Alphonsus Liguori facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alphonsus Liguori |
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| Bishop of Sant'Agata de' Goti Doctor of the Church |
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| Metropolis | Benevento |
| Diocese | Sant'Agata de' Goti |
| See | Sant'Agata de' Goti |
| Appointed | 14 June 1762 |
| Enthroned | 20 June 1762 |
| Reign ended | 26 June 1775 |
| Predecessor | Flaminius Danza |
| Successor | Onofrio de Rossi |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 21 December 1726 |
| Consecration | 20 June 1762 by Ferdinando Maria de Rossi |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 September 1696 Marianella, Campania, Kingdom of Naples |
| Died | 1 August 1787 (aged 90) Pagani, Campania, Kingdom of Naples |
| Denomination | Latin-rite Catholic |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day |
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| Venerated in | Catholic Church |
| Title as Saint | Bishop, Moral Theologian, Confessor and Doctor of the Church |
| Beatified | 15 September 1816 Rome, Papal States by Pope Pius VII |
| Canonized | 26 May 1839 Rome, Papal States by Pope Gregory XVI |
| Patronage | Pagani, Cancello, Naples (co-patron); arthritis, lawyers, confessors, moralists, vocations |
| Shrines |
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Alphonsus Liguori (born September 27, 1696 – died August 1, 1787) was an important Italian Catholic bishop, writer, and musician. He was also a lawyer and a theologian. He is best known for founding a religious group called the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists, in 1732.
Alphonsus became a bishop in 1762. He wrote many books and songs, including The Glories of Mary and The Way of the Cross. He was made a saint in 1839 and is considered a Doctor of the Church, which means his writings are very important for Catholic teachings. He is also the patron saint of people who hear confessions.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Alphonsus Liguori was born on September 27, 1696, in Marianella, near Naples, Italy. He was the oldest of seven children. His father, Giuseppe Liguori, was a naval officer. His mother was Anna Maria Caterina Cavalieri. Two days after his birth, he was baptized as Alphonsus Mary Anthony John Cosmas Damian Michael Gaspard de' Liguori. His family was from a noble background, but they were not very wealthy.
Alphonsus learned to ride horses and fence. However, he had poor eyesight and asthma, which meant he couldn't join the military. So, his father decided he should become a lawyer. He was taught by private teachers before going to the University of Naples. He earned degrees in civil and church law when he was just 16 years old. He later joked that he was so small at his graduation that he almost disappeared in his gown!
When he was 18, Alphonsus joined a group called the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy. With this group, he helped care for sick people in a hospital.
From Lawyer to Priest
Alphonsus became a very successful lawyer. He won every case for eight years! However, he started to feel that the legal profession was too difficult and risky. He once wrote, "Our profession is too full of difficulties and dangers."
At age 27, he lost his first important case. After this, he decided to leave law for good. He felt a strong inner voice telling him, "Leave the world, and give yourself to me."
In 1723, Alphonsus decided he wanted to become a priest. His father was against this idea at first. But after two months, they agreed: Alphonsus would study to be a priest, but he would live at home. He was ordained a priest on December 21, 1726, when he was 30 years old.
In his early years as a priest, he worked with homeless people and poor young people in Naples. He became very popular because his sermons were simple and easy to understand. He once said, "I have never preached a sermon which the poorest old woman in the congregation could not understand."
He started "Evening Chapels," which were places for young people to pray, learn, and socialize. By the time he died, there were 72 such chapels with over 10,000 active members. His sermons helped many people reconnect with their faith.
Alphonsus often worried a lot about small things related to sin, a condition called scruples. However, he also saw this as helpful sometimes, saying it "cleansed the soul."
In 1729, Alphonsus left his family home. He moved to the Chinese Institute in Naples. From there, he began traveling to poorer areas outside the city. He found people who were even more in need than the street children in Naples. In 1731, while helping people affected by an earthquake, Alphonsus said he saw a vision of the Virgin Mary.
Founding the Redemptorists
On November 9, 1732, Alphonsus founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. A nun named Sister Maria Celeste Crostarosa told him that God had chosen him to start this group. The Redemptorists' main goal was to preach and teach in poor areas, both in cities and the countryside.
They also worked against a strict religious idea called Jansenism. Alphonsus believed that people who confessed their sins should be treated with kindness, "as souls to be saved rather than as criminals to be punished." It is said that he never refused to forgive someone who came to him for confession.
Alphonsus was also a talented musician and composer. He wrote many popular hymns and taught them to people during his missions. In 1732, he wrote the famous Italian Christmas carol "Tu scendi dalle stelle" ("From Starry Skies Descending"). This song was originally written in the Neapolitan language.
Becoming a Bishop
In 1762, Alphonsus was made the Bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti. He tried to refuse the job, saying he was too old and sick. But he accepted it anyway. As bishop, he worked to improve the church in his area. He made sure priests followed rules and helped the people grow in their faith. He even sold his carriage and bishop's ring to give money to the poor.
In his later years, he suffered from a painful illness. He also faced difficulties from some of his fellow priests. They even removed him from the Redemptorist group he had founded.
Death and Legacy
By 1775, Alphonsus was very ill, "deaf, blind, and laden with so many infirmities." He resigned as bishop. He continued to live with the Redemptorist community in Pagani, Italy. He died there on August 1, 1787.
Alphonsus was made a blessed person (beatified) in 1816 by Pope Pius VII. He was then made a saint (canonized) on May 26, 1839, by Pope Gregory XVI.
In 1949, the Redemptorists started the Alphonsian Academy. This school is for advanced study of Catholic moral theology, which is the study of right and wrong in the Catholic Church. In 1950, Pope Pius XII named Alphonsus the patron saint of confessors and moral theologians.
Works
Alphonsus Liguori was a very active writer. He wrote 111 books and other works about spirituality and theology. His books have been printed over 21,500 times and translated into 72 languages. This shows how widely read he is.
His most famous musical work is his Christmas hymn, "Tu scendi dalle stelle" ("From Starry Skies Thou Comest").
Moral Theology
Alphonsus's biggest contribution to the Catholic Church was in the area of moral theology. His most important book was The Moral Theology (1748). This book was approved by the Pope himself. It was based on Alphonsus's experiences as a priest and his ability to answer people's questions about their daily lives.
He believed in a balanced approach, avoiding rules that were too strict or too loose. He thought that "such rigour has never been taught nor practised by the Church." His system of moral theology is known for being wise and fair.
Mariology
Alphonsus also wrote a lot about the Virgin Mary. His writings helped defend devotion to Mary during a time when some people were questioning it.
- The Glories of Mary
- Marian Devotion
- Prayers to the Divine Mother
- Spiritual Songs
- The True Spouse of Jesus Christ
Other Works
- Great Means of Salvation and of Perfection
- The Way of Salvation and of Perfection
- The Way of the Cross
- The Triumph of the Church over all heresies. A History of Heresies and Their Refutation
- The Council of Trent
- Preparation for Death
- The Incarnation, Birth and Infancy of Jesus Christ
- The Holy Eucharist
- Uniformity with God's Will (a small book)
- Victories of the Martyrs
- Sermons for all the Sundays in the year
Images for kids
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Town square of Pagani, Campania
See Also
In Spanish: Alfonso María de Ligorio para niños
- Élisabeth Eppinger
- Index of Catholic Church articles
- Mental prayer
- Saint Alphonsus Liguori, patron saint archive
- St. Alphonsus 'Rock' Liguori Church (St. Louis)
- Teresa of Ávila
