The life of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop of St. Agatha of the Goths and founder of the Congregation of the Holy Redeemer

GUELPH RESIDENCE.

s. or.

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COLL CHRISTI REGIS SJ.
BIB. MAJOR

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COLL. CHRIST! REGIS SJL

BIB. MAJOR

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Epi s c opus . et Trmdator C ong;. S ST R edennp tons
(Ejus festimi celebratur 2 Aug'j

THE LIFE

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BISHOP OF ST. AGATHA OF THE GOTHS,

73
And Founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer,

COMPILED FROM THE PUBLISHED MEMOIRS OF THE SAINT,

BY ONE OF THE REDEMPTORIST FATHERS,
" BIB. MAJOR

3

BALTIMORE:
PUBLISHED BY JOHN MURPHY & CO.

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Sold by Catlwlic Booksellers generally.

1855.

ENTERED, according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1854, by

JOHN MURPHY & COMPANY,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Maryland.

PREFACE.

THE compiler long since noticed with regret, that
there was no Life of St. Alphonsus published in the
English language, which adequately set forth the merits
of that illustrious Saint, and displayed his many claims
to our admiration and respect. In order to supply this
deficiency, he undertook, more than ten years ago, a
translation of the Life of the Saint from the Italian; but
various circumstances occurred to retard its completion.
In the meanwhile, he learned with pleasure lhat such a
publication was announced in England, in the series of
the Lives of the Saints edited by the fathers of the Ora
tory; but this work, when it came to hand, though it
left nothing to be desired in point of fulness of illustra
tion, did not seem fully adapted to meet the object he
had proposed to himself, as its length was so great as to
prove an obstacle to its general circulation. As soon,
therefore, as his occupations permitted, he resumed his
undertaking; but thinking that a compilation from the
English Life would answer his purpose better than the
proposed translation, he was induced to change his origi
nal plan, and to prepare for publication the work which
is now presented. While, however, he has attempted
nothing beyond a mere compilation, care has been taken
to unite completeness with brevity, and he believes that

VI PREFACE.

the portrait of St. Alphonsus which is given in the fol
lowing pages, could not have been rendered more perfect
and true otherwise than by the entire reproduction of the
voluminous memoirs already published.

There is no occasion to enlarge here upon the merits
of the Saint. During a life-time of ninety years, labo
riously occupied in the service of God and in the salva
tion of soul?,, he exhibited continually such splendid
examples of every virtue, that the mere narration of them
will be at once his best panegyric, and the most per
suasive exhortation to the imitation of his holiness.

Impart then, O Lord, thy benediction to this work,
and do thou take it under thy protection, O Blessed
among women; that the heroic actions and labors which
it records may, in their recital, repeat the result which
was the effect and aim of their first achievement, by
bringing new honor and glory to the holy names of
JESUS and MARY.

BALTIMORE, Nov. 1st, 1854.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

PAGE

Birth and Childhood of Alphonsus, 13

CHAPTER, II.
Alphonsus applies to Studies, 17

CHAPTER III.

Alphonsus follows the Profession of the Law — his Father's

project of marrying him, ...... SO

CHAPTER IV.

Alphonsus retires from the Bar, and resolves to quit the

world, 29

CHAPTER V.

Alphonsus enters the Ecclesiastical State3 ... 35

CHAPTER VI.

Alphonsus is ordained Deacon and Priest. His first Labors,

Zeal, and Success in the pulpit and the confessional, . 38

CHAPTER VII.

Alphonsus establishes public Meetings for the advancement
of his penitents, and the instruction of poor people in
general, 45

CHAPTER VIII.

Alphonsus retires into the Chinese College, and gives mis
sions in the country, .... 50

VIII CONTENTS,

CHAPTER IX.

PAGE

Alphonsus is called to found a Congregation of Missionary

Priests, .... - 56

CHAPTER X.

Alphonsus establishes his Congregation at Scala. It under
goes a severe trial,, 68

CHAPTER XI.

Alphonsus gives Missions and founds the Houses at the
Villa del Schiavi and at Ciorani. He abandons the for
mer., 77

CHAPTER XII.

Apostolic Courses of Alphonsus. He abandons Scala.
Missions in various places and Dioceses,, especially in
that of Naples, 89

CHAPTER XIII

Alphonsus, with his companions, makes the three Religious
Vows. He founds the House of Nocera. The opposi
tion he encounters, 97

CHAPTER XIV.

Alphonsus founds the Houses of Iliceto and Caposele, and
establishes a Novitiate. His first Publications. He seeks
to have his Congregation approved by the King, . . 112

CHAPTER XV.

Alphonsus obtains the approbation of his Congregation
at Rome. He holds the first General Chapter, and is
elected Rector Major. Difficulties with some subjects.
Other difficulties in Naples. He publishes his Moral
Theology, . 134

CONTENTS. IX

CHAPTER XVI.

PAGE

Alphonsus founds a house in the Pontifical States. Vari
ous apostolical courses and labors. He founds a house
in Sicily, 157

CHAPTER XVII.

Alphonsus' Maxims and Conduct in his quality of Founder

and Superior of a Religious Order, . . . .175

CHAPTER XVIII.

Alphonsus is chosen Bishop. His journey to Rome and

Loretto. His Consecration, 194

CHAPTER XIX.

Alphonsus leaves Rome and goes to his diocese. His man
ner of life as a bishop. He gives the Spiritual Exercises
to the Clergy, and a Mission in his Cathedral. Some
examples of his severity against hardened sinners, . 208

CHAPTER XX.

Alphonsus commences his Episcopal Visitation. He re
forms and regulates the Diocesan Seminary. His zeal,
prudence and manner of life during the visitation of the
diocese, 225

CHAPTER XXI.

His Conduct at his Brother's second Marriage. His Zeal
for the Preaching of the Word of God by himself and
others. His Charity during a Famine, . . . 243

CHAPTER XXII.

Alphonsus presides at a general Chapter of his Congrega
tion. He defends his Moral Theology. He publishes
Ordinances for the Regulation of his Diocese. He es
tablishes new Parishes. Becomes dangerously ill. He
publishes his book on the Truth of the Faith. Circular
to his Congregation, ....... 261

X CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXIII.

Alphonsus seeks to resign the Episcopate. He establishes
at St. Agatha a Convent of Nuns. His great solicitude
in conferring Holy Orders, in giving Jurisdiction to Con
fessors, and in choosing subjects for Parishes and Bene
fices, 276

CHAPTER XXIV.

Alphonsus' solicitude for the Sanctification of Religious.
His zeal for the material Churches. The Congregation
of Alphonsus is persecuted. He publishes two new
works. He goes to Naples for the defence of his Con
gregation. How he exercises his zeal at Naples, . . 299

CHAPTER XXV.

Alphonsus is visited by sickness and great sufferings. He
finishes his work on Dogmatics. His Congregation is
persecuted in Sicily. His mode of life and apostolic
labors when paralytic. Interest he takes in the education
of his nephews. Circular to his Congregation. His
Missionaries abandon Sicily, 327

CHAPTER XXVI.

Alphonsus seeks to resign. He publishes several Works.
His Congregation is established in the States of the
Church. He publishes still other Works. He assists
at the death of Pope Clement XIV. His sentiments on
the Election of a new Pope. His Missionaries return to
Sicily, 359

CHAPTER XXVII.

Alphonsus' zeal during his Episcopate in reforming his
secular and regular Clergy — in removing scandals in
general, and preventing sin in all classes of the Laity.
How God assists him in his efforts, 378

CONTENTS. XI

CHAPTER XXVIII.

PAGE

Alphonsus' patience in bearing injuries, and great meek
ness. His admirable humility. His spirit of poverty,
penance, and mortification,, 397

CHAPTER XXIX.

Alphonsus' charity in relieving all kinds of bodily suffering.

His detachment from all self-interest, . . . .417

CHAPTER XXX.

Alphonsus resigns the Episcopate. He leaves his Diocese,
and returns to Nocera. His manner of life in his retire
ment, 441

CHAPTER XXXI.

The Congregation is bitterly persecuted at Naples. Al
phonsus labors in its defence. His anxieties in regard to
the houses in the Pontifical States, .... 458

CHAPTER XXXII.

Alphonsus exerts himself incessantly for the welfare of the
Church at large, and for the general promotion of piety.
His efforts to maintain discipline in the Congregation, . 472

CHAPTER XXXIII.

The Congregation, through the treachery and intrigue of
some of its members, is threatened with complete disor
ganization. Alphonsus exhibits through all these trials
entire submission to the will of God, . . . .487

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Unavailing efforts of Alphonsus to bring about a re-union
between the houses of the Pontifical States and those oi
the Kingdom. Signs of Alphonsus' approaching disso
lution. His zeal for the salvation of souls continues un
abated, 507

XII CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXV.

PAGE

Alphonsus suffers great interior trials. The favors and

graces by which God attested his sanctity, . . . 526

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Alphonsus' last illness and Death, 548

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Ceremonies of the Interment. Many Miracles are
wrought through the intercession of Alphonsus. The
process of his Canonization, ...... 561

BULL OF "THE CANONIZATION OF ST. ALPHONSUS, . . 580

CHAPTER I.
Birth and Childhood of Alphonsus.

IN all ages of the world, the Almighty has raised up
extraordinary men to supply the wants of humanity ;
and, incessantly watching over the welfare of his Church,
he has, in every succeeding century, provided chosen
vessels to defend and edify it. In the eighteenth cen
tury, impiety and overstrained rigidity had united to under
mine the edifice of the Church. A servile fear had expelled
the charity of God ; the sacraments, those fountains of
life, were abandoned, or turned into derision , the divine
Eucharist, the life-spring of Catholic piety, had become
an object of dread ; and the spirit of Christianity seemed
passing away. But the eye of an omniscient Providence
watched over it : to confound impiety, to fight against
Jansenism, to awaken faith, and kindle love, in its source,
the Sacrament of the altar, God gave to his Church and
to the world, a man after his own heart, Alphonsus Liguori.
Joseph de Liguori, of an ancient patrician family in
Naples, and Anne Catherine Cavalieri, of an equally noble
family from Brindes, were the happy parents of Alphonsus.
Illustrious by his birth, as also by his military talents, and
the public offices which he filled with integrity and pru
dence, D. Joseph was, moreover, a man of exemplary
piety, and by his devotion to the passion of our Lord he
obtained many signal graces. His wife was a woman of
2

14 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

singular virtue, and descended from parents equally remark
able for their piety and their rank. Devoted to prayer,
loving the poor, she practised self-denial and mortifica
tion, abstained from worldly amusements, and was to be
found most frequently in the house of God.

Alphonsus was born on the 27th of September, 1696, in
the vicinity of Naples, at Marianella, where his parents
had a country-house, and two days after, he was baptized
in the Church of St. Mary of Virgins in Naples. He re
ceived the following names: " Alphonsus Mary Anthony
John Francis Cosmas Damian Michel-Angelo ;" the first of
which were given him in memory of his ancestors, the
others in honor of the Saints on whose respective days 'he
was born and baptized. From the hour of his birth, he
was placed in a special manner under the protection of
the Blessed Virgin, that in all his necessities he might find
in her an advocate and mother. Shortly after his birth, St.
Francis Jerome, of the Society of Jesus, foreseeing with a
prophetic eye how dear to God, and how useful to his
Church, the infant would become, foretold his future
sanctity. He took him from the arms of his mother, and
blessing him, said : " This little child will live to a great
age, even until ninety years ; he will be a bishop, and will
perform great things for Jesus Christ." Alphonsus was
henceforth regarded as a special gift from heaven, destined
to procure the salvation of souls and promote the glory of
Jesus Christ.

Contrary to the usual custom among the nobles, the early
education of Alphonsus was not confided to strangers; his
mother superintended it herself, and instructed her son in
the knowledge of religion. The brother of Alphonsus, D.
Gaetan, related that every morning after having blessed her
children, she made them pray to God, and every evening
she assembled them around her, and taught them the ele
ments of the Christian faith, reciting with them the Rosary
and other prayers in honor of different Saints. She was
careful in preventing them from associating with other
children of their age ; she wished that grace should antici-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 15

pate in them the malice of sin, and that they might early
be taught to hate it; she therefore took them every week
to confess to her own director, F. Thomas Pagano, of the
Oratory of St. Jerome. It was thus she guided her dear
Alphonsus, and made him truly holy. Above all, she en
deavored to kindle in his heart a tender love for Jesus
Christ, and a filial confidence in Mary. He was born with
a heart so ready to receive the impressions of grace, that
piety and love of virtue seemed natural to him. One
might say, that in him virtue anticipated age, so early did
he show maturity in his devotions.

Even in childhood, he knew not the ordinary amuse
ments of infancy, but placed all his delight in erecting
little altars, and celebrating in his childish manner the
feasts of different Saints. When he was more advanced
in age, and had tasted in the practice of piety the sweets
of celestial communication, he might be seen continually
presenting himself before God, and pouring out his heart
in holy affections before him. Thus he so early began to
receive those precious graces which God bestows on souls
destined to the highest degrees of sanctity.

At this time, the Fathers of St. Jerome directed a fer
vent Congregation, having for its object the spiritual wel
fare of the young nobility. The parents of Alphonsus
placed him under their care, when he was only nine years
old, and his exemplary conduct and great piety were
the admiration of these good Fathers. He came early
every Sunday morning to the Congregation, and although
so young, he was docile and submissive to the slightest
command of the Superiors, attentive and recollected dur
ing the devotional exercises, full of a holy avidity for the
general instructions, and even over-anxious in his desire to
profit by them. He regularly confessed to F. Pagano,
and when arrived at the proper age, received holy com
munion from his hands. It was then an edifying spectacle
to see this young child on his knees, hearing mass with
singular devotion, and approaching the holy table with the
greatest fervor. He prepared himself always by the aid of

16 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

little books of piety, which he devoutly held in his hands,
and never retired without kneeling long to make acts of
thanksgiving.

As Alphonsus advanced in age, his mother redoubled
her solicitude: not content with all he learned under these
excellent fathers, she took care to instruct him herself in
the manner of performing his devotions, and acquitting
himself of his other duties. She spoke to him of the
enormity of sin, of hell which it merits, and of the great
displeasure the slightest fault gives to the heart of Jesus
Christ. What was most admirable in him, was his con
stancy in his devotional exercises. When the hour arrived
for his joining his mother in some devout practice, he pre
sented himself before her, nor was he less punctual in
other pious exercises, which he imposed upon himself.

When he had attained his twelfth year, his prayer was
not only more than ordinary, it was sublime ; as is proved
by the following very remarkable occurrence, related by an
eye-witness. The Fathers of St. Jerome were in the hatyt
of taking the young gentlemen of their congregation, every
Sunday after vespers, to some country-house for recrea
tion. On one of these occasions, the young people began
to amuse themselves with a game called the game of
oranges. Alphonsus was asked to join, but excused him
self on the plea of not knowing the game : his com
panions, however, urged him so much, that at length he
consented. Fortune favored him, and he gained thirty
times running. This success made his companions jeal
ous, and one, older than he, 'exclaimed in a rage : " It was
you who did not know the game, was it !" adding in his
anger a very indecent expression. Alphonsus reddened,
when he heard it, and with an air of severity turned
towards his companions and said : " How is this, shall
God be offended for the sake of a little miserable money ?
Take back your money!" and throwing on the ground
what he had won, he turned his back on them with a holy
indignation. When evening came, and the young people
were to return, he was nowhere to be found. They called

.LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 17

him, but they called in vain, and every one went to seek
him. But what was their surprise, when they discovered
him on his knees, before a picture of the Blessed Virgin
which he had with him, and had placed upon a laurel
branch. He was quite absorbed, and so ravished in God,
that it was some time before he came to himself, notwith
standing the noise his companions made.

To the latest period of his life, Alphonsus continued to
acknowledge his obligations to his mother, for the great
care she haft taken of him during his childhood. " If I
must admit," he was wont to say, "that there was any
thing good in me, as a child, and that I was kept from
wickedness, I owe it entirely to the tender solicitude of
my mother." He once said.: "At the death of my father,
I refused to go to Naples, offering to God the sacrifice of a
duty, which nature claimed from me ; but when my mother
is dying, if I am not otherwise prevented, I shall not have
the courage to refuse going to assist her."

CHAPTER II.

Jllphonsus applies to Studies.

D JOSEPH and D. Anna, fearing that in a college
• the innocence of their son might run some danger,
and that intercourse with other young men might tarnish
its lustre, would have him continually under their own
eyes, sheltered from every occasion of sin, and pro
cured him excellent private masters to teach him belles-
lettres. His grammar master was the learned Dominic
Buonaccio, a native of Calabria, and a man of piety and
irreproachable morals. His master found little difficulty
in conducting his education : his naturally happy disposi
tion and inclination for virtue, much abridged the lessons
of this good priest, as well in reference to science, as to
spiritual matters. His mind was quick and penetrating,
2*

18 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

his memory faithful and retentive, and he combined great
docility with an ardent desire for instruction. With these
excellent qualities, he made rapid progress in his studies,
and gave great satisfaction both to master and parents.

As the father and mother of Alphonsus wished not only
to make their son a man of letters and a good Christian,
but also an accomplished gentleman, they took care to
adorn his mind with every other species of knowledge
necessary to form a distinguished education. He was yet
a child, when they gave him masters in drawing, painting,
and architecture. He succeeded admirably in all these
arts: even in his old age he sketched pictures, sometimes
of the infant Jesus, or of the blessed Virgin ; and had en
graved several of them for the use of his congregation.
His father, who was exceedingly fond of music, wished
him also to excel in that art, and gave orders that he
should apply himself three hours daily to the study of
it with a master. Thus before Alphonsus had attained
his twelfth year, he touched the harpsichord with great
skill. In his later years he regretted the time he had
spent in acquiring this accomplishment. " Fool that I
ihave been," said he one day, looking at the harpsichord,
*' to have lost so much time on that; but it was right to
obey my father, he would have it so." He excelled so
much both in music and poetry, that even in his old age
he wrote and composed wonderfully well. This his talent
is apparent in the numerous hymns he composed, among
which are many that force us to recognise in them the
hand of a master. D. Joseph, ambitious of seeing his son
distinguish himself in the magistracy, by the talents with
which he was adorned, wished him, when his philosophy
and other studies were finished, to apply himself to civil
and canonical law. He gave him two learned masters,
who enjoyed great reputation in Naples. Alphonsus was
not Jess successful in this new career.

Among these numerous occupations, all the recreation
he permitted himself to take, was with D. Charles Cito, at
whose house he passed an hour in the evening, to play at

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 19

cards with other young people of irreproachable character,
who visited there. The favorite games of the young gen
tlemen were tersillio, ombre, and smch like, then usual in
good society, in which the mind found recreation and ex
ercise, while the morals received no damage. These
amusements had very strict bounds, D. Joseph wishing
that they might be rather a means of advancing, than re
tarding, -him in his stu-dies, and that the short relaxation
might enable him to resume them again with renewed
vigor. He was always displeased, when his son stayed
beyond the appointed time ; for it sometimes happened
that Alphonsus was rather Jate. On one of these occa
sions, wishing to mortify him, he removed all his books
from his table, and substituted for them packs of cards.
Alphonsus felt this mortification most sensibly, and nothing
else was necessary to make him blush, and strive more
punctually than ever, to obey his father's injunctions. In
his old age he mentioned, that at the same time he had
been very fond of hunting, but had never indulged in it,
except on days when he was dispensed from study, adding,
that the birds were fortunate that had to do with him, for,
notwithstanding all his endeavors, he rarely killed one.
Such were the useful and interesting occupations of the
young Alphonsus; and we believe his parents were wise
enough to interdict other accomplishments usually taught,
and regarded by worldly persons as indispensable. They
looked upon dancing as an amusement perilous for the
soul, and on fencing, as exposing both soul and body to
many dangers.

Alphonsus devoted himself so successfully to the study
of jurisprudence, that before his sixteenth year he was
master of it. He received his degree on the twenty-first
of January, 1713, amidst general applause, having pre
viously obtained a dispensation of three years and nine
months, being little more than sixteen years old. He
might from that time be seen constantly before the tribu
nals of Naples, listening with an ardent avidity for instruc
tion to the numerous decisions of the counsels, so much

20 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

respected in that town. At first his father placed hirn
with Peronne, a celebrated advocate, after whose death he
was placed with another jurisconsult not less esteemed,
called Jovene. It was about this period that he began to
deny himself all kinds of amusement, and even to renounce
the agreeable society in the house of D. Cito. He asso
ciated only with the president, Dominic Caravita, a man as
pious as he was learned, and inferior to none in the science
of civil and canon law. His house was then a kind of
academy for studious young men, where the most virtu
ous and learned in legal matters used to meet. The
president did all in his power to render them skilful in dis
cussing points of law, and in the choice of proper words.
Every evening he held conferences, in which they treated
the most difficult questions, while the president adopted or
rejected their conclusions.

CHAPTER III.

Alphonsus follows the Profession of Law — His Father's
project of marrying him,

A LPHONSUS had not yet attained his twentieth year,
JLJL when he saw himself surrounded by numerous clients,
and seated before the tribunals, side by side with the most
distinguished advocates. His father's family, at that time,
had many friends and relations among the principal sena
tors. These men of quality, knowing the talents and good
conduct of Alphonsus, and his desire of advancement,
united all their endeavors to procure him distinguished
clients, and he himself knew so well how to gain public
esteem, that in a short time the most important causes
were confided to him. The rules by which he regulated
his conduct as a lawyer, cannot be too generally known ;
for if they were imitated, the whole face of society would
be renovated. They were as follows :

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 21

1. Never to accept unjust causes, as being pernicious
to conscience, and hurtful to honor.

2. Never to defend a cause by illicit and unjust means.

3. Never to burden clients with superfluous expenses.

4. To defend the causes of clients with the same care as
one would his own.

5. To study carefully the details of a process, in order to
draw arguments from them that may effectually help the
defence.

6. To implore the assistance of God in order to succeed,
because he is the protector of justice.

7. If the dilatoriness and negligence of a lawyer prove
prejudicial to clients, he must reimburse the loss caused
in this way, otherwise he sins against justice.

8. A lawyer must not undertake causes which surpass
his talents or his strength, or for which he foresees that he
will not have leisure to prepare his defence.

9. Justice and probity should be the characteristics of
a lawyer, and he ought to preserve them as the apple of
of his eye.

