The meeting of Redemptorist bishops organized by the General Government of our Congregation on the occasion of the Jubilee of Bishops is underway in Rome. On Tuesday, June 24, on the solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist, the participants in the meeting made a pilgrimage to Pagani, near Naples, where they celebrated Holy Mass in the Basilica of St. Alphonsus de Liguori and prayed at the tomb of the Founder of the Redemptorists. Among the 30 bishops present were Cardinal Joseph Tobin and Cardinal Mykola Bychok.
“It is significant to find ourselves today celebrating the Eucharist in this place that holds the relics of our Holy Founder, united in the Redemptorist vocation that expands in episcopal service, placing ourselves at the service of humanity so that the Copious Redemptio may be announced to all.” – With these words began the homily of Monsignor Antonio De Luca CSsR, bishop of Torre del Greco in Italy, who presided over the Holy Mass.
The preacher underlined that our identity as Redemptorists is expressed in missionary dynamism, which in the case of our brothers appointed bishops by the Pope remains current and broadens its scope of action.
He said: “With episcopal ordination we do not cease to be Redemptorist missionaries. Indeed, we receive an extra dose of love and mercy from the Father who sends us to his people, through the Church, which chooses its ministers and sends them as apostles among the people.”
Mons. De Luca then recalled the example of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, aware of the great responsibility linked to the episcopal ministry. As bishop of the diocese of Sant’Agata de’ Goti, he dedicated himself with zeal to preaching the word of God in the diocese and to the formation of priests. He was close to the simple and needy people, bringing them concrete help and hope.
“Thus St. Alphonsus constitutes the example of full dedication to the building of the Kingdom of God, of apostolic commitment, of a friend of the poor” – he concluded his homily.
The reverend pilgrims were warmly welcomed in Pagani. At the beginning of the Holy Mass, Monsignor Giuseppe Giudice, bishop of the local diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno, welcomed them. On behalf of the Redemptorist community, the welcome guests were greeted by Father Gennaro Sorrentino CSsR, Provincial Superior of Europe South.
The liturgical celebration was accompanied by the Alfonsiano Polyphonic Choir, directed by Father Paulo Saturno CSsR, a recognized expert and promoter of the musical legacy of Saint Alphonsus.
At the end of the Holy Mass, the bishops went to the chapel where the body of St. Alphonsus de Liguori rests. There they prayed together and then paid homage individually, asking for the intercession of the Founder for their missionary vocation and their pastoral ministry.
Grzegorz Ruszaj CSsR / Scala News
The broadcast of the Holy Mass presided over by Mons. Antonio De Luca CSsR is available on the YouTube channel of the Basilica of Sant’Alfonso in Pagani, on June 24, 2025.
Below we present the full text of the homily of Mons. Antonio De Luca, delivered in Pagani.
Homily by Mons. Antonio De Luca CSsR delivered on 24 June 2025 in the Basilica of Sant’Alfonso Maria de’ Liguori in Pagani, on the occasion of the Pilgrimage of the Redemptorist Bishops.
It is deeply meaningful for us to gather today to celebrate the Eucharist in this sacred place that houses the relics of our Holy Founder. We come together in the Redemptorist vocation, now widened by the episcopal ministry, placing ourselves at the service of humanity so that all may hear the proclamation of the copiosa redemptio—the abundant redemption.
The joyful occasion of the Jubilee adds even more joy to our encounter with the extraordinary figure of St. Alphonsus. Here, everything speaks to us of him: his works, his writings, the spaces touched by his presence, his relics. But above all, his life speaks to us—his choices, insights, missionary method, and pastoral dedication to the poor and those deprived of spiritual care. Although we come from various parts of the world, we carry in our hearts and in our episcopal ministry the same perspective, the same content, and the same Alphonsian missionary spirit.
We offer our heartfelt thanks to the Superior General, Fr. Rogério Gomes, who promoted and organized this encounter with exemplary dedication; to the General Council; to Fr. Gennaro Sorrentino, Provincial of the South Europe Province; to the community of Pagani for welcoming us; and to all of you, dear brother bishops.
The Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist casts our assembly into the very heart of the vocation of Christ’s forerunner:
“The bride belongs to the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and listens for him, is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must increase; I must decrease.” (Jn 3:29–30)
We are reminded of the words of Pope Leo during the homily for Mass with the College of Cardinals:
“…an indispensable commitment for all who exercise authority in the Church: to disappear so that Christ may remain, to become small so that He may be known and glorified (cf. Jn 3:30), to give oneself completely so that no one may lack the opportunity to know and love Him.”
