The Order of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptoristines, are a Roman Catholic religious Order of women. Because of their traditional red habit, they are sometimes referred to as the Red Nuns. On their deep red habit, the scapular includes a colored medallion of the Most Holy Redeemer, and members of the Order wear two veils, one white, another black, folded over the head. Some houses wear a modified habit of a red dress, black veil, and a medal of the Holy Redeemer on one side, and Saint Alphonsus on the other, suspended on a chain. The cradle of the Redemptoristines is in Scala, not far from Amalfi, Italy. Father Thomas Falcoia formed the community of nuns there, and gave them a Rule. Father Falcoia later became Bishop of Catellammare. He was director of Alphonsus Liguori, who founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, when a new Rule was approved by Pope Benedict XIV in 1750. The bishop favored the Rule and asked Alphonsus to give the nuns the spiritual exercises and organize the community as he deemed best. Alphonsus set up observance of the newe Rule by meditation on the life and virtues of Jesus Christ, its foundress acknowledged as the Blessed Maria Celeste Crostarosa. The details of the daily lives of members of the Order were to commemorate phases of the life of Christ, zeal was to be exercised by prayer, each day of the week devoted to an object affecting the well-being of the Church, and they were to pray in a special manner for the apostolic ministry of the Redemptorists. The institute began in 1731, and the Rule received approval by the Holy See in 1750. About a century after the Order was founded in Scala, Joseph Passerat sent two women (Mlle. Eugénie Dijon and the Countess Welsersheim) to learn the Rule and spirit of the Redemptoristines, receiving the habit at Rome from Cardinal Odescalchi. They went on to found houses at Vienna and Bruges. The Redemptoristines now have houses in several countries throughout the world.
Recommended Resources
Liguorian: The Redemptoristines
Offered by the Liguorian Magazine, a publication of the Redemptorist family, the site offers a description of the Red Nuns, also known as the Redemptoristines and, more formally, the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer. The history of the founding of the Order, an introduction to those who were largely responsible for its founding and growth, and an overview of its mission and purpose are put forth.
http://www.liguorian.org/the-redemptoristines/
Order of the Most Holy Redeemer
The monastery of Red Nuns in Liguori, Missouri was developed in 1956 and 1957, although the Order was not permitted to inhabit the place for a few years, until after the Baltimore Province was established. Its history and an overview of the heritage, founders, and charism of the international Order is put forth. Vocations and its formation process are discussed, and a calendar of events are included.
http://www.redemptoristinenuns.org/
The Mother of Perpetual Help Monastery is one of forty communities in the worldwide Order of the Most Holy Rredeemer, founded by Maria Celeste Crostarosa and Saint Alphonsus de Liguori, founder of the Redemptorist Congregation. Its history, foundress, and sisters are introduced, along with an overview of the religious community, its work, leisure, and monastic day. Information about discernment and vocations is included, and a gallery of photographs, textual documents, and a blog are included.
http://rednuns.org/
Also known as the Red Nuns, the enclosed, cloistered community of religious women is more formally known as the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer, an Order in the Redemptorist family. The Dublin, Ireland province offers a history and profile of the Order, an introduction to the Dublin monastery, and the daily life of the religious sisters is outlined, along with membership information, vocations, and a blog.
http://www.rednuns.com/
The writings of members of the Order of the Most Holy Redeemer are translated into English, when necessary, and posted here. Included are writings from Mother Maria Rafaela, Maria-Anna-Josepha, Maria-Benedicta, Marie Alphonse, Marie Anne-Joseph, Marie Celeste, Marie Gabrielle, Marie-Aloysia, Marie-Cecilia, Marie-Cherubine, Marie-Françoise, Marie-Joseph, Marie-Madeleine, Mary Jean of the Cross, and others.
http://redemptoristinetexts.blogspot.com/
