News Items
To Commemorate the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
To Commemorate the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help...
The 150th anniversary of the restoration of the icon of our Mother of Perpetual Help for public veneration will stir up in people many theological, spiritual and personal thoughts.
As a preacher of the Word of God, I often give conferences on the role of our Blessed Lady in our lives. As a Redemptorist, I recall the urging of our founder St. Alphonsus that we should not omit on any mission or retreat, a conference on Mary the mother of Jesus. And of course as a member of the Redemptorist family I have a personal devotion to Our Lady - especially under this title of Perpetual Help. As a member of the Church, I recall chapter 8 of Lumen Gentium, on the role of Mary in the economy of salvation.
It is good to call to mind the debate that took place during the Second Vatican Council prior to the completion of this great document on the Church. Many Council Fathers wanted a separate document on the role of the Virgin Mary in the Church. This was just fourteen years after the solemn declaration of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven by Pope Pius XII on 15th August 1950, and just over ten years after the conclusion of the Marian Year of 1954 which was celebrated throughout the world. So one can see why many of the Council Fathers thought that a separate document was important.
However, the periti, that group of wise and I also believe pastoral men, who were the theologians preparing the documents, together with a sizeable group of bishops, argued differently. They did not wish to downplay the role of Mary. However, they wished to situate her exactly where she belongs: that is, at the heart of the Church. It is for this reason that the final chapter of this great and seminal document of the Council is named: The Role of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, in the Mystery of Christ and the Church.
Of course Mary is not given one specific title in this document. Every local Church, and many Religious Orders and Congregations honour Mary under a title that is meaningful and suitable for them. As we know, St. Alphonsus had his own personal devotion to Mary under the title of our Lady of Good Counsel. And of course his appreciation of her as the Immaculate Conception is at the heart of his Marian doctrine. We also know that at one stage he wanted all Redemptorists to take a vow to defend the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception. However, this was removed from the early outline rule by Rome.
Read more: To Commemorate the Icon of Our Mother of Perpetual Help
Celebrating one of our great Patrons!
Celebrating one of our great Patrons!...
We will celebrate liturgically tomorrow,
however, we celebrate our great Patron
St George
today.
Celebrated in the five continents, we are glad to have this special link.
Everyone in England, have a Happy Feast Day!
God bless England!
CSsR Redemptorist World!
CSsR Redemptorist World!...
Click here to see the Redemptorists in every part of the world!
We think you will be impressed!
Good Friday 2017
Good Friday 2017...
Holy Thursday
Holy Thursday...
An amazing amount of stuff! This was one of the most pivotal days in the life of Jesus Christ. Here are some of the things the gospels record for this day (including events that happened after midnight). Jesus:
- Sent Peter and John to arrange for them to use the Upper Room to hold the Passover meal.
- Washed the apostles' feet.
- Held the first Mass.
- Instituted the priesthood.
- Announced that Judas would betray him.
- Gave the "new commandment" to love one another.
- Indicated that Peter had a special pastoral role among the apostles.
- Announced that Peter would deny him.
- Prayed for the unity of his followers.
- Held all the discourses recorded across five chapters of John (John 13-18).
- Sang a hymn.
- Went to the Mount of Olives.
- Prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Was betrayed by Judas.
- Stopped the disciples from continuing a violent resistance.
- Healed the ear of Malchus, the high priest's servant, after Peter cut it off with a sword.
- Was taken before the high priests Annas and Caiaphas.
- Was denied by Peter.
- Was taken to Pilate.
Read the Gospel passage for yourself; it is all there.
Sr Bernadette OSsR Funeral RIP
Sr Bernadette OSsR Funeral RIP...
It was a strange start to Holy Week for the Redemptorists and the Redemptoristine Nuns of Dublin as they all gathered in Liverpool for the Requiem of the last English Redemptoristine Nun - Sr Mary Bernadette OSsR. They gathered to thank God for her life and to lay her to rest.
Along with her own blood family there were also six OSsR Nuns who had left the enclosure and sang the Requiem Mass. Fr Provincial Ronnie McAinsh CSsR presided at the Funeral Mass, accompanied by many other Fathers and Brothers. Bishop Ralph Heskett CSsR was in attendance as was Archbishop Kelly, Emeritus Archbishop of Liverpool.
A Stamp to commemorate St Clement in Vienna
A Stamp to commemorate St Clement in Vienna...
The Redemptorists of Vienna-Hernals have brought out a new postal stamp to commemorate the feast of St. Clement Hofbauer CSsR.
Read the story by clicking here St Clement's Postal Stamp
St Clement Hofbauer CSsR - Pray for us!
Sr Mary Bernadette OSsR RIP
Sr Mary Bernadette OSsR RIP...
Please pray for the
happy and peaceful
repose of the soul of our sister
Sr Mary Bernadette OSsR
Redemptoristine Nun
(Liverpool)
who went home to the Father
in the early hours of this morning.
Requiescat in pace
Read Sr Bernadette's story "Why I became an OSsR Nun?..."
CSsR Edmonton London
CSsR Edmonton London...
Fr. Charles Corrigan, (Prefect of Students) went with our students to visit the church of the Most Precious Blood in Edmonton.
This church has important connections with the Redemptorists. The parish was founded by the Redemptorists in 1904 and we stayed there until 1926. During that time we built the church and the Monastery.
The church has a beautiful shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Succour and devotion to her continues in the parish.
Giving a CSsR Retreat...
Giving a CSsR Retreat/Workshop...
A confrere from the Province reflects on his time in Thailand!
"I was invited to Thailand by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart to give a 8-day retreat for their council and superiors at their beautiful place in Hua Hin. Their retreat centre is beside the beach... a dream place. 
I then went to the Redemptorist Spirituality Centre in Bangkok, which is part of the large complex that houses the Catholic International Independent School, run by the Redemptorists. The group was mixed with sisters from various congregations, the young St Gabriel brothers who run schools in Thailand, and the Redemptorists. A wonderful group of people. We did a seminar on Jonah, Jesus, and Discipleship."
Many thanks to Fr Denis McBride CSsR
Station of the Cross - Book Reviewed
Station of the Cross, Then and Now - Book Reviewed...
A recent book review by 'Thinking Faith' gave Fr Denis McBride CSsR latest book a glowing review. This book on the Stations of the Cross was reviewed alongside a book by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
On the "Stations of the Cross then and now" the Jesuit reviewer said,
"This is a book to ponder and pray, not to read. Whilst it is especially relevant for Lent and Holy Week, it is a book full of insights and blessings to keep in your daily prayer corner for any day or night of the year."
