Redemptorist Archives

A blessing on our former intern, Scott Partin, and his confrere Noel Bustillos on the occasion of their pronouncement of first vows today at St. Michael's, Chicago. Scott is a member of the Denver Province and Noel is a member of the Canadian Province, Yorkton Region.

For Throwback Thursday, we're borrowing from Liguori Publications on Fr. Francis X. Darmady, CSSR. He was one of the pioneer Redemptorists who helped build up their publishing enterprise at Liguori, Missouri, but he grew to become known as the "Salesman of Our Lady." He continually worked to spread the Perpetual Help Devotions, mainly on the West Coast--preaching in over 200 parishes on the significance of the weekly devotion. His labors wore him out and by age 50, he died. As we approach her feast day on June 27, Darmady's legacy for Perpetual Help remains a powerful testament to her efficacy and to the Redemptorists' commitment to promote her throughout the world.

Happy birthday to the parish community of St. Michael in Old Town, Chicago! On this date in 1861 the foundation was canonically erected, though Redemptorists were on site already by February of that year. It was rebuilt after the great fire of 1871 and its altar, windows, and shrine to Our Lady of Perpetual Help are significant features of the church. Today this active and venerable parish also serves as the headquarters for the Denver Province of the Redemptorists.

The OLPH Center began in the Bronx as a missionary effort to bring the icon into every corner of the Earth. Today it is the most replicated Madonna and Cild on the planet.

Well, someone has to say it: HAPPY INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVES DAY!!

The Redemptorist Archives has assisted this pair of seminarians in their quest to learn more about their hometown of St. Mary's, PA, where Redemptorists served in the nineteenth century. Best wishes as you continue your vocational path!

We happily note the presence of Archbishop O'Hara at the tomb of St. John Neumann on the occasion of the opening of the Marian Year (1953).

Today is the feast of St. Gerard Majella, a Redemptorist brother. Sometimes called the mother's saint, he's a wonder worker, particularly for women with difficult pregnancies. Redemptorists have created devotional guilds to St. Gerard. Many of his clients have been mothers who've delivered so-called "St. Gerard babies." Shown here are samples of St. Gerard ephemera in the Redemptorist Archives in Philadelphia.

Today is the feast of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R., a German-born Redemptorist missionary who died in the Yellow Fever epidemic in New Orleans in 1867. Blessed Seelos is sometimes called "the cheerful ascetic." His letters and biographies have been assembled by former archivists of the Baltimore Province. The portrait is now in the Redemptorist Archives; his citizenship declaration is in the National Archives. To learn more about him visit www.seelos.org. #onthisday #onthisdayinhistory #redemptorist #redemptorists #archives #inthearchives #fromthearchives #feastday #saints #blesseds #neworleans #yellowfever #19thcentury #catholicarchives #catholichistory #catholicchurch

Saddened to learn of the passing of this devoted Redemptorist librarian...

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3359232684169191&id=100002474760048

A new mission but an old presence in the Caribbean.

St. Alphonsus was born on September 27, 1696....

We are pleased to release the latest edition of the Redemptorist North American Historical Bulletin. Anyone can download the issue for free (see the link in the comments). Please feel free to circulate this among your contacts. https://www.redemptorists.com//the-redemptorist-north-ame/

Please consider applying...

Here's a lovely write up on our friend Sr. Reginald.

It's marbled Monday! The "novice master notes" of Father Maximus Leimgruber are surprisingly bound in these striking marbled papers. Father Leimgruber was an important member of the American mission, Baltimore Province, and later the St. Louis Province. He was a rector of several Redemptorist houses across the country as well as a novice master in the 1850s. His notebooks detailing his work as a novice master demonstrates his interest in the welfare of the young men who... sought to become Redemptorists, including notes on making "visitations" in chapel. #redemptorist #archives #priests #marbledmonday #marbledpaper #religiousarchives #novitiate #novicemasters #notebooks #redemptorists See more

From the house chronicles at St. Alphonsus College, Suffield, Connecticut, Monday, May 14, 1973: "I really can't remember a darn thing that happened today, so I'm not going to waste my time or yours trying to think of something." OK then.

A dear friend of ours has passed to glory. Sister Reginald was a thoughtful promoter of the study of Black Catholic history and the Redemptorists' role in that history. She was an admirer especially of Fr. Thaddeus Anwander CSSR, who she often called the second founder of the Oblate Sisters of Providence.