St John Neumann – Communio

Saint John Neumann

Bishop John Neumann is the first American bishop to be beatified. The saintly bishop died on January 5, 1860 at the age of 48. He was canonized by Pope Paul VI on June 19, 1977. He is buried in Saint Peter the Apostle Church in Philadelphia.

Archbishop Lori said in a homily to the KofC Convention in Philadelphia last year: “St. John Neumann is an example to all of us of humility and zeal, a missionary priest and bishop who offered himself to his people in self-giving love.” (August 3, 2015)

May St. John Neumann inspire all of us to follow Christ more closely as servant and defender of the Faith.

Saint John Neumann

The famed American bishop, John Neumann (1811-60), is recalled by the Church today in her Liturgy. Known for his zeal and charity, John Neumann was an immigrant from Bohemia to North America and where he worked diligently to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. Neumann was famous for his work with the poor, Catholic education and the Eucharistic adoration. The readings from Scripture and the Collects from the Mass all conspire to remind us of the urgent and real concern we ought to have for our brothers and sisters. The Collect even as a reference to the city where the saint was bishop, Philadelphia.

The Church prays,

O God, who called the Bishop Saint John Neumann, renowned for his charity and pastoral service, to shepherd your people in America, grant by his intercession that, as we foster the Christian education of youth and are strengthened by the witness of brotherly love, we may constantly increase the family of your Church.

Watch two videos on the great Redemptorist Saint John Neumann’s life and here.

St John Neumann celebrated in native land

The 200th anniversary of birth of Saint John Nepomucene Neumann is being celebrated in his homeland, today called the Czech Republic. Here’s the story in Czech. Cardinal Justin Francis Rigali, Archbishop of Philadelphia, is the Pope’s special envoy. His special connection with the Saint is that John Neumann was the bishop of Philadelphia and is buried in Philadelphia.

Pope Benedict’s letter of credence for Cardinal Rigali’s mission as a papal representative may be read here.

Benedict notes Saint John’s work included spiritual and social progress of the faithful, assistance with counsel and charity and he provided for Christian education. He’s known as the first US bishop to organize Catholic education.

You should also know that Saint John Neumann is the first bishop of the United States to be canonized. He’s not the first American saint and nor was he native born, but he is one of us. As a grammar school student my dad and I visited the shrine of Saint John Neumann which sticks with all these years later.

Saint John Neumann, pray for us.

Saint John Neumann: “he laid his life down”

His love for
people was authentic brotherly love. It was real charity: missionary and
pastoral charity. It meant that he gave himself to others. Like Jesus the Good
Shepherd, he lay down his life for the sheep, for Christ’s flock: to provide
for their needs, to lead them to salvation. And today, with the Evangelist, we
solemnly proclaim: “There is no greater love than this: to lay down one’s life
for one’s friends” (John 15, 13).

Servant of God Pope Paul VI

excerpt, canonization homily

19 June 1977

Learn more about Saint John Neumann during this holy year, the 200th anniversary of his birth.

Following the Redeemer: Redemptorist Spirituality & St John Neumann

This year is an opportune time for the worldwide Redemptorist order, but especially the order in the USA, to get back to basics outlined by their sainted founder Saint Alphonsus Liguori and beautiful example of Saint John Neumann. Why this year? Because the Church in the USA is honoring the 200th anniversary of birth of Saint John Neumann. So, it is a Year of Saint John Neumann.

A recent essay on the Redemptorist spirituality by Michael Terheyden is a very fine primer on the subject.

We are all called to follow the in the way of the Redeemer.

Year of Saint John Neumann 2011-2012

2011 marks the 200th birthday of Saint John Neumann. And the US Redemptorists are making the coming year a notable one to recognize the anniversary. The saint lived March 28, 1811 to January 5, 1860. He was 49 years old at the time of his death and 8 years as the 4th bishop of Philadelphia.

There’s a webpage with lots of good resources on Saint John Neumann found here.

The Catholic Church in the USA observes the liturgical memorial of Saint John Neumann on January 5.

The packer of activities is posted here: Neumann Packet.pdf

The Shrine of Saint John Neumann is worth making a pilgrimage to….

