On the day of his conversion (28 VIII 1723) he laid a sword of nobility at the ft of Our woman from the Buying of Slaves. From then on he wore a rosary alternatively of a sword— speaks of the founder of his assembly of editors Fr. Paweł Drobot CSsR.
St. Alfons Maria de Liguori founded the Congregation of the Blessed Redeemer. Father, how many of you are in the planet today?
There are presently about 4500 of us. This number includes priests, spiritual brothers and redemptorists at the phase of the first formation, who have already taken spiritual vows. Co-brothers from our congregation are present on all continents of the planet and service in local churches of different traditions, e.g. Roman Catholic Church, Greek Catholic Church, Symomalabarian Church.
In 1 of the catechesis during the general audience, the Holy Father Benedict XVI said that "St. Alfons was a master of spiritual life for all, and above all for the simple people." Why? How do we realize these words of the Holy Father?
St. Alfons' desire was to scope the most spiritually abandoned people with the Gospel message. That's why he decided to leave Naples. As a young priest, he began preaching retreats and missions among the villagers around the city. That was the beginning of the redemptorists. Next to the word he wrote books, so that people could deepen their spiritual lives. They were simple and speaking books not only to the intellect, but besides to the heart. An example may be the reflections on all day of the period we know as “The Visitation of the Blessed Sacrament”. Another example is the manual for individual prayer entitled “About the large mediate of Prayer”.
Along with the books of St. Alfons, he painted paintings that would aid to accept the Gospel message and compose songs. He realized the crucial function of music in the message of faith. He was besides a good confessor. In this context, the words of Pope Benedict XVI should be understood erstwhile he speaks of St. Alfonso as a master of spiritual life.
Simple people, which is...?
People are simply those whom Jesus spoke of as mediocre in spirit, or ready to receive the Good News. The simplicity of the heart, like the simplicity of the child's heart, can be compared to the open door through which Jesus enters into the life of man. That's why St. Alfons chose simple people as his first recipients.
This does not mean, however, that the ability of the simple message of the Gospel to simple people does not require the proclaimers of the Good News to know. St. Alfons is besides known for having prepared a structured lecture on moral theology, which for many years was a mention point for seminarians from all over Europe.
St. Alfons had a peculiar service to Our Lady. What was his “marity”?
The devotion to Our woman of St. Alfons learned from his mother. Then he developed them as a priest and a redemptorist. In all his sermons and books, he encourages the love of Mary with all his heart as parent of the boy of God, our intercessor, the mediator of grace, the comforter. Before the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary was proclaimed, St. Alfons portrayed her as Immaculate.
He proclaimed Mary Immaculate as the patron saint of the Assembly of the Redemptorists, which he founded in 1732, or more than 120 years before announcing the authoritative dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (8 XII 1854). His peculiar sign of Mary's individual entrustment was that on the day of his conversion (28 VIII 1723) he laid a sword of nobility at the ft of Our woman from the Buying of Slaves. From then on, he wore a rosary alternatively of a sword. That's why the rosary suspended on the habit belt is an crucial part of the redemptorist costume.
Today, I don't think it surprises anyone that Our woman is being insulted. Why do people insult her?
One who is against God is besides against the parent of God’s Son. Insulting Our woman is an attack on a person, but besides on the values that She represents: purity of heart, openness to God's actions in life, readiness to do God's will, unselfish love, fidelity, tenderness, mercy.
The Apocalypse of St. John besides gives us a clear spiritual explanation of the attack on Mary. It is simply a conflict of good and evil. It is an attack of the forces of darkness on the 1 who is the first saved. Fortunately, Satan was defeated and even if we see his attacks, he, and those who have succumbed to his lie are in a losing position.
Someone will ask: Why pray to Our Lady? Praying to God the Father is not enough?
From the very beginning of the past of the fresh Testament, Mary accompanies the Church. Already in Cana of Galilee, the wedding hosts asked Mary to ask Jesus to execute a miracle. On the cross Jesus entrusted Mary to a beloved disciple. This motion is interpreted as entrusting Mary's care to the Church, as well as to the Church's concern for Mother. Throughout history, the apparitions of Our woman are known, where she calls for prayer, repentance, conversion. All this comes from her concern for her spiritual children – the Church. Therefore, we pray to Mary as our intercessor, comforter, helper, mother, who is ready to aid us constantly. Prayer to Mary does not replace prayer to God the Father, to Jesus, who is our Savior and to the Holy Spirit.
What should be the foundation of the relation with the parent of the Savior?
Relationship with Jesus. We worship Mary as the parent of God, the parent of our Savior. So the first step is to believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior. From this relation comes a bond with His parent Mary.
How to reward for the profanation of Our Lady's images?
Our individual conversion and prayer for all who commit profanation are the way to pay. As part of the salary, you can participate with more piety and commitment in the participation and animations of services to Our Lady, prayer of the Rosary, or concern for the chapels of Our Lady, which are in our cities and villages.
What can we – the people of the 21st century – learn from today's patron of the day – Saint Alfons Maria de Liguori?
Loves of Jesus with all his heart and acceptance of the Gospel as rules of life. respect for the Eucharist and the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. designation of the saving function of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus as our Redemption, the sign of which is the cross. He worships Mary, the Immaculate parent of the boy of God and our intercessor with God. Work on individual spiritual improvement through the practice of prayer and discernment. To search out how by utilizing fresh means to go out to people whom the Good News of Jesus has not yet reached, or have forgotten about it. Zealousness in Life as disciples of Jesus Christ.
Marta Dybińska spoke
Oh. Paweł Drobot CSsR – Recollectionist, spiritual Manager, Community Pastor and School of the fresh Evangelization Sursum Corda and Women's Meetings “Fallen Women”. president of the Secretariat of Cooperation in the Mission of the state of Warsaw of the Blessed Redeemer Assembly, associate of the General Secretariat of the Redemptorist Evangelization. He lives in Warsaw. His passion is evangelization.
