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August 1: Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church—Memorial
1696–1787
Patron Saint of confessors and moral theologians
Invoked against scrupulosity, arthritis, and for final perseverance
Canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839
Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
In the beginning of the soul’s conversion, God often gives her a flood of consolations. In consequence of this, the soul is gradually weaned from attachment to creatures and gives herself to God; but not as yet in a perfect manner, for she acts more for the sake of the consolations of God than for the God of consolations, as St. Francis de Sales so beautifully says. It is a common fault of our fallen nature that in everything we do, we seek our own gratification. The love of God and Christian perfection do not consist in sweet feelings and sensible consolations, but in overcoming our self-love and in fulfilling the Will of God. In the lives of God’s greatest servants and saints we see the milk of consolations give place to the more substantial food of afflictions; and this it is that enables them to bear the burden of the cross on their journey to Calvary’s Mount. ~Saint Alphonsus, The School of Perfection, Chapter Twelve
Reflection: Alphonsus Marie was born into the noble Liguori family in Marinella, of the Kingdom of Naples, modern-day Italy. He was the eldest of seven children and was raised in a devout Catholic home. As a boy, he mastered the harp and enjoyed fencing, horseback riding, and card games. He also exhibited a strong will and moral character. His father was a naval officer who achieved the high rank of Captain of the Royal Galleys. Due to poor eyesight and asthma, Alphonsus couldn’t follow in his father’s military footsteps. However, Alphonsus’ remarkable intelligence led his father to send him to the University of Naples. There he earned a degree in both civil and Church law at the age of sixteen, three years earlier than usual.
For the next eight years, Alphonsus won case after case as a lawyer in Naples, but his worldly success didn’t satisfy him. Indeed, he might never have lost a case until his last and life-changing one. One day, instead of rebutting Alphonsus’ excellent argument, the defense lawyer asked Alphonsus if he saw any error in his argument. Alphonsus identified a small flaw in his own case and spoke about it openly. He lost the case but was praised for his honesty. He said afterward, “False world, I know you now. Courts, you shall never see me again.” He left his profession, relinquishing wealth and prestige.
After this experience, Alphonsus went on a three-day retreat, guided by an Oratorian priest. Having found worldly success unsatisfying, he resolved to serve God alone, choosing to embark on theological studies, grow in virtue, and become a priest. His father opposed his joining the Oratorians, so Alphonsus agreed to live at home while he completed his studies. With the blessing of the Cardinal Archbishop of Naples, he was ordained a priest in 1726 at the age of thirty.
For the next three years, Father Alphonsus lived in his family home and ministered to the poor and sinners in Naples. He gathered them in the streets, speaking to them lovingly and convincingly, winning over many to Christ. The archbishop asked him to conduct his services in the local churches, which came to be known as “Evening Chapels.” These gatherings included catechesis and prayer, especially for the young and the poor, and were often led by the young people themselves, after receiving proper training from Father Alphonsus. Father Alphonsus also became a beloved confessor. People found him to be a man of great compassion, attentiveness, and concern. He treated every penitent with mercy and always offered absolution, never doubting the sincerity of the sinner’s repentance. From the pulpit, Father Alphonsus preached in such a way that everyone understood him, even the poorest and most uneducated, the saint and the sinner. In a short time, his ministry had such an effect upon the morally decadent parts of Naples that the most serious sins in the town all but disappeared.
In 1729, to deepen his life of prayer and commitment to ministry, he moved into a newly formed school for the Chinese missions but continued his ministry to the poor and sinners. He expanded his ministry beyond Naples to the even poorer and decadent peoples in the surrounding countryside. Seeing a great need to increase the work he was doing, he gained the support of the neighboring bishop of Scala to form a new congregation. In 1732, Father Alphonsus was joined by thirteen companions (ten priests, two seminarians, and a lay brother) who formed the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.
The new congregation began well. Its members lived lives of deep prayer, severe penance, and radical poverty. They went out on missions as itinerant missionaries, devoting themselves to preaching repentance and mercy throughout the countryside. However, dissension soon arose over their mission and way of life. Father Alphonsus’ proposals were rejected by everyone but one lay brother and a seminarian. The rest left and formed another congregation. Father Alphonsus was ridiculed in Naples, and even the bishop was criticized for supporting him. The bishop and Father Alphonsus persevered, however, and soon new companions joined the congregation, and their ministry flourished.
