He was born Alphonsus Marie Antony John Cosmos Damien Michael Gaspard de Liguori on September 27,1696, at Marianella, near Naples, Italy. In December, 1724, he received minor orders, and the subdiaconate in September, 1725. In the second edition the work received the definite form it has since retained, though in later issues the Saint retracted a number of opinions, corrected minor ones, and worked at the statement of his theory of Equiprobabilism till at last he considered it complete. At three different times in his missions, while preaching, a ray of light from a picture of Our Lady darted towards him, and he fell into an ecstasy before the people. at last came peace, and on 1 August, 1787, as the midday Angelus was ringing, the Saint passed peacefully to his reward. From the year 1759 two former benefactors of the Congregation, Baron Sarnelli and Francis Maffei, by one of those changes not uncommon in Naples, had become its bitter enemies, and waged a vendetta against it in the law courts which lasted for twenty-four years. He finally agreed to become a priest but to live at home as a member of a group of secular missionaries.
St. Alphonsus Ligouri ''Rock'' Church, Saint Louis - Tripadvisor St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Home | St. Alphonsus Rock It is true that theologians even of the broadest school are agreed that, when an opinion in favour of the law is so much more probable as to amount practically to moral certainty, the less probable opinion cannot be followed, and some have supposed that St. Alphonsus meant no more than this by his terminology. In old age he was more than once raised in the air when speaking of God. The Eucharistic Miracle of Lanciano took place in the 8th century: a Basilian monk, who had doubted the Real Presence of Our Lord in the Eucharist, was celebrating Mass, and at the consecration, saw that the Host had changed into flesh. Even when taking him into society in order to arrange a good marriage for him, he wished Alphonsus to put God first, and every year father and son would make a retreat together in some religious house. The childish fault for which he most reproached himself in after-life was resisting his father too strongly when he was told to take part in a drawing-room play. Pardon me, my God. Alphonsus Mary Antony John Cosmas Damian Michael Gaspard de' Liguori was born in his father's country house at Marianella near Naples, on Tuesday, 27 September, 1696. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. In the 12th and 13th centuries, the tradition of praying the stations of the cross began to develop. His intercession healed the sick; he read the secrets of hearts, and foretold the future. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2022 Catholic Online. Alphonsus Mary Antony John Cosmas Damian Michael Gaspard de' Liguori was born in his father's country house at Marianella near Naples, on Tuesday, 27 September, 1696. When we cannot make it to daily Mass, however, we can still make an Act of Spiritual Communion. He submitted the new Rule to a number of theologians, who approved of it, and said it might be adopted in the convent of Scala, provided the community would accept it. The eighteenth century was one series of great wars; that of the Spanish, Polish, and Austrian Succession; the Seven Years' War, and the War of American Independence, ending with the still more gigantic struggles in Europe, which arose out of the events of 1789. St. Alphonsus Liguori. Among his best known works are The Glories of Mary and The Way of the Cross, the latter still used in parishes during Lenten devotions. I therefore repeat: If the divine teaching authority of the Church, and the obedience to it, are rejected, every error will be endorsed and must be tolerated. He first addressed ecclesiastical abuses in the diocese, reformed the seminary and spiritually rehabilitated the clergy and faithful. Of extraordinary passive states, such as rapture, there are not many instances recorded in his life, though there are some. Deposed and excluded from his own congregation, Alphonsus suffered great anguish. But one may easily overcrowd a narrow canvas and it is better in so slight a sketch to leave the central figure in solitary relief. His friend the Grand Almoner betrayed him; his two envoys for negotiating with the Grand Almoner, Fathers Majone and Cimino, betrayed him, consultors general though they were. St. Alphonsus was so scrupulous about truth that when, in 1776, the regalist, Mgr. This Novena for the Holy Souls in Purgatory was written by St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), a bishop and founder of the Redemptorist order, and one of the Doctors of the Church.
