St. Clement Mary Hofbauer, C.Ss.R.

The aged founder of the order, Saint Alphonsus Liguori, was still living (just barely), but he rejoiced in hearing about the two new members. He predicted they would enjoy huge success in taking the Redemptorists, until then known only in Italy, beyond the Alps into Vienna and points beyond.

Because of the political situation at the time, Hofbauer and Hübl could not settle in Vienna. Instead they went to Warsaw, where the archbishop gladly gave them charge of the rundown, priestless Saint Benno’s church, which had been built for German Catholics living in Warsaw. He told them to see if they could make it go.

And make it go they did! Redemptorist lore is full of stories about the perpetual mission atmosphere that pervaded the parish when Hofbauer and Hübl were in charge. The stories tell of daily sermons preached in various languages and always to a full church. There are tales of the catechism lessons given to Catholic, non-Catholic, and even Jewish children, and accounts of the long lines of people waiting to go to confession. And there is the story of the orphanage that Clement built to house the abandoned children roaming the streets.

After Father Hübl died in 1807, Clement finally moved to Vienna. He lived and ministered there for the next twelve years. His official title was chaplain at the Ursuline convent, but his good influence and presence spread much farther. He influenced all levels of Viennese society from Emperor Franz Joseph to the poorest of the  poor. It is difficult to list all his spiritual successes there, but the fact that Clement was (and still is) known as the “Apostle of Vienna” says it all.

Clement Mary Hofbauer died on March 15, 1820. He was beatified in 1888, and in 1909 Pope Pius X declared him a saint.