Sermons of St. Alphonsus Liguori

For All the Sundays of the Year

St. Alphonsus Liguori

• Publisher: TAN Books
• Year: 1952
• ISBN:
  9781505103038
• Topic: Teología y religión
• Subtopic: Denominaciones cristianas

One of the most powerful and compelling spiritual books ever written. Expounding on the theme, "What doth it profit a man if he gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul". St. Alphonsus dwells repeatedly on the Four Last Things: Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. Relentlessly, he brings the reader to considering his own eternal destiny. No one can read these sermons without being profoundly moved. Impr. 437 pgs,

BULL

OF

THE CANONIZATION

OF

SAINT ALPHONSUS MARIA LIGUORI,

FOUNDER OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER, AND BISHOP OF ST. AGATHA OF THE GOTHS.

GREGORY, BISHOP,

SERVANT OF THE SERVANTS OF GOD,

FOR A PERPETUAL REMEMBRANCE OF THE THING.

The Premium,

ACCORDING to the Apostle of Nations, sanctity and learning should so adorn a Bishop, to whose trust is committed the salvation of souls, that he may, by the most exemplary manner of life, serve as a light to guide his flock without stumbling on the road to eternal happiness, and also be able to exhort them in sound doctrine, and to convince the gainsayers. We learn from the history of every age, that there have been Bishops eminently entitled to this twofold praise, who, reflecting the image of the Good Pastor, and being made the pattern of the flock from the heart, devoted their exertions and wisdom to the promotion of its salvation; and who, like a candle placed upon a candlestick, shed a lustre over the Church of God, not less by the example of a most perfect life, than by the singular excellence of their doctrine.

A general commendation of the virtues & merits of Alphonsus.

2. For the purpose of furnishing his Church with a new example of such worthy Bishops in the last century, the Almighty appears to have given ALPHONSUS MARIA LIGUORI, who, having, from his tenderest years, carefully cultivated the Christian virtues, and having acquired a wonderful knowledge especially of sacred literature, was called to the very arduous office of the Episcopacy, that, in the field of the Lord, in which he had long since received the Priesthood and proved himself a laborious husbandman, he might labour with greater effect and advantage. Not content that his zeal for the increase of the glory of God should be confined within the narrow limits of his own life, he, in order to transmit to the remotest ages a series of successors in such a salutary work, instituted a society of Priests, who, inflamed with like charity, should devote to the salvation of souls all their care and exertions. It having been ascertained, after the eminent virtues of ALPHONSUS were examined with the wonted severity of judgment, that they had reached the highest summit of Christian perfection, and that no doubt could be entertained of the miracles by which God—the Author of all good—had attested the sanctity of his servant, we, in virtue of the Apostolical authority with which, though unworthy, we are invested by God, and with the advice not only of the Cardinals of the holy Roman Church, but of the Patriarchs, Archbishops, and Bishops, of whom a very great number were present in the city, decree and declare, by the present letters, that the honours of the Heavenly citizens are to be paid to the blessed ALPHONSUS LIGUORI by the universal Church, and that his intercession with God is to be implored.

The birth and early education of Alphonsus.

3. ALPHONSUS, descended of an illustrious race, was born in Naples on the 5th of the Kalends of October, 1696. Being endowed with wonderful activity of mind, he, on the termination of his childhood, applied himself successively to the study of the classics, of the more severe sciences, and of the law. He possessed such felicitous aptitude for learning, that he scarcely had entered on his sixteenth year, when, after a rigorous examination, he obtained, with distinguished applause, his degrees both in civil and canon law. Yielding to the wishes of his father, he applied all his attention to the study and practice of the profession of the law. Though he preserved his chastity and integrity in that avocation, nevertheless, the troubles and dangers by which it was beset induced him to abandon it and enter into the service of the Church. Wherefore, declining an offer of a high matrimonial connexion, and spontaneously and cheerfully transferring to his brother the paternal property, which descended to him as the eldest son, he cast away all care of human things.

He receives the Priesthood. The preservation of chastity his study. His wonderful lore of God and of his neighbour.

4. Having received holy orders, and being raised to the dignity of the Priesthood, he began to apply all his energy to extend on every side the glory of God, to sow the seeds of virtue in the minds of men, and to pluck up the roots of vice. Persuaded that the apostolical labours of no man can be productive of abundant fruit, unless he support his teaching by his example, it became a principal object of his care to exhibit himself by the practice of every description of virtue, "as a minister of God" and a "dispenser of His mysteries". Of chastity, which he had long since consecrated by vow to God, he was always the most faithful guardian, incessantly exerting all the powers of his mind and employing every movement of his body for the sole purpose of preserving it free from the slightest stain. To attain this object with perfect security, he confidently consigned that virtue to the care of the Mother of God. He was carried towards God with so vehement an impulse of love, that his attention was perpetually fixed upon Him; and nothing appears to have afforded him delight, but to think and speak of God. From the great fervour of his love for God, it is easy to conclude how ardent must have been the charity with which he burned for his neighbour. Hence, to recall men involved in vice and wickedness to the bosom and embraces of God, he never spared either toil or trouble. Hence it became his constant occupation to visit the hospitals for the purpose of assisting the sick, and of aiding by his presence those in particular who were in immediate danger of death. Hence it was that he accustomed himself to hear confessions with the greatest patience, and to spend in the performance of that function, not only whole days, but a considerable part of the night. Hence, too, was he in the habit of addressing from the pulpit his crowded audience in strains of such fervid language as to conquer and break down the obstinacy of abandoned sinners, and, by exhibiting to them the turpitude of the crimes which had hardened their hearts, to excite in the minds of his hearers such a lively sense of sorrow, as to move them to tears, and to fill, on various occasions, the sacred edifice with weeping and lamentations. Allowing himself, by day or by night, no intermission of the vast exertions, both of mind and body, which he made to procure the salvation of souls, he naturally became enfeebled and exhausted by incessant toil, and fell into a mortal malady, from which he was no sooner released by the Divine Power, than he immediately resumed with increased alacrity the performance of works of charity.