Saint John Nepomunk Neumann

Praise our loving, gracious God
Who has called us each by name
And has chosen shepherds true,
Unimpressed by gain or fame;

These have nurtured all God’s fold
And the gospel true have told.
Praise for John, God’s bishop sure,
Teaching, preaching in our land;

Founding churches, building schools,
Trusting in God’s gracious hand;
Learning tongues that all might hear
God’s redeeming love so dear.

Glory to the Father give,
And to Christ the Lord, God’s Son,
And to Spirit, Paraclete:
Ever blessèd Three-in-One!

With John Neumann, crowned with light,
Let our praise reach heaven’s height.

J. Michael Thompson
Copyright © 2009
World Library Publications
77 77 77

Saint John Neumann

Merciful
Father, You have given me all that I have in this world, even life itself. In
all my daily needs, help me to remember the needs of others too. Make me aware
of the need to pray to You not just for myself but for the Church, the Pope,
for the clergy and for people who suffer any need.

Make me as selfless as Saint
John Neumann. Throughout my life, give me the grace to direct my first thoughts
to the service of You and of others. Make my prayer – “Your will be
done” knowing that in Your mercy and love, Your will for me is my
sanctification. I ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen. (Prayer to
Saint John Neumann)

The liturgical prayer, a brief chronology and a prayer for
the saint’s intercession may be found here.

Canonization
homily of Pope Paul VI, Sunday, 19 June 1977

Greetings to you, Brethren, and
sons and daughters of the United States of America! We welcome you in the name
of the Lord!

The entire Catholic Church, here, at the tomb of the Apostle
Peter, welcomes you with festive joy. And together with you, the entire
Catholic Church sings a hymn of heavenly victory to Saint John Nepomucene
Neumann, [1811-1860] who receives the honor of one who lives in the glory of Christ.

In a
few brief words we shall describe for the other pilgrims some details of his
life, which are already known to you.

We ask ourselves today: what is the
meaning of this extraordinary event, the meaning of this canonization? It is
the celebration of holiness. And what is holiness? It is human perfection,
human love raised up to its highest level in Christ, in God.

At the time of
John Neumann, America represented new values and new hopes. Bishop Neumann saw
these in their relationship to the ultimate, supreme possession to which
humanity is destined. With Saint Paul he could testify that “all are yours, and
you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor. 3, 22). And with Augustine he
knew that our hearts are restless, until they rest in the Lord (St. Augustine,
Confessions, 1, 1).

His love for people was authentic brotherly love. It was
real charity: missionary and pastoral charity. It meant that he gave himself to
others. Like Jesus the Good Shepherd, he lay down his life for the sheep, for
Christ’s flock: to provide for their needs, to lead them to salvation. And
today, with the Evangelist, we solemnly proclaim: “There is no greater love
than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15, 13).

John
Neumann’s pastoral zeal was manifested in many ways. Through faithful and
persevering service, he brought to completion the generosity of his initial act
of missionary dedication. He helped children to satisfy their need for truth,
their need for Christian doctrine, for the teaching of Jesus in their lives. He
did this both by catechetical instruction and by promoting, with relentless
energy, the Catholic school system in the United States. And we still remember
the words of our late Apostolic Delegate in Washington, the beloved Cardinal
Amleto Cicognani: “You Americans”, he said, “possess two great treasures: the
Catholic school and the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine. Guard them like
the apple of your eye” (Cfr. Epistola 2 June 1963).

And who can fail to admire
all the loving concern that John Neumann showed for God’s people, through his
priestly ministry and his pastoral visitations as a Bishop? He deeply loved the
Sacramental of Reconciliation: and like a worthy son of Saint Alphonsus he
transmitted the pardon and the healing power of the Redeemer into the lives of
innumerable sons and daughters of the Church. He was close to the sick; he was
at home with the poor; he was a friend to sinners. And today he is the honor of
all immigrants, and from the viewpoint of the Beatitudes the symbol of
Christian success.

