Online Triduum for the feast of St. John Neumann in English (2nd to 5th January)...
Fr Ivel Mendanha CSsR., one of our General Consultors, speaks to us...
"Greetings my dear brothers and sisters, confreres, Redemptorist Lay partners on mission, associates, and collaborators,
On the 5th of January we, the Redemptorist family celebrate the feast of St. John Neumann. The Life of St John Neumann is a shining example of one who was a pilgrim of Hope. We have just entered into this New year 2025, a special year in the Catholic Church, a Holy Year, a Jubilee Year with the theme of this Holy year as Pilgrims of Hope. The Holy Father in inaugurating the Holy Year with the Bull of induction entitled SPES NON CONFUNDIT. “Hope does not disappoint” (Rom 5:5).
On this occasion, we have another Online Triduum preached by Fr. Ivel Mendanha, CSsR, General Consultor for the preparation of the feast. So, each of these days in preparation for the feast we will reflect on the following themes.
Day 1: St. John Neumann a pilgrim of Hope
The Life of St John Neumann is a shining example of one who was a pilgrim of Hope. We have just entered into this New year 2025, a special year in the Catholic Church, a Holy Year, a Jubilee Year with the theme of this Holy year as Pilgrims of Hope. It is in this context we reflect today on St. John Neumann as a pilgrim of Hope. He knew what it was to hope and he never gave up despite the many challenges and obstacles that he had to endure all his life. Let us reflect on a few of them. St. John Neumann new suffering. He experienced it personally in a myriad of ways. Yet, he never gave up. He was steadfast in his HOPE. The sufferings were many in his life: First, The loneliness in the seminary in Prague, away from his own hope town. Yet, he never gave up but kept hoping that one day he will be a priest. Second, His desire to be a missionary priest in the USA. Third, his life as a missionary diocesan priest in upstate New York Fourth, His life as a Redemptorist was a joyful one as he went about proclaiming the Good News in mission preaching as a missionary of Hope especially among immigrant people. Fifth, without warning, in 1852, Pope Pius IX commanded the Redemptorists to accept Neumann’s appointment as bishop of Philadelphia Finally, Neumann hoped that one day if it was God’s will, he would see his family. But the little Bishop’s service came to an abrupt end, for on January 5, 1860, while on his usual rounds, he collapsed in the street and died. In 1921 Pope Benedict XV declared that Neumann practiced all the Catholic virtues to a heroic degree. Pope Paul VI beatified Neumann on October 13, 1963, and canonised him on June 19, 1977. He was the first American man to be elevated to sainthood. Neumann was truly a pilgrim of Hope all his life until his life pilgrimage ended with his going home to the God of Hope and uniting with the Lord in heaven.
Day 2: St. John Neumann a Missionary of Hope
In Spes Non Confundit, “Hope does not disappoint”, Pope Francis says that during the Holy Year we are called to be signs of Hope to our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind. In this reflection in preparation for the feast of St John Neuman we reflect on how St. John Neumann was a sign of hope himself, how he was a Missionary of Hope in the footsteps of the redeemer to so many women and men and children who were experiencing hardships of various kinds.
First, we begin with his life as a Missionary priest in upstate New York. Neumann believed that allowing Catholic immigrants to remain empty of the Word was contrary to God’s will. Further, he believed that God wanted him to be the messenger of the Gospel to those isolated from the Church. So, he embraced his calling with ‘all the zeal of a missionary of hope.’
Second, his life as a Redemptorist Missionary of Hope.
Third, Neumann as Bishop, a missionary of Hope. Without warning, in 1852, Pope Pius IX commanded the Redemptorists to accept Neumann’s appointment as bishop of Philadelphia. He was consecrated bishop on Passion Sunday, March 28,1852, taking the words, ‘Passion of Christ, strengthen me,’ as his Episcopal motto and becoming known as the ‘Little Bishop’.
In conclusion, John Neumann is called today, the patron of immigrant people and especially immigrant children for whom he opened so many schools as Bishop so that they would have a good Catholic Education. He was truly, to use the words of Pope Francis, a sign of Hope to the poor immigrant people from different European cultures struggling to live their Catholic faith in a largely anti Catholic environment in the USA.
Day 3: St. John Neumann and sources of his Hope
Feast Day: St. John Neumann: A missionary with a heart for the Poor, Simplicity and Humility rooted in the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and in devotion to Mary.
Each day will be uploaded before the start of the Triduum (from the 1st of January evening) so that those you can get the link to the video, reflect upon and pray with us any time of the day.
Scala News
One can view the recorded videos uploaded each day on Social media platforms:
Website: www.cssr.news
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@scalanews8920 (Scala News)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CSsR.en/ (C.Ss.R. – Redemptorists English)"
