Feast Of St Alphonsus De Liguori

St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church. He began life as somewhat of a prodigy getting his degree in civil law by 19 years but later being called to the priesthood. In his 91 years he accomplished much and is best known for his writings on Moral Theology, Marian Devotion as well as Devotion to the Blessed Sacrament in adoration. He also wrote and preached against the Jansenism ("Calvinistic Catholicism ") in the Church and did much to correct its influence on the faithful through his spiritual counseling and hearing confessions.

He suffered much physically and had such cervical kyphosis from an episode of paralysis that a large wound developed on his anterior chest wall from the pressure of his chin. In the last few years of his life he went through a dark night of the soul with temptations, scrupulosity and doubt, but God saw him through to remain faithful until his happy death.

My first exposure to St Alphonsus was in his beautiful devotion of the stations of the cross which our Church prays each Friday of Lent. Non-Catholics would find this a beautiful spiritual exercise as well. The stations of the Cross is a devotion which should be practiced year round and not just at Lent! (IMHO)

ST. ALPHONSUS DE LIGUORI'S SHORT ACT OF PERFECT LOVE

My God, I love Thee above all things, and in all things, with my whole soul, because Thou art worthy of all love!

Reference: goddesses-and-gods.blogspot.com