Clement Mary Hofbauer
An Austrian priest who brought the Redemptorist order north of the Alps, becoming a tireless patron of the poor in war-ravaged Warsaw and Vienna.
1751–1820 (age 69)·Austrian Redemptorist and saint·Birthday: December 26
Biography
Born Johannes Hofbauer in what is now the Czech Republic, his path to sainthood was unconventional. He worked as a baker and a hermit before finding his calling in Rome, where he joined the Redemptorists and took the name Clement Mary. His mission was to transplant this Italian congregation into the heart of Central Europe. He settled in Warsaw, a city shattered by the Partitions of Poland, and for over two decades his church became a hub of charity, education, and spiritual revival for the destitute. His work was politically suspect, leading to his expulsion by Napoleonic forces. Undeterred, he moved to Vienna, where his pastoral zeal and simple, direct sermons attracted huge crowds, including intellectuals and artists, in the final years of his life. More than a founder, Hofbauer was a spiritual catalyst whose work ensured the Redemptorist order’s survival and growth across Germanic lands, earning him the title 'Apostle of Vienna.'
#1 When Clement Was Born
The biggest hits of 1751
Clement's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1751Born
1756Started school
1764Became a teenager
1767Could drive
1769Could vote
1772Turned 21
1781Turned 30
1791Turned 40
1801Turned 50
1811Turned 60
1820Died at 69
Key Achievements
- Successfully established the Redemptorist congregation north of the Alps, founding its first permanent house in Warsaw.
- Provided extensive social and spiritual care to the poor of Warsaw for over twenty years during a period of national crisis.
- Was a central figure in the Catholic revival in early 19th-century Vienna, influencing a generation of thinkers.
- Was canonized as a saint by Pope Pius X in 1909 and later declared the patron saint of Vienna.
Did You Know?
Before becoming a priest, he was apprenticed as a baker, a trade that supported him during his studies.
He walked from his homeland to Rome, a journey of hundreds of miles, to pursue his religious vocation.
His nickname in Vienna was 'the priest of the Magyars' due to his ministry to Hungarian immigrants.
“The cross is the book in which alone we can read the true sense of God's love for us.”
