Born in Naples in 1696, Alphonsus was the oldest of eight children born to Giuseppe and Anna Ligouri. 

His father was a naval officer but asthma and poor eyesight kept Alphonsus out of the military. 

Instead, he became a lawyer and, though he was very good, he was never happy and worried his career would leave him empty. 

At the age of twenty-seven, Alphonsus experienced something he’d not known to that point. He lost a case. 

At the same time, he’d been hearing an interior voice from The Lord saying, “Leave the world and give yourself to Me.” 

In 1723, after overcoming some resistance from his father, Alphonsus began his journey to become a priest and was ordained three years later. Immediately, he went to work among the poor and homeless. 

In 1731 there was an earthquake and, while helping victims of the quake, Alphonsus had a vision of The Blessed Mother when she was about thirteen years old and wearing a white veil. 

A colleague, Sister Mary Celeste Crostarosa, helped Alphonsus discern that he’d been called to start a new community. So Alphonsus founded the Congregation of The Holy Redeemer – The Redemptorists. 

Their mission was to reach out to the poor in both the cities and the countryside. After refusing a position as Bishop of Palermo, Alphonsus was ordered to become Bishop of St. Agatha, and, there, he revitalized a demoralized diocese. 

Alphonsus taught, wrote extensively, and even composed music. He also had numerous visions and prophecies. 

He died on this day in 1787.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, please pray for us.