St. Alphonsus Liguori

Alfonso Maria Liguori is usually known to English readers by the Latin form of his name, Alphonsus.  He was born near Naples to prominent and devout Catholic parents who saw to it that he had the best possible education.  The child proved to be a prodigy – he received special permission to graduate the University of Naples with doctorates in both civil and canon law at the tender age of 16.  He immediately began practicing his profession with distinction.  He enjoyed social life, particularly enamored by musical and theatrical performances, and was set to marry a girl chosen by his parents.  But a Lenten retreat he attended at age 26 make a profound impression, leading to his reception of the sacrament of confirmation a few months later.  Soon after he made known his intention to live a celibate life and pursue the priesthood.  After ordination at age 30, he began preaching parish missions around the kingdom of Naples and soon founded a new order of priests to join him in this local missionary work.  His preaching was renown for its simplicity, directly, and unpretentiousness.  Many, moved by his sermons, flocked to the confessional with the resolution to reform their lives.  For over 20 years this was his main task, until he found himself needing to combat the influential Jansenist heresy which promoted scrupulous rigorism in the moral life and a neglect of Marian devotion in the spiritual life.  The volume he wrote on Moral theology won wide acclaim for the way it steered a balanced, moderate course between moral laxity and rigorism.  And his book on the Glory of Mary cemented his reputation as a great Marian theologian who would be canonized after his death in 1787 and ultimately proclaimed a doctor of the Church.  He was appointed bishop of Sant’Agatha dei Goti before he died, and was there a great reformer of morals before poor health caused him to resign his see.   Yet despite all the honors heaped upon him, Alphonsus was first and foremost a religious seeking sanctification and a preacher helping even the humblest peasants to pursue the same. Biography by Dr. Italy