John Neumann bore the image of Christ. He experienced, in
his innermost being, the need to proclaim by word and example the wisdom and
power of God, and to preach the crucified Christ. And in the Passion of the
Lord he found strength and the inspiration of his ministry: Passio Christi
conforta me! (The Passion of Christ strengthens me)

The Eucharistic Sacrifice was the center of his life, and
constituted for him what the Second Vatican Council would later call “the
source and summit of all evangelization” (Presbiterorum Ordinis, 5). With great
effectiveness, through the Forty Hours Devotion he helped his parishes become
communities of faith and service.

But to accomplish his task, love was
necessary. And love meant giving; love meant effort; love meant sacrifice. And
in his sacrifice, Bishop Neumann’s service was complete. He led his people
along the paths of holiness. He was indeed an effective witness, in his
generation, to God’s love for his Church and the world.

There are many who have
lived and are still living the divine command of generous love. For love still
means giving oneself for others, because Love has come down to humanity; and
from humanity love goes back to its divine source! How many men and women make
this plan of God the program of their lives! Our praise goes to the clergy,
religious and Catholic laity of America who, in following the Gospel, live
according to this plan of sacrifice and service. Saint John Neumann is a true
example for all of us in this regard. It is not enough to acquire the good
things of the earth, for these can even be dangerous, if they stop or impede
our love from rising to its source and reaching its goal. Let us always
remember that the greatest and the first commandment is this: “You shall love
the Lord your God” (Matt. 22, 36).

True humanism in Christianity. True
Christianity-we repeat –is the sacrifice of self for others, because of Christ,
because of God. It is shown by signs; it is manifested in deeds. Christianity
is sensitive to the suffering and oppression and sorrow of others, to poverty,
to all human needs, the first of which is truth.

Our ceremony today is indeed
the celebration of holiness. At the same time, it is a prophetic
anticipation-for the Church, for the United States, for the world-of a renewal
in love: love for God, love for neighbor.

And in this vital charity, beloved
sons and daughters, let us go forward together, to build up a real civilization
of love.

Saint John Neumann, by the living power of your example and by the
intercession of your prayers, help us today and for ever.

Saint John Neumann

O God, who willed blessed John, thy confessor and bishop, to shine in pastoral works; graciously grant that, following his teachings and examples, we might obtain eternal life.

“John Nepomucene Neumann spent the whole of his adult life striving to live as a total Christian. Nevertheless, no one would have been more shocked than John Neumann at the thought that one day he would be canonized a saint. The possibility never crossed his mind. While his whole consciousness was directed toward serving God in immediate relationship with Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, he was constantly aware of shortcomings in saying his prayers, in faithfulness to the rule of life he had set for himself, and in the accomplishment of his daily duties.

“One of his primary objectives was to introduce the Forty Hours Devotion – a three-day ceremony in which the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in a monstrance on the altar, and priests and people encouraged to keep a constant vigil in the church, honoring Christ’s bodily presence among them. Neumann drew up the diocesan-wide schedule, recognizing the fact that while this practice would be fairly easy in the large city parishes it would be most difficult in the smaller settlements. His objective was to have this devotion in progress somewhere in the diocese, all year long. (Francis Xavier Murphy, C.SS.R.)

O Saint John Neumann, your ardent desire of bringing all souls to Christ impelled you to leave home and country; teach us to live worthily in the spirit of our Baptism which makes us all children of the one Heavenly Father and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, the first-born of the family of God.

Obtain for us that complete dedication in the service of the needy, the weak, the afflicted and the abandoned which so characterized your life. Help us to walk perseveringly in the difficult and, at times, painful paths of duty, strengthened by the Body and Blood of our Redeemer and under the watchful protection of Mary our Mother.

May death still find us on the sure road to our Father’s House with the light of living Faith in our hearts. Amen.

A few dates in the saint’s life

28 March 1811 at Prachititz, Czech Republic
28 June 1836 ordained priest by Bishop John Dubois, NYC
January 1842 taking his vows at Baltimore, MD, the first Redemptorist in the USA
28 March 1852 ordained bishop 4th bishop of Philadelphia, PA; The Episcopal motto was Passio Christi, conforta me – Passion of Christ strengthen me
5 January 1860 of a stroke at 13th and Vine Streets, Philadelphia
19 June 1977 canonized by Pope Paul VI