St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787)

St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Feast Day: August 1
Canonized: May 26, 1839
Patron of confessors, Naples
 

St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church, was born to nobility near Naples. Though a gifted theologian and writer, he was also a poet, harpsichordist, musical composer, and artist.

A successful young lawyer, he began considering leaving law after losing an important case – realizing the futile vanity of pursuing worldly glory. At 27, he heard an interior voice: “Leave the world and give yourself to Me.” 

He was thus ordained a priest at 30. In 1732, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists), for preaching inspiring missions. Upon hearing Alphonsus’ sermon in church one day, his father exclaimed: “My son has made God known to me!”

A prolific writer and teacher, known for penning The Glories of Mary and The Way of the Cross (still used for Lenten devotions), he vowed never to waste a moment – spending his life praying, working, and composing some 111 works. He died at 91, on Aug. 1, 1787, in Pagani, Italy. Pope Pius VII beatified him in 1816; he was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839.