St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church: 1696-1787 A.D.
Feast day, August 1
Birth, education, and early career
St. Alphonsus was born on September 21, 1696 A.D. at Marianelli near Naples, Italy, to Don Joseph de Liguori, captain of the royal galleys, and Doña Anna Cavaliero. His parents were both virtuous and distinguished. St. Alphonsus was baptized Alphonsus Mary Antony John Francis Cosmas Damian Michael Caspar, but preferred to call himself simply Alfonso Maria. His father was determined that this first born son of his should have the advantage of formal education. So he provided tutors for Alphonsus and then sent him to the university at the age of thirteen. Within four years, at the age of about seventeen, Alphonsus was awarded doctorate degrees in both canon and civil law. He practiced law very successfully for the next eight years, and his reputation as a barrister is testified by a tradition of never losing a case.
Calling and ordination
In 1717 A.D., when St. Alphonsus was twenty-one, his father arranged a marriage for him, but it never took place. Several years later, after receiving the sacrament of confirmation, he vowed not to marry, but continue in his profession, until God gave him a sign to abandon it. What he took to be a clear indication of divine will was shown only a few months later: he completely missed an important point in a case before a civil court. He lost the case. After this experience, he visited the sick in the hospital for incurables and then heard an inner voice, saying, "leave the world, and give yourself to Me". St. Alphonsus went to the Church of Our Lady of Ransom, lay his sword on the altar, and offered himself to the priests of the Oratory. He was ordained a priest in 1726 A.D.
Missionary work and preaching
For the next two years, St. Alphonsus was engaged in missionary work throughout the kingdom of Naples. The preaching style of this period was exemplified by pompousness and ornate verbosity, but St. Alphonsus kept his style simple - leading to a high degree of success for him. St. Alphonsus' preaching was also against Jansenism - a heresy that supported a very strict morality. He declared that "penitents should be treated as souls to be saved, rather than as criminals to be punished."
Founding the Redemptorines and the Redemptorists
In 1729 A.D., when Alphosus was thirty-three years old, he became chaplain to a college for the training of missionaries to China. It was here that he met Bishop Thomas Falcoia. Bishop Falcoia wanted to establish a new religious institute in accordance with a vision he had in Rome. He was able to establish a convent of nuns who followed a version of the rule of the Visitandines. When St. Alphonsus conducted a retreat for these nuns of Bishop Falcoia, he met Sr. Mary Celeste. Recognizing that the vision of Bishop Falcoia was genuine, St. Alphonsus reorganized the convent of these nuns according to the vision of Bishop Falcoia. He thus founded the Redemptorines. St. Alphonsus then moved to Scala in 1732 A.D., to organize the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists), which would be devoted to the missions. The Congregation was born on November 9, 1732 A.D. The first home of the Redemptorists was a small house belonging to the convent of the nuns.
Dissensions within the community
St. Alphonsus had seven postulants in his new religious community with Bishop Falcoia as informal superior general. However, dissensions began to occur, centering chiefly on the matter of who was in the highest authority. A party opposed the bishop and also Alphonsus, and eventually a schism was formed in both houses. Sr. Mary Celeste went off to found a convent at Foggia, and at the end of five months, St. Alphonsus was alone except for one lay brother. However, others arrived again and a larger house became necessary. In in January 1734 A.D., a second foundation was made at Villa degli Schiavi, It was here that Alphonsus went to reside and conduct missions. Despite all the difficulties, the Congregation overcame them and grew. In 1734 A.D., on the death of Bishop Falcoia, a general council elected Alphonsus as superior. Pope Benedict XIV approved the rule of the men in 1749 A.D. and a rule for the women in 1750 A.D.
Written works and style of writing
In the 1750s, St. Alphonsus began to concentrate on his writing. His work was based on the earlier writings of St. Thomas Aquinas. He gives us many of the theological positions which the Church holds today. St. Alphonsus clarified the elements of mortal sin: that the sinner must have full awareness of the matter; full consent was made; and that it involves serious matter. It is the theological positions of these writings which came to be known as his work in moral theology. The other writings of St. Alphonsus were devotional writings: the most successful, "Glories of Mary". Other writings were: "Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Blessed Virgin", "The True Spouse of Jesus Christ", and "The Great Means of Prayer". Alphonsus' style of writing were similar to the prayerful meditation he practiced and taught to others. It consisted of a brief consideration of some aspect of the mysteries of our redemption, followed by a prayer filled with feelings of love, contrition, and other sentiments of devotion. His favorite devotions were to the Eucharist, to Christ in His Passion, and to the Blessed Mother.
Appointed as bishop
In 1762 A.D., Pope Clement XIII appointed St. Alphonsus as bishop of a small diocese near Naples. Though reluctantly accepting the position, he brought the same zeal to this ministry which he had applied to all of his previous work. He reformed the secular clergy, organized general missions for the people, and established programmes for assisting the poor of the diocese.
Last years, death and sainthood
The last few years of St. Alphonsus Liguori brought him intense interior trials - a "dark night of the soul". He was beset by temptations and every article of his faith was shaken. This torment lasted for eighteen months with only brief periods of light and relief. When this period of trial finally ended, Alphonsus experienced spiritual ecstasies, prophetic visions, and the ability to perform miracles. St. Alphonsus died on August 1, 1787 A.D. He was canonized in 1839 A.D. and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1871 A.D. by Pope Pius IX. He is the patron saint of vocations, moral theologians, and of confessors.
References of this article
- Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
- The Doctors of the Church vol 1, by John F. Fink
- A Year With the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.
- Saints for Our Time, by Ransom
- The Lives of the Saints, by Butler
No comments:
Post a Comment