For the next thirty years, Father Alphonsus worked tirelessly to form his congregation and minister to the people of God with compassion. One of the emerging heresies at that time came to be known as Jansenism, which was a movement that denied the universality of free will and that the grace and mercy of God were given to all. Jansenists viewed human nature as so flawed that only God could save souls—and was selective about whom He chose for salvation. Father Alphonsus saw grace and mercy as available to everyone and fervently preached that message. In addition to his preaching, he became an exceptionally prolific writer. In his lifetime, he wrote about 100 books and 400 pamphlets and booklets used to evangelize the people in easy-to-understand language that was also orthodox.
He mastered moral theology, making it accessible and acceptable to those who needed to turn from sin. He wrote beautifully about the Blessed Virgin Mary, the way of the Cross, and the Person of Jesus Christ.
In 1762, Father Alphonsus was appointed Bishop of Sant’Agata dei Goti, the diocese just northeast of Naples. As bishop, he sought to reform the diocese, especially the clergy, and worked to implement an organized plan of evangelization. Though his rigorous approach was met with resistance, he pressed on. By 1775, Bishop Alphonsus’ health had deteriorated to the point that he suffered greatly. He became partially paralyzed and bent over, and is often depicted this way in art. He offered his resignation, and the pope reluctantly accepted it. He spent the last twelve years of his life in one of his congregation’s religious houses, writing, praying, and suffering. He eventually became blind and deaf but never stopped loving God and serving His will. In his final years, he saw divisions attack his congregation, and he himself spent his final three years being tempted with extreme scruples, demonic attacks, and spiritual darkness. All of this only led to his greater sanctity.
At times, it’s tempting to think that holiness ensures an easy life. On the contrary, the Father often permits great suffering to those who love Him the most in imitation of His divine Son. Though Saint Alphonsus suffered greatly in many different ways, he remained faithful to his heartfelt mission of saving souls. He believed in the mercy of God, brought that mercy and truth to the greatest sinners, and ensured that his mission endured time by founding a religious congregation and leaving behind voluminous writings that are understandable to all. As we honor this holy saint, ponder his central message that God is merciful and welcomes even the greatest sinner. See yourself as that sinner in need of God’s mercy, and do not hesitate to run to the Heart of the Most Holy Redeemer to find rest and peace.
Prayer: Saint Alphonsus, though you hated sin, you loved the sinner and worked tirelessly to reconcile every sinner to God. You did so with compassion and mercy, in imitation of Jesus. Please pray for me, that I will share in your convictions and mission, and seek to love every person who has turned from God. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.
Unit Leader: Bro. Dave & Sis. Tess Calces
☺Household Leader: Bro. Daniel & Sis. Dome Magno
Members:
-Bro. Joewey & Sis. Mayang Morales
-Bro. Rodel & Sis. Shirly Saludes
-Bro. Emman & Sis. Joan Leonor
☺Household Leader: Bro. Sonny & Sis. Cora Andal
Members:
-Bro. Bernie & Sis. Lorna Faustino
-Bro. Bong & Sis. Lani Mangalus
-Bro. Randy & Sis. Gina Salma
-Bro. Nonie & Sis. Josie Fajilan
☺Household Leader: Bro. Edmund & Sis. Eve Espiritu
Members:
-Bro. Bart & Sis. Kathy Fallaria
-Bro. Dan & Sis. Tess Tolentino
-Bro. Eric & Sis. Lilian Lingal
☺Household Leader: Bro. Rodel & Sis. Mhang Manuel
-Bro. Bong & Sis. Irene Austria
-Bro. Willy & sis. Milly Lathrop
-Bro. Randy & Sis. Jessa Quing-quing
-Bro. Ernie & Sis. Darmie Sojor
☺Household Leader: Bro. Cris & Sis. Nora Pineda
Our Activities:
National Shrine of Saint Jude: Legion of Mary Praesidium
MARIA SPES SINENSIUM Members :
- President: Caroline Gozun
SCOPE OF WORK:
Home to home visitation; taking and updating of the parish census; recruitment and follow up of active and auxiliary members; follow up on marriage validation, baptismal, Holy Communion and confirmation cases; hospital visitation; block rosary; participation in various parish and curia activities.
