ïï1)c Saints an» Snbants of Go».

THE LIFE
OF

S. ALPHONSO MARIA DE LIGUORI,
BISHOP OF ST. AGATHA OF THE GOTHS,
AND FOUNDER OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY

REDEEMER.

•'Gaude Maria Virgo, cunctas hæreses sola interemisti in
universo mundo.”—Antiph. Ecclesiœ.
PERMISSU SUPERIORUM.

LONDON :
THOMAS BAKER,
1, SOHO square.
M. DCCC. XLIX.

We hereby approve of this Series of
Lives of the Canonized Saints and Servants
of God, and recommend it to the faithful of
our District, as likely to promote the glory
of God, the increase of devotion, and the
spread of our holy Religion.
Given at Birmingham, this 29th day
of October, 1847.

TO

THE REGULAR CLERGY
OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ENGLAND,
THE CHILDREN

OF

ST. BENEDICT

ST, BERNARD,

AND

ST. DOMINICK AND ST. FRANCIS,

AND THE SONS

OF THE HOLY IGNATIUS,
THE GREAT MASTER OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE,

AND THE NURSING-FATHER OF SAINTS AND MARTYRS,

WHO,
IN THE STRAITNESS AND NEGLECT

OF

THEIR

UNHONOURED

CLOISTERS,

OR THE CHEERLESS SOLITUDE

OF THEIR HIRED LODGING,
HAVE JOYFULLY EMBRACED THE POVERTY OF JESUS,
AND EARNED BY LOVING ZEAL

THE CROWN OF MARTYRDOM,
AND WHO,

THROUGH SCENES OF AWFUL SACRILEGE,
AND TIMES OF BITTER PERSECUTION,

THROUGH

THE

LONG

AND

WEARY VISITATION

OF ACTIVE MALICE OR OF COLD CONTEMPT,

HAVE PERPETUATED,
AMONGST THEIR UNWORTHY COUNTRYMEN,

THE BLESSED LINEAGE

OF THEIR HOLY FOUNDERS.
St. Wilfrid’s,
Feast of St. Bernard,
m. DCCC. XLVn.

INTRODUCTION.
God, in His admirable conduct in the
redemption of mankind and the govern­

ment of human society, never fails to
raise up great and holy men to defend
His Holy Church against all the attacks
of her enemies, and to provide in her
bosom the most proper and efficacious
remedies for all the wants and evils of
humanity at every stage of its existence.
This is the meaning of the lives and la­
bours of such extraordinary men as St.
Athanasius, St. Augustine, St. Gregory
VII., and of the institutions of St. Fran­
cis of Assisiu: H , St. Dominick, and St.
Ignatius Loyola.
St. Ignatius, the man raised up by
Providence for the sixteenth century, re­
ceived with his companions the great task
of refuting and overthrowing, by their
zeal for the true faith and their profound
learning, the errors and falsehoods every-

•·
XU

INTRODUCTION.

where preached and published by the
heresiarch Luther and his no less rebel­
lious associates. He effected it too ;
for in less than a half century after the
founding of the Society of Jesus, Ignatius
and his children had arrested the spread
of error, and had driven back into its
last retrenchments that heresy which
seemed ready to cover and paganise the
whole world with the spirit of darkness.
Protestantism, vanquished on its own
ground with the arms of faith and science
in the open field of debate and contro­
versy, did not cease, however, to work its
way into the heart, and infect and cor­
rupt the morals of a great portion of all
classes of society ; for it is the invariable
law of all heresy to degenerate into vice,
incredulity, and materialism.
Who now is the man of God to make
head against these evils? What now are
their providential remedies?
In due time the Almighty did not fail
to bring forth a man eminently endowed
with all the qualities necessary to execute
His vast designs ; one who was fitted to
exercise an immense influence upon the

a*«

INTRODUCTION.

Xlll

world during his life and after his death.
This man was St. Alphonso Maria de
Liguori.
St. Alphonso united in his person all
that was capable to elevate him in the
sight of heaven and earth. Sprung from
one of the noblest families of Italy, he
possessed all that could make him dear
and agreeable to society. Besides the most
rare talents of nature, there were seen to
shine in him the most eminent virtues.
To these natural and supernatural qual­
ities God had added the most marvellous
gifts of grace. Called at the age of thirty
to begin his remarkable mission, it was
not long before he saw the fearful evils
caused, both to the Church and to the
state, by Protestantism, and its natural
offspring, Jansenism and infidelity.
This inspired him on the one hand with
the design of combating error with his
pen, which he did in such a way as to
make him worthy of a distinguished rank
among the fathers and doctors of the
Church ; and on the other so inflamed his
heart with zeal, that it gave him such a
wonderful power in preaching the Gospel,

XIV

INTRODUCTION.

as to earn him a place among the foremost
apostles of Christianity.
St. Alphonse was labouring among the
poor souls of Christ in a small town of
Italy, when God by a special revelation to
one of His devout servants made known
the great work for which He had espe­
cially destined him. This servant of God,
eminent in sanctity and favoured with
supernatural gifts, saw in a vision a new
Congregation of priests, who were employ­
ed in the care of thousands of souls des­
titute of spiritual aid, and St. Alphonso
at their head. And she heard a voice,
which said, “ This is the soul I have
chosen to be the instrument of My glory
in this great work.” St. Alphonso was
struck with the remarkable conformity
between her vision and the thoughts which
previously had occupied his mind, and
encouraged by interior lights, by the ad­
vice of experienced and holy individuals,
and unequivocal signs from heaven, he
determined at length to do what God
required of him. He laid therefore the
foundations of the Congregation of the
Most Holy Redeemer in the town of

INTRODUCTION.

XV

Scala, in the year of our Lord, 1732.
He proposed to form a society of Priests
animated with a great zeal, who would
willingly embrace an apostolic life con­
formable to the life of Jesus Christ—their
object being, first, their own sanctifica­
tion, by the sedulous imitation of the vir­
tues and examples of Jesus Christ in a
life of perfect community under the vows
of poverty, obedience, and chastity; and,
secondly, the sanctification of the clergy
and laity, more especially by assisting
the souls most destitute of spiritual aid,
through the means of missions, retreats,
and other spiritual exercises. Behold
there the providential remedy; for just
as St. Francis,7 ' St. Dominick,
and St. Iffo
natius were called by God to answer the
wants and remedy the evils of their own
time, so was St. Alphonso raised up by
God to meet ours.
A work which was intended by God to
awaken a new zeal and ogreater fervour
among the faithful of His Church, and to
fight
against the two extremes,
rigorism
Ο
Q
7
0
and impiety; a work which was to pro­
cure the salvation of souls, not in Italy

xvi

INTRODUCTION.

only, but in all the other kingdoms of
Europe and in America, could not fail to
stir up the powers of hell to labour for
its overthrow. But all the efforts of the
evil one proved vain. In a short period
the Congregation of the Most Holy Re­
deemer spread itself in the kingdoms of
Naples, Sicily, and the Pontifical States ;
and St. Alphonso himself had the ex­
treme joy, as says Father Tannoja, to see
his children cross the Alps, and he de­
*
clared
that God would not fail to procure
by their means His glory in these coun­
tries. And it was for the universal
Church, the whole world, that the Vicar
of Jesus Christ approved not only the
rules and constitutions, but the Congre­
gation itself.
Experience has already confirmed the
prediction of St. Alphonso and the inten­
tion of the Holy See. Poland was .the
first to gather the fruits of the zeal of St.
Alphonso’s children ; next came Austria ;
from thence the Congregation spread itself
into Switzerland, France, Belgium, Ba­
varia, and Holland. The Redemptorists
then crossed the Atlantic, and founded a

INTRODUCTION.

xviî

number of houses in the United States of
North Anftrica, and they lately have
entered upon the soil of the once Isle of
the Saints.
Now what countries of the north have
suffered more from the ravages of Pro­
testantism ? in what countries are there to
be found more souls destitute of all spir­
itual aid, than in England and the United
States of North America? Indeed, in
Great Britain alone there arc more souls
destitute of spiritual aid than in the whole
of Italy; so that it may be said with
truth, that in the designs of Providence
St. Alphonso founded the Congregation of
Missionary Priests for the whole world,
but more especially for this country, since
here are found en masse in large towns
and cities what he saw scattered abroad
in the whole kingdom of Italy in small
villages and hamlets. Moreover, this is
conformable to the prediction of St. Al­
phonso to one of his companions, who
feared the ruin of the Congregation on
account of the persecutions which were
at that time excited against them. He
then plainly declared that the Congrega-

tion would prosper much after his death,
that there would be a great^number of
houses, but that these happy events would
take place above all in the countries of
the north. We have therefore a great
and firm confidence that the Congregation
of the Most Holy Redeemer is called not
only to procure a great good to God by
the salvation of souls in England, but
also to aid powerfully, by its united
energy and action, and by its zeal and
labours, to restore England to her an­
cient faith and to the bosom of her holy
mother, from which she was so violently
torn, and thus to elevate her to the glo­
rious rank she once occupied among the
Catholic nations of the world.
The history and plan of action of the
Congregation of Redemptorists in Eng­
land is, in short, as follows:
The first solicitation to establish the
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
in England was made by the Right Rev.
Dr. Baines, in 1838, who was then Vicar
Apostolic of England. In 1842 the first
mission was accepted at Falmouth, in
Cornwall, under the jurisdiction of Dr.

» ·^

INTRODUCTION.

■

XVI11

INTRODUCTION.

χίχ

Baines, where two fathers with a lay-bro­
ther entered in 1843. In the following
o
year another mission was opened in the
Central District, at Blackmore Park, Wor­
cester, under the auspices of the Right
Rev. Dr. Walsh, V. A.
The places in
the environs are visited by the fathers of
Blackmore Park, and it is projected to
establish another mission in the same
district. In August last it was decided
to establish, with the episcopal authority,
a house in London. The Right Rev.
Dr. Wiseman, governing this district, fa­
voured this enterprise with all his power
and credit, and Dr. Walsh, who was after­
wards named V. A., approved entirely
what his coadjutor and successor had
begun.
Conformably to the rules and spirit of
our Congregation, in the churches attach­
ed to our houses there will be kept up a
permanent mission.
At different houses destined for that
purpose, spiritual retreats will be given,
both to the clergy and laity.
In proportion as the number of our
Fathers increase we shall be able to give
B

XX

INTRODUCTION.

missions and retreats, at the demand of
the clergy, to the people; and also, at the
demand of proper authority, to the clergy,
to religious communities, and colleges.
As the spirit and letter of our consti­
tutions oblige us to live in community,
this circumstance will prevent us from
allowing the Fathers to reside at small
If
missions.
However, this will be com­
pensated by the great advantages which
will result from the establishment of com­
munities according to our rules; for the
Fathers, without losing the benefits of a
cloistered life, will thus be able to supply
the spiritual necessities of the places in
their environs until the number of Cath­
olics shall become sufficient to make a
resident priest possible and permanent.
Fr. de Held,
Superior

of the

Redemptorist Fathers in England.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER

PAGE

LVII. Alphonso’s conduct in repressing irregularities
amongst the religious
----- i
LVIII. Alphonso’s solicitude about the disorders of the
laity
-------- 9
LIX. Alphonso’s conduct in regard to women of loose
conduct -------- 24
LX. Alphonso’s zeal against dangerous amusements,
against law-suits, and discords
- 43
LXL Alphonso’s energy in preventing blasphemies,
injustice, sacrilege, and several other scandals 55
LXII. Alphonso’s love for his enemies. His sweetness
and firmness ------- 69
LXIII. Alphonso’s profound humility - - 86
LXIV. Alphonso’s charity towards the poor - 97
LXV. Alphonso’s tenderness towards the sick, the pris­
oners, and the afflicted ----- io9
LXVI. Alphonso’s hospitality. His personal disinterest­
edness and his firmness in defending the rights
of the episcopal revenues
--125
LXVII, The poverty in which Alphonso lived during his
episcopate
------- 143
LXVI1I. Alphonso’s penances during his episcopate
- 156

Festival of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles
*

BOOK IV.
I. Alphonso tenders his resignation to Pius VI.
- 164
II. Last efforts of Alphonso’s zeal for the salvation
of his flock ------- 173
III. Alphonso’s resignation is accepted. Affliction of
his diocesans. His sentiments in regard to
his church....................................................... ISO
IV. Alphonso’s humble adieu to his diocese
- 191

XXII
CHAPTER

I

CONTENTS.
PAGE

V. Alphonso sets out from Arienzo to Noccra, and
restores sight to the blind. Fresh uneasiness
to the congregation...................................... 199
VI. Alphonso’s mode of life at Nocera
.
- 209
VII. Alphonso dedicates his work on Divine Provi­
2.9
dence to Pope Pius VI. VIII. Redoubled persecutions and captious accusations
of our adversaries ------ 224
IX. Alphonso publishes his dogmatic dissertations - 234
X. Alphonso’s last circular referring to good order
during the missions, and perfect obedience to
240
rule (November, 1776)...........................
XL Efforts of the procurator-advocate to cause the
248
congregation to be suppressed
XII. Alphonso’s great confidence amidst our dejection 260
XIII. Alphonso’s vigilance over the houses in the Pon­
tifical States ------- 269
XIV. Alphonso publishes a work, the aim of which
was the promotion of the happiness of kings
and people. Establishment of our fathers in
the town of Benevento.................................... 280
XV. Alphonso’s anxiety to sec Voltaire confuted. He
is comforted by the conversion of Metastasio,
and by the poems of Mattei 284
XVI. Favourable decision of the king in regard to the
congregation. Fresh proofs of Alphonso’s zeal 295
XV II. Alphonso is honoured by the king’s considera­
tion. His solicitude about the missions in
Sicily.............................................
303
XVIII. As soon as Alphonso is in the enjoyment of the
king’s favour he rigorously exacts the observ­
ance of the rule
308
Alphonso’s solicitude about his brother’s children 318
XX. Alphonso completes his Moral Theology 332
The applause which Alphonso’s other works met
with
344
XXII. Analysis of Alphonso’s treatises
354

THE LIFE
OF

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORL
BOOK ΙΠ. CONTINUED.
I

CHAPTER LVII.

Mgr. Liguori had always the greatest respect
for the regular orders ; he fully appreciated the
services which several religious of exemplary
conduct rendered him in the administration of
his diocese, but ho could not enduro those who
transgressed the rule of their institute, and de­
stroyed the good he endeavoured to effect in
the diocese by their scandalous conduct. “Edi­
fying religious,” ho said, “are a consolation to
bishops aud priests, but if they are imperfect
and irregular, they are a burthen to their bi­
shops and a misfortune to the people.” When
ho met with such, he did all ho could in order
to amend them: “for,” said ho, “if they are
not cured, their malady will bo communicated
to others.” He was in the habit of saying, that
what one notices in regard to fruits generally
happens in communities ; “ those who are bad
1

VOL. ÏV.

ÿ * i*

1

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORT.

·■

1

<

spoil the good by contact with them, and in
order to avoid the loss of all, it is necessary to
throw the bad away.”*
As soon as ho entered the diocese, Alphonso
made war against all dissolute monks, and freed
the monasteries from them. But however great
was his anxiety on the subject, ho could not suc­
ceed in rooting out all these noxious weeds from
his field. On his Lordship’s arrival there was a
regular priest, of a respectable family, who was a
dishonour to his order ; Alphonso sent for him to
n a paternal admonition ;
his palace and gave him
but on seeing that he did not alter his conduct,
he got him to leave the diocese of his own accord.
As this religious enjoyed the favour of his su­
perior general, this latter endeavoured to defend
him. Other great personages also wished to in­
tercede in his favour ; but Alphonso persisted,
and the religious was obliged to leave the mon­
astery and the diocese. In the year 17G9, when
his Lordship was at Naples, ho was asked to
allow this religious to return ; the Duke of Maddalon came to solicit this in person. “ Even sup­
posing all the reports about him were well found’ The diocese of St. Agatha contained a great many religious
orders at that time. Among others, were to be found the fathers
of Mount Olivet, and those of Monte Vergine, the Dominicans,
Augustinian?, the reformed Conventuals, and the Capuchins. There
were also the religious of St. John of God. Formerly the Vir­
ginian fathers, those of St. Basil, the Benedictines of Mount Cassino,
the Carmelite monks and those of Citeaux were to be found at
St, Agatha. As it was a celebrated town, they liked to reside
in it. At present, 1800, this town only contains one monastery,
that of the Conventual fathers, and a hospital of the Benfratelli.

ST. ALPHONSO LIOUORI.

3

cd,” ho said, “ho has not acted in this way for
such a long time, and then lie is now so much
older!”
He could gain nothing. “As long
as I am bishop,” said Alphonso to him, “ho shall
not enter my diocese again.”
Having heard of the existence of certain rela­
tions of too intimate a sort between a procurator
*
and a lady, he sent for his abbot and told
that this monk must leave the diocese. The
superior took the part of the procurator, and
maintained, though it was false, that ho was
not guilty, and protested that he could not re­
move him. This resistance displeased his Lord­
ship, so ho then assumed a tone of authority,
and said to him, “ Then I will make him go my­
self.” Ho showed so much firmness that the
abbot made up his mind to yield, and the re­
ligious was transferred elsewhere without loss
of time.
Having heard that another religious kept up
a scandalous connexion, and wishing to discover
whether his suspicions wore well grounded, ho
caused his grand-vicar to make inquiries about
it among trust-worthy people : when ho was con­
vinced that all he had heard was true he inform­
ed the provincial of it; but ho took no notice
of the warning, although ho did not attempt to
justify tho subject openly. Alphonso was not
offended at it, but ho addressed a second letter
to him to let him know that if ho did not make
• A name given to the religious who attends to the provisions
in a monastery

4

ST. ALPHONSO L1GUORI.

a point of repairing his negligence as ho ought,
ho would expose himself to having measures
adopted against him which ho would find any­
thing but agreeable. The provincial got alarm­
ed at this energy, and sent the brother into a
monastery out of the diocese.
Another religious frequented a family of high
rank too assiduously ; Alphonso urged his
superior to send tho religious into another
monastery ; but he spoke as to a deaf person,
and as just considerations prevented his then
authoritatively exacting what ho had asked, he
determined on at least depriving tho superior
of tho faculties to hear confessions. Ho sent
for him, and said to him, “ How can you feed
the flocks of others, if you allow wolves to ravage
your own with impunity ? ” His Lordship, how­
ever, was not satisfied until this religious was out
of his diocese.
On another occasion he complained to a pro­
vincial of the scandalous conduct of one of his
religious, who instead of giving satisfaction to
tho bishop, endeavoured to defend the culprit,
while he accused the local superior of being dis­
solute. “If he is so,” replied his Lordship iron­
ically, “why leave him at tho head of the
monastery?” It is right to mention that the
superior had himself denounced tho scandal to
his Lordship, but Alphonso kept this secret ;
ho did not feel at rest about it until after tho
expulsion of the guilty subject.
He tried to effect the expulsion of a religious
out of a monastery in his diocese whose mis-

ST. ALPHONSO LIOUOllI.
Π
II
conduct had become
public, and of whose amend
­
ment there was no cause to hope ; but in vain ;
ho then wrote to the provincial, saying, “ This
monastery has tormented me ever since I entered
tho diocese. I did not accept the bishopric in
order to be damned myself or to see others lost ;
if your Reverence does çot apply a remedy to
this, I shall have recourse to the king, however
displeased you may be at it, and I shall obtain
the just satisfaction which you refuse me.” The
note frightened the provincial, and nothing more
was needed in order to cause the religious to be
transferred into another place.
Such were tho ordinary methods Alphonso
used in order to purge the monasteries from re­
ligious who were a dishonour to them ; but
when tho provincials in particular would not
assist him, ho had recourse to more rigorous
measures, and in order not to do anything to
tho prejudice of regulars, ho applied at Rome
to the general of tho order to which the culprit
belonged.
Not being able to get a provincial on one
occasion to change the monastery of one of his
religious who lived in it in a scandalous manner,
ho applied to tho general, who immediately dis­
placed him, and even ordered that he should
be banished to tho most distant monastery of
tho province ; however this wretched man suc­
ceeded in being settled at Naples, through the
aid of another religious who had power, and he
there recommenced his disorders. When Al­
phonso heard that sin was thus countenanced,

G

Μ

ST. ALPHONSO

LIGUORL

ho complained of it to the guilty patron, and
threatened to have recourse to the superiors at
Naples. “Mgr. Liguori,” replied the irritated
religious, “gives himself unnecessary trouble ;
the person in question is no longer under his
jurisdiction.” Ho believed this to bo the case,
but Alphonso was of a different opinion. “If
this religious is not my subject,” ho replied to
him, “his accomplice is one of my flock.” He
immediately wrote to him and so energetically,
that the religious left Naples, and the sin ceased
with the occasion, which had resulted from the
vicinity of the two places.
There was a superior who was a scandal to
his community and to the whole neighbourhood.
The provincial would not grant Alphonso any
satisfaction, so the general was informed of it,
and the appeal to him was so efficacious, that
to his great displeasure the superior was de­
posed, and compelled to retire into a very dis­
tant monastery.
Though contrary to his wishes, his Lordship
was sometimes obliged to implore the interven­
tion of the king, when ho met with negligence
even in the generals. A religious led a disorderly
Η
life ; his Lordship first informed
the provincial
of it, and then the general, and not being able
to obtain anything from either of them, he repre­
sented the disorder which existed to the king,
through Pascal dell’ Acqua, the governor of the
place: the religious was expelled from tho pro­
vince, by virtue of a royal decree, and at tho
same time tho person who had shared in his
disorders.

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

Another religious had rendered himself but too
well known through his scandalous conduct ; Al­
phonso was not able to get the provincial even
to listen to him, so ho had recourse to the
general, who replied to him, almost weeping,
“You know that we are no longer looked on
as belonging to the kingdom; our religious even
no longer care for us ; therefore, in regard to
tho scandal of which you speak to me, I must
bog you to apply to tho competent authorities
at Naples.” His Lordship groaned over tho un­
happy stato of the times. Ho had recourse to
the king, and obtained what he wanted.
Alphonso took as much pleasure in being able
to honour by his kindness those religious who
proved worthy of their vocation, as ho was re­
solute in punishing those who were dissolute and
unworthy. lie entrusted them with important
employments, and chose them for the synodal
examiners. It was to them that he confided the
caro of tho convents ; ho liked to send them
to preach during Lent in divers places, and
often consulted them and rewarded their merit.
Tho Capuchin fathers especially, of whom ho
had never any cause to complain, were those
ho loved tho best. All those who were impuro
wore held in abomination by Alphonso, but ho
could not endure even tho shadow of this sin
in tho person of a confessor. Alan is full of
inconstancy, and ono cannot toll in tho morn­
ing what ho will bo in tho evening. Thus ho
granted faculties to several subjects who at tho
time were worthy of his confidence, but who af-

8

VIA

ST. ALHIONSO LIGUORI.

forwards caused him tho deepest regret. A
Benedictine presented himself to obtain facul­
ties for confession; Alphonso approved him, and
that most kindly, because ho was exemplary and
zealous. Some time afterwards, he was informed
that this Benedictine had committed an act of
levity ; he immediately complained of it to his
abbot; as tho offence was not of a kind to de­
serve indulgence, tho abbot, in order to spare
himself and his Lordship from all fresh annoy­
ance, sent tho religious into another monastery.
Alphonso took pleasure in sometimes convers­
ing with a religious who led an edifying life ;
ho said ho was a relation of Mgr. Mastrilli,
Archbishop of Tarento : ho also gavo him his
faculties. On afterwards hearing that ho fre­
quented a certain house of improper character,
ho immediately forbade him to enter tho confes­
sional, and also obliged him to change his place
of residence. “When a person converses with
a penitent out of tho confessional,” said he,
“he takes dangerous liberties, and if mischief
is not done at first, it will assuredly bo so in
the end.”
After all that wo have already related in or­
der to show his Lordship’s vigilance and seve­
rity in regard to religious, wo have however
mentioned but a small part of what ho did in
this respect during his episcopate.
In the year 1768 alone, when ho especially
laboured to purify the monasteries, ho expelled
as many as fifty-two religious, according to tho
testimony of Father Caputo. “Ho was so soli-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

9

citons that tho life led by religious should be
an exemplary one,” said tho grand-vicar Ru­
bini, “that ho took no rest when he saw any
one deviate from tho right path. Ho paid no
attention to toleration or human respect on such
occasions ; and whatever might be the rank of
tho religious or of his order, after having taken
all tho measures which prudence required, ho
acted without any respect of persons or fear.
Tho superiors of tho orders knew him too well,
and they often hastened to send away certain
subjects who were displeasing to him of their
own accord. I can truly say that during his
Lordship’s time, the monasteries of the diocese
were as so many gardens, where all breathed
forth tho sweet odours of innocence and virtue.”

CHAPTER LVIII.
Alphonso waged an equally severe warfare
against tho laity, whoso irregularities wore an
injury to religion and morality. “I am not
merely tho shepherd of priests and religious,”
said ho ; “ they form but a part of my flock.
The flock confided to bishops includes all classes ;
God has committed all these souls to us, and
wo must render Him an account of them.”
Archdeacon Rainono said to mo on this sub­
ject, in expressions of pious exaggeration, “Tho
parishes of tho diocese did not contain as many

10

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOni.

souls as his Lordship had careful spies there,
and one may safely say, that scandals were remedied before they were known.” “Wo may
rest assured,” said tho priest Bon Pascal Bartolini, “ that thero never was a bishop in
tho world who employed himself in putting a
stop to offences against God and in procuring
tho good of the faithful with more ardour than
Mgr. Liguori. Ho held sin in such abomina­
tion, that ho was implacable in hunting it out,
H its most hidden intronchments.”
even from
Those magistrates and syndics of tho villages
who aided him, as wo have before seen, in do­
ing away with tho scandals of his clergy, were
those who principally lent him their assistance
in stopping tho disorders of tho laity. “It was
with tears in his eyes that his Lordship re­
commended us to sock after tho glory of God
and tho happiness of families,” said Don Nich­
olas Pisani, intendant of the Duke of Maddalon,
and at that time mayor of the duke’s state.
“You can do what I cannot do,” he said to
us; “you can remedy everything, for you are
on tho spot; you can do more than tho king.”
It is difficult to imagino how much these ma­
gistrates aided Alphonso ; for as they had it at
heart to gain their bishop’s esteem, they neg­
lected nothing which could gratify him. “Wo
can testify,” said Canon Vcrzalla and Brother
Francis Anthony, “that his Lordship spent a
good part of his revenues in making presents
to persons who could inform him of existing
scandals.

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

11

Λ11 tho priests unito in saying that they had
no further trouble to take, when any scandal
happened in their parish, than to inform tho bish­
op of it ; ho himself did all that had to be done
regarding it....He sent for tho culprits, and if
ho could do not!ling with them, ho immediatelyhad recourse to tho barons, and implored the
intervention of tho king in case of need ; ho pos­
sessed so much influence with tho lords, that
ho caused chastisements to bo inflicted in tho
dioceso which till then had been unheard of :
thus debauched women wore sent away from tho
places they lived in, they went through severe
imprisonments, wore beaten with rods, or con­
demned to exile. Before coming to these cxtremities, Alphonso made it a rule to try all
tho methods ho could adopt as a father in the
first place. Ho sent several times if needful for
tho offender, and whether peasant or gentleman
reprimanded and threatened him. If that were
not enough, ho had recourse to tho interpo­
sition of tho friends of tho guilty one, or of
those who had influence over him ; the cor­
rections wore sometimes not unaccompanied by
gloomy predictions. The notary Nicholas Maz­
H
zola of Durazzano distressed him by his miscon­
duct ; after ho had reprimanded him several
times, and always without success, ho said to
him one day, “ My son, tho life you lead will
bring you to a deplorable end,” and putting
his hand on his shoulder, he repeated almost
weeping, “Yes! you will dio a tragic death.”
This unhappy man went from bad to worse, and

?

12

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

at length, although at an advanced age, ho was
involved in the conspiracy of the Jacobins, and
was condemned to lose his head on the scaffold
in the January of 1800. While ho was waiting
for the moment of punishment in the chapel,
he said weeping to one of the white monks,
“This death was foretold to me in my youth,
by Mgr. Liguori.” This reflection caused him
to enter into himself with serious thought, and
this man, who had till then been hardened, died
full of penitence invoking the saint in heaven.
As soon as Alphonso was convinced of the
inutility of correction, he adopted rigorous mea­
sures. On hearing that two brothers at Airola
kept two women of bad character with them,
ho adopted all tho plans which his anxiety could
suggest ; but on seeing that ho obtained nothing,
ho had recourse to the Prince de la Riccia. “ I
see no other remedy,” he wrote to him, “ where­
by to put a stop to this scandal, than to imploro
tho goodness of your Excellency.” By the prince’s
orders, the two brothers were arrested, and kept
in confinement for a long while, as well as
tho women, who were afterwards banished from
their country and from every part of tho prince’s
state. At his request the prince also punished
a criminal of Forchia and a woman of Arpaj a ;
they were both married ; but after tho chastise­
ment they both resumed their criminal habits,
in despite of all authority. Alphonso could not
bo severe upon them, because of their being
married, so he asked tho prince to aid him ; the
woman was punished, and the man had to pass

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI,

13

several months in prison. The priest Don Felix
Nuzzo informed him that in a house in his parish,
in the country called Della Cave, a goat-herd,
who was a man of formidable strength, had a
criminal meeting every night : his Lordship sent
for the officer of the Duke of Maddalon, and gave
him twelve carlins, with an order to put the
culprit in prison ; but one of tho soldiers of his
band warned the goat-herd of it, and on the
following night, when his superior went to tho
place to seize him, ho was not there. However,
ho met a married man in the court of the house
who also lived licentiously. The officer wished
to do something to please his Lordship, so he
seized this man and his accomplice, and im­
prisoned them. Alphonso rejoiced at it : “ If
one object of pursuit has escaped me, I have
caught another,” said he. The goat-herd never
appeared again. As to the imprisoned culprit,
he promised to amend, and he was set at liberty,
at the entreaties of his wife ; but the accomplice
was obliged to remain in prison for three months.
Alphonso supplied her with what she required
for her maintenance day by day, and sent several
priests to visit her to try and convert her ; and
she repented and continued to live in a Chris
tian way.
A villager named Ambrose Ciaolone, who had
not profited by his Lordship’s remonstrances, was
killed by a rival in a house of debauchery. His
corpse was thrown before tho monastery of the
Conventual Fathers, where it was found at break
of day. When his Lordship heard of it, ho shed

14

1 *J

»

ST, ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

tears ; but in order to strike sinners with a salu­
tary terror, ho ordered that, in consequence of
the interdict which had fallen on this man, his
body should bo ignominiously carried between
four lighted torches and cast into a ditch.
His solicitude was even still greater in regard
to gentlemen of rank; his Lordship looked on
their sin as a double one, on account of the in­
fluence of their example on the people. There
was a gentleman of Airola, who had contracted
a criminal connexion ; his Lordship, who was
in tho town at the time, was informed of it ;
he immediately tried all tho methods ho could,
in order to bring him to Jesus Christ ; this was
at first unsuccessful in regard to tho gentleman,
but not so as regarded his accomplice.
Tho
infatuated culprit entered into a frosh connexion
of tho same sort ; as soon as his Lordship was
informed of this fresh intrigue, (it was one even­
ing just as ho came down from tho pulpit,) tho
tears camo into his eyes, and ho addressed a
gentleman who was also a priest, earnestly bog­
ging him to go to seo tho unhappy man as from
him, to represent tho enormity of his sin to him,
and the great sorrow it caused him. The re­
lapsed criminal could not resist such paternal
goodness this time, ho entered into himself with
seriousness, and camo and cast himself in peni­
tence at his Lordship’s feet, lie was informed
that a physician at St. Agatha had improper
relations with tho mistress of tho hospital ; ho
did all ho could to convert him, but on finding
that his remonstrances wore useless, ho wrote

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

15

to Don Joseph Romano, the president of the coun­
cil and superintendant of tho house of the late
duke. He dismissed tho doctor from his employ­
ment, who thereupon came in a fury to his Lord­
ship, and loaded him with a thousand invectives.
“My son,” said Alphonso to him, “you brought
this misfortune on yourself ; remember how many
times I reproved you with mildness and charity,
but you wore deaf to my voice ; if I have had
recourse to a more powerful arm, it has not
been through passion, but on account of the
scruples which allowing you to go on in sin caus­
ed me.”
Alphonso’s distress was especially great when
ho heard of the irregularities of a married man,
on account of the misery of his poor wife, and
still more of tho contempt of the sacrament.
A gentleman of tho diocese, although married,
caused both scandal to tho public and affliction
to his family. After having made vain efforts
to remedy this, Alphonso at length applied to
tho king ; tho gentleman was cited before tho
tribunal of Montcfusco, and compelled to put
an end to his disorders. After which, in order
to placo his accomplice out of the temptation
of sinning thus again, his Lordship assigned her
a pension ; she was converted and persevered.
Ho reprimanded a surgeon of Arienzo several
times over, but with no effect. Ho was the fa­
ther of a family, but ho kept up a criminal con­
nexion. Alphonso gave information of it to tho
king ; tho culprit was arrested, and brought be­
fore the tribunal of Campagna. After a long

16

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

II
•I
imprisonment
ho manifested sentiments
of re­
pentance, and was set at liberty ; but in spite
of his promises he relapsed into his former sin.
His Lordship gave information of this to the
tribunal, and the surgeon was immediately put
in prison, where having heard that his Lordship
was striving to get his accomplice to enter into
a house of refuge at Nola, he hastened to pre­
vent her doing so, trying to get her to oppose
the plan on the plea of health ; ho at the same
time commissioned an unworthy confidant to
watch her and infor II him as to her constancy.
His Lordship grieved over such wickedness ; he
sent for an usher from Montefusco to finish the
proceedings. The culprit underwent a long de­
tention, and did not obtain his release until he
had given satisfactory proofs of repentance.
At Airola there was a gentleman who had
lived a dissipated life for some time, to tho
great scandal of his children and of their mother,
whom ho had banished far from hi • I From the
time of his entrance into tho diocese, Alphonso
bad never omitted any opportunity of warning
him ; but all was in vain. Tho gentleman relied
on the credit ho enjoyed ; he remained obstinate
and despised his Lordship. Alphonso was not
able to tolerate his crime any longer, and ho
was moved with compassion towards his unfor­
tunate wife, so he had recourse to the Prince
do la Riccia, whose vassal tho gentleman was.
The prince in turn made use of all sorts of
methods to lead him to serious thought. He
caused the companion of his debaucheries to bo

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

17

punished and banished, but, instead of amendH
ing, tho gentleman only treated his wifo more
harshly : tho prince in concert with Alphonso,
drew up a report of his misconduct, and brought
him before tho high court of justice, who sen­
tenced him to a long imprisonment. Alphonso
believed that ho would amend at last, and asked
for his pardon from tho prince, at the request of
his afflicted wife ; but he knew him better, and
on tho 12th of August, 1766, thus replied to
him : “ Tho character of this man is too in­
constant ; even in tho very prison where he is
shut up, he has not ceased to have improper
connexions. This proves that chastisement is
so far from subduing him, that it only hardens
him. No, no ! I will not answer for it either
to God or man. Your Lordship can act in his
favour if you think right, but such is my reso­
lution ; it was your pastoral zeal which excited
me to act as I did concerning him.” Alphonso
shuddered to hear of such obduracy; the gen­
tleman lived on in prison for many a long year,
and he died there in his blindness.
On another part of the prince’s property,
there was another gentleman who had sent
away his wife in order that ho might <rivo himself up more freely to crime ; Alphonso warned
him and begged him to live with his wife
again, but ho would not hear of it. His Lord­
ship therefore addressed a petition to his ma­
jesty. Tho gentleman then feared the conse­
quences of his conduct, and pretended to re­
nounce his disorders in order to put a stop to
2

VOL. IV.

18

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

tho proceedings against him. But when his
Lordship discovered tho feint, ho had recourso
to tho prince, who caused tho gentleman and
his accomplice to be arrested. At length they
both, thanks to a severo imprisonment, conceived
a horror for sin and were sincerely converted.
Alphonso’s zeal was such that he would have
given his life in order to destroy sin. A gen­
tleman of high standing, whose conduct was ex­
tremely scandalous, on seeing that his Lordship
thwarted him in his excesses, went to him, and
transported with anger, reproached him for not
leaving him alone. Alphonso only answered by
still stronger threats, and declared to him that
he would inform tho king of him ; at these
words the gentleman got up in a great fury,
he loaded his Lordship with invectives, and
made a gesture as if he meant to draw his
sword. The alarm which ho spread caused all
the people of the house to run into his room,
where they found Alphonso perfectly calm before
his aggressor. “Ill-treat me,” ho said to him,
“ abuse mo if you like : I do my duty : I did
not accept tho episcopate in order to bo damned.
Would to God that I might have tho honour to
dio a martyr ! My dear child, I pity you ! re­
turn from your evil ways; but know that I will
never let you rest in your sin.”
A gentleman, in giving him notice ono day of
a groat disorder which took placo in his coun­
try, II anifested a fear that this information might
have vexatious consequences as regarded him­
self : “ I am not afraid,” Alphonso replied, “ I,

A

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

19

who must make tho report to tho king ; and
Π
you fear, you who tell mo
tho thing secretly.”
Tho gentleman said that ho was necessary to his
family. “Wo must dread tho judgments of God,”
replied his Lordship ; “ Ho alono is necessary ;
yes, God alono is necessary to the world. You
tremble, and I should like to dio a martyr!”
The dioceso of St. Agatha was close to that
of Caserto, and several officers in the king’s
service had to resido in these towns ; they also
called forth Alphonso’s watchfulness. A stranger,
who was an officer, carried on an adulterous in­
tercourse at St. Agatha, and his Lordship warned
him of it several times. Tho officer was tired of
these troublesome reprimands, and constantly
repeated in vexation, “What does this withered
old man want ? ” Ho even camo to menaces,
and wont so far, that fears were entertained
for his Lordship’s life. Canon Testa and others
informed him of this, and spoke to him of tho
violent character of tho officer ; but Alphonso
was fortified with tho heart of an apostle. “ I
have no cause to fear from him,” ho answered;
“if ho wishes to send a ball through my head,
I am ready to die, but I am determined that
he shall put an end to his excesses.” As tho
scandal continued tho same as ever, his Lordship
informed tho Chevalier Negroni of it, who caused
the woman to bo banished, and compelled tho
officer to submit to tho shame of coming to
promise amendment at tho feet of tho bishop.
A captain in tho cavalry, one of the most
distinguished gentlemen of St. Agatha, and tho

20

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

commanding officer of the fortress of Cascrto,
kept a woman with him, who formed one of a
company of actors who had come to St. Agatha.
This was a great scandal for youth ; Alphonso
was therefore obliged to have vexatious contests
with this officer also ; as his paternal admoni­
tions had no success with him, ho informed
the governors of the Infant Don Ferdinand of
it ; the result was that the woman was expelled :
the unhappy creature soon ended her life in a
stable, oaten up by worms. A short time af­
terwards, the captain died at Naples, with sen­
timents of repentance, for which ho acknowledg­
ed himself to be indebted to the paternal and
reiterated warnings of the man of God.
Alphonso had to bear similar annoyance on
several occasions in regard to a certain company
of soldiers, named fucilieri, who were in garrison
at Montesarchio, and often camo into the ter­
ritory of Mojano, where they caused great dis­
orders. There was one of them amongst others,
called Francis Jourdain, who was constantly
making attempts against the honour of the most
respectable families. Having met with resist­
ance on the part of a poor girl, ho went so far
as to strike her with a stiletto. Such crying
offences kept Alphonso in constant alarm ; ho
at length resolved to apply to the Prince do la
Riccia, the Lord of Mojano, and he at tho same
time wrote a most energetic letter to the com­
mandant Don Emmanuel Solajoles ; his solici­
tations. were so efficacious that none of those
soldiers put foot in this country again.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

21

Λ gentleman of the same company and of the
territory of Mojano, where ho went under pre-r
tenco of visiting his family, took away from thence
an unhappy female whom ho had seduced. Iler
mother went in tears to solicit the protection of
her bishop.
Alphonso was moved with com­
passion, and immediately informed the com­
manding officer at Montesarchio of it. He re­
ccived the letter whilst he was at dinner ; lie sent
for the gentleman that very instant, he disarmcd him, and made him undergo a long confineII
mont.
The young woman was then sent back
to her mother, and the seducer wrote to his
Lordship to say that ho would not go near tho
house again ; and it was so, for he never saw
her again.
There wore two custom-houses in the diocese,
one at Ducento, and tho other at Arpaja, which
called for tho services of a good many officers ;
but, thanks to his Lordship’s zeal, they never
prcmanently resided at them ; as soon as any
ono of them deviated from the right path, he was
immediately removed. There was an officer who
had commerce with a woman of bad character
at Duconto ; tho priest was unable to put a stop
II
to it, and therefore informed
Alphonso of it.
His Lordship in turn, on seeing that tho culprit
persevered in evil, applied to the Marquis Anna,
tho superintendent of the custom-house : his
representations were so effectual that tho officer
was deprived of his place and expelled from Du­
II
cento. He by tho same
means caused another
custom-houso officer to quit Arpaja aud to bo

22

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

turned out of his employment, whoso misconduct
affected the neighbouring villages. His Lordship
on hearing that several of the soldiers gave them­
selves up to shameful excesses, immediately wrote
a letter, the result of which was, that the regi­
ment’s quarters were changed, and that the com­
manding officer received the strictest orders to
take care that none of the men camo near Arpaja
again. An inhabitant of this town, who had
derived benefit from tho troops being quartered
there, went to complain of their going away,
and to expose his distress to Alphonso ; tho
saint was touched with compassion, and sent
for one of tho syndics of tho parish, and begged
him to give tho petitioner something in com­
pensation ; it ought to have been willingly done,
as the departure of tho regiment left a great
II any young girls in peace, in whose fate they
ought to have been interested. Tho syndic re­
plied that he could not take it upon him ; the
others got out of it in tho same way, and his
Lordship ended by himself indemnifying the
man who had had recourse to him.
Tho saintly bishop esteemed purity of con­
duct as the most precious treasure for his flock ;
ho therefore took alarm whenever ho heard
that a company of soldiers had arrived in his
diocese ; when it was at St. Agatha, or at
Arienzo, ho immediately sent for their com­
mander, in order to beg him to look after the
tranquillity of tho place and tho honour of fami­
lies. One of them got wearied with these re­
peated pieces of advice, and said to him, “ My

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

23

Lord, my soldiers are not novices belonging to
your congregation, nor that of tho Capuchin
fathers ; they have liberty, and if they wish to
use it, who can hinder it? ” But what Alphonso
could not obtain from tho subaltern officers, ho
often succeeded in having enforced through tho
assistance of tho local superiors, or through tho
tribunal of Montefusco. His zeal made him
ingenious in reaching the guilty. “ One may
say,” Archdeacon Rainono wrote me, “that
until Mgr. Liguori’s arrival at St. Agatha, crime
stalked boldly not only in tho towns and country,
but also in every part of the diocese. As soon
as this messenger from God was invested with
tho government of this church, sin was pursued
into its most hidden corners ; and if it camo
out now and then, it was only by stealth, and
in fear.” But we must also say that God aided
the zeal of His servant, and assisted him in quito
a special manner. “ It was a marvellous thing,”
said the priest Don Thomas Aceto, “that what
wo wore ignorant of, was always known to his
Lordship. Many times iniquity was committed
at night in the country or in a distant village,
yet the day had scarcely dawned, ere wo were
warned of it at tho bishop’s house.”
To give an example which happened at his
palace at Arionzo.
Ono night tho coachman
and tho cook tried to perpetrate an abominable
act, but at tho instant when they were going to
commit tho crime, the culprits were suddenly
seized with fear, and their accomplice, who was
as terrified as they wore, took flight, and hid

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

herself. This all took place in tho silence of
night, and no ono could therefore know of it
by any natural means ; however, as soon as it
was day, his Lordship sent for his two servants,
ho reproached them with their fault, and ex­
horted them to confession. This incident would
have remained in oblivion, if tho cook, on hear­
ing of tho miracles which Alphonso wrought
after his death, had not himself come to Naples
and revealed this prodigy to me, while tho coach­
man made a similar confession to tho priest of
St. Agatha, Don Thomas Jadevaja.

CHAPTER LIX.
As Alphonso considered that vices of an infa­
mous sort were the cause of the damnation of
the greater part of mankind, he also was re­
lentless in following after women of irregular
lives, those perfidious rocks where so many vic­
tims perish. Ho spared no trouble in order to
bring them into the right path ; ho made them
come to him even from the extremities of his
diocese ; ho gave them warnings, ho set be­
fore them tho enormity of their crime, and
hell open under their feet, without forgetting
to place before their eyes tho sad conse­
quences their disorders would cause them to
suffer even on earth ; thou, in order to take
away all excuses from them, ho offered to re­
lieve their misery. One day, the syndic of

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.
Π
to tell him that ho had imArienzo camo
prisoned a woman of bad character, “ Gloria
Patri ! ’ ’ exclaimed tho bishop ; then ho added,
“ But there must now bo some aid given to
her.” “As you please,” replied tho syndic,
“Give her a carlin a day,” said his Lordship,
“A carlin is a great deal too much,” answered
tho magistrate, “All these women deserve nothing better than prison, It will bo quite suf“No, no,”
ficient if you give her two grains,
let us give her four
responded his Lordship,
grains.
“ That is still too much ; two grains
aro not to bo had without difficulty, and that
will bo enough,” said the syndic. At length
they agreed on three grains and a half.
When any of us were on a mission in tho
diocese, ho especially recommended us to look
after women of ill fame. “Tho conversion of
ono of these women,” ho said to us, “is no small
gain. Grant them whatever they wish, without
minding about tho money, provided they sin­
cerely renounce their shameful modo of life,”
Ono could hardly have believed with what ardour
ho strove to free society from these stumblingstones of scandal.
“Mgr. Liguori,” said tho
grand-vicar Rubini, “ was constantly tho hammer
and ^tho terror of prostitutes. What did ho not
H from sin ?
do in order to extricato them
In order
to obtain this end, ho did not only trust to tho
activity of tho courts of justice and to tho lords,
but ho stirred up even tho ministry and supremo
court.” His ordinary moans of converting them
was imprisonment, but as there was not a prison

H·:!
!r ' '
■i
.I

4

2G

ST. ALPHONSO LIGÜORI.

fit for women in tho diocese, he got tho lords to
have ono built in each placo, or else to have
the old ones repaired ; and besides this, to have
a separate dwelling for tho gaoler and his wife
next to the prison. “ These prisons were always
full of abandoned women,” said Don Carmin
Jacuzio, a clerk in tho court of Arienzo. “Be­
fore releasing them his Lordship required to have
their written promise to give up crime, in order
that ho might make use of it in case of need,
if they fell back again.” When tho pain of
imprisonment was not efficacious, Alphonso had
recourse to that of exile. “My most esteemed
Lord,” he wrote to tho Duke of Maddalon, on
tho 18th of December, 1763, “I stand in need
of your Excellency’s kind assistance in order
to do away with a great scandal at Arienzo.
There is a wicked girl there called Mary Sibrera,
who was condemned to banishment last year,
but through the promises she then made to mo,
I deferred her banishment. As I have just heard
that she is worse than before, I beg your Ex­
cellency to write to tho magistrate to have her
imprisoned without any indulgence, and to renew
tho order for her expulsion ; I hope that you will
grant mo this favour ; for I know not what more
I can do, and I am in great need of tho support
of your arm to justify myself before God.”
In a letter of the 11th of October, 1767, to
the Count of Cerreto, the tutor of the young
Duke of Maddalon, Alphonso said, “Something
has happened to me which distresses mo greatly.
Your Excellency knows that at Cologna, which

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

27

is a hamlet dependant on St. Agatha, there is
a certain girl, who was very devout at first, and
who is now a devil whose snares are laid through­
out the village. She has been the cause of a
very violent scuffle lately, in which an arquebuss
was used. Your Excellency alone can remedy
this state of things, by causing this girl to be
banished twenty miles away from the diocese.”
Alphonso then presented to tho count as he had
before done to the duke himself, that these pes­
tilential women could not be tolerated in small
places, where one scandal of this sort is enough
to corrupt tho whole population. “It is true,”
arc tho words he used, “ that they arc tolerated
in large towns, to avoid still greater evils, but
in small localities they are positively not to be
endured.”
He also obtained through the commissioner Don
Blaise San Severino, the imprisonment of three of
these wretched beings belonging to Arienzo. The
commissioner wrote to him on this subject in the
following manner : “ I have just given the order
for tho wished-for banishment. Please God, no­
thing worse may result. They will go into places
where they will be free from your paternal adH onitions and deprived of your alms, and will
give themselves up to the worst disorders.”
“ Let each one protect his own sheep,” answer­
ed Alphonso, “and thus when they find that
they are chastised wherever they go, and that
they are without any place of refuge, and covered
with infamy, they may open their eyes and re­
nounce their sin.”

28

•

ST. ALPIIOXSO LIGUORI.

Ono of these women began to become noto­
rious at Sancta Maria do Vico ; ho immediately
sent for her ; as sho had a most disagreeable
exterior, tho secretary as soon as ho saw her,
went to tell his Lordship, that as her face was
more repulsive than famine, sho was incapable
of doing harm. “ Well,” responded his Lordship,
“ but in time of famine oven hemlock is eaten.”
Alphonso therefore reproved her, and threatened
her with severe chastisements ; but as tho poor
woman made protestations of good conduct, and
stated her misery, ho dismissed her, and gave
her a large alms besides.
When scandal arose in tho case of married
women, Alphonso felt a double pain. Seo what
he wrote to tho Prince de la Riccia on tho 17th
of February, 1770, touching two of these women
II
who had demoralised
the village of Forchia :
“ This is as a thorn piercing my heart, especially
as I feel that I am unablo to remedy it. I there­
fore have recourse to the powerful arm of your
Excellency, and entreat you to write to tho
magistrate of tho place with all possible energy,
to direct him to make uso of imprisonment and
banishment against this awful scandal.” Ho ob­
tained all that ho wished for from this pious
prince.
When tho prince set out for Spain, Alphonso
had recourse to his agent ; it often happened
that ho implored tho aid of tho king. When
tho prince returned from his journey, and before
ho had put foot in his palace, Alphonso wrote
to him to Naples, on tho 21st of Juno, 1773,

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

29

to inform him of a now scandal. It was no less
a ono than that of a two-fold adulterous inter­
course. “ I entreat you to write a few words
H
to Don Charles Aceto,” ho said to him,
“to cause
him to summon this woman, and in your name
endeavour to make her think seriously by means
of promises and threats.” As this reprimand pro­
duced no effect, Alphonso wrote to the prince
a second, and then a third time, and at last,
by the incarceration of the culprits, he had the
consolation of obtaining their return to God.
As ho could not act with all rigour in punish­
ing married persons, on account of tolerant or
conniving husbands, ho had first to try to con­
vert these latter, or to act with great prudence.
It was under circumstances of this sort that he
wrote thus to tho priest of St. Nicholas at
Sancta Maria do Vico : “ I have been informed
that three young men of your parish have im­
proper intercourse with the wife of N—, who
resides at Sancta Maria de Loretto. I have also
heard that N— has similar relations with ano­
ther married woman at Cimentara. I bog your
Reverence to speak to them, and to give them
a severo reprimand ; try and send them hero
to mo after having corrected them, but I fear
they will not consent to come. Try at least to
intimidate them, by telling them that if tho
bishop were informed of their conduct, he could
give information of it to tho king, and send for
the police officers from Montefusco, as has been
done in other cases ; in short, lot us do all wo
can. I bless you, and am...... ”

30

ST. ALPHONSO LIGÜORI.

Even imprisonment and banishment wore not
always enough in his Lordship’s eyes. He often
would have wished tho culprits to bo punished
as they deserved, in order thereby to strike a
salutary terror, but ho had sometimes tho dis­
tress of seeing obstacles placed in the way of the
execution of his plans. “ Ono cannot have these
bad women either flogged or even banished, if one
has not proofs of their irregular life, and these
proofs, to my great regret, are often wanting,
on account of the human respect which stops
those who could testify against them.” His vig­
ilance on this point was so great, that he knew
even the very places where these infamous wo­
men laid their snares. At Arienzo, the priest
H
Don Salvadore Framontana once went with him
in a carriage to a church, where he was going
to preach ; when they reached a certain place
called Ceajanello, Alphonso said with a sigh,
“Ah! bless this spot with a special blessing,
O Lord!” ho then added, “This is a scone of
debauchery, and I am now engaged in putting
a stop to it ; but, alas ! when I root out evil on
one side, it reappears on tho other.” Several
times, as tho grand-vicar Rubini has related
to me, when his Lordship received tidings of
tho appearance of some intriguer, ho did not sit
down to table until ho had put it out of her
power to injure any one, and ho gave a reason for
this haste and eagerness by saying, “ These sort
of things do not admit of any delays ; an offence
against God is in question, and if there were
but one single sin involved, we are bound to
prevent its commission.”

ST. ALPHONSO LIG GORI.

31

“When ho onco knew where the den was,”
said Canon Verzella, “ho took no rest until he
had tho beast in his power.” An unworthy
father of tho parish of St. Stephen, had let two
of his daughters be prostituted ; when his Lord­
ship heard of it, he was filled with grief. Full
of impatience, ho immediately sent for tho priest,
Don Felix Nuzzo, and said to him with great
agitation, “ Poor unhappy creatures ! what are
they doing in Don Peter’s farm? ” “Don Peter
has sent tho father and the children away.”
“Then what has now become of them?” “Per­
haps,” replied tho priest, “ they arc in the parish
of St. Agnes.” At those words Alphonso sent for
the priest of this parish, Don Francis Ferrara ;
ho told him that they were in tho parish of St.
Felix ; his Lordship instantly gave notice of it
to tho priest, Don Simon Lucia ; having at
length discovered the house they lived in, he
enjoined the priest to look after them, and not
satisfied with that, ho undertook to get one of
these unfortunate creatures married, by giving
her a portion of ten ducats ; at a later period,
ho succeeded in settling a second ; and also
placed two more of the sisters in safety, to whom
he assigned a pension.
On being informed that another woman of
Arienzo lived in sin and far from her husband, ho
immediately sent his secretary to tho governor’s
house, but ho did not find him in, and tho
secretary did not take the trouble of going
back to him again. After tho lapso of a lit­
tle time, his Lordship did not forgot to inquiro

32

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

as to tho result of his visit. The secretary
then wanted to excuse himself, and said that
he had not been able to sco tho magistrate,
and had not had time to go to his house
again ; his Lordship was exceedingly pained at
this negligence : “Don Felix,” ho said to him,
with deep sorrow, “when an offence against God
is in question, wo should leave everything in
order to put a stop to it.” Ho sent him back
to tho governor’s with all speed ; and ho did
not got tranquil again until ho knew that tho
woman was in prison. Mgr. Rossi, tho bishop
of Ischia, who witnessed this noblo zeal, ex­
claimed, full of admiration, “Mgr. Liguori is a
saint, who is rendered incomparable by his
zeal ! ” Ono day tho grand-vicar Rubini came
to Alphonso just as he was taking his repast in
bed: “Wo have bad news,” he said to him, “a
most suspicious stranger has come to establish
herself at Arienzo.” “Only one,” replied his
II
Lordship, laughing, “ we shall have more
than
one; these sort of adventurers never come sing­
ly.” Tho secretary and tho grand-vicar fancied
that these tidings had not made a groat im­
pression on his Lordship ; but they were mis­
taken. He had scarcely finished his meal before
lie dismissed every one, and sent for Brother
Francis Anthony, to dictate to him a most
energetic letter to the Count of Cerreto ; ho in­
formed him of the scandal, and begged him
to send to Arienzo immediately, that it might
be forcibly removed. On that same evening
four soldiers drove away the infamous woman.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.
I.

IIo was above all inexorable towards those
who, through being sadly learned in this trade,
were also able to teach it to others. At Ari­
enzo one of these latter had several women in
her service, and received strangers at her
dwelling, particularly soldiers ; Alphonso had
several times brought her before the courts of
justice, but always in vain ; on seeing how in­
corrigible she was, he once said to her, “Mis­
erable wretch that you are, you will not give
over your crimes, but God will know how to
put an end to them. You will die in a state
of damnation, and in a most tragic manner.”
Tho priest Don Francis Ferrara, and his vicar
Don Agnello Sgambati, were present when this
prediction was made, and which was not long
in being verified ; for the unhappy creature, in
order to escape from a prison, fled from tho
town, and was obliged to wander about on tho
neighbouring mountains in the depth of winter;
she was several times forced to sleep in tho
woods. Nevertheless, she camo near to the town
every night to abandon herself to her criminal
courses ; but as tho companion of her debauch­
eries had been threatened with imprisonment
by his Lordship, ono evening when this wo­
man was coming to meet him, ho pretended
to have nothing to do with her, and pursued
her, casting stones at her. In her flight this
miserable woman fell into a deep ditch, where
she died. In order to give an example full of
terror, his Lordship caused her body to be car­
ried between three lighted torches to the trench
3

VOL· IV·

*

ri

I’■ 1 I Ί
?r '■
Itf j
hi..·5

I
4
•I

•I

I*
•j

. I*

34

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

into which it was thrown, as an example to thoso
of a similar description.
It is easy to imagine what expense all these
measures must have entailed ; Alphonso had to
pay largo sums to tho inferior people whom he
employed, and even to tho higher officers. In
speaking one day to Don Salvadoro Tramontana,
tho priest, ho said to him, “You cannot think
how much money I have caused tho constables
to get through thoso abandoned women. I assure
you I have wasted a deal of good money.” Even
tho soldiers could not help publishing accounts
of his zeal, although they were sometimes un­
faithful to him. “It is incredible,” said one of
them to the same priest Tramontana, “ how many
sins Mgr. Liguori prevented being committed, and
how many scandals ho extirpated out of his dio­
cese.” After tho example of Jesus Christ, who
pardoned the penitent sinner, Alphonso received
with kindness all those who wished to amend.
The good shepherd who finds a lost sheep, does
not experience as great joy as his Lordship did
when he succeeded in saving any of these unhappy creatures. There was no sacrifice ho was
not ready to make to extricate them from sin
and misery. Entire volumes would not suffice
to recount all that ho did in favour of tlioso
who amended their ways.
Archdeacon Rai none told mo that he spent
considerable sums of money, from the time he
came to tho diocese, in aiding a great number
whose indigence had led them to crime. These
gifts were not confined to the town of St. Agatha

ST. ALPH0XS0 LIGUORI.

35

alone, ho spread them throughout all parts of
his diocese without any distinction. Don Agnello
Sgambati, who was curate of the parish of St.
Anthony, affirmed to me, that Alphonso assisted
a very great number in that place alone, and
caused them to receive a stipend every month
through his hands. All the other priests and
curates have assured mo of the same thing.
A prostitute who had been whipped on Alphonso’s arrival at St. Agatha, and was afterwards ban­
ished from all the states of the Duke of Maddalon,
resolved to re-enter them after an exile of eleven
years; as soon as his Lordship heard of it lie
wrote the following letter to the priest, dated 3rd
of December, 1774: “As this woman, Elizabeth,
has come back hero again, let her know from
II
mo
that I will give hcr six carlins every month
if she conducts herself properly ; but I must
first bo convinced as to her persevering.” On
hearing that a poor widow had caused the ruin
of her two daughters, ho gave her a severe re­
primand ; as the culprit was converted, he assign­
ed to her as well as to each of her children a
daily allowance of money, besides many alms in
furniture, clothes, &c., in order that by adding
to these gifts tho fruits of their own labours,
they might have enough to live on honestly.
On one of these women returning to tho diocese
after being converted, his Lordship let her know
that, if she persevered, ho would insure her an
allowance of fifteen carlins a month. On one
day hearing that another was also converted,
he wept for joy, and ordered his secretary to

.·

»

<3G

•

I

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORT.

inform tho girl that ho was ready to give her
anything, provided sho remained constant in her
conversion from sin.
A wicked girl, to her afflicted mother’s great
regret, had ruined both her body and soul by
her debaucheries. When she was reduced to the
last extremity, she applied to the house of the
Incurables at Naples. Alphonso did not lose
sight of her, and hastened to recommend her to
the notice of several priests. Misfortunes se­
conded the workings of grace, so that the un­
happy girl at length opened her eyes and wept
over her past misconduct. This moved tho
Bishop of St. Agatha to tears ; ho sent for the
mother, and engaged to provide for the wants
of her daughter. “ I have sent for the mother,”
he wrote to Salvadoro Tramontana, the priest;
“she appears to me to be a good woman, although
she is very poor ; for this reason I intend to send
her to Naples to seek her daughter. I have
promised to assist her and to give her a monthly
allowance : but I hear that the girl is in the
greatest destitution ; sho must then be clothed
from head to foot. Will you have the charity
to provide for this at my expense, but with as
little outlay as possible ? First, procure for her
two new chemises, a handkerchief for tho head,
and another for the neck, a serge petticoat, an
under-dress of canvass, a mantle, a pair of white
stockings, and a pair of shoes ; but I do not
wish them all to be quite new, because that
would cost too much. They may be met with
at the old-clothes shops, where such things may

!

ST. ALPHONSO LIOUORI.

