Saint of the day - August 1

Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori was the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists). He was born on September 27, 1696, in Marianella, Campania, Kingdom of Sicily. Alphonsus was the firstborn in his family, and his father, Giuseppe Liguori, was a Captain of the Royal Galleys and a naval officer. His mother was called Anna Maria Caterina Cavalieri. He was christened as Alphonsus Marie Antony John Cosmos Damien Michael Gaspard de Liguori.

Due to Myopia, poor eyesight and asthma, Alphonsus could not pursue military career. Hence, he had joined the University of Naples, and at the age of 16, he graduated with doctorates in civil and canon laws. At 18 years of age, he assisted in taking care of the sick at the hospital for incurables which was operated by the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy.

Though he was successful practicing law, Alphonsus did not like it as he felt that legal profession was full of dangers and difficulties. When he was 27, he lost an important case and that was the turning point in his life. Alphonsus decided to leave his profession and follow the inner voice that kept telling him; “Leave the world, and give yourself to me.”

Declining a marriage proposal arranged by his father, Alphonsus joined the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, in 1723, and on December 21, 1726, at the age of 30, he was ordained a priest.

Saint Alphonsus spent his initial priestly years preaching and taking care of the marginalized and homeless youths of Naples. He preached in a simple and plain manner and consequently attracted many congregants. He founded chapels that became centers of education, preaching, and pious activities.

By 1729, he began to evangelize as a missionary to the inner parts of the Kingdom of Naples. At one time in an interior town of Foggia, Alphonsus saw the vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a young teenage girl wearing a veil.

On November 9, 1732, at insistence of Sister Maria Celeste Crostarosa , Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer with the aim of teaching and preaching to the poor in slums and poor country sides.

Alphonsus was a musical composer who wrote and taught many hymns to his congregants. He wrote songs like “Tu scendi dalle stelle” (“From Starry Skies Descending”). He had written 111 works on spirituality and theology. There are 21,500 editions of these works which have been translated into 72 languages.

In 1762, Alphonsus was ordained and consecrated as the Bishop of Sant’Agata dei Goti. He brought order to his diocese by suspending those priests who celebrated mass in a hurry.

He continued taking care of the poor and the needy. At one point of time, he sold his episcopal ring and his carriage to take care of the poor.

Towards the end of his life, he became sick, blind and faced persecution from priests in his own congregation. He was deserted by all his original founding priests and other companions, except one lay brother. He died on August 1, 1787, at the age of 90 in Pagani, Campania, Kingdom of Sicily.

Alphonsus was beatified by Pope Pius VII on September 15, 1816. In 1871, Pope Pius IX proclaimed him a Doctor of the Church.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Justin
2. Saint Dominic Van Honh Dieu
3. Saint Arcadius
4. Saint Elined
5. Saint Mary the Consoler

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