Originally printed in The Reign of Mary, Fall 1986

An Apostolic Man: St. Alphonsus Liguori

By Religious of the Congregation of Mary Immaculate Queen

Few individuals in the history of mankind have been as gifted as St. Alphonsus. His patience in the midst of countless trials and his concern for the salvation of souls will ever endear him to the Catholic faithful.

Alphonsus, the first of eight children, was born just north of Naples in the town of Marianella on September 27, 1696. His parents, Signor Don Guiseppe de Liguori and Signora Donna Anna Cavalieri, were of noble blood. The saint’s baptismal name of Alfonso Maria Antonio Giovanni Francesco Consino Domiano Michelangelo Gasparo de Liguori is rather long — hence, we will refer to him simply as Alphonsus. His grandfather was counsellor of the royal court of Naples; three of his uncles were religious — one being the saintly Bishop Cavalieri, and he had an aunt who was a superior of a convent of nuns. Shortly after the birth of Alphonsus, St. Francis Jerome, S.J., predicted that the infant would become a bishop and accomplish much good for the Church, and that he would live to be 90. All of these predictions were later realized.

Little Alphonsus received his education from the Fathers of the Oratory. At the age of 12 he began courses in Canon and Civil Law, along with studies in music, painting and architecture. His musical talents were later employed in composing short religious songs which became so popular in Italy as to replace the vulgar songs which were then in vogue. His drafting abilities, as well, in time were employed in designing the religious houses of the Congregation he was to found. Several of his paintings, attesting to his artistic ability, remain to this day.

One evening, Alphonsus came home late for study after playing cards with his friends. He was met by his father, who, holding a deck of cards in his hands, rebuked him with these words: “So these are the books you like to study!” The young student got the message and proved himself by achieving degrees in Canon and Civil Law at the age of 16, although the youngest prescribed age was 20.

Being too young to practice law, Alphonsus spent two years sitting in courtrooms listening to cases and studying on hisown. When he became a lawyer at the age of 18, his honesty, equity and sagacity won for him such popularity that he was in demand everywhere. His success was prodigious and he never advocated a case which he knew to be unjust. Needless to say, he was the pride and joy of his father. It is also little to be wondered that he would one day become known as the patron of lawyers.

Alphonsus frequently visited churches and hospitals and led an exemplary Christian life. A Moslem slave who was converted by his example said of him: “A religion that makes him so upright and holy cannot be false.”

The event which was a turning point in the life of the saint was a law suit between a nobleman of Naples and a rich landowner of Tuscany. The sum of money involved was equivalent in today’s standards to about half a million dollars. Alphonsus spent a month investigating the case and presented his side with such eloquence and seeming flawless arguments that he was sure his opponent was helpless. But when the latter spoke he brought forward one document which the brilliant young lawyer somehow had entirely forgotten: the case was doomed. Alphonsus had lost! Anguished, he cried out: “O world, I know you now! Courts, you shall never see me more!”

Locking himself up in his room, Alphonsus refused to eat or speak to anyone for three days. Don Liguori, all his dreams now shattered, practically disowned his eldest son. Meanwhile, Alphonsus began seriously making plans to enter upon a religious career. When his father learned of this, however, he put up a great deal of opposition. When he finally realized that his son would not change his mind, he accompanied him to speak with the Cardinal Archbishop of Naples on the matter. The latter confirmed Alphonsus’ decision, showing his admiration for his choice of the service of God over any worldly success. After several years of study under excellent tutors, Alphonsus was ordained to the holy priesthood on December 21, 1726. He spent the preceding years in catechizing, visiting prisons, and doing missionary work. The following years of the saint’s life are so filled with events that only his major accomplishments and trials can be spoken of here.