37

be found in good condition ; if one took really
old goods, tho thing would have to be done over
again next day. I should not take the liberty
to burthen you with all those commissions, if I
did not know your great charity. In any case
you can consult with Brother Francis about it,
and then inform mo how much money I have
to send you, because as soon as sho is clothed,
I shall make her mother take her back. I re­
commend this work of mercy to you, and am..... ”
Who doos not admire tho true minister of the
Lord throughout all these details ? His liberalΠ
ity towards these female
penitents was so un­
bounded, that those who had always led correct
lives were envious of it. Ono evening during
tho scarcity, at tho end of his visit to the Bless­
ed Sacrament, ho was preparing to leave tho
church. Λ woman suddenly camo up to him,
and said to him impudently, “ My Lord, it is
only bad women who aro in your good graces ;
would to God you had never come here. If one
leads a good life, there is no hope of anything
from your Lordship.’ The indignant secretary
wanted to scold this impertinent woman. Tho
bishop stopped him, by saying to him, “Be
quiet ! Perhaps this woman has some want
which I can satisfy.” Then turning to her, he
said, “I should like to assist everybody, but I
must begin with those who are in sin ; it is of
urgent importance to free them from it.”
Our saint’s conduct in these sort of affairs
was neither understood nor approved by every­
body ; even several priests let him know that
4 -

38

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

ho was often deceived by his goodness. “It
H
matters
littlo if I am deceived,” he used to
answer, “ provided I thwart tho plans of the
devil : it is no littlo gain if one can prevent
an offence against God, were it but for a
quarter of an hour ; and besides, it often hap­
pens that several abstain from their disorders
for good.” Archdeacon Rainono also one day
told him that ho ought to withdraw tho allow­
ance from some whoso perseverance was doubt­
ful. “ That is not certain,” his Lordship an­
swered ; “ but if I abandon them, they may
perhaps be led to yield to despair ; and besides, if they commit but ono mortal sin
u
less, is it not a great thing for God’s glory ?
Alphonso was however discreet in these sort of
donations. They usually only consisted of five
grains a day, in order that tho alms might
requiro to be increased by means of labour,
and that it might not bo an encouragement to
idleness and dissoluteness. Tho conversion of
these sinners was one of tho chief ends Al­
phonso had in view in causing missions to be
given in his diocese. Ho recommended the: H
to tho care of the missionaries, whom ho fur­
nished with all they could require. Don Theo­
dosius Telesca, of Avigliano, the priest, told mo
that he was one day speaking to his Lordship
of tho good dispositions which two of these wo­
men manifested, when ho replied to him, “I
am ready to give my blood and my life for
them : and if they act with sincerity, I will not
fail to assist them, were I obliged to go with­
out my food to do so.”

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

39

Alphonso put tho finishing stroke to his zeal,
by causing a great number of these penitents to
enter into the married state, and in order to es­
tablish them, ho often did not hesitate to con­
tribute from thirty to forty ducats for their por­
tion ; but he especially tried to do it in good
time ; as soon as he heard of any young per­
son deviating from tho right path, he immedi­
ately endeavoured to get her married. lie at­
tached the greatest importance to its being to
her seducer.
One day while our Father Christian Carbone
was on a mission in the diocese, he came to see
Π
him to settle about six marriages
of this sort
in the country of Arpaja alone. This caused
Alphonso’s heart to throb with joy, though ho
generally in such cases dispensed with all his
fees, and willingly procured tho necessary licen­
ces at bis own expense. It even happened at
times that as his own means were not enough
for tho charity of his heart, ho had recouse to
the charity of those in affluent circumstances
and to houses of relief.
There was a man who agreed to marry one
of these women, but on condition that his Lord­
ship would give him something. This news
gave great delight to Alphonso ; he immedi­
ately opened his purse and gave him ten ducats.
Such instances were not rare, and these mar­
riages were generally happy ones. “It is true,”
said Alphonso, “ that there are certain kinds
of forced unions of which I cannot approve ;
but of two evils one must choose the least.

40

i

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

An officer of tho Duke of Maddalon kept
company with a poor girl at St. Agatha, whom
ho did not intend to marry ; the scandal bocamo a crying ono ; when his Lordship hoard
of it, lio did all ho could to persuade tho
soldier, but when ho saw that ho could not unito
H
them, he informed tho duko of tho matter,
who
deprived tho officer of his situation and expelled
him from the town.
His Lordship heard that a gentleman of Arpaja
had a similar connexion ; lio sent for him to
givo him a warning about it ; the young man
had not courage to leave tho young person, so
ho resolved to marry her.
This excited tho
dissatisfaction of his parents, and they applied
to tho king in order to have a stop put to tho
alliance. Alphonso however, who saw no other
way of putting a stop to tho scandal, told tho
young man that if ho would not give up his
project of marriage, ho would take upon himself
to procuro its execution. Tho young man remain­
ed firm, and his Lordship succeeded in conclud­
ing tho affair happily, through tho aid of the
king.
However, what caused Alphonso tho greatest
consolation was to bo able to cause any of tho
penitents to shut herself up in a convent, and
ho spared neither trouble nor expenso to arrive
at this end. lie succeeded in placing a good
number in the convents at Naples and at Nola,
notwithstanding tho great difficulties ho often
had to surmount in so doing.
It was an inexpressible sorrow to him when

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

41

ho could not succeed. One of these women was
an object of solicitude to him, in tho year 1773.
On tho 22nd of August he wrote as follows on
tho subject, to Canon Lignola: “I have heard
that Mary N— of Arienzo, an orphan of twenty
years of age, is at the hospital of tho Incurables.
Deprived as she thus was of the direction of her
parents, this young person, whoso exterior was
very much in her favour, went to Naples, where
she led an irregular life for some time. She
would now bo glad to enter some convent ; but
to my great sorrow, I have not yet been able
to gratify her. For this reason, and in full con­
fidence in your Reverence’s goodness and charity,
I entreat you as superior of tho asylum of St.
Raphael, for the lovo of God, to deign to receive
II
her into this house.” Tho canon, who remember
­
ed the refusal of which wo spoke in chapter forty,
in regard to a vassal of tho Prince of la Riccia,
agreed to tho request on condition that his Lord­
ship would furnish her wardrobe. In the year
1765, the missionary fathers, who were afterwards
called by tho name of Mary of Holy Purity at
Naples, gave tho mission in the diocese of Bojano ;
they met with a married woman in the territory
of Ferrazzano who lived in a state of concubinage ;
this woman told those missionaries in confession,
that she belonged to Frasso, which was Mgr. Ligguori's diocese, and she added that tho child she
had with her was by her lawful husband. The mis­
sionaries lost no time in informing Alphonso of
this. The saintly old man was filled with very
great joy at the tidings. On seeing tho sincere

<F ■ i

i: I

I

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.
II
repentance of this woman,
and her wish to enter a
convent, ho succeeded in placing her in tho re­
fuge of St. Clare at Naples ; he supplied her with
what necessaries she required, and besides many
other gifts, he assigned her an annual pension of
thirty-six ducats ; he also earnestly recommended
her to tho care of Don Gaétan de Marco, the
priest who converted her, in order that he might
act as her confessor, and he frequently reminded
him of her. IIo had tho little child brought up
at St. Agatha, and when he got older, ho main­
tained him at Naples at his own expenso, in
order that ho might learn some trade. This
penitent was a consolation to Alphonso, who went
several times to see her when he was staying in
Naples in 1767. After she had been thus sup­
ported for five years, her husband died, and she
had an opportunity of making an honourable
second marriage, and his Lordship did not fail
H
to assist her to the end with his accustomed
generosity.
Although ho had it so much at heart to re­
cover tho wandering sheep, he took even still
more pains in saving the lambs confided to his
care from the jaws of wolves. All that could
bo said on this subject would be far below the
reality. Hundreds of poor girls owed tho preser­
vation of their honour to his alms-deeds. With­
out entering into a detail of tho assistance he
rendered to them, wo shall confine ourselves to
saying that ho went so far as even to procure
innocent adornments for them to take away
from them all temptation to envy or to sin.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

43

CHAPTER LX.
As Jesus told His apostles to gather up the
fragments after the miraculous multiplication
in the desert, so I in like manner intend now
to collect together a great many things which
I omitted in the course of this Memoir. True
zeal is characterised by its being universal and
without reserve, and this also attended that of
Mgr. Liguori. He always did all he could to
remove any scandal from the midst of his people,
and he especially tried to stifle the evil in its
beginning.
A troop of actors came to St. Agatha, and
he was the more alarmed at it as he saw that
they intended to remain there. He therefore
entreated for tho aid of the Duke of Maddalon’s
arm against them, and he succeeded in getting
an order for their withdrawal. The actors had
recourse to the duke’s agent, and even to the
bishop himself, in order to obtain a delay, were
it but for ono day, in order to act a play which
they said was very good indeed ; but there was
no reprieve for them, and they were obliged to
set out at once.
When Alphonso arrived at St. Agatha, tho
principal gentlemen were occupied in preparing
a play for the carnival, entitled, “La Contessa
Sperciasépé
but during tho spiritual exercises
which ho himself gave them, and just as- ho

44

•

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIir.

administered tho holy communion to them, ho
said to them, “Do me the kindness to add to
the promises you have made to Jesus Christ, that
of not acting the play.” Ills wishes were ac­
complished.
Not being ablo to prevent the representation
of another play which the gentlemen of ilirola
had arranged about, ho asked that he should
at least be allowed to read it, and they were
obliged to submit to act with the retrenchments
he made in it ; he also did not fail to manifest
his great displeasure about it to Cervo tho doctor, who formed one of the company : “ You
are men advanced in a^e,” he said to him,
“ and this is the example you give to the young !
I do not know how you will bo able to think
of it at tho hour of death.” Ho would have
liked to annihilate even tho very name carnival.
What did ho not do during these days to prevent
masquerades and other diversions ? We have
already seen that ho established sermons in the
churches and
exposition
of
the
Blessed
Sacrae
__
mont at this season. Ho ascended the pulpit
himself at such times to inveigh against sin ;
he sent for the chief gentlemen, and conjured
them not to put masks on ; he applied to the
head magistrates, in order to get them to pre­
vent all disorder ; I may say more than this,
he had recourse to the sheriffs and officers of
tho garrison, to get them to take pains to hin­
der all kinds of spectacles or assemblages of a
dangerous sort.
The gentlemen of St, Agatha had introduced

ST. ALPHONSO LIOUORT.

tho custom of alternately giving each other 1
entertainments during tho carnival. When Al­
phonso knew of it, it alarmed him,
“Festivities and good cheer are never unac­
companied with sin,” he said. On hearing that
Don Dominic Cervo, who was a respectable man
and ono who feared God, had given one of these
entertainments in his turn, he sent for him and
reprimanded him. “You ought to bo more in­
terested in this matter than me,” he said to him,
“you have daughters of a marriageable age.
Fire and straw do not do well together, especially
when the devil blows on them.” Ho was not,
however, able to abolish this custom, for tho
governor and tho military officers were also of
the number, but he succeeded in at least pre­
venting there being any ball or indecent danc­
ing, but only some minuet of tho most correct
description.
In tho month of July, in 1773, some moun­
tebanks arrived at Arienzo, accompanied by two
young female rope-dancers, who were dressed
up as men. As soon as Alphonso was informed
of it, he applied both to the governor and to
tho agent of tho Duke of Maddalon, Don Francis
Andrew Mustillo, in order that they might be
sent away. Tho players said on quitting tho
town, that they were going to stay at Naples ;
but his Lordship soon hoard that they had stop­
ped at Airola. “ I thought that they had left
ray diocese,” ho immediately wrote to tho Prince
do la Riccia; “but yesterday I had the sorrow
of hearing that they are at Airola, and that they

.·

h

4G

t

I
I

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

moan to perforin in your Excellency’s palace. I
must
H
entreat you to send your orders to Airola,
and prevent its being thought that you consent
to this. People say that dancers do not give
scandal ; but it is certain that they cannot edify,
and I am persuaded that the devil would not
fail to take advantage of it.” Nothing more
was necessary to cause these people to be ban­
ished from tho diocese.
Alphonso dreaded disorders oven in largo
assemblages which had religion as their pre­
text ; ho recurred to rigorous measures to put
a stop to them in case of need ; thus he was
in tho habit of suspending tho confessors for
reserved cases on fêtes where thero was too
great a concourso of people. “This is the way,”
H
he said, “to prevent people from
coming to
unburthen their consciences without any fruit,
and thus from loading them with now sins
through tho contempt they show for the sacraH
monts,
”
H­
He had no less horror of nocturnal assem
blages. At Arienzo, on Christmas night, the
people wero in tho habit of going out of tho
town, with the inhabitants of tho adjoining vil­
lages, to assist at tho offices in tho church of
tho Capuchin fathers. Thero was no devotion
in this ; on tho contrary, this concourso of peo­
ple of both sexes gave opportunity for all sorts
of disorders. In order to put a stop to those
evils, Alphonso wished to bo present in person,
but tho doctors opposed this, on account of
the obvious danger thero was that it might

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

47

kill him. For tho same reason ho forbade tho
church to be opened before six o’clock in the
morning, and ho afterwards issued the same
prohibition in regard to all the other churches.
The procession which takes places on St.
Mark’s day, repaired to a church which was
dedicated to this saint, and which was situated
on a little hill about three miles from Ari­
enzo ; but as this ceremony entailed serious in­
conveniences through tho difficulty of ascending
the mountain, Alphonso tried to remedy it,
and thought of another church as tho one for
tho station ; but as ho did not know whether
ho could do this of his own accord, or if the
Popo alone had tho right, he consulted Father
Villani. After ho had stated tho case to him,
and the plan ho had thought of, he said to him,
“Please to consult Tommasini or some other
author, to seo if it is allowable for a bishop
to make such a change. I have read Gavanti
and Merati, and I seo nothing in them to tho
contrary. If, however, there is any obstacle to
it, write and let mo know of it.” From this
time tho procession took place at tho church
of St. Agnes, which is another church in the
district of Arienzo. In a word, Alphonso would
have liked to destroy even the places which
could be an occasion of evil : one day when
passing near a forest belonging to tho Duko
of Maddalon in company with Canon Testa, ho
said to him, “ That wood is not well situated ;
it may favour crime ; but I know what I will
do, I will write to tho duko to have it cut

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

t

down.” “Gently,” replied tho canon, “that
cannot be done, for this wood is a consider·
n
able one, and of great advantage to tho duke.
Alphonso was disconcerted and remained silent,
but ho did so with a sigh.
On hearing that, notwithstanding his prohi­
bitions, tho priests and curates gave tho ca­
techism to tho children of both sexes in their
houses, ho immediately wrote to the priests on
the 13th of March, 17G3, in these terms: “I
have just hoard, and with great grief, that in
several parishes tho children receive instruc­
tions in tho houses of tho priests, and not in
the churches. Your Reverences will easily com­
prehend all the evils which may result from it,
without my entering into details : I have boon
pained by your negligence in not informing me
of it. I positively will not allow women to go
to the house of any ecclesiastic whatsoever to
bo instructed ; lot it therefore bo generally
known that this detestable abuse must bo given
up at once. In futuro I beg that you will
not again omit to inform me of any irregulari­
ties which you may sec arise, and that you
will be more attentive as to the right admin­
istration of your livings.”
Our saint, in his office of bishop, also looked
on himself as tho peacemaker of his people, so
ho took all possible pains in reconciling spirits
at variance with each other, and in strength­
ening the bonds of charity among his people.
Great rancour had existed for several years at
Airola between Don Francis de Marco, tlio

4$

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

agent of the Prince de la Riccia, and Don Jo­
seph Ferace, the priest of Mojano. Several de­
crees had already been issued regarding them,
and yet they again attacked each other before
tho courts of justice at St. Agatha and at Be­
nevento. Whatever satisfaction was granted to
Don Marco, ho still always protested that he
would not cease to follow after Don Ferace
until he had ruined him. As Alphonso did
not know what more ho could do in order
to reconcile them, he at length resolved to
write to the Prince de la Riccia before leav­
ing tho diocese. “ When a person is reduced
to despair,” ho said to him in a letter of the
11th of Juno, 1774, “ho is capable of giving way
to all sorts of excesses, and I fear that if the
matter is not ended, the results will be disas­
trous for the two families who are engaged in
these interminable law-suits. I have written a
long letter to Don Francis, but my words will
be of little avail if your Excellency does not
second mo. I therefore entreat you to let Don
Francis know that you really wish him to givo
up pursuing Don Ferace, and that he should
abandon tho impious project of ruining him, for
otherwise tho thing
end in a tragic manVx will
—
ner. I hope that your Excellency’s piety will
succeed in putting a stop to these dissensions.”
His Lordship had tho consolation of seeing these
fa II üies reconciled.
A young man of Calzolajo was killed by a
bayonet wound which he received from a sol­
dier ; tho soldier was put in prison. While ho
i

VOL. IV.

50

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

was imprisoned at Arienzo, two officers camo
from Naples to ask for his pardon. His Lord­
ship therefore sent for tho mother and tho brother
of tho victim ; they replied that they consented
to pardon him, but that they gave him up to
justice ; at this word justice, tho holy bishop
exclaimed, “ This is a mortal sin, this is not the
way to forgive.” Ho managed so well that ho
obtained tho pardon for tho soldior.
Nothing could equal tho sorrow of tho pious
bishop when ho saw any quarrel arise between
ecclesiastics. Tho Dominican fathers disagreed
about tho funerals with tho priests of Arienzo
and of St. Maria do Vico. Tho quarrel had
been a very serious one, but it seemed to bo
put an end to, and to yield to tho mediation
of tho bishop, and he believed that a perfect
reconciliation had been effected, when suddenly
the priests of Arienzo made fresh claims. As
soon as Alphonso heard of it, ho wrote to tho
priest Don Matthew Nuglioro, saying, “I should
be much displeased at having to be occupied
again about this dispute, in which tho whole gain
is to tho devil.” At length tho Archbishop of
Arienzo was tho only one who would not yield,
so Alphonso wrote to him in such severe terms
that tho matter was immediately and finally
settled.
We have just spoken of the pains which our
Saint took to put a stop to discord and to pre­
vent its spreading in families, and among tho
clergy ; it will not be out of place hero to men­
tion the course he adopted on two occasions when

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

51

no less a matter was in question than a combat
unto death ; wo shall also add an interesting
document which he sent to tho king in opposi­
tion to tho fatal prejudice in favour of duelling.
Ono day during one of his pastoral visitations
at Airola ho hoard that a young man had been
mortally wounded in a combat ; ho immediately
hastened to see tho unhappy man ; ho manifested
all tho feeling of a tender father towards him,
and assured him that ho would assist both himself
and his family ; ho thus appeased his resentment,
and succeeded in obtaining tho pardon of the
murderer. After the death of the victim ho
assigned a pension to his old mother. Another
day ho was told that two young gentlemen had
challenged each other to fight a duel ; he instant­
ly sent for them ; ho represented to thorn tho con­
sequences of their guilty project, and did not dis­
miss them until he felt sure that his remonstrance
had been effectual.
Tho barbarous custom of duelling caused Al­
phonso great grief; ho could not think of it
without exclaiming in grief, “ Poor souls ! poor
souls! who go straight to hell!” Tho follow­
ing is a memorial which ho addressed to tho
king to try and get him to bo severe in punish­
ing this ferocious practice.
Wo have taken
this incident, as well as tho two preceding ones,
from the Lifo of St. Alphonso, written in Italian
by Father Don P. L. Rispoli, (pages 190, 191,
252, 253.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

“ Sire,
“ Alphonso Liguori, Bishop of St. Agatha,
through tho solo desire of putting a stop to
an outrage against God and to the loss of a
great number of souls, most humbly lays the
following representations before your Majesty,
beseeching you to take them into consideration,
and then to adopt those measures which shall
bo most fitted to put a stop to tho great abuse
of duelling, which has been a cause of grief
to tho capital and to tho kingdom for some
years.
“ Your Majesty is not unaware that duelling
is most punishable, on account of its fatal con­
sequences ; such for instance, as tho hatreds it
leads to in families, and its evils in regard to
society. Ono can only attribute to the devil
this invention of settling differences by the death
of the combatants, like tho heathens did, in who: Il
the spirit of revenge had entire sway ; there­
fore duels have been condemned by all laws
both divine and human : from tho year 855, tho
Council of Valence has pronounced the pain of
excommunication against all duellists, and
the privation of religious interment against
tho combatant who falls. This law was after­
wards confirmed by the succeeding Pontiffs,
and by the Council of Trent, (sess. 25, de.
reform, cap. 29.) where it is said, ' Detestabilis
duellorum usus, fabricante diabolo, introductus,
ut cruenta corporum morte animarum etiam
perniciem lucretur, ex christiano orbe penitus

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

53

exterminetur.’ In the year 1593, Pope Clement
VIII. in his bull * lllius vices,’ declared that the
condemnation of duelling also included private
duels without witnesses, as well as tho officers
and superiors who permit them. Sovereigns have
also condemned duelling, as is proved by ‘Unie
cod de gladiat,’ and in the laws of Spain, tit. 8,
lib. 10. But your Majesty’s glorious ancestors,
the kings of Prance, have especially been most
severo against thoso single combats. Louis XIII.
prohibited them on pain of loss of dignity, nobi­
lity, and possessions, and declared that all duel­
lers should remain branded with infamy. After
this Louis XIV. pronounced sentence of death
against them, and he caused this law to be exe­
cuted with so much rigour that he had tho glory
of extirpating duelling from France.
“In the kingdom of Naples duelling was first
forbidden by tho emperor Frederick, as we see
in his constitutions. After him, several kings
of Naples have sanctioned divers most rigorous
laws against this abuse. In the 2nd of January,
1540, (vol. I. page 250, in tho Pragmat I.) duell­
ing was forbidden, under pain of death to the
aggressor, even when tho combat did not take
place, and to the one challenged if he kills the
challenger. The same penalty was also inflicted
on the witnesses and seconds ; and it was stated
at the same time, that if tho person challenged
refuses the challenge, ho shall thereby reap glory
and not dishonour. In 1662, and on the 9th
of May, (Pragmat 3. page 261,) it was declared
that duellists shall be punished by ten years

■*

54

I

I

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

transportation, together with the pain of infamy
and of exclusion from all employments and digni­
ties for the first offence ; and that for tho second,
tho culprits shall bo punished by death.
“This dcstable custom of duelling ceased in this
kingdom for a long while, but it has for some
years been very frequent, particularly among
soldiers, and it often results in tho death of one
of the combatants. It is a falso opinion, but
one which has many partisans in Germany, that
officers challenged to a duel can lawfully accept
it, in order not to lose their honour and their
rank. This pernicious opinion was justly con­
demned in 1772, by Popo Benedict XIV. in his
bull ‘ Detestabilem. ’ A Christian soldier ought
not then to blush at refusing to disobey his God
and his king.
“ Sire,—your Majesty will greatly enhance
your glory if you extirpate this accursed plaguespot from tho kingdom, which causes loss of life
to both soul and body. The undersigned there­
fore humbly entreats your Majesty to renew the
laws published by your predecessors against du­
ellists, and then to cause them to be strictly
observed, by enforcing tho penalties against
them all, but especially against the military,
amongst whom duels are most frequent ; and
also to declare that those who do not accept a
challenge will preserve their office and their
honour, but that on the contrary, duellists shall
always remain branded with infamy as trans­
gressors of the law. This declaration will bo
especially useful to your Majesty at present,

1

ST. ALPHONSO LIGÜORI,

55

as you have set on foot the now royal brigade,
composed of so many valiant young men, who
are in tho flower of their age, and whose effer­
vescing passions might easily lead to challenge
each other through the disputes to which they
will often bo hereafter exposed. Your Majesty’s
soldiers ought not to lose their blood and their
lives for a false point of honour, but only for
tho defence of their faith, and for tho preserva­
tion of their prince and of his states.”
Alphonso’s zeal was not unfruitful ; his peti­
tion obtained tho promulgation of a very severe
law against duelling.

CHAPTER LXI.

One of the motives which led Alphonso to
redouble his ardour for the glory of God and
the salvation of his flock, was tho awful account
ho felt he must one day render to God ; the
thought of tho responsibility of a bishop made
him tremble.
Ho was dining one day with Mgr. Albertini, '
who asked him how many souls ho had in tho
diocese of St. Agatha. “ There are forty thou­
sand,” Alphonso replied. “There are as many
in mine,” said Mgr. Albertini ; upon which Al­
phonso bent his head several times, and added,
“ My Lord, wo have each of us a weight of forty
thousand hundred-weight on our shoulders; woe

56

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

to us if one of these souls bo lost through our
negligence !”
There perhaps never was a bishop who waged
a more determined warfare on sin. Among the
vices which ho combated tho most vigorously
was that of blasphemy. As the law which caused
those who were guilty of it to bo punished at
tho public square with a bit in their mouths
had been abolished, he enjoined tho magistrates
to punish them by at least imprisoning them.
Ho denounced this execrable sin from the pul­
pit, and wished the priests often to set forth
its enormity. Ho said, that with tho exception
of tho torments of hell, the blasphemer differs in
no way from tho damned soul ; but that he also
carries the seal of his reprobation written on
his forehead.
A public crier, nicknamed Brother Wellcome,
from his having been once a novice with the
Capuchins, had become a horrible blasphemer.
As his Lordship was unable to get this man to
come to him as he wished, in order that ho
might warn him and correct him paternally, he
commissioned his servant Alexis to bring him to
him, on the pretext of inquiring about tho price
of corn ; but when he saw him Alphonso said
to him, “It is not tho price of corn, but you
that I am anxious about ; I hear that there is
not a saint whom you do not blaspheme
he
then threatened to have him arrested and con­
demned to the galleys. The crier was so terrified
that he left off his guilty habit for good and all.
Whenever he met Alexis the servant afterwards,

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

57

he remembered his Lordship’s happy stratagem,
and used to ask him laughingly if he were not
come to inquiro about tho price of corn ; he
died shortly afterwards in sentiments of peni­
tence and resignation.
In the hamlet of Forchia there was a furi­
ous blasphemer, who was not satisfied with in­
sulting tho saints, but who went tho length of
reviling God Himself, and of blaspheming against
Heaven. Alphonso could not do any good in
tho matter alone, so ho applied to the Prince
do la Riccia on the 2Gth of December, 1773:
“I daro not put down on paper,” said he,
“ tho blasphemies which this man utters against
tho Blessed Virgin, they are so horrible and ex­
ecrable; your Excellency must know that this
abominable man has already been imprisoned for
his blasphemies, but he has begun them again,
and is worse now than before. Three years af­
ter this confinement, a monition was again
issued against him by the ecclesiastical court.
After having made the requisite inquiries, your
Excellency must not only order his imprison­
ment, but cause sentence to bo pronounced
against him as an incorrigible.” This wretched
man was sentenced to spend many a dreary day
in prison, and his purse suffered as well as his
person through tho fines he was obliged to pay
to justice.
However, the sweetness which Alphonso knew
how to use at tho right moment, was as effi­
cacious as tho fear of chastisement. Wo will
cite an instance of it. There was a blasphemer

1

58

f.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

at Forchia, who had boon excommunicated for
several years, and who persisted in his impen­
itence. Alphonso was not able to put up with
hii II any longer, so he applied to tho prince to
have his trial got ready ; however, ho onco
more tried to win him by paternal counsels, and
sent for him to the palace ; but ou finding that
he did not venture to appear before him, ho
inquired as to tho time when he would pass
through the street ; ho then went to the window and called him by his name ; then putting
his hand on his head, he reproved him kindly,
and represented to him tho impiety of his words.
He was overcome by this excessive goodness,
and touched by impressions of grace, so that he
began to think seriously, and humbling himself,
was converted. His Lordship sent him to con­
fession to Father Maj one tho next morning, and
he wished him, in order to repair tho scandal
ho had given, to remain, before being admitted
to holy communion, at tho church door for three
Sundays, with a heavy cross on his shoulders
and a largo stone hung round his nock. The
blasphemer submitted to everything, and his re­
turn to God was so sincere that ho lived as a
true Christian from that time,
he approached
•
——
u
tho sacraments every eight days, and became
a
member of tho Society of tho Rosary.
Nothing could exceed Alphonso’s love of justice, and he was anxious that it should be respcctcd in all contracts. It was one of tho
points he recommended most strongly to preach­
ers, and especially to priests. The scarcity in

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

59

17G4 did not cause him as much pain as the
open or tacit monopoly which he saw practised
by the corn-dealers. Ho oven applied to the
Abbe Genovese, who had a high reputation at
Naples, to ask his advice about it. When Father
Terzi tho Dominican gave the spiritual exor­
cises at St. Agatha, Alphonso, who was then ill
at Aricnzo, wrote to him on the 30th of March,
1773, in the following terms: “As your Rev­
erence is now engaged in giving tho spiritual ex­
ercises, I hope you will speak of the injustice of
two kinds of contracts which are said to be made
use of at St. Agatha ; the first is that of lend­
ing a labourer two oxen of tho value of sixty
or seventy ducats, upon the condition of the
latter giving their owner ten measures of corn
every year, which is certainly unjust. There
is also another fraudulent condition, which is,
that if tho oxen die, tho farmer must pay half
their value, which is evidently contrary to
equity, as this loss ought only to fall on the pro­
prietor.
“ The other contract is that of giving a sow
to bo fed, with tho condition that her young
shall bo sold, and their price divided, but that
if the animal dies, tho farmer must pay half her
value. I bog your Reverence to preach against
such extortions several timos over, for onco
will not bo enough.
Your Reverence knows
tho sentiments of moralists on this subject,
and that a preacher is bound in conscience to
preach against agreements which are public and
which arc manifestly unjust. I therefore roly

<μ

60

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

on your Reverence’s assistance in regard to tho
suppression of this abuse, so that those concerned
in it may at least know that they commit a mor­
tal sin in imposing such contracts as those I
have just cited, in which the disparity of the
conditions is manifest.” Not content with these
recommendations, Alphonso, notwithstanding all
his sufferings, himself inveighed against such
great injustice from tho pulpit at Arienzo.
We have already spoken of the severity with
which our saintly bishop forbade those who were
betrothed from dwelling under the same roof;
on being informed by a priest of an infringe­
ment of this kind, he directed him to inform
the future husband, that if he did not imme­
diately quit the house of his intended bride, he
would undergo the penalty of excommunication.
The same kind of threat was also made to the
future bride, in the event of her having con­
sented to any illicit intercourse ; and the priest
was ordered to inform the bishop of any want
of prompt obedience. This prompt severity had
a salutary effect, and the scandal ceased.
That which gave Alphonso the greatest alarm
was, when any engagements of marriage took
place between young people whose parents refused
to consent to it. When this occurred, he sent for
the parents, in order to ascertain if the grounds
of their opposition were reasonable ; he united
with the priests in doing all that was possible
either to break off engagements entered into
rashly, or to overcome the opposition of parents,
to whom he showed that delay on their part
must inevitably lead to sin,

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

61

It often happened that young people who
wished to settle and were unjustly prevented
from so doing by their parents, had recourse to
the saintly bishop to tell him of the danger to
which they were exposed. Alphonso immediate­
ly sent for their parents, and set before them
the serious responsibility which they were under ;
and if they had no reasonable motive to give
for their opposition, he managed so well that
he obtained their consent. When young people
had given public scandal by illicit intercourse
beforehand, their marriage was preceded by a
public penance ; the woman was obliged to stand
at the church porch with a candle in her hand
on some day of solemnity ; and the man was
also obliged to be there wearing a crown of
thorns on his head. This satisfaction was en­
joined by an express order, and its accomplish­
ment was rigorously exacted.
On seeing that the catechism was not explained
to tho children as he had prescribed, ho address­
ed tho episcopal vicar, who was residing at
Airola, in a letter dated 17th of November, 1772,
which was couched in tho following terms : “ It
has come to my knowledge that parents, tutors,
and sponsors, neglect to send their children or
their pupils to tho catechism. I request your Rev­
erence to mention in a public conference on cases
of morality, to all tho confessors and the priests
of tho town, as well as to those of tho hamlet
of Bucciano, that before they hear tho confes­
sions of fathers and mothers, of tutors and other
responsible persons, they must ask if they have

62

I

♦

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

taken care to send the children to tho catechism;
and if they in despite of this warning fall back
into the same negligence again, absolution must
H
be refused to them.”
His Lordship then spoke of other persons,
and goes on to say, “Tho confessors must in­
terrogato adults on the things which aro ne­
cessary for salvation, and they must regulato
their conduct in regard to tho absolution on
what I have written on other occasions ; they
must be careful in getting them to assist at tho
instructions which accompany high mass on Sun­
days and festivals. Confessors ought not to
forget that they cannot grant absolution to those
who are ignorant of these things until they be­
come instructed in them.”
Children who were under guardians also ex­
cited his charitable interest. If ho saw that they
wore in tho hands of those who were ill adapted
to attend to their temporal and spiritual good, ho
did all ho could in order to assist them himself.
We may instance amongst many others, the chil­
dren of tho late James Tofano, a gentleman of
Airola. Ho died leaving two children, a boy and
a girl, under tho guardianship of thoir mother,
Laura do Cervo. As this lady mado a second
marriage, and his Lordship saw that the guar­
dian whom they wished to appoint for her chil­
dren was not fit for tho office, ho wrote to the
Prince do la Riccia on tho 6th of April, 1769,
saying, “ I feel that I ought to tell you my opinion
as to tho caro of these children. It will be much
better for them to be under tho guardianship

i

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

G3

of thoir maternal uncle, Don Dominic Cervo,
I think, than under tho caro of any one else.
I should like to seo thoir property properly ad­
ministered, and I know Don Do: II inic’s skill and
integrity in such matters. I have thought it a
duty to give your Excellency this information,
for tho welfare of those children who are your
vassals, and whoso souls aro entrusted to my
caro.” The prince did as ho wished.
No ono was excluded from his Lordship’s so­
licitude ; if ho could bo of uso out of his dio­
cese, ho never failed to seize the opportunity.
When tho Duke of Maddalon passed into a bet­
tor life, his Lordship took tho greatest interest
in tho religious education of his youthful son,
and composed a little treatise for his express
use, in which ho laid the obligations of child­
hood before him. Don Philip Carafa, tho Count
Cerroto, who was tho guardian and uncle of tho
young duke, manifested tho most lively gratitude
at this present, which was indeed a treasure,
but wo have to regret its loss as well as that of
so many others.
His severity in punishing those who did not
fulfil tho paschal precept, was not stopped by
any earthly considerations, and oven tho first
gentlemen had to submit to soo their names affixed
to the church door, and if the Church’s power
wore not strong enough to compel thorn to do
their duty, ho implored tho intervention of tho
temporal lords. Thus ho wrote to tho Prince do
la Riccia, on tho 25th of April, 1770, to say,
“For some years N----- has not fulfilled tho

CI

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

paschal precept, on a falso pretence of insanity,
and worse than this, he has prevented his sister
from frequenting the sacraments. I know that
your Excellency is full of zeal for the salvation
of your vassals, and therefore I am sure that
you will give orders to have this scandal reme­
died.” And in order to lessen the difficulties
in tho way of the punishment of tho culprit, he
offered to keep him in prisoq at his own expense.
His request was granted ; the pretended maniac
was put in prison, and his sister was thus en­
abled to fulfil her duties with all freedom.
If he required the precepts of tho holy canons
to be obeyed as regarded approaching the sacra­
Π
ments,
ho also caused them to be fulfilled in
the excommunications which ho pronounced on
certain occasions. Thus he ordered the priests
to refuse the sacraments to those who gave pub­
lic scandal, however noble they might be, and
he was not afraid to reject from tho altar anjr
one who presented himself there in contempt of
the laws of the Church. All his charitable ef­
forts to cause a gentleman who was a notorious
adulterer to think seriously, failed utterly, and
yet he presented himself to receive holy commu­
nion on Holy Thursday; Alphonso, who was ad­
ministering the holy communion to the people,
stopped short before him, and said to him in a
severe manner, “ What ! do you not blush to
approach tho altar? We do not give pearls to
swine here. Unhappy man ! change your mode
of life.” At these words he passed on and left
him full of confusion.

G5

ST, ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

As his Lordship deprived all ordinary confess­
ors of the faculty of absolving reserved cases in
paschal time, the priest of Sta. Maria de Vico
asked for the exercise of this power for all the
confessors of his parish. The bishop answered
him on the 8th of September, 1770, as follows:
“ My dear Don Matthew, I should not object to
comply with your wishes at any other time ;
but at
the
*
approach of Easter there is no better
method of causing great sinners to think seri­
ously, as they are then obliged to confess if they
would’ avoid excommunication. I regret having
granted this faculty to several of tho confessors
at Arienzo ; it is enough for your Reverence and
your curate to enjoy them. As to the others,
they can write to me when they require them ;
and thus the people who have given rise to such
a request will see that absolution is not given
to them lightly, and they will be led to reflect
more seriously on the gravity of their faults.
It is true, that the contrary custom which has
been established in the diocese is brought against
mo as an objection ; but such toleration seems
to mo to be a blameable abuse, which I wish
to bo destroyed for the sake of religion.”
The priests of tho diocese of St. Agatha stood
in need of indefatigable zeal and apostolical cou­
rage ; they wore obliged to refuse the sacraments
to those who gave scandal, even though they
were powerful, and to reprimand them to their
faces, and summon them to fulfil their duties.
These startling actions had to be tolerably fre­
quently repeated, and there was no room for
5

VOL. π
.
*

66

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

hesitation regarding them. While Alphonso was
at Arienzo during the latter years of his stay
there, he had cause to complain of two priests.
On one occasion he sent for them and said to
them energetically, “ You are tho guardians of
the diocese and my coadjutors ; how is it that
I know of things of which you are ignorant?
Your business is to bo watchful and to warn
mo ; mine is to take the necessary steps.” A
priest who was present at tho interview, said
to him, “But tho things are done during the
night, and how can the poor priest know any­
thing about them.” “The good shepherd never
slumbers,” replied his Lordship, “ho goes about
unceasingly seeking for his sheep.” When the
priests did not execute his orders and were not
vigorous in repressing scandals, he lost his rest.
A criminal connexion was discovered in a parish,
and there was a want of energy in the measures
taken to do away with it ; he wrote the follow­
ing letter on tho 8th of September, 1770, to
the priest and to his vicar : “ I had firmly be­
lieved that I should have had nothing to do with
this vexatious affair, but I find, to my great re­
gret, that you have been guilty of negligence
in tho matter. I wish you at any rate to address
your protest on the subject to tho governor this
very evening, as we agreed on, or at least, that
you do something to prevent a continuance of
the evil. I entreat you to write to mo and tell mo
what you have done, for I am not at ease about
it. When a disorder of this kind exists, if I did
not hasten to put an end to it when it was in

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

0/

my power to do so, 1 should believe that I was
as guilty as if I had myself committed the sin.”
Don Felix dell’ Acqua, the governor of Arienzo, camo to visit his Lordship one day, when
Alphonso spoke to him of the scandal which a
gentleman gave ; he was tho one to whom he
had refused the communion. Tho governor
asked him for a statement against him signed
by the priest, adding that ho thought he could
then arrest this gentleman and send him to the
court of justice in tho country. Alphonso re­
joiced at tho firmness of tho magistrate ; he
• drew up tho statement, and sent it to the priest
for his attestation; but ho was alarmed, and ex­
claimed, “ I cannot do it, this gentleman is too
powerful; who knows what might happen to me
if I did?” This refusal distressed Alphonso so
much that the tears came to his eyes: “What!”
ho exclaimed, “ you are a shepherd ; you seo
tho wolf which has entered your flock, and you
drawback!” He made such vigorous entrea­
ties that tho priest did not know what more to
say, and asked for a fortnight to think it over,
and ho added that ho would speak to tho gen­
tleman himself. In fact, the gentleman was
seized with terror, for ho was warned during tho
interval by tho priest, and ho dreaded tho pro­
bable consequences of tho bishop’s measures ; ho
therefore hastened to return to the path of duty
and to give all tho satisfaction which was re­
quired of him.
Tho priest of Sancta Maria do Vico once stated
to him that he could not put an end to tho

68

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

scandal given by a person whose protectors were
powerful ; when Alphonso replied, “ When bad
example is in question, tho priest ought always
to reprove and correct, even when ho foresees
tho inutility of tho correction, otherwise others
will get hardened in their disorders, and the good
will end by being scandalised. It is therefore
not enough to speak in an indirect manner from
the pulpit. This is not a new idea on my
part ; I expressed tho same a long time ago in
my book on Morals, and it is a point on which
I have consulted many learned men.”
The episcopal vicar of Arienzo would not
consent to have his jurisdiction divided, although
his Lordship thought it too extensivo for one
person, and objected that his reputation was con­
cerned in the matter. “ What docs your fan­
cied reputation signify to me,” replied Alphonso,
“ it is the honour of Jesus Christ which I caro
about.” The charge was divided, and tho vicar
was obliged to bo contented with tho half.
On being informed of the bad government of
another vicar who was a gentleman of rank,
and who abused his power in order to domineer
over the clergy and to get well entertained him­
self, Alphonso tried to save his reputation by
hinting at his giving up his post of himself.
This language was not agreeable to the vi­
car. Alphonso was very patient with him for
some time ; but when ho saw his obstinacy, ho
said to him plainly, “Either resign yourself, or
I will dismiss you.” And tho vicar was obli­
ged to give up his office.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

69

Such arc sonic among the striking instances
of our saint’s admirable zeal, that zeal which
caused him to bo so justly admired by Mgr.
Ponteuza, tho Bishop of Ariano. When ho
heard of Alphonso’s death, ho exclaimed, “Mgr.
Liguori’s life will be a censure on a great
many bishops !”

CHAPTER LXII.
Alphonso received tho cup of reproaches on
entering the diocese, and ho had to drain it to
tho dregs. In spite of the admiration which his
zeal generally excited, those who were its object
wero usually offended at it, and resented its
effects with bitterness ; so true is it that how­
ever great one’s lovo for justice may be, one
does not like to see it exercised against oneself.
Tho incumbent of whom we have before spoken,
*
after having been imprisoned for several years,
without any amendment, was at length released
from the prisons of Merano through the favour
of the Prince of la Riccia and with his Lordship’s consent. The prince ordered him to go
and humble himself before Alphonso, and ask
his forgiveness for tho excesses of which he
had been guilty. Tho wretched man went, but
when he arrived in the bishop’s presence, he
• Chap X- of this book.

70

ί

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

was so far from humbling himself, that ho bit­
terly reproached him for tho persecutions ho
π
had made
him suffer.
“You must indemnify
mo for all that you havo made mo suffer,”
ho said to him ; “ I do not forgive you for it.”
Alphonso took up his book on tho Way of
Salvation and presented it to him, saying,
“Road this, and you will bo satisfied.” But
tho priest wont on in tho same tono. “I havo
boon in danger of losing my life through you,”
continued he ; “ you would havo lost a bad
subject, I confess, and I should havo lost a
saintly superior, but a cripple.” Alphonso mado
no reply, but looked at him with compassion
and grief at so deplorable a stato of mind;
ho then dismissed him and said to him, “ May
Jesus Christ havo mercy on you, but Divino
Justice is threatening you.” And it was so;
tho clerk returned to his evil ways, and soon
afterwards ho was shot at, and thus ho pe­
rished.
A wicked monk also caused him to suffer
for his expulsion. His brother was also a priest,
and was employed at tho Annunziata at Naples;
when he heard of his brother’s disgrace, ho hur­
ried to Arienzo in a fury, and presented him­
self before his Lordship, making use of an ex­
pression which I shrink from repeating. Al­
phonso stated his conduct as regarded his
brother in tho most humble terms to him, and
told him that his brother had compelled him
to adopt tho measures against him of which
he complained. But tho priest would not lis-

ST. ALPHONSO LTGUORT.

71

ten to anything, and got into such a passion
that ho nearly laid hands on his Lordship.
One of tho servants saw what an unpleasant
position the saintly old man was placed in, and
ran to call tho grand-vicar, but before ho
camo, Don John Manco, a priest and a gentleman
of Airola, came, and when he saw that tho
insolent priest would not stop, and that his
Lordship boro all his bad treatment like a
lamb, “Sir,” he said to him, “if Alphonso
Liguori chooses to receive this abuse, so be it ;
but ho is Bishop of St. Agatha, and I am bound
to defend him : I am therefore about to throw
you out of tho window.” This caused Alphonso
to bo in great perplexity, and ho had tho
greatest difficulty in tho world to prevent a
misfortune.
There was a gentleman of Airola who wont
on obstinately in sin, and who was sent for
to tho palaeo ; his Lordship reprimanded him,
and on seeing his indifference ho got more
animated and reproved him more warmly. Tho
gentleman was much nettled, and began to
abuse him excessively ; this did not move his
Lordship, who merely said to him more than
onco while walking up and down, “ Sir ! you
wish mo to act as a bishop, and I will make
yyou seo that I am one.”
Ho not only boro all kinds of affronts with
the greatest patience to the end, but also loaded
those who offended him with benefits. “ When
charity is patient,” said ho, “ it is also kind.
If wo aro really anxious to win over those who

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

do us harm to Jesus Christ, we must do them
good.”
A priest who held an office in the diocese,
fancied himself offended through his brother,
and had tho impudence to go to his Lordship
and heap insults upon him. “Do you not see,”
said he, “that you are unfit to fulfil you duties?
How much better it would have been if you had
remained at Ciorani to weep over your sins, than
to come to St. Agatha to fill the office of bi­
shop!” Alphonso replied with a smilo. The
grand-vicar asked that this priest should bo
deprived of his post ; but his Lordship kept him
in it, and he afterwards was made a canon.
Alphonso laboured to put an end to tho scan­
dalous connexions of a gentleman ; tho latter
came to the palaeo full of rago and asked to see
tho bishop. Tho servants on seeing a man in
a great passion, prevented his being admitted.
As he could not insult his bishop to his face,
ho got into a fury, and uttered a volley of abuse
against him. This dreadful scene became talked
of, and reached tho ears of the governor, who
hastened to put tho guilty offender in prison.
hen his Lordship heard of it ho was greatly
distressed, and sent for the governor ; ho excused
the gentleman whoso pardon ho implored, and
ho did not rest until ho had got him sot at li­
berty that very day.
A young man, the son of a public crier, who
was nicknamed “tho fighter,” On account of his
turbulent habits, lived in sin. His Lordship did
all ho could to bring about his marriage, and

•μ

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

i

73

even offered to give a certain sum as a portion
for his partner ; but all this did not persuade
the young libertine. “ If you will not have her
as your wife,” his Lordship said to him, “I con­
sent to that, but you must leave off your sin,
or else I will give you over to the governor.”
This made the young man fear that he wrould bo
put in prison, and he went to tho palace in a
fury. The servants did not see him, so ho enter­
ed without difficulty, and went through tho rooms
uttering passionate invectives and menaces against
his Lordship. This caused everybody to come
to see what was tho matter, and the impertinent
youth was turned out. When Alphonso heard of
this he was much displeased, and tho more so
as the governor wished to imprison tho culprit.
Ho immediately sent to prevent tho arrest, and
as ho feared that tho grand-vicar would oppose
this, ho sent tho message by another priest.
Meanwhile Don Alphonso Puoti, tho governor,
camo to the palaeo, and endeavoured to persuade
his Lordship to consent to the imprisonment ; his
Lordship was so far from granting it, that ho
made tho magistrate promise to let the youth
alono. After that ho managed so well that,
thanks to his liberality, ho succeeded in bringing
about tho projected marriage. Ono day when
Alphonso was driving out, ho met a villager of
bad character, and who was full of anger for tho
corrections he had received from him ; he loaded
him with abuso and bad language. Alphonso
bore it all in silence. Ou his return to tho palaeo
tho grand-vicar wanted this impudent man to

f

■

\

iil

74

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

bo punished as an example. His Lordship was
indignant at tho idea, and positively forbade any
thing of tho kind to bo attempted. However,
tho grand-vicar informed tho governor of it, and
tho daring offender was imprisoned that same
evening. Alphonso heard of it tho next day; ho
made loud complaints about it, and demanded
that tho villager should bo instantly set at lib­
erty; but in the evening ho heard that the gov­
ernor had not done so ; ho then sont for the
grand-vicar, and manifested his dissatisfaction
to him, and as tho latter represented to him the
dignity of his position ho exclaimed, “What po­
sition, if it is necessary for people to bo put in
prison on my account!” Ho was not pacified
until ho had tidings of the release of the offender.
When the tithes were abolished a priest who
wanted to obtain an additional sum of money
tried to get his Lordship to give him an attesta­
tion, stating that his parish had not an adequate
revenue. Alphonso did not beliove this to bo
tho case, and therefore ho refused him. Tho
discontented priest went to see him, and said to
him, amongst other insulting things, “ Wo shall
see whether you will refuse capons when Christ­
mas comes;” these formed a portion of his in­
come; then in order to show that he could injuro
him with Procurator-General Fraggiani, ho added,
“We have Pope Nicholas at Naples, and his arm
is powerful.” Alphonso seemed as if he did not
understand him, and as the grand-vicar wanted
to got up in order to speak and to act in the
matter, he prevented him. The priest fell ill a

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

short time afterwards, and his Lordship hastened
to visit him, and assisted him until his last mo­
ments.
Λ canon of Ambrosio had to render tho ac­
counts of a chaplaincy, and another, who was
poor, asked his Lordship to allow him to make
tho revision. Alphonso willingly acceded to his
wishes, as he wanted him to receive the profits
of the office. When the episcopal vicar heard
of it ho went to him and reproached him sharply
for being partial and unjust, maintaining that it
had always been one of his privileges to regulate
tho^chapel accounts. Alphonso apologised in the
most humble manner, and endeavoured to pacify
him. On afterwards speaking to the canon of
Ambrosio, ho expressed his regret at having dis­
pleased the vicar ; but as the canon was indig­
nant at the pretensions of this latter, he called
him dishonest. “ I do not mean to say that,”
interrupted Alphonso ; “ I did it for tho sake of
this poor canon ; but in future you must remind
mo that it is for tho episcopal vicar to revise
these accounts.” Alphonso’s calmness in tho
midst of affronts and insult was not natural to
him, however ; for he had by nature a fiery and
irascible temper. It was the happy result of the
violent efforts ho made to overcome himself and
to break off all human attachment in his heart.
From tho moment ho left tho world ho set tho
mildness and humility of Jesus Christ before him
as his model. Humility and meekness wore his
aim, reproaches and contempt were his joy, and
his happiness consisted in conquering himself.

7G

ST. ALPHONSO

LIQUORI.

Archdeacon Rainone, who was once present when
a country priest insulted him, said to him, “My
Lord, that is not the proper way to act ; it is
degrading to your character, and encourages tho
wicked.” “Oh, my dear canon,” answered the
saintly old man, “ I have laboured to gain a
little patience for forty years, and you want mo
to lose it in an instant.” Ou another occasion
he received a most painful affront. Father Ca­
puto witnessed it ; ho was exceedingly indignant
at it, and wanted his Lordship to punish the
daring offender. “ Do you not see that he abuses
your goodness ?” he said to him. His Lordship
listened to him, and then said with a sweet
smile, “Father Master, I have had no slight
struggle to gain a little patience ; God knows
how much it has cost mo. It is the fruit of
continued effort ; and shall 1 go and lose it in
an instant ?” Father Caputo related this inci­
dent to me, and on another occasion li e wrote
to me, saying, “ Our saint got such complete
mastery over himself, that he appeared to bo no
more like a man, but like an angel in human
form.” Archdeacon Rainone also said to me,
“ I do not know whether ho boro insults most
like an incarnate angel, or like a perfect man.”
Our Father Don Sebastian de Jacobis relates
that a theological problem was ono day pro­
posed to his Lordship when he was present. It
was to decide if mildness is more useful than
severity in tho guidance of souls. Each one
gave his opinion first, and then Alphonso ex­
pressed his in tho following way : “ Mildness is

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORT.

77

more in conformity to the spirit of God and
of tho Gospel.” “Learn of mo, because I am
meek, and humble of heart.” “Discito a me quia
mitis sum et humilis corde.” Such was tho
way in which God acted towards Adam the pre­
varicator, such was that made use of by Jesus
Christ towards Judas and tho imperfect apos­
tles. What good have tho Jansenists done in
making God a tyrant? As ho took this divine
model for that of his own conduct, he nover
lost sight of any opportunity of acting in con­
formity to it. “I think I see him now,” said
Canon Rubini, “always master of himself, kind
and affable to all, always serene, and having
sweetness on his lips.”
A priest who was convicted of falsehood and
serious deception against his Lordship, was so
far from humbling himself in consequence, that
he even uttered a torrent of abusive language
against him : “ I am on the point of abandon­
ing my house in order not to bo under you
any longer;” ho said to him, amongst other
disrespectful things. From tho fear of making
him still more angry, tho saintly man quietly
replied, “My son, what do you wish mo to say
to you ? You aro right and I am wrong ; calm
yourself I entreat you
ho then made him sit
down near him and tried to persuade him.
Alphonso succeeded in overcoming himself so
far, that oven the feeling of anger seemed to
bo absent from him. Tho priest Don Francis
Ferrara, relates that while ho was with his
Lordship once, an ignorant priest camo in, who

Γ-i

ff!

EL

78

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

sot up claims to a prebend of which ho was
totally unworthy. Alphonso did not wish to express himself openly, so he gave him a tacit
refusal, by saying that ho had promised it to
another. At these words tho priest got outra­
geously angry, and assailed his bishop with the
most abusivo invectives. “ Is it you they call a
saint!” ho said to him. “A pretty kind of sanc­
tity yours is ! Ho only is a saint who knows
how to bo just.” Alphonso listened in silence,
but on seeing that tho priest went on, he said
to him gently, “This is too much,” and taking
up his pen again, ho went on with his work.
Tho priest went on abusing him in the same
tone until ho had vented all his spleen. The
eye-witness of this scene states that Alphonso
seemed like a marble statue all tho time, and
that he could scarcely even perceive a faint
flush which tinged his face, it was so slight.
Don Ferrara adds that when tho priest retired,
Alphonso did not say a word to him about what
had just happened.
A layman boldly entered his palaeo one day,
and abused him most insolently. His Lordship
bore it all without saying anything, and without
in the least losing his serenity. When tho scene
ended, ho went to tho seminary, as if nothing
had happened. Ho visited tho different classes,
manifested great cheerfulness, assisted at the re­
petitions, and made the youngest pupils sing a
pious song. When he retired Father Caputo fol­
lowed him, and on seeing him so cheerful, he
begged him to diminish the amount of the pen-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

79

sion for a poor young man with whom he was
greatly satisfied. Tho bishop granted him all
ho asked with pleasure. When he went away,
and Father Caputo heard tho insult he had re­
ceived just before this visit, he was stupified,
and could not sufficiently admire tho immove­
able sweetness of tho saintly bishop.
Ono day when he was at tho church of St.
Agatha, clothed in his pontifical vestments, a
disputo arose between several priests at the
very moment when ho was going to get ready
to go to tho altar ; and in the heat of the
contest, tho key of tho chest where tho requi­
site things were kept was refused to tho priest
who had to give them to him. The priest was
irritated, and went to tho prelate, and accused
his adversary of having acted thus out of con­
tempt for the bishop. “How foolish you are! ”
coldly replied his Lordship; “why should I dis­
quiet myself for such a trifle ? I do not see any
contempt in the matter ; let us have patience
and they will get pacified.”
Ono day he told tho servant Alexis to go to
tho administrator of tho Annunziata, and ask
for his kind assistance in behalf of a poor wo­
man whom ho had converted. Tho administra­
tor was in a bad humour at tho time, and sent
tho bishop, tho woman, and tho servant about
their business. Tho indignant servant repeated
the speech to Alphonso, and as he blamed tho
administrator his Lordship said to him, “Bo
silent, ho is a holy man. Who knows what
was tho matter with him ? Go back again to-

80

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

morrow, and yon will see that lie will give you
a largo donation.” And so it was; tho servant
went and received more than thirty carlins.
Tho good bishop’s meekness towards those of
his household was no loss admirable. When
they annoyed him in any way, his greatest com­
plaint was to say, “How foolish you are!”
or else, “May you become a saint!” If the
matter were one of consequence, and he saw
no way of remedying it, he raised his eyes to
heaven, and gently murmured, “ God’s will be
done;” and if he could not control some emotion, ho used to exclaim, “Gloria Patri,” &c.
Tho canon, Don S. Carfora, told mo that he
always exercised extraordinary mildness towards
a priest belonging to his palace, who treated
him as if he were his inferior. Every one was
indignant at the effrontery and impertinence
of this priest ; his Lordship alone never showed
tho least emotion at it.
He one day gently reproved a cleric who was
writing under his dictation ; tho cleric, whether
through stupidity or malice, throw tho papers
down in a heap on tho table, and then hastily
and angrily retired. When Alphonso thought
he had got calm again, he sent for him:
“Well,” he said to him, “why did you do
such a thing ? Do you know that you vexed
me; now go on writing again.”
If the insult concerned himself only, Al­
phonse made no resistance, but if the honour
of God and the welfare of souls were in any
way concerned, he became terrible as a lion.

I

j
I
I

I
I
I

I
i/w.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

81

A man in power and of a very respectable
family went to ask him for something which
he could not in conscience grant. On seeing
that Alphonso persisted in his refusal, ho began
to assume a haughty tone in speaking to
When his Lordship saw his importunity, he said
to him in an authoritative way, “ Give over
your pretensions, I cannot listen to them.”
These few words sufficed to disconcert the gen­
tleman, who immediately began to make apolo­
gies.
Another gentleman of the diocese, who was
rich, but who dissipated all his possessions in
gaming, had a son at the seminary, and, on the
plea of poverty, he wanted him to be kept
there for half the pension. His Lordship wished
to correct him, so he refused his request. The
gentleman then raised his voice and tried to
obtain it by intimidating his Lordship. Al­
phonso resorted to his authority upon this, and
said to him, “ But do you know how unbend­
ing I am?” ho then struck tho table with tho
back of his hand, and added, “ When I tell you
that I ought not to do tho thing for God’s
sake, you might as well give it up.” Wo could
give a thousand instances of this truly apostoli­
cal firmness. Father Caputo, who lived in his
intimacy, was in tho habit of saying, “ When
this old man wants to assume an imposing air
and to manifest his authority, he intimidates
and terrifies ono.” This was not however in tho
least the result of prido or haughtiness, but from
the feeling he had of his dignity. Archdeacon
θ

VOL. IV.

82

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Rainono told me that a presumptuous canon
protended that ho had boon wronged in not
having received his benefice soon enough, and
complained of it to his Lordship, in terms which
caused every one who was present to blush.
Alphonso saw that his honour was compromised,
and said to him calmly, “ Do not forget that
I am bishop?” These simple words restored
the canon to a sense of his duty. One day
Don Pascal Deodatus, who was afterwards
priest of Bucciano, was dissatisfied with Al­
phonso’s having forbidden him to read a book
by tho Abbe Genovese, and wrote to him in a
disrespectful manner, even threatening to appeal
to the prince. He soon repented of what ho
had done, believing that ho had cause to dread
the bishop’s anger ; but Alphonso sent for him
and received him with his accustomed kindness,
and was satisfied with merely saying, “What!
is that tho way in which you write to a bi­
shop?” This was all tho correction he gave,
but ho did it with so much calmness and dig­
nity, that Don Pascal remained confounded
ilt it.
The feast of the Rosary drew a great crowd
of people to Sancta Maria do Vico. His Lordship
wished to preach there after vespers, and wrote to
tho prior asking that tho procession should tako
place before twelve. The dissatisfied prior left
his confessional and went to tho oratory to con­
sult his religious. They all clamoured against
this arrangement as being contrary to cus­
tom, and ho returned for answer that tho pro-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI

83

cession should not tako placo cither in the
morning or evening, and that the church should
bo shut after vespers. At these tidings Al­
phonso sent for Mgr. Puoti, tho Archbishop of
Amalfi. Tho prolato considered this a great
contempt of authority, and told him that if
tho same thing had happened to him, he would
have put tho church undor an interdict. Al­
phonso did not wish to resort to such extreme
measures, so ho sent for his secretary and
made him write to tho prior, that he was
his bishop, and that he would preach in his
church iu any case. He went ; and in spite of
tho bad reception ho received, ho calmly or­
dered tho procession to tako place, after which
ho preached. At tho end of tho sermon he
assembled tho prior and tho religious together,
and set tho impropriety of their conduct be­
fore them, but with so much sweetness and
modesty that tho whole monastery were made
conscious of tho fault they had committed.
It was not without suffering an interior pang
that our saint decided on resorting to firmness.
“You cannot imagine,” ho wrote to one of his
penitents at Naples, “ how much it costs mo
to treat certain persons with severity ; and I
think that one succeeds better by gentleness
than by violence.” Ho was onco seen to weep
in giving a severo reprimand to a gentleman
whoso deplorable conduct had not yielded to
repeated warnings. An eye-witness told mo that
this licentious man could not help being af­
fected himself, notwithstanding his being so har-

84

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

dened. Often after uttering words which ho
thought a little too strong, Alphonso would
think of some pretext for recalling the person
to whom they were addressed, and giving him
some token of kindness. Thus having on one
occasion spoken authoritatively to tho doctor of
Ambrosio, he sent for him on tho following day
to feel his pulse. “ He was very well however,"
said tho doctor to mo, “but ho made use of
this innocent stratagem to show II c that ho felt
no ill-will towards me.”
The dominion which ho had gained over
himself also enabled him to rule over the hearts
of others. “It is not easy to believe tho im­
pression which Mgr. Liguori made on the minds
of others by his gentleness,” said Fr. Eanti,
A serious quarrel arose in the family of Donna
Catherine Lucca, on tho subject of tho religious
vocation of her two daughters. Some of them
wished them to remain in the convent at Airola, where they were pensioners ; others wanted
II
them
to go to that of the Holy Redeemer re·
cently established at St. Agatha. Tho difference
became so serious, that tho interests of the young
ladies wore in danger of being compromised.
In this strait Donna Catherine had recourse
to his Lordship. Alphonso sent for tho two
uncles of tho children, and a word from him
sufficed to make all parties agree.
Ono day tho cook, who had forced Alphonso
to give him an assistant for tho dirty work,
had a dispute with this latter, who carried it
so far as to run after him with a knife. Tho

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

85

poor servant ran to tako refuge in his Lord­
ship’s room, and held tho door firmly closed ;
but tho scullion, who seemed determined to
kill him, pushed at tho door violently from
the outside. Alphonso ordered it to bo immedi­
ately opened, and with a few words succeeded in
completely calming the infuriated scullion. The
grand-vicar and all tho others wished this man
to bo imprisoned and dismissed ; but tho saintly
bishop only sought to reconcile him to the
cook, and ho succeeded so well that these two
servants wore the best possible friends from that
time.
Wo may justly say that Mgr. Liguori’s meek­
ness was perfect. “There is nothing,” said he,
“ which is more unseemly in a bishop than an­
ger. Λ bishop who gives way to this passion,
is no longer tho father of his flock ; he is an
intractable tyrant, who draws down tho hatred
of every one.” Brother Francis Anthony, who
lived with our saint for fifty years, and I, who
was in intimate intercourse with him for forty,
attest, that whether in his relations with us or
with strangers, ho constantly ovincod unalterable
sweetness and equanimity, however annoying that
intercourse might sometimes be. "Don Mariano
Arcieri, tho priest, who was a man whoso sanc­
tity made him venerable, never called him any­
thing but tho Francis do Sales of our age.

8ΰ

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

CHAPTER LXIII.
As the inseparable companion of meekness is
humility, so Mgr. Liguori, who was a model of
sweetness, rendered himself no less admirable
by the low opinion he had of himself. Being en­
tirely detached from tho world, wherein ho saw
nothing but illusion and vanity, ho seemed to
have forgotten that which he once had been, and
to seek for nothing but obscurity and contempt.
Ho no longer thought of the nobility of his ori­
gin, nor of the great achievements of his fore­
fathers, and if any one attempted to speak to
him of them ho immediately stopped them. We
were sitting at dinner one day with his Lord­
ship at St. Agatha, when tho conversation fell
upon a famous duel in which his father was en­
gaged when he was seventy years of age ; ho
blushed, and did not say a word, and his ex­
ample imposed silence. On another occasion
some one talked a great deal about tho honours
and dignities which his cousin, Don Charles
Cabalieri had enjoyed at Mantua, as governor
of that town, far from taking pleasure in all
this, Alphonso thought it a matter for sorrow :
“How much more I should rejoice,” said he,
“at hearing him praised for having been full
of virtue ! How much more cause should I
have for pride, had his death been that of a
saint ! ”

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

►

87

lie never allowed the title of Excellency to
bo addressed to him, and if any one made use
of it, he stopped him short : “ This title of Ex­
cellency does not concern me ; the title of Most
Illustrious which tho Church authorises is quite
enough ; but that of Excellency is not recognised
by her.” His persevering way of rejecting this
title was such, that every one in the diocese
gave it up in spite of the habit of using it to
the bishops who were his predecessors.
As he delighted in serving others, and never in
being waited on himself, Mgr. Liguori was him­
self like one of the servants in his own house ;
he made his bed himself, dressed his own issue,
and never allowed a valet to come near his per­
son. Although Bishop of St. Agatha, he seemed
rather to consider himself the sacristan. “By
God’s grace,” he one day said, “I have never felt
vain glorious. Once only, when I was being in­
censed on my throne, I felt a sort of pleasing sen­
sation. Now, see,” he added, “see how the devil
tried to tempt me.” When he went out of his
palace, ho never would be accompanied by more
than one priest whoever that one might bo. A
strange dealer who sold spectacles, happened to
meet him one day, and being deceived by his air
of extreme simplicity, he thought he was speaking
to a poor priest ; he therefore approached him
and said to him, “If your Reverence wants a
pair of spectacles, I have excellent ones here.”
When he heard that this was the bishop, the
dealer hurried off in great confusion as fast as
possible. He very often went out alone. One

88

ST. ALPIIONSO LIGUORI.

day after he had finished his visit, ho sent for
the sacristan, (who was a layman,) and ho went
through tho town without any other companion,
to go to tho convent of tho Holy Redeemer.
Every ono was surprised to seo him arrive in such
a way ; some persons hastened to inform some of
the canons of it, they immediately ran up to
tho convent, and tho bishop was astonished at
being tho object of so much attention.
Tho
canons, on their finding out this manner of pro­
ceeding, several times complained to tho persons
belonging tho episcopal house, that they were
not warned when he went out by tho usual ring­
ing of bells ; but that was precisely what Al­
phonso did not wish for.
When ho went to church to visit the Blessed
Sacrament or for some other private devotion,
ho wont alone. It several times happened that
ho camo too soon and found tho door shut ; in
such causes ho patiently waited until the arrival
of the sacristan. When ho arrived alone in this
way, ho would not allow a cushion to bo put on
his chair, and as tho servant who accompanied
him, know his wishes, he took caro to take it
away if it had been placed there.
The slightest mark of deference was distasteful
to him, thus when ho went out in tho carriage,
ho would not allow tho secretary or any other
priest to seat themselves in tho front part of tho
carriage ; and he never consented to take tho
right side unless it were quito indispensable to
do so. Even at Naples he made his grand-vicar
take it, who was distressed at such preeminence,

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

89

but who was obliged to yield through obedience,
and in order to avoid vexing his superior. His
Lordship also had an equal horror of that domi­
neering spirit in tho clergy to which St. Peter
II
had such horror, ho even manifested submissive
ness towards the lowest amongst his servants,
to whom ho never spoko except in these terms :
“Do me tho kindness.......I beg you to do such
a thing...... Have patience....... Please to do that,”
II
&c...... No word ever issued from his mouth
which denoted command or superiority. He was
above all most respectful in his expressions to­
wards ecclesiastics. I heard from Pascal Bartolini tho priest, that during tho whole time he
ruled over tho diocese, ho never allowed any
priest to wait on him, even when ho was paraly­
zed and in bed. “Ono day when I was in his
room,” said tho priest, “ho did not venture to
say to me, ‘ Give mo that pen,’ but he rang the
boll to summon tho lay-brother, who ho had to
attend on him.”
Even when ho gave an order to a priest re­
lating to his office, he did so in tho form of a re­
quest. Don Bartolini gave the spiritual exercises
to the nuns at Arienzo, and as they were satisfied
with them, they begged his Lordship to let him
remain two days longer with them. When din­
ner-time came, Alphonso said to tho priest, “ Don
Pascal, tho nuns would liko to have you for
two days more.” “Your Lordship can dispose
of mo ; you have but to command, and I will
obey,” was his reply. “Very true,” replied
Alphonso, “ but a superior ought to bo discreet. ’

90

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

If however ho were resisted in a thing he had
a right to demand, ho then re II embered that
ho was bishop, and changed his tone into one
of firmness, but he always spoko in a polite
tone, and never said anything offensive. All
priests were tho objects of his particular ven­
eration, and he was always full of respect for
them. Ho was in the habit of saying that a
tone of superiority and disdain can only diminish
the authority of a bishop. He was no less con­
siderate in his letters. When he wrote to the
episcopal vicars and to the priests, ho gave
them the title of Most Illustrious, and ho was
as respectful towards those whom he cited before
his tribunal. Thus he liked to give what he
would not receive, for wo have seen how painful
it was to him to be addressed by honourable titles
himself.
Religious were also the objects of his consider­
ation, as wo have said. And, although he was
the bishop, when he had to deal with any supe­
rior of a monastery, ho almost put himself in
the position of a subject. Having gone to the
Capuchin Fathers on St. Anthony’s day, while
he was at Arienzo, and seeing that there was
a crowd of people in tho church, he said to tho
father guardian, in the most humble tone,
“ Father Guardian, if you allow of it, I should
like to say a few words to these people.” Such
great humility astonished the father guardian,
as well as all who were present. Ho treated
all kinds of ecclesiastics in office with tho same
deference, in regard to tho affairs relating to

91

their church, and lie addressed tho priests, and
above all tho canons, in the same way, when ho
wanted to officiate at an unusual time in any
church.
Like a tender father ho enjoyed to see him­
self surrounded by all his children, great and
small. Ho could not even allow the simplest
cleric to remain standing, and all who went to
see him were admitted to his table, if they came
in tho morning. Thus no pompous invitation
was needed beforehand to enable persons to be
admitted to it. Every priest and even every
layman who came to see him, might hope to
dine with him. Ho disliked having his hand
kissed, and ho did not even present it to tho
clergy unless they manifested a wish for it, and
then he did so unwillingly. Tho most vulgar
peasants, those who were the very poorest and
meanest were never received with harshness,
on tho contrary, ho liked to converse with them,
H
and to inquire into their affairs and their wants.
“During my life, I have known two bishops who
wore thorough gentlemen,” said Father Don
Januarius Fatigati to me, “ who took pleasure
in being with the very poorest people, and who
treated them with familiarity, they were Mgr.
Borgia and Mgr. Liguori.”
Alphonso’s humility did not rest in giving a
gracious reception to others ; he had such en­
tire modesty that it made him believe that he
was himself nothing ; he appeared to entertain
the lowest opinion of himself. Ilis profound
knowledge caused him to be consulted on the

. h i iM >

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

> .» . v I

92

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

most delicate affairs ; recourse was had to hi II
from all parts of Italy, and oven from beyond
the mountains. And yet ho never decided any­
thing of consequence, without himself taking
advice. “ We always acted with tho greatest hu­
mility and prudence,” said Archdeacon Rainone;
“ when any affair or question presented any dif­
ficulty, ho immediately ordered consultations to
bo held about it ; and ho always behaved as if he
had been incapable of deciding anything him­
self!” Ho often oven took the opinion of per­
sons of but moderato talent; ho was never ob­
stinato in his opinions, and nover hesitated in
submitting his opinion to that of another, when
he thought it more in accordance with the truth.
Ho was the first to condemn himself, if ho hap­
pened to make any mistake. Ho did this with
joy, and always manifested gratitude for tho
explanations he had received. But if it happen­
ed that ho was wrongfully condemned, he was
equally sincere, exposed his reasons with candour,
and justified himself without bla; II ing others.
havo hoard Canon Barba say, that Alphonso
made honourable mention of a common-place
writer, in one of tho books which ho published
while ho was bishop ; this author, not satisfied
with having bitterly censured an opinion which
Alphonso had had grounds for defending, also
wrote a letter to him, which was as indiscreet
as it was impertinent, and in which he did not
scruple to call him an impostor ; Alphonso re­
ceived this foolish apostrophe with the greatest
calmness, and took care not to complain of it

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

93
»

ovon to Canon Barba, who, as ho knew, was the
friend of his detractor.
II
Λ foreign merchant
also put Alphonso’s meek­
Π
ness and humility to tho proof. This man
called
II
II Protestantism,
himself a convert from
but I ra­
ther think ho was an impudent liar. After ho
had obtained tho ordinary letter of recommenda­
H
tion to tho dioceso from
tho grand-vicar, ho said
that ho wished to speak to his Lordship. When
he was in his presence he began to talk of the
divers works which Alphonso had published ;
ho did not scruple boldly to blame several of
his opinions, which he accused of being scanda­
lous and untenable ; he at length went so far
H
as to treat him
as an ignorant fool to his very
face. Alphonso did not know what to think
of it, and defended his opinions with humility,
without losing his affability. Canon Albanese
who was present, could not understand such ex­
cessive lowliness : “ I cannot imagine how you
Π anaged to bear it,” ho afterwards said to his
Lordship. Alphonso only answered by a sweet
smile; he then added, that very likely he was
a Jansenist. Don Joseph Remondini, wished
to give an increased value to Alphonso’s Morals,
so he begged him in tho January of 17G2, to
havo his portrait taken, and to send him the
drawing. Alphonso could not help laughing at
such a request. “ As to the portrait,” ho answer­
ed him,“ that wTould throw discredit on tho work ;
is it fitting for an author to havo his picturo
taken while he is alive ?....... When I shall bo
no more, lot them do what they plcaso with

di’
,H'

: ·:

/ Λ

94

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

y body ; I care but little ; but during my life,
I wish no notice to be taken of me, and that
II y name may never be
quoted anywhere. I
have put it in my books, it is true ; but that
was to excite tho curiosity of people, and to
get them to road them, otherwise I should havo
had them printed without my name.” His
secretary Verzalla made uso of some solicita­
tions on this subject, at tho instigation of Remondini : “Do not speak to mo more about
that,” said his Lordship to him, “ my work would
not gain more credit, but on tho contrary, it
would be depreciated in value if the head of
such a mummy were put in it.” If we havo his
portrait, we owe it to his servant Alexis, and
to this same canon, who, being pressed by fresh
entreaties from Remondini tho bookseller, se­
cretly made a hole in the door of the room where
Alphonso dined ; and thus tho painter was able
to trace his features whilst he took his repast.
The arms of his house were to bo seen only
in the chapter, they were neither to be found
in the church nor in his palace ; and the seals
which he used, bore no other impression than
a cross or a calvary. There was a magnificent
chasuble in the treasury of his cathedral, of
cloth, which had been left there by Mgr. Danza.
Alphonso wanted to havo a complete set of vest­
ments
•I
of tho same sort, and ho added some of
his own money to what tho church funds could
supply, and ordered a cope, dalmatics, a hume­
ral veil, and cushions, to match from Naples.
When these things arrived at St. Agatha, the
II

'

t

I

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

95

canons fancied that the sight of the arms of
Mgr. Danza, would be offensive to the present
bishop, they therefore had them immediately
taken to pieces, and they were just going to
send them back to Naples, to have the arms of
Liguori affixed instead. Alphonso heard of it,
and declared that it mattered little, that these
vestments were adorned by Mgr. Danza’s cipher,
and ho asked if the ceremonies wherein this
cipher would appear, would be of less value.
He therefore made them replace everything as
the embroiderer had put it. Talking of vestil ents, I will add another incident.
His brother
Hercules profited by an opportunity which offered
of buying a magnificently embroidered vestment
at a very reasonable price, which ho made a
present of to the Bishop of St. Agatha. He
II
had it made into a chasuble and dalmatics,
and
rejected tho proposition which the canons made
of placing his arms on them, giving as tho rea­
son for his refusal that what ho had spent in
H
tho making
of these things was not out of his
personal income, but that he had taken it from
tho episcopal revenues, of which ho did not con­
sider himself to be the owner.
While Alphonso thus declined all personal
privileges, he also forbade all his household to
take advantage of tho position they hold in
the least degree. Don John Baptist Mustillo,
tho general agent of tho Duke of Maddalon,
said on this head, “ In tho time of tho former
bishops no one dared to offend, to molest, or
to bring before the courts of justice any of those

n
■

Ί'

'

96

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

who were attached to tho bishop’s establishment,
such as farmers, &c., but in tho time of Mgr.
Liguori, tho horror which ho had for all sorts of
unjust pre-cminenco caused him to abolish these
privileges.” Don Mustillo adds, “that on the
other hand, Don Liguori did not fail to render
charitable assistance to all who were cited be­
fore the local court for debt or other misfortunes.”
The following is tho last proof wo shall give of
his profound humility. As founder of tho con­
gregation and superior general, he had a right
to employ any member of tho congregation what­
soever in all his wants as he might please ;
but it was not thus that he acted. Father Villani had destined Father Don Angelo Majono
for St. Agatha, but he did not like such a tran­
quil kind of life, and manifested repugnance to
it. Father Villani sent him to give a mission
at Gaeta, in order to overcome his aversion,
and informed his Lordship of it. “This news
has given me great pain,” answered Alphonso;
“ I want an able subject who can assist mo in
preaching, and whom I may daily consult in a
multitude of difficult cases ; for I am surrounded
by a thousand difficulties which arise on all
sides ; but God wills it to bo thus, and His will
be done.” He was aware of the repugnance
which Father Majono felt at remaining with
him, and wished much to overcome it, but with­
out having recourse to violence, and he confined
himself to persuasion, he therefore added, “ Try
and get him to aid mo willingly ; me a poor
old man loaded with trials and cares. Tell him

97

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

that ho will thereby bo suro of doing God’s will,
and that he will do me a great charity. I like
him because ho leads an edifying and retired
life, and because ho does not meddle with any­
thing that docs not concern him ; besides, he is
a good advisor and a good preacher ; I say will­
ingly, for otherwise it would bo better for him
not to come ; for ho would then bo more burthensome than useful.” Tho fact is, it required
solid virtue to remain with his Lordship, and
neither Father Maj one, nor those who followed
him, had the courage to attach themselves to hi H
and the poor old man never had the consolation
during his whole episcopate of meeting
II
with any
one sufficiently devoted to be able to share a life
so painful to human nature for any length of
II
time.

Qi

0 jft : 4

CHAPTER LXIV,
Whilst Alphonso laboured to assist his chil­
dren in tho wants of their souls, ho neglected
not tho relief of their bodily necessities. Full
of lovo for all works of mercy, enjoined in the
Gospel, ho said that a bishop is specially bound
to perform them. So the numerous poor of his
diocese wore tho first objects of his charity. lie
saw in them a living image of Jesus Christ, and
he thought ho was incessantly hearing the words,
“ As long as you did it to one of these my least
brethren, you did it to Mo.”
VOL. IV.

I

98

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Every one agrees in saying that there was not
an hour in tho day, in which ho was not seen,
purso in hand, giving liberally to all. Tho
canon Don Hyacinthe Morgillo told mo, that
on tho Wednesdays and Fridays of each week,
ho had a general and public distribution of alms ;
but this was only a certain form, when any as­
sistance was needed, all days were alike to him,
none were exempted. The saintly bishop’s palace
was open to all the indigent, and ho never sent
any one away until ho had relieved his wants.
Tho grand-vicar Nicholas Rubini affirms, that
after subtracting what was necessary to pay
tho grand-vicar’s salary, and for tho monthly
salary to which tho chaplain, tho cook, and the
attendant were entitled, and also for tho expenses
of the table, all tho rest of his income was des­
tined for alms, or else to meet the outlay which
tho suppression of disorders entailed. Accord­
ing to Father Caputo’s testimony, “Alphonso
could not do more than he did to relievo the
indigent in all their wants. Ho was himself poor
and needy, and ho was sometimes for whole days
without having anything left to give.” Arch­
deacon Rainonc one day saw tho hall of tho
palaeo filled by the poor : some asked for salt,
others for lard, some for sugar, others for delica­
cies for their sick relatives at homo. He was
particularly careful in signing bonds, in exchange
for which the apothecary was bound to furnish
remedies ; and ho gave quinine and other simple
medicines with which he was provided to those
who required them.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

99

Ho was actuated by the goodness of his heart,
and made no distinction between a piece of cop­
per or one of silver : “ He generally gave from
five to six grains at least to each person,” said
our Father Buonopane to me.
Archdeacon
Rainone one day tried to represent to him the
excess of his generosity, and asked him what
would remain for himself when he had given all
away, reminding him that summer is not un­
ending, and that tho wants of winter are still
greater. “Providence is never at a loss,” re­
plied Alphonso. A light from on high directed
his alms. Alexis tho servant relates that when
lio announced any poor person his Lordship was
in tho habit of giving him a considerable sum of
money ; if the same poor person came back again,
his Lordship diminished tho alms each time, with­
out personally seeing him. But if ho were asked
for charity for others, ho again gave the large
sum.
During the bad weather in winter when the
poor cannot work, his charity became still more
striking. “In bad weather,” said Don Angelo
Sgambati to mo, “ ho was in the habit of spending
among tho poor six, nine, and even ten ducats
a day.” His finances very often became ex­
hausted, and when ho had nothing more to give
his Lordship was greatly distressed, and wrote
to Canon Cesare, his steward at St. Agatha,
for fresh supplies to enable him to enter into
now charities. Ho ran short of money during
one winter, ho therefore wrote to Don John Marco
of Airola, that having consumed all his corn,

•I

100

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

and having nothing more to give, ho must entreat
him to procure him somo vegetables. “Ho was
so generous in his alms,” Canon Micholla said
to me, “that he not only deprived himself of
what was necessary for himself and for his family,
but ho did not hesitate even to contract heavy
debts for tho relief of the destitute. “ Repeated­
ly,” said Canon Sabatin Cerisci, “I went to Don
Leonard d’ Ambrosio to borrow fifty, a hundred,
and even two hundred ducats for him.” When
ho could find no ono to lend him anything, ho
made up his mind, to have recourse to tho liber­
ality of the great, especially of the Prince of
la Riccia. Tho duchess of Maddalon also sent
him several hundred ducats at once, which were
specially intended for tho poor of St. Agatha and
of Arienzo.
Tho diocese of St. Agatha possesses sixty-four
very rich chapels. As the bishop has the ad­
ministration of them, Alphonso put aside enough
to moot tho expenso of keeping them up and
for the services in them ; and all the rest went for
tho relief of the poor, whether to provide for or­
phans, or to clothe the nakedness of a great num­
ber of other indigent persons. Ho was so lavish
in his alms that ho sometimes obliged tho rectors
of these chapels to contract debts. Although
several of these same churches were withdrawn
from his administration, Alphonso did not lose
courage, and ho managed so well with regard
to the new managers, that they still distributed
many alms according to his wishes. The inter­
ests of tho poor were preferred to those of all

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

(

101

others. Thus when he was expecting the first
visit of his brother Don Hercules, with his bride
Donna Marianne Capano Ursini at St. Agatha,
the grand-vicar and others told the pious bishop
that ho ought to think of making some present
to his sister-in-law ; he consented ; but they
were much astonished when they saw that his
present consisted in a garland of flowers which
he had himself received as a gift; and when
tho trifling naturo of the thing ho had selected
was mentioned to him, Alphonso replied, “Do
you then wish that I should tako away from the
poor in order to make presents to my sister-inlaw?” Tho lady took pleasure in prolonging her
stay at St. Agatha, but his Lordship felt distress
at tho expenses which this caused him ; for this
reason, as he did not see any signs of departure,
ho ingenuously said to his brother, “ It would
bo very pleasant to me to keep you here longer,
but how can I meet tho expense it would entail ?
Λ11 my money comes from the Church, and what
ono takes from tho Church, ono takes from tho
poor also.”
Alphonso had such a love for thoso in distress,
that when ho received any ono into his service,
ho always gave tho preference to tho poorest.
Ho was in want of a secretary at Arienzo, and
as two canditates offered, ho asked which of them
was tho poorest, whether Don Custode Froisi or
Virgil Cimino. “They are both fit for it,” he
said to tho grand-vicar, “but 1 hear that Don
Virgil is poor.” And ho therefore fixed on tho
latter, although ho had a tender love for Don
Custode.

102

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

A prior who had been recently elected among
the Dominican fathers of Sancta Maria do Vico,
sent him three pounds of excellent fish ; his
Lordship thought it right to accept it, and to
manifest his satisfaction at the gift, especially
as he wanted to show that ho felt no resent­
ment for an annoyance which ho had received
from these fathers some days before. When
Brother Francis Anthony read tho spiritual lec­
ture that same day, out of tho Life of the Ven­
erable Bartholomew, ho camo to the passage
where it says, that tho Archbishops of Prague
were in tho habit of sending a certain fish to the
king every year on the occasion of a particular
solemnity, and that the Venerable Bartholomew,
in consideration of the expenso which this
caused, resolved to employ the money in the
service of the poor. As soon as his Lordship
heard this passage he said to the brother, “To­
morrow there will be a fair at Maddalon ; take
care to sell the fish and give the money in char­
ity.” It was objected that it was too trifling a
thing, and that the payment of the porter for his
day’s work would amount to more than the fish
was worth. “I know nothing about all that,”
replied his Lordship, “do as I tell you.”
Not content with assisting the indigent who
presented themselves at the palace, his Lordship
took care to anticipate the wants of the bash­
ful poor, and always ordered the priests to make
them known to him. “I know,” said Father
Raphael of Buvo, of the monastery of St. Peter
of Alcantara, “ how many entire families he se-

•

—

»

.·

103

··1 in

cretly supplied with provisions and clothing ; to
one he allotted ten carlins a month, to another
thirty, and to a third five or six ducats, and
even more, according to their station and the
number of individuals to be provided for.
A young orphan of rank was destitute of re­
lations, and lived in the greatest misery. When
his Lordship heard of her situation lie sent her
a pretty considerable sum of money, through the
medium of her parish priest, and he then con­
tinued to send her a monthly allowance.
A lady who had several children was in great
distress on account of her husband’s being a
professed gambler. When his Lordship heard of
this unfortunate woman, he hastened to supply
her with half a measure of corn every month,
unknown to her husband ; but ho found it out,
and got some one to go for the alms in the name
of his wife, and when he received it ho had the
corn ground, and sold the flour and gambled with
the proceeds. His Lordship, in embarrassment
what to do, sent three measures of corn to the
wife during tho absence of her husband ; but on
hearing that ho had again got hold of it, he
determined secretly to send the poor mother a
monthly allowance through tho hands of the
priest.
Alphonso’s dislike to visits is well known,
Yet ho took pleasure in seeing certain unfortunate noblemen in private. Thus Don Anthony
Scottino, the guardian of tho palaeo of tho Prince
de la Riccia, told mo that during his sojourn at
Airola the Bishop of St. Agatha was really glad

J: H

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

a ίΊ

•jip r J
i I,.
14 i
*■ u

1- i I

if

Ϊ

!.

i

J

<·

104

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

to seo every evening an indigent nobleman who
was tho father of a largo family. Ho relieved
his poverty by exorcising the most refined deli­
cacy in deceiving the very excusable pride of
this nobleman.
Ono of tho king’s officers, who was a good man,
but a stranger, was also in want, on account of
having a large family whom ho was unable to
supply with all they required. Ho informed
Alphonso of his position, and received six ducats
a month during tho whole time that his regiment
remained at St. Agatha.
A very poor canon, although a noble and tho
treasurer of tho collegiate church, was also the
object of Alphonso’s liberality. One evening
when ho was at his Lordship’s with Canon d’
Ambrosio, ho frankly said to Alphonso, that he
had had two pigs killed, but that he had no salt
to dress them with. “ What do you want me to
do?” replied Alphonso. “Cannot your Lordship
guess?” responded tho treasurer. “Well,” an­
swered Alphonso, “ there is Don Mark Antony,
ho will bo able to assist you.” As this latter
said that he could not possibly supply what was
wanting, Alphonso said, turning to tho treasu­
rer, “ How much salt do you require ?” “ At
least twelve rotofo.” His Lordship then sent
for the lay-brother, and told him to give tho
canon tho needful sum.
It was especially in secret alms that Alphonso’s
charity was most remarkable. “He who is a
bishop,” he was in tho habit of saying, “ ought
to think a great deal about tho poor whoso tears

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORT.

105

no one thinks of drying : it is they who are
chiefly recommended to us by Jesus Christ.”
Ono day when he was with Mgr. Bergame, the
Bishop of Gaeta, and Mgr. Tosti, the Bishop of
Fondi, who were both his penitents, he asked
them in what way they regulated their alms.
"As to that,” answered Mgr. Bergame, “I do
not believe that I am in fault ; thanks be to
God, I give largely to all that ask of me.”
“ It strikes mo that you act as a priest and not
as a bishop : you do not understand the meaning
of these words of the gospel : Let not your left
hand know what your right haud giveth. I
advise you to think of almsgiving in secret, of
widows, of families in trouble, and of the poor
who conceal themselves.”
Alphonso, who was liberal towards all the poor,
was prodigal when through their poverty they
were in danger of offending God. Don Custode
Froisi, the priest, relates that when ho was trea­
surer of the parish of Talanico, he found a num­
ber of families who, through poverty, huddled all
their children together in the same bed ; he in­
formed Alphonso of it, who hastened to procure
them beds. And in such cases he was as prompt
as he was liberal.
Tho canon Carfora told me, that ho one
day heard that a poor old woman had six chil­
dren of both sexes, of a tolerable age, who all
shared tho same bed. Alphonso was horrified
at this. “0 God,” ho exclaimed, “send for
Brother Francis Anthony directly
ho instant­
ly sent tho poor woman all that was necessary
to remedy this sad state of things.

106

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Amongst tho privileged poor as Alphonso call­
ed them, were tho Capuchinesses of St. Peter
of Alcantara, the poor nuns of the convent of
St. Philip Neri, and those of the new convent
of tho Most Holy Redeemer. Independently of
alms in money, ho supplied them with a store
of oil, corn, and wine each year. Our saint’s
charity, however, was not confined to St. Agatha
and to Arienzo, it embraced tho poor of the
whole diocese. The money that he received du­
ring his pastoral visitations, was remitted to tho
episcopal vicars, to bo distributed among poor
families. If he found a petition from a poor
person in tho number which came to him from
all parts of the diocese, ho was accustomed to
say in a joyous manner, “Ah,” this pleases me,
it is a request for charity.”
As his charity towards the poor was generally
known, even strangers camo to ask for it ; but as
he was often unable to satisfy them, he said sor­
rowfully, “ Charity must be regulated ; if I have
not enough to give to my own poor, how can I
give to others ?” The priest of St. Agatha ask­
ed him for an annuity for a person who did
not reside in tho diocese. “You know very
well,” he replied on the 3rd of September, 1774,
“that I am bound to assist all the poor in my
diocese ; now, they are so numerous that I can­
not tell how to find enough to do it. However,
tell Canon Joachim de Cesare in my name, to
give four carlins a month to tho person of whom
you speak to me. I am poor, and I cannot give
more.”

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

107

Another indigent person who did not belong
to his diocese often camo to ask hi II for alms ?
as ho was sensible of tho distress of this un­
fortunate man, who appeared to have sprung
from a good family, Alphonso was in the habit
of sending from ten to fifteen carlins through
Brother Francis Anthony. This unfortunate
man loudly complained to the brother one day,
and told him that the alms ho got wore insuf­
ficient. Ilis Lordship happened to come out of
his room at this moment, and heard these words
of discontent. “My son,” he said to him, “I
am overburthened with poor, and I know not
what moro I can sell for their aid ; be satisfied
with that for the present, and God will provide
the rest.” However, as tho stranger went away
murmuring, and with a bad grace, his Lordship
took compassion on his distress, he sent for him
again and ordered twrenty carlins to be given to
him.
The pilgrims also did not ask for his as­
sistance in vain, especially if they insisted on
it. Ono Saturday evening when he returned
from tho cathedral where ho had preached, a
pilgrim who stated that ho was of noblo birth
and a recent convert, asked him for an alms :
his Lordship told his secretary to give him two
carlins ; the other refused them, saying that that
was not enough. Alphonso heard these com­
plaints in his room, and hastened to add some­
thing to tho sum ; but on the pilgrim’s requir­
ing still more, Alphonso ordered him all that he
had asked for.
9

108

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Alphonso bought a great quantity of cloth
and divers species of merchandise every year,
that ho might clothe the naked in proportion to
their wants. Those even, who were not in ab­
solute want, applied to him, on seeing his libe­
rality : “Why should wo lose our share,” said
they, “wo also desire to profit by his gifts.”
Tho inhabitants of the village of Cava, which
is an appendage of Arienzo, are almost all at­
tacked by goitres, on account of tho unhealthi­
ness of the country. A woman of this place
went one day to sec Alphonso, accompanied by
her daughter, for whom sho told him that sho
had an offer of marriage, but that sho did not
know how to get a tonnino, Ilis Lordship could
not make out what sort of a thing a tonnino
was, so tho secretary asked tho woman for an
explanation of the word, when sho replied that
it was a collar of small gold beads for tho or­
nament of tho neck. The secretary burst out
laughing, and said that all the tonnini in tho
world would not be enough to ornament a neck
like that. Ilis Lordship smiled, but touched
with compassion, he caused tho woman to get
ten carlins ; and as sho insisted on having more,
ho added four carlins besides. Such extended
liberality could not fail to bo abused, and so his
Lordship was several times tho dupe of the hy­
pocritical poor. Several of their cheating tricks
camo to the cars of his friends, and particu­
larly to those of Dean Daddio, and they did
not fail to warn him of it. Alphonso replied
without any astonishment, “That does mo no

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOHI.

109

harm ; it is bettor to give an unnecessary alms
and to bo cheated, that to run the risk of
being reproved for not having given what was
necessary.”

CHAPTER LXV.

Alphonso, who never forgot any of his spi­
ritual children, had tho most compassionate ten­
derness for those who were confined to bed by
illness, and thus rendered unable to work.
When ho heard of the illness of any poor
person, ho did not fail to supply him with
eatables and medicine, and to send him money
for all that ho required ; ho even visited him
in person. As soon as five o’clock struck he
ceased his labours, and his relaxation was to
go and console the sick who wore in tho great­
est suffering, without omitting those whose mis­
ery made them repulsive. He generally paid
these visits accompanied only by Alexis tho
servant, or at most by some one priest. His
solicitude was redoubled in tho case of the
dying; ho left everything to go and prepare
them to make a good end.
When his servant Alexis became ill, his
Lordship went several times to console him by
his presence. Ono day ho loft four ducats
for his wife ; and as sho was hopeless, as tho
doctors had given her cause to fear for her
husband’s life, ho said that he would continue

no

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

her husband’s wages to her as long as ho him­
self should live.
When he heard that there was any incurable
iu tho diocese, ho caused him to bo taken to
one of the hospitals at Naples at his own expense ;
and these cases were not rare ; as he often had
not enough to assist them with himself, ho applied
to tho administrators of tho chapels, and to other
persons. Mother Raphael, tho foundress of the
new convent of tho Holy Redeemer at St. Aga­
tha, informed him, while ho was at Arienzo,
of tho lamentable state of a poor woman who
was neglected by the doctors ; Alphonso was
without any money at the time, so he wrote
to Canon Albanese saying, “ Tell Mother Raphael
that she must try and procure something from
tho chapels, and that I will supply tho rest, so
that tho sick woman may bo sent to Naples.”
There was nothing which ho more inculcated
on tho priests, than tho care of tho sick, partic­
ularly if they were poor and desolate. When
he found any disinclination to visiting them,
or negligence in administering tho sacraments
to them, ho then lost sight of his usual sweet­
ness, and threatened to reprove them. If a
sick person had a lingering illness, ho wished the
confessors and tho priest to persuade tho sufferer
to receive tho holy communion frequently. He
thought that tho viaticum ought to bo repeated
according to circumstances ; and he reprobated
tho abuso of waiting until tho sick are at tho
last extremity before administering extremo unc­
tion to them.

’ I

mi
ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Although he was admirably attentive in these
respects in tho very first years of his episcopate,
ho appeared even more so when he became para­
lytic and broken down by infirmities. What I
am going to relate would seem to be incredible,
if all tho territory of Arienzo had not, as one
may say, been eye-witnesses of it. It is Don Gaé­
tan Mancusi the priest, who says in a letter which
he wrote to me from Avigliano, “ On my return
from Sicily in 1773 I was filled with admiration
at seeing his Lordship practise certain acts of
charity, above all, those towards the sick. lie
numbered seventy-seven years, and although him­
self infirm, paralytic, and nearly sinking under
the weight of old age, ho still continued to go
about the neighbourhood and to visit the sick.
To see an old man all wasted away, his head
bent down, and his chin striking against his
chest, so weak as to require not only tho aid
of my arm in getting in and out of the carriage,
but also of that of Alexis his attendant ; to see
I say, such an old man enter into houses to visit
the most suffering objects therein was a sight
which filled me with admiration, and I could
not contemplate it without shedding tears. I
one day asked him how he could still visit tho
sick, he who daily received tho visits of two medi­
cal men. ‘ What sort of charity should I have,’
he replied, ‘ if I were not able to suffer something
for tho benefit of my children ? Oh ! how much
greater are tho obligations of a bishop than those
of any other Christian, I will even say of any
other ecclesiastic !
Tho shepherd who wishes

4

·**

IΜ

I

to

I

i!'.

* :

112

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

to watch over his flock properly, ought not to
forget tho sick sheep, but must take care of them
in proportion to tho magnitude of their wants.’
His arrival amongst tho sick was not without
profit to them ; ho did not testify a mere barren
compassion for them. Tho sight of a bishop so
enfeebled and pressed down with infirmity, would
of itself have sufficed to strike them as much as
the most eloquent words ; besides this, ho exhort­
ed them to patience, and encouraged them to
accept their sickness as a penanco sent them
from God ; he disposed them to receive the sa­
crament, ho filled them with lovo and confidence
towards the Blessed Virgin, whose picture ho
always gave to them. Ho inquired into their
wants, and did not leave them without giving
them an alms. During the time that I was at
Arienzo, I had tho consolation of accompanying
him on three of these charitable visitations.”
Ho redoubled his solicitude, as the grand­
vicar Rubini testified, towards those who were
ill and tormented by scruples, or to whom any
fatal accident had happened ; in such cases,
oven if he were at dinner, ho quitted everything
to go to their immediate assistance, and to dis­
pose them to make a good confession. In one
of these cases he met with a singular surprise.
One day when ho was at the episcopal palace
at Arienzo, which faces the college, ho saw
that the Holy Viaticum was being carried to
some place in the neighbourhood, and he asked
where it had been taken. Some one replied
by the one word, “ Peccatore.” Upon that he was

113

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

troubled and alarmed, and believing that the
sick person was a great sinner, he sent to inquire
what signs of repentance he had given. Canon
d’ Ambrosio then saw the mistake, and said to
him, “ Peccatore is tho name of this sick person ;
but ho is a good man.” However his Lordship
was not at all satisfied, and crawled to the house
of the dying II an ; ho examined into his state
of mind, and was satisfied as to his probity and
piety.
On another occasion he heard that a villager
had received a mortal wound ; he immediately
hurried off to seo him, ho administered consola­
tion to him, and led him to pardon his enemy.
He repeated his visit daily while the sick man
lived, and took care to send him provisions for
himself and for all his family. After the death
II
of the wounded man, his old mother
was so
overcome by the saintly bishop’s words, that she
II
pardoned the murderer,
and Alphonso was so
comforted by this act of charity that he gave her
Π
a pension. But this woman
had a daughter,
who resisted all his persuasions, and obstinately
refused to forgive tho murderer of her brother.
His Lordship went to tho house twice in order
to persuade her. All that he could say was of
no avail in vanquishing the hatred of this woman ;
upon this Alphonso felt constrained to abandon
her, and could not forbear from pronouncing
tho Divino malediction against her.
His solicitude became extreme if the illness
of an ecclesiastic were in question, and espe­
cially if it were that of an ecclesiastic still in tho
3

VOL. iv.

114

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

H
primo
of life, and in a doubtful stato of mind.
“ Such men stand in need of a special grace,
to enable them to repent and resign themselves.”
When therefore he heard that a priest was in
danger of death, ho multiplied his visits, until
he saw that ho was contented and well dis­
posed.
God often deigned to manifest in a miraculous
manner what pleasure Ho had in the visits which
tho bishop of St. Agatha paid to tho bed-sides
of those who were ill. He wont to comfort Don
John Maria Puoti, the brother of the Archbishop
of Amalfi by his presence ; when ho arrived,
the mother of the sick man went to meet him
with a joyous countenance, and announced to
him that Don Joseph Vairo, and Don Francis
Dolce, who were celebrated doctors, wrho had
just come from Naples, had held out confident
hopes of a speedy recovery. “ God grant it may
bo so,” his Lordship replied, “ but I pity you
his poor mother, and his brothers, by whom he
is so much loved. I know that Mgr. d’Amalfi
will bo too much affected to say mass in tho
room of the invalid, and to give him communion ;
but I give Don Anthony, (that was tho name
of tho Archbishop’s secretary,) leave to do so
instead of his Grace.” From seeing Don John
Puoti going on so well, every one laughed at
those gloomy prognostications ; but in the end
they were sadly undeceived.
Tho sick man
underwent a crisis on the following day, and,
contrary to all expectation, passed into the other
world. Hortense, the wife of Don Romano, was

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

ill, and his Lordship went to soe her ; the servants who camo out to meet him begged him
to recommend her to God. The malady was
not a serious ono. However Alphonso said to
them, “She will never recover again.” Don
II
Romano then camo
himself, and prayed him to
beg God to restore his wife’s health. Alphonso
exhorted him to conform His will to that of God,
who was going to take His servant unto Himself.
II
And, contrary to the expectation of the medical
men, the lady died at tho end of two days.
Mgr. Albertini was dangerously ill at Caserto,
II
Alphonso went to see him
there, and on his
arrival he heard that the physicians Vicenzio,
Sarago, and Dolce had declared that the prelate
was out of danger. Ho knelt down before an
image of the Blessed Virgin, and after a short
prayer ho arose and said to the doctors, “ It is
useless to give you more trouble. His Lordship
will die.” Ho then entered the sick man’s cham­
ber, and took a round-about way of speaking to
him, in order not to tell him openly what had
II
been revealed to him.
“My Lord,” ho said to
him, “do not trust to tho flattering promises
of tho doctors ; if God were to call you to Him,
would you not wish to havo received the sacraΠ Onts ? ”
“ Undoubtedly I should, my dear
friend,” answered Mgr. Albertini, who immedi­
ately asked to receive the Viaticum and Extreme
Unction. Alphonso after this said mass for tho
happy death of the prolate. Ono of his relations,
the Duchess of Cimitilo did not approve of such
sad preparations, and the doctors were still more

. 1 ‘V

r’t
i’ I'

(til

116

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

dissatisfied.
However, Alphonso returned to
Arienzo ; ho mot tho governor of St. Agatha
next day at church, and inquired for Mgr. Al­
bertini. “Ho is bettor,” answered tho governor,
“at least so Don Andrew Peruto writes mo
word, and the doctors allowed him to take an
egg this morning.” After this Alphonso as­
cended tho pulpit, and at tho end of his sermon,
ho said to tho people, “Pray for Mgr. of Caserto,
who is now in his last agony.” Ho spoko truly,
for from the moment ho left him ho had begun
to get worse, and on tho following night Mgr,
Albertini was no more. It was just tho con­
trary to this in regard to Don Blaso Troisi ; the
doctors had given him over and said that he
must die, and tho people in his house told tho
bishop of tho stato in which the sick man
was; for Alphonso knew Don Troisi very well,
and ho had often borrowed largo sums of money
from him. Ho was distressed at hearing such
sad tidings, and said II ass for tho intention of
tho sick man that very day. IIo then took a
picturo of the Blessed Virgin and sent it to
him, telling him to recommend himself to tho holy
Mother of Jesus, and to be sure that ho would
obtain a cure. The sick man had no sooner
received the picturo and kissed it, than his state
began to amend sensibly, and tho improvement
went on so rapidly, that ho was quito well
again in a few days.
Prisoners were as great objects of commisera­
tion to tho charitable bishop as tho sick. IIo
managed to steal time from his avocations to

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

117

visit them frequently, to encourage them, and to
incite them to patience. If they were poor, he
did not fail to relieve them by his alms. lie
gave six grains to each of them every Saturday.
Don Michael tho priest states, that when Alphonso
was at Arienzo ho received the same for all the
prisoners at St. Agatha every Saturday. But as
these latter spent what they received in gambling,
they ceased to give them money, and the alms
wore made in provisions. When there were any
prisoners for debt, Alphonso interceded for them
with their creditors, whose claims he often de­
frayed with his own money. While he was at
Naples, a lady of Durazzano, who was poor, but
of a noble family, went to him with tears in her
eyes, to tell him that her husband was imprisoned
at Sancta Maria d’ Agnono, for thirty ducats,
which ho could not pay. Not having such a
largo sum at his disposal, he immediately wrote
to St. Agatha, to the administrators of the cha­
pels, to obtain some assistance ; the}7 sent him
twelve ducats, to which ho added what was want­
ing ; and thus the afflicted lady was comforted,
and tho father was restored to his children.
At the opening of one of his pastoral visitations
at Arienzo, ho told tho people how much it was
in his heart to relievo all the poor, and that if
lie could not satisfy all it was not from want of
love, but through his own poverty. A man called
Marzio Petrillo, on hearing these words, turned
to Don Laurence Buggiero, the priest, and said
to him jestingly, “Wo have at last found our
prefect,” in allusion to a confraternity which was

I

.

ILS

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

called in derision of St. Misery. When his Lord­
ship heard this speech ho only laughed at it.
Some time afterwards he was told that this same
Marzio was in prison for debt, and that his family
were starving ; he then remembered his joko
against him, and laughingly said in turn, “Ho
is our fellow-member; we must assist him.” Ho
then paid tho debt, which amounted to six ducats,
and as Petrillo owed a great deal more in other
ways, ho allowed him ton carlins monthly. Λ
poor creature of Sancta Maria do Vico, called
Dominic Carchia, had been in prison for three
months for having smuggled salt ; being ill be­
sides, he had recourse to Alphonso, who, on tho
23rd of February, 1769, wrote to Don Charles
Pavonc, the royal administrator of salt at the
tower of the Annunziata: “I entreat you to re­
lease this man from prison, because ho is dying
of hunger ; he has nothing but alms to live on,
for ho possesses absolutely nothing of his own.
I hope that my request may lead you to take
pity on this unfortunate man, and that you will
not havo the cruelty to let him die in prison.
My dear Don Charles, do mo this kindness, and
I will not fail to recommend you to God.” Fa­
ther Pavono asked him for a medical certificate
as a security ; his Lordship wrote to him on the
12th of March, in these terms : “ I send you the
certificate you asked mo for, and I hope that it
will produce the desired effect, and that in reply
I shall hear that this poor old man has boon set
at liberty. Believe me, my dear Don Charles,
you could not do a bettor deed. I try to assist

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

119

II
this unhappy man by alms, but I cannot remedy
his imprisonment ; this is why I hope you will
kindly give me consolation by releasing him, and
spare mo tho sorrow of hearing that ho has died
in his mournful prison, and perhaps destitute of
spiritual aid.”
lie even interceded for criminals, and im­
plored the clemency of the barons and judges
for them. One Francis Jadevaja, a soldier in
II
a country regiment,
being found carrying pro­
II
hibited arms,
was arrested and put in prison.
His Lordship pitied tho young prisoner, and
also his aged father, and lost no time in writing
to Don John Baptist Alustillo, the Duke of Maddalon’s agent, to beg him to intercede for hi H
with the commissioner in his name. He wrote to
the governor of the fortress at St. Agatha to
tho same effect, and obtained what he desired.
As the great influence he everywhere pos­
sessed was well known, people camo even from
other dioceses to implore his protection ; Don
Pavone, had resolved to take the farming of the
salt of Salerno away from a certain Mark Berjamo, whom he suspected of having wished to
cheat him ; but ho applied to his Lordship.
“I assure you,” wrote Alphonso to Don Pavono,
on tho 27th of April, 1765, that this farmer
is an honest man, and if ho has not satisfied
you, it has not been his fault. I therefore
earnestly entreat you to leave this man in his
farm, and to treat him with all tho charity
with which your good heart is filled : I shall
always be grateful to you for what you will
deign to do in his favour.”

120

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Compassion often ceases when one has to ex­
ercise it at one’s own expense, but that of Al­
phonso was also admirable for its disinterest­
edness. Ills Lordship’s servants were uneasy,
not without a cause, at seeing his store of ap­
ples visibly diminish, and they could not make
out how it happened, as Alexis tho attendant
carried the key of tho chest about with him.
A canon had suspicions about a person who
frequented tho palace, and went to his house,
accompanied by Alexis tho attendant, and by
tho commissioner, and there found tho missing
apples, and an iron instrument by means of
which tho theft had been committed. The ma­
gistrate was informed of it, and tho thief was
put in prison. Tho canon and tho attendant
hastened to carry the nows to Alphonso, ex­
pecting to receive praises for their zeal. But
as soon as ho heard that tho culprit was ar­
rested, ho was disturbed, and reproved tho ser­
vant for having taken such a step. “What!”
ho said, “imprison a poor creaturo for a few
II
apples ; go to tho magistrate
directly, and get
him to set him at liberty ; and as to tho ap­
ples I will buy them.” “The apples are your
own,” replied tho attendant. “Well,” answer­
ed Alphonso, “do not trouble yourself about
that, and make hasto and deliver this unfortu­
nate man.” Meanwhile, tho grand-vicar and
several gentlemen camo in, and they all told
his Lordship that he ought to make an exam­
ple of tho delinquent. Alphonso yielded through
prudence, but ho immediately wrote to tho ma·

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

121

gistrate to stop all proceedings, and to send
him the iron which had been tho instrument
whereby tho offence was committed. Ho sent
food to tho prisoner morning and evening, and
treated tho guards and tho gaoler to cause
them to treat tho poor man well ; and as soon
as he was set at liberty, ho sent for him, re­
monstrated with him, and gave hi H
alms. As even mass was not said for tho
numerous prisoners who were confined at Arienzo, where tho country courts also send their
prisoners, Alphonso managed to get the Duke
of Maddalon to allow a chapel to bo erected
for them.
Alphonso was especially interested in tho fato
of prisoners, whoso only crime is often that of
having been calumniated. A gentleman was ar­
rested and imprisoned on some falso accusation
or other, I do not know what. Tho magistrate
was engaged in drawing up an action against
him, when his Lordship, who was convinced of
his inocence, sent his secretary to him to beg
him to suspend tho proceedings. As tho ma­
gistrate relied on tho report of a man whom
Alphonso called a calumniator, ho was of­
fended at his request, and dismissed tho secre­
tary with a very bad grace. Ilis Lordship imme­
diately stated tho case to Don Philip Carafla, tho
Count of Ccrreto, and the governor of the Duko
of Maddalon. Ho received tho following an­
swer, which it gives mo pleasure to quoto at
length : “ On your Lordship’s recommendation
in favour of N., I hastened to write to tho

Μ-

1

122

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

magistrate of whom you spoke to me, to order
him immediately to release the gentleman and
to destroy all the proceedings which might have
been entered into in consequence of the denun­
ciation against him. I also forbid him to re­
ceive money or any other present from the poor
gentleman, and I have strenuously advised him
not to receive such reports for tho future, in
spite of tho contrary affirmations of respectable
persons. I have thus satisfied your Lordship’s
wishes ; I hope that you will always rely upon
my services ; I commend myself to your prayers,
and kiss your hands,” &c.
The constables met with a man at Arienzo
who was a dealer in tobacco, and arrested him
to examine if it were not the produco of fraud.
As this was probably tho case, the man made
away with it, not seeing any other means of es­
cape. Tho constables were irritated at having
missed their aim ; they bastinadoed him, and
wanted to put him in prison. The poor man
took refuge in a church ; upon this the custom­
house officers got still more exasperated, tore him
away from the holy spot, and dragged him to pri­
son. When his Lordship heard of it, he immedi­
ately sent for the gaoler, and demanded that the
prisoner should be set free. He then turned to
his grand-vicar and ordered him to write out the
statement of all that had passed, and he added,
“ Our immunities are in question : if I had to
sell my mitre, I would do so to obtain justice.”
Ho was not at rest until tho prisoner was re­
leased.

ST. ALPHONSO LIOUORI.

123

A poor woman of Arienzo, called Grace Con­
stance, was seized when carrying a pound of to­
bacco, which sho wanted to introduce in a frau­
dulent manner, and she was immediately put in
prison. His Lordship was sorry for it, and wrote
to Naples, to tho Marquis of Granito, tho direc­
tor of the custom-house, who directly sent an
order to tho commissioner residing at Maddalon
for this woman to be set at liberty.
As his Lordship thought that a bishop is
especially bound to bo merciful towards all, there
was no one in distress whatsoever who sought
his protection in vain. A chanter belonging to
II
the cathedral became
an accomplice in a ho­
micide, and ho was put in prison ; but as the
evidence was not sufficient, ho was set at liber­
ty. As ho could not however justify himself
from having taken some part in tho murder,
ho was suspended. lie was very poor : when
II
Alphonso saw his misery,
ho interceded for
him with tho treasurers to beg that they would
grant him tho half of what ho would have gain­
ed by his presence in tho choir. “What you
do for this poor creature, I shall feel as if
done to myself.” Touched by this request, they
wont still further ; they gave tho unhappy
man tho whole of his wages. Ho did not
prove ungrateful ; ho immediately went to thank
his bishop in tho most lively terms, and tho
prolate, who still sorrowed over his position,
took the opinion of enlightened persons to know
if he could not reinstate ‘him. “ It pains mo
to seo him in this situation,” ho said; “he is

124

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

poor and knows not how to get a livelihood.”
llo sent him to Romo with a statement of tho
matter, and at his own expense ; but as the
case could not bo cleared up, his Lordship as­
sisted the chanter and his parents by allowing
him a pension.
Let us cite another instance of Alphonso’s cha­
rity. Five Albanian soldiers who deserted at
the bridge of tho Magdalene, had the rashness
to turn their arms against the officers who
were sent in pursuit of them. Two wore killed
in the mountains of Arionzo, and the three
others took refuge in a little country church.
The suit was got ready, and application was
made to his Lordship to decide if they might
or might not enjoy tho privilege of sanctuary.
They could not ; but as his Lordship was in
horror at the idea of staining his hands with
the blood of these unhappy men, ho let the
allotted month pass without pronouncing any
decision, so that the matter might be left to
the mixed court, from which ho expected a
more favourable decision. However, an officer
of justice camo from Naples for tho papers
relating to tho trial ; but on seeing that Al­
phonso’s decision was not there, ho said to
him, “My Lord, your pity injuros tho culprits;
for now that tho mixed court must decido their
case, they will assuredly bo condemned to
death.” At these words Alphonso became much
concerned, and immediately sent for Don Francis
Dupins, an officer of the regiment at Aversa,
who was quartered with a company at Arionzo,

ST, ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

125

and asked him what ho could do for these un­
fortunate men. “Nothing but your intercession
can savo them,” answered Dupins. Immediately,
that is to say at six o’clock in the evening, Al­
phonso despatched a courier to General Princo
Jaci, to tho Marquis of Tanucci and of Marco,
as well as to Don Anthony del Rio, secretary
of war, to ask for tho pardon of these cri­
minals, saying that if ho were not assured of
their safety, his own life would bo endangered,
for, that although paralytic as he was, he would
then go in person and throw himself at tho feet
of tho king. Alphonso obtained more than he
had asked ; tho deserters received a full and
entire pardon, and all three, by order of the
colonel, accompanied by an officer of justice,
came to thank their deliverer. On seeing them
ho was filled with joy ; ho remonstrated with
them in a paternal manner, and showed that not
satisfied with having saved their lives, he also
wished to savo their souls.

CHAPTER LXVI.
Hospitality is included by St. Paul among tho
duties of a bishop, and Alphonso was also remark­
able for that virtue, indeed his palaeo was liko
a hotel, for it was always open. If any one of his
clergy arrived at tho palaeo in the evening,
even if ho wero the lowest of all, ho -was sure
to find a lodging there. All strange ecclesias-

1

I

126

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

tics, and especially the candidates for holy orders,
who had no acquaintances in St, Agatha or at
Arienzo, wore also invited to dinner ; if they
came from a distant place, he made them pass
the night at the palace : and it was tho same
in regard to tho agents of tho priests who daily
came in great numbers to sco him. When there
was a meeting for tho election of a living, he
used to make tho examiners dine at his table
as well as the candidates. “At dinner,” he said
to Tramontana the priest, “I am obliged to give
and to take of what I destino for tho poor, for
it does not do to send any of those priests to
an inn.
Whenever he sent for a religious from Na­
ples or for ono of us, to give tho spiritual ex­
ercises to tho nuns of Arienzo, he caused him
to lodge and feed at his own palace, in order
that tho nuns might be at no expense. Even
when Don Paschal Bartolini camo from Airola
to hear their confessions, he lodged with his
Lordship. During the first period of his resi­
dence at St. Agatha, the archpriest of Durazzano
came to see him at tho dinner hour, accompanied
by two ecclesiastics. Tho archpriest was igno­
rant of his Lordship’s way of acting, and begged
him to receive him into tho palace. “By all
means,” said Alphonso ; and as the two com­
panions of tho archpriest were getting up to go
to tho hotel, ho caused them to stay, also tolling
them that tho house of a bishop is at the service
of all, and particularly of priests.
Don Salvadore Tramontana, who did nothing

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

127

without consulting him, very often went to Naples
to visit hi Π ; ho never arrived without bringing
either fruits or some cake, but his Lordship per­
ceived his delicacy and wanted him to dispense
with it. “When you come here,” he said to
him, “do not trouble yourself about anything.
The bishop is bound to bo hospitable.” Another
time ho wrote to him, “If you will come here
for four days, I shall be glad, but let it be with­
out thinking of paying me for the little bread
you may eat ; remember that I lodge a great
>9
H any other people who serve II ie all day.
Alphonso, who changed the regulation of his
table in some little degree for persons of distinc­
tion, one day received a visit from Don Dominic
Spota, the grand-chanter of the cathedral at
Girgenti. As ho noticed that the table was
well supplied, ho laughed and said to his Lord­
ship, “How does this sumptuousness agree with
your poverty?” “Hospitality,” answered Al­
phonso, “is tho daughter of charity and not
of poverty.” However, this sumptuousness only
consisted in an extra dish : this was how he
treated tho Duchesses of Bovino and of Salandro,
and other ladies and gentlemen who came to
consult him, not excepting his brother Don Her­
cules, even on his first visit after his second
marriage. On that day, as the nuns were in­
formed of tho arrival of his brother and his
bride, they sent some delicacies to the palace,
addressed to Don Hercules. When his Lordship
saw them on the table, ho sent for Brother Fran­
cis Anthony, to ascertain if these dishes really
camo from without.

12S

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

In Alphonso’s timo tho episcopal palaeo was
also turned into a public hospital. When any
traveller fell ill, he did not apply to tho Benfratelli Fathers, who are at St. Agatha, nor to
the hospital at Arienzo, but they appealed to
the charity of his Lordship. A hermit of tho
church of St. Nicholas of Ischia, who had come
to ask his advice, got ill. As soon as Alphonso
heard of it, ho charitably received him into tho
palace, ho often visited him, ho paid tho doctors
and their remedies, and ho did not let him go
away for a month, when ho was entirely recover­
ed. Mgrs. Borgia and Pallanto once camo to
speak to him, when their coachman fell ill.
Alphonso immediately gave him a bod and a
room. Tho illness became serious ; tho last sa­
craments wore administered to him, and Alphonso
did not fail to console him frequently by his
own presence. Tho son of tho coachman hasten­
ed from Naples, and was also received with the
greatest kindness by his Lordship. When the
father was convalescent, Alphonso caused him to
get light food, and treated him with the greatest
attention. Tho father and tho son remained
in the palace for upwards of a month.
Tho pilgrims who applied to him received pro­
visions for their journey, besides being lodged
at tho palace. Our Father Carado met with a
Calvinist once, who had abjured his errors, and
their conversation turned upon Alphonso. “ What
a good bishop Mgr. Liguori is!” said tho convert;
“ho kept mo at his house for three days with
tho greatest charity.”

129

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

When Alphonso left Noccra for St. Agatha,
lie told us that we should always meet with a
welcome at his house, adding that he should treat
us as religious should bo treated. “ You will not
lack straw beds,” said ho, “nor a poor and frugal
table.” In fact, ho treated all tho members of
his congregation just as ho did strangers, and
gave them just tho same kind of food. Al though
ho liked to seo any of us, ho did not allow of
any lengthened stay without there was a necesssity for it, and when tho business in question was
terminated, he kindly dismissed whoever it might
be.
Although Alphonso was so careful in fulfilling
the duty of hospitality, and exercised it towards
all kinds of persons, yet there were some people
who wore envious of his good reputation, and
who criticised him oven on this score. To speak
plainly, they would perhaps have liked to see a
splendid table at the bishop’s house, that they
might have had good cheer and amusement there.
When Tramontana tho priest informed him of
these murmurs against him, Alphonso could not
help being astonished. “ They say that I do not
practise hospitality properly !” ho wrote to him;
“ I know however how much it costs me ; as
Aricnzo is a town through which a great many
people pass, my palaeo is almost always full of
strangers, for whom I always keep several beds
prepared, and tho guests are sometimes so nu­
merous that I am obliged to borrow beds.”
Alphonso, who was only economical in order
to be liberal, was also admirable in his detach9

VOL. IV.