10. A lawyer, who loses a cause by negligence, con
tracts the obligation of making up all the losses of his
clients.

11. In the defence of a cause it is necessary to be truth
ful, sincere, respectful, and reasonable.

12. The qualities requisite for a lawyer, are knowledge,
diligence, truth, fidelity and justice.

Guided by such rules, it is not to be wondered at, that
he gained an ascendancy over all hearts, and so enchanted
his audience when he spoke, that not only the judges, but
even his adversaries, often ranged themselves on his side.
Such must ever be the ultimate effects of truth and honor.

If Alphonsus desired to strike out a brilliant path for
himself as a lawyer, he was no less anxious to increase in
virtue and render himself dear to God. Two years after
receiving the gown, he advanced from the Congregation of
young nobles to that of doctors, established in the same
house of the Fathers of the Oratory. Besides frequenting

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

the Congregation, he often visited F. Pagano, his spiritual
director, whom he regarded as his guardian angel. To him
he exposed all his doubts and fears, and he never deviated
from his counsels; and thus, far from relaxing in his piety
and devotion, he daily made more and more progress. He
frequented the sacraments, he visited the sick in the hos
pitals, and loved prayer, to which he joined the mortification
of his passions and his senses. He never went to the law-
courts, before he had heard Mass, and finished in the
church his other devotional exercises.

While Alphonsus gave himself to piety with so much
assiduity, his father was at the same time anxious to con
firm him in these dispositions. He wished him annually
to make with him the spiritual exercises in the house called
Conocchia, kept for this purpose by the Jesuits, or in the
house of the Missionaries of St. Vincent of Paul. Alphon
sus afterwards spoke of 4hese retreats, as having made a
great impression upon him, and of his having drawn from
them the most salutary fruits. One of the most precious of
these was an especial love for the holy virtue of purity.
During the whole period of his youth, no one ever re
marked, in his conversations with young companions, a
sign, or a word, that could indicate a shadow of impro
priety. Every thing about him proclaimed his modesty,
by which he edified all around him. He was so jealous
for the conservation of this virtue, so dear to the Son of
God, that, as his brother D. Gaetan related, in order to
prevent during his sleep even any involuntary movement
contrary to it, he put his hands, when going to bed in the
evening, into a kind of etui made of paste-board. After
wards, he used to sleep, holding a cross of wood in his
arms, which he did to the end of his days.

A life so exemplary could not fail to produce the most
abundant fruits ; and although all the good resulting from
it in the edification of others, will only be known in heaven,
yet it has pleased Providence, that one instance should be
upon record — the conversion of a slave in his father's
house, D, Joseph, as commander of the galleys, had sev-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 23

eral slaves in his service ; one of them was selected to
wait upon Alphonsus. He soon after manifested an in
clination to become a Christian, and when asked what had
made him think of such a thing, he replied : " The example
of my young master has made a great impression on me;
for it is impossible that that religion can be false, which
makes him lead a life so pure and holy." F. Mastrillar of
the Congregation of St. Jerome, undertook to instruct
him ; but soon after, he became sick and was sent to the
hospital. One evening he expressed a great desire to see
F, Mastrilla immediately. Upon his arrival, he requested
to be baptized, saying: "I have seen our Lady, St. Joseph,
and St. Joachim, and they have told me I must be baptized
now, because they wish to have me in Paradise." The
priest replied that his illness was not dangerous, and besides,
that he was not sufficiently instructed. "Let your rever
ence interrogate me," replied the slave, "for I am prepared
to answer all your questions." In fact, he replied with the
utmost precision and accuracy to every question. He was
baptized, and then told to repose a little after the fatigue.
"This is not a time to rest," he said, "for I must go
immediately to Paradise." In about half an hour this
poor slave, his countenance radiant with joy, surrendered
his pure soul into the hands of his Creator.

Alphonsus was now approaching his twentieth year, and,
seeing the progress he daily made in the career of the
law, every one prognosticated, that with such distinguished
talents, and such powerful family interests, he would soon
attain the highest dignity in the magistracy. These rare
prerogatives, enhanced by all the qualities that could be
wished for in a young nobleman, and joined to irreproach
able conduct, made the first families in Naples anxious for
him to form a matrimonial alliance with their daughters.
Among all the parties who presented themselves, the choice
of D. Joseph fell upon D. Theresa, a rich heiress, who was
also nearly allied to the family, the only daughter of D.
Francis de Liguori, Prince of Presiccio: he expected thereby
to acquire for Alphonsus a considerable fortune. The

24 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. "i."

prince regarded it as an honor for his daughter to become
the wife of such a young man, and the affair was consid
ered as arranged. As for Alphonsus, he took no part in
the matter, and showed not the least intention of marry
ing. While this affair was in progress, the mother of the
princess, contrary to all expectation, became pregnant,
and this incident changed immediately the designs of D.
Joseph, who no longer found in the marriage the advan
tages he had originally contemplated for his house. His
ardor cooled, and when she was brought to bed of a son,
he withdrew himself entirely. At the end of a few months,
the infant died, and the father of Alphonsus began again to
frequent the house, and to speak of his original propo
sals. Although they felt themselves aggrieved, the prince
and princess were willing to renew the negotiations; but
Theresa would not listen to these new proposals. "When
my brother was alive," said she, " I was not considered a
suitable match for Alphonsus de Liguori ; but now he is
dead, they think it advisable — it is my fortune they seek,
and not myself. I know enough of the world ; and now
I wish to have nothing more to do with it. I desire to
take Jesus Christ for my spouse." She entered into the
convent of the Nuns of the Holy Sacrament, or of St.
Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, and took the veil on the
eighth of March, 1719. This rupture between Alphonsus
and Theresa was an arrangement of Providence, to with
draw both of them from the dangers of the world. Theresa,
from the moment she entered the convent, gave herself
entirely to Jesus Christ, and spared no sacrifice in order to
please Him. Her life was short, but full of merits, and she
died in the odor of sanctity, the 30th of October, 1724.
Soon after her death, Alphonsus, at the request of the
Superior of the convent, wrote the edifying life of her,
who had been intended for his wife.

A circumstance occurred about this time which shows
the perfect submission of Alphonsus to his father. One
evening there was at the house a party of ladies and
gentlemen, and it happened that one of the domestics

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 25

showed stupidity in attending to the guests. D. Joseph
scolded the servant, and reproached him with his inatten
tion: it was an involuntary fault, yet he did not cease to
express his displeasure with him as he went and came.
Alphonsus was sorry for the man, and said to his father:
" What a noise you make about it, rny father: when once
you begin, you can never end." This speech displeased
D. Joseph, who so far forgot himself, as to give his son a
blow in the face. Alphonsus was confused, but said not a
word, and, deeply humiliated, withdrew immediately to his
room. The hour of supper came, and as he did not appear,
his mother went to call him, but found him bathed in tears,
deploring the want of respect he had shown towards his
father. He confessed how wrongfully he had acted, and
begged she would intercede for him, and obtain forgiveness.
Accompanied by his mother, he went to his father, and
asked him to forgive him. D. Joseph, affected by his sub
mission and repentance, embraced and blessed him; and if
the fault of his son had wounded him, he was more touched
and consoled by seeing him so sincerely humble.

Alphonsus had never ceased to distinguish himself in the
practice of virtue ; nevertheless, he confessed in his old
age, that, at this period of 4iis life, his piety became cold,
and that he was in danger of losing his soul and his God.
His father obliged him to accompany him into society ; he
frequented the theatres; and often, although always out of
obedience, he took part in a private play. Added to these,
though innocent, yet dissipating, amusements, were the
applauses he received on all sides, the proposals of mar
riage, the compliments which were showered upon him by
ladies and their relations: in short, every thing flattered his
passions, his heart was tainted, and he lost his first fervor.
In this state of spiritual coldness, the slightest cause was
sufficient to make him omit some one of his pious prac-
tices: he has said himself, that if he had remained much,
longer in this dangerous position, he could not have
avoided soon falling into some great sin. But the watchful
eye of Providence failed not to send him timely aid, and,
3

26 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

with a peculiar and paternal care, made him enter into
himself.

Alphonsus was on terms of the most intimate friendship
with D. F. Cape-Celalro, Duke of Casabona, a young man
of his own age. The young nobleman, alarmed at seeing
his friend beginning to be negligent in.the service of God,
and wishing to rekindle his own fervor, proposed that he
should join him in making a retreat during Lent, in the
house of the Missionaries of St. Vincent of Paul. Alphon
sus, with his friend and some others, went there on the
twenty-sixth of March, 1722. He was among those who
profited most. Grace knocked at the door of his heart,
making him feel how he had fallen from his first fervor: he
saw, that, in following the world, he was pasturing on
vanity, and that he was loving God but in an imperfect
manner. The Divine Light penetrated his soul at a pro
pitious moment. He deplored his tepidity, and made a
solemn promise to God to quit that mode of life, which he
had so inconsiderately engaged in, and over which he
lamented and wept. He always acknowledged, that this
retreat had been for him one of the greatest blessings he
had ever received from the Divine Majesty, and often said,
that, under God, he owed it to his friend Cape-Celatro, that
he had not been the slave of the world and a prey to his
own passions.

From the manner in which he sometimes spoke of this
period of his life, we might be led, at the first glance, to
imagine he had lost his innocence; but it was not so. The
Saints always speak in exaggerated terms of their faults ;
and besides, we have the testimony of many who directed his
conscience, that he had never committed a mortal sin. On
one occasion, speaking of himself, he said; " I have fre
quented the theatres ; but thanks be to God, I never com
mitted even a venial sin there, for I went to hear the music,
which absorbed all my attention, and hindered me from
thinking of any other thing." Even at this time, every one
regarded him as a young man of pure and irreproachable
•nanners ; and one of his intimate friends, on being asked.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

27

whether he had ever perceived any lightness in his conduct,
replied, bowing his head respectfully : " No, he was always
a most virtuous young man : I should blaspheme, if I said
otherwise." Among many other fruits which Alphonsus
gathered from this retreat, was an especial and tender
confidence in Jesus present in the Blessed Sacrament.
Besides approaching thenceforth the holy table several
times a week, he went every day to visit the Holy Sacra
ment in the Church where the forty hours' adoration was
made, and there he remained, not a few minutes, but for
hours, in contemplation, edifying every one around him.
He often purchased flowers to adorn the altar of his parish
church ; and preserved during his whole life this devotion
for ornamenting altars, procuring the rarest seeds, and cul
tivating them himself to embellish the altars of the churches
of his Congregation. This same practice he recommended
to the Rectors of the houses, for he loved to see the altars
ornamented with the finest flowers. The following year,
in March, 1723, his father being in Naples, they withdrew
together to the house of the same Missionaries to make an
other retreat. He received more graces, and was confirmed
in his resolution of observing celibacy, which he had made
during the last retreat, and of consecrating himself more
than ever to God: he determined to yield his birth-right to
his brother Hercules, although he had not yet decided
to abandon the law.

D. Joseph, ignorant of all this, projected another treaty
of marriage with the daughter of Dominic del Balso, Duke
of Presenzano, an amiable and noble lady, and, without
consulting his son, he made proposals to the Prince, who
at once agreed to them. This displeased Alphonsus; but
fearing to offend his father, who he knew would be very
indignant at his refusal, he frequented the house of Presen
zano, although very unwillingly ; and he often said after
wards, that in the midst of amusements there, he felt as
upon thorns, and thought only of the moment when his
martyrdom would end. When D. Joseph saw the indiffer
ence of his son, he did all in his power to overcome it;

fl LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

but Alphonsus excused himself by saying that weakness in
his chest, and tendency to asthma, warned him not to think
of marriage. His father attributed all these excuses to
bashfulness, and continued to take him often with him to
the house of the Duke ; and, not to displease his father,
Alphonsus accompanied him thither, but occupied himself
with anything but striving to please the lady, taking part
in the conversation with so much modesty and reserve, that
no one could suspect what was passing between the fami
lies. On every occasion he behaved with the greatest cir
cumspection. It happened one evening at the Duke's
house, that he was invited to play the harpsichord : he
willingly consented, when the young lady proposed to
accompany him in a song: she rose and stood near him,
turning her face towards him. Alphonsus immediately
turned his head to the other side, and she, thinking it acci
dental, moved round : no sooner had she done so, than he
again turned from her. The young Princess, perceiving the
truth, was offended, thinking his indifference proceeded
from contempt; and turning to the company, she said:
" It would seem the young gentleman has suddenly become
moon-struck;" and so saying, she withdrew. Alphonsus was
much mortified, but the others were edified by his admirable
.modesty. Yet D. Joseph did all he could to hasten the
marriage, while Alphonsus continued to excuse himself on
the plea of bad health. Seeing at length that his excuses
were unavailing, he opened his mind to his mother, beg-
i.ng her to persuade his father to cease his importunities.
D. Anna was vexed at her son's determination, and tried
to persuade him of the advantages he would derive from
his father's arrangements, and the displeasure his refusal
would cause him. But he expressed his resolution to
throw all possible difficulties in the way of his father's
negotiating any marriage for him. At last the young lady
herself, seeing his coldness, declared her unwillingness to
marry a young man who would hardly look at her.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 29

CHAPTER IV.

Alphonsus retiresfrom the Bar, and resolves to quit the world.

THINGS were in this state, when God, who had other
designs for Alphonsus, changed the aspect of affairs, and
demolished at one blow all the worldly hopes of D. Joseph
for his son. The tribunals of Naples were at this time
occupied with a feudal process of great importance be
tween the Grand Duke of Tuscany arid one of the most
powerful nobles of the realm : about six hundred thousand
ducats depended on the decision. Alphonsus undertook
the cause of the nobleman, and after an entire month
passed in the most careful study of the case, he believed
he had discovered facts so evident, and reasons so strong,
that they could not fail to gain a decision in favor of his
client. Notwithstanding he had carefully examined over
and over the details of the process, he was completely
mistaken regarding the sense of one document, which
constituted the right of the adverse party. The advocate
of the Grand Duke perceived the mistake, but he allowed
Alphonsus to continue his eloquent address to the end ;
as soon, however, as he had finished, he rose, and said
with cutting coolness : " Sir, the case is not exactly what
you suppose it to be: if you will examine this paper atten
tively, you will find there precisely the contrary of all you
have advanced." " Willingly," replied Alphonsus ; " the
decision depends on this question" — whether the fief were
granted under the law of Lombardy, or under the French
law. The paper being examined, it was found that the Grand
Duke's advocate was in the right. " Yes," said Alphonsus,
holding the paper in his hand, " I am wrong, I have been
mistaken." A discovery so unexpected, and the fear of
being accused of unfair dealing, filled him with consterna
tion, and covered him with confusion, so much so, tha?
every one saw his emotion. It was in vain that the Presi
dent Caravita, who loved him, and knew his integrity,
3*

30 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

tried to console him. Alphonsus would listen to nothing,
but, overwhelmed with confusion, his head sunk on his
breast, he said to himself: "World, I know thee now:
courts of law, never shall you see me again." He with
drew to his own house, incessantly repeating to himself:
''World, I know thee now;" and shut himself up in his
chamber. His father was absent, and his mother did not
notice his distress. When the dinner hour came, they
called him in vain; they knocked at his door; he said he
would eat nothing; they insisted, but he would not reply.
The hour of supper passed in the same manner. Next
day, when D. Joseph returned, his wife recounted to him
her vexation; he immediately went to his son's room, but
was refused admittance. It was not until the third day,
that, overcome by his mother's tears, he consented to open
his door. They pressed him to eat, and with difficulty
persuaded him to take a slice of melon, which, as he after-
terwards declared, seemed to him more bitter than gall.

When rest had calmed his spirit, he took leave of his
clients,* renounced his intimacies, and lived in the house
of his father the life of a hermit. Grace daily gained more
<empire over his soul, and his greatest pleasure was to spend
ibis days partly in the Church and partly in the Hospital of
%he Incurables, or if he did remain at home, it was to medi
tate on the lives of the Saints, to converse with God, and
to read books of devotion. These occupations daily gave
a new charm to his soul; but it was, above all, in the pre
sence of his Divine Saviour, in the churches where they
.made the forty hours' adoration, that he enjoyed a foretaste

*This accident, however, was not precisely the cause of his leaving
the bar; it was rather the occasion of his doing so at this time. For, on
several occasions, he had spoken to his friends in such a manner, that
it was evident he had already resolved to quit the profession on account
• )f its difficulties and dangers. He said one day to D. Joseph Cape-
•Gelatro: "My friend, our profession is too full of difficulties and dan
gers; we lead an unhappy life and run risk of dying an unhappy death.
For myself, I will quit this career, which does not suit me; for I wish
40 secure the salvation of rny soul."

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 31

of Paradise, and often he was so absorbed as to be uncon
scious of all around.

This behaviour of Alphonsus was for D. Joseph a subject
of the greatest affliction: he imagined his son was out of
his mind and had become good for nothing. "What pro
ject can he be meditating?" said he to his wife; and D.
Anna, sharing his uneasiness, could throw no light on the
subject. A few days after the events we have related, D.
Joseph brought to his son a process, which interested the
family, desiring him to examine it the next day. "Give it
to some other person," replied Aiphonsus; "the tribunal
is no longer a place for me; henceforward I will occupy
myself only with the salvation of my soul." This reply,
which D. Joseph hardly expected, fell on him like a thun
derbolt, and he burst into tears. His wife tried to console
him, and to persuade him, that after the crisis should be
past, their son would return to his former occupation; but
he would not believe it; "No," he said, "Alphonsus is too
obstinate, he will not change his resolution."

God, who wished to withdraw him entirely from the
world, and take complete possession of his heart, prepared
another trial for him. It was on the 28th day of August, a
day ever memorable in the annals of Alphonsus, that the
birth-day of the Empress Isabella, the wife of Charles VI,
was celebrated. There was a grand fete at the court, and
D. Joseph wished to assist at the ceremony of kissing hands,
and ordered his son to prepare to accompany him. He
coldly excused himself; but his father continuing to insist,
he replied shortly: "What Would you have me do there? —
all that is vanity." Irritated by this answer, D. Joseph
said in a transport of rage: "Do what you will, and go
where you will!" Alphonsus, seeing his refusal had pro
voked his father, felt some scruple, and replied: "Do not
be annoyed, my father, I am ready to go with you." D.
Joseph, however, was too angry to listen to him, and only
continued to repeat: "Go where you will, do what you
will!" and turning his back, he left the room, and stepping
into his carriage, drove straight to his country-house, over-

LITE OT ST. ALPttONSXJS.

whelmed with chagrin. Alphonsus, greatly distressed at
witnessing the vexation of his father, exclaimed: " My
God, if I resist, I do wrong, if I consent, I do worse ; I
know not how to act!" In great affliction, he left the
house, and went to the Hospital of the Incurables, in the
hope of finding some consolation. Almost overpowered
with his own sorrows, he was striving to assuage the mise
ries of others, of the poor and needy., when in a moment
a light shone around him, the building seemed to be over
thrown, and he heard a loud voice saying to him: "Forsake
the world, and give thyself entirely to Me." Awed and as
tonished by what had occurred, he nevertheless continued
assisting the sick ; but when he was about leaving the hos
pital, and had reached the staircase, the house again seemed
falling around him, and he heard the same voice, saying:
"Forsake the world, and give thyself entirely to Me." He
stood still, and then, like another St. Paul, gave himself up
to the divine call. Weeping, he exclaimed: "Lord, I have
too long resisted thy grace; here I am, do with me what
Thou pleasest." He quitted the hospital, and proceeded
to the church of the Redemption of Captives, dedicated to
the Blessed Virgin, a favorite resort of his, because of a
magnificent image of the Virgin which was there. He
cast himself at the foot of the altar, imploring the assistance
of his Divine Mother. Strengthened by her aid, he re
nounced the world, promised to give up his birth-right, and
offered himself a perfect sacrifice to his Saviour and his
Blessed Mother, solemnly engaging himself to enter into
the Congregation of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri; and
drawing his sword, he laid it on the altar of our Lady of
Mercy, as a pledge of his fidelity. He never ceased to call
this day the day of his conversion, nor ever afterwards vis
ited Naples, without going to this church to return thanks
to his divine benefactress. On the evening of this memo
rable day, Alphonsus went to his confessor, F. Pagano, and
confided to him what had happened, declaring his resolu
tion immediately to join the Fathers of the Oratory. "This
is not a thing to be decided hastily," said his director, "I

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 33

must think it over during a year, before I give you a reply."
"A year!" cried Alphonsus, "I will not wait another day."
Pleased with his fervor, F. Pagano said they both should
recommend the important affair to Jesus and Mary.

For three days after these remarkable events, he tasted no
food; he would do penance for not having sooner obeyed
the call of grace. In the mean time his soul was filled to
overflowing with the manna of heaven. His father, on re
turning from his country-house, having heard of his son's
refusal to eat, was extremely vexed; and again began to
importune him on those points on which their views were so
opposite. He urged him, with all a father's tenderness, to
resume his place at the bar, pointing out to him the loss his
refusal would occasion to himself and the whole family; but
when he saw he made no impression, he relapsed into an
ger. These scenes were repeated daily, and those only
who have experienced them, can fully cdmprehend how
they rend the heart; but Alphonsus continued firm: he
daily saw his director, who, with the other fathers, advised
him to proceed slowly, hoping for a favorable turn in his
father's sentiments. It happened one day, that D Joseph,
very much provoked at the thought of his son's splendid
talents being lost in inaction, and at what he considered
the inutility of his present mode of life, said to him in the
bitterness of his heart: "Would to God that I were re
moved from this world, or that you were withdrawn from
it; for I have no longer the courage to look at you!" The
expression of such feelings quickened the resolution of
Alphonsus. "Am I," said he to himself, "an object of
such horror to my father! Then God is my only friend;
from henceforth I must be satisfied with him alone!" He
then renewed his vows, offering himself without reserve as
a living sacrifice to the Lord. He had not yet declared his
intentions to his father, but summoning courage he said to
him soon after: "My father, I see how much you grieve on
my account, and yet, I must assure you I am no longer for
the world. Inspired by God, I have formed the resolution
of entering the Congregation of the Fathers of the Oratory;

34 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

I beseech you not to be offended, but to give me your ben
ediction.11 At these words, his father stood motionless with
consternation, and then bursting into groans and lamenta
tions, he withdrew to his chamber, plunged in profound
grief. The devil, finding himself vanquished by the resist
ance of Alphonsus to the storm, determined to undermine
his resolution by the more dangerous temptations of the
heart; and from this time his father employed the most
tender entreaties, the tears, and the mediation of friends.
He engaged on his side F. de Miro, who, supposing Al
phonsus was merely influenced by a melancholy humor,
urged on him the propriety of employing his talents for the
honor of his family, of considering the interest they pos
sessed with the Austrian Court, and the brilliant prospects
of his brother, which would be so entirely overcast, if he
persisted in his present plan: he finished by affirming it
was no divine inspiratio'n which guided him, but an illusion
of the devil. Alphonsus remained firm, and when de Miro
insisted, he replied: "Rev. Sir, be assured, I am convinced
God calls me out of the world- He wishes me to embrace
the ecclesiastical state: I ought, and I will, respond to the
call of God, and not to the wishes of my father." D. Jo
seph employed other friends to intercede with him, but his
constant reply was: "God has called me, I cannot resist
Him." Mgr. Cavalieri, his uncle, being then in Naples,
Alphonsus applied to him for protection and support.
When his parents endeavored to engage this learned pre
late on their side of the question, he replied: "Have not I
renounced the world and my right of primogeniture to se
cure my salvation? how, then, could I advise your son and
my nephew to do the contrary, without risking his salvation
and my own?"

