The oldest of seven children, Alphonsus de Liguori was born in 1696 to very devout Catholic parents. Gifted with an incredible intellect, at the age of 16 Alphonsus received doctorate degrees in both civil and canon law, but quickly gave up the practice of law to become a priest. He travelled and gave many parish missions, then at 36 he founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, now known as the Redemptorists. He continued to give missions, wrote The Glories of Mary and Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, and after refusing it once he was made bishop at age 66. Despite crippling arthritis and a final 18 months of blindness, fears, and brutal temptations, he continued to work until his death at age 91.
CHALLENGE
St. Alphonsus de Liguori vowed when he was young to never to waste a moment of his life, and he lived that way for over 90 years. Starting today, don’t waste a day of your life making this world more important than the next. Take up the tradition of momento mori or “remembering death” by reading some of St. Alphonsus de Liguori’s meditations on how to prepare for a holy death.
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The end of life is a difficult time, and the Catholic Church has a rich history of teachings and traditions to help people have a holy death, as well as grieve and pray for those who have departed from this world. Passing Time is a rich resource on the topics of suffering, death, and Purgatory, compiled from a variety of classical Catholic texts. Buy your copy today.
