Our Mother of Perpetual Succour's Feast Day...

Have a Happy Feast Day and enjoy wherever you may be!

The Redemptorist Fathers discussing the icon with Pope Pius IX!

Our Blessed Mother and a few of our saintly confreres!

St. John Neumann C.Ss.R., St Alphonsus Liguori C.Ss.R.,

Our Lady of Perpetual Succour,

St. Clement Hofbauer C.Ss.R., St. Gerard Majella C.Ss.R.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ...

In this picture we see St Alphonsus lovingly adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.

O my dear Jesus, what can you do to make me love You? 

Make me understand what an excess of love you have shown me by reducing Yourself to food,

in order to unite Yourself to poor sinners! 

You, my dear Redeemer, have so much affection for me,

that you have not refused to give Yourself again and again entirely to me in Holy Communion. 

And yet I have had the courage to drive You away from my soul on so many occasions! 

You do not despise a humble and contrite heart. 

You became human for my sake. 

You died for me. 

You even went so far as to become my food. 

What more can there remain for You to do in order to gain my love? 

Oh, that I could die with grief every time that I remember that I have despised Your grace. 

I repent, O my love, with my whole heart for having offended you. 

I love You, O infinite goodness!  I love You, O infinite love! 

I desire nothing but to love You, and I fear nothing but to live without your love. 

My beloved Jesus, do not refuse to come to me. 

Come, because I would rather die a thousand times than drive You away again. 

I will do all that I can to please You. 

Come and inflame my whole soul with Your love. 

Grant that I may forget everything, to think only of You,

and to desire You alone,

my sovereign and my only good.

Prayer composed by St. Alphonsus Liguori

COME LET US ADORE HIM!

Our Mother of Perpetual Help Novena...

Although the devotion to our icon dates back over many hundreds of years, the Perpetual Novena Devotions were the brainchild of an American Redemptorist in the middle of last century.

In recent times the custom of preparing for the feast on the 27th June with nine days of prayer has become a feature of the life of many Redemptorist churches.

Literally thousands of people will be attending the Novena in different places. Did you know that in Singapore the underground station and the district it serves is actually called "Novena", says something about the success of the devotions there?

Around Britain the novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help is being held in Perth, Edinburgh, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Liverpool, Birmingham and London. (To name but a few!)

To get the prayers you need for the novena, you'll have to read on...

Read more: Perpetual Help Novenas

Trinity Sunday...

In a word, the Three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity have endeavoured to show the love which God has borne us, that we may love him through gratitude.

 It is, then, but just that we love that God who has been the first to love us, and to put us under so many obligations by so many proofs of tender love.

“Let us, therefore, love God, because God first hath loved us." (1 John iv. 19.)

Oh! what a treasure is charity! it is an infinite treasure, because it makes us partakers of the friendship of God.

”She is an infinite treasure to men, which they that use become the friends of God." (Wis. vii. 14.)

But, to acquire this treasure, it is necessary to detach the heart from earthly things.

“Detach the heart from creatures," says St. Teresa, "and you shall find God."

In a heart filled with earthly affections, there is no room for divine love.

Let us therefore continually implore the Lord in our prayers, communions, and visits to the blessed sacrament, to give us his holy love; for this love will expel from our souls all affections for the things of this earth.

”When," says St. Francis de Sales, ”a house is on fire, all that is within is thrown out through the windows."

By these words the saint meant, that when a soul is inflamed with divine love, s/he easily detaches him/herself from creatures: and Father Paul Segneri, the younger, used to say,

that divine love is a thief that robs us of all earthly affections, and makes us exclaim:

”What, O my Lord, but thee alone, do I desire ?"

Homily preached by St Alphonsus Liguori 

Spirituality Course in Italy or on line...

The Center for Spirituality is conducting its annual English and Spanish language workshops for Redemptorists this summer. About thirty confreres converged on Rome at the start of June for the English language workshop.

They have now made their way to Materdomini to enjoy their hospitality and facilities for the course and to be the hub for excursions to the places of origin.

The group includes some Redemptorists preparing for their final vows. What a great way to begin perpetual profession – steeped in Alphonsian spirituality and experiencing places like Scala, Ciorani, Pagani, Marianella and Muro Lucano.

Can't come to Italy? You too can experience our roots – virtually - by visiting our cssr.com website and click on "On-line Pilgrimage" in the menu.

Hospitality in Chawton...CSsR style!

Br Anthony and Fr Denis McBride were able to offer hospitality to the EPC (Extra-ordinary Provincial Council) who were visiting Chawton for the AGM of Redemptorist Publications.

A great day was had by all - and the soup was wonderful!

Thanks Br. Anthony!

Pentecost...

You are fire; enkindle in me your love.

You are light; enlighten my mind with the knowledge of eternal things.

You are the Dove; 
give me innocence of life.

You are the gentle Breeze; 
disperse the storms of my passions.

You are the Tongue; 
teach me how to bless you always.

You are the Cloud; 
shelter me under the shadow of your protection.

And lastly,  You are the Giver of all heavenly gifts; 
animate me,

I beseech you, with your grace; 
sanctify me

with your charity; 
enlighten me

with your wisdom; 
adopt me by your goodness as your child,

and save me in your infinite mercy;

so that I may ever bless you, praise you, and love you;

first during this life on earth,

and then in heaven for all eternity.

Amen.

St. 
Alphonsus Liguori

Enjoy this wonderful feast!

Steeple Trouble...

St. Mary's in Clapham, London looks ever bit a charming church... and indeed it is!

However, come out the church and look up...

Steeple problems have been diagnosed...

Netting has to go all round the upper part of the steeple, to prevent unwanted debris falling...

Such is life in a busy parish!

We'll keep you up dated...or go to the

Clapham website.

Coordinator of the Conference of Europe...

According to the Decisions of the XXIV General Chapter (2.1-2.8), the General Council, during its Extraordinary Meeting from April 13-20, chose the Coordinators of the five Conferences from the candidates proposed by the Conference Assemblies.

The Conference Coordinators will come to Rome for the June 13-24 Extraordinary Meeting of the General Council to come to a further understanding of their role and to participate in the Extraordinary Meeting.

Coordinator of the Conference of Europe: Fr. Jacek Zdrzałek, C.Ss.R. Father Jacek Zdrzałek, 46, was born July 10, 1964 in Zabrze, Poland. He made his first profession as a Redemptorist on February 2, 1985 in the Province of Warsaw. He made perpetual profession on August 15, 1989 and was ordained a priest on June 17, 1990. Father Jacek has served in parish ministry as well as a variety of internal Redemptorist ministries such as being a professor, a prefect of students and Rector of a seminary. Most recently he served as novice master. Father Jacek has also been serving on the General Secretariat for Formation. He speaks Polish and English, understands Russian and reads Spanish. The London Province sends Fr Jacek our congratulations!