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 35

'

CHAPTER V.

J^lphonsus enters the ecclesiastical State.

IN the midst of these trials, Alphonsus had many defend
ers of his cause; his uncle the bishop, another uncle,
the canon Peter Gizzio, and several ecclesiastics, who suc
ceeded at length in obtaining a reluctant consent from his
father, that he should enter the Congregation of the Oratory.
After this forced acquiescence, he could not avoid present
ing his son to the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Pigna-
telli. His Eminence was struck by the resolution of Al
phonsus: "What," said he, "it is your son who wishes to
become a priest?" "It has pleased God it should be so,"
replied his father, while the tears stood in his eyes; "it is
but too true that he has taken this resolution." Even after
this decisive step, he continued to throw difficulties in the
way. He would not supply him with money to furnish his
ecclesiastical dress: Alphonsus, however, found means to
get what was necessary, and suddenly appeared one day
clad in ecclesiastical costume. At this sight, D. Joseph
uttered a piercing cry, and threw himself on his bed, over
come with grief. For a whole year after this occurrence,
he never once spoke to his son. D. Anna recognised the
will of God, and cheerfully submitted to it, doing all in her
power to soften the feelings of her husband, and justify the
conduct her son had pursued. The world in general con
demned him: the lawyers and senators who were formerly
his friends, now accused him of egregious folly; the presi
dent de Maio, in particular, passed him as a person un
worthy of notice.

But if God generally tries by the loss of friends those
whom he calls, he as surely recompenses the sacrifices
made for him, a hundred fold. One of the first fruits of
Alphonsus' sacrifice, was the friendship of the Rev. Joseph
Porpora: this priest had often been edified by his devotion,
when he saw him prostrated for hours before the Blessed

36 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Sacrament, but without knowing him. At length he saw
him in the ecclesiastical dress, and soon discovered who he
was. He wished to make his acquaintance, but was re
strained by a feeling of human respect. One day, however,
seeing him conversing with an intimate friend, the Rev.
John Mazzini, he felt such an ardent desire to share his
friendship, that he could no longer restrain himself, and,
darting suddenly forward, exclaimed: "And I also, I wish
to belong to you." From that moment they seemed to
have but one heart and one soul, every day they met to
gether before the Blessed Sacrament, and mutually excited
each other to advance in the path of perfection.

After Cardinal Pigriatelli had given Alphonsus the eccle
siastical habit, he attached him to the parish of St. Angelo.
He immediately went to offer his services to the curate of
the church, and every day afterwards he might be seen
serving at mass, and on 'feast-days assisting at every cere
mony. His devotion and modesty at length turned the tide
of public opinion, and those who had proclaimed him a
fool, now spoke loudly in praise of his generosity in sacri
ficing such brilliant prospects for the love of God. But
that which excited the greatest admiration, was to see him
on Sundays perambulating the parish, singing hymns, and
carrying the crucifix, to assemble the children together,
and lead them to the church to be catechised: nothing con
trasted so strongly with the remembrance of the advocate,
who so lately had electrified the tribunals by his eloquence.
Above all, he was most indefatigable in instructing and
preparing them for their first communion.

But as virtue only is not sufficient for a preacher of the
Gospel, Alphonsus at the same time applied himself with
ardor to the studies befitting his new position : he frequented
the company of the most learned ecclesiastics, receiving
daily lessons from D. Julius Torni, one of the most emi
nent theological professors, who wras afterwards elevated to
the episcopacy. His musical and poetical talents he em
ployed in composing sacred hymns for the use of the peo
ple, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing them replacing

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 37

dangerous and loose songs. From the time he assumed
the clerical habit, his mode of life became stricter than
ever. Prayer and study occupied him alternately: he mor
tified his senses, refusing them every species of indulgence.
He fasted, used the discipline, wore hair shirts, and prac
tised all kinds of penitential exercises, in order to follow
more closely the steps of his Divine Master, and to keep
his body under subjection. Every Saturday he fasted on
bread and water, in honor of the Blessed Virgin ; his clothes
were as plain as possible: for some little time, to please his
father, he allowed himself to be followed by a footman, but
soon disembarrassed himself of this encumbrance. Thus
bidding adieu to the vanity of time, and enriching his soul
with treasures for eternity, he became the edification of the
whole city.

A year after Alphonsus had assumed the ecclesiastical
habit, he received the tonsure from the hands of Mgr. Mira-
bello, Archbishop of Nazareth, on the 23d of December,
1724. On the 23d of September following, he was pro
moted to minor orders, with a dispensation, and in Decem
ber succeeding, was made subdeacon by Mgr. Javitti, bishop
of Satriano. He then entered as novice in the Congrega
tion of the Missions. There he applied himself, with re
markable diligence, to the observance of all the rules and
practices of piety; he accompanied the missionaries in
the country, catechising the children. But he did not
confine his assistance to this Congregation; he frequented
the house of the Fathers of St. Vincent of Paul, and he
associated himself to a Congregation called that of the
White Monks, proving his zeal in endeavoring to procure
the aids of religion for condemned criminals. We give
here the rules, which guided him as a candidate for the
priesthood:

1. The cleric, in order to sanctify himself, ought to fre
quent the society of holy priests, to be edified by their good
example.

2. He ought to spend at least one hour daily in mental
prayer, in order to live in fervor and recollection.

4

38 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

3. He ought to visit frequently the Holy Sacrament, par
ticularly where it is solemnly exposed.

4. He ought to read the lives of holy priests, to furnish
him with rules for his conduct, and excite him to imitate
them.

5. He ought to honor the most holy Virgin Mary, the
mother and queen of the Church, and consecrate himself
particularly to her service.

6. He ought to take the greatest care of his reputation
in all things, sustaining the honor of the ecclesiastical state.

7. He ought to fly worldly conversation, to avoid famil
iarity with laymen, and particularly with females.

8. He ought to be obedient to his superiors, fulfilling
their commands, because it is the will of God.

9. He ought to wear the cassock and the tonsure, to be
modest without affectation, fastidiousness, or severity.

10. He ought to be quiet and gentle in the house, exem
plary in the class, and edifying in the church, particularly
during divine service.

11. He ought to confess every eight days, and commu
nicate still oftener.

12. In short, he ought to have negative sanctity, that is
to say, to live free from sin, and he ought to have positive
sanctity, namely, to practice every virtue.

CHAPTER VI.

Jllphonsus is ordained Deacon and Priest. His first Labors,
Zeal, and Success in the pulpit and the confessional.

T71DIFIED by Alphonsus' holiness of life, the Cardinal
J_J Archbishop, by dispensation, gave him deacon's orders
on the 6th of April, 1726; and, satisfied with his zeal and
talents, gave him permission to preach in all the churches
of Naples. It was in the church of St. John at the Latin
Gate he preached his first sermon, from these words of

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 39

Isaias: "0 that Thou wouldst bend the heavens, and come
down .... the waters would burn with fire," (ch. Ixiv, 1-2:)
and the fire of his eloquence was directed to show the amaz
ing love of Jesus Christ towards us, and our monstrous in
gratitude towards God. Such was the effect of this sermon,
that invitations to preach poured in upon him from all quar
ters: his usual subject was the dogma of the Eucharist, and
it rarely happened, that he did not preach in the church
where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed. The Fathers
of the Mission sent him also into different parts of the
kingdom, where he attacked vice with such eloquence, that
he did much to promote the glory of God in the salvation
of souls. 9

Overcome by constant exertion, his body sank under it,
and he became so ill, that the physicians lost hope, and
one night they sent in haste for a priest to administer the
last sacraments. In this extremity he placed all his confi
dence in the Blessed Virgin, and eagerly asked them to
bring the large statue of our Lady of Mercy, from the
church in which, at the foot of this statue, he had renounced
the world and consecrated himself to God. They brought
the miraculous statue without delay, and placed it before
his bed: his prayers were heard, he immediately felt better,
and was pronounced out of danger.

On the 21st of December in the same year, he was ele
vated, again by dispensation, to the priesthood, and if he
before burned with zeal to promote the glory of God, from
henceforth this fire seemed to consume him; descend
ing from the akar, he might be seen rushing like a lion
on his prey, to attack the strongholds of Satan. The
Cardinal, struck by the prodigies of grace which he ope
rated, appointed him to give spiritual exercises to Jthe
clergy of Naples, and his Eminence had good reason to
congratulate himself on his choice, because of the num
bers who attended, and the benediction poured out on his
labors.

Every where he wa* now sought after, curates desired
him to preach in their churches, Congregations besought

40 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

him to give spiritual exercises, and many monasteries de
sired with avidity to participate in the fruits of his powerful
eloquence. Animated only by the Spirit of God, he preached
Christ crucified, and far from studying fine phrases and elo
quent expressions, he avoided with the utmost care the vain
ostentation of a superfluous erudition. To a style simple
and popular, he knew how to add all that was solid and
energetic. What rendered his eloquence most persuasive
was his modesty, his recollection, his profound humility, and
his contempt for the world. Nicolas Capasso, a man cel
ebrated for his learning and talent for satire, used to attend
these sermons; on one occasion Alphonsus met him, and
said, laughing: "I see you always at my sarmons, you are
probably about to publish some satire against me." "No,"
replied the other, "when I go to hear you preach, I listen
with pleasure, because I see that you forget yourself in or
der to preach Christ crucified."

His time was fully occupied, either in the city of Naples,
or the adjoining districts, where he was frequently sent on
mission with the Fathers of the Congregation, and he was
never known to excuse himself for want of time, or negli
gently to fulfil any duty to which he was appointed. The
Congregation enjoyed a benefice attached to a chapel, for
which the testator had made it a rule, that it should be
served by a single individual, and that the person appointed
should be the most indefatigable of the Institute; and al
though Alphonsus was the last who had been admitted, he
was chosen by universal consent to undertake the charge.
It was about this time that his father happened to pass be
fore a church, and hearing the voice of his son preaching,
he felt an irresistible feeling of curiosity to enter and
listen; before long he was moved to tears, and touched
to the heart at the recollection of his violent and harsh
conduct towards him; full of such thoughts he returned
home, and scarcely had Alphonsus entered the house, when
he ran to his room, and embracing him tenderly, said: "O
my son, what do I not owe you; it is you who have to-day
taught me to know God! I bless you — I bless you a thou-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 41

sand times for having embraced a state so holy and so
agreeable to God."

Notwithstanding his incessant labor to promote the sal
vation of others, he did not neglect his own: every day he
consecrated some hours to meditation, without including
the time spent in reading the lives of the saints, which he
used to call "the Gospel in practice." Every morning he
said mass with so much devotion, that it occupied a con
siderable time, besides long preparation, and returning
thanks afterwards. Not a day passed without his visiting
Jesus Christ in the church where the forty hours' adoration
was made, and there he might be seen, sometimes for hours,
contemplating his divine Redeemer: never forgetting the
"quiescite pusillum," the repose which Jesus Christ recom
mended to his apostles, he from time to time suspended his
apostolical labors to "enter into his chamber, shut the door,
and commune with his God."

He had, as we have already seen, contracted an intimacy
with several priests, whose views and feelings were in ac
cordance with his own. In order to tighten the bonds of
charity more and more, one of them, D. de Alteriis, gave
a country house, where there was an oratory, in which was
placed a beautiful statue of the Virgin. Once a month
they retired thither, to spend three or four days in peniten
tial exercises. Their repasts were simple, and a little statue
of the Infant Jesus was placed as if presiding at the table,
to whom each one made an offering of part of the food
which was served him. Their recreation was singing
hymns, before they again resumed their holy meditations.
They afterwards occupied a house still more retired and
solitary, where they employed themselves, with unceasing
satisfaction, in the care of their souls, and renewed the
fervor of their spirit.

Alphonsus had been one year a priest, when he received
from Cardinal Pignatelli faculties for hearing confessions.
No sooner was he seated in the confessional, than he saw
himself surrounded by persons of every rank and condition;
he received all with unexampled charity; he was the first
4*

42 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

to take his place in the confessional, and the last to leave
it. It was his invariable opinion, that the office of confessor
is more profitable to souls, and less apt to produce vain
glory in the priest, than any other priestly function. For
by confession, sinners are immediately reconciled to God,
and the grace of Jesus Christ is applied to them supera
bundantly. Severe towards himself only, he treated the
greatest sinners with inexpressible meekness, and, without
excusing the sin, was full of compassion for the sinner,
when, sincerely repenting, he wished to make his peace
with God ; and the more a soul was sunk in vice, the more
compassionate was his manner, in order to draw it from the
fangs of Satan, and lead it into the arms of Jesus Christ.
In his old age he said, that he did not remember ever
having sent away a single sinner without having suc
ceeded in reconciling him to God, much less of ever hav
ing treated one with harshness and rigor. He received
all sinners with kindness, instilling into them a great confi
dence in the blood of Christ shed for them, and pointing
out to them the way of withdrawing from their sins. "If
the sinner is repulsed," he used to say, "he will never re
solve to abandon his sin." "Let us give to penitents,"
said he, "the penance they will perform willingly; but let
us beware of loading them with obligations they would ac
cept with repugnance, and afterwards abandon easily. The
penance ought to be such as to inspire horror for the sin,
but not for the penance." Thus he frequently enjoined
the penance of returning to confess, of frequenting the
sacraments, of hearing mass daily, of meditating on the pas
sion of Christ, or on some eternal truth. For this purpose
he composed a small collection of meditations, and gave
them often to his penitents. He also imposed, as penances
of obligation, to visit daily the Blessed Sacrament, or some
image of the Virgin Mary, to recite the Rosary in her honor,
and he persuaded the heads of houses to recite it regularly
with their family. As to fasting, disciplines, and penances
of this kind, he might counsel them occasionally, but never
commanded them. "If the penitent be contrite," he said,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 43

"he will do these things of himself, otherwise he will neg
lect the penance, and relapse into sin, if it be made obliga
tory." Thus he daily gained a multitude of sinners, who
had long lived in disorder and vice.

He often went to preach in the market-places and at the
Lavinaro, where the dregs of the people of Naples are to
be found. He delighted in seeing himself surrounded by
the lowest, the lazaroni, and such like; he enlightened
them, instructed them, and disposed them to receive grace
through the sacraments. Many of those who had been
great sinners, conceived under his direction such a lively
horror of sin, that they became instant in prayer, and burned
with an ardent love for Jesus Christ. Among the almost
innumerable conversions of which he was the instrument,
two, in particular, deserve to be mentioned.

The first is that of Peter Barbarese. He was a poor
school-master, who taught reading and writing, but his
heart being full of evil thoughts, instead of enlightening
his scholars, he corrupted their will. He attended a sermon
of Alphonsus, which moved him to contrition; entering
into himself, and full of repentance, he threw himself at
his feet, forsook sin, and embraced a life of penitence.
Regenerated by grace, all his endeavors were now directed
to inspire his pupils with the greatest horror of sin. He
assembled them every morning at an early hour, and con
ducted them to church to hear mass, after which he made
them meditate on some eternal truth, suggested to them holy
resolutions, and finished by reciting the acts of faith, hope
and charity. Again in the evening he took them to visit
the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. He wished
also that they should go weekly to confession, and prepared
the elder ones for making their first communion. He was
careful in instructing them to make acts of faith previously,
and thanksgiving afterward, and began a practice still in
use in Naples, of the more advanced instructing, and
attending to, the others on such occasions.

The other was that of Lucas Nardone : this man had led
an irregular life as a soldier, had often deserted, and at

44 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS,

length was about to be condemned to die, when some one
obtained his pardon. He was, however, chased from the
army with infamy, and lived covered with shame, and loaded
with sin. He one day heard Alphonsus preach, and touched
by grace, sought an audience. He was received with open
arms, encouraged, consoled, and led to the right path, and
soon became, as it were, a furnace of divine love, gaining
many souls to Christ by dragging them from the toils of
Satan.

The following is an instance of the unction Alphonsus'
simplest words had, powerfully to move sinners to repent
ance. A gentleman had detailed to him in confession the
greatest crimes with the utmost indifference. When he
had finished, Alphonsus asked him if he had nothing more
to say. " Nothing, that is all," he coldly replied. "What,"
answered Alphonsus, "that is all! now do you not see
that the only thing wanting to complete your career, is to
put on the turban and become a Turk? what more could
you have done than the crimes which you have just con
fessed? Tell me now, my child, what evil has Jesus Christ
done to you?" These words, pronounced with the force
of ardent zeal, went directly to the heart. " Have I, then,"
said he to himself, "committed such sins, that I cannot
commit greater?" and penetrated with the deepest contri
tion, he bewailed his past disorders, placed himself in the
hands of Alphonsus, and led ever afterwards a most exem
plary and devout life.

The means Alphonsus employed to lead his penitents to
perfection, may be reduced to two, meditation or prayer,
and mortification. He affirmed there could be no true
prayer without mortification, and to practice mortifica
tion, the spirit of prayer was indispensable. He pre
scribed prayer, saying, "He who prays will certainly be
saved, and he who neglects prayer will as certainly be
damned." But above all remedies, he prescribed frequent
communion, and daily visits to the Blessed Sacrament, par
ticularly in the church where it was exposed for the forty
hours' adoration. He exacted besides, a filial confidence

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 45

in the Divine Mother Mary, he wished that all should daily
recite the Rosary in her honor, visit some church where her
image was placed, and have a picture of her at the head of
their bed. He required of all his penitents to communi
cate at each of her feasts, and was careful to propose some
devotional practice for each of her Novenas. He recom
mended to others to fast, as he practised it himself, every
Saturday in her honor, and on the eves of all her feasts.

Although he preferred to devote himself to the service
of the poor, and of the lower class of the people, he did not
refuse to direct those of higher rank, considering the great
influence they possess over others, for evil or for good.
Around his confessional might be seen persons of all con
ditions, and the highest did not disdain, to await their turn
with the lowest, submitting willingly to any inconvenience,
rather than not have him for their director.

CHAPTER VII.

Jilphonsus establishes public Meetings for the advancement of
his penitents, and the instruction of poor people in general.

/CROWDS coming thus from every quarter to obtain the
\J benefit of his direction, and as he had no time to give
many fervent souls the instructions he judged necessary, to
advance them in the way of perfection, he thought of as
sembling them for instruction, in some solitary place, during
the summer evenings, and first chose a spot near the con
vent of the bare-footed Carmelites, afterwards, beyond the
convent of St. Angelo, and, at last, fixed on a site before
the church of the Star, which belongs to the Minims. The
assembly consisted not of the noble, but of the poor, who
came, after their day's work, from different quarters of the
city, some a considerable distance. Other priests also took
part in the good work. In this assembly, composed of
persons low in the eyes of the world, but great in the sight

46 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

of God, Alphonsus daily preached the truths of religion,
showing them the horrible nature of vice, and the sublime
beauty of Christian virtue. The other priests spoke alter
nately to the people, pointing out to them the different de
grees of the love of God and our neighbor, showing them
the necessity of mortifying the flesh and of self-denial, if
they would advance in perfection, and the misery produced
by unrepressed passion. At other times they would talk of
imitating Christ crucified, and propose for their example
the life of some Saint, thus exciting them to virtue. There
were some individuals, residing in the neighborhood, to
whom these meetings seemed not a little strange, and be
cause they were new, they took it for granted they must be
evil. In the hope of confirming their suspicions, they con
cealed themselves behind their windows, to hear what was
going on. Now, some of these poor people were so anx
ious to do penance, that they fasted rigorously, and one
evening a poor artisan was pointed out to Alphonsus, who
ate nothing but raw vegetables and roots, though obliged
to work hard to support his family. He began to reprove
him for this excess, when D. Joseph Porpora took up the
word and said: " God wills that we should eat in order to
live;" and added, laughing, "if any one gives you four cut
lets, you will do well to take advantage of it." The mul
titude were much amused at this, and began to laugh, each
one passing the joke to his neighbor. The listeners, hear
ing the words "cutlets, eating," thought the people were
an assemblage of libertines; and, going still further, came
to the conclusion that they must be a club of Molinists,
and a band of heretics. They reported the matter to Car
dinal Pignatelli. As the accusation referred to nocturnal
assemblies, and the circumstances seemed equivocal, his
Eminence supposed they must be evil-disposed persons,
and he was confirmed in this opinion, in consequence of
several small bands of Lutheran soldiers having formed
themselves in different parts of the town, some of whom
had already been seized. Information was conveyed to
the Governor, who ordered a captain of the guard to dis-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 47

guise himself, and go to one of the meetings. They were
then in the middle of the Novena of the Nativity of our
Lady, and Alphonsus, in proposing some pious practices
in honor of the infant Mary, made use of certain expres
sions, which seemed mysterious and suspicious to the cap
tain. In consequence of his report, the Governor and the
Cardinal were persuaded it could be nothing good, and
ordered both priests and laymen to be arrested. Next
morning, Alphonsus, happening to be at the palace of the
Cardinal, heard of the affair and the proposed arrest, and
not doubting it was his own meeting, he hastened to warn
his penitents not to assemble at the usual place. It was
impossible, however, to warn every one, and those who
lived at a distance, came as usual, among whom were the
two formerly mentioned, Peter Barbarese and Lucas Nar-
done. The poor people had scarcely arrived, when they
were surrounded by archers and sergeants, and carried off
to the guard-house; from whence the two prisoners, es
corted each by an archer and a sergeant, were conducted
before the Procurator of the court* The good penitents
took the matter calmly: "Comrade," said Nardone to the
other, "this piece of politeness is perhaps not much to
your taste." "On the contrary," replied Barbarese, "I am
well satisfied ; Jesus Christ was bound with ropes, and we
are treated much more civilly, only a simple cord at the
arm." The Procurator having ordered them to declare
what they did at the place of the Star, they replied, that
they were poor ignorant people, who came to receive in
struction from D. Alphonsus de Liguori and other priests.
When the Procurator heard the name of Liguori, he ex
claimed: "God forgive you; you have alarmed the two
courts, the ecclesiastical and the civil!" They were then
conducted to the house of the Governor, where the mention
of the name of Liguori was at once sufficient to establish
their innocence. While the Governor questioned them
about the pious practices which they were taught, they
heard the sound of bells announcing that the holy Viaticum
was being carried through the street; at once the two pri-

48 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

,soners turned their backs on the Governor, and ran to pros
trate themselves at the balcony, crying out: "It is our Lord,
it is our Lord !" The Governor asked no more questions,
but dismissed them with tears of tenderness and consolation.

