ in the apostolic life, which comprises at one and the same time a life specially dedicated to God and a life of missionary work. (Consti.1)
Link to download the supplement pages to the sacramentary and lectionary in EN
Who are Redemptorists? The Redemptorist Missionaries are 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, 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. (Consti. 20)
The Redemptorists filled with the Holy Spirit (Lk. 4:18-19) are called to announce the good news of salvation and the “favourable time” (2 Cor. 6:2), so that people be converted, believe in the Gospel (cf. Mark 1:15), really live their baptism and put on the new self (cf. Eph. 4:24). They are the apostles of conversion”, in so far as the chief object of their preaching is to lead people to a radical choice regarding their life – a decision for Christ – and draw them firmly and gently to a continuing and total conversion (Const. 11).
The Redemptorist Hymn by Fr. Eric Paul Soliven Sevencruz, CSsR.
All Redemptorists are called to be humble and courageous servants among people of the Gospel of Christ, the Redeemer and Lord. They preach the message of plentiful redemption that proclaims the love of God the Father, which affects the entire person. It brings to perfection and transforms all human values, so as to unite all things in Christ and thus lead them to their completion in a new earth and a new heaven. (Consti.6)
Why the name ‘Redemptorists’? The full title in Latin is ‘Congregatio Santissimi Redemptoris’ – a congregation of priests and brothers under the title of ‘The Most Holy Redeemer’. In Italy, we are known as the Missionari Redentoristi. We call ourselves ‘Redemptorist Missionaries’. Our middle name is SENT – just like Jesus! Everything about us is meant to reflect that -the way we live, the way we work, the way we pray, the joy in us, our community life together around the person of Jesus, the Redeemer.
Dear Redemptorist confreres, Redemptoristine Sisters, Sisters associated with the Redemptorist Charism, Redemptorist partners in mission, lay missionaries and associates, formandi, and benefactors wish you all grace-filled abundant blessings as we collaborate and continue to bring plentiful redemption to the whole humanity, especially to the poor and abandoned.
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