Page Map - The True Mass & Breviary - Think of Jesus Christ all day - Saint Pius X and the Redemptorists
The True Mass & Breviary
Enduring truth of the Redemptorist Fonder
You stand firm on the timeless principles that guide our faith. This page delves into the profound significance of the Mass and Breviary, as illuminated by Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, guiding us back to the unwavering truths of our Catholic tradition.
A departure from Tradition and catholic faith
Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, a Doctor of the Church, clearly articulates in his profound work, "Discourses on the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and on the Divine Office," the way catholic priests must celebrate the holy mass in the roman rite.
His discourses are a clear and prophetic condemnation of the modern Mass. The same idea applies to other rites.
The abandonment of the Divine Office represents also a grave deviation that contributes to the loss of the faith and the weakness of priests in modern times.
These are not mere preferences but fundamental tenets deeply rooted in the heart of Catholic faith for which martyrs shed their blood.
The anchors of our faith
The holy catholic church believes, with unwavering conviction, that without the sacred Latin Mass -or its equivalent in any other rites-and the devout recitation of the Breviary, Catholic priests risk losing the very essence of the Catholic faith. These centuries-old ancient forms are not archaic relics but living expressions of devotion, sanctity, and doctrinal purity that have nourished souls for centuries.
Returning to the authentic teachings
This page serves as a beacon for all, whether you are unfamiliar with the richness of pre-Vatican II Catholicism or hold reservations about older traditions. Our fervent hope is that you will cultivate a healthy mistrust towards contemporary church ideas and wholeheartedly embrace the timeless teachings of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the esteemed Doctor of the Church and anti-liberal Bishop. Reclaim the truth. The true catholic faith of saint Alfonso's books will also lead you to catholic writers such as Gilbert Keith Chesterton (29 May 1874 – 14 June 1936) and Joseph Hilaire Pierre René Belloc (27 July 1870 – 16 July 1953).
Think of Jesus Christ all day!
Isaiah, "The fifth Gospel" Chapter 53
"Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we
are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray, every one hath turned
aside into his own way: and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of
us all. 7 He was offered because it was his own will, and he opened not
his mouth".
Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris
The Redemptorist Martyrs of Cuenca & Madrid
The 4 Ukranian Blessed Redemptorist Martyrs
Blessed Methodius Dominic Trčka, Redemptorist Martyr, Czech Republic
(Bohemia)
Brother Marcel Nguyễn Tân Văn, Redemptorist Martyr, Vietnam
Redemptorists in Africa & Madagascar
Redemptorists in India
Thank you Almighty God for persecutions, misunderstandings, crosses,
contempt, suffering, humiliations, thank you! God bless all souls in Jesus
Crucified!
"Nos autem gloriari oportet in cruce Domini nostri Iesu Christi, in quo est salus, vita, et re-
surrectio nostra, per quem salvati et liberati sumus."
Please, Father, can you hear my confession?
Thank you Almighty God for all redemptorist vocations!
Saint Pius X and the Redemptorists: A Legacy of Faith, Reform, and Renewal
The turn of the 20th century was a period of profound transformation and spiritual challenge for the Catholic Church. As the forces of secularism and theological "modernism" began to reshape European society, the Church required leaders of unshakeable faith and clear apostolic vision. At the center of this pivotal era stood Pope Saint Pius X (who reigned from 1903 to 1914), whose papacy would leave an indelible mark on the universal Church.
Yet, the history of Saint Pius X's pontificate is beautifully intertwined with the history, saints, and mission of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer—the Redemptorists. From the glorification of their greatest saints to a shared passion for defending the purity of Catholic doctrine, the bond between this holy Pope and the sons of Saint Alfonso Maria de Liguori remains a brilliant chapter in church history.
1. The Elevation of Redemptorist Sanctity: Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer
The most visible and lasting connection between Saint Pius X and the Redemptorist family occurred on May 20, 1909. On this historic day, Pope Pius X solemnly canonized Saint Clement Mary Hofbauer (1751–1820), widely revered as the "Second Founder" of the Redemptorists.
When Saint Alphonsus founded the Congregation in Naples in 1732, it was largely a localized Italian mission. It was Clement Mary Hofbauer who took the Redemptorist charism "beyond the Alps" (Transalpine), establishing the order in Warsaw, Poland, and later in Vienna, Austria.
Saint Pius X deeply admired Hofbauer's heroic resilience. Clement had faced intense political persecution, expulsions, and the suppressive laws of the Enlightenment era, yet he never wavered in his loyalty to the Successor of Saint Peter. By canonizing him, Pius X held up the Redemptorist missionary model as the perfect antidote to the secularism of the modern age, demonstrating that evangelical zeal could triumph even in the most hostile cultural climates.
2. A Shared Crusade Against Modernism and Jansenism
Pope Saint Pius X is famously remembered for his fierce defense of Catholic orthodoxy, particularly through his landmark 1907 encyclical Pascendi dominici gregis, which condemned the heresy of Modernism. Interestingly, this theological battle cry mirrored the original spiritual warfare waged by the Redemptorists since their inception.
Saint Alphonsus de Liguori founded the Redemptorists to combat Jansenism—a rigid, harsh theological movement that viewed God as a merciless judge and discouraged people from receiving the Sacraments. St Alphonsus countered this by preaching the infinite mercy of God and the joy of frequent Holy Communion.
Centuries later, Saint Pius X championed the exact same Eucharistic theology. Known as the "Pope of the Eucharist," Pius X revolutionized Catholic life by lowering the age of First Holy Communion for children and vigorously encouraging the faithful to receive daily Communion. The Redemptorists, who had spent nearly two centuries preaching parish missions rooted in the love of the Eucharist and the confessional, became vital instruments in implementing Pius X's Eucharistic renewal across the globe.
3. The Apostolate of the Pen
Saint Alphonsus was a prolific writer, penning over one hundred books on moral theology and spirituality to educate ordinary people. He established what Redemptorists call the Apostolate of the Pen.
During the reign of Saint Pius X, this literary mission reached new heights. In 1913, with the implicit blessing of the era's pastoral movement, Redemptorist professors in the United States founded Liguorian magazine. This initiative perfectly aligned with Pius X's desire for the Catholic laity to be robustly catechized and armed with authentic Catholic media to withstand the theological confusion of the 20th century.
Conclusion: A Continuous Legacy of Fidelity
The historic intersection of Saint Pius X and the Redemptorists reminds us of a fundamental truth: true reform in the Church always comes through sanctity.
By raising Redemptorists to the altars and utilizing their missionary zeal to spread Eucharistic devotion, Saint Pius X strengthened the bedrock of Catholic tradition. Today, as Redemptorist missionaries continue to serve the poor and most abandoned in over eighty countries, they carry forward that same uncompromised fidelity to the Gospel and the Magisterium that Saint Pius X so fiercely defended during his life on earth.