130

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

nient from all self-interest. Even in his own
family lie detested the shadow of that cupidity
which the apostlo anathematises so severely.
From the time of his arrival at St. Agatha lie
regulated all the fees of tho episcopal court ac­
cording to tho customs at Benevento, which con­
siderably lessened the tax on a great many regis­
trations. As to those relating to ordinations, ho
wished them to be gratuitous. These reductions
were complained of, especially by the secretary,
but his Lordship replied to him, “ I sacrifice what
accrued to mo ; you can take what is your due.”
This disintercsteduess lessoned tho revenues of
tho bishopric one-half. See what ho wrote to
Father Villani on the 25th of September, 1763:
“ As to the revenues of my bishopric, which are
said to amount to four thousand ducats, I should
be thankful if I had two thousand two hundred !
I have retrenched many of the sums which I
formerly received, but which I felt scrupulous
about, and I think with reason. I have greatly
reduced my income, because I consider it a very
good kind of alms to abandon the fees on mar­
riages, especially when there is poverty or danger
in tho case. I hope to bo certainly able to cover
all the debts this year, but the scarcity may per­
haps prevent my doing so until next year.”
If a more just idea of all the sacrifices made
by our saintly bishop is wished for, let us listen
to several authentic testimonies. According to
Archdeacon Rainono, ho often abandoned the
whole of his fees. He himself wrote to ono of
his friends, saying, “ I often remit considerable

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

131

sums, and those who serve mo know what horror
I feel in violently exacting the payment of what
is due to mo.” Don Dominic Ruggiero the
priest, attests that in all his ordinations he ob­
tained a release from tho charitable bishop of
all that ho would have had to disburse ; and
even when ho received his living, he was only
allowed to pay his respects. “ lie generously
abandoned all that was due to him for the pa­
tents for livings,” also said Don Michael Izzo,
“and he would not even receive thanks for it.
Ho only allowed of the grand-vicar and the
secretary to receive what was strictly due to
them, with some small present to the servants.”
He also declined receiving anything for ordina­
tions, saying, “ That which was given to mo
gratuitously, ought also to be given by me for
nothing.” Ho also evinced tho same generosity,
when the clothing or profession of nuns was
in question. “ I can demand nothing for these
things,” said he, “since nothing has been fixed
on this head by Pope Innocent III.”
He readily dispensed with marriage fees.
When he resigned tho episcopate, the canon Don
Pascal Lesso examined the archives of the
church at Arpaja, and said that ho did not find
a single marriage celebrated. for nothing by
tho preceding bishops, while in Mgr. Liguori
there were a great many, especially among the
poor.
When Alphonso became bishop, tho diocese
of St. Agatha numbered sixty-four very rich
chapels as we have scon, of which tho adminis­

132

I

*

ST.

ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

trators were each bound to pay him four ducats
at the principal solemnity. But canon Veparelli
asserts that his Lordship generally left this
sum in their hands for the poor. He even ap­
pointed a canon as an advocate in favour of
these latter, who was bound to defend them gra­
tuitously in case of need.
Formerly gifts formed a largo part of tho in­
come of the bishopric of St. Agatha, for tho in­
habitants of this town and of tho whole dioceso
were distinguished for being very generous to­
wards their pastor ; but Alphonso would not re­
ceive any other present than tho dust from tho
feet of the poor ; he knew that a bishop ought
to nourish tho poor, and not impoverish them.
When tho treasurer Don Lucas Cacciapuoti was
appointed dean of tho cathedral, ho sent a pre­
sent to tho bishop, who refused it. Tho dean
gently complained of it, and received this an­
swer : “ I havo only done my duty in making
you dean, and no recompense ought to bo ex­
pected or received for doing what ono ought to
do.”
Ono day in spring he wished to havo some of
the fruits of this season, and knowing that tho
priest Don Francis Ferrara had a quantity of
melons, ho sent .to buy four from him. Tho
priest hastened to send him a dozen. When
Alphonso saw them, ho asked what they cost ;
• tho porter replied that it was a present. Al­
phonso immediately sent them back. The priest
then came in person to seo him, and assured
him that these melons cost him nothing. It

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI

133

was quito a contest, in which the priest got the
victory however ; as he was set upon it Alphonso
yielded in order not to pain him ; but he did it
with so much regret that ho took care in future
nover to ask for anything of tho sort from this
priest or any other.
I cannot help citing another instance of the
same sort. A canon knowing
o that his Lordship required ripe fruit, on account of his seden­
tary life, made him a present of three melons ;
Alphonso positively determined that they should
cither bo paid for, or that they should be sent
back again. But the canon, in order to get out
of the difficulty, told him what they cost him,
and said that ho left that sum in his hands for
the poor. This arrangement pleased Alphonso.
Ho also showed tho greatest disinterestedness
in tho farming of the property of tho bishopric.
According to tho grand-vicar Rubini’s testimony,
ho only sought equity, and was most careful
that the farmers should not bo induced to make
bargains injurious to their own interests. Ho
carried his disinterestedness still further ; what­
ever conditions the farmers might havo enter­
ed into, it sufficed for them to expose their
distress and tho hardness of tho times, to in­
sure their being released from a good part of
their rents, especially if they wore men who
feared God. A groat number of theso debtors
obtained very great reductions on considerable
arrears, and this is shown by an examination
of tho books containing tho accounts of the bish­
opric. Those details aro given to us by Canon

134

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Viparelli. Ono of tho farmers complained to
his Lordship ono day of tho bad harvest, in
presence of our Father Buonopane, who relates
tho fact. “Alphonso at once released him,”
said he, “ from more than two hundred ducats
of what ho owed him.”
Tollo Jadevaja, a very upright man, and a
husbandman of the menso, represented to tlio
bishop in 17G8, that the year had been one of
scarcity, and tho priest Don Francis Jadevaja,
tho son of the farmer, attests that his father
was released from paying upwards of a hundred
ducats. “In a word,” said tho grand-vicar Ru­
bini, “ he made so many such discounts, that
ho never had a farmer who paid the full amount
of his lease.”
His Lordship dismissed a woman from a house
belonging to him, whom he had been led to
suspect of bad character through falso reports.
The poor woman began a novena to St. Joseph,
and went to Arienzo. When she was ushered
into his Lordship’s presence, ho asked her to
what saint she was most devoted. “To St. Jo­
seph,” she answered. “Ah well,” said his Lord­
ship to her, for ho had been previously unde­
ceived, “ St. Joseph has been gracious to you,
and has told mo not to turn you out.” The
woman was encouraged by this good begin­
ning, and then said, that tho rent of tho farm
was very high ; Alphonso was touched by her
poverty, and asked her how much she wished
to pay him. Her rent amounted to twenty­
seven ducats ; she offered him one-and-twenty.

ST, ALPHONSO LIGUOBI.

J lis Lordship agreed to this, and she continued
to pay tho same sura during tho whole time
ho was bishop ; but after his time the woman
had to pay thirty-one ducats, instead of twentyone.
Brother Francis Anthony, and Alexis the ser­
vant, relate that on discharging a steward who
had a deficit of about four hundred ducats, his
Lordship on seeing him shedding tears and con­
fessing his negligence, was satisfied, and sent
him away in peace. Several people said that
ho ought to bring him to justice: “What do
you say about courts of justice?” said Alphonso
with emotion, “this man has satisfied justice
by confessing his fault. What a thing it would
bo to see a bishop bring an unfortunate man
to justice, to ruin him outright, for the sako
of his own interests!” When he nominated
Don \rirgil Cimino as his secretary, tho grand­
vicar thought that as ho was of tho diocese,
he might give him only four ducats a month,
instead of the ordinary sum of six : “ Why bo
parsimonious ?” replied his Lordship. “ Don Vir­
gil is poor, why deprive him of anything? let
him receive what has been given before.” When
Christmas came, Alphonso feared that the grand­
vicar would not give tho accustomed Christmasbox to Brother Francis Anthony, so ho sent for
H tho twenty carlins as usual.
him and gave him
His scrupulousness as to paying tho wages of all
tho workmen was oven still greater. Anthony
Viscardi made him a scapular, and mended his
small-clothes ; Alphonso ordered him to be paid

»<

J.

i
I

ς :

1

136

I

! J * <4

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

immediately. The tailor began to laugh, be­
cause the things were not worth the trouble;
but as his Lordship insisted on it, Viscardi
said to him, “Am I not free, and can I not
make you a present? Give mo your blessing
and I shall be paid.” Alphonso was silent,
but ho was dissatisfied at it. To give a final
proof which is most striking and touching. “I
am an old man of ninety,” said Father Raphael
de Ruvo, tho treasurer of St. Peter of Alcantara,
to mo, “ and yet I never saw a prelate so cha­
ritable and disinterested as Mgr. Liguori. His
purse was always open to give, and only closed
against receiving. Everything was gratis for
11
others, but ho doubly paid what ho himself
owed.” Alphonso knew the duty of disinterest­
edness so well, that when Mgr. Rossi who suc­
ceeded him camo to visit him after his resigna­
tion, Alphonso said to him, “ My Lord, if you
wish to do good and to succeed at St. Agatha,
dispose of your own purse, but never of that of
others.”
Though Alphonso’s disinterestedness was so
great, it did not go so far as to injuro his succes­
sors, for he knew how to distinguish between
his own individual interests and those of tho
episcopal revenue. His vigilance on this point
was extreme. When ho arrived at St. Agatha,
ho saw that every priest or rector, even those of
tho monasteries, presented him with four capons ;
believing that this was a spontaneous present,
ho did not wish to receive it. When Arch­
deacon Raiuonc heard of this, ho immediately

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

137

brought tho deeds which proved that this gift
was not optional but a part of the revenues of
tho episcopate. Alphonso then not only received
the capons, but even exacted them for the future,
and in order to make a capital out of them, he
applied to the poulterer each time, in order to
know tho price, and said to those around him
jestingly, “ This is a dish for the poor ; it is
not one for us who are people of no consequence.”
Ono day Don Pascal Deodatus, the priest of
Bucciano said to his Lordship, “ I do not know
what has given rise to this tribute of fowls.”
Alphonso, who suspected that ho was not over
well inclined to send them to him, answered,
“It is a certain rental, and I cannot do anything
to injure my successors.” “Would it not be
better,” continued Don Pascal, “for the priest
to give it as an alms to tho poor?” His Lord­
ship saw through tho mystery: “It is I who
havo to give alms,” he replied; “and if you
wish to do better, send mo tho money and keep
tho capons.” Tho archpriests, priest, rectors,
and superiors of monasteries, renewed their pro­
testation of obedience on tho Assumption, and
according to old custom, they then brought tho
bishop a present as a testimony of tlioir submisssion ; and tho bishop had to invito them to his
table on this same day. Alphonso’s predecessors
had abolished the dinner and substituted a large
pecuniary sum instead of tho present, without
caring about receiving tho accustomed homage;
when Alphonso heard of this, he required that
they should discharge tho promise of obedience,

138

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

and that in place of tho proscribed sum, each
ono should make him some little present.
Tho steward of tho revenues demanded that
tho archpriest of Durazzano should give to the
bishop tho fifteen measures of corn duo according
to tho terms of tho ancient quit-rent ; ho replied
that ho was not bound to do so, since the pay­
ment of tithes had been forbidden. “I am sur­
prised,” wrote Alphonso on the 2Gth of August
1773, “that your Reverence can thus forget your
obligations after having taken an oath to defend
the rights of the Church. Is it from the fear
of its costing you a few carlins, or in order to
avoid paying tho tribute for tho income ? If mild
measures aro not enough to make you pay what
you owe, wo will have recourse to tho tribunals,
because I am determined to receive the tribute
which is duo to mo at any price.” On receiving
in answer to this, that tho syndic of Arienzo
had also forbidden his paying the accustomed
tithes, ho hastened to write to all his priests on
tho 28th of August, 1773, to tell them to repair to
Naples and to state their rights before tho royal
council, adding, that if the syndic or others pre­
vented justice being rendered, ho would in that
ovent himself undertake to defend the common
law. lie felt bound in conscience to do so.
Meanwhile, ho advised them to make the coun­
sellor feel that ho ought to render justice to tho
side which was in the right.
In spite of his representations, tho archpriest
of Durazzano would not have recourse to Naples
to defend his rights, nor would he pay tho rental

ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

139

in question to the mcnsc. Alphonso then felt
obliged to denounce him to the metropolitan
of Benevento ; but the judgment remained un­
decided, as his Lordship gave in his .resignation
meanwhile. However, in order not to neglect
tho interests of tho mense, when Mgr. Rossi
II
arrived at St. Agatha, he informed him
of the
reasons which proved his claims. He therefore
wrote a letter to him on the 27th June, 1779,
in which he says, “The Archpriest asserts that
ho owes nothing to the mense ; but the fact is,
that there is not a doubt that he is its debtor.
I have taken just steps in the matter with the
court of justice at Benevento, but as my resig­
nation of the bishopric was accepted, I have
not been able to terminate tho affair. The sum
amounts to thirty ducats a year, and I do not
see why the poor revenue should bo deprived
of it.”
Tho episcopal income had been lessened by
tho contribution of wood furnished to tho troops
quartered at St. Agatha. As Alphonso was
not able to obtain any compensation for this he
appealed to the royal court : ho alleged strong
reasons in his favour ; and tho ministers, who
were moved by their respect for his person,
rejected tho claims of the parish. “ That which
is taken from Mgr. Liguori,” they said, “is ta­
ken from the poor.”
Those measures wore very painful to Alphonso,
II through
and he only determined to resort to them
necessity ; he was quite opposed to law-suits,
and if he proceeded against tho archpriest of

4

'4 I

ii

Λ—

140

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

II
whom
wo have spoken, it was because he felt
bound to do so in conscience. “ 0 how many
things,” Archdeacon Rainone wrote to mo, “his
Lordship brought to a happy end through gentle
means ! When any difficulty arose which gave
ground for a law-suit, ho tried to avoid it, say­
ing, that a bad accommodation is better than
a good law-suit.’’ What did ho not do in order
to bring about an amicable understanding with
this archpriest? Ho wrote to ask him to come
and have an interview with him, and as ho did
not oven deign to answer him, Alphonso again
wrote to him and humbly said, “ If I had a
carriage, I would have sent it for you long ago ;
come, I entreat you.” It was only after ho found
that these advances were useless that Alphonso
at length resolved to attack him.
A disputo arose between his Lordship and
tho Duke of Maddalon on tho subject of tho
right of pasturage and lordship over tho fief of
Bagnoli which belonged to tho menso, and as
these rights had been refused for two years,
Alphonso defended himself with apostolical cou­
rage. “ I am obliged,” ho wrote to the Duke’s
agent, Don Andrew Mustillo, on tho 30th of
October, 17G5, “to defend tho property of tho
menso, which possesses the double right of pas­
turage and lordship ; I beg you to tell tho
officers of tho Duke not to act with violence,
because I will only yield to evident reasons for
so doing, for I am bound in conscience to dofond the mense. If I am pushed to extremi­
ties, I will apply directly to the regency, by

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

141

whom I hope to bo heard.” In another letter
of the 13th of January, 1766, ho says, “If I
could reconcile it to my conscience, I would
yield and say no more about this affair. God
knows what a horror I have for law-suits ; tho
very name makes mo tremble ; but how can I
yield, after having taken an oath to defend tho
rights of my church?” On tho 14th of tho
following January, he addressed the Count of
Cerreto, tho young Duke’s governor, on tho samo
subject: “I am sorry for it,” he wrote to him,
“but it is my conscience which disturbs me;
but for that I would not say another word, in
order not to bo troublesome to your Excellency.”
Tho affair however ended to the advantage of
Alphonso, thanks to his prudence. Tho Count
had a great veneration for tho saintly bishop,
and he, not to bo outdone in civility, placed tho
case in tho hands of one of tho Duke’s advocates.
Tho count was satisfied at such a generous pro­
ceeding, and wrote to toll his agent, Don Mustillo,
to observe tho ancient custom and to pay up tho
arrears. It was a beautiful sight to see interest
and disinterestedness thus struggling together
in his Lordship, or rather to see his justice con­
tending with his charity.
Λ poor gentleman, and one burtlicned with a
numerous family, owed tho mouse about twelve
ducats for quit-rent. As ho was summoned by
tho steward, ho implored tho assistance of tho
widow Donna Catherine Lucca, who was intimate
with Alphonso, and who was also a lady in ad­
vanced age, and full of the fear of God, She

142

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

♦

no sooner told his Lordship of the state in which
the gentleman was, than ho forgave him tho debt
of twelve ducats. Alphonso then reflected on
tho difficulties in which ho was placed, and
added, “What shall be done for this man?” and
he assigned him a measure of corn every month.
Nevertheless, in order to prevent tho right as to
the rent from being injured, he caused the stew­
ard to oblige tho debtor to appear every year
in order to pay it, and then Alphonso left him
tho money under the title of an alms. He thus
preserved all the rights of the mense uninjured,
and was in tho habit of satisfying the claims of
charity at his own private expense alone.
From the moment ho came to St. Agatha and
saw that the bishopric possessed a good deal of
property, he took all possible care to prevent
its being depreciated in value. Where olive trees
were wanting, he caused them to bo replanted;
he every year had tho dead trees replaced ; and
when any of the ground was uncultivated,
he had its value increased by plantations. As
ono wing of the palace was in a bad state, ho
immediately sent for two architects from Naples,
to prevent any further injury arising by suita­
ble repairs ; this cost him more than six hun­
dred ducats. A house belonging to the mouse
having also got out of repair, tho tenant, a
man named Stasi, did not want to do anything
to it, but his Lordship insisted on it, from the
fear that the annual quit-rent would not suffice
for what was wanting. “ I feel scrupulous about
it,” he wrote to the canon Petti, “and I

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

143

wish to do all that is necessary in order to re­
pair this house thoroughly rather than diminish
tho ground-rent.”
Ho not only took care that the value of the
property did not become lessened ; he even
sought to make it still more valuable. As he
knew that tho manufacture of silk was much
sought after, and that a great quantity of
mulberry trees wore needed for that purpose,
ho wished to have a number of plants of these
trees, and even inquired as to whether wdiite
mulberry trees were more profitable than black
ones.

CHAPTER LXVII.
Virtues never go alone : in proportion to Al­
phonso’s charity was also that of his love of
poverty ; and as ho aimed at imitating Jesus
Christ in all things, ho also endeavoured to
resemble Him in Ilis detachment from this
world’s goods. When ho was raised to the
episcopate, with tho exception of one violet suit,
ho only made uso of Bishop Danza’s old clothes,
and they were tho only ones which he wToro
during tho thirteen years ho was bishop at St.
Agatha. With tho exception of tho episcopal
vestments which ho made uso of when he had
to officiate, he always wore tho habit of his
congregation, which became dearer to him and
more to his taste, from its appearing humblo

e

144

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

and poor ; and even this cassock had no fel­
low. “ Ho actually had no other clothes than
those on his back,” said Rubini tho grand-vicar,
“ and they were old and patched.” One day
when Don John Baptist Puoti went to see him,
he found him clothed in violet, and believing
that ho must therefore bo going out, ho said
to him, “Are you going to celebrate any function?” No,” replied his Lordship, “ but my cassock is being mended.” Ho once passed tho
monastery of the Dominican fathers of Durazzano, dressed in an old gown full of patches,
and in a cassock which was out at tho elbows;
on seeing him in this state, Father Eanti took
compassion on such great poverty. His Lordship
excused himself for it by frankly saying that
ho had given a commission for four articles
of clothing to be bought for him at Naples at
the old-clothes shop, but that they had not
yet arrived.
He had a cassock which was so bad that tho
lay-brother who accompanied him was ashamed
of it ; as he had not tho courage to tell hi II
so, he took it into his head to take it away from
him duriug the night, and to make a now one
of the same kind ; tho next morning while ho
was assisting him to dress, which Alphonso
could not do alono on account of an issue in his
arm, the brother adroitly substituted the new
habit. His Lordship did not find it out at first,
but on looking at the sleeves, ho saw that they
were new. “Ah!” he said to him, “you have
put new sleeves?” “Yes,” answered tho brother,

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

145

‘‘tho others wero too much torn.” His Lordship
said no more, but somo time afterwards he saw
that it was not his old cassock at all. “I am
master,” said he, raising his voice, “I think
this cassock is perfectly new.” “So it is,” re­
plied tho brother, “ the other was no longer decent
enough for you to put on.” “Never mind,” an­
swered his Lordship in a tone of authority, “ go
and fetch mo tho old cassock.” “If you will not
have this one,” said the brother to him, “you
must do without any, for the other has been given
to the poor.” His Lordship could not help re­
gretting it, and said to tho brother, “You
always will act of your own accord.” His under­
clothes were of coarse stuff, according to tho
grand-vicar Rubini ; in summer they wero of
common cloth dyed black. Anthony Viscardi
says, that on receiving a pair of small-clothes
to mend, he did not know where to put tho
needle, and that a beggar would not have taken
them. His under-garments wero of common
cloth. “Although sick and old,” said Don
Thomas Aceto tho priest ; “ ho only used hemp
shirts, and a wooden rosary was suspended at
his neck, similar to those which poor beggars
use.” The wife of tho servant Alexis, who gener­
ally washed his Lordship’s linen, often complain­
ed to Father Telesca, that tho shirts wero so
tattered that the pieces remained in her hands ;
she therefore wished his Lordship to be persuaded
to get four new ones. “I undertook the office,”
said this father to me, “and seizing on a good
opportunity, which seeing tho rents in the collar
in
vol. ir.

14G

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

of his shirt gave mo, I told him that ho ought
to get new ones.” “Old things,” ho replied with
a smile, “ suit an old bishop ; and then I ought
to think of clothing tho poor.”
Our father Angelo Gaudino, in going to Arienzo,
once met with a countryman on tho way, who
told him some admirable things in regard to his
Lordship. Amongst others ho related to him how
ho went to pay visits, mounted on an ass, and
sometimes with such tattered clothes on that
his hair-shirt was seen through them. His
stockings were of coarse wool ; when he offi­
ciated ho wore spun-silk ones, but he never
would make use of real silk stockings. Tho
shoes which ho had made on his election were
tho only ones he wore during tho thirteen years
ho governed St. Agatha, and he still wore them
after his resignation, when ho returned to Noccra until his death. Tho stick which ho used
for the solo purpose of supporting him was of
no value, at most having cost twenty carlins.
Tho littlo silken twist upon it got so shabby,
that it looked quito discreditable. Don John
Manco could not bear such great poverty of
appearance, and substituted a simple riband in
its stead ; when his Lordship perceived it, ho
said in great alarm, “What is this riband for?”
IIo was told that it was tho work of Don John
Manco tho priest. “Yes’” said he, “it could
only have been done by him.” Tho watch
which he used had been bought at Romo by
Father Villani for sixteen crowns.
His bed was of wood, of coarse workmanship ;

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI

147

ho never would make use of iron ones, notwith­
standing tho representations which were made
to him as to the inconveniences of wooden beds.
IIo had no curtains, tho sheets were of coarse
linen ; his blanket in winter was one of coarse
wool, like those which the poor use, it was also
old and worn out, and however severe the cold
might be, ho never allowed another to be bought,
nor would he have a counterpane, but was satis­
fied with spreading his cloak and his cassock on
tho bed.
Don Dominic Spota, who was grand-chanter
of tho cathedral of Girgenti, and several times
vicar capitular, went to visit him at Arienzo,
and gave tho following details in a letter which
ho wrote to Father Blasucci : “ I have admired
Naples, I have felt admiration for the magni­
ficence of Rome, but tho life of Mgr. Liguori
has made a much greater impression on me ; it
has effaced all tho beauties of these two capitals
from my eyes. I have seen a saintly bishop of
primitive ages ; ho lies on a bed to which ho is
confined by tho most painful infirmities, but his
sereno countenance betokens tho tranquillity of
his soul.
Tho glory of God, and tho govern­
ment of his diocese, occupy him unceasingly ;
in him have I seen extreme moderation in sleep
and in food, and such absoluto poverty in all
things, that tho only blanket he has on his
straw bed is his cassock ; his pastoral ring would
not excite the envy of a beggar, a falso stone
is its only ornament ; his cross equals it in its
simplicity.”

148

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

At St. Agatha as well as at Arienzo ho always
choso tho smallest room in an obscure recess
for himself. Ho had not ono valuable chair;
thoso he had were tho kind which are sold by
the dozen, and which all tho poor use, and which
do not exceed from thirteen to fifteen grains in
price.
Mgr. Albertini, tho Bishop of Caserto, went to
visit him accompanied by his suito, and found
that Alphonso had not enough chairs for all
tho guests.
Tho Bishop of Caserto spoke in
gentle pleasantry on the simplicity of tho furni­
ture, which amused Alphonso and all who wero
present. His table was of unpolished wood, and
its value consisted in its antiquity. He did not
make use of an inkstand of silver or brass ; a
H
miserable
little inkstand of bone sufficed for him ;
even tho paper which he used for everything
he wrote was very common, and ho was so care­
ful in turning tho least morsel to advantage,
that ho used tho envelopes of letters for his
compositions and in writing to us. His snuffbox was the same which ho had had in tho congregation, that is to say, it was a wooden snuffbox, worth only a few grains. Thero wero no
chests of drawers in his chamber, and further­
It
more
ho had nothing to put in them ; tho bare
floor served as his Prie-dieu ; in a word, ho used
nothing which was not very poor and very coarse.
He once asked Father Villani for the Proper
for tho Office of tho Holy Redeemer, he sent
him one in very elegant binding. “ I have receiv­
ed Calmet,” he wrote to him, “as well as the

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

149

il
Office of tho Holy Redeemer,
which is bound
as if it were for a prince.” Mgr. Albertini was
in a state of admiration at seeing such great
poverty ; ho exclaimed, “ If we were to act as
he does, wo should breathe forth everywhere the
odour of sanctity. Everything about Mgr. Liguori
commands respect, veneration, and homage.”
II
The only ornaments which adorned his rooms,
besides his books, were a large crucifix which Fa­
ther Stephen Longobardi of tho Congregation of
the Pious Workmen gave him, and which he had
always before him, and a little picture of our
Lady of Good Counsel, which was placed on his
table.
All the other rooms in tho palace also beto­
kened poverty. Mgr. Danza left handsome fur­
niture, but Alphonso did not make use of it,
and the palace was a real mirror of evangelical
II
poverty. With tho exception of some
common
beds for thoso who might come to see him, of
some chairs, and deal tables, all the rest evinc­
ed distress. There were no valuable pictures,
but on all sides devotional pictures of Jesus
Christ and the Blescd Virgin were to be seen.
Even on the staircase one saw Calvaries ; in
the vestibule of tho house at Arienzo he placed
a cross which he kissed every time ho went in
or out of tho house.
His guests had also to share in this poverty ;
however noble they might be, they had to rest
satisfied with what was destined for every one ;
there was no special apartment reserved for
them. Tho best piece of furniture for the use

150

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

of any one of distinction, was a bod which was
newly covered with some old damask cloth which
had belonged to Mgr. Danza ; and this was
called tho bed of state. Ho detested valets de
chambres, and condemned them in a bishop’s
house. Ho dressed and undressed himself. Be­
fore he got into bed, ho put out tho light him­
self, and if he had a lay-brother with him, it
was in order that he might assist him in writ­
ing and in keeping the house in order.
We have seen that Alphonso’s episcopal em­
blems were in keeping with this poverty. The
little cross which he was in the habit of wear­
ing was of gilded brass ; that which ho used for
episcopal functions was of silver gilt, adorned
with false stones ; even his pastoral ring was
not of gold, but Alexis tho attendant got it into
his hands to have a stone reset in it, and ex­
changed it for a gold ring without his master
ever perceiving it. Ono morning when he was
on the point of going to officiate pontifically,
his ring could not be found ; Don Michael Volpicelli, a gentleman of Sarno, who was present,
was distressed about it; it was found however,
and at dinner the gentleman could not help
expressing what sorrow he had felt. His Lord­
ship smiled. “If it was the stone which has
made you uneasy,” said ho, “it is not an
emerald, but a piece of glass, for my uncle’s
ring, which was given to mo by Mgr. Graimini,
was sold for the relief of a number of poor.”
On another occasion, when tho members of his
household were joking about tho value of his

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

151

ring, his Lordship said to them, “ Such as it is,
it has figured at Rome, and every one looked
upon it as a precious thing ; but you do not
know, said I to myself, that I broke my best
decanter to adorn it.”
Alphonso had such an ardent love for holy
poverty, that even the shadow of gold or silver
made him afraid. I will give an instance in
proof of this. Father Mascia of Naples, the
ex-provincial of the Capuchins, came to Arien­
zo, and Alphonso often went to his room to sec
him, and each time he never omitted tenderly to
kiss a beautiful parchment picture representing
tho Ecce Homo. Father Mascia, on observing
this devotion, offered tho piteture to Alphonso,
who accepted it. It was bound by the cloth of
which tho Capuchins make use.
It appeared
a superfluous ornament to our saint ; he want­
ed to take it off, but the cloth concealed a little
silver frame. Alphonso immediately sought for
some pretext for returning the picture, and
said that ho would not deprive Father Mascia
of this object of devotion, but after he left tho
house he said to Don Felix Vorzalla, his secre­
tary, “Tho picture was very beautiful, it is a
pity that it has that silver frame.”
Tho poverty which existed in his house in
respect to the quality of the things used in it,
was truly edifying. On the pretext of health,
ho would only use tho commonest sort of broad,
which is called third broad at Arienzo, and is
made of bran with a very small quantity of flour.
All the dishes wore equally common, and he

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

was satisfied with what was to be found in tho
town, lio never ate any moat but veal or mutton ; there is no other to bo met with at Ari­
enzo. It was a culpable thing in his eyes to
send for meat, or wine, or fish, to a distance.
“What scandal would it give,” ho said, “if tho
people saw mo faring daintily!” Even when
ho was ill, ho would not allow anything to bo
sent for to Naples or elsewhere. “I ought to
use tho produce of my own diocese, ” said ho.
And among the things which were sold in tho
place, ho wished those which were tho cheapest
to bo selected. Tho secretary ono day bought
a rare fish ; as soon as Alphonso saw it, ho
hastened to send it back again : “ Lot it not
bo said,” ho exclaimed in alarm, “that tho
bishop eats the best fish.” If any sort of deli­
cacy were prepared for him during his illnesses,
ho said, shaking his head, “I am satisfied with
what tho others have, I do not wish for any­
thing in particular.” IIo cither ato nothing, or
scarcely touched what had boon prepared for
him. As ho did not reçoive presents, ho was
obliged to buy everything, and as his poverty
did not admit of his laying in provisions, ho
was obliged to live from day to day ; ho onco
was even destituto of tho necessary quantity of
bread. Tho bishops, princes, and lords who
visited him, did not make him change tho regulation of his table in tho least degree. “ All
that is superfluous is taken fro: tho poor,” said
he. Ho did not even omit tho lecturo for tho
sake of his noble guests. “Those sort of things,”
H

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

153

said ho, “aro tho sweet spices which preserve
and perfume tho table of a bishop.”
II
When ho had to receive a visit from
Mgr.
Puoti, tho Archbishop of Amalfi, whom ho had
sont for to consecrate his cathedral, Alphonso
ordered two more dishes than usual to bo pre­
pared. Tho cook, who had been in tho service
of other prelates, thought that the archbishop’s
visit would be an occasion by which ho could
get credit through a grand feast ; but when he
heard such a poor repast ordered, ho crossly
replied, “My Lord, tho scullion could prepare
tho dinner which you havo ordered.” “What
do you want to say ?” answered Alphonso ;
“wo received persons of groat consequence at
Nocora, and wo did not treat them differently.”
“Your Lordship was free to do so,” boldly re­
plied tho cook, who then went out of tho room
grumbling. “There now,” said Alphonso, “what
a passion ho has put himself in ! God knows
all tho plans ho had concerted!” However, the
secretary caused a third dish to bo prepared un­
known to him ; his Lordship seemed as if ho did
not observe it while at dinner, but ho gave him a
severe reprimand afterwards: “A bishop’s table,”
ho said, “ought not to resemble those of tho great,
it would bo a real scandal ; poverty doos not in­
juro a bishop ; on tho contrary it doos hi] II
honour.” When Mgr. Albertini, tho bishop of
Caserto, camo to Arienzo, Alphonso ordered
three more dishes than usual to bo prepared ;
Brother Francis Anthony, romo • I bored tho brilliant reception which Alphonso had received in

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

passing through Caserto, and applied to one of
our fathers to obtain some more. Tho father
had a lively discussion with his Lordship about
it. “ I cannot waste money which belongs to
tho poor in feasts ; I am thoir father and thoir
steward, but not tho delapidator of their pos­
sessions. I know not with what face one can
cat of dishes prepared with tho blood of thoso
unhappy creatures who havo no bread.” Tho
father managed so that ho got some more
dishes at dessert. Tho fact is, that his Lord­
ship counted soup and boiled meat as two
dishes ; but if ho saw that tho soup had not
been included, oven though ho did not reprovo
tho brother for it aloud, he manifested his dis­
satisfaction to him by his looks. Tho matter
did not end hero : tho nuns sent three good
dishes of dessert instead of ono ; when Alphon­
se saw thorn he was quite annoyed, and would
only allow ono to bo touched. “ Thoso good
nuns of tho Holy Redeemer,” ho said to his
brother bishop, “aro so poor, wo must send
them something;” then addressing tho other
guests, ho said to them, “ His Lordship doos
not want any more ; ho prefers conferring a
charity on thoso poor females ;” and he de­
spatched the bearer to St. Agatha that same
instant.
His table linen was so common that it looked
quite discreditable ; the dishes were in keeping.
His only candlesticks were of brass ; tho salt­
cellars were not even of china, they were made
of earthenware. On another occasion Alphonso

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

received Mgr. Borgia and another prelate ; and
H
ho sent to borrow plates and dishes from
tho
lords of Lucca, according to custom. The bro­
ther attendant and secretary Vcrzalla had in
tho meantime provided them unknown to him,
however, his Lordship had no suspicion of this ;
and ono day when he received Canon Albanese,
and Don Andrew Fiddoi at dinner, at Arienzo,
ho told tho brother to go and borrow plates and
dishes, knives and forks from tho nuns, in order
not to inconvenience tho family of Lucca too
often : but tho brother did not feel it necessary
to go so far.
In conclusion, during tho whole of his epis­
copate Alphonso never had a penny in his hands :
tho revenues of tho dioceso wore kept by tho
excellent Brother Francis Anthony, who gave it
to him as ho required it.
Let us crown this chapter by tho affecting
testimony of Pascal Buonopani, a gentleman of
la Grotta, who when ho went to visit Alphonso at
Arienzo in 17G9, could not help weeping at see­
ing tho great destitution of his host? “ I have
seen tho ideal of poverty in Mgr. Liguori,” he said
to every body, “what indigence is there through­
out tho palace ! some of tho rooms are quite
bare, others have three straw chairs made of
unpolished poplar-wood in them, tho simplest
sort of tables, and a bed equally poor. If tho
saintly bishop required to move about, his ser­
vant drew him up aud down in the room by
means of a rope attached to a shabby wheel­
chair.

156

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

CHAPTER LXVIII.
After tho example of our blessed Lord, who
took on Himself all the iniquities of tho world
in order that Ho might Himself satisfy the jus­
tice of God, Alphonso unceasingly offered him­
11
self to God as an expiatory victim
for tho sins
of his people.
Ho never omitted to discipline himself to
blood every day, and tho walls of his chamber
would have borne constant witness of these ma­
cerations, if Mgr. Rossi his successor had not
had them covered over by several coatings of
white-wash. In order that his penances might
II
remain
concealed, Alphonso wished that his
drawers, which were always stained with blood,
should bo washed by the lay-brother, not by
a stranger ; but he entrusted them to Donna
Catherine do Lucca, a female of respectability
and of advanced age, and she positively assert­
ed that they were steeped in blood, as if they
had been plunged into it.
Tho Father Master, John Dominic Eanti Lom­
bardo, prior of the monastery of Durazzano, once
went to tho bishop’s house on account of the
examinations which were to take place, and he
occupied a room close to that of his Lordship ;
tho very day the examination terminated, ho
wished to set out immediately, although it was
late in the day, and when he was urged to re­

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

157

main, lio said, “ I would return were it midnight,
for I have not tho heart to hear the flagella­
tions of this poor old man any longer.”
Tho vigils of feasts were marked days with
Alphonso, on which he mortified himself still
more than usual, in order to obtain an increase
of graces from God for himself and for his
flock. On such days he generally scourged him­
self with divers cruel instruments, and espe­
cially with small cords armed with very sharp
steel stars. Ho also redoubled his macerations
during the carnival, and on other profane fêtes.
Not satisfied with these bloody disciplines, he
also mortified his flesh by horse-hair shirts
studded with iron points, or by sharp little crosses
with which he covered his shoulders and his
arms and legs ; when ho sat down or got up
again his motions betrayed his sufferings. All
tho particulars of these instruments would have
been unknown, if the curiosity of some people
had not revealed them to us. “ I had tho ho­
nour of living in filial intimacy with him,” said
Canon Michelle, “ and I secretly saw them all
in a strong box of which his Lordship kept tho
key under his bed ; I could not help shuddering
tho first time I opened it.”
Don Joseph Razzano attests, that when ho
was at Durazzano for tho visitation, his Lord­
ship said to him ono evening, “We shall meet
again after tho sermon.” Now he was so prompt,
that ho went to his Lordship just as ho was
changing his linen, and though ho was very dex
*
terous in covering himsolf, Razzano observed

1Ô8

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

that ho had on a hair-shirt more than four
inches in size. His Lordship had managed to
conceal this penance so well, that neither Bro­
ther Francis Anthony nor Alexis the attendant
ever perceived it.
Although ho arranged at tho first, that his
dinner should consist of soup and bouilli, he did
not fail to find excuses for doing without one
of these dishes ; and ho often was satisfied with
soup and some fruit, or a little fish. I know from
the grand-vicar Rubini, that ho only ate once
in the day for several years ; there was a time
oven when ho lived on abstinence food entirely ;
in a word, he reduced himself to such a miserable
amount of food, that his body could scarcely bear
it any longer. Don Virgil Cimino tho priest, who
■was also his secretary, relates that the doctors
on seeing tho impaired stato of his health, or­
dered tho lay-brother at least to make his soup
with moat, but in order to do this, ho was not
Π
informed that it was done. This miserable
nou­
rishment was also always seasoned with very
bitter herbs, such as abysnthe, aloes, &c. In
fine, what he left was so bad, that not only tho
poor, but even animals, would not touch it.
During the day ho used also to chew those
herbs in order to mortify his palate, and ho
had such a quantity of them, that one quito
smelt them on entering his room.
According to the testimony of Don Manco,
and when Alphonso ate anywhere but at home,
he had a thousand stratagems for avoiding par­
taking of what was before him : sometimes he

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

159

11
carved himself,
or distributed portions ; some­
times he appeared to bo giving his attention
It
to a little dog ; at other times,
when ho thought
that it would not bo noticed, ho mingled bitter
herbs with tho little that ho took.
. During the whole time that ho was bishop
he never once complained of any dish being
badly cooked, although accidents of this sort
were not rare in his house. Ono day when ho
was at dinner, ho asked for so il ething to drink ;
instead of wino, tho servant took a bottle of
vinegar. Alphonso drank it without H anifestinjr
tho least displeasure ; a little while afterwards,
tho grand-vicar also asked to drink, but no
sooner had he raised the glass to his lips than
ho got up angrily and lavished a torrent of
reproaches on tho servant ; but his Lordship
laughed, and excused tho servant.
On another occasion, when ho was taking his
moal in bed, where ho was detained by his in­
firmity, the same thing befell him again, and
although tho vinegar was tho strongest which
could bo procured, his Lordship said nothing
about it. Only the next day ho said to tho
servant, “Do not give me tho same wino I had
yesterday, for I took it for vinegar.”
There was nothing, however innocent, of which
ho did not make an offering to Jesus crucified.
Ho liked fresh fruit, and used it as a remedy on
account of his sedentary life ; for this reason
his brother Hercules took caro to supply him
with tho best fruit which was to bo got hi
Naples ; but Alphonso gave it to tho nuns of

160

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

the Holy Redeemer ; lie did tho same thing
when he got rare fish, sweet things, or other
delicacies from his brother, or from those nuns
who were related to him.
Ho would not permit any species of caged
birds to bo in his palace. “ Tho house of a
bishop,” said he, “is not a place for pleasure,
but for penance.” His secretary Don Felix
procured a canary for himself; as his room
was close to the chapel, his Lordship heard
tho bird singing as ho went to celebrate mass;
Hill
he immediately
entered the room, as if to call
tho secretary, and casting his eyes on the cage,
said to him, “ That must bo taken away ; the
least thing destroys these birds, and when one
loses them, one feels sorry for it for weeks
afterwards,” Ono day when he was himself of­
fered some canaries ho refused them, and said,
“ This passion is still lacking in us ! No, no,
a little later and wo should weep over it.”
Wo have mentioned that whilst in the con­
gregation Alphonso sometimes played on tho
harpsichord after dinner in the community-room,
especially when tho young men were present,
in order to amuse them and to teach them to
sing his hymns ; but the moment he was ap­
pointed to tho bishopric of St. Agatha, ho en­
tirely denied himself this innocent pleasure.
While ho was still at Nocera, and on tho point
of setting out to go to his church, Don Joseph
Messina, tho priest, begged him to play the
harpsichord. “Ob, what a scandal!” answered
Alphonso; “a bishop play the harpsichord! pco-

1G1

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

pic would say, that instead of thinking of his
diocese, ho spent his time in playing. Tho
amusements of a bishop are to give audience to
all, to welcome tho poor, and to pray.” Tho
following incident will show with what constancy
ho persevered in his resolution : He had the
harpsichord of tho master of the seminary chapel
carried to tho palace, in order that Don Alex­
ander Speranza might put his song in honour
of St. Joseph to music ; he never allowed him­
self to touch it, although his face plainly showed
how much he would have liked to do so. In
the midst of tho sufferings which continually
tormented him, he never sought for any other
alleviations than those which were prescribed
for him by the physicians. Father Caputo, on
seeing him ono day oppressed with a very bad
sick head-ache, offered to procuro him some of
the water of St. Vincent Ferrer, with the con­
fidence that the saint would cure him, or at
least relievo him. “ Shall wo go and apply to
St. Vincent for such a little thing?” answered
his Lordship. “If wo want to address him, lot
us pray to him for tho salvation of our souls,
and for a good passage into eternity ; as to what
I suffer, it is nothing.”
Although ho was sinking under the weight of
years, he was always careful to mortify his senses.
He never indulged in any gratification of the
eyes, however innocent it might be. “I am cer­
tain,” said Father Caputo to mo, “ that ho
scarcely knew that there was such a town as
Arionzo or St. Agatha in tho world.” Father
11

VOL, IV.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Raphael di Ruvo, who was intimate with him,
wrote to me and said, “Alphonso was such a
great enemy to himself, that ho had a universal
hatred for all kinds of recreation.” And the
canon Petti said, “Ilis mortified life filled all
who saw it with confusion, and sufficed to change
their lives.” Some may perhaps fancy that a
body which was so exhausted in tho day, had at
least some rest at night. Canon Michelle never­
theless attests that ho slept at least as frequent­
ly on tho floor as in bed. Ilis bed, besides, was
a punishment, for his palliasse was so thin that
his body rested on the bare boards. “ He never
had it shaken,” Brother Francis Anthony said
to me, “ during all the years which preceded
his great infirmity.” Ono morning his attend­
ant Alexis saw that his bed was quite out of
order, and was going to readjust it, but his
Lordship perceived this, and said to him, “What
fancy have you taken in your head ? Is it be­
cause I am paralytic?” and he immediately sent
him away. “In the depth of winter,” said the
same canon, “we were curious to know if ho
ever went to bed ; we generally found it as
untouched in the morning as it had been in tho
evening.” His secretary Don Felix Verzalla had
a singular adventure connected with this. One
evening when it was already late, his Lordship
sent for him to hear his confession ; on leaving
his room, ho took the key and went to his Lord­
ship. During the confession he inadvertently placed
the key on a little table close by him. When
ho had satisfied his Lordship, ho went to tho

ST. ALPHONSO LtC LOUT.

163

grand-vicar, who had not yet gone to bed, and
ho staid and conversed with him for a long
while; just as he left him, he perceived that
he had not got his key, and this put him into
tho greatest embarrassment, for on the one
hand ho did not wish to wake his Lordship ;
on tho other, he could not make up his mind
to pass tho night standing. What could bo do?
He took off his shoes and groped his way to
his Lordship’s room, he gently turned the key
and approached tho little table, where ho knew
he had deposited the object of his search ; he
thought that all difficulty was over, when on
reaching the middle of tho room ho knocked
against Alphonso stretched on the floor. Ilis Lord­
ship arose in alarm, and the secretary, who was
still more terrified, seized his key, and flew off
as fast as possible. Alphonso was then about
seventy years of age. Next morning when tho
|l
secretary went to him,
Alphonso looked discon­
certed and blushed. “Don Felix,” he said to
him, “ it doos not do to wander into other peo­
ple’s rooms at night.” Let us now add one
other testimony of our saint’s penances ; it is
that of Canon Rubini : “ His Lordship was as
cruel towards himself, as ho was kind towards
others,” said he. “I should make you shudder,
were I to relate to you all tho particulars of his
macerations, his abstinences from food, his daily
scourgings to blood, of the hair-shirts and iron
chains which kept his body in a continual stato
of mortification, his watchings, and, in short,
all which can afflict the flesh was made use ot
unceasingly.”

1G4

BOOK IV.

CHAPTER I.

The successor to Clement XIV. was not even
elected, ere Alphonso again thought of resign­
ing his bishopric ; being then an octogenarian
and a paralytic, tho burthen of the episcopate
seemed no longer endurable to him. He was
not however free from his accustomed fears,
and as ho felt doubts as to the validity of his
reasons, ho again opened his heart to Father
Villani, who was then on a mission at Tarento ;
he wrote as follows to him : “ Tho thought of
giving in my resignation has returned to me ;
read this letter with attention, and recommend
tho matter to Jesus Christ, because I do not
wish to follow my own will, but to do that
which is pleasing to God ; for this reason I wish
to act under obedience. For the present there
is no need of speaking about it ; I will wait
until the Popo is nominated.
“ On the one hand, the embarrassments I en­
dure in governing are too great ; sick and paraly­
tic, I cannot go anywhere ; scruples beset mo
on all sides, and I am in perpetual uneasiness ;
I therefore should like to end the few days I

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

165

have yet to live, in the congregation. On the
other hand, although I certainly can no longer vi­
sit my diocese, I believe that the grand-vicar sup­
plies this want adequately. Besides, as my head
is always clear, it appears to me I can provide
for everything by my letters, and that I leave
no disorder without providing a remedy. I am
careful in extirpating all abuses, and make use
of the aid of tho secular authorities in case of
need. Priests fear me, for I punish them as I
am bound to do. I watch over the seminary,
and the examination of candidates for holy or­
ders, and all whom I have ordained are fit to
hear confessions and to bo priests. I confer liv­
ings on those who are the most worthy, after the
most minute inquiries. I am very particular in
regard to nuns, in order that all may walk in tho
right path. I do not say all this through vanity,
but to submit it to your consideration. I must
also add, that I think that I can be more useful
as regards the affairs of tho congregation, by re­
maining in my present position, than by leaving
it. Here arises my difficulty; on tho one hand,
I should like to bo at rest, and on the other, I
think that when I do retire I shall not do half
what I do now I am a bishop. It is true that
I can bo of use to the subjects, by retiring into
the congregation, particularly as regards tho
young men, and this is what perplexes me. I
recommend myself to God, and I entreat your
Reverence also to recommend tho matter to
Him, because when you return from tho mission,
and when tho new Popo is elected, we must con-

Γ

166

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

suit Mgr. Borgia about all this, iu order to
decide on what course is to bo followed. I shall
wait during this winter until then, and I shall
cause all the missions in tho diocese to bo com­
pleted. To conclude, when you come we will
speak about it, for I wish to do God’s will alone.
I bless your Reverence, and all your compan•ions.> >
Amongst all these considerations tho thought
of resigning was the predominant one in his
mind. He consulted various zealous bishops,
and in particular Mgr. Lusco, bishop of Lucero,
and they all thought that ho need have no scru­
ples in resigning his office. Ho was not satisfied
even with that, and as he wished not to do any­
thing but in obedience, and to bo suro of the
will of God, ho took no resolution until he had
received tho dicision of his director ; and al­
though he had not approved of this resignation
at first, yet on account of tho state to which
Alphonso was reduced, ho then advised it, and
told him that he ought to resign without auy
scruples, and that he was even bound to do it,
as he would abridge his life were he to continue
to support the painful burthen of the episcopate.
Such was tho opinion of Father Villani ; he
however doubted whether the Pope would con­
sent to receive Alphonso’s resignation. One
day when our Father Don John Maria Augustine
was present, his Lordship said, “ There is no
reason to doubt about it ; he will accept it, for
I am certain that I ought to die in tho congrega­
tion, and you will see that I shall die in it as

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

167

a subject;” and ho twice repeated that he must
die a subject. He prophesied, but the mystery
was not then understood. The year 1775 was a
happy year for Holy Church. On the 15th
of February, his Eminence Braschi was elected
Pope under the title of Pius VI. After tho
exaltation of the new pontiff, Alphonso’s ardour
to be set free from the weight of tho episcopate
increased.
Being assured that in resigning
his office he should not bo doing a thing dis­
pleasing to God, but that it would even be ad­
vantageous to his diocese, he longed for the
time when ho might retire into his cell. “ Tho
clouds now begin to disperse,” he wrote to Father
Villani on the 1st March, 1775, “I have already
spoken to Mgr. Puoti, and in a little while the
affair will be commenced.” But during the pro­
ceedings which ensued upon this Alphonso still
felt his accustomed scruples.
lie had to leave a spouse whom he loved with
tenderness ; and ho knew not who would come in
his place. “ God only knows how I am tor­
mented,” he wrote to Father Villani on the
9th of tho same month. “ The fear of abandon­
ing my church in order to escape tho cross dis­
turbs me anew. I should have been very glad
if your Reverence had spoken to Mgr. Borgia
again ; I fear that the apprehension of having
acted through self-love will torment me during
tho whole of the short time I may yet have to
live.”
When steps were taken in tho matter at Rome,
his uneasiness redoubled. “ Give me courage,”

1G8

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

he wrote to the same father on tho 14th of May,
“and show mo that I do tho will of God in aban­
doning my diocese, in order that I may leave
it for ever in peace.” Alphonso would have been
glad if the Pope, who had nominated him to the
episcopate motu proprio, should also release him
from it of his own accord, without his having
anything to do with it himself. He presented
the following petition to the Popo at the com­
mencement of May :
“Most Holy Father,
“ I wish to represent to your Holiness, that
I, the bishop of St. Agatha de’ Goti, in the king­
dom of Naples, have attained the advanced age
of seventy-nine years. By tho aid of God I
have continued to support tho burthen of tho
episcopate for thirteen years ; but I am incapa­
ble of bearing it any longer. I have many in­
firmities which fortell a speedy death : I suffer
from an affection of tho chest·, which has several
times reduced mo to great extremities ; the pal­
pitations of my heart have also several times
brought mo to tho brink of the grave ; besides
this, I have at present such a great weakness of
head that I feel often quite stupified.
“Besides all these maladies, I am also subject
to divers dangerous attacks, for which I have
to make use of bleeding, blistering, and other
remedies. I have received the Holy Viaticum
four times and Extreme Unction twice, during
tho time that I have been bishop.
“I must add to what I have just stated, that

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

169

I have other infirmities which prevent my ful­
filling my duties as a bishop. My hearing is
much impaired, and my subjects suffer much
from it ; for when they wish to speak to me of
private matters, I cannot hear them unless they
raise their voices. The paralysis has made such
progress that I cannot now write a single line;
I can scarcely sign my name, and I do it so
badly that it is very difficult to read it. I have
become such a cripple that I cannot walk a step,
and I require tho aid of two people in making
the least movement. I pass my time on my
bed, or I sit helplessly in my chair. I cannot
go through ordinations now, nor can I preach,
and what is still worse, I cannot now visit
my diocese, which necessarily suffers thereby.
All this being tho caso, I think I am bound to
beseech your Holiness to accept my resignation
of my bishopric, which resignation I formally
tender in this petition, because I see that tho
state in which I am, causes me to fail in the
duties of my office and in tho right government
of my flock. I confidently hope that your Holi­
ness will take pity on me, in consideration of
the miserable state to which I am reduced, and
that you will console me by accepting my resig­
nation, in order that my flock may be relieved,
for they obtain little assistance from so incapable
a shepherd, and also that I may bo freed from
tho scruples which torment mo when I reflect
on my unfitness for government.
“ I wish to lay tho state of my Church before
you : tho diocese contains about thirty thousand

4* ■
! i ·ί

<

170

ST· ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

souls ; tho income amounts to about twenty-six
thousand ducats annually, according to a calcula­
tion made during tho last four years. The cathe­
dral has thirty-one canons with five prebendaries.
In tho territory of Arienzo, there is a college
which numbers twenty-four canonrics. There
are three convents of inclosed nuns, namely,
those at St. Agatha, those in tho town of Airola,
and in tho territory of Arienzo, and also two
asylums where there is also a church where the
functions of tho Church arc celebrated.
“ I very confidently look forward to receiving
tho consent of your Holiness as well as your
blessing, so that I may have nothing else to
think of than to prepare myself for death, which
will shortly befall me.”
IIo sent this letter to Cardinal Crescenzi, who
loved him and favoured him very much, and he
bogged him to consent to present it to tho Popo,
and to support it by his mediation. “ I require,”
said he, “your Eminence’s support, and I confi­
dently hope to obtain it, after all tho kindness
which you have unceasingly shown me up to the
present time. Do have the kindness to try and
obtain permission for the resignation which I pro­
pose to our holy Father in the inclosed letter. I
quite think that your Eminence would not refuse
me this favour even at first sight ; but still I en­
treat you to take trouble to read over all the rea­
sons I lay before his Holiness. Your Eminence
will then see how unfit I am to rule over my
Church, and will approve of my resolution. The

ST. ALPHONSO LIGÜOIU.

171

goodness of your Eminence leads me to hope that
you will take tho trouble to speak to our holy
Father by word of mouth, because in Rome I
have no one who can do so with such good effect
as your Eminence. I therefore once more most
humbly implore you to deign to grant me this
favour, and to do so as soon possible, for I am
continually sighing after tho day when I shall be
set free from the government of my church, as
I feel tormented with constant scruples about it.”
He wrote to Mgr. Calcagnini the Pope’s cham­
berlain at the same time as follows: “An oppor­
tunity presents itself of profiting by your Emi­
nence’s kindness. I beg you to read the peti­
tion which I send to our holy father ; you will
I trust take pity on mo on seeing to what a miser­
able state I am reduced, and you will act as my
advocate with our holy father, and intercede for
me, so that I may obtain from him the favour
I so much desire. Should it be necessary for
me to write again, or to renew this petition,
send to his Eminence Bezzonico, pro-secretary,
and let mo know. Tho great kindness which
your Eminence has shown towards me on several
occasions, has inspired me with tho confidence
in addressing myself to you and with the cer­
tainty of being heard. This being premised, I
entreat you to do it as soon as possible ; for
scruples beset mo and cause this time of uncer­
tainty to seem like a thousand years : the weight
of the episcopate makes mo quite sleepless, and
my last illness has rendered me incapable of ful­
filling my duties.”

172

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

lie sent this letter to the advocate Don Mel­
chior Terragnoli, in order to obtain his co-opcration in this affair. His Lordship did not know
him personally, but as he knew his affection for
our Congregation he wrote to him as follows:
“ My much esteemed Don Melchior, I have not
yet had the privilege of speaking to you or of
writing to you ; but knowing the great charity
with which you have supported the members
of my Congregation at Rome, I hope you will
also exercise tho same charity towards me in
my present circumstances, and when tho security
of my eternal salvation is concerned. I am
laden with years, and on the point of death, as
you will see in the inclosed petition, which con­
tains the formal resignation of my bishopric.
I have thought it well to beseech Cardinal Cas­
telli, who has several times given mo proofs of
especial affection, to speak to our holy father,
and thus to obtain for mo the favour of having
my resignation accepted ; I therefore beg you
to deliver my letter to him, together with my
petition to tho Pope. If you should afterwards
require a power of attorney, or any other legal
formality, pleaso to let mo know.”
No sooner was it discovered at Arienzo that
his Lordship had sent in his resignation to tho
Pope, than tho news spread throughout all tho
diocese.
It caused general affliction. People
consoled themselves however that the present
Pope would not permit it any more than his
predecessors had done.
The superiors of reli­
gious orders wept lor the loss of a protector who

• HH·'

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

173
u ’·

was both powerful and zealous ; the nuns, for
that of a father and comforter.
The clergy
felt as if in him they lost tho soul of the eccle­
siastical state, and tho seculars a tender and
vigilant pastor ; and so they all addressed the
most ardent supplications to Heaven for the
preservation of their saintly bishop.

CHAPTER IL

Alphonso redoubled his exertions and labours
for tho welfare of his diocese, although he was
in a position which seemed to justify repose. He
was especially pains-taking in encouraging his
priests to labour for the salvation of souls, and
to edify them by their own examples ; the good
were special objects of his most tender solici­
tude to tho last. As Don Cæsar Michclla, tho
priest of tho church of tho Carmelites at St.
Agatha, had been made a canon, his Lordship
felt groat consolation in seeing him replaced by
Don Vincent Testa of Real-Valle, whom he had
trained at the seminary, but on hearing that
ho was seriously ill, he was most deeply afflict­
ed, for he had centred all his brightest hopes
upon him. “The poor young man,” he wrote
to Don Michclla on tho 30th of January, 1773,
“has boon extremely oppressed by a violent
catarrh which has endangered his life. I have
forbidden him to leave Valle without my per-

174

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

mission, in order that so precious a life may
not bo exposed. Meanwhile, I must beg your
Reverence to continue to fill the post, and I
give you full powers to enable you so to do.”
He was equally full of solicitude for his sem­
inary. Tho students wore continually in his
thoughts, and he always wished Father Master
Caputo to inform him of their progress in know­
ledge and in virtue. Love and severity were
in him admirably combined together. He was
always as kind in rewarding the zealous, as he
was vigilant in chastising tho tepid, and in ex­
pelling the incorrigible. “ I do not wish to leave
my successor overburthened with old debts,” he
used to say on this subject.
Before he left his vineyard, ho was also care­
ful to have it entirely visited throughout by
faithful labourers.
From tho preceding Sep­
tember ho applied to the various congregations
in order to havo a sufficient number of mis­
sionaries to preach throughout all the diocese.
Ho even wrote to Rome to tho general of the
Dominican fathers, in order to obtain a good
number of his religious from the monastery of
la Sanita in Naples, and he asked the prince
to allow him to make use of his house during
the time of tho mission. “ This will probably
bo the last general mission I shall give in my
diocese,” ho wrote to him on the 19th of Sep­
tember, 1774, “for I enter upon my seventy­
ninth year this year, and I am looking for tho
approach of death from day to day, both on
account of my great age, and also on account

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

175

of my infirmities, which warn me that I am not
far from tho grave.”
Father Master Gessari, and nine other cele­
brated Dominicans, camo to him in November ;
when they had, to his great consolation, ended
the mission in the town of St. Agatha most
successfully, tho company separated ; one por­
tion went into the parish of St. Thomas, and
tho rest, who were reinforced by other subjects
from Naples, began to labour in the territory of
Frasso. After that they united together in order
to go to Airola, and from thence they went to
the populous hamlet of Mojano. The fathers of
St. Peter of Cesazano laboured in divers other
places ; tho fathers of our congregation also
went about everywhere, and to these latter Al­
phonso rejoiced to see united tho missionaries
whom he had himself formed at Airola, Arienzo,
and Durazzano. In fine, there was not an estate,
a village, or a hamlet throughout the diocese
which was not cultivated by zealous missionaries.
Tho chapel of Canullo, which was four miles
from Arienzo, had also the happiness of obtain­
ing a mission. Ilis Lordship arranged tho
smallest details of this great work. The Father
Master Massana, tho Dominican, tho prefect of
the missions of la Sanita, fixed on tho evening
of tho 12th of November for his arrival at St.
Agatha. “ I was much pleased at hearing of
this charity,” Alphonso w’roto to Father Master
Gessari ; “but I havo informed tho prefect that
if tho mission commences on tho 12th, which is
a Monday, all tho days which intervene between

<*'

r

J<v

176

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

it and the following Sunday will bo lost, because
so fow people will go to church. Tho same
thing once happened to myself ; and from that
time I resolved never again to begin a mission
on a working day.” Ho arranged about the ac­
commodation of tho missionaries and all that
the missionaries required. “ Take caro and pre­
pare two beds,” he wrote on the 24th of Jan­
uary to tho priest Doodatus do Bucciano, “as
well as various cooking utensils, Ac. I must
beg you to speak to that good man belonging
to Paslorano who has a house quito close to
the church.'’ Ho also asked for tho favour of
tho Prince of la Riccia. “I stand in need of
several favours from your Excellency just at
present,” ho wrote to him. “Tho first is for
tho mission of Airola, where I entreat you to
lend me a part of your palace for tho fathers
of St. Dominic Major, who will come and give
this mission, and whom I have not been able
to obtain until after importuning them for two
years. Tho second favour refers to your other
house at Arpaja, where I wish to send the fa­
thers of my Congregation, and 1 ask you for
tho same thing for another country place and
village.”
During this time ho did not omit to second
the labours of his missionaries himself. On the
12th of April, 1775, tho secretary Cintino wrote
to tho canon Don Liborius Carfora: “His
Lordship bids mo tell you that you must be
careful in watching N., tho lay-brother. You
know the convent where ho lives, and you must

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

seo whether ho continues to visit the house of N.»
to the scandal of tho neighbourhood. lie wishes
you to inform him about this as soon as pos­
sible, and that you should como here to him
this morning to speak to him by word of mouth
touching this monk.”
This last general mission completely cleansed
and sanctified tho whole diocese. In order that
tho passion of Jesus Christ should bo well im­
pressed on all hearts, Alphonso caused a pic­
ture of it to bo painted as largo as life and iu
tho most moving manner, and ho caused this
picture to bo carried in procession through the
church on tho last evening of tho exercises of
tho dovout life. In order also to excite souls
to compassionate tho dolours of tho Blessed Vir­
gin, ho had tho statuo of our Lady of Dolours
exposed and carried proccssionally in tho same
way. “Do not forgot,” ho wrote in a circular
of tho 16th of April, 1775, “to have tho pro­
cession of our Lady as I have pointed out.”
In this letter ho points out all that must bo
done in order to succeed in inspiring tho peo­
ple with compunction through the picture of
Jesus crucified, as well as by that of our Lady
of (Sorrows. “It is an exercise which is calcu­
lated to affect tho most insensible when per­
formed as 1 have enjoined.” TIo in tho same
letter expresses himself with great zeal against
obstinato sinners ; ho does not wish them to bo
left alone, but rather that they should be ter­
rified. “In all places,” said he, “where cor­
ruption or any special vice exists, ’such as blas-

178

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

phemy, licentiousness, or any similar one, a
great deal of good is obtained by the maledic­
tion of habitual sinners. Tho preacher being
vested in a surplice and a black stole, recites an
act of contrition, after which ho takes a lighted
torch, and says, ‘ I curso not tho good nor
penitent sinners, but only those who aro not
resolved to forsake sin.’ ” Ho then mentions
different sorts of sinners, such as blasphemers,
tho revengeful, parents who neglect to watch
over tho morals of their children, &c.
“ ‘ All those who aro obstinato in these vices
God curses, and I also curse them in God’s
stead.’ Whilst ho pronounces these words, ho
raises his voice quito high, and whilst extend­
ing one hand ho rings a boll with the other as
loudly as possible.
“ There is ono amongst us who has taken upon
him to say that this ceremony is too terrify­
ing. 0 God! and why is it done, except for
tho very purpose of alarming tho hardened ?
However, before commencing this ceremony, it
is well to say to tho people : ‘ Hearken ; David
curses obstinate sinners in Holy Writ;’ ‘Male­
dicti qui declinant a mandatis tuis.’ ‘It is
thus that I curse them.
*
On saying these
words he must sound tho knell with tho great
bell. These ceremonies aro especially of great
utility in largo towns. Tho fathers must not
inform tho dories that such an exercise is to
tako place, so that no ono may oppose it and
assumo a tone of authority, and say, that it
is not fitting. Tho fear which it inspires only

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

179

concerns the obstinate, or those who after having
heard sermons aro not yet resolved to give them­
selves up to God. It is a ceremony which I
have had practised in nearly every part of the
diocese ; it has been most advantageous, and
has not occasioned tho mischief which some
have dreaded. I specially advise preachers fre­
quently to repeat certain things in particular,
and they aro as follows : Let them inculcate
what a grievous sin it is to conceal a sin through
shame ; in their sermons let them dwell as much
as possible on tho necessity of recommending
oneself to God, especially when temptation as­
sails us, and particularly temptations of the
flesh. Let them in all their sermons preach
on love towards Jesus crucified and on devo­
tion to tho Blessed Virgin. And when any ha­
bitual vice exists in a place, such as vengeance,
impurity, or theft, frequent reference must bo
made to this vice. Before making an act of
sorrow, tho people must be caused to be silent;
the motives for sorrow should not exceed two
or three, but they must be different in all
the sermons which aro made ; and every even­
ing after an act of sorrow, some peculiar fa­
vour should bo asked of tho Blessed Virgin. If
tho people aro made to say an Ave Maria, it
should bo said before the sermon and not after,
for fear that tho people may grow cold and
complain when they return home.”

