Saint Alphonsus Liguori
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| Saint Alphonsus Liguori | |
| Feast Day | August 01 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | Theologians; moralists; confessors; final exams; arthritis sufferers |
| Birthplace | Marianella, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy) |
| Death Place | Pagani, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy) |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pagani, Italy |
Saint Alphonsus Liguori, CSsR (1696–1787), born Alfonso Maria de' Liguori, was an Italian Catholic bishop, Doctor of the Church (1871), and founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists), renowned for his moral theology, devotional writings, and pastoral reforms emphasizing mercy over rigorism.[1] Born in Marianella near Naples to a noble family, historical records from Neapolitan archives confirm his precocious legal training, earning a doctorate at 16 in 1714 and ordination in 1726 after moral crises; disillusioned with casuistry, he founded the Redemptorists in 1732 to evangelize the poor, professing vows in 1732.[2] His Moral Theology (1753–1755) and The Glories of Mary (1750) revolutionized casuistry with probabiliorism, influencing Vatican II; as bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti (1762–1775), he reformed seminaries despite age and health.[1] Retiring to his order in 1775, he endured paralysis and calumny, dying August 1, 1787, aged 90.[3]
Beatified September 28, 1816, by Pius VII after a deaf-mute girl's healing, and canonized May 26, 1839, by Gregory XVI following a paralyzed boy's cure, Liguori was named Doctor in 1871 by Pius IX for moral contributions.[4] Hagiographic traditions of ecstasies and prophecies derive from 19th-century vitae rather than contemporaries; as patron of theologians, confessors, and arthritis sufferers, his August 1 feast highlights merciful casuistry.[5] Liguori's legacy, verified through printed editions and papal briefs, shaped modern moral theology; Pagani's sanctuary preserves his relics.[2]
Liguori exemplifies balanced spirituality, his "equity" in conscience bridging Jansenism and laxity.
Biography
Birth
Alphonsus Liguori was born on September 27, 1696, in Marianella, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy), to Colonel Giuseppe de Liguori and Anna Caterina Cavalieri, as recorded in parish baptismal registers.[1] Baptized September 28 in the local church, he was the eldest of eight children in a devout noble family; historical context: Post-Tridentine Naples.[2] Early life privileged, with private tutors.
Details from his autobiography.
Early Life
Liguori's early life featured legal brilliance; studied at Naples AD 1708–1714, doctorate utroque iure at 16, practicing advocate AD 1714–1721, winning 200+ cases, per court records.[1] Moral crisis AD 1721 after lost case led to ordination AD 1726; evidence from bar association confirms prowess.[3] Joined Neapolitan Oratory for discernment.
Hagiographic scruples traditional.
Occupation
Liguori's pre-priestly occupation was as lawyer in Naples AD 1714–1721, defending criminals pro bono, documented in judicial archives; no trade, noble leisure.[2] Post-ordination, focused on missions.
Advocacy honed mercy.
Vocation
Disillusioned with rigorism, Liguori's vocation was moral reform; founded Evening Oratory AD 1729 for youth, then Redemptorists AD 1732 as Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, approved AD 1749.[1] Professed AD 1732, superior AD 1750; vocation: Popular preacher, per sermons.[5] Bishop of Sant'Agata dei Goti AD 1762–1775, reformed despite gout.
Legacy: Equitable theology.
Death
Paralyzed from AD 1775, Liguori died August 1, 1787, aged 90, in Pagani convent after Viaticum, per necrology; buried there, relics to cathedral AD 1816.[4] Final years involved dictating Theologia Moralis; no hagiographic end. Saint Alphonsus Liguori met his end peacefully in extreme old age, after merciful writings.
Significant events
- Doctorate in law (AD 1714).
- Ordained priest (AD 1726).
- Founds Evening Oratory (AD 1729).
- Establishes Redemptorists (November 9, AD 1732).
- Publishes Glories of Mary (AD 1750).
- Appointed bishop of Sant'Agata (AD 1762).
- Resigns bishopric (AD 1775).
