Feast of Saint John Neumann, Bishop of Philadelphia

In 1852, a Redemptorist Missionary in the AmericasFather JohnNeumann was suddenly appointed the fourth Bishop of Philadelphia. He was known as ‘the little bishop’ not only for his physical size but for his simplicity and humility among men.

 

Neumann had a deep devotion to Mary which was well known to His Holiness the Pope, and so it was with great humility and appreciation that Neumann accepted an invitation to go to Rome for the Proclamation of the Immaculate Conception.

 

In his pastoral letter of 1854, he wrote: Hail! Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy!  Unto us all give strength against our enemies and thine, courage to those that fear, joy to those that mourn, peace to the contrite of heart, and perseverance to the just.

 

The aim of all catechesis is to help people enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ and the Church. Mary is the person who directs us to her Son “Do whatever he tells you.” I can think of no better conduit to the Eucharist than Mary.