St. Alphonsus Liguori, the saint of the day for August 1, is a Doctor of the Church, known for his contribution to moral theology and his great kindness. He was born in Naples, Italy, in 1696 to noble parents. He was well-educated and excelled in his studies. At the early age of sixteen, he became a lawyer and was very successful and renowned in his chosen career. After winning case after case and attaining a name for himself, Alphonsus made a mistake which caused him to lose a very important case. He did not eat for days afterwards and prayed for discernment for God’s will in his life. He heard the Lord’s voice: “Leave the world and give yourself to me.” Thus, he was ordained and began preaching to the poor in Naples. In 1732, he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer to further his work of preaching missions. St. Alphonsus Ligouri was an excellent confessor, and wrote a manual which has been used ever since for the instruction of those who administer the sacrament of Penance. His strong pastoral skills made him a beloved bishop. Alphonsus demonstrated a great devotion to prayer, love of the Eucharist and the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Alphonsus Liguori suffered for most of his life from severe arthritis, but vowed never to waste a moment of his life and lived that way for over 90 years.
Here are five powerful quotes from this great moral theologian:
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“Our Savior says, if you have not received the graces that you desire, do not complain to me, but blame yourself, because you have neglected to seek them from me.”
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“Realize that you may gain more in a quarter of an hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament than in all other practices of the day.”
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“It is well known, and is daily experienced by the clients of Mary, that her powerful name gives the particular strength necessary to overcome temptations against purity”.
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“I Love Jesus Christ and that is why I am on fire with the desire to give Him souls, first of all my own, and then an incalculable number of others.”
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“He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts God can do all things.”
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