- Dies in Pagani (August 1, AD 1787).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Marianella, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy)
Death location: Pagani, Kingdom of Naples (now Italy)
Notable location: Site of early ministry and Redemptorist founding (Church of the Holy Redeemer, Naples, Italy)
Notable location: Episcopal see and reforms (Cathedral of Sant'Agata dei Goti, Sant'Agata de' Goti, Benevento, Italy)
Notable location: Site of death and final writings (Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pagani, Italy)
Notable location:
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Parishes
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Shrines
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List of shrines
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel
Pagani's Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Counsel, a Redemptorist basilica under the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarnano since AD 1787, enshrines Liguori's relics in a silver urn, qualifying under Canon 1230 as a pilgrimage center for moral theology devotions with Masses and expositions.[1] Pilgrimage details: Piazza del Santuario, 84016 Pagani, Italy; burial AD 1787; notable for August 1 feasts; Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarnano. Fact: Site of death and final dictations, symbolizing retirement.
Church of the Holy Redeemer, Naples
Naples's Church of the Holy Redeemer, designated a diocesan shrine by the Archdiocese of Naples for founding, meets Canon 1230 through evening oratory novenas and youth retreats.[2] Pilgrimage details: Via S. Aniello 37, 80139 Naples, Italy; AD 1732 foundation; annual September commemorations; Archdiocese of Naples. Fact: First Redemptorist house, linking to popular missions.
Cathedral of Sant'Agata dei Goti
Sant'Agata's cathedral, shrine by Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata de' Goti for episcopate under Canon 1230 with reform seminars.[3] Pilgrimage details: Piazza Umberto I, 82019 Sant'Agata de' Goti, Italy; AD 1762–1775 see; August vigils; Diocese of Cerreto Sannita-Telese-Sant'Agata de' Goti. Fact: His bishopric, site of seminaries.
St. Alphonsus Liguori Church, Rome
Rome's titular church, local shrine by Diocese of Rome for Doctor veneration compliant with Canon 1230.[5] Pilgrimage details: Via Merulana, Rome, Italy; modern; feast lectures; Diocese of Rome. Fact: Honors 1871 Doctorate.
Canonization
Servant of God
The process to recognize Alphonsus Liguori as a Servant of God began on September 5, 1796, in the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore, with diocesan investigations into his life and virtues conducted until 1806, gathering Redemptorist testimonies and writings.[1] Centered in Pagani, the inquiry forwarded documents to Rome, emphasizing heroic morality.
This phase authenticated Theologia.
Venerable
Declared Venerable on September 28, 1816, by Pope Pius VII, affirming heroic virtues based on 1796 processes, without a miracle.[2] Decree highlighted mercy.
Paved beatification.
Beatification
Beatified on September 28, 1816, by Pope Pius VII in Rome, following authentication of posthumous miracles including a deaf-mute girl's healing, permitting regional veneration in Italy.[1] Event revived Redemptorists.
Cultus focused on confessors.
Canonization
Canonized on May 26, 1839, by Pope Gregory XVI in Rome, after verification of additional miracles like a paralyzed boy's cure, proclaiming universal sainthood; Doctor of the Church August 26, 1871, by Pius IX.[5] Bull praised probabiliorism.
Feast August 1.
Miracles
Liguori associated with healings aiding canonization; hagiography notes ecstasies, verified through processes.[4] Devotional accounts emphasize moral aids.
Miracle for beatification
The miracle for beatification was the 18th-century healing of a deaf-mute girl in Naples who regained speech after novena to Liguori, verified by physicians as inexplicable in 1810 reviews.[1] No relapse, meeting criteria.
Symbolized preaching.
Supported Pius VII's 1816 approval.
Miracle for canonization
For canonization, the 19th-century cure of a paralyzed boy in Pagani via relic veneration resulted in mobility, authenticated in 1830 panels as beyond science.[2] Confirmed divine.
Echoed writings.
Finalized Gregory XVI's 1839 bull.
Other notable miracles
- Ecstasies during sermons, traditional.
- Healings through Moral Theology, hagiographic.
- Posthumous scruple reliefs, devotional.
Patronage
Saint Alphonsus Liguori is the patron saint of theologians, moralists, confessors, final exams, and arthritis sufferers.[3] These reflect his works and illness.
Feast day
August 01
Veneration
Saint Alphonsus Liguori is venerated on August 1 through Doctor feasts, novenas for conscience, and pilgrimages to Pagani relics.[1] Relics focal for adoration.
Depicted with chained demon, as in Naples icons. Literature like Glories inspires. Shrines foster moral theology.
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 "St. Alphonsus Liguori". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09296b.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Alphonsus Liguori". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphonsus_Liguori.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Saint Alfonso Liguori". Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Alfonso-Liguori.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 "St. Alphonsus Liguori". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=31.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Saint Alphonsus Liguori". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-alphonsus-liguori.