Viva Memoria n. 37 The Redemptoristine's Theological Journal November 2015 Viva Memoria 37 Editorial Viva Memoria, n. 37 The Redemptoristine’s Theological Journal November, 2015 Dear Sisters, Dear Readers, While there are rather diverse and varied themes running through these articles we, have agreed that there is a common thread weaving these together into a general theme, namely: “Mother Mary Celeste, St. Alphonsus and the religious family of --- “The Most Holy Redeemer” --- which they began and which continues today in this year ‘Dedicated to the Consecrated Life’. We have chosen as the lead article by Rev. Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R., Father General, entitled: “St. Alphonsus and Mary, the Mother of God.” Yes, Mary the Mother of God held a very special place in the heart and spirit of St. Alphonsus and Father Brehl gives the reason: “St. Alphonsus believed that since God has given us Jesus through Mary, then the surest way for us to come to Jesus is through Mary.” “Jesus and Celeste” – by Sister Giovanna Lauritano, O.Ss.R. of Scala, and its subtitle: “The Gospels become life and life becomes the Gospels,” emphasizes the importance that our Mother Celeste found in the heart of the Gospel. There she found Christ in the images which He used in His parables and teachings. Sr. Giovanna has presented also some M. Celeste's images from the “Dialogues” (as the sea, the bird, crystal, echo, the dolphin, the seal) and she has shared her insights on them with us. This article was edited by Maddalena Vuolo. “The Spirituality of Maria Celeste Crostarosa” is another inspired article by Rev. Emilio Lage, C.Ss.R.! Again in this reflection on the spirituality of Mother Celeste, we find Christ in all His redemptive mysteries. “Christ, the Word, the man God, is contemplated (by Mother Celeste) in the fullness of His being and his action. ... it is Christ’s entire life that she has in mind:” ( Father Lage). Father stresses that apart from the divine inspiration, M. Celeste drew her ideas from the Scripture, the liturgy 2 Viva Memoria 37 and the writings of the Fathers of the Church. Thus it appears that she had a significant religious culture and knew some theological notions used at her times. The culmination of her spirituality is the Eucharist. Her spirituality may be a valid proposition for all the whole Church. Sister Gabrielle of the Dublin community and a member of the Service Board is preparing some articles on Formation, in the hope that they will help formators to implement the “Ratio Formationis.” Here we present Part 1 on the theme of “Chastity.” Sister proposes that “intimacy and affective maturity- ... must be found within one’s being at least in seed form and in a human and spiritual harmony.” “Preaching the Gospel Ever Anew in the Spirit of St. Alphonsus,” by Rev. Brendan J. Kelly, C.Ss.R. brings us again to the ‘spirit’ of St. Alphonsus, specifically in the context of Alphonsus the ‘Missionary.’ Father Kelly explains how Alphonsus: “... saw himself called not just to see Christ in the poor, but rather to identify himself with the Redeemer ‘who became poor that we might become rich’” (2 Cor. 8:9). “A LOVELY FIFTY DAYS – PENTECOST” - a short but very meaningful reflection for the Redemptoristines by Sr. Anna Maria Ceneri, O.Ss.R. The living flames of the Spirit of Love, shone on Mother Maria Celeste and the first Redemptoristines on Pentecost, 1731, the birthday of our Order. Sr. Anna Maria quotes our Mother Celeste: “Live only on love, in love and for love, burn with love until you become totally and without any difference, fire with Fire!” This is Pentecost! Sister Ewa Klaczak , O.Ss.R. of Bielsko-Biala and her article: “What does Pope Francis remind us about in the Year of Consecrated Life” brings us back to where we began – ‘... this year Dedicated to the Consecrated Life.’ As the Holy Father exhorts religious to “live the present with passion,” Sister Ewa shows us how Mother Maria Celeste lived her consecrated life with ‘passion.’ Other articles in this #37 show us how St. Alphonsus lived his consecrated life with ‘passion.’ Alphonsus and Celeste: “experts in communion,” with Jesus, Redeemer. Your editors: Sr. Joan Calver, Sr. Gabrielle Fox, Sr. Magdalena Schumann, Sr. Ewa Dobrzelecka, Sr. Imma Di Stefano 3 Viva Memoria 37 INDEX St. Alphonsus and Mary, the Mother of God - Father General Michael Brehl, C.Ss.R., Rome Jesus and Celeste - The Gospels become life and life becomes the Gospels” – Giovanna Lauritano, O.Ss.R., Scala The Spirituality of Maria Celeste Crostarosa - Emilio Lage, C.Ss.R., Rome Formation part I - Chastity – Gabrielle Fox, O.Ss.R., Dublin Preaching the Gospel Ever Anew in the Spirit of St. Alphonsus - Brendan J. Kelly, C.Ss.R., Rome A LOVELY FIFTY DAYS – PENTECOST - Anna Maria Ceneri, O.Ss.R., Saint Agatha dei Goti What does Pope Francis remind us about in the Year of Consecrated Life - Ewa Klaczak , O.Ss.R., Bielsko-Biała AN APPENDIX BEFORE THE CROSS – REDEMPTORISTINE NUNS: LIVING MEMORIES OF JESUS the REDEEMER - Archbishop Robert J. Carlson THE REDEMPTORISTINES OF HUAMBO - A new O.Ss.R. foundation in Huambo, Angola, Sisters of Diabo, Burkina Faso. A ‘Redemptoristine’ Prayer for the 25th Redemptorist General Chapter – S. Joan Calver, O.Ss.R., Thailand) 4 Viva Memoria 37 Translators Sr. Petra Maria Amershuber, O.Ss.R., Dublin John Bradbury, Australia Fr. Sylwester Cabała, C.Ss.R.,Tuchów, Poland Elisabeth Chestnut, U.S.A. Fr. Mirosław Dawlewicz, C.Ss.R., Poland – Russia Peter Gross, Germany Fr. Emilo Lage, CSsR, Rome Rafael Leon, Puerto Rico Fr. Patrice Nyanda, C.Ss.R., Sr. Magdalena Schumann, O.Ss.R., Dublin Sr.Maria d’Amato, O.Ss.R., Scala, Italy Sr. Hilde de Paepe, O.Ss.R., Dublin Sr. Ewa Dobrzelecka, O.Ss.R., Bielsko-Biała Alena Diabolkova, O.Ss.R, Dublin Pictures: Sr. Maria Volkova, O.Ss.r., Keżmarok Małgorzata Batko, Kraków, Poland, Alena Diabolkova, O.Ss.R, Dublin and others…. Thank you Dziękujemy vielen Dank ขอบคุณมาก RingRaziamo Ngibonga Ďakujem ありがとう Gracias Merci 5 Viva Memoria 37 S. Alphonsus and Mary, the Mother of God Father General, Michael Brehl, CSsR Introduction: It has been said that the story of each vocation is very different from one person to another, but all have one point in common: the gentle and decisive intervention of Mary. However, among the saints there are some for whom this relationship with Mary, the mother of Jesus, is lived much more intensely. There are some for whom their relationship with Mary is much more of a son or daughter with a mother. Among these ‘Marian saints’, we can certainly number St. Alphonsus. This in no way diminishes the absolute centrality of the person of Jesus Christ in his spirituality, theology, and morality. His very centre is distinctly ‘Christological’. St. Alphonsus believed that since God has given us Jesus through Mary, then the surest way for us to come to Jesus is through Mary. In fact, Alphonsus is so thoroughly ‘Marian’ because he is so completely ‘Christological’. This is the first and fundamental basis on which we can speak of St. Alphonsus and Mary. 1. The Family Life, Culture, Education of Alphonsus At the time of Alphonsus’ childhood and adolescence, there were 214 Sanctuaries dedicated to Mary in Naples. The co-patron of the City of Naples was Our Lady of Carmel, the “Brown Madonna”. The parents of Alphonsus lived and breathed in this Marian culture – and it marked their son. Alphonsus was born at their ‘country’ residence of Marianella. He was baptized at Santa Maria delle Vergini at his mother’s insistence, and he was consecrated to Mary, receiving ‘Maria’ as his second of nine names. Alphonsus was raised to pray before various statues and images of Mary, especially, to pray the rosary. Graduating in 1713 from the University in Naples, he professed the ‘blood oath’ to defend the Marian privilege of the Immaculate Conception. For him, this was not a mere formality. Years 6 Viva Memoria 37 later, he renewed the oath he had taken so solemnly at the age of 16, and he wrote of the significance of this act in The Glories of Mary. From 1715, he became a member of the pious Congregation of S. Maria della Misericordia, and also the Congregation of the Visitation. In August 1723, the ‘Year of his Conversion’, after losing the case concerning Amatrice, and after participating in both the Novena and then the Octave of the Assumption, he decided to abandon the ‘world’, and consecrate his life to God, leaving his sword, the sign of his nobility, at the altar in the church of the Madonna della Mercede. Again, years later, looking on the image of the Madonna della Mercede, he said that ‘It was she who took me from the world and made me enter the clerical state’. As a young cleric, he became a member of the ‘Company of Santa Maria sucurre miseris’ – the help of the miserable. In 1729-1730, he came to the small shrine of Santa Maria dei Monti above Scala, where he could read the mysteries of the Redemption in the Madonna with the child in one arm and the bible in the other. Here he received the inspiration for his missionary project. Of course, we also know of the many extraordinary experiences of Mary which marked his life: the appearances of Mary, and her words in the grotto at Scala; the experiences in Foggia, Amalfi, Castel S. Giorgio, Arienzo, and many other places. In 1762, while in Rome to be ordained Bishop, he made a pilgrimage to Loreto – as far as we know, it was the only formal pilgrimage he made.