Feast: August 2 (Traditional Calendar)
Title: Bishop, Confessor, Doctor of the Church, Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists)
Patron of: Moral theologians, confessors, the lay apostolate, arthritis sufferers
Early Life and Formation
Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori was born near Naples, in Marianella, Italy, on September 27, 1696, to a noble and devout family. From his earliest years, Alphonsus was remarkable for his intelligence, humility, and piety. He earned a doctorate in civil and canon law at the young age of sixteen, distinguishing himself as a brilliant lawyer. However, after experiencing a deep disillusionment with the legal profession—especially after a humiliating defeat in a high-profile case—he turned his heart irrevocably toward the service of God.
Priesthood and Ministry
Ordained a priest in 1726, Alphonsus dedicated himself to preaching missions among the poor and neglected, especially in the rural areas around Naples. His homilies were clear, fervent, and marked by theological depth expressed in simple language, making the profound truths of the Faith accessible to the common people. He emphasized devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the importance of frequent Confession and Holy Communion.
Founding of the Redemptorists
Seeing the spiritual destitution of the poor in rural Italy, Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Congregatio Sanctissimi Redemptoris, or Redemptorists) in 1732, with the mission of bringing the Gospel to the most abandoned souls. The Redemptorists combined rigorous theological study with missionary zeal and pastoral charity. Alphonsus demanded both deep learning and practical compassion from his missionaries.
Bishopric and Sufferings
Despite his resistance, Alphonsus was appointed Bishop of Sant’Agata dei Goti in 1762. As bishop, he reformed the clergy, revived devotion among the faithful, and labored tirelessly for the salvation of souls, all while suffering increasingly from poor health. Afflicted with arthritis and rheumatism, his spine became so curved that his chin eventually rested upon his chest. Even amid intense physical suffering, he continued his writing and ministry.
In his later years, due in part to misinformation and internal difficulties, he was unjustly excluded from the very institute he founded—a profound trial he bore with saintly resignation.
Doctrinal Contributions and Writings
Saint Alphonsus is perhaps most renowned as a Doctor of Moral Theology, specifically for reconciling the demands of justice with the mercy of God. His seminal work, “Theologia Moralis,” opposed the extremes of rigorism and laxism, emphasizing a pastoral approach rooted in Tradition and the Fathers.
Among his other notable works are:
- “Visits to the Blessed Sacrament”
- “The Glories of Mary”
- “Preparation for Death”
- “The Way of the Cross” (still widely used today)
- Numerous meditations, letters, and treatises on prayer, the priesthood, and the spiritual life
He always insisted that love of Jesus Christ must be the animating force of all Christian life, echoing his famous maxim: “He who prays is certainly saved; he who does not is certainly damned.”
Death and Canonization
Saint Alphonsus died on August 1, 1787, at the age of 90, in Nocera de’ Pagani. He was canonized in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI, declared a Doctor of the Church in 1871 by Pope Pius IX, and named Patron of Confessors and Moral Theologians by Pope Pius XII in 1950.
Legacy in Traditional Catholicism
In the pre-conciliar tradition, Saint Alphonsus stands as a towering figure: a model of pastoral charity, doctrinal clarity, and Eucharistic and Marian devotion. His theology remains a cornerstone for confessors and spiritual directors, particularly in the use of casuistry rightly understood, balancing mercy and truth in the confessional.
His spiritual practices—frequent meditation on death and eternity, visits to the Blessed Sacrament, deep devotion to Our Lady—are deeply embedded in the devotional life of the faithful formed in traditional Catholic spirituality.
Devotional Highlights
- Patronage: Daily invocation by moral theologians and confessors
- Spiritual Maxims:
“He who loves God most in this life shall enjoy Him most in the next.”
“O God, what are we without Thee? Nothing, less than nothing.” - Liturgy (Traditional Latin Mass):
Collect (August 2): Deus, qui per beátum Alphonsum Maríam, Confessórem tuum atque Pontíficem, fidélem ministérium animárum in novi operis Ecclesiástici procuratióne animásti: præsta, quǽsumus; ut, ejus exémplo et intercessióne, ad eándem animárum lucrándarum glóriam stúdio perpetuo nos insténtos effícias…