Alphonsus Marie Antony John Cosmos Damien Michael Gaspard de Liguori was born in his father’s country house on September 27, 1696 in Marianella, near Naples, Italy. Their family was an old and noble one. His father was a naval officer and Captain of the Royal Galleys and his mother was of Spanish descent. He was the eldest of 7 children and the hope of the house as he was bright and quick beyond his years. Horse riding and fencing were his recreation along with an evening of playing card games.

Even as a young man his father said of him, “I know his obstinacy. When he once makes up his mind, he is inflexible.”

He was taught by tutors instead of attending school and at the age of 16, received a degree as Doctor of Laws 4 years earlier than typical. By the age of 19 he had passed the Bar and was practicing law in courts, and was successful in every case. For the next 7 years, he partied with society and neglected prayer and the practice of piety, which had been an integral part of his earlier life. He took pleasure in the attention he received everywhere he went.

“Banquets, entertainments, theatres,” he wrote, “these are the pleasures of the world, but pleasures which are filled with the bitterness of gall and sharp thorns. Believe me who have experienced it, and now weep over it.”

At 27, overly confident in his abilities, he made a major error with an important case, lost, and was humiliated. After 3 days in self-pity and refusing food, he began to see that it was God’s way of breaking down his pride and to wean him from the world. He did not return to his profession, but instead spent days in prayer, seeking what God had called for him.

He went to perform his favorite act of charity by visiting the sick in the Hospital for Incurables. Twice he found himself surrounded by a mysterious light, a rocking building, and an interior voice speaking out, “Leave the world and give thyself to Me.” He went to the local church before Our Lady, made a solemn resolution to enter church ministry, and offer himself as a novice to the Fathers of the Oratory.

After 2 months of arguments, his father allowed him to become a priest if he gave up joining the Oratory and lived at home. By the age of 30 he was ordained and for 6 years he labored around Naples as a missionary. He went to live at the Chiflese College and met Bishop Thomas Falcoia and mystic, Sister Mary Celeste, forming life-long friendships. With their aid, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer but it struggled for several years. He tried again in 1743 for both men and women and received the Pope’s approval. He along with the members, wrote and preached in the surrounding rural areas while gathering many members.

He had refused becoming Bishop prior but in 1762, at the age of 66, he finally accepted. He discovered more than 30,000 uninstructed men and women and 400 indifferent priests for his congregation, a monumental task. For 13 years he fed the poor, instructed families, reorganized the seminary and religious houses, taught theology, and wrote. His austerities were rigorous, and he suffered daily from rheumatism. A rheumatic fever left him crippled. With this he was tricked to signing over his congregation to royal submission and was excluded. He suffered great anguish over this but overcame and experienced visions, performed miracles, and gave prophecies.

He died peacefully on August 1, 1787 and was declared a Doctor of the Church especially in regards to Mary.

He is the patron saint of confessors, moral theologians, and the lay apostolate.

His feast day is August 1.

For God’s Glory.