Partnering for Future Priests
10.7.2022
24-Hour Giving Challenge Friday, October 7
WILL YOU PARTNER WITH US TO HELP CONCEPTION FORM THE PRIESTS OF TOMORROW? Join us for a one-day online fundraising challenge! Receive video updates and testimonials from Conception.
You can impact priestly formation at Conception Seminary College. Conception stands firm in our foundation as a Benedictine-run seminary serving the Midwest, forming well-rounded men for the future of the Church.
Learn more at www.conception.edu/pfp
Connect with us for prayer throughout the day.
L
‘Doctor Most Zealous’ ike it or not, the Catholic Church teaches on issues of how we are to live life in light of divine revelation. Moral theology is the field of study dealing with human conduct, free will and how Catholic doctrine
should be applied in day-to-day life. A saint whose feast is August 1 devoted his life to wrangling this weighty subject in practical and concrete terms, while remaining gentle and pastoral. By Megan Marley
Through his writings and profound sermons appealed preaching, Saint Alphonsus de to all, and his pastoral work Liguori (1696-1787) combatted focused on serving the poor the rigid heresy of Jansenism, which denied and sick, parish missions, hearman’s free will to choose to cooperate with ing confessions and forming lay God’s grace, and gave understandable adfaith groups. In 1732, he founded the vice for advancing in the spiritual life. Congregation of the Most Holy RedeemA diligent man with a personal vow to er (also known as the Redemptorists) to never waste a moment, he became a doctor participate in this work, and he spent 26 of canon and civil law at age 16 and a lawyears preaching missions. In 1762, Alphonyer at 19. After practicing sus was made a bishop and “The greatest glory we law eight years, he entered reformed his corrupt and can give to God is to do seminary and was ordained lax diocese. his will in everything.” a diocesan priest. Alphonsus’ popularity Alphonsus’ simple yet — Saint Alphonsus de Liguori as an orator somewhat
eclipsed his prolific writings. His influential multi-volume Moral Theology gives clear, practical advice on everyday problems to confessors. He also wrote more than 100 other works on devotional practice (particularly well-known is The Glories of Mary) and dogmatic subjects such as papal infallibility and the power of prayer, along with poems and hymns. In his final years, Alphonsus was afflicted with crippling arthritis, persecution from fellow priests, being dismissed from the congregation he founded and a “dark night of the soul.” At nearly 91 years old, he passed away peacefully August 1, 1787. Saint Alphonsus de Liguori was canonized in 1839. In 1871, he was declared a Doctor of the Church for his outstanding holiness, depth of scriptural and doctrinal insight, and timeless writings that teach authentic Catholic Tradition. He is the patron saint of moral theologians, confessors, lawyers, arthritis and laity.
25