Brown Scapular Miracles He had a tender charity towards all who were in trouble; he would go to any length to try to save a vocation; he would expose himself to death to prevent sin. [6], He became a successful lawyer. In the eight years of his career as advocate, years crowded with work, he is said never to have lost a case. He who ruled and directed others so wisely, had, where his own soul was concerned, to depend on obedience like a little child. [4] When he was 18, like many other nobles, he joined the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy, with whom he assisted in the care of the sick at the hospital for "incurables". Could he have been what an Anglo-Saxon would consider a miracle of calm, he would have seemed to his companions absolutely inhuman. [2] Moreover, he heard an interior voice saying: "Leave the world, and give yourself to me."[5]. It was all-important to the Fathers to be able to rebut the charge of being an illegal religious congregation, which was one of the chief allegations in the ever-adjourned and ever-impending action by Baron Sarnelli. The Vicar General, Monsignor Onorati drew up the minutes of the diocesan trial which lasted two years from 1772 to 1774. His hymns are justly celebrated in Italy. Alphonsus agreed to both requests and set out with his two friends, John Mazzini and Vincent Mannarini, in September, 1730. Don Joseph de' Liguori had his faults. He was beatified in 1816 and canonized in 1839. Shop St. Alphonsus Marie Liguori. He was ordained on December 21, 1726, and he spent six years giving missions throughout Naples. This is the great question of "Probabilism". The "Moral Theology", after a historical introduction by the Saint's friend, P. Zaccaria, S.J., which was omitted, however, from the eighth and ninth editions, begins with a treatise "De Conscientia", followed by one "De Legibus". After a short interval--we do not know exactly how long--the answer came. So the Saint was cut off from his own Order by the Pope who was to declare him "Venerable". Alphonsus was a lawyer, and as a lawyer he attached much importance to the weight of evidence. Ever mindful of his own sins, Saint Alphonsus saw prayer for the faithful departed as one of the chief duties of Christian charity. In 1762 Pope Clement XIII made him bishop of Sant Agata del Goti near Naples; he resigned in 1775 because of ill health.
The Miracle of Saint Joseph This document gives you the case." At all events, it proved disastrous in the result. For three days he refused all food. He called his system Equiprobabilism. He had to endure a real persecution for two months. He died on the very eve of the great Revolution which was to sweep the persecutors away, having seen in vision the woes which the French invasion of 1798 was to bring on Naples. Thus was he left free for his real work, the founding of a new religious congregation. Alphonsus Liguori, CSsR (27 September 1696 1 August 1787), sometimes called Alphonsus Maria de Liguori or Saint Alphonsus Liguori, was an Italian Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian. But when the question was put to the community, opposition began. But he overcame his depression, and he experienced visions, performed miracles, and gave prophecies. As it was, he was refused the royal exequatur to the Brief of Benedict XIV, and State recognition of his Institute as a religious congregation till the day of his death. Filingeri, was made Archbishop of Naples, the Saint would not write to congratulate the new primate, even at the risk of making another powerful enemy for his persecuted Congregation, because he thought he could not honestly say he "was glad to hear of the appointment." Thank you. Alphonsus was one of the leading counsel; we do not know on which side. Besides his Moral Theology, the Saint wrote a large number of dogmatic and ascetical works nearly all in the vernacular. He was also a poet and musician. With their aid, Aiphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer on November 9, 1732. Here with 30,000 uninstructed people, 400 mostly indifferent and sometimes scandalous secular clergy, and seventeen more or less relaxed religious houses to look after, in a field so overgrown with weeds that they seemed the only crop, he wept and prayed and spent days and nights in unremitting labour for thirteen years. Even if there be some exaggeration in this, for it is not in an advocate's power always to be on the winning side, the tradition shows that he was extraordinarily able and successful. He often writes as a Neapolitan to Neapolitans. Alphonsus Liguori. [9], In 1729, Liguori left his family home and took up residence at the Chinese Institute in Naples. He thought his mistake would be ascribed not to oversight but to deliberate deceit. [8] Moreover, Liguori viewed scruples as a blessing at times and wrote: "Scruples are useful in the beginning of conversion. they cleanse the soul, and at the same time make it careful". On 6 April, 1726, he was ordained deacon, and soon after preached his first sermon. The family was of noble lineage, but the branch to which Liguori belonged had become somewhat impoverished. As he did not die till 1808 (his work appeared in 1799) he was a companion of the Saint for over forty years and an eyewitness of much that he relates. Twelve years, however, still separated him from his reward, years for the most part not of peace but of greater afflictions than any which had yet befallen him. