A SUMMARY OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER (CSsR)
Moved by compassion for the poor, especially those living in the country districts, who at that time formed a considerable section of the population, St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori (1696-1787), on November 9th 1732, at Scala in the Kingdom of Naples, founded the Congregation of Missionaries of the Most Holy Savior. Afterwards (1749), it came to be called the Congregation of Missionaries of the Most Holy Redeemer (abbreviated CSsR in Latin)
Alphonsus, with his companions, among whom St. Gerard Majella (1726-1755) was outstanding, strove to come to the relief of the spiritual needs, at that time, of the poor of the country districts. These he sought to assist, especially by means of missions, spiritual exercises and renewals, after the manner of St. Paul (Acts 15,36).
Due in a special way to the untiring zeal of St. Clement Mary Hofbauer (1751-1820), “a man with a wonderful strength of faith and possessed of the virtue of invincible constancy,” our Congregation spread beyond the Alps where it found new fields for its apostolic zeal. There also, with the assent of St. Alphonsus, who was informed of the matter, it adopted new missionary methods.
By degrees, the Congregation began to expand through the regions of Europe and from there, due to the enterprise of Father Amand Joseph Passerat (1772-1858), who succeeded St. Clement as vicar-general over all the transalpine communities (that is, the communities outside of Italy, where the Congregation originated), it crossed the ocean and extended through the Americas where it found an energetic apostle in St. John Nepomucene Neumann (1811-1860). It spread through other regions as well, till at last its boundaries extended to the limits of the world itself.
In this way the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer gradually entered different fields of apostolic activity, devoting itself to missionary work among the faithful, among non-Christians and those separated from the Catholic Church. Presently, there are more than 5000 Redemptorist priests and brothers serving in over 70 countries.
Urged on by the same missionary spirit, it fosters, too, the scientific study of pastoral practice, thus following in the steps of St. Alphonsus who, in 1871, was declared a Doctor of the Church and, in 1950, the Patron of all Confessors and Moralists. It aims also to propose a way, suited to the changing conditions of our times, that gives sure guidance in responding to the Gospel and acquiring Christina perfection.