The first day of August is dear to Redemptorists throughout the world. It is the Feast day of their Founder, St. Alphonsus de Liguori. Born in Naples in 1696, he died at Pagani in 1787, in his 91^st year.  At the age of 36, he founded a congregation of Missionaries especially dedicated to preaching the Gospel to those who were most abandoned, especially those living at that time in the remotest places. He gathered his first companions in the village of Scala, above Amalfi, in Southern Italy. All but one of his first companions deserted him; the one who remained was Brother Vito Curzio, who had earlier lived a rather colourful career. Later, Alphonsus was joined by a number of other priest companions and brother companions, and this new band of Missionaries began preaching in a wide area of Southern Italy, going to the remotest villages and towns high in the mountains. One of the best known and loved Redemptorist brothers from that time,- and still greatly loved throughout the world- was Brother (now Saint) Gerard Magella.

This band of Missionaries were eventually given their present name of The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer,- later shortened in popular usage to Redemptorists, or Redemptorist Missionaries. This congregation is now found in about 72 countries around the globe, still going to places where others do not wish to go, and reaching out to people of all ages, young and old. Our mission is to bring to people the message of the Abundant Redemption of God,- the ‘crazy’ love of God for us, as Alphonsus often called it (‘Dio, pazzo per amore’)

His core message to us, in our generation too, is to ‘Return love for love’,- to allow ourselves to be utterly captivated by the ‘crazy’ depth of God’s love for us, and to seek with our whole being to return love for love. Alphonsus spoke passionately to people about the great mysteries of Christ,-  the love of God shown us in the Crib, on the Cross, in the Eucharist, and in the gift of Mary the Mother of God who is our Mother also.

Please keep Redemptorists worldwide in your prayers, and pray that the Lord will send many more young men to join us in bringing the ‘crazy’ love of God to people all over the world and in Ireland as well. ‘Caritas Christi urget nos’,- ‘the Love of Christ is driving us!,- St. Paul. Our religious profession makes all Redemptorists truly missionaries. Please pray too for all Redemptoristines, our sister Order of the Most Holy Redeemer, whose enclosed life is a powerhouse of prayer for the whole world. Their house in Ireland in on St. Alphonsus’ Road, Drumcondra, Dublin.  And today, we honour and celebrate with all our Redemptorist lay co-workers and friends, who make up the Redemptorist Family.

S. Devitt C.Ss.R

‘The Christ of immense Compassion,                                                                                               The Mother of immense Tenderness,’ –                                                                                           The heart of Alphonsus’ preaching.

The following was written, following a visit to the tomb of Alphonsus, in Pagani, in Italy.