Alphonsus, when he heard what had happened, went
next day to the Cardinal, acknowledging himself as the
author of the mischief, and alone deserving of punishment.
His Eminence soon quieted him by expressing his satisfac
tion at the good he had done, but notwithstanding advised
him to discontinue these meetings. " The times," he said,
"are too critical : we must be careful that wolves may not
cover themselves with sheep's clothing, to do mischief un
der the shadow of your name."

Alphonsus did great good in Naples by these confer
ences, and many of those who had attended them, ever
after led the lives of saints. Some entered into religion,
while others remained in the world, to embalm it by the
odor of their virtue. The two most remarkable were An
thony Pennine, who sold eggs through the town, and found
means, while pursuing his avocation, to draw many souls
from perdition. After his death he appeared to several
persons and converted them. The other, Leonard Cristano,
went through the streets with his ass, and sold chesnuts ;
both of them performed miracles during their life and after
their death.

The triumph of the devil seemed complete when these
meetings were put down, but here, as elsewhere, he found
himself defeated. Convinced by experience how useful
they had been, Alphonsus suggested to Peter Barbarese and
a few others, that they should give instruction to the laza-
roni and other people of the same class, in suitable places
removed from public observation. Peter, thus encouraged,
began to instruct the little porters or errand boys, in the
shop of a barber. A priest who saw the good he was do
ing, advised him to meet his little flock in a neighboring
chapel; he did so, and every evening about sixty young
people attended, without counting those of a more ad
vanced age. Lucas Nardone, and several others, pursued

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 49

the same course, so that in different quarters of the town,
the penitents of Alphonsus were busy in drawing souls
from destruction, and winning them to Jesus Christ. He,
on his part, was careful to visit and superintend these
meetings, animating them to pursue the great work of their
salvation, and leading them to the love of the cross.

One evening, Canon Romano was taking a walk in the
neighborhood where Peter Barbarese taught the most nu
merous of these assemblages, when a friend met him, and
said: "Come with me, I wish to give you an agreeable
surprise;" and led him to where Peter was instructing his
hearers. Delighted with what he had seen, Romano could
not resist detailing the whole to Cardinal Pignatelli, who was
so pleased at the good that was done, that he suggested to
the Canon, that he should instruct the people himself. Peter
willingly resigned his place, and immediately commenced
assembling in another house more lazaroni and porters.
The meetings began to multiply, and at length, in almost
every quarter of Naples, the fervent penitents of Alphonsus
might be found, instructing and catechising the ignorant.
In after times, he never came to Naples without visiting
these favorite meetiilgs, exhorting them to perseverance in
the service of God, and in gaining conquests to Christ.
Thus Alphonsus was consoled by the thought, that the over
throw of one good undertaking had been the very means
of producing another much more extensive, and still more
agreeable to God. The work continued to increase, and
before long, these meetings, protected by the Cardinal him
self, ceased to be held in shops and private houses, and
were transferred to public oratories and churches. In 1834,
they amounted to a hundred, numbering each about three
hundred persons, and the good they produced among the
working classes was incalculable. The most zealous priests
are attached to them, and the Archbishops of Naples find
them invaluable. Barbarese lived to an advanced age, and
so did Nardone, both persevering to the end in their pious
labor. After the death of Barbarese, his body retained
such an appearance of life, that for some time they hesi-
5 t

'50 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

tated to bury him. He left behind him a great reputation
for sanctity, as did also his fellow-laborer, Nardone. Al-
phonsus occupied himself also in establishing schools for
women ; a well educated lady was placed at the head of
them, to direct the others, and he himself visited them from
but this good work did not last long.

CHAPTER VIII.

Alphonsus retires into the Chinese College, and gives mis
sions in the country.

IT was against his will that Alphonsus continued to live
in the house of his father; he longed for a solitary cell,
where, retired from the world, he could enjoy that calm and
delicious peace, to be found only in solitude. God soon
furnished him with an occasion. A celebrated missionary,
D. Matthew Ripa, had lately returned from China; he had
brought with him a Chinese Doctor, and four young men
full of zeal, with the intention of founding at Naples a
college for the Chinese. God blessed the enterprise, and
on the 14th of April, 1729, they opened the house of the
Chinese Mission, with the consent and authority of Pope
Benedict XIII. Alphonsus, considering the excellence of
this institution, the rare merits of its founder, and the great
fervor which reigned there, with the poverty and privation
which they endured for love of God, formed the resolution
of joining F. Ripa, and sharing, as a pensioner of the house,
in the fervor which animated this new society. He entered
the college about the middle of June, 1729. A resolution
so unforeseen vexed his father extremely, who deeply re
gretted the loss of the society of one whom he now con
sidered less as a son, than as an angel sent him by God.
Painful as the separation was, he had not, however, the
courage to oppose so laudable a design.

No sooner did Alphonsus find himself in the college,
delivered from the surveillance of his parents, than he gave

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 51

himself up to the practice of mortification with more free
dom and ardor than ever. He was clothed in sackcloth,
and wore chains of iron ; several times a day, he took the
discipline until the blood flowed. The wretched food which
he ate was not sufficient for his love of mortification, but
he added to it bitter ingredients, such as myrrh, aloes, and
wormwood. He ate but little, or not at all, of the fruits of
which the others partook, and fasted every Saturday on
bread and water, and generally ate in a kneeling position,
or sitting on the floor. In his chamber he would not allow
himself a chair, but stood while he studied, holding his
book in his hand, and keeping little stones in his shoes.
Mgr. Coppola, Bishop of Cassano, said, that his penances
surpassed even those of St. Peter of Alcantara. Besides,
he never exempted himself from the privations imposed
upon all the members of the community, and indeed the
new-born Congregation wanted not for opportunities to
practise poverty. Although their rule limited them to the
use of vegetables and a little boiled meat, they frequently
had no meat at all, and often the scraps which appeared on
their table were stale; and when these failed, they had ordi
narily but a salad of mushrooms. Sometimes they could
only afford to buy bones, from which they strove to extract
a miserable soup. During Lent they scarcely ever had fish,
a pilchard with their vegetables was a feast to them, and
when they did buy fish, it was always the cheapest that
could be found. They sowed beets in a little plot of
ground attached to the house, and for months they lived on
these roots, varied occasionally with a few pears. Their
evening repast usually consisted of the remnants of dinner,
boiled with a few coarse biscuits; their bread in general
was of the coarsest kind. And so far from ever showing
the slightest repugnance to all this, Alphonsus on the con
trary rejoiced in it, and encouraged the others to suffer
with pleasure, that they might become more holy and
agreeable to God.

In the meanwhile he continued to draw new strength
from prayer, and the examples of the saints. Besides the

52 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

meditation of the community, he daily spent an hour and
a half, at least, before the Blessed Sacrament in the church
where the forty hours' adoration was held. He spent whole
nights in watching, sometimes in his room, sometimes in
the church, before the Blessed Sacrament. And the little
rest he granted to nature was given grudgingly, and not
without many contrivances to render it as little agreeable
as possible ; he often lay on the bare ground, or on a hard
board. It might naturally be supposed, that amidst these
bodily austerities undertaken and endured from pure love
of God, his mind would be enjoying that foretaste of hea
ven which nothing worldly can give; but it was not thus
with our Saint; God permitted him to feel the nature of
our Saviour's anguish, when he exclaimed, "My God! my
God! why hast thou forsaken me?" His heart enjoyed no
consolation. He was deprived of all those favors which
render every trial light and easy. He believed he had lost
all devotion for mass, his prayer was arid; he sought God,
and found him not. "I go to Jesus," he said, "and He
repulses me. I have recourse to the Blessed Virgin, and
she listens not to me." All he did at this time was done
by the mere light of faith, which made him resolute in
seeking to please God in all things, without being impelled
either by the hope of heaven or the fear of hell. During
the time he remained in this college, he continued to give
the greatest proofs of his zeal. Crowds came to the
church to confess to him; every Friday he discoursed on
the glories of Mary, and recited with the people the chap-
let of her sorrows. He celebrated several Novenas in the
course of the year, during which he preached in honor of
the Blessed Virgin, or the holy family, the titular patrons of
the college. Every year he gave retreats, to the great bene
fit of the crowds who thronged the church during those
holy exercises. He scarcely took time to eat; and often
before his meal was over, numbers were waiting for being
heard in confession. In the evenings, after the exercises
of the forty hours' adoration, he used to enter the church
with a train of penitents, whose confessions he heard until

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 53

late. F. Ripa, in his memoirs of the Congregation, writes
thus of Alphonsus: "We have for pensioner the noble D.
Alphonsus de Liguori, a priest eminent not for his birth
only, but for his excellent conduct and general qualifica
tions as a missionary. Although not aggregated to the
mission, he has nevertheless the desire, and holds himself
ready, to go to China, as he has more than once declared
to his director. Assured of his zeal and his talents, I gave
him the entire care of the church, and in all that regards
the pulpit and the confessional, he has acquitted himself to
the great advantage of souls."

It would be impossible to enumerate the number of ob
stinate sinners, old in crime, whom he reclaimed, kindling
within their obdurate hearts a tender love towards their
Saviour. He possessed a peculiar gift, in the confessional,
of inspiring his penitents with compunction, and scarcely
had they knelt at his feet, when they felt their hearts touched
with sorrow, for their sins. He converted a celebrated
courtesan, who was afterwards eminent for her sanctity,
and many who had lived ordinary good lives, became, under
his direction, models of perfection. He also induced a
number who were occupied in worldly pursuits, to renounce
the world and consecrate themselves to God. The first
sermon he preached, when once giving a retreat, inspired
fifteen young persons with the resolution of giving them
selves to the service of God.

We will rejate more fully one instance only of a very
remarkable conversion of this kind. A young lady, named
Mary, was a source of great anxiety to her pious mother,
as her heart and mind were filled with the world, to the
exclusion of every thing serious. She besought Alphonsus
to pray for the conversion of her daughter; he did so, and
the young girl seemed to be reformed; but before long she
became more giddy and thoughtless than ever. Again the
poor mother had recourse to Alphonsus, who, at her earn
est entreaty, spoke seriously to the girl, strongly represent
ing to her the danger of her position; and she, touched to
the quick, retired to a corner of the church, and began bit-
5*

54 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

•

terly to bewail her sins. Alphonsus, seeing this, before he
quitted the confessional, called her back: "Mary," said
he, "will you sincerely give yourself to God?" "Yes,"
she instantly replied. "But without reserve, and with your
whole heart?" he continued. "Without the slightest re
serve, with my whole heart," said the girl with much en
ergy. "Then," said he, "go instantly, cut off your hair,
and become a Carmelite." She obeyed, took the religious
habit, persevered, and, after her death, was invoked by
many, and worked several miracles.

At this period of his life, his labors were so incessant and
multifarious, that we can scarcely conceive the possibility
of one individual accomplishing the half he performed.
Preaching in various churches in Naples, giving retreats,
hearing confessions, and going on missions to the neigh
boring towns, — he yet found time for all, without encroach
ing either on his studies or devotions. In the year 1729, a
frightful epidemic ravaged the city of Naples; he profited
by this occasion to sacrifice himself more and more; and
amongst the brothers of the Congregation of Apostolical
Missions, he was ever the first in anointing the sick. Be
sides, he opened a mission in the large church of the Holy
Spirit, and took advantage of the time, to withdraw souls
from the power of Satan. In consequence of his great
fatigues, he was seized the following year with a pulmonary
complaint, which brought him to the gates of death, but
again his beloved Mother performed a miracle in his favor.
About this period, his life was also exposed to a danger of
a different kind. He was sitting with the other fathers
during recreation, when a tremendous thunder-storm came
-on, and a bolt fell in the midst of them. F. Ripa was
^wounded in the throat, while Alphonsus and others fell
down senseless; they soon recovered, however, to thank
•God for their escape, and devote themselves with renewed
.zeal to his service. They were saved by an evident inter
position of Providence.

In the spring of the year 1731, the Puglia and the neigh
boring provinces suffered exceedingly from an earthquake

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 55

The bishops, that the opportunity might not be lost for call
ing the people to repentance, invited the brothers of the
Propaganda. On this occasion, Alphonsus, as usual, pro
duced a miraculous effect, and many were reclaimed and
converted. The town of Foggia had been almost reduced
to a mass of ruins; but the God who smote them, would
also comfort them, by giving them a miraculous proof of his
love. They venerated in this town a very old and miracu
lous picture of the Virgin, the colors of which being almost
obliterated by age, it was glazed, and covered with a curtain.
The people, terrified by new repeated shocks of the earth
quake, came in crowds to place themselves under the pro
tection of the mother of mercy. On the morning of the
22d of March, while the multitude were kneeling before
this picture, the Blessed Virgin showed herself to them
under the appearance of a young woman, and this miracu
lous manifestation was repeated for several days, and seen
by crowds, who came to venerate the picture. This appa
rition made a great noise throughout the kingdom, and
when their mission was finished, Alphonsus and his com
panions went to visit the miraculous picture. The bishop,
Mgr. Faccola, insisted he should give a Novena in honor
of the Blessed Virgin ; at first he refused, having no per
mission from his superiors to prolong his stay, but at length
he yielded to the circumstances of the time and the urgent
entreaties from all sides. The concourse of people was
such that the greater part could not enter the church; they
therefore erected a pulpit at the door, at the side of which
was exposed the miraculous picture. The effects were ex
traordinary, and beyond description ; great as was the num
ber of priests, they were not sufficient to hear the confes
sions of crowds, who, touched to the quick by the dis
courses of Alphonsus, turned from their wickedness and
wished to be reconciled with God.

There happened to him, during this Novena, a very re
markable event. His delight was to remain near the
miraculous image, from which he could hardly turn himself
away. One day, when the people had withdrawn, and the

56 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

image, was replaced in the church, he got up on the altar
to examine it more nearly; but scarcely had he placed him
self in front of it, when he fell into an ecstasy, which lasted
nearly an hour. The Virgin would fully satisfy his devo
tion, crowning his happiness by showing to him her face
radiant with celestial beauty. When the vision disappeared,
he descended from the altar, inebriated with joy, intoning
the "Ave Maris Stella," in which he was joined by about
thirty persons who had witnessed the occurrence. He
afterwards attested having seen the Virgin Mother under
the appearance of a young girl of thirteen or fourteen years
of age, wearing a white veil, and moving from side to side.
The next morning, he described his vision to a painter, and
the picture drawn at the time is still preserved at Ciorani.
On returning to Naples in the middle of the month of May,
the Canon D. Julius Torni, whether he really blamed him
for giving a Novena at Foggia, or whether he would only
try his humility, reprimanded him strongly in presence
of all the Congregation. Alphonsus did not attempt to
excuse himself, he did not speak; but, on the contrary, re
joiced to see himself mortified before such a respectable
assembly.

CHAPTER IX.

Alphonsus is called to found a Congregation of Missionary
Priests.

4 LPHONSUS being exhausted and worn out by his la-
JTl. bors in the provinces, his friends began to have serious
apprehensions for his health, and accordingly it was deter
mined he should retire to the country, until he should re
cover his strength. The place fixed upon, was a hermitage
in the neighborhood of Amalfi, situated on a hill near the
sea. He was accompanied by Joseph Jorio, John Mazzini,
Pansa, and two others. When they had arrived at Amalfi
-and went to pay their respects to the Archbishop, they met

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 57

the Vicar-General, who strongly urged them to change
their plan, and go to a hermitage near Scala, where they
would be at the same time useful to the poor goatherds of
the neighborhood, who were destitute of spiritual aid. The
proposal was willingly agreed to, and they established
themselves at St. Mary of the Mount — this was the name of
the hermitage. They had obtained permission to keep the
Blessed Sacrament in the hermitage, and while Alphonsus
was recovering strength of body, he gained new strength
to his soul in the presence of his beloved Saviour.

They began to catechise the poor shepherds and goat
herds, with the other inhabitants of the country around,
and heard their confessions; and this sojourn in the coun
try became an uninterrupted mission, which produced abun
dant fruits. It was now that Alphonsus became acquainted
with the extreme destitution of the people Altered over
the country, who often lived without the knowledge neces
sary for salvation; many, being without the sacraments and
the word of life, had to be instructed in the first rudiments
of faith, before they could make their confession. He was
soon invited by the inhabitants of Scala, and the bishop, to
preach in that town. He accepted the invitation, and
preached one sermon, which produced all the effect of a
regular mission. It was on the Sunday following the Oc
tave of the Blessed Sacrament; he urged upon them such
strong motives for loving Jesus in His Sacrament, and for
detesting sin, that the whole congregation were dissolved
in tears, and their sobs and groans resounded in the neigh
borhood. The superior of the nuns of St. Saviour besought
him also to preach in their church, which he did with his
usual success, and the bishop was so delighted, that he
engaged him for a Novena, to be celebrated in the Cathe
dral for the feast of the Holy Redeemer, in the month of
September.

He continued to labor among the good shepherds of St.
Mary of the Mount, until September, when he returned to
Scala, accompanied by John Mazzini. During the Novena
he gave a retreat to the nuns of St. Saviour. This was

58 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

the moment God had chosen, to make known his will to
him. There was in the Convent a nun of great sanctity,
possessed of supernatural gifts. Alphonsus had often be
sought God, even with tears, to choose some one to labor
with efficacy among the abandoned people of the country:
the nun knew nothing of what was passing in his mind ;
but on the 13th of October, she saw in a vision a new Con
gregation of priests, who were employed in the care of
thousands living in villages and scattered hamlets, destitute
of spiritual aid; she saw Alphonsus at the head of this
Congregation, and heard a voice which said: "This is the
man I have chosen to be the instrument of my glory in this
great work." A few days after, she told him, in the con
fessional, of the vision she had had, and of the designs God
had upon him. Fearing it was but a vain illusion, not-
withstandin^the remarkable conformity between her vision
and his own thoughts, Alphonsus reproved the nun, and
treated her as a visionary. She humbled herself before
him, but persisted, and the more he repulsed her, the more
she assured him that God had chosen him to be the instru
ment of his mercy towards the inhabitants of the country.
On his return to the house, F. Mazzini, seeing his trouble
and agitation, asked the cause. He hesitated to tell him,
when Father Mazzini said: "I know you have had a dis
pute with one of the nuns, for I heard you speaking loud."
Yielding to his friend's desire, Alphonsus told him what
the nun had said; and far from treating it lightly, Mazzini
did all in his power to persuade him of its truth. The
sanctity of the nun was undoubted. "Besides," argued
his friend, "an institution of the kind is much wanted in
this kingdom, and who knows what designs God may have
upon you?" "I approve much- of such an institution,"
said Alphonsus, "and I foresee the glorious fruits of it, but
what can I do myself? Where are my companions?"
"Here am I for one," answered Mazzini, "and I am sure
other priests will be found willing to consecrate themselves
to a work which must contribute so much to the glory of
God !" In the meanwhile, Mgr. Falcoja, Bishop of Castel-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 59

lamare, arrived at Scala; he was a prelate of eminent sanc
tity, and skilled in the science of spirituality, and the
Bishop of Scala was not inferior to him. The presence of
these two saintly men raised Mazzini's hopes, and he urged
Alphonsus to consult* with them. He accordingly told
them all, and after several days spent in narrowly examin
ing the subject, they both agreed that the inspiration came
from God; the vision of the nun strengthened their confi
dence, she being a person peculiarly favored by God, whose
sincerity and love of truth were undoubted. This nun, sister
Mary Celeste Castarosa, died the 14th of September, 1745,
at the Convent of St. Saviour, at Foggia; her body is still
entire and uncorrupted. The nuns open the coffin and
clothe the body anew, every time any of the sisterhood dies.

Alphonsus returned to Naples, and immediately opened
his whole heart to his own spiritual director, F. Pagano.
This sage director, after a careful consideration of some
days, hesitated not to declare his opinion, that such an un
dertaking could not fail to promote the glory of God and
the salvation of souls; but doubting his own judgment, he
advised Alphonsus to consult with more enlightened per
sons. He accordingly spoke with F. Vincent Cutica, su
perior of the Mission of St. Vincent of Paul, and F. Manu-
lius, a Jesuit, both of whom were much venerated in Naples.
Their opinions coincided with that of F. Pagano, viz. that
it was the will of God, and they urged him to respond to the
call of Heaven. Still unconvinced, he consulted others,
eminent for their sanctity and wisdom, and finding all of
the same mind, he could no longer doubt, and taking
courage, he gave himself unreservedly to God. But a work
which was intended by God to promote the salvation of
souls, not in Italy only, but in all other kingdoms of Eu
rope, and in America, could not fail to stir up all the pow
ers of hell, to accomplish, if possible, its overthrow, yea,
even to prevent its being begun.

