Alphonsus Liguori
Alphonsus Liguori
Saint Alphonsus Maria de' Liguori, C.Ss.R., was an Italian Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian...
NationalityItalian
ProfessionClergyman
Date of Birth27 September 1696
CountryItaly
fall eye offending
The devil does not bring sinners to hell with their eyes open: he first blinds them with the malice of their own sins. Before we fall into sin, the enemy labours to blind us, that we may not see the evil we do and the ruin we bring upon ourselves by offending God. After we commit sin, he seeks to make us dumb, that, through shame, we may conceal our guilt in confession.
jesus grace soul
Love tends to union with the object loved. Now Jesus Christ loves a soul that is in a state of grace with immense love; He ardently desires to unite Himself with it. That is what Holy Communion does
past
The past is no longer yours; the future is not yet in your power. You have only the present wherein to do good.
fire wrath suffering
When we have to reply to anyone who has insulted us, we should be careful to do it always with gentleness. A soft answer extinguishes the fire of wrath.
prayer perfection temptation
It often happens that we pray God to deliver us from some dangerous temptation, and yet God does not hear us but permits the temptation to continue troubling us. In such a case, let us understand that God permits even this for our greater good. When a soul in temptation recommends itself to God, and by His aid resists, O how it then advances in perfection.
and-love habit ifs
Acquire the habit of speaking to God as if you were alone with Him, familiarly and with confidence and love, as to the dearest and most loving of friends.
apply aside asked duties god italian-clergyman lay mind
You are not asked to apply your mind continually to the thought of God and lay aside the fulfillment of your duties and your recreations.
ability bargains bestowed gift italian-clergyman larger possessed receives return share tries
Who is there that ever receives a gift and tries to make bargains about it? Let us, then, return thanks for what He has bestowed on us. Who can tell whether, if we had had a larger share of ability or stronger health, we should not have possessed them to our destruction.
almighty astonished god good heart intent italian-clergyman job love seeing seems
Job was astonished at seeing Almighty God so intent on doing good to us that He seems to have nothing more at heart than to love us and to induce us to love Him in return.
creatures dear divine grace italian-clergyman ourselves servants treasure vile
And divine grace is the inestimable treasure through which vile creatures and servants like ourselves become dear friends of our Creator.