August 1st - St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori By: Venassa Jijo

Alfonsus Maria Liguori was born near Naples in 1696. His parents were Joseph, captain of the royal galleys, and Anna, Knights of Avenia. The father wanted his eldest son to receive a good education, so Alfonsus was educated at a young age. At thirteen, he started his law studies and at sixteen, four years before the normal age, he obtained his doctorate in civil and canon law in Naples university. It has been said that he had never lost a case in eight years of being an advocate. But eventually he gave up law for apostolic activity. He was ordained a priest and concentrated his pastoral efforts on popular parish missions, hearing confessions, and forming Christian groups. At age 66, he was made a bishop after trying to reject the honor. At 71, Alphonsus was afflicted with rheumatic pains which left an incurable bending of his neck. He suffered a final 18 months of fears and temptations against every article of faith and every virtue. Alphonsus is best known for his moral theology, but he also wrote well in the field of spiritual theology. His Glories of Mary is one of the great works on that subject, and his book Visits to the Blessed Sacrament went through 40 editions in his lifetime, greatly influencing the practice of this devotion in the Church. Saint Alphonsus Maria Liguori is the patron saint of theologians and vocations

INTERCESSORY PRAYER
Saint Alphonsus, I humbly implore your powerful intercession for obtaining from the heart of Jesus all the graces necessary for my spiritual and temporal welfare. I have great confidence in your prayers. I trust that if it is God’s holy will, my prayers will be granted through your intercession for me at the throne of God. Saint Alphonsus, pray for me and those I love. May we experience the peace and joy of your holy death. Amen. .