As soon as Alphonsus' determination was known, all Na
ples seemed to be in arms against him. Some said that he
was mad, and that his brain must be affected ; others treated

60 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

him as a fanatic and a visionary; some affirmed it was pure
pride, and that he had been spoiled by too much praise.
It was in the College of the Chinese he found his greatest
adversaries; his companions there loaded him with blame
and ridicule. F. Ripa, who was then at Rome, did, on his
return, all in his power to convince him that his plans were
impossible, and useless, even if they should succeed. See
ing, however, that all his endeavors to dissuade him were in
vain, he chose to believe with the others that his head was
affected, and that he was the victim of some delusion, and
reproached him both privately and publicly with what he
called his extravagance. The Fathers of the Propaganda
also ranged themselves against him. Having heard of the
vision of the nun, they imagined it was the sole basis of
his enterprise, and were shocked at his allowing himself to
be led away by what they called the reveries of a young
nun. But what afflicted Alphonsus most of all, was, that
these opinions were taken up by his uncle Matthew Gizzio.
Rector of the Seminary, and by the Superior of the Propa
ganda, Julius Torni. They assailed him on every side,
while he only replied that he would do nothing disapproved
of by his director. "It is not God who directs ypu," said
his uncle, "but you blindly follow the reveries of a nun,
and do you not see that you are the victim of an illusion?"
"I do not regulate my conduct by visions," he meekly re
plied; "I regulate it by the Gospel." On another occasion
his uncle jeeringly asked him if he ever expected to realize
his schemes. "He who trusts in God," replied he, "can
do all, and should hope all." At last his uncle went so
far, that, in the presence of some other canons, he treated
him as a fool whose brain was turned by self-conceit. One
day as Alphonsus entered the sacristy of the cathedral,
several persons of consequence began to abuse him before
others in authority, who happened to be present. "Keep
to your word now," said they, "and make haste to show
the Church those new institutions and foundations which
you have promised her." Alphonsus said nothing, but
bowing his head, humbled himself interiorly.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 61

After some time, his uncle insisted that he should take
advice from F. Louis Fiorillo, a learned and pious Domini
can, by whom he himself was guided. At first he declined,
but on his afterwards repeating to F. Pa^ano what had
passed, he urged him to follow his uncle's advice, saying,
that he would consider F. Fiorillo's decision as the voice of
God. Alphonsus had never seen F. Fiorillo, but soon
after, he met him one day at his uncle's; the moment F.
Fiorillo saw him, he exclaimed, as it were, by inspi
ration : "God is not yet satisfied with you; He wishes
you to be altogether His, and expects great things from
you." Alphonsus took him aside, and told him of his
desire to consult him, and a time and place of meeting
was agreed upon.

He now began to perform the most severe penances,
praying continually that the Father of lights would en
lighten His servant F. Fiorillo, on whose decision the
affair seemed to depend. He recommended himself to
the prayers of many holy persons, but above all to the
nun at the monastery of Scala. All the convent joined
with her; they prayed, they fasted, they gave themselves
the discipline for half an hour each day ; all united to be
seech God to enlighten his directors. A singular fact now
occurred : several of the nuns, yielding to the opinion of
some ill-disposed persons, believed that God would not
establish the Congregation. One day, while they were
disputing about it with the nun who had had the revelation,
she cried out in an ecstatic transport, "God wills this work,
and you will see it accomplished!" " Yes," replied a nun
more incredulous than the others, "I will believe it when
Sister Mary Magdalene is cured." This sister had been
deranged for several years, but from that moment she per
fectly recovered her senses.

When Alphonsus had made known all to F. Fiorillo,
the man of God replied: "In a similar conjuncture, St.
Lewis Bertrand asked six months from Si. Theresa to
reflect, before giving an answer ; I would ask the same
from you." "Not six months only," said Alphonsus,
6

0*2 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

"take a whole year." Some days after, he met him again,
when the venerable Father embraced him with joy, saying,
"Go, take courage, this work is divine; throw yourself into
the arms of God, as a stone which falls from the mountain
in the valley. You will encounter contradictions, doubtless,
but place your confidence in God, He will help you." At
this time, however, F. Fiorillo had many good works on
hand, and fearing to scandalize the clergy, who might
overturn them, he begged Alphonsus to conceal his appro
bation, and not to visit him again. Satisfied now that he
was acting according to the will of God, he feared no
farther contradiction, and began in earnest to look about
for companions.

In the meanwhile the Missionaries of the Propaganda
blamed him every where, and would not bear to hear him
spoken of as one of them. The Canons Torni and Gizzio
were extremely annoyed by the slur which Alphonsus'
project seemed to cast upon the Propaganda. They hoped
that F. Fiorillo would never approve of it, and that at last
F. Pagano himself would oppose it. Meeting Alphonsus
one day, and finding him unaltered in his views, they
attacked him more violently than ever. Alphonsus meekly
replied: "Say what you will, uncle; I assure you I am not
acting in consequence of such visions, but am ruled by the
word of God, and guided by those on whom I ought to
rely." In circumstances such as these, his embarrassment
was great; he was bound not to betray F. Fiorillo, who was
then absent from Naples ; and on the other hand, the as
tonishment and scandal augmented every day. F. Pagano
advised him not to keep the secret any longer; so also did
the Bishop of Cassano, and Mgr. Amato, Bishop of Ischia,
whom he consulted on the subject. When he carne to see
the two Canons, hardly had he entered the house, when
they attacked him again. "Are you not ashamed of your
self, scandalizing all Naples by your obstinacy, and acting
in opposition to F. Fiorillo ? How can your conscience
permit such a thing ?" Then Alphonsus calmly, but firmly,
replied : " You are deceived in supposing that I act con-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 63

trary to the advice of F. Fiorillo ; my conduct is the result
of the counsels he has given me." He had provided him
self with a copy of the letter Fiorillo had written to him on
the subject, and as he ceased speaking, he placed it in his
uncle's hands. Great was the confusion of both Gizzio
and Torni. "But this is not sufficient," said Torni, "I
would see the original." Alphonsus gave it to him. "Now,"
said he, holding it in his hand, " I want no other testi
mony; this is sufficient for the honor of my Congregation."

After this, Alphonsus expected to have peace, as he
could no longer be blamed for acting contrary to the
opinion of wise directors; but the enemy of mankind
would not yield without a farther struggle. His brothers
of the Propaganda refused to be reconciled with him, and
threatened to turn him out of their Congregation. But
Cardinal Pignatelli, although he had been prejudiced
against Alphonsus, no sooner discovered the truth, than he
warned the Canon Torni to beware how he took any steps
against Alphonsus de Liguori. F. Ripa, on the other hand,
although now persuaded that he acted in accordance with
the advice of F. Fiorillo, ceased not to accuse him of vi
sionary schemes. He believed himself justified in opposing
plans which would remove him from Naples, where he was
certain to be most useful, and above all, useful to the Chi
nese College ; besides, some of his most distinguished
subjects were inclined to follow Alphonsus. He quarrelled
with F. Pagano and F. Fiorillo, and wrote a very bitter
letter to Mgr. Falcoja, whose reply is too admirable to be
omitted here:

"You know," he wrote, "that it does not

belong to a spiritual Father to give his penitents any voca
tion which may happen to please himself; this gift belongs
only to that divine Providence, who has many niches in
Paradise for the statues He fashions upon earth, and on
earth He establishes different studios, and is daily open
ing new ones, where those rational statues are to be
moulded to perfection according to His most holy will,
that they may be prepared for their position in everlasting

64 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

L>lory. ... ft is not the province of a spiritual Father, to
do any thing else than to approve or disapprove. When a
soul is faithful to God and His holy words, ' He who
hearetb you, heareth me,' we may believe that she cannot
go astray. You may argue that a spiritual Father can be
deceived ; but I would reply that God, who is always
faithful, will not fail to make known His will to those
whom He has appointed to enlighten others; for if it were
not so, what assurance could we have in deciding on what
was God's will? Now, inasmuch as Alphonsus has fol
lowed this rule, he cannot go astray. I see from your
letter, that you judge and condemn me, as one who would
overthrow your Congregation, and ruin a valuable work
which owes all to your labors : but fear not. Is the arm
of the Lord shortened ? Is He not able to sustain your
Congregation and many others at the same time ? Let
God perform His own work; for a work which comes from
Him may aid, but cannot destroy, another equally divine.
But this enterprise, you say, will dissipate itself; if you say
true, then you lose nothing; but according to my view of
the case, this enterprise comes from God, and it cannot
perish, if he, who is charged with it, continue faithful ;
those therefore, who oppose it, set themselves in opposition
to the will of God.

11 But you say, this new work will take away some of
your most valuable subjects. I wish, my dear Father, you
would put a little more confidence in God, and less in man.
The Congregation of Pious Workers had scarcely been es
tablished, when four of their most excellent members left
them, ^and founded four different Congregations. Not
withstanding, the venerable Fathers, Charles Carafa and
Anthony de Colellis, were not annoyed by fearing that
their Congregation would be ruined ; the contrary hap
pened, it increased more and more by the arrival of other
men, whom the Father of the family sent to replace those
who had left. Be persuaded, that the work of Alphonsus
is no suggestion of the devil, but on the contrary, that the
devil opposes it as the will of God, as he has done on a

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 65

thousand other occasions, when he foresaw that an insti
tution would have the effect of destroying his empire in
the world."

It seems incredible, yet it is true, this letter produced no
effect on F. Ripa, who continued to blame Alphonsus for
his inconstancy, and even in his Memoirs of his Congre
gation, complains bitterly of him and all who had any hand
in approving or forwarding his projects.

When the Fathers Fiorillo and Pagano saw that the
tempest, instead of abating, rather increased, they began to
fear for the success of their own immediate affairs, if they
continued to bear the blame of giving counsel to Al
phonsus. They therefore strongly urged him to put him
self entirely under the direction of Mgr. Falcoja, a man of
undoubted wisdom arid sanctity, and held in great consi
deration by all Naples. The feast of the Assumption ap
proaching, Alphonsus resolved to apply for aid to his
blessed Mother, and made the Novena of the feast in the
church so dear to him, the church of the Redemption of
Captives, where her statue was exposed during those nine
days. The, divine Mother listened to her favorite child, and
enlightened him regarding the course he ought to pursue*
He placed himself in the hands of the holy prelate, pro
mising to do nothing without his advice, and never was a
child more obedient to a parent.

The Canon Torni came also back to the charge, as he
could not bear the idea of Alphonsus' services being lost
to Naples. Having no hope of directly succeeding in
opposing him, he began an indirect attack, in his quality of
Superior of the Congregation of the Propaganda. He
gave him the charge of several important matters, trusting
that, when he saw the good he was doing in Naples, he
would give up the idea of going elsewhere. In the be
ginning of October he commanded him, in the name of the
Cardinal, to give a retreat to the clergy of Naples. He
obeyed his Superior, notwithstanding his repugnance to
;tppear before those, many of whom had treated him so
unjustly, and God poured out His benedictions on his
6*

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

labors more abundantly than ever. The Cardinal himself
attended, and was so moved, that he exclaimed, " We may
easily see he is a vessel of election, for the Holy Spirit
speaks by his mouth." After this retreat, he was sent suc
cessively to three other churches to give Missions, when, as
before, multitudes from all quarters flocked to hear him,
and crowded round the confessionals. But notwithstand
ing all this abundant harvest, Alphonsus was longing for
the moment when the arrangements would be completed
for him to commence his new Congregation. Mgr. Fal-
coja, however, seeing that the storm still continued to
rage, wished to put his constancy to farther proof, and de
layed to give him his parting benediction; but those days
of delay seemed ages to Alphonsus.

Many were the contradictions and annoyances he ex
perienced during the last days he remained, particularly
from F. Ripa and his uncle Gizzio. Because they loved
him, they thought they had a right, forcibly to withdraw him
from an enterprise they considered extravagant. God, in
his impenetrable Providence, sometimes permits his ser
vants to fall into similar mistakes; it may be, to keep
.them humble, and as a means of advancing the sanctity of
both parties. In after time, those who had opposed him
now, lauded his enterprise, when they saw the blessings of
heaven accompanying his work.

In spite of the outcry made against Alphonsus by many
influential individuals, there was still a number of zealous
priests who declared their willingness to accompany him
on his arduous mission. One of his first companions was
D. Vincent Mandarini, a noble Calabrian. He was, like
Alphonsus, a pensioner in the Chinese College, and an
excellent theologian. The second was Don Janvier Sar-
nolli, son of the Baron of Ciorani, also one of the Chi-
siese College, of great talents, both natural and acquired,
besides being a man of eminent virtue. The third was D.
Silvester Tosquez, a gentleman of the town of Troja, still a
secular, and a great friend of Mandarini : he was an ex
cellent man, and well versed in jurisprudence and theology.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 67

His other companions were men equally estimable and en
lightened, seven in number. Mazzini would have joined
him at first, had not his director insisted on his delaying, in
order to prove his vocation. A gentleman named Vitus
Curzius, whose vocation was evidently miraculous, was the
first who joined him in quality of lay-brother. He had
been secretary to the Baron of Vasto, and was very inti
mate with Sportelli, one of the companions of Alphon
sus, still a secular. Sportelli had not communicated
to him his design of quitting the world, when one day
Curzius told him a dream he had had the previous night.
" I thought," said he, " that I stood at the foot of a high
and steep mountain, which many priests were trying to
ascend. I wished to imitate them, but at the first step I
took, I fell backward. Not willing to give up the attempt, I
tried to mount several times, but to my great annoyance, I
always slid back, until one of the priests, taking compas
sion on me, gave me his hand and helped me to ascend."
In the course of the day, as they were walking together
near the Chinese College, they met Alphonsus, when Cur
zius, who had never before seen him, turned in astonish
ment to Sportelli, exclaiming, "There is the priest who gave
me his hand last night." Sportelli saw the mystery of the
dream, and told him that this was Alphonsus Liguori, who
was about to found a new Congregation of missionary
priests, and mentioned his own intention to join him.
The young man instantly recognized the divine will, and
unhesitatingly declared, that he wished to be of the num
ber, as a lay-brother.

68 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

CHAPTER VII.

Alphonsus establishes his Congregation at Scala. It un
dergoes a severe trial.

AFTER having received the benediction of the Fathers
Pagano and Fiorillo, Alphonsus, without acquainting
either friends or relations, hired a miserable donkey, and
departed from Naples on the 8th of November, 1732, di
recting his steps towards the town of Scala. The day on
which he left Naples, he completed two sacrifices ; the de
finitive renunciation of all the splendors of the world, and
the entire disruption of the ties of flesh and blood. This
last completed the numerous sacrifices he had already
made. Since the month of August, he had quitted the Chi
nese College, and returned to his father's house, for the
better arranging of his affairs. D. Joseph, who loved him
less as a son than as a spiritual father, was miserable at the
thought of losing him, and one day he entered his room,
when he had laid down to take a little repose, and throwing
himself on the bed beside him, pressed him in his arms and
exclaimed: "My son, why will you abandon me? My
son, I do not deserve that you should cause me so much
misery." Taken by surprise, Alphonsus suffered most
intensely, and this scene lasted during three hours, his
father holding him in a close embrace, repeating always,
'•' My son, do not abandon me." He afterwards spoke of
this trial, as the most terrible he had ever had to endure.

On arriving at Scala, he was joined by only eight of his
companions; Sarnelli and Tosquez were obliged, from
certain circumstances, to delay. The dwelling prepared
by the Bishop, Mgr. Santoro, accorded in every respect
with their wishes — it was an hospice belonging to a con
vent, almost destitute of furniture, small and inconvenient;
besides a small oratory, there were only a parlor, and three
little rooms containing palliasses and scanty coverings,
with a few earthen dishes for the table and the kitchen.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 69

The day after their arrival, they assembled in the Cathedral,
and after a long meditation, chanted the mass of the Holy
Spirit, thanking God for the establishment of a Congrega
tion so ardently desired, and asking for His benediction
upon the work. They gave it the name of "The Holy
Saviour," placing it under the protection of the Chief of all
Missionaries. They now applied themselves sincerely to
prayer and penitence; their hearts overflowing with love to
God, they embraced every opportunity of mortifying them
selves; they wore sack-cloth, and small chains with sharp
points. But it was at the hours of repast, those hours
when the world seeks after sensual enjoyments, that these
holy men signalized their love of mortification. Some
kissed the ground ; others knelt, and remained for a length
of time with their arms extended in form of a cross, be
fore eating; another made the round of the refectory,
kissing the feet of each of his brethren. They ate kneel
ing, or sitting on the floor, while others, to make the mo
ments of eating still more uncomfortable, hung a heavy
stone round their neck. Their poor and scanty food they
seasoned with bitter herbs ; many would not taste meat, or
abstained from fruit. Their food was of such a quality that
the poor hesitated to accept what they left. Vitus Curzius
was cook, and as he knew nothing of cookery, he spoiled
every thing he attempted to prepare.

Such was the life these missionaries led at Scala. As for
Alphonsus, he occupied himself with God only, "instant in
prayer," reading the Lives of the Saints, or laboring to save
souls. His application was constant; and besides Mass with
a long thanksgiving, and the general prayers of the commu
nity, he spent hours in adoration before the Blessed Sacra
ment. He carried his austerities to such an excess, that the
utmost the others could do, seemed as it were nothincr. He

o

sometimes seasoned his food with such herbs, that those
who were near him could hardly endure the smell; and not
content with wearing sack-cloth, chains, and crosses armed
with sharp points, he gave himself the discipline twice a
day. The care he bestowed on his own perfection and

70 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

that of his companions, did not hinder him from attending
to the people of Scala. He introduced the custom of
giving a meditation in the Cathedral, every morning, and
making visits to the Blessed Sacrament and the Virgin
Mary, every evening. Every Thursday, he gave a sermon
with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and every Sa
turday, he preached on the glories of Mary. On Sundays
and feast days, he instructed the people on their individual
duties, and catechized them. He established two Confra
ternities, one for gentlemen and another for artisans, and
two others for the young people of both sexes; and every
Sunday, each of these Confraternities received a particular
instruction. Scala was in a short time thoroughly reformed,
to the great satisfaction of Mgr. Santoro. Seeing himself
so well seconded by the zeal of his companions, Alphonsus
gave missions to the different towns and villages round
about, so that the renown of the new Congregation began
to spread every where, and bishops were constantly be
seeching their assistance for their flocks, while many even
offered them establishments in their diocesses.

The Fathers of the Propaganda, instead of becoming
reconciled to the step taken by Alphonsus, showed them
selves more and more embittered against him, continuing
to load him with contempt and ridicule. Their conduct
deeply wounded Alphonsus, and he was grieved to see
pious and zealous servants of God partaking in all the pre
judices of the world, and rather exciting than preventing
them. Persuaded that honor and purity, with rectitude of
judgment, are the true riches of a minister of God, and
seeing his ancient brethren striving to despoil him of them,
he complained in a letter to the Canon Torni, who sent
him a reply full of the most friendly assurances.

But the peace he had found in the friendly behaviour of
Torni, was soon attacked, by the renewed violence of the
other members. They clamored against Torni, and in
sisted, that he should expel Alphonsus, and deprive him of
the chaplainship. He was forced to yield, and on the 20th
of February, 1732, to the great joy of all, they affixed to the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 71

door this announcement: "According to the order of our
Superior, on the 23d instant there will be a general investi
gation on the following questions: Whether the brother
D. Alphonsus de Liguori should be expelled from the Con
gregation ? And whether he ought to be deprived of his
chaplainship?" Torni had yielded, only to prevent the
vexatious proceedings going farther, and secretly informed
the Cardinal of what was about to be done, expressing his
opinion of its injustice. The Cardinal was exceedingly
vexed, but he would not hinder the convocation. "Let
them deliberate," he said, "but fear nothing; I will pro
vide for the result, and settle every thing in the most expe
dient way." The Congregation assembled on the ap
pointed day, animated with incredible rancor. In order to
prevent any interference in his favor, they proceeded se
cretly with the scrutiny, and his expulsion was unani
mously decided upon. But they could not register this de
cree, the Cardinal having forbidden any steps to be taken
against Alphonsus, without his knowledge. The Superior
and some of the principal members went to the Cardinal,
to tell him what had been done. His Eminence was much
displeased. "Why," said he, "do you proceed to such
extremities? either God will bless the enterprise of Al
phonsus, and it will prove a glorious thing for you, or He
will overthrow it, and then all that could be said would be,
that it was a good work, though it had proved unsuccessful.
In any case, I do not see how you can find dishonor in it."
He concluded by saying, "I am Superior of this Congre
gation, and I desire that Alphonsus de Liguori be rein
stated, and that he continue to enjoy his chaplainship ; and
I forbid any steps being taken against him, unknown to
me." This firm conduct arrested the flame, but did not
extinguish it. The deputies retired, silenced and discon
certed, but still determined never to recognise him as a
member of their Congregration.

The storm was thus subsiding in Naples, and Alphonsus
was living in Scala, in profound peace, when God wished
to try his servant still more severely, by permitting discord

72 LIFE OF ST. ALPHOJfSUS.

to arise in the bosom of the new-born Congregation itself.
Alphonsus wished that the new Congregation should be
occupied only in laboring to promote the sanctification of
clergy and laity, giving them spiritual exercises in convents,
and procuring also the salvation of destitute souls, particu
larly in the country and small hamlets, by means of mis
sions. Mandarini proposed that, besides the missions,
they should occupy themselves in teaching; but Alphonsus
opposed this, because the Jesuits and other religious
orders supplied this want. He added, that the spirit of
the Institute finding itself divided between two objects so
different as teaching and giving missions, both would be
fulfilled in an imperfect manner, since there would be too
few laborers to undertake both branches. The others had
each his individual opinion, and D. Tosquez, going still
farther, insisted, that, asvthe end of the institution was to
imitate Jesus Christ, it was necessary to be dressed in a
dark red cassock and a mantle of celestial blue, as these
were the colors our Saviour is said to have worn. Some
disliked the recitation of the office in common; others ob
jected to sleep on straw, as also to other austerities to
which they would not submit. They disliked practising
poverty in all its rigor, and the perfection which commu
nity life exacted, yet it was to community life that Al
phonsus principally held. Tosquez went into a contrary
excess, and would embrace the reform of the most austere
mendicant order, insisting that each should sell every thing
he possessed, and lay the price of it at the feet of his
Superior.

Alphonsus approved of establishing a choir, though
without chant, as being a good means of reciting the office
well. He insisted on the vow of poverty, because without
it the spirit of Christ would be wanting, and it would be
impossible to observe the common life, which is the
mother of poverty. "If," said he, "the words mine and
thine are found among the brethren, great inconvenience
will result ; they will go on the mission not for God, not to
gain souls to, Christ, but for emolument and for them-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 73

selves ;" all these opposing sentiments could not fail to dis
turb his serenity; he spoke, he supplicated, in vain; they
shut their ears to all he said. Fearing a total shipwreck,
he had recourse to prayer, while at the same time he
neglected no human means. He consulted Mgr. Falcoja,
F. Pagano, and the Canon Torni, who all looked upon it
as a stratagem of the devil. They decidedly opposed
Mandarini's plan of teaching, notwithstanding which, all
the others joined him in sustaining this point. These dis
cussions lasted long. Mandarini persisted in his scheme
for teaching, and thought Alphonsus ought to yield, be
cause the others were of his opinion. He remained firmj
however, and at length all left him but Sportelli, and
founded a house at Tramonti ; where they opened schools
for youth, and formed a separate Congregation called of
the Most Holy Sacrament.

