Saint Clement Takes on the World
The years in Vienna
Clement’s first years in Vienna were spent quietly until 1813, when he was given the convent church of the Ursuline sisters. Now with pulpit and church at his disposal, he had a base of operations and could interact with the wider Viennese groups. His acquaintances grew to include some leading intellectuals, who would later help to reestablish relations between Rome and the Austrian government. From his years in Warsaw through his time in Vienna, Clement acted as the Vicar-General of the Congregation, responsible for the oversight of the other communities in northern Europe, the establishment of Redemptorist communities throughout Europe, and the formation of vocations to the Redemptorists. This last point was to prove significant, for at his death in 1820, thirty men were ready to begin their Redemptorist formation. From this group the next stage of the spread of the Congregation emerged, whose expansion included the missionaries sent to the United States in 1832.
Clement’s legacy
Like pioneers of every age and culture, Clement was forced to make decisions that, to his fellow Redemptorists in Italy, might have appeared disloyal to the spirit of Saint Alphonsus. However, we can note several traits that allowed Clement to achieve success and from which we can draw inspiration.
(1) Leaders of his ilk required a strong conviction of the righteousness of the task at hand. Clement believed that in preaching the Gospel and bringing God to where the people lived, he was working for the salvation of souls. Although contemporary missionaries might not use those words, they can draw from Clement the conviction that God wants to save each and every person.
(2) An awareness of how one’s context requires a person to adjust his pastoral activity. Although the mission of preaching the Gospel will never expire, it is necessary to reflect on the most appropriate means of doing so. In Clement’s case, he effectively used his relational skills in Vienna to build a cluster of like-minded individuals who would eventually help build the Church’s place in society. He couldn’t do it himself, but he saw others who could help make it happen, and with them he formed a community and nourished it with a vision.
(3) Recognition of the need to promote an active liturgical life among the faithful. In Warsaw the community saw to it that violinists played at least at one Sunday Mass and promoted the conversion of the whole human person through beauty at Mass. Such practices earned Clement a reprimand from his superiors, but he held his ground.
(4) Care for the poor was paramount to Clement. This meant abandoned children and youth, the marginalized, and sinners. No one was beyond God’s friendship, and Clement was disposed to be that friend and offer his support to those who had lost all hope.
Since 1832 the Redemptorists have served in the United States. Today, 100 years after Clement’s canonization, there remains a need to bring God’s plentiful redemption to the poor and abandoned and to announce the Gospel in extraordinary ways.
Clement inspired the men and women of his time and gave life to future generations of missionaries. The Redemptorists and laypeople of Liguori Publications are descendants of Clement’s missionary zeal, and you, the reader, are also the recipient of this one man’s zeal to make Christ present. For his work, he is aptly considered the second founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
Fr. Mat Kessler is the president and publisher of Liguori Publications. He drew the majority of the content of this article from Saint Clement Hofbauer: His Writings and Spirituality, edited by Raymond Corriveau, C.Ss.R. Saint Clement’s feast day is March 15. For more information on this Redemptorist saint, visit www.liguori.org or call 800-325-9521.