This is the vocation of every minister of the Gospel, and particularly of the bishop, who is called to proclaim the Gospel of Christ with greatness of soul and sound doctrine (cf. Rite of Ordination of a Bishop, Explanatory Rites, 55).
We recognize in this statement from the Holy Father the central thread of St. Alphonsus’ life. His entire experience—as moral theologian and pastor—was oriented toward the salvation of souls: from the Theologia Moralis to The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ, from his ascetical works to his devotional writings, he always and everywhere proclaimed the abundant redemption.
This, too, is the experience of Alphonsus de Liguori. Like John the Baptist, he can be identified as one who points to the Master—never seeking to replace Him, for that would be a betrayal of the apostolic mission. The Church itself, in its missionary nature, is like the finger pointing toward Christ. It lives its mission in relation to Him, proclaims the Gospel to humanity, promotes the dignity of the human person, proposes values born of faith, sanctifies the lives of the faithful through the sacraments, and marks time through fidelity to the Word—until the Lord’s return.
This is also the calling of every Redemptorist who, as a disciple of Christ, is chosen and sent to “follow the example of our Savior Jesus Christ in preaching the divine word to the poor, as He Himself said: He has sent me to bring good news to the poor” (Redemptorist Constitutions, 1).
We Redemptorists find our identity within this missionary dynamism that never ceases—indeed, it expands greatly with episcopal ordination. We do not cease to be Redemptorist missionaries; rather, we receive an even deeper share in the Father’s love and mercy, who sends us to His people through the Church, which chooses and sends its ministers as apostles to the nations.
The magnitude of the episcopal ministry is daunting. God has placed into our hands a treasure of immeasurable worth: the salvation of the people entrusted to our pastoral care. St. Alphonsus, faced with this responsibility, trembled with fear—as we do too. But like him, we find courage and peace in the belief that the Lord is “the great Shepherd of the sheep,” He who is the “Shepherd and Bishop of our souls.”
We can understand Alphonsus’ episcopal experience through his own words:
“God wants me to be a bishop, and I want to be a bishop.”
These words came after a long inner struggle filled with tears, renunciations, and delays. In 1762, Alphonsus was living here in Pagani. He was nearly 66 years old and already suffering from advancing illness. He was deeply disturbed—feeling “pain in his heart and in his very being, saying nothing… his eyes filled with tears.” His attempt to decline the appointment failed; Pope Clement XIII was adamant:
“I want it… he must obey without further objections. I dispense him from his vow to refuse all dignities outside his congregation.”
On the afternoon of March 19, 1762, the messenger returned with the papal appointment. Realizing he could not escape the Pope’s will, Alphonsus yielded:
“Gloria Patri,” he said, bowing his head. “God wants me to be a bishop, and I want to be a bishop.”
Still, he could not hide the sorrow of having to leave his community and confreres. He was so overwhelmed that he was unable to speak for hours; tears were his only “words.”
So began one of the most challenging chapters of St. Alphonsus’ life, in the Diocese of Sant’Agata de’ Goti. The facts later confirmed the Pope’s insight in appointing him bishop. His episcopacy spanned twenty-five years—thirteen spent in the diocese and twelve more in Pagani after his resignation—marked by tireless apostolic labor:
- Revitalizing the life of his people through preaching, catechesis, and religious instruction;
- Forming his priests, especially in Moral Theology, where he remains an uncontested master despite evolving theological trends;
- Offering generous aid to the poor, to the point of selling his carriage and even the stone from his episcopal ring during a severe famine.
The humble and most abandoned poor remained close to his pastoral heart, just as they had when he preached as a missionary throughout the Kingdom of Naples. He knew poverty firsthand, and with tireless zeal, met the needs of the suffering—drawing even from the bishop’s household resources and his rightful inheritance. He gave himself—his time, his energy—for the Gospel and the salvation of souls.
Thus, St. Alphonsus stands as an example of complete dedication to building the Kingdom of God, of apostolic commitment, and of friendship with the poor. A man of hope, he teaches us that with God, nothing is ever truly lost. God, rich in mercy, desires that all be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
May his intercession guide our steps as shepherds. May his prayer obtain for us the loving gaze of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he so often invoked:
O beautiful hope of mine, my sweet love, Mary, you are my life, you are my peace.
AMEN