This separation is supposed to have taken place about
the month of March of the year 1733, four months after
they had met at Scala. Although Alphonsus thus saw
himself abandoned and almost alone, he placed his confi
dence in God only, and the result proved the wisdom of
acting thus. Though he had endured the blow caused by
these divisions with all the strength of a soul which rest?
on God, he did not the less feel a bitter sorrow. God sus
tained him on the one hand, but on the other, the devil as
sailed him with suggestions full of despair. He stood bal
ancing between a confidence in God, which never deserted
him, and a diffidence in himself, which bowed him to the
earth. In the midst of his affliction, he thought of Mgr.
Falcoja. He sought him at Castellamare, certain of find
ing strength and consolation, and trusting with his assist,
ance to weather the storm ; but God would not give him
this comfort: he found the bishop disgusted with the whole
affair, and was received with marked coldness. Before
he had time to explain the object of his visit, the bishop
addressed him in these words: " Vultis et vos abire — God
has no need of you and your companions; if it be His
will that this work should go on, He will raise up other
7

74 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS,

laborers to fill your place." For a moment, Alphonsus
stood stupefied by this reception, so different from what he
had expected ; but immediately regaining courage, he said :
"My Lord, I am well convinced that the Almighty has
no need of me, or of my labors; notwithstanding, I be
lieve it to be His will that I should proceed in this work,
and singly and alone as I am, I shall yet succeed." He
continued : "I have not left Naples, I have not renounced
the world, to gain the glory of founding a new order, but
to do the will of God and promote His glory." This reply
touched Mgr. Falcoja deeply, who, suddenly changing his
manner, said: "Put your confidence in God, and he will
certainly bless your good intentions."

On the whole, he returned to Scala much comforted by
this interview ; but the devil would not leave him in peace.
D, Sportelli was often necessarily absent, and when Al
phonsus found himself alone on this desert mountain, dis
gust, anxiety, and depression, assailed him more strongly
than ever. He knew whence those temptations came, and
one day when they were at their height, he threw himself
on his knees, and solemnly vowed to consecrate himself
irrevocably to the salvation of destitute souls, even if he
should remain altogether alone. God evidently blessed
this heroic action ; from that moment his fears and anxie
ties vanished, and he felt himself filled with courage, hope,
and consolation. Even in his old age, he could not re
member, without a shudder, the terrible struggle he had
then sustained ; and he said to F. Dominic Corsano, his
director, that this, and his separation from his father, were
the two most dreadful trials he had ever undergone.

He had also, not without reason, dreaded the effect this
rupture would produce in Naples. No sooner was it
known that the new founder was abandoned by his com
panions, and that the society was dissolved, than every one
laughed at and ridiculed the whole proceeding, condemn
ing the fanaticism of the pretended head of the Congre
gation, who had blindly lent himself to the dreaming
fancies of a woman. They went the length of affirming.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 75

that the Pope himself had interfered, and forbidden the es
tablishment of such a Congregation. Even the pulpits
resounded with anathemas; the preachers pretending to
show, by these events, to what an extent even the most
favored individuals can go astray, when they allow them
selves to be caught in the snare of the devil, and to forget
the precepts of humility. At this crisis, even his friends
were silenced by their own share of the contempt and
mockery which they received. F. Fiorillo alone saw that
all this was the work of the devil, and continued to be
convinced that God would uphold his own work. Cardi
nal Pignatelli pitied Alphonsus, but did not condemn him.
•'There was nothing reprehensible in it," he said, "but
who can know the judgments of God?" and touched by
the embarrassment in which Alphonsus found himself, he
desired the Canon Torni to recall him to Naples.

Every one can imagine the reception Alphonsus had to
expect in this city, and how much it must have cost him
to return at such a moment. On all sides he saw himself
condemned and turned into ridicule. The Canon Gizzio
refused to see him or hear his name mentioned. F. Ripa
would have nothing to do with him, and it was the same
with many others, who had once held him in the highest
esteem. He went to the Cardinal, accompanied by the
Canon Torni. This wise prelate was afflicted to hear of
the number of lies that had been circulated against him.
The Canon, who wished to retain Alphonsus at Naples, re
marked, that if this work had been pleasing to God, He
would not have withdrawn the means of carrying it into
execution ; and that surely he could be more useful at
Naples, than elsewhere. But Alphonsus replied with
entire confidence : " We have reason to be convinced that
the devil is the author of what has happened at Scala; but
it must not be said that I have allowed myself to be con
quered, because the demon has come across my path. If
my first companions have deserted me, that is no reason
why other zealous priests should not be found ; but be that
as it may, I do not hesitate, even alone, to sacrifice myself
for the good of the destitute souls scattered through the

76 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

Tillages and hamlets of this kingdom." The Cardinal
could not help admiring the heroism of this speech, and
turning towards the Canon, he said: " It will not do to
abandon Scala just yet; let us have recourse to God in
order to know His holy will." Then encouraging Alphonsus,
he continued: "Trust in God, put no confidence in man,
for it is God who will help you." He approved his con
stancy, and advised him against a reunion with those who
had separated themselves from him.

Consoled by the sentiments of the Cardinal, Alphonsus
returned to Scala full of hope and confidence, while the
opinions expressed by his Eminence disconcerted those
who railed against him, and reduced them to silence. At
Scala their number consisted of three, D. Sportelli, who
was still a layman, Vitus Curzius, the lay-brother, and
himself. In this solitude^Alphonsus reposed in the bosom
of God, and he soon had the consolation of seeing his
•convent frequented by new subjects, who aspired to enter
the Congregation. Rejoicing to find his hopes realized,
•he wrote to a friend, in July, 1733, thus : " Our novices
think neither of country nor friends, nor even of suffer
ing; all their desire is to love God and perfectly to con
form themselves to His will."

About this time, they quitted the hospice for a house
called Anastasius, but equally poor with the first. One
who saw it, describes it as follows: "There was one small
parlor, in which Alphonsus had made an oratory, and
erected a crucifix so beautifully carved, that it drew tears
from the eyes. The bishop had arranged for the church a
square apartment under ground, which looked more like a
burial vault than a chapel. Poverty reigned every where
in the house and in the church ; they had not even a ta
bernacle for the Blessed Sacrament, and Alphonsus placed
it in a box ornamented with ribbons and silk drapery. The
altar was also poor, but they embellished it as well as they
could with roses and bouquets of artificial flowers. Al
phonsus and his companions passed the greater part of
the night there, taking a little repose on the bare earth,
before the Blessed Sacrament."

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS, 77

CHAPTER VIII.

Alphonsus gives Missions and founds the Houses at the Villa
dei Schiavi and at Ciorani. He abandons the former.

AFTER Mandarini and his companions had quitted
Scala, the spirit of penance and prayer reigned there
us before ; all breathed self-denial and mortification, each
one feeling himself impelled to imitate Alphonsus, who, as
usual, signalized himself among the others. At the side
of the house was a half ruined grotto, where every day he
submitted his body to the most rigorous penances. There
is a tradition among the inhabitants, that while he was in
it chastising his body, the Blessed Virgin appeared to
him, and bestowed upon him many special favors. When
ever he returned to visit Scala, he went to see his beloved
grotto, exclaiming: "0 my grotto, my beloved grotto,
why can I not enjoy thee now as in times long past!"

Four months had scarcely elapsed since the departure of
Mandarini, when Alphonsus found himself in a position
to give missions in the neighboring dioceses until the
Christmas of that year. In the mean time, he had been
joined by the priest Sarnelli, of Ciorani, and in January fol
lowing, he yielded to his pressing solicitation, and accom
panied him to the territory of Ciorani. The inhabitants of
this country never lost the remembrance of this first visit.
They spent but a few days there, being called by the
Bishop of Cajazzo to give a mission in his diocese. The
general reformation in manners which followed, excited
the most ardent longing for their establishing a house there,
but they were not yet sufficiently numerous. At Formi-
cola, in the principality of Columbano, was a house with a
church adjoining, extremely well suited for the Congrega
tion. Xavier Rossi, a young nobleman, who had received
priest's orders, was most anxious, among others, to see them
established in it. He exerted himself to the utmost, sent
for an architect to arrange for the necessary alterations and
1*

78 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

repairs, and soon the work was begun at his own ex
pense. He afterwards, led by a sudden movement of
grace, when one morning he served the mass of Alphonsus,
and saw in him at the altar, not a man, but a seraph, felt
impelled, in spite of himself, to follow him. Alphonsus
would prove his sincerity by delay; but he gave so many
proofs of strong determination, that he soon admitted him
to his novitiate. He became afterwards a corner-stone in
the new-born Congregation, and died as a Saint, after
having rendered the greatest services.

This foundation exactly suited the views of Alphonsus,
being situated on the confines of four dioceses, surrounded
by a great number of villages, and a thickly peopled
country. At the beginning of March, the building was so
far advanced that they could inhabit it. Four apartments
level with the ground, resting against the church, were
given to the missionaries, and four chaplainships were as
signed to them, with a revenue from each, of one carlino a
day, that is, about nine cents of our money. This was cer-
lainly but little with which to found an establishment of
missionaries; but Alphonsus looked out only for souls,
and contented himself with a small and poor house, dis
tinguished from others only by a belfry, after the example
of St. Theresa, whom he loved to imitate. No sooner was
the house established, than he undertook different good
works to promote the salvation of the people in the neigh
borhood, and gave frequent missions. While the building
continued to go on, the people eagerly assisted in the
svork, and even some of the neighboring nobles might be
seen mingling with the others in carrying materials. Al
phonsus was the first to set the example, laboring like a
Dimple workman, and when the gentlemen insisted on his
stopping, he replied : *" This is nothing, I wish to have my
share of merit with the others." It happened one day, that
a poor woman was carrying a large stone, when another
-equally large fell from the building upon her head ; every
one thought that the blow was mortal, but Alphonsus,
who saw the accident from a distance, entered the church,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 79

and addressed himself to the Blessed Virgin : his prayer
was heard, the woman rose up unhurt.

Alphonsus remained until the month of August, and
here he had the happiness of receiving John Mazzini, who
had so long been wishing to join him. Such was his
opinion of this Father's virtue and wisdom, that he imme
diately made him rector of the new house. At the same
time, a talented and promising subject was, though yet a
cleric, taken from him by violence. Michael d'Alteriis,
of Panecocoli, near Naples, had retired into the Congrega
tion without the consent of his father, who was so much
irritated at this, that he sent armed men to the house of the
missionaries, to take his son away by force. Alphonsus,
persuaded of the divine vocation of the young man, saved
him from their hands by sending him away during the
night. His father and other relatives were so full of resent
ment at this, and made such a noise, that the Cardinal, to
prevent worse consequences, counselled Alphonsus to send
the young man back to his family. Alphonsus obeyed,
saying: "This violence will cost them much." And in
fact, scarcely had Michael returned, when his eldest brother
became sick and died. The unhappy father recognized in
this the hand of God, and said : " I have taken one from
God, and God has now taken the other from me." God
however, blessed Michael, who in leaving had but obeyed
his director. He returned to the Congregation afterwards,
and after having labored in it zealously and indefatigably.
he died in the odor of sanctity.

The life which Alphonsus led with his brethren in this
new house, "The Villa dei Schiavi," was equally admirable
with the life he had led at Scala, An eye-witness reports,
that every day he ate on his knees, with a heavy stone hung
round his neck ; his food usually consisted of a simple
pottage, seasoned with bitter herbs, he never drank wine :
besides taking the discipline in common, he took it pri
vately every day, and the walls of his room were covered
with blood ; the hair cloth he wore was so heavy, that he
could hardly walk ; his sleep was short, a stone served him

80 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

as a pillow, and his straw mattress was so thin, that he
might be said to sleep on boards. His humility was extra
ordinary, before and after meals, he kissed the feet of all;
he never used a razor, but cut his beard with a pair of
scissors ; his cassock was so worn and mended, that the
original form could hardly be recognized ; he never went
on horseback, but always on foot or on a mule, which he
said was good enough for him. A profound silence was
generally observed in the house, and the hour of recrea
tion after their frugal meal, was still an uninterrupted con
ference on spiritual subjects. Such was the mode of life
led by Alphonsus and his companions, and, besides the
three meditations which they made every day, he was con
tinually in prayer, and spoke only when it was absolutely
necessary. When their new foundation was sufficiently
consolidated, Alphonsus returned to Scala. The good that
had been done during his absence by Doctor, now Father,
Sportelli, gave him great consolation, which was increased
by finding many candidates for the novitiate, awaiting him
with impatience. In the course of the autumn, he gave
several missions in the neighborhood and elsewhere. In
January, 1735, he returned to the territory of Cajazzo, visit
ing the house of the Villa dei Schiavi, where he remained
some time. At the request of Mgr. Santoro, he consented,
rather unwillingly, to preach the Lent in the Cathedral of
Scala, when he also gave a retreat in the parish of St.
Catherine, and another to the nuns of St. Cataldo.

At this time, the Curate of the territory of Ciorani, hav
ing learned the good that was done in the neighboring
parishes, both he and his flock desired ardently to see a
house of the missionaries established among them. No
one entered more into the spirit of this plan than the
brother of F. Sarnelli, D. Andrew. He persuaded the
Baron, his father, of the immense advantages that would
result, and set himself about to procure the means of car
rying it into execution, and by the month of April, he had
received a sufficient rent for their maintenance. After an
agreement was made with the Archbishop of Salerno, Al-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHOKSUS. 81

phonsus, with Fathers Mazzini and Rossi, came to Ciorani
in the month of May, 1735. Four miserable donkeys
formed their equipage, but an immense concourse of
people awaited them at the entrance into the barony, with
the Curate and his clerics. Arrived at the parochial church,
at the sight of such a multitude, Alphonsus mounted the
pulpit, and taking for the subject of his discourse the mo
tive of his coming — the salvation of their souls — he
preached with such powerful effect, that every heart was
penetrated with compunction. On the evening of the
next day, he opened the mission. The people ran thither
in such crowds, that the church, though spacious, could
not contain them. At the sight of Alphonsus, so poor,
so humble, so full of the spirit of God, no one could resist
him ; the hearts of all, even of the most abandoned, were
touched, and the conversions were innumerable.

The habitation which the Baron had given the mission
aries, besides a sort of cellar, which served for a kitchen,
consisted only of two large rooms. After a while he gave
them two other apartments, but in passing from the one to
the other, they were obliged to cross an open court, which
was a great inconvenience, particularly in winter; besides,
these places had only planks for the exterior wall, through
the chinks of which the cold wind entered. In addition
to these annoyances, they were situated above a public
house and a prison, a neighborhood riot exactly suited for
men of prayer and retirement. In one of these rooms,
Alphonsus erected a small oratory, reserving the three
others for their own use. The furniture of the whole was
miserable enough, and, so far from having superfluities,
absolute necessaries were wanting. He and his compa
nions rejoiced in these discomforts, their oratory being for
them a little heaven. It was there, during the night, oftener
than during the day, that Alphonsus poured out his soul
into the bosom of God. After the missions, they estab
lished the same pious practices and confraternities as at
Scala and Villa dei Schiavi. The exercises were made in
the parochial church, but the concourse of people being

02 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

every day as great as on feast days, the missionaries had
scarcely time to eat or sleep. As the people carne very
early in the morning, and disturbed the poor old Curate,
Alphonsus was at the expense of repairing the old church
of St. Sophia, annexed to the signorial palace, and met
the people there. As all the inhabitants of the neighbor
ing villages could not come to Ciorani, he sent mission
aries, on Sundays and feast days, to the great comfort of
the sick and the infirm. It was not long before the barony
was completely reformed. The inhabitants began to re
semble the first Christians. Quarrels and hatred were
banished ; the language arid behaviour of the young men
became pure; the young women no longer sang loose and
profane songs, but pious canticles which Alphonsus com
posed himself. When the inhabitants met, they saluted
each other, saying: "Praise be to Jesus and Mary." No
more imprecations were heard, the public house in the
village was deserted, and all improper games were for
bidden.

Tosquez and Mandarini now began to recognize the
pernicious effects of their divisions. Although they had
got the approbation of the sovereign Pontiff for their es
tablishments, they were not successful, and continually
wrote to Alphonsus on the subject of a re-union. Having
weighed the matter maturely, he at length wrote a definite
answer. "It is true," he said, "that it promises much,
but I doubt whether these promises would ever be realized.
First impressions are not easily effaced, and what we re
tract to-day, we recommence to-morrow, and when the
spirit is cooled, the fairest promises are forgotten." Above
all, he remembered the advice of Cardinal Pignatelli
against this re-union, and the affair was forever broken off.

The Archbishop of Salerno, struck by the good which
was done by the missions, and the very small expense
necessary to lodge the missionaries, since they were con
tent with a morsel of bread and a corner in the sacristy,
gave Alphonsus license to go where he wished, command
ing the curates, at the same time, to show them every re-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 83

spect and attention. Notwithstanding, there were some who
received them with an ill-grace, and even repulsed tl%m.
On one occasion, Alphonsus had fixed the day for giving a
mission in a parish : on his arrival the curate met him, and
without asking him to dismount from his ass, refused to per
mit him to give the mission ; but fearing to offend the Arch
bishop, he tried to palliate his conduct, by mentioning a future
period when the mission might be held. Alphonsus calmly
answered : " Your Reverence believes the mission can be
held at that time ; but I assure you, you will not be in a
condition to receive me then." The curate did not under
stand these words ; but before the time appointed, although
in the prime of life, he had paid the debt of nature.

In consideration of the inconveniences of their habita
tion at Ciorani, the Baron gave up to the missionaries a
building in another part of his property, and added some
ground for a garden. No sooner was this done, than men
and women came from all quarters to assist. Some carried
stones and wood, others constructed a furnace to make
bricks, and the sons of the Baron, with the cu»ate and
priests, labored almost as hard as the people, and the
building advanced as if by enchantment.

One might say that the practice of the holy exercises was
brought to perfection at Ciorani; for in spite of the annoy
ances of the locality in which they dwelt, many persons,
both priests and laymen, came to place themselves under
the direction of Alphonsus. Many persons of quality,
belonging to San Severino and the neighborhood, seeing
the effect produced upon others, ardently desired to have
a kind of mission for themselves. As the Baron Angelo
was then in Naples, Alphonsus obtained permission to
give the mission in the great hall of the castle, and also
that those gentlemen who were too far distant from home,
might remain all night. Many ecclesiastics assisted at this
mission, and the fruits were seen in their redoubled ardor
for the souls of men; while the gentlemen returned home
to edify all by the reformation of their lives and manners.
It was in this retreat that the young priest Andrew Villani,

84 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

a descendant of the Dukes of Sacco della Polla, convinced
thaf*the world is deceitful and full of snares, took the reso
lution of quitting it, and consecrating himself to God in this
new Congregation. He afterwards became a model of
sanctity, and a foundation stone in the new-born Con
gregation.

Alphonsus took every care to make the people love the
holy exercises, and all rejoiced in the good they produced.
Many ecclesiastics came during the year, but chiefly in
Lent, to make retreats; and magistrates, nobles, and princes,
came also, besides many prelates with their clerics. He
attached the greatest importance to the holy exercises of
a retreat, for all conditions of men, and the fruits which
always accompany them prove his wisdom.

While such glorious works were progressing, the devil
could not look quietly orx; accordingly he had, even before
the foundation was approved of, excited the jealousy of
some neighboring curates, who, joined by some mendicant
friars, beset the Archbishop, who began to doubt whether
he ough* not to suppress the house. But in the end they
became quiet, and the Archbishop definitely authorized the
foundation, on the 12th of December, 1735. By this time
F. Sarnelli, out of an injudicious zeal, and too great an
anxiety for the support of the Congregation, suggested to
the Archbishop, that as so many curates profited by the
labors of the missionaries, each should contribute a trifle to
wards their support. The parties interested keenly op
posed the measure, and not only did they look upon Al
phonsus with an evil eye, but they set themselves by all
means to have the missionaries chased out of the territory.
The Curate of Ciorani was asked to lend his aid, but the
good old man replied : " What ! these holy priests who
labor incessantly in my parish, would you have me deprive
my people of such great help?" They then reported to
the Archbishop, that under pretence of zeal and devoted-
ness, they only sought to enrich themselves at the expense
of the legitimate pastors, and that they ought to be imme
diately expelled from the diocess. The Archbishop smiled

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 85

at this and said : " I know Alphonsus de Liguori ; he and
I resemble each other in reference to fortune : T know He
has quitted the world not from necessity, but from choice,
and that if he has any anxiety, it is not about temporal in
terests, but to gain souls and secure his own salvation;''
and declared that he took the missionaries under his own
immediate protection, as the work to which they had de
voted themselves was most advantageous to the souls con
fided to his care. This storm having abated, those who
were most opposed to Alphonsus were the 'first to profit
by his labors ; he gave missions in the different parishes ;
and the fruits of his zeal were as abundant as ever.

In the course of the retreats he gave about this time, a
striking event occurred to prove how God watched over him
and protected him. Speaking one day of the enormity of
sin in priests, he concluded by quoting the words of St.
John Chrysostom, " In sacerdotio peccasti, periisti." At
these words, an ecclesiastic replied, to the great scandal of
all who heard him: "Nego consequentiam." This miser
able man soon experienced the consequence: next morn
ing, as he began at the foot of the altar the psalm, "Judica
me Deus," he dropped down dead.

In the course of the year 1737, Alphonsus, at the press
ing entreaty of the Superior of the Propaganda, who for
fear of his refusing had addressed himself to Mgr. Falcoja,
his director, went to Naples for the mission to be opened
in the church of the Holy Spirit, on the 26th of October.
It has been said that a volume might be filled with the con
versions he made on this occasion. After this mission,
without taking any repose, he proceeded immediately to visit
Amalfi, and thence went to Masuri. In this place, a poor
woman whose son had been assassinated, had constantly
refused to pardon the murderer, though the most influen
tial persons had besought her to do so. She went to hear
Alphonsus preach, and was so touched by the sermon,
that, the same evening, she brought a written declaration
that she pardoned the criminal, and publicly laid it at the
foot of the crucifix. Throughout the neighborhood he
8

86 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

gave missions, which reclaimed multitudes of sinners, and
impelled the virtuous to strive after a higher degree of
sanctity.