ABOUT:
The Legion of Mary
The object of the Legion of Mary is the glory of God through the holiness of its members developed by prayer and active co-operation in Mary’s and the Church’s work. The unit of the Legion of Mary is called a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting, where prayer is intermingled with reports and discussion. Persons who wish to join the Legion must apply for membership in a Praesidium. The Legion sees as its priority the spiritual and social welfare of each individual. The members participate in the life of the parish through visitation of families, the sick, both in their homes and in hospitals and through collaboration in every apostolic and missionary undertaking sponsored by the parish. Every legionary is required to carry out a weekly apostolic work in the spirit of faith and in union with Mary.
The Legion of Mary is a lay apostolic association of Catholics who, with the sanction of the Church and under the powerful leadership of Mary Immaculate, Mediatrix of All Graces, serve the Church and their neighbour on a voluntary basis in about 170 countries. The first meeting of the Legion of Mary took place in Myra House, Francis Street, Dublin, Ireland, on 7 September, 1921. This meeting was to have very beneficial consequences for the mission of the Catholic Church and, in a special way, for millions of members of Christ’s lay faithful who would serve in the Legion and for those who would be served by the legionary apostolate. Many persons outside the Catholic Church would also benefit from that apostolate. With the approval and support of the Popes and a great many Bishops, Priests and Religious, as well as the prayers and efforts of legionaries, the Legion, by the grace of God, has grown into a worldwide organisation with several million members.
Drawing its inspiration from the True Devotion to Mary, as taught by St. Louis Marie de Montfort, and which had a profound influence on the Founder of the Legion, the Servant of God, Frank Duff, the Legion is at the disposal of the Bishops and Priests for use in the mission of the Church. While essentially a lay association, legionaries look for spiritual and apostolic formation to priests and religious, who, as Legion Spiritual Directors, hold an honoured place in the Legion system. The Legion requires ecclesiastical approval to work in a diocese or parish. Loyalty to the Magisterium and to Ecclesiastical Authority is a basic legionary principle. The Legion aims to bring Mary to the world as the infallible means of winning the world to Jesus and legionary service is based on the doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ so that in their fellow members and in those they serve, legionaries seek to have the Person of our Lord once again seen and served by Mary, his Mother.
The general and essential means by which the Legion of Mary is to effect its object is personal service acting under the influence of the Holy Spirit, having Divine Grace as its moving principle and support, and the glory of God and the salvation of souls as its final end and purpose. Evangelisation, especially the seeking of conversions to the Church, should be a priority for the Legion. Through the visitation of homes and by other means, the Legion must, as a first principle, set out to establish a contact of some sort with every soul everywhere. Seeing and serving Christ in the sick and marginalised is another vital part of the legionary apostolate. While not engaging in the giving of material relief, legionaries will often find opportunities to do works of service for the needy.
The basic unit of the Legion is called a praesidium, which is normally based in a parish. A parish may have more than one praesidium. To be an active legionary it is necessary to apply for membership in a praesidium, which holds a weekly meeting and allocates a weekly apostolic task to the members, who generally work in pairs. After a successful period of probation, members are called to make the Legionary Promise (this is only applicable for members over 18 years) which is directed to the Holy Spirit. Realising the necessity for a strong support of prayer, the Legion has Auxiliary members, who associate themselves with the Legion by undertaking a service of prayer in its name. The administration of the Legion is carried out through its various councils at local, regional and national level. The central council, the Concilium Legionis Mariae, meets monthly in Dublin.
The Cause for Beatification has been introduced for three legionaries: The Servant of God, Frank Duff (1889-1980), Founder of the Legion, who attended the Second Vatican Council as a Lay Observer; Venerable Edel Quinn (1907-1944), Legion Envoy to East Africa; and the Servant of God, Alfie Lambe (1932-1959), Legion Envoy to South America.