* /

< ··

t*r

180

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

CHAPTER III.

The holy father Pius VL, knew too well how
to appreciate Alphonso’s zeal and tho great
good which ho was continually effecting in the
Church of St. Agatha, in spite of his great
infirmities, readily to accept his resignation of
his office. When he received his petition from
the hands of his Eminence Castelli on the 5th
of May, he was not the least disposed to grant
it, although tho cardinal represented to him by
word of mouth Alphonso’s great age and tho
bodily ailments which oppressed him. During
this state of things two of our fathers arrived
in Rome ; they were D.D. Capuano and Rastelli,
who had been giving tho missions in the Abbruzzes ; when they presented themselves to pay
their homage to tho holy father, his Holiness
being informed that they were subjects of the
congregation, asked them about Mgr. Liguori.
Tho fathers thinking that they would thus be
doing a thing which would be agreeable to Al­
phonso, and being impatient to see him once
more in tho midst of them, did not fail to con­
firm what tho Popo had heard regarding his
infirmities,
H
nay, they even exaggerated them.
“ Most holy father,” said they, “ ho is in a
state which quite makes one grieve for him:
he is deaf, blind, and laden with so many in­
firmities, that he has no longer even the appear-

ST. alphonso liguoiu.

181

ance of a man.” Tho Popo turned to Mgr.
Calcagnini, and said to him, “Do you hear what
these fathers say? If this be the case, we must
not distress him.” And upon this he deter­
mined to accept his resignation, although he did
so with much regret. He therefore caused his
Eminence Girand to write to Alphonso on the
9th of May, 1775, as follows: “His Holiness
felt sincere sorrow at hearing, through the letter
which Cardinal Castelli has forwarded to him,
of the sad state of your health, which has made
you resolve on tendering your resignation to him.
This causes the holy father to feel very great
regret, as he knows how to appreciate your
merits and your pastoral vigilance ; but as he
is, on tho other hand, aware of the complete
justice of the motives which cause you to proffer
it, ho does not wish to prolong your mental
anxieties, and so he accepts your resignation,
which must be made according to legal forma­
lities. This is what our holy father has com­
manded me to intimate to your Lordship, in re­
ply to tho above-named letter ; and with senti­
ments of tho highest esteem, I heartily kiss your
hand, and am,” &c.
Alphonso was filled with joy on hearing that
the Pope had accepted his resignation, and imII ediately
informed Father Villani of it, who
was then on a mission at Capua. Ho would
have liked to have him with him at Arienzo, but
as ho was not able to do this, ho wrote to him
again on tho 13th of the same month, “Tho will
of God bo done, which orders that your Rove-

182

ST. ALPHONSO LTGUORI.

ronce should be engaged in this mission; however,
that I may not leave tho diocoso with scruples,
I must consult you about several things. I quit
it without pain, because I quit it in obedience.
I fear however that some grandee may replace
me ; for there are so many candidates already.
In that case there would bo an end put to all
tho pains that I havo taken. I pray God to
havo compassion on my diocese. I entreat your
Reverence and all the others not to speak to
me any more about my diocoso, in order to
take away all uneasiness on this head.”
When his Lordship’s resignation became known,
there was universal lamentation. Alphonso wrote
and told Archdeacon Don Francis Rainono to in­
form the chapter of it. His letter, which ho did
not sign as Bishop of St. Agatha, but as Alphonso
Maria of tho Holy Redeemer, caused quito a
sensation in tho chapter and throughout tho
whole town of St. Agatha. “ It is a chastise­
ment from God,” said Archdeacon Rainono ; “we
havo not known how to appreciate him.”
There was not a canon, nor even a gentle­
man, who did not eagerly hasten to go to Ari­
enzo to complain to his Lordship of this mea­
sure, already so far advanced ; and even those
who had experienced the severity of his pun­
ishments, were now undeceived, and did justice
to his merits, and only felt regret at hearing
tho tidings of his departure. Notwithstanding
tho mortification tho canon D. Francis Petti
had received on account of his brother, whom
Alphonso had caused to bo arrested and taken

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

183

to Montefusco, where he endured a long im­
prisonment, ho repaired to Arienzo, and said,
with tears in his eyes, “What havo you done,
my Lord ? God forgive you for it ; the mis­
chief you aro doing to the whole diocese is
irreparable.”
Tho sorrow which this act caused at Arienzo
was not less. Tho clergy especially, who re­
ceived tho news before all the rest, and who
had enjoyed his presence for so many years,
were in the greatest affliction at it ; they felt
all tho more sorrow, from the greatest part of
them having been brought up under him at tho
seminary and selected by him for this college.
There was not a single canon or priest who did
not go to see him at his palace, and who did
not complain of tho step he had taken with tear­
ful eyes ; but if this loss caused general regret,
tho parish priests felt it tho most. “Which of
us,” said they, “can now acquit himself pro­
perly of his charge ? With the assistance which
Mgr. Liguori gave us when there was any dis­
order, our whole business consisted in informing
him of it, for ho could do anything for both
priests and seculars, with tho barons and the
king.” Others said, “ Where shall we now find
this purso always open to prevent suffering and
to relieve tho unhappy?” Even tho archpriest
of Frasso himself, who had made such violent
opposition on tho subject of tho tithes, and of
• tho district parish church which Alphonso had
wished to establish in this territory, could not
help groaning on hearing of his approaching

181

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

departure. He was at Naples at tho time, and
on being told that Alphonso was no longer able
to govern his church on account of his great
ago and palsy, ho said, “That is not the case;
Mgr. Liguori is capable of governing it by his
name alone.”
On the eve of his departure, Canon Truppa
and tho priest Don Pascal Bartolini went to
visit his Lordship, and could not refrain from
weeping : “ Do you think that I am not sad at
going?
In truth,9 it makes mo but too sad,
O
for I shall have to leave my children. I go
away,” added he, raising his voice, “because
God wills it to be so. The state to which
I am reduced compelled mo to inform the Pope
of it, but I declared to tho holy father, that
if my diocese would suffer the least injury, I was
ready to toil on hero until my death ; but if I
quit you in body, I leave my heart in tho midst
of you.”
Tho poor were tho most afflicted of all. Pen­
itent women, poor girls, and a great number of
indigent families who had relied on his assis­
tance, were inconsolable at losing him. “ Mgr.
Liguori’s resignation,” said a worthy ecclesiastic
to me, “ has been peculiarly felt by all the
poor throughout tho whole diocese.” Our Fa­
ther D. Angelo Gandinot met a poor villager
amongst others, who could not bo comforted at
his Lordship’s departure. “When we used to
go to the mountain,” said he, “we left our 4
children at his Lordship’s palace, and wo folt
sure that they would be fed ; but now that
O

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

185

ho is going away, to whom shall wo have re­
course ? ”
Tho infirm also and all the prisoners who
had boon visited by him and had received his
alms, could not help weeping as much as the
rest at the loss of their benefactor. “We shall
not have Mgr. Liguori any more, who used to
send to comfort us, or come and do so himself,”
said they. “Who will now intercede for us with
our creditors, and who will plead our cause with
the magistrates ? Ilis Lordship could do every
thing, for ho was a saint, and every one ho­
noured him as such.” This universal affliction
was a sorrow to Alphonso also, and if it had
cost him much to become united to this dear
spouse, it cost him still more to separate from
her.
This resignation was felt even at Naples and
elsewhere. When the Marquis of Avena, coun­
sellor to his majesty, was informed of it, he
said, “Mgr. Liguori has done ill, yes, very ill
indeed. If it rested with me, I would make
him remain in tho diocese. His presence was
of itself enough to govern it, and to make every
one in it do his duty.”
When Mgr. Capeco Galeati, the archbishop
of Capua, heard that the Popo had accepted his
resignation, ho said with feelings of deep sor­
row, “Tho Popo has accepted Mgr. Liguori’s
resignation, ho who did so much good in tho
Church of God, and ho lias refused mine, and
I am useless.”
Don Hercules also showed displeasure at it.

•- ·

I

k. i

Ή Ή

-’•'•’I

186

ST. ALriIONSO LIGUORI.

“ I hear that you complain of my resignation,”
Alphonso wrote to him on tho 22nd of July,
1775 ; “I have not resigned to pass my time in
idleness, but because my infirmities prevent my
fulfilling my duties. I represented my ills to
tho Pope, and tho Popo has accepted my re­
signation.” Alphonso feared that there was
some interested feeling in play in his mind
about it ; he therefore said, “ Perhaps you are
afraid that I shall go to law against you on
account of the inheritance ; for from what I
hear, it is to be feared that I shall not be able
to touch my pension from the College of Doctors,
unless I were to reside in Naples, which I cannot
do. Bo without fear however, for I renounce
all claims to our common property. I hope that
tho Popo will assign mo a pension, and that
the court of Naples will ratify it. If this should
not bo the case, and if tho college also refuses
the pension, I shall bo satisfied with the car­
lins I get for masses, and which will bo enough
for mo to live on.”
The resignation was formally accepted by the
consistory on tho 17th of July ; on hearing this
nows, some ono in the diocese said to his Lord­
ship in jest, that since his resignation had been
accepted, ho appeared to hold his head straighter
than before; “Yes,” replied Alphonso, “because
the weight of Mount Taburno has been taken
off my shoulders.” (It is a very high mountain
which overtops tho town of St. Agatha.)
After he had thanked the Popo for tho great
favour he had deigned to confer on him, ho also

st. alphonso i.rouor.t.

187

»■

1

asked him to allow him to preserve all the privi­
leges annexed to tho episcopate, especially in re­
gard to tho portable altar. In reply, Cardinal
Girand informed him that tho holy father had
deigned to grant his request in tho fullest sense.
The Pope added another favour to this, and one
which Alphonso had not asked.
“Our holy
father,” tho cardinal wrote to him, “thinks of
reserving you a suitable pension secured on
your Church, and be wishes to settle as to its
amount with yourself.” As Alphonso did not
wish to burthen his Church, he replied that
if tho Popo deigned to grant him a pension,
four hundred ducats would bo enough for him.
His moderation was extremely edifying to tho holy
father, who in consideration of his circumstances
graciously assigned him eight hundred scudi.
His Eminence Cardinal Castelli befriended Al­
phonso very much indeed on this occasion. When
ho was despatching tho letters for tho eight hun­
dred scudi which Alphonso had obtained, ho
again represented to the Pope the services he
had rendered to tho whole Church, and the la­
bours ho had endured for tho good of souls, both
by his words and by his writings. When Pius
VI. thus became still better acquainted with
Alphonso’s merits, ho also gave him up the
hundred and five scudi which ho owed to the
apostolical council, as is proved by tho letter
which Don Melchior Torragnoli, the secretary
of his Eminence, wrote to him.
Tho advocate, D. John Miniori pleaded his
Lordship’s cause so well before tho College of

• i

ff

’

ISS

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Doctors at Naples, that they without hesitation
agreed to give him tho whole of his pension,
just as he had been in the habit of receiving
it up to that time, “ I am worn out and
decrepit,” Alphonso wrote to them, “I cannot
now walk a single step ; I either spend my time
in bed, or remain helplessly on my chair. I
cannot leave my room during a great part of
tho year, because of my chest, and I very often
feel as if I were dying. The least wind, a little
rain, cold, or damp, suffice to give mo a danger­
ous catarrh, and I am nearly eighty years of
ago. In conclusion, I do not wish to exact
anything, because I should have a scruple of
conscience in so doing. God will provide for
me during the short time I have yet to live.”
Not satisfied with having thus testified his in­
difference, ho also took the advice of several
learned men, in order to be exempt from all
uneasiness. Mgr. Testa, amongst others, replied
to him, that his infirmities excused him from
residence, and that other members of the college
had also received their pensions for tho same
reason, although living elsewhere.
Meanwhile Alphonso did not lose sight of the
wants of his congregation ; he several times
begged his brother Don Hercules to bequeath a
free lodging in his own palace for tho use of
our fathers, conformably to what was practised
there up to that time. “ I entreat you,” he wrote
to him on the 29th of June, “to settle without
delay about tho charity which you wish to con­
fer on my fathers, by giving them an asylum in

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

189

J {Kea
Y·. I

your palace ; for if God were to call you to
Him without giving you time to settle about
theso things, my fathers would have nothin?.
Tho affair of tho chaplaincy must also be set­
tled ; I wish to have theso two things arranged
about, so that I may not have to think about
them any more ; for tho futuro I do not wish
to bo disturbed about anything connected with
this world’s affairs, but only to prepare for my
death, which is so near at hand. I entreat you
to set mo at rest on’theso two points.”
Alphonso uttered a remarkable prophecy about
this time. Divers reports were spread about
concerning tho person who would succeed him
in tho seo of St. Agatha. Tho candidates
were innumerable, and the whole diocese was in
uneasiness, not knowing who might be tho one
selected, His Lordship himself inquired as to
which of tho conjectures on this subject had
the most foundation ; several people were mentioncd to him, but ho heard their names with
indifference. Canon Don Peter Ferrara went to
seo him ono day, when Alphonso again asked
him if ho did not know anything further as to
the futuro election. “ Mgr. Rossi, tho bishop of
Ischia, is talked of as tho ono who will bo elect­
ed.” “Mgr. Rossi!” replied Alphonso with earn­
estness. “ My God ! my God ! I will at onco
write to Rome to bo allowed to resido hero until
the arrival of tho new bishop.” He then becamo
still more animated. “My poor Church!” ho
exclaimed, “how long wilt thou have to re­
main a widow and without a pastor!” He ha

;* ’
.·

190

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

toned to write to Romo, in hopes that tho Pope
would allow him to continuo to rule over his
Church until tho arrival of his successor ; but
according to a new rule as to discipline, a bi­
shop who had resigned was obliged to leave his
diocese immediately: this was tho answer he re­
ceived. Alphonso had prophesied truly however,
for the clergy of Ischia, contrary to all expecta­
tion, opposed tho translation of their bishop to tho
Church of St. Agatha, which remained a widow
for nearly five years. Alphonso also had ano­
ther very serious affliction before the investiture
of Mgr. Rossi ; he heard that tho Pope, on ac­
count of tho differences which existed between the
courts of Rome and Naples, would not nominate
a bishop for St. Agatha. Some said that the
vicar capitular would continue to rule over it;
others, that the Pope would send there a vicar
apostolical. These tidings, although done away
with by the election of Mgr. Rossi, did not fail
It
to afflict
and alarm Alphonso, and for a time
they even caused him loss of sleep and appetite.
We have said that Alphonso wished to bo
useful to his Church up to tho last moment.
Let us see what he on the 17th of June wrote
to Mgr. Rossi, who was elected as his successor:
“ When your Lordship has taken possession of
this Church, I trust you will do mo the favour
to come to Noccra for two days, when I will
give you full particulars of all that can inter­
est you regarding the bishopric, and of all that
I have learnt during thirteen years of labour.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

191

H
Two days will suffico to inform
you of all. I
hopo that your Lordship by moans of what I
will tell you and your own experience, will bo
ablo to carry on tho government in an excellent
manner and for God’s glory.”
Mgr. Rossi went to Nocera, and Alphonso in­
formed him of the state of his diocese with
tearful eyes.

CHAPTER IV.
When Alphonso was on the point of separa­
ting from his dear Church of St. Agatha, ho
wished to visit his children once more in per­
son, although he was so infirm and broken down,
in order that he might humbly bid them adieu,
and testify the warmth of his love towards them.
In making tho visitation of the parishes, ho for
the last time inculcated on them all persever­
ance in well-doing, tho avoidance of sin, the fré­
quentation of the sacraments, and above all, tho
love of Jesus Christ, and devotion to the Bless­
ed Virgin Mary. With unparalleled humility
he asked pardon for his numerous failures, as
he called them, and also for tho scandal ho
had perhaps given during his government. Ho
protested that ho Îiad loved all his children ar­
dently and without exception, and ho begged
them not to forget him in thoir prayers to
Jesus and our Lady, adding, that ho trusted
tliat when they heard of his death they would

J 92

ST. AI.I’IIOXSO I.IGUO11Î.

vouchsafe to pray to God for his soul. Ho re­
peated tho same thing in all tho churches at
Arienzo, and everywhere these last words were
answered by sobs and hoods of tears.
Our Lord blessed even his privato farewells
in quite a peculiar manner. "I have to-day,”
he wrote to Father Villani, on the evo of his
departure, “ been obliged again to drink of tho
cup of bitterness, although I am no longer
bishop.” IIo alluded to a wicked surgeon whom
ho had imprisoned at Nevano. Before ho went
away, he made a last appeal to this hardened
sinner. “Now that I am going to leave my
church, do you also leave off sin,” said he to
him. The emotion with which tho saintly old
man pronounced these words, penetrated the
heart of tho unhappy man, who before long be­
came converted, for ho was attacked by a sick­
ness which made him think seriously; ho made
a public confession of his offences, and died in
sentiments of the most sincere repentance, ren­
dering a thousand thanks to Mgr. Liguori.
Before Alphonso left Arienzo ho visited all
tho religious communities. It was a touching
spectacle to see how humble ho was wherever
ho went. IIo asked forgiveness for tho excessive
rigour ho had perhaps made uso of during his
government, asserting that all had been tho effect
of true lovo, and not through any particular re­
sentment, and that· ho had always sought to pro­
cure honour for the religious, and to conciliate
the esteem of the people in their regard. Ho ad­
vised superiors to be at all times zealous for tho

—

■- »

■i

193

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI,

observance of rule, and to surmount all human
considerations when the glory of Jesus Christ
and tho good of souls were in question, He
above all entreated them to remember him at
the altar, and not to forget his soul when he
was dead.
lie did not forget the convents and nuns.
Before ho took leave of them ho briefly reminded
them of all his paternal lessons, and said to them,
“Fly from tho grato, love the choir and your
cells, and have a tender lovo for Jesus Christ
and His Blessed Mother, if you wish now to
tasto the joys of Paradise by anticipation.” As
he was unable from tho fatigue of going to St.
Agatha to make his farewells in person, he
wrote a letter to the chapter, tho reading of which
caused many tears to bo shed. Tho following
was a private letter which ho addressed on tho
25th of June, to Canon Petti, who was ill at
the time: “I go because God has shown me
that I can no longer bo useful. I am at present
in such a deplorable stato, that everything warns
mo of a speedy death. I thank you from tho
very bottom of my heart for all tho services
your Reverence has conferred on me. May Jesus
Christ reward you,” &c. Ho signed tho letter
thus : “ Your devoted, obliged, and faithful ser­
vant, Alphonso Maria do Liguori, bishop.”
The nuns of tho Annunziata asked him for
a keep-sake ; ho sent them a littlo picturo of
our Lady of Good Counsel, which he had always
upon his table, and which was dear to him; ho
said to them that his heart was with them, that
VOL. 1V.

‘•4 r.

•

♦

/

194

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

lio wished all the religious to say a Salvo Regina
in common for him every Saturday, and that
they should recite tho Litanies for him for three
days after his death, which they did.
As Sister Mary Raphael, tho foundress of
the Nuns of the Holy Rodeemer, could not
a most
see him at St. Agatha, she wrote
affectionate letter. Amongst other things she
said to him, that when Cod' should call him
to Himself, she hoped ho would not forget his
daughters in Jesus Christ, and that he would
bequeath his heart to them by will. His Lord­
ship read the letter with pleasure ; but when he
camo to the words “bequeath your heart,” he
said, “ I always have considered Mother Raphael
for a sensible woman, but I have now lost my
good opinion of her. My heart indeed ! What
dish do they want to make of it ? It is the soul
which signifies ; as for my body, if they wish
to please mo they will throw it away.” The
present he sent them was a simple wooden cross
with tho emblems of the Passion, which was
in his dining room, and which ho was in tho
habit of kissing whenever he entered the room
or went out of it.
The canons also asked him for a remembrance.
He could think of nothing better to give them
than another large cross, also made of unpolish­
ed wood, and with the emblems of tho Passion
on it, which was placed on tho first landingplace of the stair-case, and which he was also
in tho habit of kissing whenever he went in or
out of tho house.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

195

As lie had nothing else to give to the Capu­
chin fathers, ho loft behind some artificial flowers
for them, which adorned tho altar of the Blessed
Sacrament in his chapel, and he wished them to
keep them in remembrance of him.
As tho seminarists also came to Arienzo, Alphonso bade farewell to his dear pupils ; he urged
them to love Jesus Christ, to bo devout towards
the Blessed Virgin, and to frequent the sacraII ents.
He exhorted them to love study, and
to strive to sanctify themselves in order that
they might become useful to tho Church. Tie
left them some books which belonged to him
and not to the Congregation, as well as all his
works.
Such wore tho remembrances which his Lord­
ship left to those who wore dearest to him on
his departure from the diocese. Some time be­
fore this, he was once conversing with his house­
hold, when lying on his poor bed : their conver­
II
sation somehow
' turned upon the costly things
which his predecessors had left behind them ; one
spoke of one thing, another of another. Alphonso
listened to all this in silence, and at length he
pointed to a little chest under his bed : “ This
little chest,” said ho cheerfully, “will be all
the valuables that I shall leave behind me.”
Indeed he left nothing more than was necessary
for a poor religious. A few miserable beds and
some cooking utensils, were all the goods which
Mgr. Liguori left to tho chapter of St. Agatha
when ho left Arienzo. As he had nothing else
to give to tho poor, he left them his heart: ho

196

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

quitted them with a sorrowful mind ; this separa­
tion was like a two-edged sword to him ; ho
thought of the poor even in his sleep, and fancied
ho heard them complain and say, “Why havo
you abandoned us?” The very sight of a beg­
gar was enough to affect him, towards tho end
of his sojourn at Arienzo ; and as soon as his
departure was certain, ho considerably increas­
ed his alms ; on tho day that he left Arienzo,
it was tho 27th of July, 1775, tho palaeo was,
as it were, besieged by these his favoured chil­
dren, and they all had tho gratification of sharing
in his last donations. On this same day ho wrote
his farewell letter to Mother Raphael, and gavo
his last counsels and blessing to her, and to her
children. “I pray God,” ho wrote to her, “to
give you health for the sake of tho welfare of this
convent, and I hope that tho Lord will not call
you to Himself until this community is strength­
ened. Bo constant in exhortations regarding tho
avoidance of abuses and novelties ; for new things,
however small they may be, aro capable of de­
stroying tho observance of rule by little and
little, and such has been tho case in so many
celebrated convents. If a thing is now and
deviates from ancient custom, thero is cause to
fear, especially when tho thing becomes general. ,
I bless you and all your daughters one by one,
and pray that Jesus Christ will fill you all with
His lovo. There is no cause to fear evil where
tho lovo of God exists. This is why you must
constantly remind your daughters that they must
do everything with tho intention of pleasing God.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

197

They ought at least to mako frequent acts of lovo
towards Jesus Christ and say, “My Jesus, give
mo Thy love. My Josus, give me Thy love.”
And in addressing the Blessed Virgin lot them
often say, * My dear Mother, make me lovo
Jesus Christ, My dear Mother, mako mo love
It was with tho sacred names
Josus Christ.
of Jesus and Mary in his heart and on his lips,
that his Lordship bado his children in Christ
farewell.
When ho was on the point of setting out, an
increased amount of veneration was testified to­
wards him by those of all ranks and conditions.
It was a proof that people thought that in losing
his Lordship they would lose a saint, that his
room was quite ransacked, and all that ho had
made uso of was carried off as relics. Some
asked ; others took what they wanted secretly ;
and as each one wished to have something, every­
thing he had disappeared, even to tho little
images he had at tho head of his bed. Λ little
wooden crucifix was violently carried off by D.
Fabricius Martinisi, a gentleman of Arienzo.
Another took tho little branch of box-wood which
ho used for holy water. As Constantine Silvio,
the barber of tho house, did not seo anything
else to take, he asked Alphonso for a crutch
which had been thrown aside, but which his
Lordship had made uso of when ho had the
rheumatism. “Take it,” said Alphonso to him,
“for it may bo serviceable to you some day.”
In fact, his son’s wife, who was some years after­
wards in labour for three days, owed her life
A

198

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

to this relic. All her family were in grief and
despaired of her safety, when Silvio met with
tho crutch in tho corner of tho house, as if by
chance; he remembered Alphonso, who was al­
ready honoured as a saint. “ This crutch,” he
said to his daughter-in-law, “belonged to our
late bishop, who worked so many miracles ; if
you have faith, and will only take it, you will
bo cured.” What a prodigy ! the woman had
scarcely touched it, when she gave birth to a
male child.
Alphonso ruled over tho church of St. Agatha
for thirteen years and fifteen days. He was only
three times absent from his diocese, and that
for reasons of tho greatest importance ; these
three absences put together only amounted to
three months in all. The first was when he
went to Noe era to assist at tho general chapter
of his congregation ; tho second when ho again
went to Nocera for tho recovery of his health ;
and the third was when he had to go to Naples
in tho year 1767, on account of tho dangers with
which his congregation was threatened.
Indeed ho always felt scrupulous at being ab­
sent not only from his diocese, but even from
his cathedral, without a lawful reason. Ono year
when he had terminated his visit at Airola, his
grand-vicar was in no hurry to return thither,
as ho did not like living at St. Agatha. His
Lordship asked Peter Pollastrelli the priest, and
tho priest D. Joseph Truppi, if tho grand-vicar
was ready to set out ; and on hearing that ho
manifested no intention to do so, ho said to him

! Ü i il?

Fl
I ■

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORT.

199

with emphasis, “I am in haste to return to St.
Agatha ; for that church is my spouse, and I
ought to reside there ; if this is disagreeable
to you, do as you like.” At a later period, and
after tho serious illness he had at Arienzo, ho
again thought of returning to St. Agatha. “ It
is to St. Agatha,” exclaimed he one day, “that
II
God has sent me,
and it is there that I ought
to live, were I to die by so doing.” Upon that
the grand-vicar and his household represented
to him that the apartments ho must occupy
were in a ruinous state ; but Alphonso, who
eagerly wished to return there, hastened to send
for the architect Aulicino from Maddalon ; in
II
order to prevent his having these repairs made,
they then caused the architect to tell him that
it was not an easy thing to do, and that the ex­
pense would be great. Alphonso yielded, upon
reflecting on the grounds he had for giving way
II
to these arguments, and especially remembering
tho wants of the numerous poor he had to re­
lievo, but he did so with regret, and only that
ho might thereby bo better able to assist the
suffering members of Jesus Christ.

CHAPTER V.

God, who never fails to hear the prayers of
His servants, permitted Alphonso to finish his
days at Nocera, and in tho midst of his chil­
dren. When ho was on tho point of leaving

I

r

200

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Arienzo, ho experienced a mixture of sorrow and
of joy ; of sorrow, in separating himself from a
spouse ho tenderly loved ; and of joy at finding
himself on tho evo of returning to his cell. Ho
almost feared this departure, and when the day
for it had arrived, ho counted the moments
which were still remaining to him. Early on the
morning of tho 27th of July, 1775, ho gavo
his last blessing in his dear church at St.
Agatha to an immenso concourse of people
who had assembled there : ho distributed large
alms to a crowd of poor persons who solicited
his charity, and ho then got into tho carriage,
aided by his household, and accompanied by Fa­
ther Villaui. It is not possible to express what
tho people felt ; the clergy wept, and tho gen­
tlemen also ; but the poor especially gavo way
to the most sorrowful groans, for in Alphonso
they lost a father, a protector, and a refuge
in all their wants. Alphonso’s greatest pain
was caused by the affliction of the people, and
he could not see their tears without shedding
tears himself. When ho was on his journey,
ho addressed his usual prayers to his saintly pa­
trons, and particularly commended tho territory
of Arienzo, as well as tho whole diocese of St.
Agatha, to tho protection of Jesus Christ and
His blessed Mother ; ho continued his journey
while reciting the rosary and canonical hours
with Father Villani.
His equipage was as rich and pompous as
usualAlphonso entered tho diocese in poverty,
and his poverty was also manifested at his de-

ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

201

parturo. But what was most truly affecting,
and which drew tears from the eyes of the two
canons, Albanese and de Robertis, who were
deputies from the chapter of St. Agatha, was to
hear the venerable bishop ask to be allowed to
tako away his mattress and arm-chair as an
alms. All that he wished for was granted ; but
however generous the gift might be, it was not
ono which could concern the chapter and the
cathedral !
When ho saw that the priests, canons, and
gentlemen intended to follow him, he thanked
them all, and assured them of his gratitude for
this mark of their affection. However, four of
tho most distinguished of the canons were de­
termined to accompany him, as well as Father
Master Caputo and a great number of gentle­
men, amongst whom was Don Salvadore Roma­
no, who had tho greatest attachment to his
Lordship ; but after they had gone on for some
miles, that is to say, when they arrived at Can­
cello, Alphonso was anxious that they should re­
turn, and assured them that their presence only
increased instead of relieving his distress. How­
ever, Treasurer Martinelli and some others would
not yield to his entreaties, and accompanied
him to Noccra.
He arrived at Nola at dinner time. As ho
was an enemy to ceremonials ho did not get
out at tho bishop’s palace, but went to tho semi­
nary. Canon Francis Crisci, who was tho supe­
rior, and who felt tho greatest veneration tor
him, welcomed him as a messenger from heaven.

202

I

.1

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

Alphonso wished to say mass on his arrival;
for he did not like to say it at Arienzo, on ac­
count of the emotion which his departure caused
• I to feel.
him
Ho celebrated it then in presence
of tho whole seminary, although ho was in a state
of tho greatest suffering and weakness. Every
one shod tears of tenderness at seeing tho devo­
tion with which he celebrated the august sacri­
II
fice, without omitting the most
minute rubric,
notwithstanding his age and sufferings. When
the mass had ended, Father Villani then com­
menced his, during which Alphonso made his
thanksgiving. At the request of tho canon ho
afterwards addressed an exhortation to all tho
pupils, and gave them his blessing. When Mgr.
Liguori’s arrival at the seminary became known
II was
at Nola, several gentlemen, amongst whom
D. Baptist Santoro, went to pay their respects
to him, and God deigned to manifest the holiness
II
of His servant through a miracle.
D. Michael
Menichino’s sight had been so much weakened
for upwards of a year, through inflammation, that
ho was no longer able to walk without being
led. Divers remedies had been fruitlessly tried
at Naples and at Nola ; and tho complaint got
so much worse that ho became at length com­
pletely blind. When he heard that Alphonso
was in the seminary, ho caused himself to bo
led to him, accompanied by tho gentlemen of
whom wo havo just spoken, as he was full of
confidence in his power with God. He arrived
just as his Lordship was going to got into his
carriage ; ho threw himself at his feet, and

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

203

II
II
shedding tears, he entreated him
to make
the
sign of tho cross on his eyes. Alphonso was
affected, and no sooner had he done that which
ho had asked than the blind man recovered his
sight.
As soon as he entered the carriage again,
II
Alphonso recommenced
the recitation of the
rosary with Father Villani, and the rest of the
time, until they reached Nocora, was employed
in saying office and other vocal prayers. When
ho arrived at Nocera, Mgr. Sanfelice, who had
the greatest esteem for him, ordered that all the
beds should ring out to welcome him. Great
rejoicing was felt by the inhabitants of Pagani
when they saw him once more in the midst of
them. The state he was in, however, excited
general compassion ; but they especially shed
tears of emotion in calling to mind tho promises
he had made on his leaving for St. Agatha thir­
teen years before, that he would come and end his
days at Nocera. When ho got out of his carriage
he was surrounded by a crowd of people. All
tho clergy, and a great number of gentlemen,
hastened to kiss his hand and to receive his
blessing. When ho was on tho steps Alphonso
exclaimed with transport, turning round towards
Father Dcodatus Criscuoli, “ Gloria Patri, Ac.
Tho cross which I wear at my breast was very
heavy when I ascended tho staircase at Arienzo,
but how light has it become to-day ! Gloria
Patri,” &c. When he reached tho choir, which
is at tho first landing-place of this staircase, he
cast himself on his face before tho Blessed Sacra-

204

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

nient, and was heard to say, “ My God ! I thank
Thee for having released mo from so great a
burthen. My Jesus ! I could endure it no
longer.”
Whilst this was going on our fathers sung a
To Deum, to thank God for having restored their
common father to them. A comfortable little
room was prepared for Alphonso, which had been
set apart till then for the use of strangers ; but
when Father Mazzini conducted him there, he
observed a piece of tapestry, with a kind of
black border, which formed tho ceiling, ho ex­
claimed, “What, must I livo in the midst of
ornaments! I will have my old room.”
He was told that Father Villani occupied it;
but Alphonso would not yield. At length it was
represented to him that he ought to havo room
for the visitors ho would havo to receive ; this
reason made him determine to take two other
little rooms on tho third floor, tho one for his
bed-room, and tho other as a reception room.
When ho saw that he was lodged as the poor
arc, ho joyfully said to the gentlemen who sur­
rounded him, “Oh, how much better satisfied
I am in this cell than in the palaeo at Arienzo !”
Then looking at his little cross, and taking it
in his hand, ho repeated several times over,
“ This cross has become very light here ; but
there I sunk under its weight.”
Tho grand-vicar of Nocera camo to see him
the same evening, to pay his respects to him
as the deputy of Mgr. Sanfelice. Alphonso in
tho conversation he had with him, expressed

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI,

205

his happiness at being released from tho weight
of his Church: “I am released,” said he, “from
the mountain of Taburno, which rested on my
shoulders.”
“I quite believe it,” replied the
grand-vicar ; “but I think that tho diocese is
very much displeased at your departure.” “And
why?” his Lordship replied. “Because it has
lost a pastor who did it much good,” answered
tho grand-vicar. Alphonso was disturbed at these
words. “Jesus and Mary,” he exclaimed in great
excitement, “ what does tho grand-vicar say of
me, who have done no good at all, none, none,
none? If any good has been done, it was Don
Carlo do Marco who did it, and not me ; or
rather,” ho immediately added with emotion, it
was God, God alone who has done all.”
Mgr. Sanfelice camo to visit him himself next
day ; ho also received visits from all the superiors
of monasteries, from tho nobles, and from all the
people of rank of the neighbouring places in the
diocese. Mgr. Sanfelice conferred full powers on
him to exercise all authority in tho diocese, by
one word and in the most extended manner.
The bishops and grand-vicars in tho neighbour­
hood also went to seo him, and tho visits paid
him were so numerous, that they prevented him
from resting for several days. In a letter which
ho addressed to one of us on tho same day ho
said, “By God’s grace I am at Nocera at last,
and I feel as if I were in Paradise.”
It was thus that Alphonso rejoiced, but his
joy was of short duration, for tho life of tho
just is only an alternation of joy and pain. Our

r lift
’’ L

·.·

Φ I
I, » i» r i

i»

206

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

adversaries never ceased to beset the royal court
with calumnious petitions, and so tho Marquis
Tanucci published three ordinances on the 3rd
n year ; the first was ad­
of October of tho same
dressed to Ferdinand de Leon, attorney of tho
junta of abuses ; tho second to tho commis­
sioner of tho country, D. Blaise San Severino ;
and tho third to Duke Furitto, attorney procu­
rator of tho royal council. All three contain­
ed tho following injunction, namely, that after
a compilation of all tho proceedings and accu­
sations in tho council of St. Clare, in that of
till I
Sommaria,
and in tho royal council, tho procu­
rator Leon, with two other deputies, wero to
ii
make
their opinions known to his majesty, after
having examined everything, and to transmit
all the documents to the chief ministerial coun­
cil.
This final determination made a general sen­
sation, it encouraged our enemies, and to us it
was like a thunderbolt.
Some very serious differences arose about this
time between tho courts of Naples and Rome.
The expulsion of tho Jesuits, which happened
at the same period, confirmed the forebodings
of our speedy suppression. The procurator listen­
ed to our enemies, who had already begun to
glory in their triumph, and in the destruction
of the missionaries. In fact, we had no other
support to rest on than the piety of tho prince
and tho protection of God. Alphonso was af­
fected by hope and fear, but hope preponderated.
“I am quite contented,” he wrote to our fa-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

207

thers at Naples, “because I feel sure that the
Madonna will protect us during this storm.”
During these critical circumstances Alphonso
despaired of the aid of man, and therefore turn­
ed to God with redoubled fervour. He recom­
mended himself to the prayers of several mon­
asteries, and ho wrote the following circular
to all our houses on the 4th of November :
“My very dear brothers, redouble your fer­
vour in prayer, for our enemies redouble their
fury against us. I trust in prayer, which is all­
powerful with God. Do not cease to pray, for
if you neglect prayer our ruin is certain. If
wo pray, and act as we ought towards God, He
will preserve us ; if not, we shall assuredly be
destroyed.”
As ho ardently desired that a daily increasing
love towards Jesus Christ should be inculcated
on the people through a continual remembrance
of His passion, he exhorted each one to employ
himself in so holy a work.
“Now that the
missions commence,” said he, “do not omit con­
stantly, in instructions, exercises, rosary, and
sermons, &c., several times a day, to enforce
love towards Jesus Christ, and specially towards
Jesus Christ in His passion, as well as constant
recurrence through prayer to Jesus and Mary
in temptations.
“In tho missions I also recommend purity of
intention, obedience, and love of employments
in which self-love has no advantage. Bo care­
ful not to offer up to God thoso works only
which are pleasing to naturo, such as sermons,

I

S il i
' ·I

208

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

exorcises, &c., but also such as are distasteful
to it, and which do not require so much ta­
lent, such as tho catechism, rosary, exhortations,
confessions of men, of tho sick and old, &c. ; it
is in theso that merit is to bo found. This is
why I urge all to bo very strict as to obedience,
and I enjoin all superiors of missions to inform
mo about the subjects who commit any serious
act of disobedience against them. I desire that
tho superior of missions shall be obeyed, as I
should bo obeyed were I present.
‘‘That which I enjoin as to missions, I also
enjoin as to tho exercises which may be given
in the houses, whether to strangers or to tho
community.
“My brothers, if we behave well God will
preserve us ; if not, He will assuredly destroy
us. What pains mo most is not the seeing one
of you ill, or even leaving tho congregation ; I
wish him well: it is to seo him commit faults,
especially against obedience or poverty ; that
rends my very heart.
“ I bless you all ono by one. Pray about the
persecution which wo endure, and which is more
intense now than ever ; but I trust in Jesus
Christ and the Blessed Virgin, who will not
abandon us. You must each of you pray daily
for me, in order that I may have a happy death.
For my part, I do nothing but pray for you, and
care more for you than all my relations. May
you be blessed, and blessed also be all the labours
you shall perform in-the houses and in the mis­
sions.”

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

209

Alphonso had scarcely retired into the congre­
gation ere he had cause to bo satisfied with the
kindness of tho holy Father Pius VI. In the
preparation of tho letters for his pension the
Popo remembered tho services ho had rendered
to tho Church, and wished that all should . be
sent to him gratis. “ Tho groat esteem his Ho­
liness entertains for your Lordship,” Cardinal
Castelli wrote to him, “has caused him to free
you from all expense for tho composition and
despatch of tho letters. ‘ One cannot do enough
for Mgr. Liguori,’ said tho Pope.” Besides these
expenses ho ought also to have paid a hundred
and five scudi to his successor, Mgr. Rossi, who
had a right to retain them on the day when the
first portion of his pension became due. The
Pope wished to favour him in this also. “By
a special grace of our holy Father,” his agent,
D. Melchior Terragnoli, wrote to him on tho 1st
of September, “this sum has been remitted to
you.” In a word, tho holy Father was so fond
of Alphonso that ho even went out of his way
to seek for opportunities of testifying his esteem
and good-will towards him.

CHAPTER VI.

If Alphonso’s modo of life at Arionzo was
admirable and laborious, it was no less so at
Nocera. lie thought that he might then enjoy
some relaxation, but ho was only relieved from
]4

VOL. IV.

210

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

tho burthen of tho episcopate in order to bear
that of tho congregation ; for formerly its govern­
ment _ was at least divided between· him and Father Villanî, and Alphonso was only applied to
on weighty matters, whilst now all had recourse
to their common father, and left him no longer
at rest. “I had hoped to find relief at Nocera,”
he wrote to Father Majono on the 2Gth of January, 177G, “but I have met with a thousand
thorns which deprive mo of all rest. God bo
praised ! My head is exhausted, and I am forced
to have a wet cloth constantly beside me to pre­
vent giddiness or fainting, through the number
of letters I have to write. Your Reverence will
say that it would bo better for mo not to write
any more letters ; but what can I do ? I am
superior once more. If I were not, I would
leave them to others ; but as I am so, I feel
scrupulous in neglecting to write the inspira­
tions which God gives me, for God gives know­
ledge to superiors which Ho does not grant to
others, and it is this thought which makes mo
write so many letters.
Alphonso found his congregation greatly cast
down by the numerous persecutions of its ene­
mies, and many had thereby lost tho strength
of mind which animated them at first. If a hail­
storm does not uproot tho vine, it however in­
jures it, and renders it less fertile. The vicissi­
tudes of persecution and the fear which the sub­
jects daily had of being turned out of their houses,
threw them into great perplexity, and oven
though they did not therefore quit the congre-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

211

gation, they were ill at ease in remaining in it,
and each one was continually planning for tho
future. This discouragement inflicted a severe
wound on the heart of Alphonso. From tho time
of his return he endeavoured to excite them all
to have recourse to the protection of Heaven, and
to confide in tho Blessed Virgin. ‘‘Persecu­
tions are to the works of God,” said he, “what
hail is to plants in winter ; far from hurting
them, it helps them to put forth deeper roots,
and renders them more fruitful. There is no­
thing but the worm which can injure plants,
The worms which we ought to avoid are faults
and voluntary failures ; let us amend our­
selves, and God will not fail to protect us. Let
us not form chimerical projects, they are so
many snares of the devil to cause us to depre­
ciate our vocation. One breach of rule gives me
more pain than all the persecutions. Let us
kiss the walls of our cells, and in proportion to
the amount of our persecutions, let us keep all
the more closely united to Jesus Christ.” He
never omitted to drag himself to the chapel every
Saturday, to assist at the chapter regarding of­
fences, and to animate his sons to greater per­
fection. Ho inculcated tho duties of tho rule
with fervour, and especially spoke of particular
virtues, whoso most minute beauties he caused
to be felt. “Why arc wo in tho congregation,”
ho ono day said, “ if it is not in order to become
saints ? The end which God has in view in de­
livering us from tho world, is our sanctification ;
if this had not been His intention, Ho would

b
■

212

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.
•·

have loft us in tho midst of its dangers.” Ho
constantly called to mind that tho end of tho
instituto is zeal for tho salvation of souls, and ho
especially urged us not to betray our true mis­
sion when preaching, by tho use of expressions
ill suited to tho apostolic ministry. Ono Satur­
day, among others, he expatiated on this point
in particular more than usual. “ I have heard
that you make panegyrics, and I am sorry for
it ; do away with this word panegyrics, and call
them discourses or sermons, and tell those who
invite you to mako them that wo do not preach
panegyrics. What profit is derived from them,
and who understands them when they are made
in the manner now in fashion ? Call them ser­
mons, and fill the people with love for tho vir­
tues of tho saints, whoso praises you set forth.”
Father Cajone, who was present, told me that
ho spoke so animatedly on tho subject, that ho
caused them all to think seriously about it. As
ho had made a vow to preach on the glories of
tho Blessed Virgin every Saturday, and as wo cel­
ebrated that same day with benediction and ex­
position of tho Blessed Sacrament in our church,
Alphonso, who burned with the desire of seeing
tho Mother and her Divine Son honoured, did
not fail to be conducted to tho church by the
lay-brother and his servant on tho Saturday
after his arrival, though they had the greatest
difficulty in placing him in tho pulpit. As soon
as ho appeared before the people, who had has­
tened in crowds to hear him, they all uttered a
cry of compassion ; they wept at seeing this old

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

213
JU

man broken down by infirmities, but they re­
joiced at seeing the prophecy he had made of
coming to die amongst them thus verified. He
preached as if lie had been quite well, and he
afterwards did the same on all Saturdays. He
Il
was always most
circumspect regarding the holy
virtue of chastity, and as he saw that the people
pressed round him when ho went to church, he
took care to wrap his handkerchief round his
hand to prevent women from kissing it. At
Nocera, as well as at Arienzo, a constant con­
course of persons of distinction, of priests and
of monks, hastened to be directed by his coun­
sels. All the bishops who went to Naples, or
returned from thence, made a point of consult­
ing him on their own necessities, and on those
of their dioceses.
Mgr. Guttilieri, the confessor to the queen,
and Mgr. San Severino, confessor to the king,
very often went to see him in order that they
might profit by his advice. Ladies of rank and
chevaliers did tho same. Amongst others, were
seen tho Duchesses of Bovino, of Cesariui, of
Caracciolo, tho Princess of Palmo, and many
others. I will not speak of ministers and magis­
trates, I will only cite tho Marquis of Avena,
counsellor to tho king and minister of the royal
council of St. Clare. He went to converse with
his Lordship several times a year on his spiritual
necessities and on tho duties of his office.
There is a congregation of priests at Pagani,
or in other words in tho town of Nocera, who
are no less flourishing than zealous, who have

?

214

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

tho honour of God and tho salvation of souls at
heart, and therefore devote themselves to the
apostolical ministry. They give missions when­
ever they are asked to do so. Besides the exer­
cises >f Lent they also know how to distribute
tho bread of the divine word to tho poor, and
attend,' daily in tho confessional. These priests
wero devoted admirers of Alphonso’s holiness,
and wished often to have him in tho midst of
them, in order to obtain a constantly increasing
fervour through his exhortations. Ono day when
ho was conversing with them on holy purity,
ho said to them, “Even I, old as I am, am
obliged to walk with my eyes down in merely
coming from St. Michael’s, in order to prevent
temptation against holy virtue. Some put no
control over their eyes, and then they wonder
that they are tempted.”
Tho nuns also wished to hear his instructions,
and Alphonso did not fail to visit them from
time to time ; his presence alone served to touch
their hearts. When he arrived at Nocera, he
effected in the asylum called tho Carminello
what several confessors had uselessly attempted.
Two females, who wero consecrated to God, were
living there in a state of scandalous enmity ; but
one of them, upon merely seeing him, humbled
herself, and ran and cast herself at the feet of her
enemy, and they both asked each other’s forgive­
ness for their offences, and embraced each other
with all charity. On another day he comforted
both tho religious and the mother prioress of tho
convent. Tho latter requested to see Alphonso,

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

215

and asked him to remember her in his prayers
in order that he might obtain for her the cure
of a cancer which she had in her left breast,
and which the doctors looked upon as incurable.
His Lordship encouraged her to bear it patiently :
“ Even if your malady gets so much worse as to
reduce you to the last extremity,” he said to her,
“you must not distress yourself; place yourself in
tho hands of God, and embrace the cross ; you
will thus please Jesus Christ, and your pain
will become easier.” When he returned to the
house Alphonso compassionated the sufferings
of the religious, and sent her a bottle of pure
water, telling her to bathe the diseased part
with it ; after tho mother prioress had done so,
the tumour disappeared, to her great consola
*
tion, and that of all the nuns.
Always faithful to his cherished poverty, Al­
phonso manifested it even in his retirement
at Nocera ; his two little rooms offered an ad­
mirable proof of it ; and they also betokened his
love and tenderness for our blessed Saviour and
His divine Mother. In the one ho destined to
bo his oratory, a large crucifix was to be found
on tho altar, which had been given to him by
Father Don Francis Longobardi ; at the foot of
this crucifix there was a very beautiful figure
of Blessed Mary, placed between two others of
tho Divine Shepherd and the Blessed Virgin
with the Holy Ghost on her breast. From morn­
ing till evening was Alphonso to bo seen seated
before these objects of his devotion ; he made
his exercises of piety there, and occupied him-

1.

μ

D

216

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

self in tho composition of his works. Tho room
was also adorned by Gorman figures which re­
presented tho different mysteries of tho Passion
on a largo scale, so that wherever ho turned
his eyes they met with objects which served to
gratify his fervour. This room had no other
ornaments : three or four straw chairs and a
little table formed its whole furniture. Ho had
also, however, the roughly made arm-chair which
ho had received as an alms at St. Agatha.
The chair was covered with some old damask
silk which tho grand-vicar and others had ob­
liged Alphonso to keep whilst he was at Ari­
enzo ; but at Nocora this stuff although torn
was a great pain to Alphonso, and as it inflicted
a wound on his lovo of poverty, ho several
times declared to Father Villani, that ho could
not endure it, and so at last ho had it taken
off tho chair and re-covered it with leather.
Ilis bed-room was ornamented with tho same
kind of pictures as his other room. There was
a figuro of our Lady of Sorrows opposito to
his bed, and a largo wooden cross. Around
this figuro there were also others to bo seen
representing the mysteries of the Passion. At
tho head of tho bed, ho had ono of St. Mi­
chael, besides a figuro of our Lady of Power, of
St. Margaret
of Cortona, and of the seraphic
_ ·
St. Buonavcnture of Potenza.
Tho carriage ho used was in such a bad
condition that it was in danger of breaking
down by tho way. When tho Duchesses of
Caracciolo and of Boviuo camo to Nocera with

1

ST. ALPIIOXSO LIGUORI.

217

Alphonso’s nieco, Donna Theresa, his servant
Alexis showed them in what a bad stato the
wood of this carriage was in, and begged them
to ask their nephew, Don Joseph, to see if he
had an old carriage, and to send it to his uncle.
It was thus Alphonso got a better equipage.
As to tho horses which were worn out through
old ago, and wore also brokon-winded and illtrained, they could scarcely get on at all.
Once one of them fell down, (no rare occur­
rence,) and tho servant ran to raise it ; when
tho horse in getting up nearly crushed him
against the wrall. Tho servant then spoke to
Alphonso, and said to him, “ My Lord, if
you wish mo to continue to serve you, you
must cither sell your carriage, or change your
horses.”
Tho doctors, as well as Father Villani, wished
him to take a short airing daily, in order to pro­
long his days. Tho expenso which this caused
displeased Alphonso very much, and thinking
it a superfluity, he did all he could to get
the doctor’s permission to give it up. “ If you
wish to do without it, consult others, and not
me,” said tho doctor Donatus Anthony Pignataro to him ono day, half angrily, “for I
daro not in conscience allow you to do it.”
Tho poor were Alphonso’s privileged friends at
Nocora also. After he had paid tho wages of
his servant and of his coachman, and for what
tho keep of his horses and own miserable nou­
rishment cost, ho gave all tho rest to tho poor.
Brother Michael Hilary has assured mo that a

i

218

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

lady of rank at Naples was in great want, and
exposed her indigence to Alphonso, who gave
her fifty ducats. Tho servant Alexis was un­
able to place one of his daughters as a laysister in the convent at St. Agatha, but Al­
phonso, who perceived that she had a real desire
to devote herself to God, gave her fifty-seven
ducats. Ho also gave his sister forty ducats
to enable her to marry. The same servant
has declared that ho received from him more
than two hundred ducats in his various ne­
cessities.
Alphonso was as cruel towards himself as he
was tender towards the poor. Ilis ardour in
mortifying himself excited the admiration of all
of us. Forgetting that he was laden with infir­
mities, he was continually weeping and groaning
to Father Villani at not doing penance. Ho
would have liked to discipline himself on the
days appointed for it by the rule, but how
could ho do it, he who required assistance in
getting up and in standing upright ?
Tho reading of pious books, meditation, and
prayer, were so delightful to him at Nocera,
even more so than at Arienzo, so that his life
may be said to havo been nothing but a con­
stant walking with God. Every one was as­
tonished at seeing him go through all the ex­
ercises of tho community, and much more be­
sides. lie recited tho little hours after his
morning meditation, ho said mass, for which ho
had made previous preparation, made his thanks­
giving, and examined his conscience before din-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

219

ner. In tho afternoon, when his short period
of repose had ended, he went through his spi­
ritual reading, which was followed by a me­
ditation on the Passion of Jesus Christ; he then
paid a visit to tho blessed Sacrament, which he
would mako in tho church, notwithstanding tho
difficulty ho experienced in getting thither, or ra­
ther in being dragged thero from the third floor
where he lived ; it often lasted for many hours ;
ho resumed meditation after six o’clock, and re­
cited matins with one of us ; ho then performed
the way of tho cross, not in his chair as at
Arienzo, but by going to the different stations
in a long corridor. Before ho went to bed, he
said night prayers and made an examination of
conscience ; during the spare moments of the
day, ho occupied himself by reading tho books
which had recently appeared in defence of reli­
gion, and in composing his own works.

CHAPTER VII.
Alphonso put the finishing stroke to his book
on Divine Providence, that is to say, on tho
economy of tho redemption of man, tho year of
his arrival at Noccra. It is impossible to read
this work without being affected, and without
being excited to love God, wrho became man
through lovo.
“His sentiments,” said Canon
Don Joseph Rossi, “are so many powerful mo­
tives which lead us to lovo Jesus Christ, and

220

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

which fill timid souls with trust in Divine
mercy.”
Ho added two treatises to this work ; tho first
was on tho lovo of God, and the methods of
acquiring it ; tho second contained divers coun­
sels fitted to encourage a soul in desolation. Tho
same canon could not sufficiently admire Λ1phonso’s zeal, which neither his great age nor
all his sufferings had in tho least abated. Mgr.
Cervone, who was at that time royal professor,
admired this work quite as much. “ Although
there are a multitude of books written on devo­
tion,” ho said to his Majesty, “yet the works
of Mgr. Liguori surpass all others, as much as
he himself excels them in piety.”
At this same time, when the press brought
to light tho extravagant reform which was at­
tempted to bo introduced into tho Church by
Abbé Rolli, a priest of Calabria, and an enemy
of the devotion to tho Blessed Virgin Mary,
Alphonso did not fail to oppose him in order
to defend the privileges of the Mother of God.
The abbé found fault with tho titles applied to
her of Turris Davidica and eburnea, and Domus
aurea, which ho called affected and ridiculous
expressions, as well as those of Speculum justitiæ,
Refugium peccatorum, Janua cæli and Stella ma­
tutina. He wanted her litanies to bo abolished,
and he sacrilegiously went so far as to say that
nothing but blind respect or party spirit, could
cause tho titles of a similar sort contained in
tho Salva Regina to bo defended. Alphonso was
so shocked at such great impiety, that although

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

221

Ildcfonso Cardona, a minim monk, had refuted
those impostures at length, ho wished to attack
•I
him again by means of some
other arguments,
and with him Lamindo Britannico, of whoso name
Abbé Rolli wished to take advantage, “I am
determined,” said he, “to write these few pages,
from seeing that Abbé Rolli wishes to throw dis­
credit on the devout prayers and titles commonly
given to the Blessed Virgin by the faithful in
tho litanies and in the Salvo Regina, as well as
from hearing him call the scapular and the rosary
childish devotions ; whereas they aro most reli­
π
gious practices and have been dear to mo
from
my earliest infancy.”
Alphonso was full of gratitude to tho holy
Father Pius VI., and profited by this oppor­
tunity of testifying it to him, by dedicating to
him his work on Divine Providence, which he
sent to him together with his last writings.
“I humbly present to your Holiness,” ho wrote
to him in tho month of November, “this little
work which I have composed in my old age,
and which is probably tho last I shall write ; for
my head has begun to fail mo for tho last four
or five months. I beseech your Holiness to cor­
rect it if you find anything in it you dislike,
and to bestow your blessing on me and it, if
you think it will bo useful to tho faithful.”
Pius VI. accepted this little present, and testi­
fied his satisfaction to him by a brief of tho
19th of tho same month. “We have received
your two works with tho very greatest pleasure,
wherein ono sees your zeal for virtue shine forth

999

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

most admirably together with your sacred know­
ledge ; thoso aro fresh motives to cause us to
increase our paternal love for you, and which
arises from your virtues and merits ; bo fully
persuaded therefore that whatever wo have hithcrtoo done in your favour, is only an earnest of
our good-will, which wo aro ready to evince to­
wards you on every opportunity to tho utmost
of our power.”
Alphonso was overwhelmed by so much kind­
ness, and hastened to offer his most humble
thanks to tho holy Father, and Pius VL, who
was sensible of his gratitude, replied to him in a
now brief, dated tho IGth of December, 177G, say­
ing that his thanks wore superfluous, both as re­
garded tho augmentation of his pension, and also
as to tho duos which wore remitted to him, as ho
had overpaid for all by tho present of his works.
“ Nothing could have been more acceptable to
us than this present, for which wo are as grateful
to you as if you had sent us a gift of great value
in tho eyes of tho world. Wo have looked over
these works rapidly, and wo promise you to read
them attentively as soon as wo aro at leisure.
They aro a fresh and convincing proof to us of
your indefatigable zeal in feeding tho flock of
Jesus Christ as far as lies in your power; so
that although you have resigned tho episcopate,
you have not however renounced tho solicitude
and duties of a bishop.
“As to tho protection of our Apostolic Seo,
which you implore tor tho Congregation of tho
Holy Redeemer, you cannot ask us for anything

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

223

which is more just, and I will never refuse it
to you, whoso piety wo delight in acknowledging,
nor to your congregation.”
Wo have also another production of Alphonso’s
after his return to Nocera ; it is on tho victories
which tho most celebrated martyrs of the Church
gained over thoir tyrants. This work comprises
two parts ; in the first he makes some introduc­
tory reflections calculated to show tho fruit which
may bo derived from reading of these conflicts.
Ho extols tho virtues which these martyrs prac­
tised under thoir sufferings, exposing in detail
tho divers kinds of tortures made use of against
them, and which have boon collected together
in tho authentic acts of their martyrdom ; tho
second part contains tho history of thoso later
martyrs who have given their lives for Jesus
Christ in Japan, lie then concludes by a trea­
tise on tho sacrifico of Jesus Christ on the cross
and on tho altar, and by a short explanation of
the prayers used at mass.
Ho composed this work when in groat suffering.
In a letter which ho wrote to Father Landi on
tho 15th of November ho said to him, “I have
a catarrh, like thoso which I usually have, and
which have several times brought mo to the brink
of the grave ; but I am in peace, and I await
death without terror.” This book was much talked
of at Naples. Canon Fabius Massa declares that
amongst tho numerous works which Alphonso
published none have perhaps been more useful
to tho Church, “ for nothing can bo bettor adapt­
ed to strengthen faith,” said he, “and to rekindle
pioty, specially in these latter days oi calamity.

