HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVIII, Issue 19, 5 September 1890, Page 13

HISTORY OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER.

The congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, the members of which are commonly known as Bedemptorists, and in some countries as Liguorians, was founded by St. Aiphonsus Maria de Liguori in tbe year 1732. Born of a nuble Neapolitan family in 1696, Alphonsus, after giving promise of a brilliant career at the bar, abandoned its honours at the age of twenty-seven to embrace the ecclesiastical state. His first desire was to join tbe Congregation of the Oratory ; being unable to do this on account of tbe opposition of his father, be devoted himself to evangelising the poor in the city of Naples, and to the duties of preacher and confessor, residing first in bis father's house afterwards in the college of the Chinese, fou tided by Father Matthew Bipa, tbe famous Chinese missionary. He also joined a secular con* gregation of missionaries called the Propaganda, and with them gave several missions in the provinces. By this means he came to know the spiritual destitution of tbe poor peasants and shepherds, and felt a strong dpsire to devote his life to the succour of the rural poDulations. He was confirmed ia these thoughts especially by the advice of Monsiguor Faleoia, Bishop of Castellamare. This prelate bad long desired tbe establishment of an institute of apostolic men, who should strive in all things to copy the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, and after his example evangelise the poor. He had founded al Scala a community of ladies, called Nuns of tbe Most Holy Saviour, who prayed continually for the same intention. It was while giving tbe spiritual exercises to these nuns that St. Alphonsus at last resolved, under tbe direction of Bishop Faleoia, to gather some cjmpanions, who should oq the one hand seek their own perfection by the obligations and iules of a religious life, and on the other devote themselves to apostolic work among the most neglected and forsaken souls. — The work was solemnly begun at Scala on November 9, 1632, St. Alphonsus being then thirty-six years old.

in carrying out this design the saint encountered innumerable obstacles, first on the part of good men who looked on him as misled by enthusiasm or spiritual amoition, and afterwards from the civil authorities. The times were indeed most unfavourable to such a project, and it is one of the miracles of the saint's life to have founded and maintained a new religions congregation at the time when the Marquis Tanucci was all-powerful in Naples. la spite, however, of these obstacles, St. Alphonsus succeeded in establishing several in different parts of Naples and Sicily, and before bis death saw his institute spreading in tbe Papal States, and already transported beyond tbe Alps.

On Feb. 25, 1749, Pope Benedict XIV., approved the rules and confirmed tfae new Institute by a solemu approbation. St. Alphonsui bad called bis Congregation by tbe name of tbe Most Holy Saviour ; but to prevent confusion with the canons regular of that name in Venice, the Pope himself changed the title to that of the Most Holy Redeemer, Besides the three simple but perpectual vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they bind themselves by a vow of perseverence until death in the Institute, which they confirm by a promissory oath. They are bound by their vow of poverty to refuse all beneficei, offices, or dignities outside their Congregation. Whenever a Rsdemptoriat has been raised to a bishopric it has baen by command of the Sovereign Poaiiff, and by his dispensation. It was in this way that St. Alphonsus himself was obliged to accept the bishopric of St. Agatha of the Goths. In order also more effectually to pursue the principal end of tbe Institute, which is to succour tbe most ignorant and

neglected souls, St. Alphonsus forbade bis Fathers to undertake such works as the instruction of youth, the government of seminaries, the direction of nuns. Their main occupation is the apostolic ministry in the preaching of missions and retreats to all classes of persons, but with a preference for Buch as are most neglected, especially those who lira in remote villages and hamlets. As, however, in many countries the most neglected boulb are to be found in the great cities, the intention of the founder is carried oat in labouring for them. It is on record that St. Alphonsus, about the time cf the establishment of his congregation, seriously debated the question of going himself to the savage heathen in South Africa, and that he welcomed an invitation that bad been made to him to send out missionaries for the conversion of the Neßtorian heretics in Asia. It was also bis wish that the members of the Congregation who should have reached the age of thitty should bind themselves by vow to give missions to the heathen, 8* toon as they should receive the command of the Sovereign Pontiff, of the Superior-General. This vow was, however, considered " Trfluons by the cardinals who examined the rales of approbation, need scarcely be said that a founder whose pre-eminent science has gained him a place among the nineteen doctors of the Church could not be indifferent to learning among his disciples. He insists, therefore, in his rule on the duty of continual study, so that his priests ••may be of use and profit to the Church on all occasions." St. Alphonsus died on August 1, 1787, in his ninety -first year. Before his death he foretold the spread of his Congregation beyond the Alps, and rejoiced when he heard that two Germans had asked admission from the superior of ibe Roman house. One of these, the Venerable Servant of God Clement Maria Hofbauer, established the order in Poland, Austria, and Switzer'and, and since his death, in 1820, it has spread through most of the countries of Europe, in North and South America, the West Indies, and Australia. It was introduced into England by Dr. Baines, Vicar-Apostolic of the Western District, in 1843, shortly before his death. The British Isles At present (1883) form one Province, with houses in London, Liverpool, Perth, Teignmouth, Limerick, and Dundalk. In 1832 the first establishment of Redemptorists in the U. S. was made at Detroit, and in 1841 another colony arrived and was settled in the dioceße of Baltimore, where is now the mother-house of their Eastern Province. The mother-house of the Western Province, including great part of the Sontbers States, is at St. Louis. These zealous missionariei have conTents and churches in many of the principal cities. The Congregation is under the Government of a superior-general, called the Rector Major, who is elected for life by a general chapter, and is assisted by six consultors. His residence is in Rome. The superiors of the various provinces (Provincial) and the houses (Rectors), with their consultors, are appointed for a term of three years by the Rector Major. Their term of office may be renewed at hiß discretion. — Exchange.