At this time he was called by Mgr. de Lignori, his uncle,
to St. Lucy, in the diocese of Cava. The inhabitants were
very immoral in their lives, but " where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound." Abuses were extirpated ; nothing
was spoken of but pardoning injuries, making restitution,
and repairing scandals; and so well did he convince them
of the merit of chastity, that upwards of fifty young ladies
protested they would no longer think of marriage, but
would consecrate themselves to God. They carried their
resolve into execution, and united themselves into a Con
gregation, under the direction of a zealous priest, and
were soon joined by many others, attracted by their noble
example.

At this time, the buildings at Villa dei Schiavi were
nearly finished, and the missionaries had already begun to
give retreats. They were visiting the country aroundi ,
extirpating sin and planting virtue. A Congregation of
artisans had been established, which already numbered
more than two hundred members, whose zeal and fervor
made them missionaries throughout the neighborhood.
The frequentation of the Sacraments became general, and
many individuals were arriving at a high degree of prayer.
But all at once, a storm arose, withering those blossoms
which promised such abundant fruits for eternity. There
were in the country certain individuals who could not bear
to have their vices censured, among others, a man who led
a life openly immoral : not enduring to have his conduct
animadverted upon, and doubtless instigated by the devil,
he conspired the ruin of the missionaries. All the wealth
of this house consisted of the four chaplainships, which
brought each a carlin a day; under pretext of defend
ing the interests of the priests of the country, this man
began to declaim aloud against the missionaries for coming
thither to eat the bread belonging to the inhabitants, and
getting money by extra masses, to which the legitimate

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 87

pastors had a right. Pecuniary interests being thus brought
into play, the clamor became general, and the most gross
and injurious expressions were employed against them.
The calumnies augmented, and, at length, their morals
were attacked. Alphonsus himself was pointed out as one
who made a traffic of his pretended sanctity. They went so
far as to say that the missionaries intrigued with a woman,
and received her into the convent by night; and this
wretched creature lent herself to the calumny, defaming
Alphonsus even more than the others, and showing
presents, which she pretended to have received from them.
These calumnies made little impression upon Alphonsus ;
he knew that persecution always accompanied works un
dertaken for God ; and contented himself with prescrib
ing to the community still more circumspection, and
more frequent recurrence to prayer. The wicked man
and his accomplices at last succeeded in prejudicing the
Baron himself. Alphonsus, seeing the storm thus increas
ing, went to the Baron, to claim his protection ; but it
was too late, as soon as he saw him approach, he per
mitted these words to escape : " What have we here, one
of those filthy hermits ?" and immediately dismissed him
with still greater contempt.

This scene was soon reported, and filled the enemies of
Alphonsus with joy. They now no longer confined them
selves to outrageous words, they took bolder steps, and
solicited the tribunals of Naples to interfere in various
ways, though without success. They at last had re
course to open violence. One of the lay-brothers, going
in the morning to the church to sound the Angelus, was
met by one of the wardens, accompanied by several peo
ple ; they forced the keys from his hands, locked the
church, and sent him back to the house, loaded with re
proach. But fearing the people might take part with the
missionaries, and force open the door, they placed persons
with loaded muskets on the belfry, to prevent approach.
They also besieged the house, and 'without exception in
terdicted all communication with those within. This situ

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

tion becoming every day less endurable, the missionaries
determined to abandon the place : the bishop wept with
regret, the poor people were not less disconsolate, and
the surrounding villages were in mourning. On the night
of the 10th of June, 1737, they shook the dust from their
shoes, and left the Villa. God did not permit this wicked
ness to go unpunished. The wretched woman who had
accused Alphonsus and his companions, had her tongue
eaten by worms, and was reduced to such a condition, that
she could not receive the sacraments ; she was seized with
the most dreadful remorse of conscience, and publicly
avowed that all she had said was but an infamous calumny.
One individual, who had joined in the conspiracy, died
soon after in despair, uttering the most frightful cries.
Another, one of the principal persecutors, terminated his
life in the most terrible 'convulsions, and howling like a
maniac. A third, who had sought out the false witnesses
and written down their testimony, had his hand withered,
and his only son died soon after : he then became an idiot
and expired in great misery. A fourth, who had been
bribed to attest all the calumnies, died in impenitence. A
fifth, a healthy young man, fell down dead immediately
after the departure of Alphonsus. The chief instigator
alone seemed to have escaped. He remained deaf even to
a warning sent him from heaven. For scarcely had the
missionaries quitted the Villa, when a tremendous storm
arose : the lightning flashed, and a thunderbolt fell at the
feet of this man, as he sat in his room : it stunned him, arid
for some little time he remained without sense or motion.
When he came to himself, he would not recognise the
warning : but before long he fell into disgrace with his
prince, was ill-used and persecuted, and within a year, he
was found, one morning, lying dead under his bed, and
bathed in blood.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

CHAPTER XII.

Apostolic Courses of Alphonsus. He abandons Scala. Mis
sions in various places and Dioceses, especially in that of
Naples.

4 LPHONSUS continued to give missions throughout
J\. the country, every where reaping the most abundant
harvest. But it was in the Barony of St. George, at the
little village of Ajello, thai God poured out the most ex
traordinary graces. Scandals disappeared, taverns were
deserted, and the churches filled. Here he established, as
usual, many devotional exercises, and there was not a
house in which they did not say the Rosary in common.
It was also at this place, that the Blessed Virgin was
pleased to give to Alphonsus a public testimony of her
love. One evening, while he was preaching on the glories
of Mary, and exciting the people to honor her, he was
ravished in ecstasy and raised some feet above the pulpit ;
at the same time rays cf glory proceeded from a statue of
the Virgin, and rested on the head of her chosen servant.
Shortly after, he visited Castellamare, a town which was
in great want of spiritual succor, its maritime commerce
bringing strangers from all parts, which necessarily cor
rupted morals. He took with him nine companions, and
remained long, because of the great necessity of the peo
ple. Multitudes were converted, among whom were many
unfortunate women ; smuggling was discouraged ; and the
magical practices in use among the sailors were abolished.
The whole town breathed an air of devotion, the churches
were crowded, and the Sacraments frequented.

By this time the new house of Ciorani being finished,
and the small church erected, they abandoned that of St.
Sophia. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and in it
Alphonsus placed that beloved statue of her, before which
he had so often poured out his heart in those retreats
which he made with his companions at Naples, in the house
8*

90 LIFE OF ST. AI.PHOKSUS.

of D. de Alteriis. The conveniences afforded by the new
house, drew strangers there at all times, candidates for
ordination, numerous ecclesiastics and laymen, especially
in general missions, so that Alphonsus and his companions
had often to sleep on the floor in a common apartment.
At the death of the Bishop, the Archdeacon, D. Francis
de Vicariis, who succeeded him in March, named Al
phonsus Grand Penitentiary of the archdiocese, which in
creased the concourse of visitors, and was a new occasion
for the exercise of his zeal.

Rejoicing at the establishment of this house, Alphonsus
exerted himself to make the rules strictly observed, for the
inconveniences of the former habitation had made this im
possible. The deserts of Nubia and Thebes perhaps never
counted among their cenobites contemplatives, such as were
seen in the house at Ciorani. Penitence and mortification
were the two virtues to which they attached themselves
most, as the necessary preparation for prayer and contem
plation. If there were brethren who did not excel, the ex
ample of their Superior and model, Alphonsus, drew them
after him in spite of themselves.

If on his part Alphonsus was doing all in his power to
esta-Blish the Congregation, the devil was as busy in at
tempting to destroy it. Until then they had had no house at
Scala. Alphonsus, in concert with the Bishop, thought of
erecting one ; but scarcely had they put their hand to the
work, when a general commotion ensued Several indi
viduals, having learned what had happened at the Villa,
began in their turn to murmur and :o excite others, by
putting forward the same motives, so that soon jealousy,
aided by interest, caused many to regard the missionaries
with bitterness. Alphonsus, warned by what had hap
pened at the Villa., wished to shun new misfortunes, and,
without loss of time, removed from Scala. This was a
blow deeply felt by Mgr. Saritoro. The good lamented,
imt the envious triumphed, when on the eve of St. Bar
tholomew, the 24th of August, 1737, the missionaries left
die town. It was reported that o» the night when they de-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 91

parted from Scala, there was heard throughout the town a
noise made by evil spirits shouting and dancing. They
celebrated a great victory, the departure of the missionaries
arresting the good they had been doing; for to the scan
dals that had once been so common, had succeeded a
horror of sin ; even the porters had been reformed, they
often approached the holy table, and frequently might be
met in groups carry ing their burdens, and reciting the Rosary,
or singing the hymns which Alphonsus had taught them.
Two years after, the Pious Workers went to preach a mission
there, when one of them declared, that they had not found
among the people one voluntary venial sin, and that all
sorts of pious practices were already established. On the
28th, a violent storm destroyed the harvest, which in that
country consists of chestnuts, on which the poor chiefly
live. Many considered this as a punishment of the wic
kedness of those who had forced the missionaries to retire,
and of the weakness of the greater number, who had not
opposed it. Alphonsus, however, did not forget Scala ; he
sent some of his missionaries to give the novena of the
Crucifix, that the nuns might not be deprived of their re
ligious exercises.

The fields in which Alphonsus labored during the fol
lowing autumn and winter, were not less fertile in the
*Vuits of salvation, He preached penance in many dis-
*ricts, and at Castaglione the concourse of people was so
great, that they passed the night in the church. The same
thing occurred at Coperchia, near Salerno. The year
1739 was opened by a mission in the village of Prepezzano.
The name of Alphonsus had become so celebrated in the
diocese of Salerno, and such wonders of grace were ope
rated by him, that persons frequently came a distance of
seventeen miles to confess to him. At Calvanico, besides
the most wonderful fruits produced in the people, the ec
clesiastics, to whom, as was usual, he also gave the exer
cises, were so animated with fervor, that some of them fol
lowed in his suite to assist at the missions, a practice which
is now not unfrequent. Having during the summer re-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS*

turned with his companions to Ciorani, to give a little re
laxation to a body overpowered with fatigue, and refresh
his spirit in retirement, he issued forth again with renewed
strength and redoubled vigor to attack the strongholds of
Satan. In the beginning of 1740, accompanied by eleven
missionaries, he overran the country, shedding the bene
dictions of Heaven on many villages where great disorders
had previously reigned. After the spring missions, he re
turned again to Ciorani, to regulate the affairs of the Con
gregation, and reanimate his brethren by his example in
the observation of the rules.

The country of St. Severino suffered, during the summer
of this year, from great drought. To obtain the divine
mercy, the inhabitants of Acquarola invited Alphonsus to
give a mission towards the end of July : their fervor was
great during the exercises, and one day Alphonsus foretold,
that, at a time specified an abundance of rain would fall. The
day came without any appearance of rain, when all at
once a very small cloud was seen above Salerno. When
Alphonsus saw it, he extended his arms, as if to invite its
approach, and then, prostrating himself on the ground, he
besought the divine mercy in behalf of the people; and all
at once the air was obscured by clouds, thunder was heard,
the lightning flashed, and during five hours the rain fell in
torrents.

In the autumn of the same year, he again gave missions
in many villages with his usual success, as also in the be
ginning of 1741. Among the number of those converted,
were bandits and murderers. Many priests, who had been
cold and indifferent, gave themselves fervently to God, a
circumstance which always rejoiced Alphonsus, who used
to say: "The conversion of a priest gives more glory to
God, than that of a hundred seculars. No layman, how
ever holy, can perform the good done by a priest."

A zealous priest of Nocera, who used to frequent Cio
rani, resolved, if possible, to have a house established in
that town. He knew that the Dean of the place had re
solved to endow a house of missionaries ; he therefore

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 93

spoke to him and to the principal inhabitants, of the vir
tues of Alphonsus and his companions, and arranged that
they should give a mission there. It had the greatest
success, and every one designated Alphonsus as the
"Apostle." He certainly enjoyed many supernatural
gifts: he knew how to touch all hearts: he had the spirit
of prophecy and the gift of healing, often curing fevers
and other diseases, by making the sign of the cross. He
lodged in the house of the aforesaid priest, whose mother
was subject to convulsions from an excessive pain she had
in her arm. She wrapped herself in a shirt belonging to
Alphonsus, full of faith in his sanctity, and was immedi
ately cured. All this made the people more than ever
anxious to have the missionaries established among them.
Plans were formed, but the designs of Providence were not
accomplished until a later period-
It was on the 18th of April in this year, that God called
to himself the first member of the Congregation. He was
a lay-brother, Joachim Gaudiello : he died in transports of
joy, exclaiming: "It is I who will carry the standard."
All the virtues seemed to have taken up their abode in this
excellent subject. They had neglected to take his portrait,
and eleven days after his death, in the hope that his body
was still uncorrupted, they opened the coffin, and found
their expectation justified : his body was flexible and entire,
as if still alive.

Providence had destined a new field for Alphonsus to
cultivate in the spring of 1741. His Eminence, Cardinal
Spinelli, having become Archbishop of Naples, by the
death of Cardinal Pignatelli, invited him to supply the
great necessities of his diocese, and persisted in claiming
his services, so that at last he was obliged to yield. That
his other missions might suffer as little as possible, Al
phonsus only took from his own Congregation the Fathers
Sarnelli and Villani, but chose the elite of all the Congre^
gations in Naples to assist him, and above all, the best
missionaries of the Propaganda. The Cardinal wished it
should be so, in order that the others might learn from him

94 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

to conduct missions with more success. He placed at
his disposal a country-house in the Barra, to which the
missionaries might retire to recruit after their fatigue. On
this occasion, the Superior of the Propaganda pretended
that, his Congregation having a pre-eminence over all the
Congregations in Naples, to him belonged the right of de
ciding who should be the chief; but the true motive of his
opposition, was the unwillingness of the members of the
Propaganda to submit themselves to a man, whom they
had so lately wished to expel. The Cardinal, when they
complained, replied: "I am your Archbishop, and I am
Superior of the mission, as well as of all other Congrega
tions in the diocese, and since the missions depend on me,
I am the person to appoint the chief."

It was in the month of May these missions commenced
at Fragola, where Alphonsus opened three at once in three
parochial churches, and where, besides the divers pious prac
tices and exercises he was wont to establish, in order that
the good done might be lasting, he instituted conferences,
to be held every eight days, in which were discussed dif
ferent cases of conscience, in order to render the priests
more skilful in the confessional. After the mission of
Casal Nuovo, which lasted till June, he dismissed the Ne
apolitan missionaries, and notwithstanding the heat of the
summer, he remained with his own at St. Angelo, where
they continued to preach and hear the confessions of
crowds, who came from all quarters. On feast days, he
went himself, with his brethren, into the neighboring ham
lets, exhorting the people to penance.

On these missions, they followed the same rules which had
been established for the interior of the Congregation. The
most common bread only was permitted, Alphonsus holding
the maxim, that the people would be gained rather by ex
ample than by words. When they wished to supply his table
with rare dishes, he sent them away, although his guests
were often Canons from Naples, and other persons of dis
tinction. At Christmas, they expected some relaxation in
these rules, but they were mistaken. Certain persons at-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 95

tached to the service of the Cardinal, said to him on their
return : " Your Eminence is, perhaps, not aware, that Al-
phonsus gave us a treat on Christmas; he made them serve
several additional force-meat balls, on that occasion, at the
risk of ruining his household economy." He allowed the
other missionaries to travel in a carriage, because they were
not accustomed to do otherwise ; but he and his brethren
would only make use of asses.

In the beginning of November, the missionaries met
again, and recommenced their pious labors. During the
Holy Week of 1742, although in the service of Mgr. Spinelli,
Alphonsus could not refuse going to Nocera, to give the
exercises in honor of the Holy Sacrament, in the great
church of Corpus-Christi ; the effects of which were most
consoling.

The Cardinal, considering the abundant blessings Al
phonsus arid his missionaries produced, proposed to estab
lish them in the Barra situated in the centre of his diocese.
But this was far from according with the views of Al
phonsus, as he explained to his Eminence: "When my
missionaries," said he, " will be settled at the Barra, and
have ladies and gentlemen for their penitents, will they
be very willing to leave this place for the hamlets and the
mountains ? And who knows but, fascinated by their
noble penitents, they may fix themselves at Naples for the
greater part of the year?" He continued: "Your Emi
nence is not in want of able workmen at Naples to em
ploy in the care of the diocese, but other Bishops have not
this advantage ; it is not from Naples we can draw mis
sionaries for villages and remote hamlets."

During the octave of Easter, he again began the missions
in the country, and during the season, besides spiritual ex
ercises, he gave more than seventy missions. An eye-wit
ness, speaking of the effect of his labors, says: "Were I
to report all the facts in particular, they would fill volumes.
In the diocese of Naples, the Father D. Alphonsus banished
scandals and abuses without number. No more indecencies
were committed in the church ; women no longer dressed

96 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

in a manner to give scandal, and occasion the weak to sin.
. . . Taverns were no longer frequented, certain dances
and pastimes, formerly in use, were abolished; pious can
ticles replaced the licentious songs so common during the
harvest and vintage." If Alphonsus operated wonders on
the morals of the people, it was due to his extraordinary
labors and fatigues: his body and his mind were continu
ally in action ; no one could understand how he managed to
do what would have overpowered any one else; people said
he lived by miracle ; he often preached twice, sometimes
three times, in one day ; but he preached even more by his
example. He ate little, and the time he gave to sleep was
short. In long journeys, and during the exercises of a mis
sion, whatever his fatigue might be, he never lessened his
bodily austerities, never gave himself the least solace. He
always travelled on aii- ass, and those who did not know
him, often mistook him for a domestic. One day when he
preached at the opening of a mission, the peasants, struck
by the beautiful words which they heard, said to each other,
" Well, if the cook can preach in that manner, what will it
be when the others begin?" He always reserved for him
self the worst bed and the most incommodious chamber.
Every thing came well to him, provided he were mortified
and humiliated. At Casal Nuovo, he gave up to his com
panions the only three rooms that could be had, and kept
for himself a miserable ruin, long uninhabited.

When the heat of summer had increased, and the harvest
time was at hand, Alphonsus sent his missionaries in small
numbers, and for a few days only, to those places where
missions had already been given. These renewals of mis
sions, which he originated, they having been unknown be
fore him, produced much fruit. They re-animated the
fervor of the confraternities which had been established, con
firmed the people in their pious practices, raised those who
had fallen, and encouraged those who persevered. During
this summer, he labored incessantly to promote devotion to
the Mother of God, giving retreats for nine days preceding
any of her feasts. He was also the originator of these

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 97

Novenas, now so common in Naples and other places,
which continue to produce such benefits to the souls of all
who engage in them. After terminating his labors in the
Barra, he returned, in the beginning of July, for a short
time, to Ciorani.

CHAPTER XIII.

Jllphonsus, with his Companions, makes the three Religious
Vows. He founds the House of Nocera. Oppositions he
encounters.

TTITHERTO Alphonsus and his companions had lived
XI together without binding themselves by vows. All
was free and spontaneous; but, considering that in a so
ciety the spirit of religion decays rather than increases,
Alphonsus determined to retain and fix the spirit of piety
by vows, and form his Congregation into an apostolical
community. He represented to his companions the merit
they would acquire before God, when by vows, they should
have sacrificed their own will, and despoiled themselves of
worldly wealth: "The renouncement of our own will,"
he said, " procures more glory to God than all the good
works we could do from our own choice. A delicious
fruit gives pleasure to him to whom we present it; but, if
with the fruit we give also the tree that produces it, the
offering acquires an infinitely greater value." " The vow,"
he added, " will be as a buckler in the hand of the mis
sionary against the devil and his own inconstancy ; it
will confirm him in his vocation to the service of God ; it
will be to him as an anchor to preserve his vessel beaten
and tossed by the winds." The most of his companions
needed no importunities to induce them to make the gen
erous sacrifice ; on the contrary, they never ceased to urge
him to put it into execution. The measure being resolved
upon, Alphonsus thought only of the engagements by
which the members of his Congregation should be bound.
9

98 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUSr

It was determined that each, in preserving his wealth,
should renounce the temporary use of it. He determined
that they should bind themselves to accept no ecclesias
tical dignity, no title, employment, or benefice, out of the
Congregation ; and that they should refuse every thing of
the kind, unless commanded by the Pope himself to
accept. He prescribed a life in common, without distinc
tion of merit or rank, in order to unite them closely in
God, and bind them together by the disinterested ties of
charity. After having, by these rules, banished interest and
cupidity, he desired above all, to unite the hearts of all by
the vow of obedience to the will of one Superior, this
virtue of obedience being the guarantee for the existence
of a religious house. "When obedience and subordina
tion are wanting," he used to say, " a true religious cannot
live, and what would ha-ve been a Paradise by concord, be
comes a Hell by diversity of feeling and sentiment." He
established by unanimous consent, that every one, on the
termination of his novitiate, should take the vow of living
and dying in the Congregation; but in case of a sufficient
cause to act otherwise, dispensation could be obtained,
only, however, from the sovereign Pontiff or the Superior
General, whilst the Congregation would be always free to
send away any one whose conduct should not be edifying,
and who should be incorrigible.

Always distrusting his own light, he recurred frequently
to God, and consulted with many pious persons, above all,
with Mgr. Falcoja. All approved of the plan submitted
to their consideration ; arid at length it was resolved to
proceed to the profession on the day of St. Mary Magda
lene, the 22d of July, 174*2, after three days passed in re
treat, constant prayer, and the most rigorous silence. As
the Institute was not yet confirmed by the Pope, and Al-
phonsus had no legitimate character of Superior, they
agreed to make their vow of perseverance to Mgr. Falcoja,
in his quality of Bishop, as he took such a deep interest in
the Congregation. The joy was unanimous, and Alphonsus,
after having returned thanks to God, and animated his

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS,

99

brethren to be faithful, departed with F. Villani for the
Barra.