♦

224

ST. ALPHONSO LIQUORI.

CHAPTER VIII.
The procurator advocato allowed himself to
be persuaded by our enemies, and they also
succeeded in acting on tho mind of the prime
minister, by means of intrigues ; so much success
filled them with pride, and they loudly proclaim­
ed that the congregation was destroyed. “Tho
casuistical tribe is extirpated,” they exclaimed.
“Wo can now see,” said others, “what this
Liguori is, and what kind of people he has for
disciples.” Such was tho presumptuous Ianguago of our enemies.
Notwithstanding his
great courage, Alphonso himself confessed, that
humanly nothing good was to be hoped for ; he
even foresaw the torments which would assail us,
when ho heard that tho cause had been placed
in the hands of tho procurator advocate, for ho
had already said, that the congregation was use­
less. “ 0 my God ! ” Alphonso wrote to Fa­
ther Gejano, “wo havo been of use up to this
time, and upwards of forty-four years we havo
aided tho souls of so many poor shepherds and
villagers in the mountains of Calabria, in Abruzzi,
and the Basilicato as well as in la Pouille, and
now we have become useless and hurtful ! ” As
pilots, even though very experienced ones, fool
their courage shaken when they find themselves
in tho midst of rocks, and beaten about by tem­
pests, so our advocates and the other magistrates

225

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU,

on our side looked upon our cause as a desperate
one when they saw it in the hands of the three
persons of whom we have spoken. In these
critical circumstances, we were all very anxious
to see Alphonso at Naples. Father Maj one
solicited him to come, and tho poor old man
was distressed at it. “Your Reverence,” he
answered to him on the 26th of January, 1776,
“has again written to tell me that it would be
a good plan were I to come and speak to the
Marquis of Tanucci ; but you well know that I am
no longer fit for anything. Last ni "lit I suffered
from my asthma, and had such palpitations of
the heart, that I thought I should have died.
Yes, certainly, my Father, I am ready to give
my life to prevent the destruction of this work
of God, but it would require an extreme necessity
to justify my placing it in evident peril, and
that would be the case now.” In fact he was
in a stato which caused great fears to be enter­
tained for his life ; and tho apprehension of this
misfortune afflicted us much more than tho
menaces of the procurator. Alphonso saw tho
cause of our uneasiness. “Fear nothing,” ho
said to us, “ I shall not die yet, God wills that
I shall dio a subject, and not chief superior of
tho congrogatiou. ” Ho had also predicted this
same degradation to Father Villaui in tho year
1774, and unhappily tho result made us under­
stand but too well that ho had indeed prophe­
sied.
Our adversaries themselves, on seeing Alphon­
so’s impaired health, predicted his speedy death,
VOL. iv.

I .

226

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

and everywhere said, that if the congregation
wore not forced to come to an end through the
weight of their accusations, it would at least be­
come extinct with tho life of Mgr. Liguori.
When the sad state of Alphonso’s health be­
came known at Scifelli and at Frosinone, as
well as the angry prognostications of our per­
secutors, these two houses were quite discou­
raged by it. “Do they say,” Alphonso wrote
to them, “that when I die all will be ended;
I say, for my part, that this congregation, which
is not my work, but that of God, will endure
after my death as it has done for forty-four
years. Why should the king of Naples cause it
to be dissolved ? It has wronged no one ; it
possesses no revenues of its own ; it is received
with acclamations by all tho bishops, and, (which
is of more consequence,) the Catholic King
himself wills by his decree, that our society
shall endure not only during tho life of Al­
phonso Liguori, but -while it shall continue tho
work of tho missions with primitive fervour.
Our preservation rests with God, and after that
on tho manner in which we may conduct our­
selves. Let us therefore bo attentive in keep­
ing ourselves united to God, in observing our
rule, in being charitable towards all, and being
resigned to our misfortunes ; but let us chiefly
practise humility, because a little pride will suf­
fice to destroy us, as it has so many others.
I entreat your Reverence to bo humble and af­
fable to every one, especially during mission
times, and to be charitable towards our brothers

>T. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

227

who arc in misery far from their country and
their parents ; for this reason they ought to be
treated with the greatest charity.”
While things went on thus, some people pro­
posed to his Lordship to render the houses in­
dépendant, like those of the fathers of the Ora­
tory ; others, that ho should open seminaries
for tho education of youth, and that they should
also bo engaged in preaching Lenten discourses.
Tho following was Alphonso’s reply : “ Evangelizare pauperibus misit nos Deus. The fathers
of St. Philip do good in large towns, but if we
try to imitate them in tho small populations
where wo are placed, tho congregation will be
destroyed.” He rejected the proposition of
preaching Lents with horror. “ Tho declamatory
air of these preachers,” said he, “and above all,
preaching in largo towns, is calculated to for II
tinkling cymbals rather than good subjects ; they
will not produce fruit and may cause evil. God’s
will is that we should preach in an apostolical
manner wherever we are, and that is what has
made our mission succeed.”
However, everything appeared to conspire
against us ; Alphonso’s doctrine was again at­
tacked. “ If these new Jesuits are not ex­
pelled,” said our enemies, “there will be an
end of faith and of morals. As the former are
banished from every kingdom, so these latter
must also disappear from amongst us.” Every
thing about us breathed of laxity, error, and
malice, according to them ; all was opposed to
the Gospel ; all was destructive to Church and

22S

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

State. Ignorant people who did not even know
moral theology, took upon themselves to become
doctors, and everywhere scoffed at Alphonso’s
doctrine, by attributing opinions to him of which
ho had never dreamt ; in short, Mgr. Liguori,
tho oracle of the kingdom of Naples and of
foreign kingdoms, the reformer of morals and
tho scourge of the unbelieving, was spoken of
as if he were a dangerous man to both Church
and State.
Tho blows did not miss their aim. Our ene­
mies wero favoured by one of the chief function­
aries in the royal ministry, who was all tho more
eager for our ruin, as it was for his own advan­
tage. These accusations could not fail to mako
an impression on tho mind of tho Marquis of
Tanucci, who attached tho greatest importance
to tho maintenance of tho integrity of sound
morality.
“Tho maxims which are spread about,” said
ho, “are, whether true or falso, tho founda­
tion of public morals.” Now it was on this
very point that our enemies accused us, and tho
Marquis, who was persuaded by persons whoso
testimony ho could not doubt, and who was also
prejudiced by ail tho other calumnies ho heard
against us, declared that our cause should not
bo discussed in tho royal council, but that it
should be rigorously examined in tho juncta of
abuses. This decision, which was a signal of
triumph to our adversaries, was like an insur­
mountable barrier to us. Alphonso himself ap­
peared to be disconcerted by it. “ The very

Γ if a
i II

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

229

namo of tho tribunal,” ho wrote to our fathers
at Naples, “is enough to throw discredit on us.
Try and find somo method of addressing a fresh
petition to the king, that tho case may bo refer­
red to the council; however, I think that every
petition would bo rejected at present. Speak
about it to tho advocates ; it would be good if
wo could at least present somo petition in order
to gain time, for our enemies are in a hurry
to see us entirely destroyed. But we have God
with us, and I placo my confidence in Him and
in tho Blessed Virgin Mary, who is all powerful
with Him.”
Ci
Father Majono informed him
of all that had
taken place, and he replied to him on tho 25th
of January, 1776: “I received your good news
this morning ; I say good, to mako us resigned
to tho will of God. If they come to pass, wo
shall have no other hope than God, who is more
powerful than Tanucci and all tho others. I
trust in God, but I do not wish to neglect human
means. In despair of tho cause, sco if M. Vivenzio cannot obtain for us tho protection of tho
queen, through his brother. I hear that tho
princess of Cariati can do a great deal with
tho queen, from being governess to her daugh­
ters.” Alphonso also wrote to Mgr. Guttiliera,
tho queen’s confessor, and sent a father from
Nocera to speak to tho Princess of Ottajauo.
As he also had recourse to Cardinal Banditi to
get him to intercedo with the queen, ho also
sent an express to Benevento, in order to know
the result of his proceedings. “ If tho tidings

a

*

1 j '

I*v .
I

• 4k

,5

: i Ji

r KI
<·,·„

230

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

arc confirmed,” he wrote to Father Majone, “I
think that I shall apply to Mgr. Bergamo, to aid
me in this extreme necessity. It would also
be well to apply to Mgr. Testa, and to inform
him of the ruin which menaces us, in order that
ho may speak to the Marquis of Tanucci on our
behalf. He will at least bo always able to give
us some advice, and you can tell him that it is
time for him to come to our assistance.”
In full confidence that God would not aban­
don his congregation, ho wished that twelve car­
lins should bo sent to tho nuns at Naples who
are called tho Thirty-Throe, in order that they
might say a novena for us to tho Blessed Vir­
gin. He wrote in the same spirit to all our
houses and to a great number of monasteries.
Many seculars even, who were interested about
us, did not fail to implore God to preserve us,
they distributed alms, and had masses said for
us. When this news reached Frosinone, tho
subjects of this house were plunged into sorrow.
In order to cheer them, Alphonso wrote to them
on the 4th of February, 1776, “It is true,” said
he, “that hell is let loose, and that it makes
every effort to destroy us ; but God is on our
side, and He will not permit this work, which
is wholly His, to bo destroyed. Nothing can
injure us but our own faults. Let us bo faith­
ful to God, and God will protect us. Prayers
are our weapons of defence ; they have always
defended us, let us continue to pray in common
after the examination in tho evening and at
mass. Prayer is all powerful if it is joined to

‘i ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

231

observance of rule. Draw the bonds of frater­
nal charity more closely together ; shrink from
wilful failures ; trust in God ; and Jesus Christ
and tho Blessed Virgin will not fail to console
us.”
Tho houses in the Papal States were in affliction ; but those in the kingdom were in still
greater misery, The terror which our enemies
inspired by what they said, was so great that
they were in constant fear of being suppressed.
The inmates of our house at St. Angelo de
Cupoli, received amongst others such accounts
that they passed one night on foot ; those at Ili­
ceto were in a state of similar uneasiness. If they
saw two police officers approaching together, even
though at a distance, they felt as if they had
already received an order to quit. However, as
our houses in tho kingdom were not accused of
any manifest crimes, our enemies feared that
their allegations would not bo sufficiently strong
to overthrow us ; they therefore carried their
calumnies so far as to accuse us of having car­
ried money belonging to tho kingdom into tho
Papal States, as if this were an established fact.
This accusation was also of great weight with
tho Marquis of Tanucci ; and it was no sooner
made than commissioners were sent with urgent
despatches, containing orders to go throughout
the houses in tho Papal States to make inquiries
about tho purchases of property we had made
there, according to our enemies, and they went
so fai- as oven to corrupt tho inferior agents by
•I
This last blow seemed as if
rn cans of money.

♦

F’ l

<I
1(*

1

if.

232

<

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

it would completo our ruin ; but they could not
obtain their end, for if our houses in the king­
dom were poor, those in tho Papal States were
no less so.
This mass of imposture disconcerted our ad­
vocates, who had not foreseen this ground of
accusation. Yet Alphonso thought this the prin­
cipal grievance, and tho only one which could
hurt us.
“I am much afraid,” he wrote on
the 26th of January, to Father Majone, “that
God wishes to chastise us and to destroy us,
for I see that things go on badly. It seems to
mo that we must justify ourselves before Tanucci regarding the acquisition, as soon as possi­
ble, and that wo must labour unceasingly for
this. Whilst Tanucci is persuaded that we have
acquired possessions contrary to tho decrees of
his Catholic Majesty, wo shall only sail against
the wind, for Tanucci will always look on us
as transgressors, and in that case, what good
can we hope for ? It is I believe through this
false impression that so many despatches have
been issued against us.”
Meanwhile Cardinal Sersalo was one of those
who undertook our defence with tho most de­
votion. As the calumny regarding the acquisi­
tion had not been sufficiently formally contra­
dicted, the cardinal who heard it stated did
not know what to reply. “Our misfortune,”
Alphonso wrote to Father Majono, “arises from
our enemies alone having been heard on this
point, for wo have not yet said anything to jus­
tify ourselves.
Tho president himself believes

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

233

us guilty, as ho told the cardinal, and the poor
cardinal did not know what to reply. His Emi­
nence wishes to support us, and to speak to
II
Tanucci, but ho must
be informed of all tho
answers to the general as well as to the par­
ticular accusations. I am ready to write to Mgr.
Guttilcri ; but before that it will be necessary
for the cardinal to have spoken to the queen.”
Some people imagine that the procurator, after
having presented his report to the king, might re­
turn to our side. “ If you wish to wait until after
the report of tho attorney Loon, before speaking
to Tanucci,” Alphonso wrote to the same fa­
ther, “ I will not obstinately oppose it ; but by
speaking to Tanucci before tho report I do not
see how a decree could be published against us,
as you say that the three ministers who consti­
tute the juncta make their report together. I
do not intend to be obstinate, and I yield, al­
though it is by compulsion, but I fear that all
this will cause us some fresh disaster ; whereas
if were to speak now, and if it were known that
wo had made some impression on Tanucci’s
mind, tho attorney Leon and N. N. might give
up their animosity. I am afraid it is tho devil
who strives to prevent Tanucci's being spoken
to.” During this time, a return of unexpected
good fortune, or rather a dispensation of Provi­
dence occurred, which gave us courage, without
however lessoning that of our adversaries. The
king allowed the Marquis of Tanucci to retire
on the 16th of October, 1776, and tho Marquis
of Sambuca was made prime-minister. While

234

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

the former had been favourably inclined to our
enemies, the Marquis of Sambuca, on the con.
trary, was on our side, and had tho most favourabio opinion of Alphonso. This change of scene did
not please our enemies, and was still more dis­
pleasing to the procurator attorney. However,
he did not lose courage, as ho relied on his
credit with tho juncta of abuses.

CHAPTER IX.

In tho midst of his distresses Alphonso pro­
fited by the smallest leisure time at his disposal,
to labour for tho salvation of souls and the good
of religion. Notwithstanding these harassing cir­
II
cumstances, his mind was calm,
and did not ap­
pear to be disturbed by anything. After he had
adopted all the measures which prudence could
suggest to him, he placed his trust in God, and
however furious the tempest became he still
reposed with tranquillity in the bosom of tho
Most High.
When he had finished his book on the u Tri­
umphs of tho Martyrs,” ho undertook another,
which was no less interesting. As there was
no lack of incredulous persons who wished to
act like free-thinkers, and who therefore desig­
nated eternal truths, such as tho resurrection,
judgment, hell, and such like, as mere fables,
Alphonso again attacked them in 1776, in a
dogmatical dissertation, lie therein set forth

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

235

each of these dogmas in all its parts on the au­
thority of Scripture, of the holy fathers, and of
theologians ; ho also there treats of private
judgment, purgatory, and Antichrist, and men­
tions the signs of the end of the world, as well as
tho circumstances attendant on the resurrection
and last judgment. He also speaks of the state
of the world after judgment, of that of the damn­
ed, and of that of the blessed. In the chapter on
universal judgment, ho speaks of infants who
have died without baptism, and refutes tho opinion
of some who assert that they are saved by the
faith of their parents. lie compresses the whole
into one small volume in tho vulgar tongue, in
order that it might be more easily understood,
and to facilitate its sale.
Canon Don Salvador© Ruggiero could not
sufficiently admire the piety of this work. “ Ono
cannot,” said he, “give enough praise to this
prelate whose ardent zeal in procuring the good
of souls, is too well known to render it necessary
to speak of it now. As lie can no longer oc­
cupy himself in preaching for tho salvation of
his neighbour, on account of his great ago and
infirmities, ho endeavours to do all the good
in his power by means of his writings.”
Alphonso had to endure some opposition from
the ecclesiastical examiner at Naples, on account
of this work.
In the ninth dissertation ho maintained that
there is no difference between tho love of tho
blessed in heaven, and that of the souls while
on earth. Ho had imbibed this doctrine from

236

ST. ALPHONSO LTGÜORI.

St. Thomas, and ho was very anxious to spread
it amongst tho faithful, for the greater consola­
tion of good souls. When Alphonso found that
lie was opposed on this point, and that the ex­
aminer did not hold his opinion, ho did not fail
to defend himself. “ When an author’s propo­
sition,” ho wroto to him, “can bo explained in
a good sense, why reject it? You said that the
love of souls upon earth is not tho same as the
love of tho souls of tho blessed. I have met
with no ono who treats on this point so clear­
ly as Father Suarez, and ho declares that it
is a common opinion amongst theologians, in­
cluding tho Master of tho Sentences, and St.
Thomas, that love in this life of exile, is the
same as in our heavenly country, because the
formal object of love, namely, the Divine good­
ness, known in a supernatural manner, is tho
same with regard to souls who are still upon
earth, as in tho case of those now in heaven.
Perhaps it will bo objected to mo, that acciden­
tal love becomes perfect in heaven ; I answer
that accidental love becomes perfect there, but
that essential love is tho same, because tho for­
mal cause of love, which is God, is tho same.”
After having established his opinion still more
by means of divers passages from St. Thomas,
ho adds, “ The essential perfection of love con­
sists in the adhesion of the soul to God ; and
tho accidental perfection consists in its having
greater intensity and its being purified from all
defects.” He then yielded to his humility in
order to preclude any ambiguity, and changed

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

237

tho passage into tho one which is to be met
with in this same work. “It seems to me,” he
goes on to say, “that all ambiguity disappears
when changed in this manner. However, if you
wore to point out all tho passages which might
bo misinterpreted even in the most exact au­
thors, you would find a thousand propositions
which could not stand.”
Ho was also attacked on another point in
tho sixth dissertation, where ho examines if chil­
dren who have died without baptism suffer the
pain of sense as well as that of loss. He quotes
St. Thomas’s opinion on this subject, that is to
say, that they will bo free from both tho one
and tho other ; but he does not dwell upon it, be­
cause St. Augustine maintains the contrary. In
speaking of St. Thomas, he says, “He is of
opinion,” &c., and in speaking of St. Augustine,
“Ho maintains strongly,” &c. Instead of strong­
ly, tho examiner wanted him to write ïoith good
ground, and hero lay tho difficulty. “ I have writ­
ten,” he replied to tho examiner, “that St. Au­
gustine strongly maintains the contrary opinion.
Your Reverence has changed it, and substituted
that ho demonstrates it by well-founded reasons.
I have not wished to defend tho opinion of St.
Thomas, and therefore I have simply cited it, with­
out pointing out tho numerous authorities among
tho holy fathers who aro in its favour, nor all
tho difficulties which aro opposed to tho doc­
trine of St. Augustine. To make me say that
St. Augustine proves tho contrary opinion, is
just to make me oppose St. Thomas, and to

-38

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

get mo to say that his opinion is evidently false,
which would be to make mo tell an untruth,
because I should assert an opinion contrary to
that which I hold ; but I would rather havo
my head cut off than tell a lie. I have begged
Don Benedict Cervono to obtain an alteration
of the following proposition for mo, viz., proves
by well-grounded reasons; otherwise one could
also say that St. Augustine holds for ceriain
and maintains as invincible the sentiment he
advances ; I entreat you not to try to mako
me tell a lie. How can I say that St. Augus­
tine proves it, when I cannot succeed in per­
suading myself that St. Thomas maintains a
false opinion? I pray and beseech you not to
keep mo any longer in uneasiness. It has al­
ready lasted nearly two months.”
The examiner would not yield, and as Al­
phonse could not go to Naples to speak to him
in person, as he had done at other times in
former years, ho applied for tho mediation of Ca­
non Simcoli, and referred it to tho decision of
his grace tho archbishop. “I have written to
tho examiner three times,” said ho to Simeoli,
“ to show him St. Thomas’s doctrine which ho
disputes about. I repeat it ; I will not arrange
with him, nor depend on him ; I wish to de­
pend on tho archbishop, and I will do as the
archbishop shall order. This doctrine of St.
Thomas’s is publicly taught at Naples even in
the college of St. Thomas ; but Μ. N. asserts
that it cannot bo granted. Well, I will do
what tho archbishop commands me. Oppose St.

■■

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

239

Thomas ! It is a thing which has filled the
Dominicans with astonishment,
Strange indeed! tho opinion of St. Thomas cannot be admitted ! Who says so ? Holy Church ? Holy
Church ! nay ; for the Church venerates the
doctrine of St. Thomas. I wish only to depend
on tho archbishop. If ho gives mo another ex­
aminer, if ho allows mo tho doctrine of St.
Thomas, or if ho does not grant it, I will do
what ho may tell me, and I will bo patient.”
His opinion in favour of St. Thomas pre­
vailed, and the dispute was thus terminated.
A voluminous collection of his literary dis­
sertations might havo been made, and they
would have formed a compendium of theological
matters of great interest in controversies of
this kind ; but wo have to regret that Alphonso
did not preserve any of them. Alphonso was
very ill when ho published this work. “I feel
very ill,” ho wrote to Father Cajone, at the
commencement of the year 1777; “I cannot
now either read or write ; I am troubled with
a constant headache, and I havo been obliged to
give up all kind of study.” Some time after­
wards, ho wrote a letter of congratulation to
Don Benedict Cervone, who had been elected
bishop of Aquila. “Your Lordship,” said ho to
him, “has passed into a stato which no longer
admits of your being tho examiner of my works,
just at tho very time when I havo got into
a stato in which I am no longer fit to have
them printed.”

ST. ALPITONSO LIGUORI.

240

CHAPTER X.

In tho month of November in tho year after
his return to Nocera, Alphonso addressed tho
following circular to all tho houses, as ho was
full of solicitude that tho great work of tho
missions should not suffer any injury, but bo
maintained in its former fervour. This letter
contains a summary of all that could either in­
juro or further the missions. Notwithstand­
ing his great ago, his impaired health, and
anxieties without number, tho glory of God,
and tho salvation of souls were always pre­
sent in his mind, for ho cared for nothing
else. “My fathers and my brothers in Jesus
Christ,” said ho, addressing us all, “you seo
how very grievous tho circumstances are in
which wo aro placed. Wo aro opposed by such
powerful enemies, that if God does not pro­
tect us, tho congregation will bo destroyed.
This is all the work of tho devil, who wishes
for tho destruction of this great work of tho
missions, which makes too much war against
him ; but all hell put together cannot hurt us
if wo aro faithful to Jesus Christ, and I most
earnestly exhort you to bo so. As you must
soon resume the missions, I think that I ought
to remind you of some counsels, no less for
your own advantage than for that of souls. If
wo preserve tho work, the work will preserve
us.

£.

ÎI

_

J

5

ST. alphonso liguori.

241

“Let tho superior of tho mission be nominated
by tho rector of the house \vhen tho latter does
not go himself, and lot him fix on whoever he
thinks best qualified, without paying attention
to seniority. Let him who is superior bo fore­
most in keeping tho rule properly. Let hi H
not select tho highest offices for himself, but
those for which ho is the fittest. Let him be
the first to rise in the morning, and after he
has said his prayers, lot him be careful to αε­
semble tho fathers together, that all may
pair to the church together ; let him act towards tho subjects with all charity and good-will.
“The chapter for offences must never bo omit­
•I
ted during missions.
Let tho superior punish
notable defects, even if ho is thereby compelled
to send tho erring subject back to the house ;
ho must especially punish faults against obe­
dience, and make his report to me or to ί lie
father who is vicar-general ; such subjects iujure the missions.
“During mission time, novenas, and other exercisos, visits must not be paid to women, even
under tho pretext of God’s glory, except it may
be to tho principal lady of tho place, whom the
superior may visit, accompanied by another fa­
ther.
“Our fathers must not speak to women out of
the confessional, except in reply to some short
question ; they must be far more careful to
avoid speaking with them alone at tho mon­
astery, and if it should happen to bo neces­
sary to converse with any one of them, it must
J (j

VOL. IV.

■9·

242

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

only bo done in church with all tho decency
and circumspection needful to insure the honour
II
of tho missionary.
“When any reconciliation is in question, let
no part bo taken for any one, but act as mere
mediators ; if reason is clearly on ono side, it
is right to stato this and to make tho truth
known.
“While on mission, as in tho house, let each
one abstain from assisting at wills or treaties
of marriage, unless it bo in ordor to tako away
a scandal or occasion of sin. When there is a
crowd in church, tho confessions of men must
first bo heard and then those of women, spe­
cially on Sundays and days of obligation.
“I desire that during missions, neither linen
nor any other article bo received as a gift under
any pretext, even when no uso is made of it
II
during tho time of tho mission.
“Let the ancient custom regarding tho quality
of dishes bo observed. I forbid gifts of birds,
fowls, valuable fish, and such like, to bo ac­
cepted, as well as all sorts of pastry ; notwith­
standing the solicitations that may bo made by
persons to whom we owe respect. Example and
exact observance of rule does more good in such
cases, than sermons. No indemnification from
parishes, nor any invitations from tho priests or
any other person, whether secular or ecclesiasti­
cal, must bo received, tho bishop must be obeyed
however, if ho gives an invitation to dinner, but
for onco only.
“Persons of the place must not be allowed to

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

243

servo at table, and caro must above all be taken
not to admit any ono whatever at that time,
except it were a particular benefactor or person
of high rank, and then let there be reading
during tho meat, if it be the day of tho general
communion.
“ In tho sermons and instructions always speak
respectfully of every one, particularly of ecclesi­
astics and gentlemen : whenever a priest wishes
to go to confession, let every one else bo left
in order to attend to him.
“Let superiors bo careful in preaching in the
simplest manner without declamation, without
far-fetched phrases, and high-sounding words.
Lot them correct and punish those who fail in
that, and if they do not amend, let them pre­
vent their preaching, were it even in the middle
of a mission. It is simplicity which has made
us succeed up to this time. Let him who shows
eagerness to obtain any office bo refused, and
let such conduct bo considered as a scandal.
Ho who manifests such desires will never produce
fruit, for God does not assist tho proud. No
one ought to go on a mission for the sake
of preaching and being seen, but only in obedi­
ence to superiors, and to win souls to Jesus
Christ. Each ono must also make a retreat
for ono or two days every month, as has been
always tho custom.
“It is not fit for all the fathers of the houses
H
to go indiscriminately on missions,
a selection
must bo made : let tho regulation I have made
on this subject bo read.

244

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

“in conclusion, I especially recommend this
work to all thoso who must have tho manage·
*
inent of it ; let attention be paid to all that I
have said, and lot all former customs be observed.
If one .acts in a faulty manner during missions,
it would bo better to give them up than to havo
them to tho detriment of our fervour and tho
disodification of tho people.
“I remind all, and especially tho rectors,
punctually to observe all that was ordered in the
year 1752, in the decree of his Catholic Majesty.
Be well assured that ho who resists tho command of tho prince, goes against tho will of God.
I exhort the rectors conscientiously to watch and
see that tho subjects, before going on mission,
go through the spiritual exorcises for ten days,
according to tho rule. Let not half bo permit­
ted, unless for some obvious necessity ; for tho
rule intends that they shall bo done thoroughly.
If ono docs not gain holiness for oneself ono
cannot impart it to others. I also recommend
a day’s retreat to bo made in tho house every
month. Some say that they suffer from melan­
choly ; imaginations pass away when one con­
verses with God. I also enforce retreat for tho
lay-brothers ; they require it most on account
of tho distractions which their domestic labours
cause them.
“There must always bo a zoalator in tho houses,
according to ancient custom ; let him bo a pru­
dent subject and advanced in age : let there bo
a chapter for offences every Monday ; if this is
omitted, I charge tho admonitor to inform me
of it.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

215

“No ono shall have leave to keep linen, tobac­
co, or anything else as his own property, under
any pretence whatsoever, I made a vow not to
allow it, as you know, Thus, let everything
which comes addressed to a subject bo delivered
over into tho caro of tho rector or superior of
the mission, and that each rector must remember
tho vow ho uttered in entering into his office.
This vow maintains poverty and preserves life in
community.
“The rectors must bo careful not to keep the
fathers too much engaged by over many novenas,
triduos, and other like exercises.
To remain
too long absent from tho house, leads to dissipa­
tion of mind, and injures the health.
“The rectors must take care and provide all that
is necessary for tho subjects whom they send out
of tho monastery ; they must toll them that when
they are without, they must not get anything
new, and far loss anything of value. They must
fix tho places where they must stop to dine,
and especially whore they are to pass tho night,
in order to prevent thoir wandering here and
there, and lodging whorever they may fancy
most. Each month an account of conscience
must bo required, without fail ; let tho rectors
always bo particular on this point, for it is ono
which has not been much attended to. I wish
tho admonitors to watch over this rule, and that
they should write to mo directly if it is neglectcd.
“The superiors of houses where there arc
clerics ought not to distract these young Η en

246

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

from their studios by sending them without to
preach. When a newly ordained priest has to
receive faculties for confessions, ho must not bo
qualified or presented to tho bishop until I havo
been informed of it. I should first wish to ex­
amine him myself, or to havo him examined by
others; and then if ho proves worthy, I will
allow him to be presented to tho bishop of the
diocese.
“Permission to hear tho confessions of women
must only be granted to subjects of more than
thirty years of age, unless they happen to have
had faculties already ; and this must also be at­
tended to out of mission time. I also forbid sub­
jects to be sent to hear tho confessions of religious
in convents without my express permission. Rec­
tors must bo very strict about this, and they
must not often send even those who have been
approved by me.
“Tho consultation must be held every month,
as the rule directs. An account of whoever
enters the house or quits it must also bo kept.
This must not be omitted, and no cause for
complaint must be given to any subject in par­
ticular. I exhort that fanciful expenses must
not bo entered into, and no particular subject
must be allowed to do anything of the kind.
In regard to necessary expenses, those which
exceed ten ducats, or which havo to bo repeated,
ought to be proposed at the consultation, and
if there is not unanimity in the matter, tho
U
rectors must always abstain from
them ; but in
such case, they must appeal to the ancient fa-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

247

thers, and reject or approve of the expense ac­
cording to their opinion.
“Permission must not be given to subjects in
particular to go to Naples or to other places
unless there is some real necessity for it, and
much less to go to their families. If any urgent
business occurs and it can be put off for up­
wards of eight days, let me be informed of it
in writing, and I will determine what time they
may stay, in proportion to the importance of
the case. Experience proves that loss of fer­
vour generally arises from want of sufficient
retirement and from anxiety about temporal af­
fairs. Such things are fit for seculars, and not
for ecclesiastics.
“I warn all who may be in Naples not to
remain out in tho evening, in order to spend
tho night anywhere but in our hospice, and
that they must not dine in another house with­
out the consent of the oldest father. Let each
one return to the hospice before six o’clock in
tho evening, and after that a half hour of pray­
er in common must not bo omitted.
“ For the examination of young men wish­
ing to bo received, two periods of the year havo
been fixed, namely, tho month of Juno and that
of September ; but I give notice to the rectors
not to send any to me, if they havo not sufficiont capacity and all the other requisite qualifications.
“In fine, I exhort all superiors of houses and
of missions, to watch over tho conduct oi the
subjects, iu order to see that they lead a truly ex­

248

ST. ALPHONSO

LIGUORI.

emplary life, and that they observo not only the
rules, but also all our pious and ancient customs.
In case of breach of observance, (I mean when the
matter is one of moment,) if tho culprit should
not amend after having been reprimanded, I must
bo informed of it, in order that I may remedy
it. Faulty subjects give mo more alarm than
our persecutions. I also entreat each one to
fear lest tho Lord should expel him also, as He
has lately expelled several. I love you all, but
I cannot put up with those who will not amend.
It would give mo a scruple of conscience, and
I cannot damn myself for any one.
“I wish this letter to bo read in chapter before
all the subjects of the house, that each one may
be attentive in doing his duty ; let it bo kept
and read every year in the month of October,
before setting out on the missions.”

CHAPTER XI.
All Naples was in a state of expectation of
the report of tho procurator for nearly three
years, and no one doubted that it wrould be a
crushing blow for tho missionaries. Both friends
and enemies were impatient for its appearance ;
the one from sentiments of fear and compassion
towards us ; tho others from tho wish to see
us destroyed. Tho report was at length pre­
sented to the throne on tho 13th of February,
1777. Our adversaries were infuriated against

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

249

us ; but nothing equalled the animosity of the
procurator, and tho sword of opposition became
doubly formidable in his hands ; he had styled
us rising Jesuits, and ho had sworn to have
the congregation suppressed, and the mission­
aries ruined.
Wo cannot give a better description of his
intentions, than by here specifying the sentiments in which ho drow up this report. In
order to favour tho Baron Sarnelli, he began
by treating on the question of tho contested
property. lie maintained that our houses were
illicit bodies before the year 1752, and that if
tho Catholic King wished to approve us, wo
had nevertheless lost the favour of existing any
longer through our refractoriness ; that in conse­
quence of this the property no longer belonged
to us, but reverted to its former owner. This
assertion is inexplicable, for how can houses,
II
each of which wore confirmed
by a decree of
tho sovereign, bo called illicit, and how can per­
sons bo designated as refractory who had lite­
rally followed tho command of tho king?
After having reinstated tho baron in posses­
sion of his vineyard, tho procurator enters into
tho criminal part of tho offence. “ Without
dwelling any longer on the interests of one per­
son,” continued ho, “it is my duty to set forth
tho numerous abuses which exist in tho insti­
tute, and which may disturb tho peace and good
order of tho kingdom.” All these pretended
crimes amounted to saying that tho Catholic
King, in approving us, had not intended us to

i F

■· >:

250

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

form ourselves into communities. Such was the
opinion of tho procurator, but ho made a mis­
take ; for had it been so, the king would not
havo authorised the erection of tho houses by
four decrees, nor permitted tho missionaries to
live together under tho direction of Alphonso
do Liguori. Tho procurator expressed surprise,
that besides a superior general like Alphonso,
each house also had its own particular rector,
and that wo did not live as mere priests, as the
king wished, but as regulars, with a rule and
constitutions.
What increased our offence in his eyes was,
that tho rule was approved by tho Pope with­
out being authorised by the royal council. He
was not aware that Alphonso had submitted it
to tho king, who had had it in his own hands,
and that if his majesty refused us the exequa­
tur for just reasons, ho had however deigned to
consent to its being observed, which he inti­
mated through the medium of the Marquis of
Brancone ; moreover, ho even, as wo havo al­
ready seen, proposed tho reform of a religious
order to Alphonso, as he wished that wo
should adopt the habit of that order, whilst
keeping our own rule.
Tho capital offence was, according to him, the
participation of privileges which his Holiness
Popo Benedict XIV, had granted to us, as well
as to other congregations. As ho could not
deny that this brief had been confirmed in tho
royal council, on the 4th of July, 17G3, he
wished at least to pretend that this authorisa-

ST. ALPHONSO Ll·

tion had boon obtained by a fictitious state­
ment.
“Such things,” said ho, “manifest
tho formal establishment of a new religious so­
ciety with a rule, a hierarchy, votes, and all
that which characterises other religious. Tho
Catholic King does not wish for a rule, novici­
ate, privileges, or possessions, nor for anything
which resembles a congregation or a religious
society.”
lie also found another offence in the house,
which Alphonso erected in the states of Bene­
vento. “The king,” said he, “permitted the
erection of four houses, and no more, and the
missionaries, in opposition to the decree of the
king, established a fifth, which is larger than
the others in the states of Benevento.” It is
difficult to understand how the procurator dreamt
of this prohibition, for tho king, in his decree
of 1752, wherein ho approved of four houses
which existed in tho kingdom, did not prohibit
others to bo established in foreign states. He
adds that tho treasures of tho kingdom wcro
carried thither, lie wished to strike a mortal blow
by this, and he supports his assertion by na­
ming tho fiefs and numerous properties already
acquired by tho missionaries.
In order to render us inexcusable, and to ag­
gravato our offences still more, he said that we
were offshoots of tho suppressed Jesuits. “Af­
ter having read tho rule,” he went on to say,
“I have found that it has very little resemblance
to those of other institutes, while it is very like
that of tho Jesuits.” However, it he had tho­

252

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

roughly read our rule, as he pretended to have
done, he would have found it similar to that of
St. Basil and St. Benedict ; but everything was
Jesuitism, according to tho procurator. “In tho
definition of the authority of tho superior-gen­
eral,” said ho, “I plainly recognised tho despot
who governed tho society of the Jesuits with such
absolute power. Tho essence of Jesuitism con­
sisted entirely in tho absolute authority of tho
general, and in his power to expel any individu­
al whatever from tho society, notwithstanding his
having taken the vows, and the length of time
he might have lived in religion. It is in these
two points alone that all tho secret of Jesuit
government consisted ; it was by means of this
secret that this society became so formidable,
in spite of tho numerous persecutions it endured
at its commencement.” Matters were not as
the procurator imagined. St. Vincent of Paul
and St. Philip Neri were not Jesuits, neither
was tho venerable Father D. Charles Carasa,
the founder of tho Congregation of Pious La­
bourers, and yet all, in order to purge their
companies from vicious members, cither would
not allow all to take tho vows, or preferred
simplo vows to a solemn profession. Tho pro­
curator ought to have praised this system, and
not to have condemned it, for as St. Alphonso
said, “ tho winnowing machine in tho barn only
does good by severing the chaff from tho wheat.”
But what amongst a great many other things
excited tho animadversion of the procurator
the most, was the implicit obedience which

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Alphonso required from tho members of his con­
gregation, as if there had ever been a society
in tho world which had subsisted without its
members being under obedience to a head.
This vow was what also wounded the heart of
Martin Luther. According to him, one must
condemn all the holy founders who have required
this vow and this dependance from their dis­
ciples, and one must also condemn the Holy
Seo which exacts this heroism for tho canoni­
zation of religious.
Ho then went on, and incredible to relate,
tho very thing which conduces to tho happiness
of Church and state, namely, tho sacrifice tho
missionary makes of his life for the service of
souls, is in his eyes reprehensible. “It seems
to me worthy of notice,” said he, “that although
it is said in tho preamble of tho rule that the
subjects are only intended to preach to poor
villagers, it afterwards speaks of spiritual exer­
cises to be given in the houses to ecclesiastics
and to seculars, nay more, of sermons to be de­
livered even in tho houses of tho missionaries.
Tho Jesuits also limited themselves to a few
exercises of piety at their commencement, al­
though they afterwards wished to do everything,
namely, preaching in their churches, having tho
spiritual exorcises in tho houses, teaching tho
classics and theology, and also guiding congrogâtions of seculars, all which were to them tho
most powerful methods of obtaining followers
without number; tho same thing might happen
in the caso of these latter also.” How could
OJ *

G

O

o

’

I

J

4

,?1

1

254

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

tho procurator justify this assertion ? Tho nu­
merous exercises in use amongst us wore no new
thing, as is well known to every one. The con­
gregation undertook them from its commence­
ment ; tho Catholic king rejoiced at them, and
even manifested a wish that tho work should
always bo maintained in its primitive state.
Even poverty awakened his zeal. Ho is vexed
at riches, but ho gets in a passion at poverty.
“They can ask alms,” ho continues, “and they
make a distinction as regards mission times.
Tho Jesuits in the council of Trent also labour­
ed ardently to bo declared mendicants, but they
afterwards found a subterfuge by means of which
they succeeded in making immense acquisitions,
without laying aside this habit of mendicity. Our
missionaries
will also begin to live by means of
II
their private patrimony, they will then acquire
landed property, and declare that they will not
beg, then they will still manage to ask alms ;
and hero is the very mixture of property and
mendicity which was so favourable to tho Je­
suits.” lie should have remembered that though
the Catholic king said it was a praiseworthy
custom not to ask alms during missions, he did
not prevent its being done at other times ; for
how were the missionaries to maintain them­
selves, have a church and a house, and provide
for tho clerical students if they were destitute
of revenues, and the power of acquiring pos­
sessions ? In tlie papers which were shown to
him, tho procurator might have seen the justifications of Alphonso and his sons, as well as
I

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

255

tho accusations of our enemies. But he main­
tained what was to our disadvantage, and rejected
our defence as full of equivocations and artifice.
“ This manner of speaking and acting, and of self­
exculpation, ” said he, “makes me imagine that
there is a great analogy between it and the con­
duct adopted by the Society of Jesus, whose
proceedings and institute have been wholly ab­
horred and proscribed by all the princes of
Europe and by the Sovereign Pontiff.” The
procurator got tired of thus heaping up offence
upon offence, so he set up as a theologian, and
censured Alphonso’s doctrine ; and although ho
had not been charged to do so, he did not hesi­
tate to condemn his morals, as injurious to the
Church, and as prejudicial to the state. “Such
theology,” these are his own words, “is quite
according to tho treatises of Jesuit authors,
their fundamental principio is adopted therein
with all its fatal consequences.” As he wished
to excite tho prince’s mind, he told him that
his majesty was offended, tho common salva­
tion endangered, and what was worse, the safety
of his person was threatened with danger. He
then concluded with still greater zeal than ever :
“Tho dangers resulting from such an impious
doctrine being put in practice,” said he, “is
what has prompted mo to entreat your Majes­
ty to take tho most energetic measures to sap
it in its foundations, and that not by palliative
remedies, but by severe and efficacious mea­
sures, so that there may bo no further re­
fuge for probablisms, and mental reservations,

25G

ST. ALPHONSO LTGUORT.

and perjuries made lawful. I am not afraid,”
he continued, “ to speak in this way in address­
ing your Majesty, because I plead for tho mo­
rality of Jesus Christ our Saviour, whoso holy
religion consists in tho purity of its morals ; and
if tho ambition of somo priests who burn with
tho wish to bo reputed as new founders, (which
is a most refined kind of ambition, and ono which
has at all times incited men to tho greatest ex­
cesses,) if this ambition, I say, tends to corrupt
this morality, it is then for your Majesty to
exercise all tho extent of power which God has
placed in your hands for its ro-establishment.”
Such a bitter censuro of tho doctrine of Al­
phonso was what especially excited general in­
dignation. Tho learned could not comprehend
how it could bo asserted that his Moral The­
ology was taken from the Jesuits, since there
was not any author belonging to any order or
institute whatever, from whom Alphonso did
not reap somo advantage. If tho procurator had
really read it, he would have discovered in Alphonso’s morality tho civil and canon laws,
the Greek and Latin Fathers, and all the opin­
ions of Popo Benedict XIV., which are so very
impartial.
Tho natural consequences of such declama­
tions must necessarily have boon tho suppression
of the congregation. Whilst the Catholic king
designates tho congregation in his decree of
1752, as an eminently Christian work, and wishes
that it should bo maintained, tho procurator
pretends to prove that it ought to bo destroyed,

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIH.

257

as being useless to tbc Church and a burthen to
tho state. “There is no need,” said he, “of
ill
new congregations nor of new encouragements
to cause tho ecclesiastical state to be embraced
in a country where there are in all seventy-five
thousand priests and monks. It is for the bish­
ops, to whom tho inhabitants of towns, as well
as of the country places aro entrusted, to think
of instructing them, since it is to them that
God has committed tho office of placing the
tho ministers whom tho hierarchy of the Church
has established to assist them in ecclesiastical
functions without being obliged to found new
institutes ; for it is through these particular
congregations made uso of in certain functions,
that there is such an innumerable multitude
of religious of divers institutes who have got
heaped together during the course of ages, be­
cause new ones have been admitted, without
getting rid of the old when they became use­
less. Thus to priests have been added monks,
and brothers to them, and after brothers, clerks
regular ; and as if these were not enough, it is
now wished to introduco this now religious so­
ciety in an imperceptible manner.”
The procurator continues his reflections, and
in order to influence tho king’s mind still fur­
ther, ho says, “If your Majesty wishes to hoar
tho opinion of tho magistrates on what I repre­
sent to you, I hope they will not allow them­
selves to bo deceived by tho apparent utility
thoro is in instructing poor villagers. All bad
things have had good beginnings ; there has
jy
VOL. IV.

G

I

I

n

25S

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

nover been a sect in tho world which has not
at first appeared undor a semblance of good ;
but time has shown that fanaticism, ambition,
and a spirit of singularity wero tho moving
springs which had given rise to the erection of
new edifices, or which had at least succeeded a
spirit of piety, and were what continued to sup­
port them.”
When ho thought ho had said enough to con­
vince tho prince, he proposes his own opinion.
He wished that an examination of tho Moral
Theology of Liguori should be entrusted to the­
ologians professing sound doctrine, “In order,”
said he, “that his Majesty may see that it con­
tains a very great number of errors which de­
stroy true Christian morality, and that ho may
warn his subjects to shun reading it with hor­
ror, by interdicting it according to tho accus­
tomed forms.”
In the second placo he wished that the said
missionaries should be positively denied all form
of a congregation, any superiors, novices, stu­
dents, confraternities, or privileges, and in fact,
all that appertains to a real congregation.
In the third place, ho wished that an order
should bo issued that their possessions should bo
sold, whether they wore in the name of the
bishops, or in their own name, with tho excep­
tion of those on which any private individual
had any claim, such as tho Baron do Ciorani,
and that their produco should bo formed into
a capital with tho interests of which an annual
income of seventy-four ducats was to bo assign-

ST. ALrilONSO LIGUORI.

259

ed to each of the present ecclesiastics ordained
in sacris, as long as they lived, according to tho
estimate made by his Catholic Majesty. All the
other subjects, and especially tho novices, were
to be sent to their respective homes. The pro­
curator was much mistaken in this, for, put­
ting aside tho contested vineyard, the revenues
of all the houses put together did not amount
to a sum exceeding five hundred and ninety
ducats ; where then was the surplus to be
found, to give each priest seventy-two ducats
of annual revenue, as he wished ? We have
here however a good specimen of the true value
of the riches of which our adversaries spoke so
emphatically, and which the advocate procurator
set forth with so much eloquence. Finally, he
wished that wo should bo deprived of power to
ask alms, and that until tho Moral Theology
taught by our founder was examined, the mis­
sionaries should also be prohibited from enter­
ing tho confessional and the pulpit. The procu­
rator thought that he had not done enough,
even though ho had expressed his opinion in
such an outrageous style, so he again tried to
force the sovereign, if I may so say, to put it in
execution. Tho rising congregation seemed a
weight on his heart. “Let not your Majesty
think,” he adds, “that if you do not uso strong
and efficacious remedies, this new congregation
will not also increase ; others have arisen in tho
midst of contradictions, and this will spread in
tho same manner. They will wait tor a more
propitious time, and then tho present conti o-

2G0

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

vcrsy will bo placed amongst tho number of the
glories of tho institute, and my name, which
otherwise only deserves obscurity, will bo ren­
dered famous in tho History of the Life of Don
Alphonso Liguori, in which it will bo said that
tho devil stirred mo up against tho congrega­
tion, as ho always does against good works.”
Thus ended tho report made by Leon the pro­
curator to his Majesty ; it was a master-piece
worthy of tho age wherein tho Society of Jesus
was suppressed.

CHAPTER XII.
The report of tho procurator was a thunder­
bolt which cast terror into all hearts. I leave
it to bo imagined what great mourning and con­
sternation were seen in all our houses. All
conspired against us, so that even our friends
saw no further means of defending us ; but tho
greatest misfortunes do not daunt magnani­
mous hearts.
When Alphonso heard of tho sentiments put
forth by tho procurator, ho was not at all cast
down. “The work is from God,” said he, “Ho
is able to preserve or to destroy it
then he
gave vent to the trust which filled his heart.
“Such is tho opinion of tho procurator,” added
ho, “but it is not that of God. I am per­
suaded, and hold it as quito certain, that Jesus
Christ will not tail to protect this work, which

!
ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

261

is entirely for His glory and tho good of souls,
I am not afraid to place my cause in tho
hands of tho king, as I feel assured that he
will not embrace tho opinions of the procura­
tor, for he knows too well how to appreciate the
utility of our missions.”
il
Animated by this confidence, ho immediately
had recourse to his anchor of daily safety ; ho
commended himself to the prayers of many de­
vout souls, especially of divers convents of religious, both at Naples and in the provinces,
and he wished that tho psalm “ Qui habitat ”
should be said in all the houses ; that the
discipline in common should continue to be
taken every Monday ; and ho ordered Saturday
to be kept as a fast in honour of the Blessed
Virgin. He inculcated on tho rectors that they
must especially watch closely over tho obser­
vance of that same rule which our enemies
chose to aim at. He several times sent alms
to the Capuchinosses at Naples, as well as
wax candles to tho Camaldoleso fathers, that
they might have exposition and prayer before
the blessed Sacrament.
As ho saw that his infirmities were contin­
ually increasing, he wrote to our house at Frosinonc, saying, “Pray to God for me, in order »
that He may grant mo a good end. I am
very near it now ; for I daily feel my head
getting weaker. God bo praised for evermore !
As to our affairs, both hopes and fears are
entertained hero. Prayer alone can bo of much
assistance to us.”

! h:·

262

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Tho procurator’s report was not long of be­
coming known oven as far as the provinces, and
our triumphant adversaries very nearly caused
it to be published in the newspapers. Letters
were sent to their correspondents with all dili­
gence, and everywhere they talked only of our
speedy suppression. When tho bishops heard of
this state of things, those who had tho greatest
interest hastened to present divers petitions to
tho king, attesting the probity of our missiona­
ries, tho poverty in which they lived, their disin­
terestedness, and above all, their submission to
orders from those in authority, and last of all,
the great good they effected in tho provinces.
It was thus that Mgr. Volpe, tho bishop of Nocera, and Mgr. Pacelli, the bishop of Bovino,
distinguished themselves amongst others, as well
as the two Archbishops of Salerno and of Conza,
and Cardinal Banditti, tho Archbishop of Bene­
vento. They all stated that if the missionaries
were absent from their dioceses, they would lose
tho only means they had of providing spiritual
blessings for their flocks ; a great number of other
bishops and archbishops made tho same repre­
sentations. Whilst hell thus strove to destroy
tho congregation, Alphonso redoubled his efforts
to oppose tho forces of our enemies, and to v’in
souls to Jesus Christ. u Redee H cd souls, >> said
he, “ought to be the advocates of our cause.”
From tho end of 1777 until tho month of
May of 1778, inclusively, thirty-five missions
were given with benefit and satisfaction to tho
bishops. The holy exercises were given to eight

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

263

clergymen, seven seminaries, and nineteen con­
vents in the dioceses of Caserto, Averso, Capua,
Benevento, Cerrcta, Avellino, Bari, Acerenza,
and Matera, without speaking of a great many
triduos during tho carnival, the devotion of the
forty hours, and the Sundays in Advent.
On seeing such labours undertaken for the
good of souls, Providence could not fail to aid
us against the efforts of the procurator ; the
tears of so many just men could not be unfruit­
ful, and Alphonso’s confidence could not be de­
ceived. When the procurator’s report was pre­
sented to the king in tho first chamber of the
ministry, Alphonso, in order to escape the juncta
for abuses, and to get the cause sent back to
the royal council, addressed petitions and letters
of supplication to the new prime-minister, the
Marquis of Sambuca. He got Cardinal Branci­
forte, the Bishop of Girgenti, who was then at
Naples, to intercede with him, and Mgr. Filomarino, tho Bishop of Caserto. “Your Eminence
can easily obtain this favour from the Marquis,”
he wrote to him on tho 21st of February, 1777;
“in truth, it ought rather to bo called an act
of justice than a favour ; I confidently hope to
obtain this through your Eminence before tho
report is followed by any fresh result, which
might cause tho entire ruin of our poor congre­
gation.” Ho also complained to the cardinal of
tho censure passed on his Moral Theology: “As
far as I can make out,” said he, “the report is
completely hostile to us. Amongst other things
it is said that my work on Moral Theology is

26i

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

according to the doctrine of the Jesuits, and that
I profess opinions contrary to the welfare of tho
state and of the Gospel. Besides tho approbation
my Morals received at Naples and Rome from
those two powers, they have been reprinted six
times, and received with applause at Rome, in
Spain, in Germany, and even in France. I have
boon told that the king has been asked to forbid
their use to all tho members of tho congregation
I direct, on account of tho errors with which
they aro infected, and also to prohibit them from
hearing confessions and from preaching until
after tho examination of my Morals. If this
bo done my brothers will bo useless in the king­
dom of Naples and in Sicily.”
The examination of the cause by tho ministers
•was of itself enough to overthrow tho report of
the procurator ; his malice was clearly seen and
acknowledged, and his partiality to our enemies
was but too evident. For this reason the king, in
justice to Alphonso, decreed on the 7th of March,
1777, that the action should bo sent back to the
royal council, where tho report should be ex­
amined. Tho Marquis of Sambuca took plea­
sure in rendering us this good office. This min­
ister was speaking to Mgr. Filomarino at this
time, when ho said to him, “ It gives me pleasure
to be able to servo Mgr, Liguori.” Alphonso
gained fresh strength on seeing this dispensation
of Providence, and full of consolation he wrote
to Father Don Francis de Paul at Frosinono as
follows : “ I can do nothing but thank Jesus and
Mary for all the many blessings they have con-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

2G5

ferrod on me during these last days of my life.
I have had fever and a catarrh for four days,
but now I am better. Wo have good news from
Naples of tho action with Sarnelli, for it has
been remanded to tho royal council, in confor­
mity to tho petition wo addressed to that effect.
Thus matters have now an altered appearance.
Blessed for ever be Jesus and Mary.”
It may bo easily imagined what an effect this
change of scene must have produced on our
enemies ; they were all the more disconcerted
as they had already proclaimed that tho decree
for our suppression was fixed on. “This pre­
tended degree for our suppression,” wrote Al­
phonso, on the 21th of March, to our fathers at
Frosinono, “ is a falsehood spread about by our
enemies ; but you must now make it everywhere
known that this report has been circulated with­
out any foundation. Things have gone very well ;
as the report of tho procurator has been remand­
ed to tho royal council.” He wrote as follows
to our fathers in Sicily : “ Matters are going on
well at Naples : Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui
sancto, benedictus Deus qui facit mirabilia magna
solus.” And in a letter to the house at Frosi­
none, ho adds, “ Tho greatest opposition refers
to my Morals ; but I have written a long pamph­
let, which justifies me fully.”
Besides this voucher, in which Alphonso ap­
pears both as a theologian and a canonist, ho
also resumed his former spirit of a lawyer, and
without departing from that of Jesus Christ, ho
digested an ample defence in reply to all tho ac-

■

4

i 4
t

I

I

266

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

cusations. << I havo also been obliged to co Π poso
a pamphlet containing several sheets,” he wrote
to Father Don Francis do Paul, on tho 27th of
the same month: “it is a miracle that it has
not caused mo tho slightest indisposition.” Every­
one was affected by this petition of the venerable
old man, tho talent of which was no loss admired
than tho moderation.
Ho also addressed divers letters to the mis­
ters of tho royal councils, to assure them of the
submission which he and his professed for their
sovereign, and to placo calumny and innocence
in their true light ; but while ho defended
himself, ho did not abuse his enemies, and
this confounded them by discouraging their ad­
vocates. As they were obliged to acknowledge
tho moderation of Alphonso, they exculpated
him, and for the future only blamed tho mis­
sionaries. When tho cause was on the point
of being discussed, ho again sought to obtain
tho mediation of several lords in tho court, lie
especially employed tho Prince of Riccia, and
begged him to speak to tho Duke of Turitto in
a favourable manner of us, and in tho terms
demanded by justice. “Your Excellency,” ho
wrote to him, “ ought to confer this favour on
us without delay, and to-morrow evening, which
is Monday, you should send him a noto. I am
aware of your Excellency’s goodness towards our
poor persecuted congregation, and, after God,
your Excellency alone can aid us.” The prince
lost no time in complying with Alphonso’s wishes,
who immediately wrote to thank him, adding,
H

ST. ALPIIONSO LIGUORI.

267

“In caso your Excellency should happen to meet
tho duke, I beseech you not to omit to entreat
him to bo charitable towards our poor compan­
ions, who labour and do good throughout tho
kingdom. Except your Excellency, wo have no
ono who can defend us. In aiding us you aid
thousands of poor souls, especially those of these
poor country people amongst whom wo labour.”
Our fathers at Naples, knowing how much
more efficacious his presence would have been
than his letters, did not fail to importune him
to come to tho capital. The poor old man was
distressed at these solicitations, and replied to
Father Maj one, on the 2nd of September, saying,
“Ho who sees to what a miserable state I am
now reduced, would not, I think, have the courage
to require mo to repair to Naples, to go and
visit tho president, the cardinal, Sambuca, and
Paolctti. My arrival would only servo to attract
the bootings of a crowd of children, who would
bo curious to know if tho man in the carriage
were dead or alive. It is a thing which cannot
bo thought of, because I cannot do it ; and be­
sides, my presence would not make tho cause
succeed. It would bo better for mo not to speak
to tho president, because he would begin to con­
tradict mo as soon as ever I began to speak.
As for Sambuca, ho would only bo surprised at
the pitiable condition I am in, and ho would not
bo able to understand mo, for tho weakness of
my head prevents my being able to express my
thoughts clearly, and I cannot now pronounce
my words properly. As to tho cardinal, I do

2GS

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

not see what groat advantage could result from
my interview with him. Your thoughts sound
well, but they are but thoughts. I am ready
to give my life for tho congregation, but not for
certain useless measures. Lot us place ourselves
in God’s hands ; lie will know better than wo
how to defend this cause, which is more His
than ours.”
Although matters appeared under a favourable
aspect, Alphonso did not wish the cause to bo
immediately discussed in tho council. “Timo is
a courteous man,” said ho, “and he is of won­
derful assistance to him who is persecuted.” As
for our enemies, as they knew how much diffi­
culty they would havo in proving their accusa­
tions, they would have been glad to temporize ;
but as they were aware that delay would certain­
ly be disadvantageous to them, they were eager
in demanding this discussion. When tho day
for it was at length fused, it would bo difficult
to believe what preparations tho baron and Maffei
made against us. There wore no loss than seven
advocates appointed to assist them in tho council
in declaiming against us. They visited all the
offices of the ministry, and tho procurator him­
self, who was jealous of his honour, went round
about everywhere making a commentary on his
famous report. Alphonso, on his side, did not
omit to prepare himself for this dreadful day ;
but instead of seeking to gain strength by a
multiplicity of advocates and procurators, he
caused all his sons to unite with him in redoub­
ling their prayers and penances. “ I have all

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

269

€

the fathers with mo,” ho wrote on tho 29th of
June, 1777, to Caposeli ; “wo shall offer up
mass for this end on each of these days. \ou
must at least say prayers.” The cause was how­
ever deferred until the month of August, 1779 ;
but up to this time he did not cease to raise
our arms to Heaven, in order to appease it, and
to merit tho salvation of the congregation.

CHAPTER XIII.
In consideration of the dangers which the
houses in the kingdom incurred by being un­
ceasingly engaged in warfare with enemies who
were as obstinato as they were powerful, Al­
phonso neglected nothing which could strengthen
the two houses in tho Pontifical States of Scifelli
and Frosinone. “In tho event of a tempest,”
said he, “ these houses will be our refuge.”
lie rejoiced at seeing them founded, and ho
unceasingly prayed to God to give him grace
to strengthen them. “ Tho house of Frosinone,”
ho wrote to Father do Paul, in a letter dated
tho 7th of July, 1777, “interests mo more than
that of Girgenti, because that house is indcpendant of tho kingdom, Tho persecutions wo
endured at Naples have not yet terminated,
and I attach tho greatest importance to maintaining this foundation, for which wo are indebted to the Popo.” In another letter of the

<

2/0

ST. ALPIIONSO LIGUORI.

