Aug 1 – Memorial for St. Alphonsus Liguori, bishop, religious founder, doctor
Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) vowed early to never to waste a moment of his life, and lived that way for over 90 years. As a lawyer, he had his own practice by age 21, and was a leading lawyer in Naples. He never attended court without having attended Mass first.
As he matured and learned more of the world, he liked it less, and finally felt a call to religious life. He was ordained at age 29. As preacher and home missioner around Naples, St. Alphonsus was noted for his simple, clear, direct style of preaching, and his gentle, understanding way in the confessional. He was often opposed by Church officials for a perceived laxity toward sinners, and by government officials who opposed anything religious. He founded the Redemptoristines women’s order and the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists).
As bishop, St. Alphonsus worked to reform the clergy and revitalise the faithful in a diocese with a bad reputation. The royal government threatened to disband his Redemptorists, claiming that they were covertly carrying on the work of the Jesuits, who had been suppressed. Calling on his knowledge of the Congregation, his background in theology, and his skills as a lawyer, St. Alphonsus defended the Redemptorists so well that they obtained the king’s approval.
- Patron Saint Index
Rom 8:1-4
Mt 5:13-19
“In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men, so that, seeing your good works, they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.”
I once overheard a colleague telling another that he cannot accept that his boss was a Christian. The boss’ words and actions did nothing to exhibit the behaviour of a Christian, and it was quite telling that non-believers could identify that. Today’s feast of St Alphonsus reminds us of the importance of being an example to all around us through our actions.
The Christian Faith is a practical one; it exhibits its beliefs and tenets through the actions and words of its believers. The proclamation of the Word of God was the charism of the Redemptorist order, which was founded by St Alphonsus. We can certainly draw strength from that in our daily lives. For those of us who live in cities and work in the office space, it is in the meeting room and the cubicle where we can live our faith more openly. Through the way we speak to our colleagues and our behaviours in times of difficulty, we could demonstrate the love we have for Jesus to them.
Our actions and words can only come from a deep prayer life with Jesus. This involves a constant prayer life, which sees each one of us praying and sharing the struggles we have in our daily life. St Alphonsus reminds us to
“Speak to Him often of your business, your plans, your troubles, your fears – of everything that concerns you.”
Jesus reminds us in today’s Gospel that our good works need to be shown to the rest of the world. This requires us to reflect on how our actions and behaviours, no matter how small they are, can be used to share the faith of Christianity to those around us. This will help us to be clear of what is truly needed in our lives, as what St Alphonsus has chosen in his day.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Nicholas Chia)
Prayer: St Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us.
Thanksgiving: We give thanks for all Confessors in the world.
OXYGEN 
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