From the beginning of his priestly career, Alphonsus’ preaching was followed by wondrous conversions. His manner of preaching the Gospel and the truths of the Catholic Faith was so simple and appealing that even the most ignorant peasant could understand him. Crowds would flock to hear him speak; his words inflamed souls with love of God and hatred of sin. The conversions and the amendment of life which were brought about by his preaching were admirable. It was the common practice during that period of time for preachers to place an exaggerated emphasis on oratorical talent, taking such pride in their abilities that they purposely inverted word order and employed subtle literary devices — all of which only confused their hearers. It came about, however, that because of his success and influence in preaching, St. Alphonsus completely reformed the manner of preaching in Italy.

Concerned over the neglect of the peasants of Naples, the saint, along with several other priests, began giving missions in that area. This later became the primary work of the Redemptorists. To achieve lasting results, he organized “chapels,” which consisted of a number of individuals who met together to recite the rosary and other prayers and hymns. Instructions on the Catholic Faith would follow. All in all, these prayer and study meetings were about an hour anda half in length. A century after these “chapels” had been organized, about 100 could still be found in Naples. Together with Bishop Thomas Falcoia and Sister Maria Celeste Crostarosa, Alphonsus founded the Redemptorists and the Redemptoristines. The trials which he suffered as aresult would have caused any ordinary man to despair. Although the Blessed Virgin assured him of the ultimate success of the work, at times it seemed as though everything would end in disaster. Most of his first followers deserted after only a few months, and those who were most loyal to him soon died. The Rule for the priests was neither approved nor accepted until after many years, and when the Pope finally approved it, the King of Naples refused to do so. While the royal court of Naples tolerated the Congregations, it threatened to disband them at any time. And finally, two law suits — one lasting for thirty years — were an almost continuous threat to the very existence of the Congregations.

Pope Clement XIII appointed Alphonsus as Bishop of St. Agatha of the Goths on March 9, 1762. The saint, who was then 65 years of age and in poor health, wrote to the Pontiff explaining his inability to accept such an office due to the state of his health, his asthma, his partial blindness and deafness, and his lameness. The Pope not only would hear no excuses but commanded Alphonsus to be made bishop of that vacant see. Although 200 other men had applied for the post, Pope Clement knew that a saint was needed to reform it.

On his way to Rome, Alphonsus purchased his episcopal ring and pectoral cross, in which colored glass was used in place of precious gems due to the poverty of the place. After his consecration in Rome, when the new bishop was handed a bill for fees and other expenses incurred, he stated simply, “I did not ask for the episcopacy; it was imposed on me.” St. Agatha of the Goths was a poverty-stricken diocese and it would be difficult to procure the sum. The Pope freed him from all the customary fees, saying, “When Mgr. Liguori dies, there will be one more saint in heaven.”

After being installed in his new diocese, Alphonsus began to remodel the episcopal residence. The edifice soon took on the appearance of a monastery. Bishop Alphonsus scanned the house and when he found the smallest and most uncomfortable room, he chose it for his bedroom. A regular schedule of meditation, Office and rosary became the normal way of life at the bishop’s residence, and here the saint would be found clad in his Redemptorist habit.

While there were many priests in Italy at the time, unfortunately many were tepid, lax and negligent in the discharge of their sacred duties. Alphonsus attempted to curb further abuses by strictly examining the candidates in the seminary and expelling all who were unfit or unqualified. He rebuilt the seminary and took a special interest in the training of the clerics. No one advanced in Orders who did not pass his examinations. High moral conduct, ability to study, zeal for their own salvation and that of others became the criterion for admission. Other bishops soon followed in his footsteps. Alphonsus had a true concern for his priests and worked to make them what they should be.

A revival of Gregorian chant was initiated in St. Agatha’s and all theatrical types of music were banned from the churches. This reform anticipated the future work of Pope St. Pius X by almost 150 years. St. Alphonsus warned his flock of a plague that would ensue if they did not amend their lives. His prophesy was verified and 300,000 people perished in southern Italy. The bishop foreknew of the calamity and stored up supplies of food and grain which were used to feed the starving populace. He sold anything he could get his hands on to feed the people, and finally, after fervent prayer, the plague ended.

