St. Alphonsus Liguori

St. Alphonsus Marie Antony John Cosmos Damien Michael Gaspard de Liguori was born on September 27, 1696, at Marianella, near Naples, Italy. He was the oldest of seven children, raised in a pious home by his devout mother of Spanish descent and his father, Don Joseph, who was a naval officer and captain of the Royal Galleys. From an early age, Alphonsus showed remarkable intellectual gifts and spiritual sensitivity, going on retreats with his father and developing a deep love for God and the Church.

Educated at the University of Naples, Alphonsus received his doctorate at the extraordinarily young age of sixteen, demonstrating his exceptional intellectual abilities. By age nineteen, he was practicing law and had achieved considerable fame in the legal profession. However, he soon began to see the transitory nature of the secular world and felt called to a higher purpose. After a brief but successful career in law, he retreated from the law courts and his worldly fame, seeking a more meaningful path.

On August 28, 1723, while visiting the local Hospital for Incurables, Alphonsus had a profound vision and was told to consecrate his life solely to God. This divine encounter marked a turning point in his life. Despite facing persecution from his family, who had high hopes for his legal career, Alphonsus dedicated himself to the religious life. He finally agreed to become a priest but to live at home as a member of a group of secular missionaries, allowing him to serve God while maintaining some connection to his family.

Ordained on December 21, 1726, Alphonsus spent six years giving missions throughout Naples, preaching with great fervor and effectiveness. In April 1729, he went to live at the "Chiflese College," founded in Naples by Father Matthew Ripa, the Apostle of China. There he met Bishop Thomas Falcoia, founder of the Congregation of Pious Workers, and Sister Mary Celeste, a mystic. These friendships would prove crucial to his future work and spiritual development.

With their aid, Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists) on November 9, 1732. The foundation faced immediate problems, and after just one year, Alphonsus found himself with only one lay brother, his other companions having left to form their own religious group. Undeterred, he started again, recruited new members, and in 1743 became the prior of two new congregations, one for men and one for women. Pope Benedict XIV gave his approval for the men's congregation in 1749 and for the women's in 1750.

Alphonsus continued preaching missions in rural areas and writing extensively. He refused to become the bishop of Palermo, but in 1762 had to accept the papal command to accept the see of St. Agatha of the Goths near Naples. Here he discovered more than thirty thousand uninstructed men and women and four hundred indifferent priests. For thirteen years, Alphonsus fed the poor, instructed families, reorganized the seminary and religious houses, taught theology, and wrote prolifically.

His austerities were rigorous, and he suffered daily the pain from rheumatism that was beginning to deform his body. He spent several years having to drink from tubes because his head was so bent forward. An attack of rheumatic fever from May 1768 to June 1769 left him paralyzed. He was not allowed to resign his see until 1775, despite his physical suffering.

In 1780, Alphonsus was tricked into signing a submission for royal approval of his congregation. This submission altered the original rule, and as a result, Alphonsus was denied any authority among the Redemptorists. Deposed and excluded from his own congregation, Alphonsus suffered great anguish. But he overcame his depression, and he experienced visions, performed miracles, and gave prophecies. He died peacefully on August 1, 1787, at Nocera di Pagani, near Naples, as the Angelus was ringing. He was beatified in 1816, canonized in 1839, and declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871.

Liturgical Celebration

St. Alphonsus's feast day is celebrated on August 1st, commemorating the day of his death in 1787. This feast is particularly significant for the Redemptorist order, which he founded, and for the Church as a whole, as it honors one of its greatest theologians and spiritual writers. The feast serves as a reminder of the importance of theological study, pastoral care, and the missionary spirit in the life of the Church. Churches throughout the world, especially those served by Redemptorists, hold special Masses and prayer services on this day.

Traditions and Customs

On St. Alphonsus's feast day, many communities, especially those with Redemptorist connections, may choose to reflect on the themes of theological study, pastoral care, and missionary work. Some may hold special prayer services for theologians, confessors, and those involved in the lay apostolate, asking for St. Alphonsus's intercession. The day also serves as an opportunity to pray for the Redemptorist order and all those who work to bring God's mercy to the poor and abandoned. Many may also take time to study his writings, particularly his Moral Theology or his Glories of Mary.

Prayer and Devotion

Devotees pray to St. Alphonsus for wisdom in theological study, for guidance in pastoral care, for strength in missionary work, and for help in understanding moral theology. His intercession is particularly sought by confessors, moral theologians, those involved in the lay apostolate, and members of the Redemptorist order. His example reminds us that true learning should always be directed toward the service of God and others, and that the greatest wisdom comes from a deep relationship with Christ.