He institues a congregation, which takes its name from the most holy Redeemer.

5. As soon as he had learned that, in the designs of the Supreme Being, he was called to establish a religious society for the purpose of preventing a want of laborious husbandmen while the harvest was so abundant, he was deterred by no accumulation of difficulties from pressing forward the completion of a work which would redound so much to the advantage of the Church. Wherefore, relying on the Divine assistance, he commenced the undertaking, and happily eluded the designs and artifices of the infernal enemy, who strove to impede the furtherance of this new work. Having associated with him twelve men of eminent piety, he laid the foundation of a religious sodality, which received its name from the most holy Redeemer. His leading object in the institution of the society was, to reform as much as possible, both by word and example, the profligate and abandoned morals particularly of the peasantry, who were scattered through the rural districts. In a short time the society became wonderfully propagated through the towns and provinces of Italy: he then procured from Benedict the Fourteenth, our predecessor, its confirmation by Apostolical authority. On being appointed its superior by that Pontiff, the extent to which he incited the brotherhood by his example to the practice of every virtue, is truly astonishing.

Remarkable for humility and penitential spirit, he is inflamed with an incredible love for the sacrament of the most holy Eucharist, and for the Virgin Mother of God.

6. For the virtue of humility he was particularly distinguished; for, though the highest opinion of his great sanctity universally prevailed, and though he was respected and honoured by the most exalted dignitaries, he perpetually entertained the lowliest sentiments of himself, and esteemed himself unworthy of any mark of honour or respect. Towards the Blessed Virgin, whom he regarded as a mother, he cherished the most singular piety. For the most holy Sacrament of the Eucharist he was penetrated with the deepest sentiments of love and veneration: and filled with extraordinary delight, he used to spend in adoring it several consecutive hours. That he might, in imitation of the Apostle, bring his body into subjection to the spirit, he kept it as a domestic enemy, under continual restraint, and subjected it to every species of torment. It was allowed by him as much meat and drink as would scarcely seem sufficient to renew its strength, or to support life: and the more effectually to extinguish every sense of pleasure, he was accustomed to sprinkle the very coarse food which he used with juices of the bitterest description. His side was constantly girded with a very rough horse-hair cloth; and he never omitted to attach small iron chains to the members of his body. He was in the habit of exercising on himself, by means of sharp-pointed disciplines, such a degree of severity, that the floor and walls were sprinkled with the blood which gushed from his mangled flesh; and to prevent the discovery of the mortifications which he practised, he took particular care to efface these stains of blood.

Though nearly exhausted by his apostolical labours he applies closely to the study of sacred literature, and publishes a great number of works for the good of the Church.

7. Perpetually occupied, as he was, in the discharge of his Apostolical functions, and enfeebling his body by every species of torture, it must excite wonder to find, notwithstanding, that he applied with so much energy, and devoted so much time, to the study of sacred literature, as to be able to render, by the publication of works equally learned and elaborate, the most important services to the cause of Christianity. In order that he might consecrate himself and all his actions to the service of God, he bound himself by an arduous and almost novel description of vow, not to waste the smallest portion of his time in idleness, but to be perpetually engaged in some profitable occupation. He composed a great number of books with the view of supporting the doctrine of morals, of fully elucidating the nature and duties of the clerical order, of confirming the truth of the Catholic religion, of asserting the rights of this Apostolic See, and of exciting sentiments of piety in the minds of Christians. They are wonderfully r...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Copyright Page
• CONTENTS
• BULL OF THE CANONIZATION OF ST. ALPHONSUS M. LIGUORI
• OBJECT OF THE WORK
• INSTRUCTIONS TO PREACHERS
• SERMONS
• SERMON II.FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
• SERMON III.FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
• SERMON IV.FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT.
• SERMON V.FOR THE SUNDAY WITHIN THE OCTAVE OF THE NATIVITY.
• SERMON VI.
• SERMON VII.FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
• SERMON VIII.FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
• SERMON IX.FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
• SERMON X.FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
• SERMON XI.FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY.
• SERMON XII.FOR SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
• SERMON XIII.FOR SEXAGESIMA SUNDAY.
• SERMON XIV.FOR QUINQUAGESIMA SUNDAY.
• SERMON XV.FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT.
• SERMON XVI.FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT.
• SERMON XVII.FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT.
• SERMON XVIII.FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT.
• SERMON XIX.FOR PASSION SUNDAY.
• SERMON XX.FOR PALM SUNDAY.
• SERMON XXI.FOR EASTER SUNDAY.
• SERMON XXII.FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
• SERMON XXIII.FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
• SERMON XXIV.FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
• SERMON XXV.FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
• SERMON XXVI.FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
• SERMON XXVII.FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER.
• SERMON XXVIII.FOR PENTECOST SUNDAY.
• SERMON XXIX.FOR TRINITY SUNDAY.
• SERMON XXX.FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXI.FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXII.FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXIII.FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXIV.FOR THE FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXV.FOR THE SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXVI.FOR THE SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXVII.FOR THE EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXVIII.FOR THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XXXIX.FOR THE TENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XL.FOR THE ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLI.FOR THE TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLII.FOR THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLIII.FOR THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLIV.FOR THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLV.FOR THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLVI.FOR THE SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLVII.FOR THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLVIII.FOR THE NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON XLIX.FOR THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON L.FOR THE TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON LI.FOR THE TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON LII.FOR THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.
• SERMON LIII.FOR THE TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST.