Homily: August 1 - Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, Doctor & Bishop

What does it mean to live a good life?  What does it mean to live a moral life?  What does it mean to use human freedom responsibly?  What is sin?  What does it mean to make a prudent decision?  What does it mean to have a formed conscience?  What makes a law or a government or a ruler moral?

Such are the questions of moral theology.  And the Saint whom we honor today, Saint Alphonus Ligouri is the patron saint of moral theologians and confessors, and was a very gifted man. 

He was the firstborn son of a noble family in Naples; he had three brothers and four sisters.  His father encouraged him to pursue a career as a lawyer and provided him with the best education.  His mother taught him to pray and to nurture a strong relationship with God.  He was a brilliant young lawyer, but came to hear God calling him to serve His people as a priest.  

Early in his priesthood he came to a deep conviction of God’s mercy—that God’s love is greater than any human sin or failing—a message which often filled his preaching.

And, just six years into his priesthood, he gathered with a small group of priests to form the Redemptorists—dedicated to the preaching of the Gospel to the poor and abandoned.

He is one of the 35 doctors of the Church who have bestowed upon the Church profound insights into the mysteries of the Faith.

Alphonus said, “All holiness and perfection of soul lies in our love for Jesus Christ Our God”. 

In all of those moral issues, to be good, to be moral, to be holy, to be perfect, to be free, we see the answer in Jesus Christ, calling us from slavery and the debasement of our human nature, to the freedom of the children of God and the fullness of life. 

Alphonus Ligouri was also somewhat of a reformer in the Church, emphasizing that a reformation of the Church or the individual or the society must be an interior one, of humble admittance of sin and acceptance of the mercy of God. 

In his work amongst the poor, he preached especially the need for the Sacrament of Confession.  For, in the confessional one meets the merciful redeemer, who pours out loving forgiveness from His wounded side.

Through the intercession of Saint Alphonsus, through the tender mercy of God may we come to experience the great plan God has for each of us, in knowing, loving, and serving Him in this life and being happy with Him in the next for the glory of God and salvation of souls.