19th of September, he said, “I have again been
suffering from one of those catarrhs, which will
one day deprive mo of life. By tho grace of
God, I am now better again. If it be God’s
good pleasure, I should like to live until I can
succeed, through my pension, in completing the
affair of the patronage of tho church, and in
finishing the building now commenced. Tell
mo what stato tho little rooms near the church
are in. For the present, I can only dispose of
about ten carlins ; but I hope to receive some
money from St. Agatha shortly. Do not doubt
that I will send you as much as I can.” Al­
phonso attached weight to each subject having
his own room. “Without that,” said he, “a
religious is a most miserable man.”
“I see,” said he, in another letter, “that
your Reverence will require money ; I will do
all in my power to assist you as soon as possi­
ble ; but I do not know to whom to apply, and
it is with difficulty that I send you these few­
ducats. Father Landi has just written to tell
mo that they are in tho greatest misery at Scifelli ; I have been obliged to divido tho small
sum of which I have been able to dispose, by
causing six ducats to bo borrowed by Brother
Leonard. I hope that I shall bo able to send
you some further assistance towards the month
of October, but it cannot bo considerable, be­
cause I have a great many debts. I am in con­
tinual distress, from seeing that I cannot assist
Frosinone and Scifelli as I should wish ; but
I calm myself about it because it is tho will of

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

271

God. I have been begging alms, and I have
got thirteen ducats, which added to the other
twenty-seven, amount to forty.” He was anx­
ious to see these houses in a state fit to be in­
habited, the subjects were so straitened for room,
that two or three of them were obliged to occupy
one room, which sometimes made them lose pa­
tience. Alphonso had allowed some debts for
building to bo contracted, but not any beyond
his resources. “Father Constant,” he wrote to
Father do Paul, “ has twice reproved me sharp­
ly for not having sent him more than two hun­
dred ducats, whilst he was four hundred and
fifty scudi in debt. Yes ! it is very true that
I told him to procure some money by borrow­
ing, but I meant that it should bo a moderate
sum ; now I find that four hundred and fifty
scudi are in question, which must positively be
paid ; yet, if I do not take some money from
the pension, where shall I find any? even were
I to sell my cassock, I should not obtain twenty
carlins. I will try and provide for it as well
as I can. They also want assistance at Scifelli ; but I have nothing at present, and so I
can send nothing.”
Alphonso’s solicitude for the houses in the
Pontifical States was so great, that ho would
have liked to hear of all that wont on there
every day, and ho complained when he was
loft in ignorance of anything. As Father de
Paul did not consult him about the patronage
of a chapel which concerned tho house at
Frosiiione, Alphonso wrote to him, saying,

—I

272

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

“ Tho affairs of Frosinonc arc only communi­
cated to mo for form’s sake, and I know no­
thing really about them. I havo tliis evening
heard that an accommodation has been made
through Mgr. Veroli, but as usual, without
explaining what has boon done to me, and
what aro his Lordship’s sentiments ; so that I
am as much in tho dark as I was before.”
This father replied that ho might be very well
satisfied to leave all things to him ; but these
words were considered as heresy by Alphonso.
“Your Reverence,” he answered him, “tells me
to leave things alone : I have never hindered
your communicating what you do to mo, but
I never dispensed you from so doing. Thank
God, I am not yet dead, and have not lost
my senses. On tho contrary, I have been
an advocate and a bishop, and I have seve­
ral times had to do with such things. I am
now superior general ; what reason can there
be for not informing me ? In charity, you
must write and tell me what is done, what is
transacted, and with whom. I have given a
thousand opinions as advocate and as bishop,
but now you do everything quite of your own
accord, and look upon mo as entirely useless.
Enough of this ; for the future I wish to bo
informed of everything that takes place. Let
me know all. In conclusion, there is perhaps
no house which has given mo more trouble
than that of Frosinonc. God be praised ! ”
In another letter, in which he sent him seve­
ral manuscripts for divers cardinals, and a me-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

morial to be presented to tho Pope, he wrote
as follows: “Tell tho Pope that I do not for­
get tho great charity he has manifested to me
in so many ways, and that I always recommend
him to God.”
In spite of so many anxieties, Alphonso did
not lose sight of the missions ; ho wished to
bo informed of all requests made on this sub­
ject, and although distant from the places him­
self, he distributed tho subjects himself, com­
bined their characters and their inclinations,
their docility or their imperfections, and their
greater or less aptitude for the ministry, “Do
not arrange about any mission,” he wrote to
Father do Paul on tho 5th of October, “if
you have not previously informed me all about
it, and send mo an express if there is any
necessity for it. You must excuse yourself
to the bishops who ask you for missions, by
saying that you cannot allow them without my
leave.” Ho also wished to bo informed of
tho number of inhabitants in each place, tho
circumstances of the place, and the state of
the clergy there. “ I wish,” he said in tho
same letter, “that tho missions be made with
all possible prudence and edification, and in
quite an apostolic spirit.” As the good of souls
was always very dear to his heart, he thought
of what a happy influence tho spiritual graces
accorded by tho Head of tho Church might havo
on tho missions ; so on the 12th of September,
1777, ho addressed a detailed recital to Popo
Pius VI., of tho origin and progress of tho ConIg

VOL. IV.

«

274

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

grogation, its labours and its sufferings, as well
as of the good which the missions effected, and
entreated his Holiness to communicate to him
the graces, privileges, and indulgences which
had been granted to the Passionist Fathers. He
obtained all that he asked for from the Sov­
ereign Pontiff.
Our enemies, as wo have already seen, every­
where exclaimed that wo exported millions into
tho houses in the States. In order to take away
ail pretext for this calumny, Alphonso, in a letter
of tho 12th of October, forbade any money to
be received for novenas, triduos, or other dis­
courses. “I expressly forbid,” ho there said,
“ in virtue of holy obedience, even a carlin be­
longing to tho kingdom from being accepted
for any reason whatever. We run tho risk of
being tho object of somo disastrous decree in
tho kingdom, and if tho houses of Naples are
suppressed, thoso of Romagna will be greatly
endangered. It seems to mo that all which 1
have written is necessary and right, because I
have written with reflection.” “You know,” ho
added to the same Father de Paul, “that I
keep up these houses in Romagna to see the rule
vigorously attended to. Manage so that tho
fathers make tho accustomed retreat, or if they
aro ill at least a part.”
Having hoard that it had been fixed on to
give some sermons during Lent contrary to tho
rule, he was dissatisfied at it. “ I have heard
that your Reverence,” he wrote in a letter of
the 12th of September, 1777, to Father Don

-—4

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Deodatus Crisenoli, “ has accepted an exercise
for Lent in tho dioceso of Sora, and that Father
de Paul lias done so at Atin, in the diocese of
Aquino. I am displeased that you did not previously inform me of this resolution. I know
that these Lenten exercises were not sought for
by you, and that they were offered by the parishcs ; but however that may be, I do not wish your
Reverence, or any one else, to agree to undertake such exercises, especially in the kingdom.
Our institute forbids it, and it would become a
cause for jealousy. In any event, your Reverence must try to excuse yourself to Mgr. do
Sora, and Father de Paul to the Bishop of Aquino,
by representing my prohibition to them, and the
observance of rule which I require. I wish you
to be solely engaged in missions ; they are what
God wishes for from us, and not Lents. Obey,
however great be the solicitations of parishes
and bishops.”
II

it, Father do Paul ventured to ask him for leave
to preach during Lent in the college at Frosinone, and to accept tho usual remuneration ; but
Alphonso replied to him, “ As for preaching this
Lent, it is true there are some reasons for so
doing, on account of our extreme want, but I will
not have tho rule broken, which expressly forbids
it. Leave all to our good God. If wo labour
for Him, Ho will never allow us to want what
is necessary.”
In the following year, in the month of October,
he wrote as follows to tho houses of Scifclli and

I Γ:
f
I
I

Fffl
I

El.
I
M

I

|H| I
i
·-ίI
f
mb!

J

I

I

276

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Frosinono : “ My fathers and my brothers,
since Jesus Christ has willed tho establishment
of our poor congregation in the Pontifical States,
where our rule, which has been approved by
the Pope, is incontestibly in all its vigour, I wish
for nothing from your Reverence but tho exact
observance of community life, poverty, obedi­
ence, and all that is prescribed by tho rule and
tho constitutions. As God has comforted mo
by tho establishment of these houses, I also wish
to have tho consolation of seeing tho observance
of tho rule properly attended to, so that God
may bo thereby glorified ; it is tho thing which
I am most anxious to enforce on you ero I die.
On tho observance of tho rule depends the bless­
ing of God, and the true fervour of the mem­
bers of tho congregation, tho success of tho
missions, tho propagation of tho Institute, and
the accomplishment of its end. I entreat you
not to follow the example of tho four houses in
the kingdom, where tho congregation and tho
rule are approved by his Majesty. On tho con­
trary, tho other houses, present and future, ought
to imitate tho two houses in the Campagna.
This is my advice to you, and I should like to
inculcato it on you as forcibly as possible now
and evermore. I do not wish you to have riches,
but only what is really necessary to enable you
to live in tho lovo and in tho esteem of tho rule
which God has given you for your sanctification,
and that of others. Aid all souls, but especially
those of tho poor and worthless. Remember
that God has raised us up to preach His word

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

to tho poor : ‘ Evangolizaro pauperibus misit
nos.’ Engrave this maxim well on your minds
and hearts, if you would be pleasing to Jesus
Christ. Seek God alono in the wretched poor.
Above all, I wish that you should devote your­
selves with fervour to instructing tho poor in
tho neighbourhood where tho houses are founded,
by catechisms, confessions, and tho other methods
in use amongst us, in order that these people
may not bo deceived in tho hopes they enter­
tain of being sanctified through your labours.”
Ilis great solicitude to cause tho rule to be
vigorously observed did not prevent him also
taking every care of the health of his subjects.
His vigilance on this point was also extreme.
“When health is lost,” said ho, “the subject
can no longer be of use to his neighbour or to
himself. You tell mo that the house might very
well bo inhabited,” ho wrote to Father de Paul,
“but tho doctor thinks that it ought not to bo
so before October, and I will not enduro remorse
for having caused tho death of some brother.”
The poverty which the houses in tho States
suffered, was tho cause of great uneasiness to Al­
phonso. Tho poor old man was affected by it,
and as tho amount of his pension and of the
collego at Naples was not enough, ho almost
went without baro necessaries in order to assist
them. Tho rector of Frosinono told him of his
distress. In reply, Alphonso said to him, “Try
to remedy it as well as you can until October ;
I am now as poor as a beggar. Would to God
that I could send you all my ponsion, but I am
H

I

278

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

hero in the house at Noccra, where there is no­
thing. Do not doubt that I will send you all I
can.” And in another letter he said to him,
“I cannot send you anything before October,
and after November I cannot promise you a
largo sum, because I am in debt, and a cer­
tain sum of money which I ought to have had
in October, has been already remitted to me.
I have always felt as much affection for Frosinono as for Scifelli, but there are a greater
number of young men at Scifelli who are now
in want of bread, Father Landi has written
mo word. Foundations in their commencement
occasion distress, confusion, contradiction, and
misery ; but if we remain entirely resigned to
tho will of God, He will remedy everything.
Let us behave properly, and Jesus Christ will
protect us. Remember this constantly, but if wo
commit faults, He will completely abandon us.”
When the necessary buildings were made, he
forbade anything further to bo undertaken.
“ I send you thirty ducats as a subsidy for tho
house at St. Cecily ; I do not wish them to be
spent in building, but only for the maintenance
of tho subjects.” He went so far as to mode­
rate the expenses for the embellishment of the
church, notwithstanding his tendency to render
the house of the Lord, and tho worship of the
saints, worthy of celestial regards. “Pover­
ty,” said he, “does no injury either to God or
to us. Extraordinary expenses must not bo in­
curred for the church,” ho wrote in ono of his
letters, “ nor for the pictures, statues, chasubles,

ST. Al

or other rich ornai
1 equally forbid i
at our expense.
aud illuminations r
are willing to bea
kind of adornment
corations in silk
let it be ornamenti
flowers ; theso are
in which wo aro at present.” Alphonso watched
over everything, but ho dwelt principally on
love and fraternal charity. “If the bond of
love is wanting,” said he, “that bond which
unites us together to Jesus Christ, everything
is wanting, had one the riches of Croesus.”
“I wish,” said he in a letter of the 7th of
July, 1777, “that you should all live together
there in peace and harmony, and without
breaches against charity. St. Ignatius detest­
ed and severely punished w’hoever spoke or acted
against charity.” Alphonso above all exacted
humility aud gentleness on tho part of superiors.
A want of charity or any imperious air on
their part pierced his heart, and ho reprimanded
them for it without fear. “ I entreat your Reverence,” said ho to Father de Paul, who at
that time was the superior at Frosinone, “ to be
humblo towards your companions, and affable
towards all, especially in mission time, and to
treat your brothers with all possible consideration, remembering that they are far from their
country and their family, and that thus they
have a right to have tho exercise of charity redoubled in their regard.”

H
’ *
,1 i
,|
1191
I

I
I

I
I

I
I
I
'

H ■

I

■
■

9
- ji

280

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

CHAPTER XIV.
Like great conflagrations, which tho winds only
servo to increase, so Alphonso, in the midst of
tho assaults of hell, constantly thought of new
works for tho good of humanity. Considering that
wherever the people lead a well-regulated life, and
perform their duties to God, ono finds submission
towards the sovereign coexistent with morality,
ho composed a work which ho entitled, “Tho
Fidelity of Subjects towards God is a sure pledge
of that which they have for their Prince.” “Sin
against God, and respect towards tho king are
incompatible,” said he ; “ho who fears not God,
also despises tho king.” As ho was deeply con­
vinced of this truth, ho became alarmed at tho
very name of treason or conspiracy. “ They de­
ceive themselves,” said ho in speaking of mon­
archs ; “ they will never havo any peace, if they
havo not tho prevention of immorality at heart;
where religion does not reign, iniquity triumphs,
as well as perfidy ; admit sin, and all is in
peril ; but if they mako their subjects faithful
towards God, they will find that they will bo
equally faithful towards them.” Ho strengthen­
ed what he asserted from the example of several
wise and religious princes who havo rendered
their states flourishing and enjoyed tho fruits of
peace through not having neglected tho spiritual
welfare of their subjects. When ho wrote this

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

281

work, ho said to one of us, in a transport of
holy zeal, “Havo as many missions as you
please; but if I gain one sovereign, it is worth
• more than a thousand missions ; for tho good
which a sovereign who is touched by the grace
of God can do, could not bo effected by a thou­
sand missions.”
As tho town of Rome is connected with many
others, and is tho centre of monarchies, so to
speak, ho took care to send several copies of this
work to Cardinal Castelli, and through him to
all the ministers of foreign powers. He also ap­
plied to Canon Henry Hennequin, to get it con­
veyed to the august Maria Theresa, to the elec­
toral prince of Cologne, to that of Treves, to the
archbishops and all tho bishops of the empire
who have temporal possessions. He also trans­
mitted it to Prince Charles, the governor of the
Netherlands, to tho Kings of Spain and of Portu­
gal, to the King of Turin, to tho Duke of Parma,
and to the Grand-Duke of Tuscany ; in a word,
to all tho Catholic sovereigns, and to all the
principal ministers. None of the answers of these
personages to Alphonso arc in existence, for, ac­
cording to custom, he had sacrificed them to his
humility. Vincent Maria de Majo was full of
admiration for this work, and could not refrain
from extolling Alphonso’s piety and learning, and
especially his groat zeal for the good of souls
and of tho Church, notwithstanding his groat
ago and infirmities. “I havo been in doubt,”
said Canon Simcoli, “not knowing whether to
admire most tho purity of tho maxims contained

282

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

in this work or tho unction it breathes, and
which is a distinctive characteristic of our au­
thor, who is equally well known for his piety
and for his learning.” This work became so
celebrated beyond the mountains, that it was
translated into French and sold in divers king­
doms. “This work,” said tho translator, “is
the voice of a soul which thirsts for nothing but
tho glory of religion, tho spread of morality, and
tho happiness of sovereigns and their subjects,
and which has no other ambition than that of
leading men to virtue and rendering them happy.
Λ11 tho works which have been written by the
venerable prelate who composed this immortal
treatise, bear tho stamp of genius and of a feel­
ing heart.”
From the time of tho suppression of the Jesuits
tho town of Benevento was deprived of tho nu­
merous benefits it had received from these re­
ligious. When this metropolis was given up to
tho Pope, on tho 5th of February, 1774, after
tho entrance of tho army of our august King
Ferdinand IV., the see was vacant, through tho
death of Mgr. Colombini, and divers petitions
wero therefore addressed to tho holy father Pius
VI., in order to expose tho spiritual necessities
of the people of Benevento to him. When Mgr.
Francis Maria Banditti, tho Bishop of Montofiascone, was elected Archbishop of Benevento, and
made cardinal, tho holy father charged him, after
ho had taken possession of his see, to suggest
some expedient to him by which he might further
the glory of God and the good of souls at Bene-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

283

vento, and supply the void which the Jesuits had
left there.
Cardinal Banditti consulted the canons of tho
cathedral at Benevento, and tho nobles of the
town, and all agreed as to giving up the church
and college belonging to the suppressed Jesuits
to the Redemptorist Fathers, as well as all the
rentals attached to them. Tho cardinal applied
to Mgr. Liguori, and every one believed that tho
proposal would bo accepted ; but as Alphonso
was always averse to establish any of tho mem­
bers of his congregation in large towns, he de­
clined tho cardinal’s very flattering offer with
thanks. Ho told him that Benevento already
possessed a great many eminent religious, who
could supply tho spiritual wants of tho peopie, whilo we were more profitably engaged
among the poor of tho country.
Neither the clergy nor the nobles of Bon­
evento would give up tho point, but as they
wero unable to prevail on Alphonso, they ad­
dressed themselves to Father Villani. The car­
dinal himself wrote to him with confidence that
Benevento was in a state of destitution as well
as tho villages, that the other religious, how­
ever numerous, did not devoto themselves ex­
clusively to anything but the works of their
institutes. Father Villani assented to these
reasons, principally for tho sake of tho houses
in tho kingdom, and as Alphonso himself was
obliged to acknowledge tho justice of these re­
presentations, ho no longer refused to acqui­
esce in tho foundation.

284

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

When Pius VI. was informed of it ho rejoiced
greatly, and in a letter written with his own
hand, on the 23rd of April, 1777, ho granted
us the church, college, and all the revenues of
the suppressed Jesuits. On the feast of tho
Sacred Heart of Jesus, that is to say, on the
6th of June, 1777, we entered into possession of
this house, with the consent of his Eminence
Cardinal Banditti, of the clergy, and the civil
authorities, as well as of the chief nobles. Fa­
ther Gaspar Cajone was appointed superior of
this house, and he preached there to the satis­
faction of the whole town ; the church was fre­
quented from this day, and all tho pious labours
of the Jesuits were re-established.

CHAPTER XV.

However great were the dangers to which his
congregation was exposed, Alphonso did not
forget the wants of the Church. He bitterly
wept at seeing what progress infidelity and
libertinism made in France through the fatal
influence of the writings of M. Voltaire and
Jean Jacques Rousseau ; ho grieved over it the
more because their contagion had begun to pen­
etrate into Italy, and the works of Voltaire
II
formed
the fashionable reading at Naples, so
that even ladies made them the pastime for
their idleness. As his age and infirmities no

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

285

longer left him strength enough to combat
them, he unceasingly encouraged different lit­
erary friends of his at Naples to labour in their
refutation.
He was sorrowing over them, when one day a
refutation of the errors of Voltaire, upon which
tho worthy Abbé Francis Claude Nonnotte was
then engaged, fell into his hands ; he was full
of joy at this, and could not cease to thank
God for having raised up a man who braved
the spirit of the age, and occupied himself for
His glory with such courageous devotion. Ani­
mated by holy zeal, ho did not fail to write
him a letter of congratulation and encourageIi ent, for his having dared to undertake the
refutation of the most impious of blasphemers.
We have not got this letter, but from the fol­
lowing reply, dated 21st of April, 1778, we can
see how expressive it must have been.
“ Claude Francis Nonnotte, priest of Besançon,
to Mgr. and most Reverend Father in Jesus
Christ, Don Alphonso do Liguori, bishop, and su­
perior-general of the Congregation of tho Most
Holy Redeemer.
“ My Most Roverend Father,
“ I do not believe that any ono ever expe­
rienced more pleasure and satisfaction than I
felt when I read your letter. It is so full of
such great proofs of charity and kindness, it
evinces such lovo for religion and all virtue,
that I was tempted to believe that it was writ­
ten by an angel rather than by a man. As

286

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

I am accustomed to appreciate nothing except
in conformity to tho spirit of God, it is an un­
speakable pleasure to me to meet with men
who also value the things of God alone, and
who in themselves, being greater than great
dignities could make them, cause one to bo
in doubt whether most to admire in them the
gifts of genius which they possess, or tho bright
lustre of the greatest virtue. I have often sought
for such men ; I had not found any such when
your letter arrived to inform me that there is one
at Naples. No words of mine can express to you
how much I esteem that one, and with what af­
fection I am attached and devoted to him......
Λ11 who have read your excellent and very cel­
ebrated work on Moral Theology, congratulate
me on my having received such a flattering let­
ter from so learned a prelate, and I congratulate
myself in turn for having received the approba­
tion of so distinguished a man for my works.
Through reading tho favourable opinion you
have condescended to give on my writings, I
have seen your great love for religion,” &c.
In order to encourage this generous confessor
to strive more and more against these impious
persons, who were so furiously bent against the
Church, Alphonso undertook to present a peti­
tion to the Sovereign Pontiff to obtain an apos­
tolical brief in favour of the Philosophical Dic­
tionary of Religion. “ It is with unspeakable
pleasure and gratitude,” Abbé Nonnotte replied
to him, “ that I have heard that you have re­

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

287

solved to address a petition to the Sovereign Pon­
tiff, to ask hi H for an approbation for my Dic­
tionary, such as Clement XIII. deigned to give to
my book called, ‘The Errors of Voltaire.’ It is
indeed an object which I H ost ardently desire,
and for this reason I sent him my works very ele­
gantly bound and ornamented, so as to be wor­
thy to be placed in the hands of his Holiness;
hut I have not received any answer, although
Cardinal Pallivicini, to who li I wrote, told H e
that he had transmitted the H to the Sovereign
Pontiff. Have I then to believe that my work
has been despised by this great Pope, or that
I am deceived for some reason of which I am
ignorant? I leave the decision of this point to
your superior judgi H ent, most reverend prelate.
The encouragement you give me is most cha­
ritable. You exhort me to attack and to com­
bat unceasingly all the new sophisms which
may again be brought forth by the followers
of this infernal philosophy, as I have done hi­
therto. I have already undertaken to do all
that you wish for and hint at, nay, I have
even completed it ; but tho want of suitable
and necessary assistance, has prevented me from
publishing what I have written. Notwithstand­
ing that, I have finished a third volume on the
‘Errors of Voltaire,’ entitled, ‘The Spirit of Vol­
taire in his Writings.’ I have there tried to
show that as long as tho works of Voltaire are
to be found in tho hands of our young people,
there will never be any hope that the homage
and love which aro due to religion can be re-es-

288

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

tablished amongst us, I should have been ex­
ceedingly glad to havo had this work printed
at Paris, but for this it would have required
to have had it sanctioned by tho approbation
of some royal censor ; and every one here is so
full of wild admiration for Voltaire, or rather,
tho fear which this extremely sarcastic man
inspires is so great, that I havo not been able
to succeed in finding a friendly examiner ; on
tho contrary, even the Archbishop of Paris him­
self told mo that I should never find a censor
of this kind. Surely this is a thing worthy
of astonishment ! I shall perhaps bo obliged
to cause a book which I havo composed in de­
fence of religion to be printed at Geneva, be­
cause Catholics havo not courage to do it. I
may well here exclaim with Cicero, ‘ 0 tem­
pora ! 0 mores!’ For upwards of twenty years
I have been constantly under arms to fight
for the Lord, and I have never received any
aid from man, on tho contrary, I havo been
loaded with invectives from tho impious ; but
I am full of trust in God, and I do not lose
courage ; I even feel it redoubled on thinking
that I cannot wage a more salutary conflict.
Your letter however has been as a fresh spur
to mo, because it not only betokens zeal for
religion, but also sentiments of tho most sweet
charity ; for this reason I ardently pray God
that as Ho has deigned to unite us together
in this exile, He would also reunite us together
in our heavenly country. Farewell.”
If Alphonso’s letter had been a subject of

289

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

gladness and of consolation to Abbé Nonnotto,
the abbé’s reply filled Alphonso with sorrow and
regret. He grieved, and could not take any rest,
on hearing what great favour Voltaire was in,
and what applause he received, especially in
Paris, so that not ono amongst the royal exam­
iners could be found to reprove his blasphemies,
and to give himself up to the defence of the
truth. “0 God!” exclaimed he, “at Paris,
where there are so many Christian orators,
there is not any ono to bo found who will
II
oppose this monster, who is so great an enemy
to the Church and to religion, and this defence
must bo published at Geneva ! Miserable beings
that wo aro! This is tho authority the Church
has in Paris ! She cannot face an infidel and
reprove his audacity ! Poor archbishop ! poor
Church ! This abuso will not undoubtedly re­
main unpunished ! Poor France ! I pity thee,
and I pity tho many innocent people who will
be involved in thy disgrace ! ”
Ho would have liked to send tho letters to
tho king, “But how could I effect at a distance,”
said ho, “ what the archbishop and so many
good bishops cannot obtain although they aro
on tho spot?”
A falso ray of consolation came for a mo­
ment to soften tho grief of our afflicted old
man : in tho May of this same year of 1778,
there was a report at Naples that Voltaire had
retracted his errors and his blasphemies, and
that, corresponding with the influence of grace,
ho had declared himself to bo a sincere Catho1n
J

vor" 1 v·

290

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

lie. Alphonso felt groat joy on hearing that
Abbé Nonnotto had laboured to refute him ; but
it is impossible to express what ho felt, when
he heard that he himself abhorred his errors,
lie was animated by fresh zeal, and entertain­
ed tho idea of writing to congratulate him
on his return to grace, and on tho great good
which his conversion would confer on tho whole
Church. It gives mo pleasure to quote this let­
ter, which ran as follows :—
“ He who writes this letter to you is a bishop
nearly worn out by infirmities, and tho Sovereign
Pontiff has condescended to allow him to resign
tho administration of his diocese of St. Agatha
of the Goths. In my last days, at the advanced
age of eighty-three, your conversion, which is as
happy for you as it is satisfactory to all good
Catholics, has been a subject of such great joy
to me, that I cannot help writing you this letter,
such as it is, to rejoice with you in tho sincerity
of my heart ; for I sorrowed and groaned at see­
ing you abuse the truly great genius which you
have received from God ; and although I am the
most worthless of men, I havo frequently address­
ed prayers to God that this Father of mercies
would cause you to abandon your error, and at
length draw you to His love. That which I
have so ardently longed for has come to pass.
Your conversion (I speak as I feel) will bo more
advantageous to the Church than tho redoubled
labours of a hundred companies of missionaries
could havo been. In order that this common joy
may be universal and complete, as well as to

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

291

take away the slightest doubt regarding your
conversion, I should like you to write something
as a refutation of your errors and of your soph­
isms. I should be very much more pleased still
if you would use your pen against another modern
II
writer, who has dared to attack the dogmas
of
the faith, to the great detriment of so many
unfortunate young persons, who have been se­
duced by the love of independence, and have
rashly sacrificed their soul and their God. I
know that you suffer from your eyes ; but the
least thing from you will suffice as a reply to
all who may labour to raise doubts as to the
sincerity of the step you have takeu. I shall
therefore earnestly pray to God to give you
strength, if not to write, at least to dictate, some­
thing against the unbelievers of our times.........
I remain,” &c.
It is well known that Voltaire's conversion was
nothing but an unfounded rumour ; and soon
after Alphonso received at Naples tho tidings of
his conversion, he heard that he persisted in his
obstinacy. Upon this tho poor old man was
chilled with surprise ; he was on the point of
sending his letter ; he had to keep it back.
“Such conversions,” he then said, “aro not
ordinary graces ; they aro the effects of Divino
mercy, but not of a common degree of mercy.
God only grants blessings of this sort to thoso
whoso errors have arisen from a good intention,
like those of St. Paul. But all is very had in
Voltaire.” On tho 30th of May, in this same
year of 1778, Voltaire, who was always constant

J

292

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

in his errors, passed out of this life to tho pun­
ishment of eternal condemnation. On the 2nd
of July of the same year, his colleague in evil,
Jean Jacques Rousseau, also died a sudden death.
Alphonso heard of it from tho Abbé D. Vincent
Lupoli, who was afterwards Bishop of Cerreto.
“ I received tho tidings of the death of tho un­
happy Rousseau,” ho replied on the 13th of Sep­
tember ; “ God bo praised for having delivered
the Church from two of its greatest enemies in
so short a time !”
Alphonso had ono source of consolation about
this time, however. IIo had a very great esteem
for Metastasio ; ho praised his talent and ex­
tolled his honesty, but ho was grieved to seo
that his works, although they boro the somblanco
of modesty
and decency, nevertheless inflamed
Π
the passions of tho young. “Peter Metastasio,”
said he, “ docs more harm by his poems, although
they aro apparently chaste, than is caused by
books which aro openly immodest, for they aro
therefore proscribed ; but Metastasio is read with
pleasure, because he is modest ; and thus a per­
son’s mind is beguiled and his heart perverted
almost against his own will.”
When ho received certain tidings from Na­
ples that Metastasio had become converted, and
that ho was aware of tho great evil which his
dramatical works had caused to youth, ho said
in one of his works,
*
“ May I bo permitted here
to manifest tho great joy which I havo lately
‘ Spiritual Reflections, part 2, page 25.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

293

experienced. I have been positively assured,
that the celebrated Abbé Peter Metastasio, after
having received so many praises for his poetry
throughout all Europe, which is all the more dan­
gerous from its being so very beautiful, because
his tender and ardent expressions are thereby
all tho more calculated to kindle the flames of
impure love in the heart, (I only allude to his pro­
fane poems,) I have been assured, I say, that he
is going to publish a little book in prose, wherein
he protests his profound repentance for his dan­
gerous poetry, and the wish ho has, if possible,
Π the hands
to withdraw this kind of works from
of the public, at any price whatever, even at
the expense of his own blood. In fact, I am
assured that ho does not now compose poetry,
except some spiritual or moral dramas, which
he is obliged to do in consequence of his office
of poet to the court. It is also said that he leads
quite a retired life spent in prayer and devotional
exercises. This has given me unspeakable con­
solation, because this public declaration, and
tho great and good example he gives, will
cause many misguided young people to think
seriously, who have tried to gain a name and
glory through amorous poems of a similar de­
scription. Assuredly, tho celebrated Metastasio
deserves more praises for this declaration,
than if ho had published a thousand brilliant
pieces of poetry ; for by that ho would only
havo gained tho praise of mon, whilst now
ho has merited that of God. Thus, whilst I
formerly detested the vanity which mado him

1 .* I
1-I I

»

i

‘4

294

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

glory in producing such compositions, I cannot
now coase to praiso him, and, were it in my
power, I would kiss his feet on seeing him bcCQmo tho censor of his own works, and profess­
ing a wish to stop their circulation in tho
world, even at the price of his own blood, as
ho himself said,”
Alphonso had such a horror of amorous
poetry, which is so pernicious to youth, that lie
wept over it, and could not think of it without
detesting such works and their authors. But
as sacred poetry on the contrary produces good
effects, when any remarkable composition of this
kind came before him, he praised the authors,
and tried to bring them into notice with as
much zeal, as he blamed and cast discredit on
tho others. He was so taken with the trans­
lation of the Psalms by Xavier Maffei, that ho
was always praising tho labours of this distin­
guished man. “If all occupied themselves thus,”
said he, “we should see lascivious poetry ban­
ish from the lips of tho young.” Maffei was
Π
full of gratitude for Alphonso’s esteem
for him
and for his works, and did not forget to offer
his thanks to him in tho preface to his trans­
lation of the Psalms. On tho 20th of Novem­
ber, 1774, Alphonso replied to him as follows:
“ It gives mo great comfort to receive your
little work on the Psalms. I keep your much
esteemed letter before mo whilst I am composing
my work. It is fitted for the learned as well
as for the ignorant, because it both instructs
and pleases. Mine is only for the ignorant, and

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

295

has nothing attractive. Your translation has
been applauded by the literary throughout all
Italy, and I may even say throughout all Eu­
rope. What I have done is scarcely able to
please even a small number of devout persons.
I see what progress you make as a lawyer, but
how much I should have preferred to sec you
continue to make use of the great talents and
knowledge which God has given you, by exercising
them for tho good of His Church. However,
even in the position in which you are you can
do a great deal for the service of religion, since
every one takes upon him to speak of theology
and of tho holy Scriptures, and to put forth
whatever propositions he pleases.”

·!

CHAPTER XVI.
Prudence and confidence in God seemed to
rival each other in Alphonso in the midst of tho
trying circumstances in which he was placed,
lie trusted in God, and he was sure of tho Di­
vino protection ; but he did not omit to make
use of all tho human means which were cal­
culated to assist him ; and whilst our enemies
moved heaven and earth to make sure of tho
protection of the royal council, Alphonso with­
out acting with such great solicitude, wished that
wo should try to temporise, and thus gain a
favourable decision. Such conduct excited every

I

.: ! i

29G

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

one’s admiration ; and one knew not whether
most to praise his patience in his labours, or
his wisdom in regulating them.
When tho procurator’s report was remitted to
the royal council, the agitation of our enemies can
easily be imagined by every one. There was not
one of tho ministers upon whom they did not en­
deavour to prevail, through tho reiterated media­
tion of those in power, and they interested even
those in inferior offices in their cause. All their
manœuvres wore unsuccessful however, and could
not mislead, because their spirit of hatred and in­
trigue was so manifest. As to Alphonso, he cast
himself into tho arms of Providence, and doubted
not of tho protection of God. “ Jesus Christ,”
ho wrote to Father Majone, on tho 12th of
April, 1779, “has wrought miracles in His per­
secutions, and I am sure that Ho will not per­
mit His work to be destroyed, because it is
so useful to poor sinners. Baron Sarnelli in­
sists on its suppression, and tho procurator
Leon seconds him, by saying that we are use­
less ; but God thinks otherwise, and I havo tho
consolation of seeing thirty attestations of bi­
shops attesting the good of our missions. I havo
received affecting accounts from Calabria, la
Pouille, tho Basilicato, tho diocese of Benevento,
Sicily, and tho Campagna, regarding tho nu­
merous labours of our missionaries, and the good
they effect. God bo praised!”
He was told that Marshal Pignatolli and tho
Duchess of Montccalvo, interested themselves in
our favour, and this comforted him extremely.

Z

9

ST. alphonso liguori.

297

J

' Ii*

“I should never havo imagined,” he replied,
“that tho Lord would open this way for us ;
who knows whether God will not make uso of
these great people, in order to give peace to the
congregation, and thus to cause them to receive
merit by this means,” Many bishops also, on
seeing tho danger wo were in, did not fail to
look after our interests.
Mgr. Bergame, tho
bishop of Gaeta, went to Naples on purpose to
speak to the President Cito, to Paoletti and to
Salomone, who all three belonged to the royal
H
council. Amongst other things, ho said to them,
“What will the poor bishops do if this congre­
gation bo taken away from them ?”
Our greatest offence in the eyes of the pro­
curator was, that contrary to the ordinance of
tho Catholic king, our houses formed real com­
munities, with a rule and constitutions, and that
besides other offices, wo had a superior general
and local superiors. To triumph over this truly
specious accusation appeared an impossibility,
even to our friends in tho ministry. Alphonso
was animated by his accustomed confidence,
and presented a justification to the king for tho
minister at tho head of ecclesiastical affairs. Ho
declared that our enemies’ assertions on this head
were true ; but that if tho missionaries edified
the people and did them a great deal of good,
it was the result of the good order which existed
in the government of tho congregation ; that
there could neither be order nor subordination
either in tho houses or during tho missions with­
out respective superiors ; that tho young men

I

1

fc ‘

4

298

ST. ALPHONSO LTGUORL

who wore under training were necessary for tho
prepetuation of tho work by replacing tho old,
and that in order to make them virtuous and
fit for tho ministry, there must necessarily bo
masters in order to instruct them in knowledge
and to direct in spirituality.
The Marquis of Marco soon became convinced
of Alphonso’s uprightness, as well as of tho evil
intentions of his enemies, and so he hastened
to set all this before the king. Nothing more
was required in order to overthrow tho formida­
ble engine which the procurator had drawn up
against us. “I stated to the king,” the Marquis
wrote to Alphonso, on the 21st of August, 1779,
“the representations of your Lordship against
tho allegations tending to the destruction of tho
Congregation which you direct. Ilis Majesty has
commanded mo to reply to you, that as the Ca­
tholic king, his august father, permitted tho
missionaries (of whom your Lordship is tho
head) to give missions and to live in the four
houses of Ciorani, Nocera, Caposelc, and Iliceto,
and prescribed the moans and conditions under
which this great undertaking might bo main­
tained, his Majesty also consents to there being
a superior in the four above-named houses, to
watch over tho internal order therein, and to
see that tho other offices aro properly distribu­
ted ; and as it was tho intention of the deceased
Catholic king that this salutary work should
never cease to exist, his Majesty also approves
of young men being received and taught those
things which shall bo needful to enable them

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI,

299

to supply tho place of those who have become
incapacitated through great age, or any other
reason.”
When Alphonso received this royal decision,
lie hastened to write thus to Father Majone, on
the 23rd of tho same month : “ Gloria Patri, et
Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Father Cimino has
read to me the official despatch, for which I wish
to have three masses said in thanksgiving. Let
us then thank Jesus Christ and the Blessed Vir­
gin, to whom I recommend this affair in a most
special manner. I thank the Marquis of Marco,
the grand-almoner, and also your Reverence, for
you have all shown great zeal in transacting this
important affair, and, finally, tho clerk Vecchietti,
who has aided you very much. I do not feel so
well,” he adds, “but I assure you that I shall
die satisfied if Jesus Christ and the Madonna let
me sec peace restored to our congregation.” lie
then wrote to Father Landi, saying, “I have
been quite ill for several days. Pray to Jesus
Christ to give mo holy resignation : I wish for
nothing more. Say a Salvo Regina for nine
days at night prayers, for a very important mat­
ter.” Alphonso rejoiced at this act of clemency
on the part of the sovereign, and so did all good
people ; the procurator advocate was enraged at
it, and felt it most keenly. “If tho Grand Duke
of Tuscany had come here in person,” he several
times said, “ho would not have obtained from
the court what this handful of upstarts have got.”
During this time Alphonso, in order to merit
tho favours which God heaped on him so abun-

300

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

dantly, seemed to forget all his infirmities in
order to labour for the salvation of souls in every
possible way. For six months, that is to say,
from tho IGth of December, the heavens had
become like brass, and there had not been a
drop of rain. Λ11 Nocera was in distress at this,
fearing the loss of tho corn and the fruit. Al­
phonso was moved at the sight of such a scourge,
and wept over tho sins of the people. Ono Sun­
day—it was the 13th of May, 1779—notwith­
standing his weakness, ho undertook to make a
penitential procession, in order to obtain God’s
pardon and the favour which was so much longed
for. After having put on his purple vestments,
which he was never in tho habit of doing, ho
covered himself with ashes ; and accompanying
his sons with a rope around his neck, he resolv­
ed to go and place a largo cross in the parish
church. Tho way was long, but all efforts to
dissuade him from going wero useless. It was
with great difficulty that ho was persuaded to
go half the way in a carriage. He was deter­
mined to go the rest of the way on foot ; and
as his state of exhaustion no longer allowed him
to walk without support, tho lay-brother and
others aided him in performing this painful pil­
grimage.
All tho inhabitants wished to assist at the
ceremony, the church and tho square wore crowd­
ed with people. The principal gentlemen were
eager to go and hear this new St. Charles Borromeo. In order to satisfy tho people, tho pul­
pit was placed at the church door, and as Al-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

301

phonso was not able to ascend it, he was carried
up to it. Ho preached for upwards of an hour
upon the punishment which sinners deserve, and
exhorted all his hearers to do penance. Ilis
words, added to such a touching spectacle, made
a general impression, and on that very evening
its salutary effects wore seen by the great num­
ber of those who went to cast themselves at the
feet of their confessors. But Heaven appeared
to be insensible ; the next day, after vespers,
when Alphonso was returning from his accus­
tomed drive, and had nearly reached our house,
lie ordered the coachman to turn back, and to
go to the chapel where the Month of May was
celebrated. When he arrived there, he got out
of the carriage, entered tho church, and went
and prostrated himself before tho altar of tho
Blessed Virgin. Nothing more was necessary
to draw a crowd of people together. Alphonso
caused tho image of Mary to bo exposed, and
exhorted all present to have recourse to our Di­
vine Mother. After ho had prayed in silence
for some time, ho again turned towards tho
crowd: “Continue,” said ho to them, “to recom­
mend yourself to the Madonna with confidence ;
confess and communicate this week, and you
will have rain on Sunday.” And so it was, for
on tho predicted day, just when it was least ex­
pected, and when tho impatient people wero
murmuring and saying that his Lordship was
mistaken for this time, a sudden change was seen
to take placo in tho atmosphere, and the rain
fell in such great abundance that all tho country

' 1 ! ”·

302

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOltl.

was deluged. It was impossible not to see tho
favour which tho Blessed Virgin had granted
to the prayers of her servant ; but as to Al­
phonso, it seemed almost a cause of confusion
to him, and ho said to us, when he returned,
“ The words I addressed to tho people are taken
as a prophecy : they merely escaped from mo
by chance however, for I am no prophet.”
This prodigy soon became known at Naples,
and Mgr. Liguori informed Abbe Nonnottc of
it on the 29th of May, 1779.
I will now give another proof of his zeal. He
had heard that the surgeon of tho regiment
which was quartered at Nocera was very ill, and
that not wish standi ng all the efforts of the Ca­
puchin fathers, ho was dying in an impenitent
state. Ho hastened to send some of our fathers
to him ; but as all their efforts wero also without
success, he determined to drag himself to the
abode of the dying man, as ho was uneasy about
tho salvation of his soul. The poor old man en­
deavoured to bring him out of his blindness for
upwards of an hour ; but all was in vain. This
hardened unbeliever tried to find rest, and find­
ing none, ho frequently said, “Oh, what a mis­
fortune ! What do I want with this old man?”
This miserable being did not admit either revela­
tion or redemption. Alphonso at length saw
tho inutility of his exhortations, and said, with
tears in his eyes, to tho Capuchin fathers who
were present, “ I leave him in tho hands of
the devil ; pray for him, however, and do not
leave him.” The unhappy man died, but in

ST. ALPIIONSO LIGUORI.

303

impenitence ; he unceasingly repeated in his
last moments, “ Causa causarum, salva me!”
Alphonso whilst deploring the loss of this soul,
could not help adoring the judgments of God.
“Grace,” said ho, “costs much to him who refuses it.”
If the death of this. unfortunate being was a
subject of regret to Alphonso, ho had an increase of consolation in tho conversion of another
soldier ; he had faith, but would not go to con­
fession, although laden with iniquities.
Ilis
Lordship was moved to compassion on hearing
this, and so ho repaired to his quarters. He
succeeded this time, and made him think serious­
ly, and won him over to Jesus Christ. Ho was
so pleased at the conversion of this soul, that
in the sermon he delivered in our church on the
following Saturday, he said that the Blessed
Virgin alone had saved this sinner, and he wished
the people to thank Mary for it.

CHAPTER XVII.

Providence, who never loses sight of Ilis chil­
dren, did not fail to protect Alphonso from tho
wicked designs of the procurator. Whilst tho
debate and the particulars regarding tho offences
alleged against us wero before the royal council,
the king adopted a new course, which put tho
finishing stroke to our enemies’ confusion, and to

304

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

tho procurator’s dejection. Tho latter had de­
claimed with fury against tho Moral Theology of
Mgr. Liguori, and ho had drawn from this the
most arbitrary consequences ; but this perfidy
was again baffled. Alphonso’s doctrine and his
piety were well known at tho court, as well as
his zeal and his attachment to tho Church and
Stato. Tho king had obtained leave to cele­
brate tho jubilee in his kingdom from Popo
Pius VI., on tho 21st of November, 1777. Ilis
Majesty principally selected Mgr. Liguori and
his missionaries to announce tho attendant spiri­
tual graces. On tho 22nd of October of tho
following year, tho Marquis of Sambuca wrote
to him thus: “In consideration of tho constant
labours of tho missionaries of tho Most Holy
Redeemer, which tend to instruct the people,
and to their being led to true piety, and of the
solicitude with, which they everywhere dissemi­
nate good principles, which arc calculated to
form virtuous Christians and faithful citizens,
his Majesty has determined to make uso of the
zeal of your Congregation to publish a jubilee,
tho only object of which is tho salvation of tho
faithful and tho good of tho Stato. Therefore,
tho king has commanded mo to let your Lord­
ship know, that in return for tho happy success
which will attend tho labours of your missionaries
in this respect, ho will not fail to give you proofs
of his royal gratitude.”
Alphonso was quito abashed at such an ho­
nourable mandate. He seconded the piety of the
king by his own zeal, and addressed us on tho 8th

305

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

of November in a circular, in which he sets forth
the excellence of this work and its utility for
the good of souls. “My brothers,” said he, “you
now see that our most pious aud most religious
lonarch counsels and commands nothing but
the accomplishment of the end of our institute,
that is to say, tho instruction of the people in
their duties towards tho Most High God, towards
the prince, their neighbour, and themselves. So
religious a work, the principal object of which
is tho welfare of tho Church, and the good of
tho State, and which also procures all tho ad­
vantages wo have named, ought not only not to
bo looked on with indifference, but to be second­
ed in every possible way by those who are called
on to procuro tho furtherance of the glory of
God, tho salvation of their neighbour, and that
of tho state.”
This honour from tho king was an explicit
contradiction of all tho calumnies of the pro­
curator. Alphonso was grateful for all theso
blessings, and wished that duo thanks should
bo offered to God for them.
On tho 24th of January, 1779, ho wrote to
all his houses, to direct that every evening after
tho examination, the following prayers should
bo said at three different intervals, each time
being divided by a Pater, an Ave, and a Gloria,
and ho wished them to recite them in a loud
and intelligible tone of voice: “ What have I
desired in heaven or on tho earth but Thee,
Oh, thou God of my heart and my portion for
eternity !” My Jesus, I devote myself wholly
II

20

VOL. IV.

306

ST. ALPITONSO LIGUORI.

to Theo ; I wish for nothing but Theo ; I wish
for nothing more.” “Prayer,” said ho unceas­
ingly, “is all-powerful with God.”
The honourable preference which tho king be­
stowed on our missionaries made the procurator
quite furious. If he felt pain at tho king’s first
decree, in which ho sanctioned the order which
was established in tho congregation, which was
exactly contrary to the conclusions of his re.
port ; the second was a real torment to him.
That which filled him with the bitterest sorrow
wras, tho promise the king made us of futuro
liberality. “Strange fancy,” exclaimed ho, “it
would seem as if scandal is to bo made lawful and
even rewarded, although it causes ruin to tho
State and to the Church.” Ho lost all self-con­
trol, and spoke without any restraint wherever
he went ; ho spoke against the royal minister,
whom he censured, for having promulgated such
a decree ; ho lost courage, as well as the com­
missioner, who had also undertaken to destroy
us, but they made one last effort in despair of
the cause ; they entreated the royal council for
a new appeal, hoping that at least the baron
might then be able to recover his property, and
that they might thus escape entire confusion.
But neither the procurator nor tho commis­
sioner saw tho end of this affair. I do not
here pretend to enter into tho secret judgments
of God, but so it was that they both were pre­
maturely cited before the tribunal of Jesus
Christ : the ono died on coming out of a bath,
^without being able to have tho sacraments ad-

3

ST. alphonso liguori.

307

ministered to him, and the other was found dead
in his carriage, without any one having been
able to do anything for him. As the other
baron’s supporters disappeared in this manner,
ho had no longer any heart nor strength to go
on with his wicked prosecutions.
Alphonso was, as we have already seen, ex­
H
tremoly interested in tho mission
in Sicily, ile
deplored tho loss of the Jesuits, which had
been sustained there, where they had done so
much good ; and as he was then in favour with
tho prince, he turned his thoughts thither with
redoubled solicitude. He was nevertheless dis­
tressed at not having subjects enough to satisfy
the numerous demands of both the bishops of
tho kingdom and of those of Sicily. “My God,”
he was heard to exclaim, “ messis multa, ope­
rarii panci.” However, as many of our young
priests were nearly at tho end of their course
of theology in our house of St. Angelo, he wrote
to them on tho 16th of August, 1779, in order
to encourage them to tho apostleship, and to inspiro them with a love for missions. His lettcr
was as follows :
“ My dear brothers, I hope that you faithfully preserve tho desire to belong wholly to
Jesus Christ; it is a desire which you con­
ceived on entering tho congregation, and which
you have more specially renewed at the time of
tho oblation by which you wore entirely conse­
crated to tho love of Jesus Christ. I therefore
wish to let you know that our Father Lauria has
como from Girgenti, and has told us that his com-

fi

308

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

panions in Sicily arc not numerous enough to sup­
ply tho wants not only of this diocese, but of se­
veral others besides ; for the Archbishop of Pa­
lermo, Mgr. San Severino, also wishes for us,
particularly for tho dioceso of Morreale. They
therefore wish for two more of our fathers at
the least, in order to assist in giving the mis­
sions which these people so ardently desire.
Girgenti alone numbers more than two hundred
thousand souls. This being so, and as you are
on tho point of terminating your studies, I
should like to know which of you would like to
II
go to Sicily, where our missions
produce such
great fruits. I will most specially remember the
brothers who shall bo tho first to offer them­
selves for this glorious work ; meanwhile I bless
you one and all, and I entreat you to remember
mo every day before tho blessed Sacrament, as
tho hour of my death is at hand.”

CHAPTER XVIII.

The greatest evil which our enemies did to
tho congregation, although they had it not at
all in view themselves, was tho interior derange­
ment and relaxation in tho regular observance
of rule, which resulted from what they did ;
some took advantage of these troubles to havo
their own ^Vay, and to the great regret of the
superiors they were forced to bear with this ;

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

309

for if they offered any reprimand, the reply
was quite ready. The rule, they said, was not
obligatory, when deprived as it was of the royal
sanction. If the expulsion of an incorrigible
subject were wished for, it was still worse.
They pretended to brave the rule and still to
preserve tho honour of wearing the habit ; they
even threatened to have recourse to some au­
thority against us, though what I cannot tell.
There were even some discontented individuals,
II
(but God did not suffer them
to remain long
in His house) who seconded the enemies of the
congregation, by supplying them with weapons
wherewith to combat it.
As tho pilot after the tempest causes all tho
damages which tho vessel has sustained to bo
repaired, and gets the rigging renewed, so Al­
phonso, after tho defeat of our enemies, had
given place to the good graces of the sovereign,
occupied himself in re: II edying the injuries which
the observance of rule had sustained. Ho be­
came inflamed with zeal, and rigorously required
that discipliue should be respected. “In tho
congregation,” said he, “ono must either edify
or go.”
“As the king has been so good,” he wrote in
ono of his circulars to tho local superiors, “as
not to listen to tho accusations of our enemies,
and as there is at present less to fear from in­
subordinate subjects, I require that each one be
compelled to tho most exact observance of our
rule. All have embraced it from their own
choice ; besides, wo do not keep anj one by

310

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI,

force ; if there aro any who repent of having
come amongst us, lot them settle tho question
with God. I am ready to dispense them from
their vow. Better is it for us to bo fow, but
good ; those who aro not so aro always a
burthen ; they injure themselves and do harm
to others. I advise you to exercise prudence
and vigour towards all, but not weakness, to
tho injury of tho rule and to cause public
scandal.”
When a river which has been inclosed and
stopped in its course, succeeds in escaping and
in making an opening, it breaks over its
bounds, and carries away all that opposes its
passage ; thus Alphonso, after having seen the
rule given up as a prey to contradiction for
several years, on now seeing those obstacles
overthrown, gave free course to his zeal for tho
observance of rule. Without respect of persons,
ho set himself to correct what was wrong, and
to give both verbal and written warnings to tho
rectors as well as to the subjects ; he insisted
on his point, and never rested until he was sa­
tisfied ; ho was resolved to dismiss all tho re­
bellious spirits from the congregation, and ho
unceasingly prayed to God for this end.
“I daily ask of Jesus Christ,” said ho in a
letter, “ that He will send away all those subjects
who give scandal to tho rest, and dishonour the
congregation.” Several of those to whom the
yoke of tho religious life seemed too heavy, re­
turned into tho world, and Alphonso, whilst ho
deplored their misfortune, was more consoled at

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

311

their departure than at the reception of those
who were fervent.
Some had taken tho liberty to retire to their
homes on frivolous pretexts. During the troubles
which had arisen Father Villani had shut his
eyes to a great many tilings, in order to prevent
still greater evils. Alphonso grieved bitterly over
this, and he had complained of it to this father
before his resignation. As soon as peace was
restored, ho took tho most efficacious measures
to cause all the subjects to return to their re­
spective houses.
Amongst those who would not obey there was
one whom he punished in a severe manner. lie
manifested extreme attachment to tho interests
of his family, which ho maintained before the
courts of law at Naples in a dishonourable man­
ner. Alphonso recalled him, but he did not
obey. As he was afraid of being expelled, he
got Don Stephen Patrizzio, tho president of the
royal council, to intercede for him, and through
his medium ho obtained tho aid of Mgr. Sanfelice,
the Bishop of Noccra. Alphonso delayed, but
on seeing that ho was incorrigible he ultimately
sent him away. “ I pity this unhappy man,” ho
then said ; “ God knows how to punish these
wilfully deaf persons, who set no value on their
vocation.” In fact, this subject, who afterwards
became a priest, was always occupied about the
fortune of his nephews, and whilst I am writing
these lines, I hear that ho has been miserably
assassinated on account of usury, which ho had
boldly practised in favour of his ward.

312

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOIU.

This is not to say that Alphonso did not ex­
ercise circumspection in warning these imprudent
persons. Father Don Matthias Corrado, who was
much respected for the numerous services ho had
rendered to tho congregation, had remained at
home for some time, that ho might breathe his
native air, which was good for his health, as it
had been in a bad state for some time. Alphonso
could not tolerate an example so contrary to the
rule, so he prudently wrote to him as follows :
“ I have let all the subjects know that they must
each return to the house assigned to him within
fifteen days. I havo sent this announcement to
all, couched in the same terms and in tho same
form. However, as I havo a peculiar degree of
esteem for you, I take tho trouble of addressing
a separate letter to you, different from the others.
I do not write to tell you that you must posi­
tively return in the space of fifteen days ; I only
bog you to let mo know what necessity there is
for your Reverence remaining with your relations,
since, according to tho rule, we cannot remain
at our homes, except in case of the death of our
father or of our mother. My dear Don Bartho­
lomew, as your Reverence is one of tho oldest
fathers, your example will cause the more harm,
and will be a precedent for the others. Wo have
different houses, and if tho air of one does not
suit a subject, ho may bo sent to another. I
have written all this to your Reverence to show
you my esteem and affection for you. I do not
fix the period of fifteen days for you, but I beg

you at least to write and toll mo the reason

·>

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

313

which keeps you in the world, because I shall
exercise all possible indulgence towards you, pro­
vided it bo a reasonable one, for I must give
some kind of reason for your absence. I have
for some time wanted to beg you to come and
remain with mo at Nocera, where I am superior,
in the midst of difficulties, and in continual need
of some prudent person whose advice I can ask ;
for this reason I wanted to get you to come to
me when I heard that you had gone to your
parents. I entreat you to let mo hear from you,
and to console me by your answer.”
Tho following is an instance of Alphonso’s
firmness in requiring submission to superiors,
lie had fixed that two fathers should be removed
from tho house at Ciorani to that of Iliceto ; but
tho superior objected to parting with these two
subjects, so Alphonso wrote thus to him: “I
think that your Reverence will not find anything
to object to in tho orders that I give you, but
that on tho contrary you will obey them prompt­
ly : call to your own mind, as well as those of
tho fathers, that you havo made a vow of obe­
dience. By tho authority which God has given
me, I will and even command, that as soon as
you receive this, you will arrange everything
that is necessary for their departure. I imagine
that your Reverence will not find any difficulty
in this ; but, however, this may be, I will it to be
thus, and I positively command it to bo done.
If I wish to be obeyed, it is not through vain­
glory, but for the glory of God.” J low is ano­
ther instance of the same firmness. Contrary

a

314

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

to his orders and to those of the local superior,
a father took some liberty, (I know not what,)
whilst giving tho spiritual exorcises in a convent
of nuns. “Your Reverence must give this father
a sharp reprimand,” wrote Alphonso to the rector
on hearing of it ; “I have not wished to dismiss
him, as ho has deserved as a punishment for his
fault, and also for his habitual obstinacy ; but
tell him in my name, that I shall bo obliged to
do it the first time ho again commits a fault
of a similar naturo. I think that it arises from
his going out too much. Your Reverence must
therefore not send him into tho world any
more, or allow him to go out again, unless you
have my written consent for it, and you must
not continue his faculties, because ho must
have forgotten tho little he knew by going about
from place to place in this way, without ever
studying Moral Theology ; and this makes mo
afraid to allow him to continue as a confessor.”
Alphonso felt great uneasiness on hearing that
some of tho fathers in tho house at Ciorani
neglected the study of Moral Theology ; and
as he could do anything with the Archbishop of
Salerno, ho wrote to Father Deodatus Crisinoli,
who was the superior of this house, as follows:
“ I inform all the fathers who have their faculties
from Mgr. tho archbishop, that I wish them to
make use of them during the whole month of
September ; but at tho beginning of this same
month your Reverence and tho prefect of tho
cases of conscience must give me an account of
tho way in which the fathers apply to tho study

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

315

of Moral Theology, and of the manner in which
they have gone through the theological confer­
ences and tho practical exercises of the confes­
sional.” Ho also charged the rector and tho
prefect to give him a conscientious and sincere
account, without any human respect.
On hearing that a subject entertained too
loose opinions, he positively forbade him from
hearing confessions, and he was so strict with
him, that ho himself asked to bo released from
the vows and from the oath of perseverance.
Ho also dismissed another father in a simi­
lar manner, who would not conquer a certain
levity of conduct.
He would not allow the local superiors to ques­
tion any of tho measures ho adopted. Ho re­
called tho father-minister of tho house of Sicily
H
into the kingdom ; the rector complained
of it,
and Alphonso replied to him with much dis­
satisfaction : “ When I make any change I beg
you first to inquire into everything, and after
that you may complain. I have reflected much,
and asked advice a hundred Jiimes, before com­
ing to this resolution, You must have a littic moro subjection and obedience if you wish
to bo pleasing to Jesus Christ.” The cupola
of the church of the house at Ciorani was
in a bad state, and as the professional men
did not agree as to tho measures to bo taken
regarding it, each of tho fathers of this house
offered his opinion in tho matter. Alphonso was
distressed at their want of agreement, and tes­
tified his displeasure in these term on tho 8th of

it>r

i
* .<
*

<UI

a

t

•I

31G

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

December, 1779: “I do not act through obsti­
nacy, but I sco that you do so, and that you
allow yourselves to be led by party spirit ; it is
to mo, who am superior-general and head of tho
congregation, that it appertains to decide whe­
ther it is necessary to demolish or not, and you
who aro not superior-generals, havo nothing to
do but to obey. I wish that you were all anxious
for nothing but to look attentively at tho star
which guides you, because if you turn your
eyes away from obedience, it is all over with
tho congregation, and we shall see nothing more
but trouble and confusion. He who contradicts,
declares himself an enemy of the congregation.
But, it will be said, We do not think thus ; is
there then no one to decide ? can every one
do it? That matters little to me, who am at
the end of my course, and hope to be saved
by the blood of Jesus Christ and tho goodness
of Mary ; but you, you will one day weep over
the ruin of tho congregation, when you can no
longer remedy it. Rest assured that if the au­
thority of the superior-general once be destroy­
ed, the authority of the local superiors will be
so also. I bless your Reverence and all the fa­
thers who are not superior-generals.”
As we have already said, in Alphonso firmness
was never severed from prudence. On hearing
that a subject disliked going on mission, ho did
not give him any definite order to do so, as ho
feared a refusal ; but once when this father was
in his room with the others, he dexterously began
to speak of tho value of obedience, and of tho

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

317

injury which he who is intractable inflicts on
himself; this caused the father to reflect seri­
ously, and ho of himself offered to do what was
wished.
When tho resistance proceeded rather from
nature than from tho will, Alphonso had com­
passion on tho weakness of tho man, and was
able by his gentleness to soften the bitterness
of tho command by his own gentleness. On
one occasion ho warned and reproved tho su­
perior of a houso in tho states of Benevento,
who took tho matter so ill that ho threatened
to quit his post and to return into the kingdom.
“I havo received your letter,” Alphonso replied
to him ; “ in ono part you console me, and in
another you distress me. I find therein certain
words which I did not expect from your sub­
mission, and your love for obedience. You say
‘I am resolved to return to the kingdom.’ I
pity you, for I seo that you wrote these words
in distress of mind. I hope that you have re­
pented of them now, for certainly such words
and thoughts aro not pleasing to Jesus Christ.
My letter could not have provoked such language,
because I wrote it with all the affection I have
ever felt towards you ; and then you say, some
think that you are of a peevish temper, as Fa­
ther Villani has told you. But did not your
piety demand that you should have received this
mortification peacefully, and tho more so because
you know how much I esteem and love you ?
Father Villani gave mo a similar reprimand my­
self; but, thank God, I received it quietly, and it

318

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

has caused me to bo more moderate and humble :
let there then bo nothing more about my letter,
nor that of Father Andrew.”

