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
Jer 26:11-16,24
Mk 11:27-33
John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.
Tradition has it that John the Baptist was executed at the Herodian fortress at Macherus (modern day Jordan) and that his disciples took his body and buried it at Sebaste (modern day West Bank), a distance of more than 140 kilometres away. The burial location at Sebaste became a pilgrimage route and around 390AD, early pilgrims flocked to the tomb to witness reported miracles and exorcisms.
The way in which John’s disciples endured great hardship and travelled great distances to ensure a proper burial for John, as well as to ensure that John’s body was not desecrated reminds me of another famous pilgrimage route – that of the Camino de Santiago (The Way of St James) in Spain.
The Camino de Santiago is a network of pilgrimage routes that eventually lead to Santiago de Compostela, where the remains of St. James the Apostle are traditionally believed to be buried. St James was beheaded in AD44 and his disciples, in the same vein as John’s, took his body from Jerusalem and buried it in Spain, as far away from the early church’s enemies as possible.
My wife and I recently completed 260km of the Camino de Santiago. It was our second time walking the Camino and this time round, we walked part of the Camino Frances, from Astorga to Santiago de Compostela.
Reflecting on this recent Camino, I have three takeaways:
Firstly, you don’t need very much in life. I am a notorious over-packer and on this Camino, I packed 5 sets of walking clothes for our 13 days of walking. I only used 3 sets — of course I made use of laundry services whenever available. Along this Camino, God led us to believe that sometimes, all we need to do is simplify our lives and that we don’t really need all the excess things we sometimes get, just in case we need it. Lesson – Don’t trust in what you know. God shows us the way.
Secondly, to expect the unexpected. Before the Camino, I had great expectations about what I was going to enjoy. Spending hours walking with my wife — either in conversation, or in silent contemplation or prayer — enjoying the gorgeous scenery of the mountains and the country. It so happened that on the last 100km leg to Santiago, a Catholic high school also organised the walk for their students. So, imagine hundreds of students on the trail – long queues for toilets or to stamp credentials. There was loud singing, chatter, and even music blasting from portable speakers. As my wife remarked, “Wow! These students have brought Ibiza club nights to the Camino!”
Was I angry and irritated? YES! Could we have avoided them? No. So, I unwillingly endured their presence on the first day and lamented on our misfortune. But as the days passed, I realised that my unhappiness stemmed not from the students, but from my expectations. God was gently reminding me to accept the situation.
Whenever they were around, their music and conversations lift the mood. Nodding to the beat, we forgot the soreness of our legs, the heat of the day and just marvelled at the vigour of youth. One morning, as I walked past a group of American pilgrims praying the rosary, I also heard a group of students praying the Rosary in Spanish. So, as the students walked past me, the Rosary was being prayed in stereo — English on my right, Spanish on my left. Such a surreal and wonderful experience. Truly the Catholic Church in real life — different languages, different cultures, different ages, all journeying towards the same destination. Perhaps that was the lesson God wanted me to learn all along.
Thirdly, follow the yellow arrows. The way to Santiago de Compostela is marked by yellow arrows. These arrows can be found on stone distance markers, painted on the lampposts, marked on the stones and even on the backpacks of those pilgrims that walk faster than us. You really don’t need a map or Google maps to guide you to the end point. To me, these arrows are like signs from God. Sometimes, they are large and loud, sometimes they are hidden behind flowers or weeds, but they are always there and they always point us to Him and where He will provide us with what we need — and not necessarily what we want. Lesson – Trust in the Lord’s ways, they always lead to Him.
Brothers and sisters, God speaks to us and shows us the way. It usually involves us slowing down, simplifying our lives and trusting in Him. Then and only then will we find peace and the courage to do the right thing. Always.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Calvin Wee)
Prayer: Heavenly Father, You show us the Way. Grant that we will always be able to let you lead and guide and to grant us the grace to always trust more fully in you. Amen.
Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, thank you for always being there, for always pointing us in the right direction. And most importantly, always welcoming us back to the Way whenever we have drifted. Amen.
OXYGEN 
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