The Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Depending on your particular calendar, today or tomorrow is the feast of Saint Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787), a great saint and Doctor of the Church who founded the Redemptorists and wrote on the spiritual life. I particularly enjoy his Way of the Cross and a short book (pamphlet, really) called How to Converse Continually and Familiarly with God.

Perhaps because of his voluminous writing, he is invoked as the patron saint of confessors and moral theologians.

The traditional readings chosen for the Saint’s feast include 2 Timothy 2:1-7:

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. Take your share of suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier on service gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to satisfy the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will grant you understanding in everything.

And if you want it even more to the point, the Offertory antiphon says:

Honor the Lord with thy substance, and give Him of the first of all thy fruits. Do not withold him from doing good who is able: if thou art able, do good thyself also.

Traditionally, today has also been the Feast of the Seven Holy Maccabees. I’m sort of sad that this was removed from the calendar, along with the feasts of all of the saints of the Old Testament. It’s still celebrated in the Eastern Churches.