CHAPTER XIX.
Although Alphonso was so detached from all
concern about tho temporal interests of his re­
lations, ho had their spiritual welfare proportionably at heart. In the midst of his difficulties
and sufferings, tho cares of his congregation
never hindered him from watching over the hap­
piness of his nephews ; whilst they wore at tho
college of the nobles, ho heard that his brother
Hercules had begun a matrimonial négociation
for Don Joseph the eldest, with the heiress of
Counsellor Vespoli. Tho boy was not then thir­
teen years old ; but Don Hercules was aged, and
was anxious to see his son settled before his
death.
When Alphonso heard this marriage
spoken of he exclaimed in a sorrowful manner,
“ Ah ! my little Joseph is going to lose the grace
of God
and on Father Villani’s adding that
the thing would remain a secret between Don
Hercules and the counsellor, Alphonso replied,
“ If but one of the servants hears of it, that will
be enough to cause little Joseph also to know
it soon himself ; the children of the great are
lost through servants, through valets de chambres

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

319

and coachmen ; they will now say to him, ‘ Good
news, little Joseph, papa has found a pretty
young lady for you;’ and a thousand other im­
proper remarks : it is thus that children get
irremediably corrupted.”
Ho was so uneasy,
that ho wanted to write to Don Hercules i y
mediately ; but as one of our fathers had to go
to Naples, he commissioned him to tell his bro­
ther from him how displeased ho was, and to
represent to him that ho ran a certain danger
of causing his son to bo out of favour with God.
“It is evil,” added he, “it is evil, it will not
do ; I can see nothing in it but enmity and
offence to God.”
Don Hercules tried to justify himself, Λ1plionso replied to him on tho 4th of September,
1774, as follows: “I received your second let­
ter, but I know not how to answer you. Lit­
tle Joseph is too young to think of marrying,
and from what I hear, tho girl is also very
young. It is a very dangerous thing to treat
about a marriage which cannot be realised under
six or seven years at least. I am old, and to­
day or to-morrow I shall find myself in another
world ; you are also advanced in ago. If Joseph
bo left to himself, and is settled at the ago of
fifteen or sixteen, I know not what course he
may adopt. Do not, I repeat, let little Joseph
know anything about this marriage ; but I fear
that ho knows of it already. I rejoice that ho
is at college, because, were ho at homo, some
servant or other would bo sure to speak to him
of this marriage, and to cause him to lose the

/

Ç’ $

I

fl

•4
til

$20

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

grace of God by occasioning him to havo bad
thoughts.”
As the children, of Don Hercules were old
enough to distinguish between good and evil,
Alphonso wrote them on tho 4th of April, 1780,
a long letter full of instruction and wise coun­
sels :

“ My dearest Nephews,
“ I expected to seo you here, that I might give
you my last blessing and my last counsels, for
it is a n iraclo of tho goodness of the Lord that
I havo still some days longer yet to live to weep
for my sins, but God bo ever blessed, who has
not granted mo this consolation, which I do
not merit. I bless you then at a distance,
and I give you my blessing with all my heart,
praying our good God to bless you also from
heaven on high, and to shed His holy fear and
love in your tender hearts. May Ho give you
that enduring lovo which will conduct you to
that blessed eternity where I, through tho mer­
cy of God, will await you. Strive to fear God
as your Master, but still more to lovo Him as
your Father. That is a most sweet title, and
ono which you daily apply to Him in tho Lord’s
prayer, when you say, ‘Our Father!’ Yes, Ho
is your Father ; lovo Him thon with tenderness.
He is your Father, He is good, gentle, loving,
tender, bountiful, and merciful ; from how many
other reasons ought vou not to love this Father
with a sincere affection, with tenderness and
gratitude ! Happy will you be if you lovo Him

ill
321

ST. alphonso liguori.

with sincerity of heart, from your earliest in­
fancy ; the yoke of the Lord will not then seem
hard to you ; it will be sweet to you, and you
will lovo His holy law. Be careful to overcome
your unruly passions, and to overcome the ene­
mies of your soul. Tho habit of doing good will
become strengthened by degrees, until you will
at last find it easy and pleasant to do that which
is disagreeable and difficult to those who have
fallen into sin. Love God, my dear little chil­
dren ; I call you my children, both because I
love you with all the tenderness and love of a
father, and because I wish to cause holy charity
to increase in your soul. My children, love,
0 love the Lord your God, and our blessed
Saviour Jesus Christ; but love them much, and
he jealously careful to preserve this love in
your heart by tho fear of losing it. The loss of
the love of God, of His grace and of His friend­
ship, is a great loss. Bo humble ; he who is
humble flics from dangers, and in involuntary
temptations he has recourse to God with con­
fidence ; by that ho preserves Divine love. He
who is proud easily falls into sin and offence
against God. Without humility, you will either
never do any real good and never have real
virtue, or you will easily lose what you have.
God resists the proud and shows mercy towards
tho humble. God looks upon them with an eye
of compassion, and they arc His friends. If you
examine yourselves carefully you will not be
proud, because you will always find causes for
humiliation in yourselves. Ton arc well-born,
VOL. IV.

» ·->·
*

322

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

but tin’s is tho gift of God ; you arc in a college,
governed by superiors full of zeal and wisdom,
and who aro as distinguished by their virtues
as by their high birth ; you receive a good edu­
cation there under the guidance of wise, learn­
ed, and exemplary masters ; but all that is
still a benefit you receive from the Lord. You
are always in tho grace of God, I hope ; but
this also is entirely the result of tho divine
goodness. In a word, all tho good you have
is tho gift of Providence, but this only makes
you more indebted to His goodness, and you
ought not to be vain about it. If after all this,
you think of all tho faults you commit, and
they are what really belong to yourselves, you
will find something to humble you at all times.
Obey your superiors with humility, love, and
gratitude, for whether they give you lessons,
whether they caress or correct you, they equally
give you proofs of tho charitable affection of
their hearts towards you ; for though the cor­
rections may displease you, they only proceed
from tho love these good religious feel towards
you. Obey them as so many fathers, since your
own father has entrusted you to their care, and
has given them to you in his stead. Obey them,
respect them, and love them as you ought to
obey your own father, and to respect and to love
hira. I hope that you will do it in order to please
God, your father, and me. I have been pained
at hearing that you do not apply much to your
studies. Oh my children, you would weep, if
you understood how much evil you do ! Ignor-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

anco and idleness arc the fruitful sources of sin
and vice. Study then with care, with application,
and pains-taking attention, in order that you may
know God, Ilis benefits, and His rewards, and
in order to be able to contemplate and love Him
much. He who is ignorant knows little of God
and His benefits, if he knows them at all, nor
of the obligations and the duties which the Lord
has imposed upon him ; this is why he does evil.
Study then, and give mo before I die the conso­
lation of hearing that you have profited by my
advice. I am at the end of my days, and I know
not if you may see me again ; let these last ex­
hortations be engraved in your tender hearts,
and let them produce the fruit I desire ; read
my long letter, and ask for an explanation of
what you do not understand, imprint it in your
memory, in order that you may put in practice
all that I have told you. Love God much.
Study in order to know Him, and then in order
to love Him more and more. Preserve this holy
love in your hearts as well as humility, obey your
superiors and your father with docility. Attend
to the rules of the college in order to please God.
Be devout towards tho Blessed Virgin Alary ; I
leave you under her care and protection. I re­
commend you to her with the most ardent affec­
tion, and I bless you in Jesus Christ, in order
that you may bo His in time and in eternity,
which I hope you will be.”
Alphonso thus fulfilled by anticipation the office
of father in regard to tho children of his brother,

,1

Γ *

-I

324

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

whom death was soon to take from them. Alphonso had had a presentiment of this misfor­
tune three months before, though Don Hercules
was then robust and in perfect health. Ono day
when his Lordship was meditating according to
custom, extended in his arm-chair, ho suddenly
turned towards Father Costanzo and said to him,
“ Hercules will cause me sorrow this year.” After
saying these words he remained silent ; no im­
portance was attached to them ; it was even
thought to bo but a dream ; but it was not so,
for in three months afterwards, on tho 8th of Sep­
tember, 1789, Don Hercules expired of a death
which was as violent as it was unexpected.
Alphonso was always united to tho will of
God, so he received tho tidings with calmness.
“Good God!” he exclaimed; ho then clasped
his hands, and was silent. When ho heard that
Don Hercules had left tho advocate Don Peter
Gavotti as tutor to his son, but under his author­
ity and that of Counsellor Don Nicholas Vespoli
their relation, he felt comfort. Don Gavotti was
a respectable man, and much attached to tho
family of tho Liguoris. As soon as Alphonso
heard this news, ho immediately wrote to him,
not so much in order to urge him to attend to
the temporal interests of his nephews as to that
of their religious education. When ho sent for
Father Costanzo to write tho letter for him, tho
latter recollected the prediction he had heard
him utter. “Is it not true, my father,” ho said
to him, “ that this is the sorrow which. Don Her­
cules was soon to cause you?” But his Lord-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

325

ship interrupted him, and said, “ Go and write
and lie instantly dictated the letter to him.
This office was a cause of happiness to Don
Gavotti, ho at this time was almost always suffer­
ing from such violent sick headaches, that he
could scarcely go through his ordinary occupa­
tions. “I am quite at your service,” he replied
to his Lordship, “ and I will devote myself as
far as I can to tho good of your nephews, but
your Lordship must pray to God to deliver me
from the headache which continually afflicts me.”
“Take great care of these little children,” Al­
phonso replied to him, “and be sure that God
will relievo you.” Don Gavotti has attested that
when he received this letter, he felt instantly
cured, and ho never suffered again from this
malady as long as he lived. In gratitude for
this benefit he felt it a duty to be at all times
most solicitous for the welfare of his pupils.
Tho saintly old man was no less interested
about tho futuro of tho young Donna Theresa,
as he was eager to secure her eternal salva­
tion. She was sixteen years of age at this time,
and a pensioner at the convent of St. Marcel­
line. Alphonso looked upon her as one of tho
things which was tho dearest to his heart.
“At this age of eighty-five years,” ho wrote to
hcr, “I have become incapable of doing any thing
myself ; but when you require anything, lot me
know, and I will get it done for you by others.
Do not forget to recommend mo to Jesus Christ,
and if any ono advises you to leave the con­
vent, and to go aud throw yourself into a preci-

f *

iî

32 G

ST. ALPHONSO

LIGUORI.

pice, that is to say, to bo married, do not lis­
ten to such counsel, for you will certainly repent
of it tho second day. Think about saving your
soul, for that is tho only thing which is impor­
tant and necessary. Take tho advice of a good
confessor and of some nun of exemplary life. I
will recommend you to Josus Christ, in order
that Ho may causo you to adopt that course
which is tho most likely to save you, and do
you on your part recommend mo to Mary, for
my death cannot bo far off.”
His Lordship’s only wish was to seo his niece
consecrated to Jesus Christ, and ho neglected
nothing in order to preserve her vocation. In a
letter to Antonia Liguori, his cousin, he said,
“Remember mo to my niece, Donna Theresa, and
tell her not to let hersolf bo misled by tho world
so as to abandon Jesus Christ, because that
would bo a misfortune to her throughout all her
life, and her greatest misfortune at tho hour of
death. Few ladies now-a-days live in tho world
and arc saved. Sho must not neglect commu­
nion or prayer, and sho must occupy herself
in spiritual reading. I am afraid lest sho
should have got some attendant at the convent
whoso head is full of tho world. I thank your
Reverence for watching over her. I thought
that sho would soon have requested to become
a nun, but I fear this thought has been put out
of her mind.”
Not satisfied with this, ho also wrote to Don
Gavotti to urge him to attend to her vocation
also. Seo how ho expresses himsolf in his let-

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

327

ter of the 18th of November: “In regard to
my niece, Donna Theresa, your pupil, I want
to tell you that I am distressed about her, be­
cause at first her only aspiration was to become
a religious, and now she does not say any
more about it to me. I am afraid that she
wishes to marry. I do not hesitate to say that
she will very likely be damned if she does ; for
now-a-days married women are saved writh difficulty, for generally all married women live
mostly in sin, on account of the temptations
to which they are exposed. I have begged her
confessor to be most careful in making her
become a nun, and I also beg you to assist
him in this, because if sho marries, in this cor­
rupt age, I shall look upon her as lost,
We
have to regret the loss of other letters which
Alphonso wrote to Don Vespoli and to Don
Gavotti.
On the 25th of April, he wrote thus to his
young niece : “ Yes, my niece, I will continue
to pray for your vocation, as you ask mo to do,
and I will remind you that some years ago,
whilst your father was still alive, you had the
wish to bo espoused to Jesus Christ. There
was then onco a time when you was far from
wishing to give yourself to tho world. I pray
Jesus Christ to strengthen you in this holy re­
solution, for if you change your mind, you will
have difficulty in persevering in tho grace of
God. What I have hero told you, I have said
to all the young ladies of rank who have
come to consult me, and I have made them

ή

< · 1< ·

I·

I

i1

328

ST. alphonso liguori.

seo that if they renounce Jesus Christ, they
will have difficulty in attaining eternal happi­
ness. The world at present is nothing but cor­
ruption, and as far as I can seo, all ladies
who frequent worldly society, usually lose tho
favour of God. Be careful therefore not to
leave Jesus Christ for tho world, because you
would thereby lose Jesus Christ and your own
soul. By God’s grace, all my relations who have
died within my time have made good ends, and
I hope to go and rejoin them in Paradise, where
we shall ono day live altogether.”
Alphonso obtained what ho so ardently de­
sired. Donna Theresa soon declared that she
wished to embrace the religious life ; she even
made use of force in order to obtain this con­
solation. Councillor Vespoli however, from tho
young lady’s only being eighteen years of age,
could not make up his mind to give his con­
sent, especially as it was contrary to the will of
her deceased father, who had said that she
was not to take tho veil before tho age of
twenty. She insisted upon it, and as Don Gavotti also opposed it, Alphonso did not fail to
second her. He several times endeavoured to
make Don Vespoli and Don Gavotti seo that this
was not a mere fancy in his niece, but an
efficacious will to embrace tho religious state,
lie set before them the instability of the human
heart, and the dangers to which his nieco would
be exposed by deferring it any longer, and his
reasons were so persuasive that all opposition
ceased,

st. alphonso liguorl

329

But Alphonso *s anxieties did not end there.
The young lady had to leave the convent, ac­
cording to custom, before entering on the novi­
ciate. “Instead of entrusting her to her rela­
tions,” his Lordship applied to his penitent the
Duchess of Bovino, who was well known for her
extreme goodness. “ If we place her in the house
of her parents,” said Alphonso, “she will incur a
thousand dangers ; there will be parties, theatres,
and soirées ; this will be quite enough to cause
her to lose her vocation.” The duchess will­
ingly consented to receive Donna Theresa into
her house, and she left the convent on the
IGth of February, 1781. During this time Al­
phonso took care to give her prudent counsels
to warn her to be on her guard. “ I advise
you to exorcise tho holy love of God,” he wrote
to lier, “ as well as modesty and detachment
from tho things of earth. I specially and ur­
gently entreat you to shun festivities and other
amusements of tho kind, which are but too
dangerous, I particularly beg you not to go to
the theatre. The duchess will I am sure be of
my opinion ; communicate it to her, and you
will see how far she is from wishing to amuse
you at tho expense of your soul.” The duchess
went for her, accompanied by her daughter tho
Duchess of Caramanica, by her husband the
duke, and by Donna Theresa’s two young bro­
thers, D.D. Joseph and Alphonso. Tho only
recreation she asked for was to go to Nocera to
kiss the hand of her uncle.
Although the visits of ladies were usually dis­

330

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

agreeable to Alphonso, that of his nieco was
however an exception, and gave him the great­
est pleasure. The duchess and her daughter
staid at Nocera three days. As his Lordship
was in the enjoyment of tho pension from tho
Church of St. Agatha, he might have received
and entertained them with some degree of sump­
tuousness, but the love of poverty prevailed as
usual. All the presents ho gave them were
confined to copies of tho Visits of tho Blessed
Sacraments, and of tho Preparation for Death, as
well as a relic in a little box of no value.
Donna Theresa had been suffering from a
wound in her leg for six months. When Al­
phonse heard of it, he was much distressed at
it ; and when sho knelt down and asked him
for his blessing on taking leave of him, ho said
to her, “ I bless you as your uncle and as bishop.”
This took place in tho morning, and in the even­
ing when tho wound was unbandaged at Naples,
the surgeon, tho duchess, and tho other members
of the household were much astonished at seeing
that it was entirely healed, to their groat admi­
ration.
On the IGth of June, 1781, Donna Theresa re­
turned to the convent. Alphonso made it a point
with Don Gavotti that her entrance into tho
noviciate, as well as her religious profession,
should be celebrated with modest magnificence.
The first ceremony wras adorned by a concourse
of tho first nobility of Naples. Donna Theresa
wished his Lordship to assist at her profession.
“Your last letter,” Alphonso replied to her, “has

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

331

given mo such great comfort, that I have been
il sad at being
unable to restrain my tears : I am
unable to comply with your wishes. If God
had granted me power to witness your sacrifice,
I should certainly have done nothing but shed
tears of joy ; but Ho has not granted me this
consolation. I do not cease to recommend you
to Jesus Christ, that He may inflame you wholly
with His divine love, and that you may one day
seo Him face to face in Paradise. I bog of you
often to pray for mo to Jesus Christ, that He
may aid mo to die well, for my sins fill me with
great fear regarding my eternal salvation. I
bless you, and I will not allow any morning to
pass without thinking of you at holy communion,
in order that Jesus Christ may unite you wholly
to Himself.” It was necessary to give a present
to Donna Theresa, and his Lordship did not
forget to do so. “I send you this picturo of
the Blessed Virgin,” he said to her, “to remind
you to thank her, and unceasingly to implore
her protection.”
Alphonso manifested as much indifference
regarding tho establishment of his nephew Don
Joseph, as ho had shown interest in his nieco’s
entrance into religion. When he was of an ago
to marry, Alphonso entirely referred the matter
to Councillor Vespoli and to Don Gavotti. Ho
however advised them not to constrain him, but
to choose a wife for him of exemplary conduct,
and of suitable birth. When Don Joseph went
himself to inform him of tho conclusion of his
marriage, his Lordship received the news with

I

h

332

ST. ALPHONSO L1GUOHI.

indifference ; be then gave him his blessing, and
said to him, “I pray God to bless you also.”
II
He then gave him some
good advice, and sent
him away satisfied.

It was about this time that Alphonso finally
revised his Moral Theology, taking tho greatest
care to avoid either too severe or too lax opinions ;
ho thus expressed himself on this subject as far
back as in tho year 1773: “I havo written
against those authors who aro too lax, to pre­
vent an excessive liberty of thought being intro­
duced into Christian Morality; and I have written
against thoso authors who are too rigorous, to pre­
vent false consciences, and to save souls from tho
danger of being lost. I know that the partisans
of the two extremes will be dissatisfied with mo
and will censure me ; but tho only end I havo
had in view has been tho glory of God and tho
good of souls.” The following are his own words :
‘‘Testor Deum, cujus honorem et animarum salu­
tem mihi proposui, quod quidquid scripserim,
non ab aliqua, passione impulsus aut verbis ali­
quorum auctorum addictus, vel austeritati aut be­
nignitati nimis adhærons, ad hæc scribenda me
induxi.
Ho who talks of a party,” ho added,
“speaks of passion and intrigue, Ho who writes
on these subjects ought to havo the glory of

ST. ALPHONSO LIGÜORI.

333

God and the good of souls in view, and not at
all his own glory or that of a party. When
one treats of sin, it docs not do to set consciences
froo when they should not be so, any more than
to burthen them unreasonably.” Ho particular­
ly detested tho whole party of the Jansenists.
“Hell,” said he, “could not have found abetter
method of ruining tho Church and of losing souls.
I should like to know what good these pestilen­
tial people havo done with their rigorism. What
they call zeal is in truth nothing but party-spirit.
Jesus Christ never meant that people should la­
bour for His glory by rendering the yoke of His
law heavier than He Himself has made it. Who
does not see that the Jansenists, by their sever­
ity, only render Jesus Christ and His law odi­
ous?”
Ho bitterly deplored the delusion of some good
Catholics who allowed themselves to be deceived
by this seducing rigour. “I am persuaded,”
said he, “ that they do not wish to profess Jan­
senism, since it has been condemned by tho
Church ; but how many aro there who give in
to this error on account of a specious appear­
ance of piety, and of primitive fervour ! If they
arc not Jansenists by profession, they aro so at
least by practice ; such is the morality now in
vogue ; and such persons do more harm to souls,
than could be done by tho most perfidious Jan­
senists ; for whilst the latter aro shunned as
open heretics, little mistrust is felt for the others
whoso zeal is praised. The fact is, that whilst
they wish for a rigorous spirit in others, they

334

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

do not at least wish for it for themselves ; and
this is an evident proof of their dcceitfulness.
Jesus Christ “began to do and to teach;” it was
thus that tho apostles acted, and thus all apos­
tolic en also act. Heretics alone boast of beinfjo
what they aro not, and impose burthens on others
which they will not carry in the least them­
selves.”
Such upright intentions as these, must always
bo accompanied by tho blessing of Ileaven. Al­
phonso’s Morals obtained such a high reputation
amongst all tho most civilized nations, that they
were spread throughout Europe. Even during
his lifetime there were seven editions of this
work published at Naples and at Venice, and
each ono contained a great many copies ; and
now, whilst I am writing this, (1802,) Rcmondini
has published tho tenth. It has been spread
not only throughout Italy, but also in Germany,
Poland, Spain, Portugal, and Switzerland. Tho
sale was so great, that it was reprinted as far
as in Spain.
Alphonso published an Apology for his System
of Morals, as we havo already seen, and his work
gained more credit in consequence. When he
himself sent a copy to Palermo to Father Sapio
of tho Oratory, ho said to him, “ Many demands
for my Apology aro made at Romo and in other
parts of Italy, so that I shall bo obliged to havo
it reprinted.”
Not satisfied with his largo edition of the
Moral Theology, which is now published in three
volumes at Venice, and which ho dedicated to

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

335

Pope Benedict XIV., he made an Abridgment
of it in three small volumes, in Italian, for the
convenience of young confessors. This work was
so much sought for throughout all Italy, that
it was several times reprinted at Venice and
at Naples, and the tenth edition is now being
sold at Bassano, (1802,) it was also applauded
beyond the mountains. It has been translated
into German, and it was again reprinted at
Augsbourg, in 1772, besides the preceding edi­
tions. Mgr. Guttilieri, tho queen’s confessor,
said when writing to Alphonso on tho 25th of
March, 1773, “I must tell you for your consola­
tion, that last year I translated into German,
and published at Augsbourg, your work entitled
‘ The Ecclesiastic instructed on the way to direct
souls,’ or, ‘Instructions for young Confessors,’
and all tho learned havo read it with pleasure.”
This edition was sold as soon as it was pub­
lished. Tho learned priest, Peter Obladen, un­
dertook a frosh edition in the year 1774 ;
and John Herz, preacher and examiner at Augs­
bourg, enhanced the value of tho work by add­
ing tho following eulogium to it : “ Libellum
&c., a reverendissimo et zelosissimo D. Alphonso
do Liguorio, episcopo S. Agathæ in regno ncapolitano, italico compositum, et post iteratas in
hac lingua editiones a R. D. Petro Obladen in
linguam germanicam translatum, eo digniorem
prælo censeo, quia iis, quibus cura animarum
incumbit, non solum multa saluberrima ad praxim, sed et quæ ad ipsius pastoris majorem per­
fectionem,
II et concreditarum ovium salutem con­

336

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

ducunt, suppeditat.” Tho work was in such
demand beyond tho mountains, that Remondini
got Alphonso to publish it in Latin, which ho
did under the title of “ Homo Apostolicus.”
A priest and a Benedictine, both learned mon
of Florence, happened to meet at a hotel at
Terracino with Mgr. Pozzuoli, now bishop of St.
Agatha, and then canon penitentiary at Capua ;
they began to speak of tho works on morals in
uso at Florence: “Amongst us,” said they,
“your Liguori is highly esteemed, and is in the
hands of all,” and they never wearied in exalting
the extent of his knowledge, tho justice of his
thoughts, and above all the impartiality of his
opinions.
Our Father Don Angelo Marsillo, on going to
Corsica to visit tho grand-vicar, who was a friend
of his, observed a copy of Alphonso’s Morals on
tho table : “ There is nothing to surprise you
in this,” said tho grand-vicar to him; “these
Morals are tho only ono made use of in Corsica;
ho who embarks in this vessel is sure not to bo
shipwrecked ; there is no party-spirit there ; all
is equity and justice ; he hates laxity, and ab­
hors rigorism.” A learned Franciscan, remark­
able for his distinguished employments, was so
full of admiration for Alphonso’s wisdom, that
ho went from Corsica to Naples, and from Naples
he went to Nocera to ask his opinion on some
difficulties as to morals.
At Bologna, which justly calls itself the in­
terpreter of the canons, those Morals are consid­
ered to be the most correct of all. In tho cases

ST. ALPHONSO LTCUORT.

of morality resolved by the excellent clergy of
this city, may plainly be seen the esteem which
is there felt for the opinions of Alphonso, since
it is there followed implicitly without ever devia­
ting from it in the slightest degree.
Λ Master Dominican at Messina, having heard
a wicked priest blame this morality, turned to­
wards our Father Pappacena, and said to him,
“We must have patience with certain persons
who will not study anything and wish to know
π my youth I have always de­
everything. From
fended tho Morals of Mgr. Liguori amongst our­
selves and amongst strangers. I have recom­
mended it to our young men, if they wish to
become good confessors. I have always thought
that God would not have left one of His most
faithful ministers to himself in the science of mor­
als.” In France, where, as is well known, the
heresy of Jansenism was erected and established,
this Moral Theology is so highly thought of, that
it is considered as a compendium of the soundest
doctrine. Brother Albert Lansias, an emigrant
Frenchman and a Reformed Minor, assured sev­
eral persons in Naples that it is held in peculiar
esteem in France, especially by the priests.
When it became known that tho Abbé Claude
Nonnotto had received letters from Alphonso,
several learned men, who had read his Theology,
congratulated him on having heen honoured by
such a flattering letter.
Some prelates and Spanish Jesuits who camo
to Rome, united in attesting that in Spain the
only work on morals which was in repute, and
OO

VOL. IV»

*

!
4
h 4>

1

)

338

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

followed by tho learned, was that of Alphonso.
Even the summaries which ho composed in
Italian were translated into Spanish. Tho sec­
retary of Cardinal Levizzano said in speak­
ing of Alphonso to tho advocate Don Hyacinth
Amici, that ho had so much credit in Spain,
that it might be said that his Morals were every­
where in use. A high personage also said at
Romo to our Father Mona, “The sanctity and
knowledge of this servant of God excite the
admiration of persons of all classes throughout
Europe.”
This theology is in such esteem in Poland,
that there is not a priest who has not got a
copy of it. Our Father Ilolbaur wrote to mo
from Varsovia, that tho most sereno prince and
bishop of Plocko, tho brother of King Stanis­
laus Augustus, recommended this work as tho
best of all in his pastoral letter to his clergy
in tho year 1775. “Inter anctores Theologiæ
moralis, præ cæteris enixo commendat opus ven­
erabilis Patris nostri.”
Alphonso gained such a high reputation in
II
Germany
through this work, that it is generally looked upon there as a rampart against
Jansenism, and as tho restorer of evangelical
morality. When it became known at Vienna
that the Life of this servant of God was being
printed at Naples, Louis Virginio, tho superior
of tho Italian Church there, wrote to our superior­
general on tho 8th of October, 1800, saying, “I
cannot enough praise God that the Life of this
holy prelate is at length going to bo put forth.

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

•J U tj

He was chosen by God to renew the apostoli­
cal spirit, and to serve as a bulwark against
that rigorism which threatened to make such
great ravages throughout all the Church.” He
was so anxious about it, that he asked for three
copies of this Life before it was finished.
Alphonso gained such great celebrity amongst
the Germans and other learned people of the
north, that as tho said Virginio wrote to tell
me, “ His Moral Theology is so well known and
highly thought of in divers parts of Catholic
Germany, that there aro even some dioceses,
such as Servio and Bosnia, where tho bishops
havo adopted it as a text-book in their semi­
naries.”
A German priest, who went to sec Rome
and Naples, did not forget also to visit Nocera
to consult Alphonso on Theology ; such was
tho way in which it was thought of in Ger­
many. Tho same priest having some time af­
terwards met our Father Bartholomew Jourdain
at Arce, said to him in a tone of regret, “ Is
it true that Mgr. Liguori retracted ? It is of
consequence to mo to know, because his Morals
aro so highly esteemed in Germany, that it
would bo a real overthrow of our ideas if
this report bo well-founded. My master,” con­
tinued he, “used to say to me, ‘Follow all that
Mgr. Liguori teaches in his Morals ; follow it
blindly and without uneasiness of conscience.’”
As to this retractation, tho fact was that there
were some of Alphonso’s opinions which ho af­
terwards retracted after more mature consider-

■L·»?

340

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

ation. But as for his system of Morals and
his fundamental principles, he maintained them
unchanged until death.
This Moral Theology, which was reprinted in
Romo in tho year 1767, was, according to the
words of tho editor, spread even beyond the
bounds of Europe, and everywhere met with ap­
plause. “ Extra Europam translata, communique
plausu est recepta.” To give proofs of this,
several priests of the mission of St. Vincent
of Paul attested, on their return to Naples and
Rome from India, that this work was familiar
to the ecclesiastics of that country, and that
at Goa especially it was used by all. Even in
America, no system of morals is held in higher
estimation than that of our blessed father.
Don Remondini affirms that he has sent a con­
siderable number of copies to that country. A
Franciscan father, who was a postulator at
Romo for tho cause of tho venerable Margillo,
on one day hearing tho sanctity and learning
of Alphonso extolled, assured our Father Don
Joseph Cardono that in Mexico it enjoyed a
high degree of esteem, and that he was every­
where held in honour on account of his reputa­
tion for sanctity.
This Morality not only serves as a guide to
confessors, but it also assists bishops to gov­
ern over their dioceses properly. Mgr. Basta,
the Bishop of Malfi, who was as holy as ho
was learned, was in the habit of saying that
Father Liguori had overthrown Jansenism
ii by
bringing opinions to their just value, and that

ST. alphonso liguori.

341

ho had supplied bishops with invaluable assist­
ance.
It is well known what extensive acquirements
were possessed by Mgr. Lupoli, the bishop of
Cerreto. ‘ ‘ I would not venture to exercise the
office of bishop,” said he, “if I had not got
tho Morals of Mgr. Liguori, and the Abridge­
ments of Benedict XIV. on my table.” His
predecessor, Mgr. Pascal, on finding that there
was a kind of spirit of rigorism pervading the
seminary, did not hesitate to cause Alphonso’s
Morals to bo taught there, in order to counter­
act it.
Mgr. Minutoli, who was a real ornament of
tho Oratory at Naples, and who is now bishop
of Milet, has always professed the greatest ven­
eration for tho person and the doctrine of
Alphonso. “ During the great number of years
that I have been confessor at Naples,” he said
to us, “I have never made use of any other
morals than those of Mgr. Liguori. 1 defended
them at Naples ; it is that which I wish the
confessors in my diocese to follow, and I follow
it myself in the regulation of my diocese. Ho
who takes these Morals as his guide cannot be
deceived, because it is the work of a saintly
bishop.”
Mgr. Ventilli, the bishop of Palignano, wrote to
Alphonso, from whom ho had received tho Morals,
in 1733: “I thank God,” ho says, “for having
chosen you to enlighten the holy Church by your
doctrine, to edify it by your virtues, to facilitate
the govern ent of their dioceses to bishops.
H

342

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

“He cannot bo a good confessor,” said Mgr,
Giacobini, tho bishop of Veroli, “nor can ho
direct souls with security, who has not taken
Mgr. Liguori as his guide. His Morality is
exempt from all censure, and there is no de­
cision to bo found there which has not a solid
foundation.” Now it is well known how prodigiously learned Mgr. Giacobini was.
I pass over in silence tho eulogiums of Mgr.
Coppola, tho bishop of Castellamare, Mgr. del
Sabbatini, the bishop of Aquila, Mgr. Bergame,
tho bishop of Gaeta, Mgrs. Mastrelli and Zunica,
the archbishops of Acerenza and of Matera, as
well as those of Cardinal Sersalc, tho archbishop
of Naples, and a hundred other prelates of no
less distinguished II orit. It is enough to know
what a high idea the immortal Benedict XIV.
had of Alphonso and of his doctrine. In his
work, “Do Synodo Dioecesana,” ho does justice
to his merits and speaks of him as prudens
auctor; and in tho second edition of this work
published during his pontificate, ho names him
in tho index, saying that he is quoted with
praise, “cum laude citatus,” which is a thing
ho has not done for any other author, and
when Alphonso dedicated his Morals to him,
Benedict XIV. was so pleased at it, and enter­
tained such a high opinion of him, that ho
never ceased to praise tho goodness of his judg­
ment and his rare impartiality.
Father Francis Florent Brunet, the vicar­
general of the Fathers of the Mission, has told
me, that once in visiting Mgr. Louis Charles

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Machault, the bishop of Amiens, at Louvain in
1791, ho found him reading these Morals on his
knees, and that when tho bishop saw him he
began to extol the sanctity of Mgr. Liguori and
of his numerous works : “ Ego infra scriptus
vicarius generalis Congregationis missionis, om­
nibus quorum interest, testificor, mccum Lovanii
essem anno 1791, quadam die adiisse et invisisse
illustrissimum ac reverendissimum D, dominum
Ludovicum do Machault, episcopum Ambianensam, qui tum commorabatur in collegio magno
ejusdem urbis Lovaniensis, invenisseque me
præfatum D. dominum antistitem legentem opera
moralia ven Alphonsi de Liguori, et quidem
quantum meminisso possum, ingeniculatum ;
η in laudes et operum pereumdemque præsulem
sonæ prædicti ven do Liguori erupisse. Quorum
in fidem dictum testimonium hac dio nona Octo­
bris 1802 in ædibus Congregationis missionis
Montis Citatorii Romæ subscripsi. Francisons
Florentinus Brunet, Congregationis missionis
sacerdos.”
Father Foderari, a very excellent subject of
the Oratory, said to our Father Pappacena, “I
venerato the opinions of Mgr. Liguori, and my
conscience is in safety with him ; he is a man
who wrote on his knees before a crucifix. I
study this work on my knees, on account of the
profound respect I entertain for its saintly author.”
I know that there aro censors of this inestima­
ble work ; but wo also know what made them
so. Alphonso undertook to combat tho Janse­
nists, and it is they who were his detractors.

II

344

ST. zVLPIIONSO LIGUORI.

Thus in them this arose rather from rage
than from opposition. On seeing that his virtue
accredited his doctrine, they trembled from the
fear that he might ono day bo honoured at the
altar. In an assembly of ecclesiastics of the
same opinions, one of them, who was of high
standing, exclaimed, “ Let us pray to God that
this man who tries to destroy our cause may not
bo honoured as a saint.” In another religious
assembly, where the minds of those present wero
equally tainted by heretical opinions, one of
them exclaimed, “ If this man becomes a saint
we shall bo ruined.”
A prelate, who taught at Naples, was not
ashamed to say to ono of us, “ I never had any
esteem for your congregation, and I have never
been able to understand how Mgr. Liguori lived
as a saint while ho professed such impious doc­
trines.” lie spoke thus; but it is well known
that after he had outraged all laws, divine and
human, he ascended the scaffold in the year
1789, in tho public market at Naples, with
several traitors of a similar sort : so true it is
that Jansenist and Jacobite are ono and the
same thing.

CHAPTER XXI,

All zllphonso’s writings, whether dogmatical,
polemical, or ascetical, were equally well received
in Italy and throughout all Europe. “I am not

ST.

ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

345
*

♦

M
afraid to assert,” said a learned Frenchman,
“ that to cite his works of piety is to pronounce
in a few words the greatest eulogium on the
talents and on the piety of Mgr. Liguori.”
As a great number of these works fell into the
hands of Catholics of divers nations, several
persons began to translate them, and so they
were published in Poland, France, Germany,
Spain, and elsewhere, to the great advantage
of souls. It is difficult to believe with what
avidity they were and are everywhere re­
ceived. Mgr. Henry Ilennequin, canon of the
eminent college of St. Bartholomew at Liege,
could not refrain from congratulating Alphonso
on the great good his ascetical works did in
all parts. “I have lived at Rome for a long
while,” he wrote to him on the 20th of Fe­
bruary, 1776; “I have been able to judge for
myself both in the court of the penitentiary
and elsewhere, the great good which all the
works which have issued from tho blessed pen
of your Lordship continually effect, and parti­
cularly your ascetical works, and so I cannot
refrain therefore from returning thanks to God
for it, and felicitating you upon it also.”
“Remondini tells us,” Alphonso himself wrote
to Father Villani, “that my Morals are much
prized by the Germans, as well as my spiritual
works. It appears that many of thorn have
been translated into that language. ‘Soli Deo
honor et gloria.’ ” When Mgr. Guttieliori onco
went to seo him, ho said to him, “ The sale of
your works is so great in Germany, that even

316

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

protestant librarians have had them translated
and printed ; from whence you may infer what
a sale there is for them among Catholics.”
From tho year 1759 his treatise on the Pas­
sion of Jesus Christ was frequently reprinted in
German ; it was translated by a celebrated Je­
suit ; it was translated into the Polish tongue
in the year 1795, and printed at Varsovia ; the
edition was sold off as soon as it appeared.
“Vix typis impressum comparait,” said our Fa­
ther Holbaur, “jam turmatim diripitur.”
His book entitled The True Spouse, and which
was principally intended for nuns, was scarcely
published at Naples than a German translation
of it appeared, of which there were several edi­
tions. In tho year 1776, Father Abbe Bernard
Hyper, a monk of tho monastery of St. Bene­
dict at Wessabrunn, separated tho matters of
general interest in it from those specially in­
tended for nuns, from the wish to render this
work more useful, and ho published it in two
volumes; the title of tho first is, “Vera Spousa,”
and of the second, “Solida et fundamuntalis in­
stitutio pro omnibus iis qui ad perfectionem
Christianam tendunt.” “This work,” said he in
the preface, “has been twice republished in Ita­
lian in a short space of time, on account of its
extreme excellence ; besides its containing tho
quintessence of Mystic Theology, if I may so
express myself, it also clearly places before the
eyes of both religious and seculars tho practice
of those virtues which are necessary and proper
for each state. I venture to say that ono hero

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

i

317

finds collected together all that has been said on
theso subjects by all authors, whether ancient
or modern. This work also furnishes a summary of all that this excellent author has him­
self written on and treated of in a more obscure
manner in his other works.”
If this work was so much applauded in Ger­
many, it was far more so in Italy, In order
to prove this, it will suffice here to cite the
great number of editions of it which have appcared at Venice alone. D. Barbara Petra, a
Benedictine nun and sister of General Petra, in
writing to Mgr. Liguori from Pavia, assured
him of tho great good his pious works effected
there, and of their great sale ; she told him
that amongst others the True Spouse was in
tho hands of all the religious, and that it was
read in the refectory in her convent.
It is difficult to believe how eagerly tho
little book on tho Visits to tho Blessed Sacra­
ment was everywhere sought for. Alphonso
himself lived to see twenty-two editions of it
at Naples and at Venice. A zealous Jesuit of
Mayence mado the first translation of it into
Gorman in tho year 1757. He calls Alphonso,
“ Virum totum in Jesum Christum veraciter
innamoratum. ” In the year 1769, another edition of it appeared at Cologne, Sovcral were
also published in 1772, in France, at Nancy
tho capital of Lorraine, by Morta, tho printer ;
at Lyons in 1777, by the brothers Perisse, and
at Paris by Grapari, together with other spiritual
works of the same author. There was a new

fl

1

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

edition of it also at Augsbourg, in the year 1779.
Our Father Ilolbaur asserts that this little
book was in tho hands of everybody in France.
“Adeo usu esse in Gallia, Visitationes sancti­
ssimi sacramenti, ut ab oculatis et fido dignis
testibus compertum habeo ut fero nemini ig­
notum sit opusculum istud.” D. Bartholomew
Gcnovoso, an emigrant Carthusian, declares that
the religious of his order prefer it to any
other book of meditation, and that they find
in it, as in tho manna of old, every flavour
they can desire, Our father James Wanelet
wrote to tell me, that when he was in Paris
four years before tho revolution, ho saw sevoral new editions of this work.
Canon Ilennequin, in informing Alphonso him­
self that divers translations of his works had
been made, particularly refers to this book of
tho Visits,
It would not have been fair,”
said he,
for Italy alone to possess such a
precious treasure, so the French, with a holy
jealousy, have published throe consecutive editions of it. Tho Germans in turn havo twice
reprinted this same work, and I, for tho greater
glory of God, havo felt it a duty to havo it
reprinted here, (at Liege,) and two thousand
copies of it have already issued from the press.
This little book is an admirable assistance to
tho universal propagation of the perpetual ado­
ration of the Blessed Sacrament, which has
already been spread through this vast diocese,
in Flanders, and in many provinces of the em­
pire.”

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

349

This little book of the Visits enjoys no less
high a reputation in Poland. As it could not
satisfy tho devotion of persons of all classes
who were not familiar with tho languages into
which it was translated, a father of our congre­
gation made a Latin translation of it, which
was published in 1800, that it might be spread
throughout Switzerland and Germany.
This golden little book was also in general use
in Spain. Don Louis Virginio, tho superior of the
Italian church at Vienna, has written to tell mo
that there was a Spanish lady of high rank who
met with this little book there, and was so much
delighted by the unction she found in it that she
bought several copies of it : nothing more was
needed in order to cause tho work to be trans­
lated into Spanish, and circulated throughout the
kingdom. “ The numerous editions which are
published,” said a learned Frenchman, “prove
both the merit of the author and the approbation
of a virtuous public.” In Italy there is hardly
any librarian who has not reprinted it on his own
account. At Rome especially there havo beeu
editions of it of all descriptions, and we may
safely say that the work is in general use, even
among tho cardinals.
Tho Holy Father Tins
VI. derived such pleasure from it, that ho always
had it on his table.
Canon Honnoquin undertook to translato sev­
eral of his other works, in order to second tho
efforts of Alphonso’s zeal, and ho carried his
intentions into execution. “ As soon as time will
admit of it,” he wrote to him, “I hope to com-

350

st. alphonso liguori.

mencc another of your Lordship’s works, which
is no less important and necessary than tho first ;
it is the Preparation for Death, or in other words,
Eternal Truths. It is indeed a holy book and in­
dispensable for these unhappy times, when people
no longer’ seem to believe in anything. I hope
to do tho same as regards the True Spouse of
Jesus Christ. It is an inestimable book, in which
the practice of virtue is admirably set forth.”
Father Walfrino, a Franciscan, translated Al­
phonso’s Sermons into German in 1775. John
Herz, a canon of tho college of St. Gertrude
at Augsbourg, and counsellor of this bishopric
and of tho archbishopric of Treves, gavo his ap­
probation to it in these terms : “ Conciones has
reverentissimi Alphonsi do Liguori, episcopi ad
Sanctam Agatham, delectu materiarum perutiles
et magna eruditionis sacræ copia abundantes.”
The same collection of Sermons was translated
into the Polish language by the priest Don ThoΓΙ as Waluszen, and printed at Varsovia in the
year 1789. Ho dedicated it to tho most serene
prince and bishop of Samogitia, Stephen John
Giedroye.
Ho thus expresses himself in tho
preface : “ Opus istud non tam verborum et
eloquentiæ ornata quam potius sententiarum, et
rerum singulari selectu eximium, atque raro
auctoris zelo spirans et pluribus aliis operibus
mundo christiano optimo noti.
Toto tempore
quo in cathedra Samocitiensi verbi Dei prædicator existebam, magno mihi fuit adjumento ; alto
resonabat, resonabat per Italiam Ligori nomino
decoratum : altius nunc etiam in patria nostra,

i
i

*

r

I

ST. ALPIIOXSO LIOUOIIL

351

tuo in natione nostra magno nomini dedica­
tum.”
The treatise addressed to sovereigns was
spread throughout all countries as soon as it
appeared. The editor, who published a new
edition of it at Liege, in 1778, announced that
it was being sold at Rome, Madrid, Brussels,
Vienna, and Austria.
Peter Obladen translated The Glories of Mary
into German in the year 1775 ; in his eulogium
on this work, ho said, “ In præsentibus paginis
conspicies Ligorium comparentem in publico ut
encomiastcn et panegyricum Mariæ B. B. Vir­
ginis et Matris Redemptoris nostri. Elegantis­
sime textus scripturæ sacræ, antiquorum Ecclesiæ Patrum, sublimes ideæ ipsiusmet auctoris,
et penetrabiles ejusmet sententiæ et expressiones
quæ in hisce sermonibus occurrunt, dilucide de­
monstrant tenerrimum cor Ligorii in devotione
erga Dei matrem.”
I have also heard that Tho History of Here­
sies, Tho Truth of tho Faith, The Way of Sal­
vation, Tho Practice of Lovo towards Jesus
Christ, Tho Great Means of Prayer, The Prepa­
ration for Death, The Considerations and Affec­
tions on tho Passion of Jesus Christ, The Eternal
Truths, Tho Duties of a Christian, &c. have been
translated into Polish and German. Peter Obladon also translated two volumes of Meditations
into German, and dedicated them to the most
sereno Princess Cunegonde, daughter of Augus­
tus, King of Poland.
An Augustinian father, on coming from In-

352

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

dia to Rome about tho year 1788, in order to
assist at a general chapter of his order, eagerly
sought for a complete edition of the works of
Mgr. Liguori. For this purpose ho wont to our
house of St. Julian of tho Mountains, and in­
quired of our Father Lacerra where ho could
procure them. Ho told him that Alphonso en­
joyed great celebrity in India, and that he wished
to provide himself with a great many copies of
his writings, to translate them into the language
of the people. Not being able to meet with all
the works at Rome ho went to Naples, where
ho bought them in great quantities.
Our Father D. Gaétan Mancusi assures me,
that ho once met with a learned and literary
Frenchman, who was also seeking for all tho
works of Alphonso ; ho told him that tho writ­
ings of Mgr. Liguori were much esteemed in
France, and that he sought to collect as many
of them as he possibly could.
Father D. Romuald Maria Roberti, of the
Fathers of the Mission, wrote to our Father I).
Bartholomew Corrado at Rome, saying, “ You
cannot imagine what applause this saintly prelate
has everywhere obtained by his holiness and
his learning; unspeakable good is derived from
his works ; I do not believe that there is any
ascetical writer who has enjoyed so high a
reputation, and whoso books have been so often
reprinted.” A publisher at Macerata told mo
that ho derived more money from tho sale of
the works of Mgr. Liguori alono than from that
of all tho other books in his shop, although it

L-

ST.

*/

7

353

ALPHONSO LIGUOBI.

was one of the most considerable at Ancona,
This esteem for the writings of Alphonso was
truly wonderful, Remondini of Venice went so
far as to write to him “ If you have but one
page fib for printing, send it to me.
This hierh
opinion of himself and of his writings was carried
so far even beyond the mountains, that the
librarians, on seeing with what eagerness his
works were sought after, printed books under his
name which were not written by him, as our Fa­
ther Ilolbaur wrote me word, “ Tanto existi­
matio venerabilis Ligorii in Germania præsertim
viget, ut aliqua opuscula pietatis praecipuo sub
ementito Ligorii nomine passim in lucem edere
auserint, convicti de certissima et subitanea ven­
ditione quorumvis operum nomine Ligorii insig­
nitorum.”
Let us conclude this chapter by an eulogium
on a work of Alphonso’s of which we have not
yet spoken. It was published in 1762 under
thp title of The Truth of the Faith made manifest by the Motives of Credibility. It obtained
the admiration of all zealous Catholics. John
Baptist Gori speaks of it thus: “The author hero
sums up with admirable brevity the most exten­
sive as well as *thoo most interesting matters.
The dialogue which terminates it is equally
worthy of its saintly author.”

23

VOL IV.

351

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUOKI.

CHAPTER XXII.
The last work winch Alphonso published was
that entitled “The Fidelity of Subjects towards
God,” &c.
The authority of his director, Father Villani,
was needed in order to make him put au end
to his publications. However, his state of health
did not admit of his continuing to compose. “I
feel really ill,” he wrote to Father de Paul at
Frosinone, on the 2nd of January, 1777: “I
can no longer either read or write ,· I have a
constant pain in my head, which has obliged mo
to give up every sort of study.” However ho
published a little treatise which he composed
by way of relaxation, as he assured Father Vil­
lani, and which he had distributed during tho
course of tho missions. Ho summed up in them
in a few lines these two counsels, which are tho
most useful to all Christians, viz. “ The necessity
of prayer, and of the intercession of the Blessed
Virgin Mary.” He there proves that prayer is
necessary in order to obtain eternal life ; that
besides the general assistance which we require
iu order to persevere in grace, we also require
particular assistance; that he who does not pray
does not obtain it, and that God cannot refuse
it to those who ask Him for it with humility aud
perseverance; that we are bound to pray, even
under pain of mortal sin, specially when we arc

ST. ALPHONSO LTGUOUI.

355

in danger of death or of sinking under temptation.
“Ho who prays,” he said in conclusion, “will be
saved, and he who docs not pray will be damned.”
After prayer, he enforces peculiar devotion to the
Blessed Virgin. “He who has not this devo­
tion,” said he, “ cannot persevere in good and
overcome tho devil without great difficulty, as
tho Divine Mother is called
the
mother
of
per*
severance.”
lie once happened to meet with a little trea­
tise on the Sacrifice of the Mass which pleased
him, and ho added a short explanation of the
prayers of mass to it, which was no loss useful
to the priest than to the faithful.
In a letter to a young man on the spiritual
exercises, he shows how God communicates Him­
self to the soul when in retreat, and the great
blessings which arc to be derived from it. lie
also put together in a little book the most strik­
ing thoughts on eternal truths for an eight days’
exercise.
We have also some precious admonitions of his,
addressed to the young seminarists ; he there
proves wherein true knowledge consists : “ Ah !
how many men are there,” said he, “ who think
much of themselves, because they arc acquainted
with mathematics, literature, foreign languages,
ancient history, &c. ; acquirements which arc of
no use for the good of religion, and avail nought
for their salvation.” He therefore exhorted them
not to make slighter efforts to advance in virtue
than in knowledge, so that they might at the same
time become useful to themselves and to others
also.

35G

ST, ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

We fortunately possess a reply which Alphonso
gave to a young man who asked his advice on
the state of life he ought to choose. He wishes
that he should make his decision by considering
the immortality of the soul and the only end
for which God has placed him in the world ;
that he should place the hour of death before
his eyes, and that he should embrace the state
which he would wish to havo chosen at that
moment. Ho then proposes the religious state
to him, as that which is the safest on account
of tho powerful aids to salvation which it fur­
nishes, whilst the world on the contrary is full
of dangers. He above all wishes him to choose
a monastery where the rule is vigorously ob­
served. “ If you wish to enter where they lead
an easy life,” said he, “ you had better remain
at home ; for you would endanger your soul by
joining a relaxed community.”
Alphonso has also left us exhortations' address­
ed to religious, in order to animate them to fol­
low after the perfection of their state ; he ex­
amines the end for which God lias taken them
out of the world, sets forth the infidelity of
many to the grace of their vocation, and proposes the methods by which they may recover
fervour and make up for the time which has
been lost.
lie composed several treatises of the same
sort, amongst others the following: “ Admoni
tions to a young lady in deliberation as to the
choice of a state of life.” He there sets forth
the heroism of so many young virgins who

357

ST. ALPHONSO LTGUORJ.

havo bid adieu to tho world that they might
consecrate themselves to Jesus Christ. He ex­
tols the religious state, and highly exalts holy
virginity, which he contrasts with the miseries
of tho married state, and the dangers which
belong to it. Ho also there treats of the con­
fidence which one must feel as to salvation by
serving Jesus Christ in tho cloister, and of
the fear one ought to entertain of being lost
by living in the world. “Every married wo­
man,” he said in conclusion, “may bo called
a martyr of patience, that is to say, if she
has patience ; otherwise, she will suffer a mar­
tyrdom in this world, and eternal martyrdom in
the next.”
He also wrote a familiar discourse to a young
person before taking the religious habit, He
there shows tho dangers to which one is ex­
posed in the world, and the graces which one
receives from God in tho religious state ; he
exhorts the young virgin to persevere in her
vocation, and sets before her the methods of
corresponding to so great a grace.
His exhortations to a religious to advance in
tho love of her Divine Spouse, contain in a
concise form all that can excite a person con­
secrated to God, to triumph over all that is
opposed to her sanctification. The means which
he enjoins on her for that end, are, firstly, me­
ditation on tho passion of Jesus Christ: “A
Love,” said ho, “which does not spring from
a consideration of the sufferings of Jesus Christ
for us can bo but feeble.” Secondly, the readft

01

VOL. IV.

9

358

st. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

ing of pious books: “In prayer,” said he, “we
speak to God, and in reading, it is God who
speaks to us.” Thirdly, frequent communion,
and he enlarges on this head as to tho need­
ful dispositions for it. Finally, and above all, ho
enforces perfect conformity to tho will of God.
A nun who belongs wholly to God,” said he,
“complains of nothing, is contented with all,
loves the rule, and manifests no repugnance to
any sort of employment.”
From the wish to cause the love of Jesus
Christ to increase more and more in religious
houses, ho in another treatise exhorts them to
have prayer in common before the Blessed Sa­
crament : “Although our Blessed Saviour,” said
he, “ is always ready to hear those who pray
to Him, yet Ho dispenses His graces more abun­
dantly in the Blessed Sacrament.” lie was not
at all satisfied with these prayers, and ho wish­
ed there should always be a nun who should
remain before the tabernacle to converse with
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Ho also left divers other instructions on re­
ligious perfection. He sums them up in twelve
maxims ; for tho ground-work of all perfection
he requires that wo should havo an entire con­
fidence in God and a total mistrust of ourselves ;
then, that we should avoid every deliberate fault,
and take care not to bo disturbed by our falls ;
but he wishes that wo should humble ourselves
for them, make a resolution of amendment, and
have recourse to God with confidence ; that wo
should be detached from all our relations, and

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI,

359

fro n everything else, and rejoice at being de­
spised ; that wo should cherish the desire of
advancing in the love of God ; that we should
frequently offer ourselves to Him, and unite our
will to His under all trials ; that we should ob­
serve the rule ; that wo should obey superiors
and our spiritual father ; that God should al­
ways bo present to us, and that we should often
form tho intention of acting in order to please
Him. “A good intention,” said he, “is the
spiritual alchemy which changes the most co H
mon actions into gold.”
In his counsels to the nuns of the most Holy
Redeemer of Scala and of St. Agatha, he earnest­
ly exhorts them to lovo the life in community, to
avoid tho introduction of abuses against the rule,
and to renew their vows every time they com­
municate ; to be attentive to labour at the hours
mentioned for it, and not to introduce figured
chanting into the church, still less music : “ Tho
nun who sings figured music,” said he, “causes
temptation rather than devotion.” Ho wished
them to accept every sort of employment with
submission, and that they should entirely con­
fido tho care of tho nieces they might havo in
tho convent to the mistress appointed by the
community ; that they should not write any
letter without showing it to the superioress, who
was also to read the answers. Entering after
this into details of still higher perfection, he in­
culcated prayer and ejaculatory petitions ; ho
required that tho annual retreat and that of each
month should never be neglected, as ho was above

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

3GO

3G1

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

all desirous that each one should strive to ad­
vance in the love of Jesus Christ, by meditating
on tho love lie has shown towards us by His
Passion, and in tho Blessed Sacrament, without
however ever forgetting devotion to tho Blessed
Virgin. ‘‘The nun,” said ho, “who does not love
tho Mother of God with a spiritual love, loves
Jesus Christ but little, and has much cause to
fear as regards her salvation.”
In another treatise ho gives numerous coun­
sels to a desolate soul, in order to console her
and inspire her with confidence. lie advises ex­
act obedience to her spiritual director, to re­
ceive all that tries her from the hands of God,
to bo humble and resigned in illness, to offer
herself frequently and unreservedly to God, and
to meditate on Jesus crucified on Calvary, and
annihilated, as it were, in tho eucharist ; final­
ly, to be constant( in prayer. “ There is no­
thing,” said ho, in conclusion, “ which unites a
soul more to God than desolations, because in
desolation tho acts of conformity to tho will of
God are more pure and more perfect than at
other times.”
Ho was also interested as to tho fate of
those under condemnation, and collected toge­
ther in a littlo treatise various counsels for the
priests who visit them. IIo mentions the tempta­
tions to which these unfortunate beings are sub­
ject, such as that of nourishing hatred against
their accusers or their judges, of believing them­
selves hated by God and unworthy of pardon,
or of considering God as a tyrant who created

them for hell ; and he suggested remedies to
be used against these or like temptations.
In another treatise are to be found all the
counsels which the preacher ought to give his
audience on the necessity of prayer, the shun­
ning occasions of sin, and the great misery of
those numerous souls who do not confess all
their sins through shame ; he there especially
shows how much love towards Jesus Christ and
devotion to the Blessed Virgin must be insisted
on.
In a little book of but a few pages, he sup­
plies confessors of moderate attainments with
very important assistance for the exercise of
their sacred ministry. This treatise is as divine as it is small, and breathes throughout of
heavenly wisdom.
As I have a great devotion for the souls in
Purgatory, I drew his attention to the fact, that
amongst all the works he had written in ho­
nour of the saints, there was nothing with pe­
culiar reference to the souls in Purgatory; ho
immediately began to compose a short novena
for them, in which he praises this devotion very
much, and exhorts the faithful to practise it.
Perhaps the last of Alphonso’s treatises was
that with the title of “ Divine Love and the
Methods of Acquiring it.” He there shows how
much God wishes us to love Him, and the
happiness with which Ho rewards those who
love Him. Tho methods ho gives for ‘acquiring
this love arc, detachment from earthly things,
frequent remembrance of the Passion of Jesus

3G2

ST. ALPHONSO LIGUORI.

Christ and of His love for us in tho Blessed
Sacrament, conformity to tho will of God, and
tho love and practice of prayer. “ Tho whole
life of the Saints,” said he, “has been a life
of prayer, and all the graces which havo ren­
dered them saints, were only received by them
through meditation and prayer.” These are tho
principal treatises of this saintly author. Thero
were a great many others, but it would take
up too much space to spedfy them here.

Published by Richardson and Son.

WORKS BY THE VERY REV. DR. FABER.
NOTES ON DOCTRINAL AND SPIRITUAL SUBJECTS,
selected from the Papers of the late Very Rev. Father Faber, D.D.,
Priest of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri, edited by J. E. Bowden,
Priest of the same Congregation, in two Vols. 10s.
ALL FOR JESUS: or the Easy Ways of Divine Love. With a
copious Index. Eighth Edition, (15th thousand). Price 5s.
THE PRECIOUS BLOOD ; or the Price of our Salvation.
Second Edition, (Fourth Thousand.) Price 5s.
BETHLEHEM. With a copious Index, (Second Edition,) price 7s.
THE BLESSED SACRAMENT ; or the Works and Ways of God.
Third Edition, (Sixth Thousand) with a copious Index, price 7s. 6d,
THE CREATOR AND THE CREATURE, or, the Wonders of
Divine Love. Fourth Edition, (Fifth Thousand,) Price 6s.
SPIRITUAL CONFERENCES.
Third Edition, (Fifth Thou­
sand,) with a copious Index, 6s.
GROWTH IN HOLINESS, or the Progress of the Spiritual Life.
Fourth Edition (Sixth Thousand) with a copious Index, 6s.
HYMNS, hitherto scattered in different Publications, together with
the addition of 56 New Hymns, Second Edition, price 6s.
THE FOOT OF THE CROSS : or the Sorrows of Mary. With
a copious Index. Fourth Edition, (Sixth Thousand,) 6s.
ETHEL’S BOOK: or, TALES OF THE ANGELS. Second
Edition, price 2s. 6d.
SIR LANCELOT, a Tale of the’Middlc Ages, Second Edition, 5s.
POEMS. Third Edition. Price 7s. 6d.
AN ESSAY on CANONIZATION and BEATIFICATION. 3s.
AN ESSAY ON THE INTEREST AND CHARACTERISTICS
OF THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS. Price 2s.
AN ESSAY ON CATHOLIC HOME MISSIONS, Is. 6d.
JESUS AND MARY, a Catholic Hymn Book. Price Is.
A LETTER to the Members of tho Confraternity of the Most
Precious Blood. 8 pages Svo. fine paper jd.
DEVOTION TO THE POPE AND DEVOTION TO THE
CHURCH. Third Edition, price 3d.
SCHEME OF INTERCESSORY PRAYER for the MONTH. Id.
HYMNS FOR THE PEOPLE, adapted to popular tunes. Id.
THANKSGIVING AFTER COMMUNION. From “ All ron
Jesus.” Price Id in wrapper.
THE LONDON ORATORY and the Union Newspaper. Being
Tliree Letters on the Respect Due to Our Blessed Lord, Id.

Printed with new type, on superfine toned paper, with fine Portrait,
one volume demy 8vo. price IDs. 6d.—full gilt aides is. 6d. extra.

THE LIFE AND LETTERS OF FREDERICK
WILLIAM FABER, D.D., Priest of tho Oratory of SL Philip
Neri, by John Edward Bowden, of the same Congregation.
BICHABBSOX AND SON, PBINTFRS, DERBY·

Brief Sketch of the Early Life of the late F. W.
FABER, D.D., by his only surviving Brother.

Post 8vo., 2s. 6d.