Saint for the month of
August 2004 Alphonsus Liguori Born
near One
day his rhetoric carried him away. The case was over an
estate worth £100,000. Alphonsus spoke with his
customary eloquence. But he failed to read his
papers properly. One crucial point he had not even
spotted. His opposing lawyer told him he had wasted
his breath. Alphonsus lost the case, and vowed
never to enter a courtroom again. Alphonsus
began to study theology and was ordained a priest. Now
his skills as a speaker were devoted to the field
of mission. He preached persuasively in and around
Naples, making such a name for himself that he was able
to bring together a group of followers (known as
Redemptorists) to develop this work. Yet this did not
bring him peace of mind. The
Redmptorists quarrelled. They unscrupulously excluded
Alphonsus from their councils. He was deeply depressed
for many years, a sadness exacerbated by continual
physical illness. Two
achievements shone through all these troubles. First,
Alphonsus turned his legal brain to writing a massive
work of moral theology, in which he tried to analyse what
exactly was sinful in the actions of human beings and
what can be regarded as mere error. Secondly, he wrote
and preached beautifully. Subtle as he was in his
theology, in his preaching and Alphonsus
Liguori died in 1787, but his writings have continued to
inspire and to draw men and women nearer to their Saviour
ever since. 'A Soul can do nothing St Alphonsus Liguori St Alphonsus Liiguori' Richard F Sibley August 2004 |