During his “spare moments,” the saint authored 111 books and pamphlets. His “Glories of Mary,” “Victories of the Martyrs,” “Preparation for Death,” and other works are known the world over and have been translated into 90 languages. Only in eternity will we know what wonders these books have wrought in the Catholic world. St. Alphonsus composed his “Moral Theology” to instruct his seminarians. This work is so orthodox and comprehensive that the Popes hold it up as the standard for the Catholic clergy the
world over. No other work on Moral Theology has a like approbation. His works possess such a wealth of Catholic doctrine and teaching that he has been proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. Only 25 men in the history of the Church have received a similar recognition.

In 1768, Alphonsus was attacked by rheumatism and left partially paralyzed. Perhaps what made this trial most painful was that he was thus unable to offer Mass for an entire year. His neck was bent by this attack and caused his beard to cut an open festering wound in his chest. The saint asked to resign his office, but permission was refused. Of him Pope Clement XIV said, “His shadow enough was enough to govern the diocese. His prayers would make up for the work he was unable to accomplish.”

In the year 1775 at the age of 79, Alphonsus was finally permitted to resign from his episcopal see and retired to the Redemptorist monastery in Pagani. All his belongings were carried in a cart following his carriage: a wooden cross, a copper lamp, a candlestick, and a cot! During this period of time, two court trials threatened the life of the Congregation.

Alphonsus continued to suffer much in his old age. He used all his legal talents to protect the foundations from being destroyed by the law suits. When things seemed to be at their darkest, God intervened. The leaders of the antagonistic parties died sudden and violent deaths and a period of tranquility appeared on the horizon. One of the antagonists left four orphan children and a debt of $30,000. St. Alphonsus took it upon himself to see to the upbringing of the children, providing a dowry for the two girls who entered a convent, and in a few years paid the entire debt. He who was formerly looked upon as an enemy began to be cherished as a loving father.

The greatest trial was yet to follow. Even though the Pope had approved the Rule of the Redemptorists, the King of Naples had to ratify this approbation. St. Alphonsus addressed the royal court on numerous occasions and was givena very cold reception. At last it seemed as if approbation might be given. Two priests were sent to Naples to obtain it, but these priests so altered the Rule that it in no way resembled the original one. The vows of religion, poverty, chastity and obedience, were not even included. The King quickly gave his approval.

Before this Rule could be enforced the Rector Major had to approve it as well. Alphonsus, who was partially blind and very ill, requested that it be read to him. The new Rule was presented deceitfully as though it were the original, and Alphonsus gave his signature to the document. The Redemptorists were indignant at the new Rule which bore no resemblance to the original and blamed Alphonsus for it. The two priests who had altered it left the Order and confusion ensued. The case was presented to the Pope, who was told that Alphonsus was responsible for the changes in the Rule. The Pope therefore deprived Alphonsus of his office as Rector Major (even though he had founded the Redemptorists) and declared in 1781 that all the religious houses of Naples were excluded from the Redemptorist Order. The blow was a severe one to Alphonsus, who was 86 at the time. The Redemptorist houses in the Papal States were allowed to function but confusion, disunity and discord were rampant. Two years later Pope Pius VI granted missionary faculties to the religious houses in Naples but they were still separated from the Redemptorists in the Papal States.

St. Alphonsus was plagued with great interior trials and temptations, together with great physical sufferings. His life became a veritable purgatory, and his trials increased until just before his death. The Madonna then appeared to her devoted servant and restored peace and tranquility to him. He died peacefully on August 2, 1787, at the sound of the noon Angelus bell, being then 91 years of age. The Italian people clamored for his canonization and the Pope who had earlier excluded him from the Congregation he founded declared him Venerable. The Redemptorists were finally united four years after the saint’s death, and began to spread to Poland, Europe and the United States.

St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori was canonized on the feast of the Most Holy Trinity in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI. His feast is observed on August 2. The spirit of this apostolic man, who vowed never to waste amoment of time, lives on today in his literary works. Few saints have been able to touch the hearts of the faithful so deeply as he; his words, so simple and direct, glow with the love of God which burned in his breast and to this day continue to strengthen the Church Militant by drawing souls closer to God.