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists). Printable Catholic Saints PDFs [10] He tried to refuse the appointment by using his age and infirmities as arguments against his consecration. He was fervent about using common words in . Under the government of the Marquis della Sambuca, who, though a great regalist, was a personal friend of the Saint's, there was promise of better times, and in August, 1779, Alphonsus's hopes were raised by the publication of a royal decree allowing him to appoint superiors in his Congregation and to have a novitiate and house of studies. St. Alphonsus does not offer as much directly to the student of mystical theology as do some contemplative saints who have led more retired lives. Except in '45, in all of these, down to the first shot fired at Lexington, the English-speaking world was on one side and the Bourbon States, including Naples, on the other. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists). Tannoia, also, through some mental idiosyncrasy, manages to give the misleading impression that St. Alphonsus was severe. In fact, in the beginning, the young priest in his humility would not be Superior even of the house, judging one of his companions, John Baptist Donato, better fitted for the post because he had already had some experience of community life in another institute. Indeed, apart from those who become saints by the altogether special grace of martyrdom, it may be doubted if many men and women of phlegmatic temperament have been canonized. He fed the poor, instructed the ignorant, reorganized his seminary, reformed his convents, created a new spirit in his clergy, banished scandalous noblemen and women of evil life with equal impartiality, brought the study of theology and especially of moral theology into honour, and all the time was begging pope after pope to let him resign his office because he was doing nothing for his diocese. More than once he faced assassination unmoved. In 1732, while he was staying at the Convent of the Consolation, one of his order's houses in the small city of Deliceto in the province of Foggia in Southeastern Italy, Liguori wrote the Italian carol "Tu scendi dalle stelle" ("From Starry Skies Descending") in the musical style of a pastorale. There are two Sunday services, one at 8:15 and the second at 11. There were whole years, indeed, in which the Institute seemed on the verge of summary suppression. New York: Robert Appleton Company. (27 September 1696 - 1 August 1787), was an Italian Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian. At the worst, it was only the scaffolding by which the temple of perfection was raised. Saint Alphonsus De Liguori Usage Public Domain Topics Blessed Virgin Mary, Miracles, Apparitions, Conversion, Saints, Rosary, Sin, Repentance, Catholic Collection opensource Language English Stories from St Alphonsus De Liguori, which he culled from various sources, which can be seen in the larger work, "The Glories of Mary". Dissensions arose, the Saint's former friend and chief companion, Vincent Mannarini, opposing him and Falcoia in everything. One branch of the new Institute seen by Falcoia in vision was thus established. He was more concerned with the spiritual conflict which was going on at the same time. Much of the material for a complete life of St. Alphonsus is still in manuscript in the Roman archives of the Redemptorist Congregation and in the archives of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. His own prayer was perhaps for the most part what some call "active", others "ordinary", contemplation. Were the vehement things in his letters and writings, especially in the matter of rebuke or complaint, to appraised as if uttered by an Anglo-Saxon in cold blood, we might be surprised and even shocked. Stay up to date with the latest news, information, and special offers. It would be a sacrilege to say otherwise." Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. She became known in religion as Sister Maria Celeste. In April 1729, Alphonsus went to live at the "Chiflese College," founded in Naples by Father Matthew Ripa, the Apostle of China. On 3 October, 1731, the eve of the feast of St. Francis, she saw Our Lord with St. Francis on His right hand and a priest on His left. She was declared Venerable 11 August, 1901.
An Act of Spiritual CommunionA Daily Catholic Prayer - Learn Religions Not less remarkable than the intensity with which Alphonsus worked is the amount of work he did.
In his new abode he met a friend of his host's, Father Thomas Falcoia, of the Congregation of the "Pii Operarii" (Pious Workers), and formed with him the great friendship of his life. No doubt Thomas Falcoia had for some time hoped that the ardent young priest, who was so devoted to him, might, under his direction, be the founder of the new Order he had at heart. The result of the retreat to the nuns was that the young priest, who before had been prejudiced by reports in Naples against the proposed new Rule, became its firm supporter, and even obtained permission from the Bishop of Scala for the change. Dedicated to Fr. St. Alphonsus as a moral theologian occupies the golden mean between the schools tending either to laxity or to rigour which divided the theological world of his time.