Although Alphonsus saw the great good which resulted
from his mission in the diocese of Naples, and the extreme
satisfaction of the Cardinal, it was yet with regret that he
labored there. He thought continually of the want of so
many other places, reflecting that the good could be as
easily done by the numerous zealous and pious missionaries
the Cardinal had at his own disposal. „ He prayed, he disci
plined his bt)dy, and exhorted his brethren of Ciorani to
join with him in prayer, that he might be delivered from
Naples. Unhappy as he was on this subject, he would not
displease the Cardinal, yet it was impossible to remain
much longer in his present condition. He applied to the
Canon James Fontana, a man of much merit, who had a
great influence with the Cardinal, and explained to him his
anxieties on the subject, requesting him to speak with his
Eminence, in order, if possible, to obtain his consent to
withdraw from these missions. The Cardinal was much
annoyed, when the Canon first spoke with him, and de
clared that if Alphonsus left, he would discontinue the
missions altogether. Fontana persisted however, and in
the end persuaded him, that the missions could be carried
on successfully without Alphonsus. But it was only on
condition that F. Sarnelli should be left to superintend
them, that the Cardinal at last consented to part with
Alphonsus. This arrangement being made, F. Sarnelli
remained at Naples until 1748.

Alphonsus took leave of the Archbishop, on the 3d of
July. Mounted on a sorry mule, he traversed the streets
of Naples with F. Villani, and alighted at the gate of the
archiepiscopal palace ; some were edified by his humility,
while others mocked at him and laughed. He placed him
self in an obscure corner of the ante-room, which was
filled with gentlemen and dignified ecclesiastics. In a
few minutes, the Cardinal came out himself, went straight
to Alphonsus, took him by the hand, and led him into his
chamber. He spoke of the missions, the good they had

COLL. CHR!ST! REGIS SJ<
BIB MAJOR

100 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS*

produced, and thanked him for the zeal he had shown in
the cause, and testified the greatest regret at losing him.
Alphonsus, on his part, thanked him for the favors he had
received, and begged his continued protection for the Con
gregation. He then proceeded to Barra, where he had
promised to make the novena of the Assumption, and af
terwards, accompanied by F. Villani, returned to Ciorani.

The projects of the Dean of Nocera now began to take
effect. Clergy and laity were equally desirous to have the
Congregation established there, and the Bishop, Mgr.
Dominicis, sighed for the day of their arrival. The Dean
Contaldi gave the house and furniture, promising to give at
his death a further legacy of three thousand ducats. He
expressed his intention of living in the house with them ;
while they, on their part, promised to care for him as if he
were one of themselves. All was finally arranged, to the
great satisfaction of the inhabitants, in October, 1742. F.
Sportelli was made rector, and the Fathers Mazzini and
Jourdan, were appointed to be with him.

Having disembarrassed himself of Naples, Alphonsus
set about giving missions in the destitute parts of the
country. Here, as elsewhere, his ardent zeal and apostolic
labors were crowned with the most astonishing success.
God also furnished him occasions for exercising patience,
meekness and humility. In one of the numberless villages
where he gave missions, he obtained with great difficulty
a lodging in a monastery, where the Archbishop had
ordered him to be received. The Superior received him
with a very bad grace, and took leave of him still more
rudely. As soon as the mission was terminated, he turned
him out of the monastery, notwithstanding his being at
tacked by fever in consequence of fatigue ; he left the
place without uttering a word of complaint. By order of
the Archbishop, he went to St. Thecla, although he was
scarcely convalescent. Here also he was rudely received
by the Curate, who pretended he could not lodge him,
and that he had sent a message to tell him so. Alphonsus
tried in vain to calm his bad humor, and at length a no-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 101

tary, who was present, indignant at such a behaviour, gave
him and his companions accommodation in his own house.
This mission was attended with great results. Again at
Correa, the Curate would not have a mission there, al
though the Archbishop of Amalfi had commanded it, and
when Alphonsus arrived, he was refused admission to the
house. Without being disconcerted, he quietly took
refuge in a corner of the church. A gentleman, who wit
nessed the proceeding, received the missionaries into his
own house, and this mission also had wonderful success.

While Alphonsus, after the course of these missions,
always more and more disgusted with the world, did pen
ance at Ciorani, and labored for the salvation of men, the
world did its best to attract him again. His father, D.
Joseph, could not endure the thought, that his brilliant
talents should be employed in the country among poor
peasants and shepherds; he wished to see him occupy a
dignified position in the Church. To obtain this, he em
ployed every artifice, but Alphonsus, on his part, was
invulnerable to all attacks. " Speak no more to me," he
wrote to him, "on the subject of the episcopate; even if
you succeed in obtaining a bishopric for me, I will in
stantly refuse it. We have a rule in our Congregation to
refuse all such dignities." D. Joseph desired to see his
son raised to dignities in this world, while Alphonsus only
wished to see his father obtain great glory in heaven. He
wrote to him about this time as follows: "I beseech you,
my dear father, to keep yourself more closely united with
God. Confess often, and have your accounts ready, for
our Lord will come at an hour when we least expect.
Think of your advanced age, for who knows how soon
you may be called from this world ? That day will come,
whether we watch or not: I recommend you to hear mass
every day, for I fear much for your eternal salvation. I
hope the Virgin Mary will assist you, but without your co
operation she will do nothing."

While affairs were prospering at Nocera, Mgr. Dominicia
obtained the sanction for the establishment of the house
9*

102 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

and in July, 1743, he issued the letters of authorization.
As there was not yet at Pagani'a house and church suit
able for the new missionaries, the bishop granted them, in
the mean time, the church of St. Dominic. When the first
stone of the new establishment was laid, the chapter of
the cathedral and the four curates of the Dean attended,
the Dean himself giving the benediction. The construc
tion was hardly commenced, when materials flowed in from
all quarters, as if by miracle. Men and women strove to
rival each other in contributing towards its erection ; they
labored with their own hands; ladies of quality, gentle
men, all united to hasten the progress of the work. Mar
ried, as well as unmarried, despoiled themselves of their
jewels and ornaments to contribute towards the establish
ment, and the seven communes voted one hundred
ducats.

About this time, when the people of Angri found out
the good Alphonsus was doing everywhere, they insisted
on having a mission, the place containing about five thou-.
«and souls. He went there in the month of November,
and was received as an Apostle, each striving to procure
some object that he had worn or touched. He lodged in
the house of Laurence Rossi, whose daughter obtained
from a lay-brother a pair of stockings tinged with his
blood. She preserved them very devoutly, but a religious
reproving her for doing so, Alphonsus being still alive, she
gave them away to a poor man whose legs were swollen
with dropsy. Some days after, he returned to the house
•entirely cured, and when she expressed her astonishment,
he replied: "From the time you gave me the stockings,
the swelling has disappeared." Alphonsus gathered in
this mission the most wonderful fruits. They calculated
there were in this place one hundred and twenty-eight
women of the town ; but when the mission was finished,
there was no longer one, all had been reformed. More
iih-in three hundred young girls bid adieu to the world, and
embraced the religious life, and a priest whose life bad
ibeeri scandalous, became a siucere penitent.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 103

He had not yet been in the centre of the town of No-
cera. But as soon as they heard the wonders he had ac
complished at Angri, they solicited him to preach in the
church of St. Matthew, a parish containing about six thou
sand souls. He exhorted the faithful of the parish to erect
a statue to our Lady of Dolors, in the church. Immedi
ately the women brought every thing they had most pre
cious in gold and silver; the offerings were so numerous
that a considerable sum remained, which was given to the
poor. During this mission, the most glorious Virgin tes
tified also her love for him by operating the most extraor
dinary conversions at his intercession. The evening he
arrived, an unfortunate young man arose during the night
to engage in a sinful transaction. He had a repugnance,
however, to commit sin with the scapular about his neck :
he took it off to place it in a hole in the wall, but when he
extended his hand, he felt himself drawn back, and fled
from the spot in terror. The following night the Blessed
Virgin, wishing to recompense the slight homage paid to
her scapular, appeared to him in a dream. " Miserable
being," she said. " thou hadst respect for my scapular, and
thou hadst no horror for offending my Son ; to-morrow F.
Alphonsus will come here to give a mission, go to confess
to him, and amend thy life." The young man had never
heard of Alphonsus, and knew nothing of the mission ;
l>ut fiext morning he went to find a kind of fortune-teller,
to have his dream interpreted, but before lift opened his
mouth, this person addressed him with: "Do you not
know that F. Alphonsus has arrived to-day to give a mis
sion ?" When the young man heard the words "Al
phonsus," and " mission," he was thunderstruck ; he ran
in haste to the dwelling of Alphonsus, and recounted to
him the whole story. "So then," said Alphonsus, hi*
eyes filling with tears, " our good Mother has sent you to
me." He reconciled him with God, and his life ever afier
was most edifying.

When they opened the mission at Ciorani, they found
the house much too small to receive the numbers of clergy

104 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

and laity who came to make retreats. Alphonsus, there
fore, at the suggestion of the Archbishop, proposed to ex
tend the buildings, but F. Rossi, who was Superior, differ
ing from him in opinion, because of their want of funds,
"My father," said he, " we ought not to build as seculars
do, who begin by amassing money, and then set to work:
we ought to follow an opposite rule, we ought first to
build, and afterwards expect from Providence what is ne
cessary." F. Rossi obeyed, and animated by the confi
dence of Alphonsus, he began with only one sequin in
his pocket, but he had never cause to regret his obedience,
for, independently of his own liberality, the Archbishop
wrote a circular to incite all the diocese to contribute to
wards the work. In consequence, considerable sums were
forwarded to them, and these were not confined to the dio
cese. There happened also two remarkable instances of
Providence. One day, F. Rossi being dispirited because of
the expense, a young man presented himself to be re
ceived into the Congregation as a lay-brother, and F.
Rossi admitted him provisionally. In withdrawing to pre
pare for admission, he put into the hands of the father
some pieces of money wrapped up in a paper, asking him
to say mass for him. The paper seemed to contain about
ten shillings; but what was his surprise on opening it, to
find a hundred gold ducats. He immediately sent after the
young man, but he could not be heard of, and never was
seen again. On another day, Alphonsus called together
the young students, and ordered them to get up a petition
to Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament, for the suc
cess of the newly begun building. When it was signed, he
deposited it in the tabernacle, adjoining his own petition
to that of the young clerics. Scarcely mid he done this,
when he was called to Naples, to vote for several gentle
men who wished to receive the order of Knighthood,
at the seat of Porta Nuova. He instantly set out on a
wretched mule, and arrived at Porta Nuova. On attempt
ing to enter, the guard mistook him for gome vagabond,
ami rudely repulsed him. His clothes were shabby, his

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 105

beard unshorn, and his hair in disorder ; he smiled at the
mistake, and waited quietly until the chevalier in waiting
perceived him, and advanced to meet him, not with the
usual forms of salutation, but respectfully kissing his hand,
to the great astonishment and confusion of the guard.
On this occasion he received a present so considerable,
thai it sufficed to finish the building.

About this time, D. Joseph Liguori came to Ciorani to
visit his son. He admired the edifying life they led, the
silence which reigned, and the odor of sanctity which
pervaded every thing. It filled his mind with thoughts
of eternity, and detached his heart from worldly things.
He felt a holy envy at the happiness of his son's life,
pressed him to his bosom, and blessed the Lord for the
benediction showered upon his house. He prolonged
his stay at Ciorani, and every day more taken with the
humble and peaceful life of the fathers, he took the reso
lution of forsaking the world, renouncing his rank, and
living under the direction of his son, as an humble lay-
brother, and besought admission with tears in his eyes.
But Alphonsus, though delighted with the humility of his
father, nevertheless, dissuaded him from his purpose, assur
ing him that it was not the will of God he should leave
the world, but remain in it to edify by his example. He
returned to Naples an altered man. Not content with
being a pious and exemplary nobleman, he wished to be
come a saint ; he lived like a fervent anchorite, praying in
the church, meditating and reading the lives of the saints
at home. He kept up a regular correspondence with his
son, following his counsels in all that concerned his sal
vation.

The sun still shone which had enlightened with its
beams the birth of the house of Nocera, but about this
time it became obscured by clouds, and serious alarms suc
ceeded to the dawn of its morning hopes. The devil
feared the increase of a work so contrary to his designs,
and attacked it immediately through the envy that began to
fill the hearts of some in the neighborhood. They sue-

106 USE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

ceeded in alienating the minds of many, and diminishing
the respect in which the public had held the missionaries,
which ended at last in irritation and contempt. Some
priests, with the gentry, continued to favor Alphonsus, but
the fire was too strong to be put down by such feeble means.
Twenty-five curates entered into a league with other
priests; the religious mendicants of Nocera and Pagani
joined them. They invited the fathers of Mount Olive, of
the order of Citeaux, and those of Montevergine, to join
the crusade, but they were horror-struck at the proposition.
There remained but two of the curates of Pagani not op
posed to the missionaries. When the plot was formed, the
first move was to endeavor to prejudice the king, but God
made known his displeasure in a singular manner. They
employed a celebrated advocate to write out a memorial of
their grievances ; he took up a pen, it would not write;
he tried a second and a third, but all to no purpose ; he at
length succeeded in writing a page, but when about to
turn over the leaf, instead of throwing sand upon it, he,
lifted the ink by mistake, and blotted all he had written.
Struck by these mysterious accidents, he exclaimed: "Em
ploy whom you will, but as for me, I will have nothing
more to do with any business against these missionaries,"
and so saying, tore the paper in pieces. This fact made
great impression on people of sense, but none on the
enemies of the missionaries. They employed another ad-
v^ocate, and God permitted the affair to proceed. In order
to gain their end with the king, they would fain have per
suaded the bishop to concur in their views, but their ef
forts were vain. Indignant at their wicked designs, he
shut his ears to all their representations ; and to show how
much he esteemed the missionaries, he, in spite of the mal
contents, chose one of them for his own confessor, and
when he visited his diocese, caused two of the fathers to
accompany him to preach to the people and fill the other
offices.

In spite of this check, the courage of their enemies was
not abated, but rather increased. The friendship and pro-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 107

tection of many excellent priests and wealthy gentlemen
of the neighborhood, did not prevent them giving themselves
up to all sorts of excess. If any of the fathers appeared
in the town, he was assailed with taunts and loaded with
insults. One day, while preparing to say mass in the paro
chial church, one of them had the amice pulled out of his
hands. The lay-brothers had their share in these outrages
whenever any of them appeared in the street. The
Brother Anthony de Lauro, being one day digging in the
garden, a man passing on the other side of the hedge, be
gan to abuse him grossly ; the brother continued to dig, as
if he heard nothing, and this so irritated the man, that he
jumped into the garden, ran up to him, and gave him a
violent blow on the face. The holy brother showed no re
sentment, but knelt down and offered the other cheek ; the
man withdrew, covered with confusion. During the silence
of night, they would come howling under the windows,
singing indecent songs and using violent language. Al-
phonsus was then at Ciorani, but as soon as he heard what
was going on at Nocera, he came thither with all speed.
But how different was his reception now from what it had
formerly been! A person came to the house and addressed
him as a vagabond, accusing him of coming with his com
panions to seduce the inhabitants, to eat the bread of their
children, and that being but miserable wretches, banished
from their own country, they had thrown themselves on
this country to devour it. At these odious words, AI-
phonsus humbled himself, but his humility redoubled the
audacity of his adversary, who continued abusing him a
long time. The petition addressed to the king had no
success; he knew too well the merit of Alphonsus and
his disciples, to allow himself to be deceived. No more
success had another, addressed to the Viceroy, during the
absence of the king in the Abbruzzi, his ministers know
ing the probity of the missionaries and the favorable dispo
sition of the king. Being thus defeated, they began to
seek help in Nocera itself. They went to Contaldi, on
whom Alphonsus leant, and who had aided him in the

108 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

establishment at Pagani. Vice assumed the appearance
of virtue so successfully, that he allowed himself to be
gained, and began to repent of what he had done for Al-
phonsus. Knowing from what had happened at the Vi'la,
that they were threatened with a similar misfortune, Ai-
phonsus inquired diligently to know the will of God; he
went to Naples to consult with those enlightened and pious
friends, by whose advice he was guided in his difficulties.
He went also to Castellamare to consult Mgr. Falcoja, and
while they were talking, the bishop suddenly casting his
eyes on a small statue of St. Michael, exclaimed : " It ig
the devil, it is the devil; hold firm, and continue to fight;
God and St. Michael will protect you/' He then advised
him to dedicate the house and the church to the arch
angel Michael.

The tempest, far from abating, continued to rage with
redoubled violence at Pagani. Alphonsus prayed and mor
tified himself, he besought the prayers of many holy souls,
particularly of religious houses, and ceased not to go on
with the missions wherever he was asked. His enemies
continued their hostilities, and not content with attempting
to ruin the house at Pagani, they desired to blot out the
Congregation from the face of the earth. But their con
tinual intrigues, their daily cavilings, at length aroused the
zeal of several gentlemen of Nocera, Pagani, and other
places in the neighborhood, who boldly declared them
selves in favor of Alphonsus and his companions, and soon
there was hardly one respectable family who did not take
their part. The three general, and seven special syndics of
the seven municipal communities of the district of Nocera,
convoked therefore an assembly of the inhabitants, where
all the communities, with the exception of those of Pagani,
decided that the missionaries should be defended arid
upheld. When this manifestation of good feeling was re
ported to Alphonsus, he burst into tears at finding the
good he had done among them appreciated by the most
important class. But by this his enemies became more
and more embittered, and in the beginning of June, 1744,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 109

they attacked him both at Naples and Rome : chiafly at
tempting to prove that the existence of the Congregation
was contrary to civil and canon laws. When Alphonsus
saw that with the branches they would destroy the roots
also, he recalled the ancient spirit which had animated him
at the bar, and with the civil law in his hand, he collected
the means of defence, established the reasons which proved
the rights of their cause, and showed in what circumstances
a convent could be called lawful or illegal. At Rome, he
knew equally well how to reduce his enemies to silence,
confounding them by bulls of Sovereign Pontiffs, and by
the authority of canon law. As to the calumnies"~against
the lives of the members of his Congregation, he would not
notice them, for they were sufficiently contradicted by
public notoriety. The memorials he produced pleased the
Sovereign at Naples, and obtained favor with the Pope and
the Cardinals.

After having been defeated in this attempt, they had re
course to the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regu
lars ; but the gentlemen of Pagani, Nocera, Corbara and
St. Egidio, no sooner learned of this new attack, than
they armed themselves to defend Alphonsus. Thirty-six
of them undertook, the 16th of July, 1744, to charge them
selves with the conduct of this affair at Rome, and to pro
cure an advocate and procurator. At the same time, sev
eral curates, the chapter of the Cathedral, the clergy of
Nocera, and twenty-three ecclesiastics of Pagani, declared
themselves to the Pope, in favor of Alphonsus. Benedict
XIV then occupied the Holy See, and hearing thus of an
institution lately established in the Church, he wished to
inquire into the merits of its founder. He accordingly in
structed Cardinal Spinola to obtain exact information from
the Bishop of Nocera. In consequence of this, Mgr.
Dominicis replied the 3d of August. After having shown
that the complaints of the malcontents were unfounded,
and after having combatted their calumnies, he proceeded
to the most important point, that is to say, the end for
which Alphonsus proposed to found the Congregation, and
10

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONStJS.

finished by an eulogium on his sanctity, and the high esti
mation in which he was held by the Cardinal Archbishop
of Naples and many other bishops.

The bad success of this last attempt was not sufficient
to make the malcontents renounce their enterprise. They
got possession of the royal decree, and by bribing the un
derlings of office, they altered the words from " the king
permits the erection of a house with a church," to " the
king permits the erection of a house without a church,"
and with this in their hands, they hastened to the commis
sary of the king, who was persuaded that Alphonsus in
building a church had gone beyond his limits. On the
16th day of July, the commissary despatched an order to
Nocera, to discontinue the building at Pagani. This time,
the wicked triumphed, and Alphonsus was in great em
barrassment, not knowing how to proceed. He sent F.
St. Severino to Naples, to the Minister of State, the Mar
quis Brancone, to inform him of the obstacle, and request
his assistance to remove it. The Marquis was aston
ished when he heard of this, for he remembered that the
king had expressly given leave to build a church. He
ordered one of the clerks of the bureau to produce the
•egister, and wrote in it with his own hand, " a house with
a church," saying with a tone of severity, for he suspected
<he fraud that had been committed, "I know the intention
of the king," and ordered him to go instantly to inform the
commissary, and tell him the true state of the case. It
was necessary to submit, and on the 21st of July, an order
was transmitted to the Syndic of Pagani, to permit the pro
gress of the building.

In spite of all their successive defeats, the malcontents
were not proof against a new temptation, which, like their
rormer fraud, turned to their own confusion. Beaten at
Naples, repulsed at Rome, they appealed to the tribunals.
Contaldi would not appear against them in person, but a
I'Tocess was commenced in the name of his sister, to com
pel the miFsionaries to abandon the house. She forced
i.erself unexpectedly into the house, accompanied by

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. Ill

twenty other persons and two notaries, before whom she
declared that the house was her property. Alphonsus,
when he heard of this, came immediately to Nocera to
consult on what was to be done, when the bishop and
other friends advised him not to yield. A celebrated advo
cate undertook the cause, and the pretended proprietor
ship of the sister was soon exposed, to the confusion of
those who had attempted to play off such a trick. But
their resentment, far from being checked, exhibited itself in
every thing that could cause annoyance to the fathers.
One day, a person of rank, belonging to the clergy, said
to Alphonsus : "If you will act the thief, and rob people
by force, why do you not go to the highways." "Blessed
be God," meekly replied Alphonsus, " I have left my house
to be treated as a robber at Nocera !"

In the month of August, they made another attempt at
Rome, but warned by experience, they no longer attacked
Alphonsus, but confined themselves to defaming his com
panions. This roused all the most respectable inhabitants
of Nocera and Pagani in their favor. The three general
Syndics took upon themselves the expense of defending
the Congregation at Rome. On the other hand, Benedict
XIV, again charged Cardinal Spinola to make new in
quiries of Cardinal Spinelli at Naples, and also of the
Archbishop of Salerno, Mgr. Rossi. All this was the
work of Providence, in order that the Congregation might
become known to the Sovereign Pontiff and the world at
large ; in reality, the brilliant testimony rendered by these
two dignitaries of the Church, hastened the approbation
given by the Court of Rome in favor of the new Institute.

In the mean time, Mgr. Dominicis attempted to arrange
the affair by arbitration ; the proposal was agreed to by
both parties; but when Contaldi stated that he would take
upon himself the debts contracted, provided the mission
aries evacuated the premises and quitted Pagani, and, if
they would not, he would shut up the church of St. Domi
nic, and force them to live as simple individuals, the bishop
in the greatest indignation broke up the meeting, and

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

turning to the fathers said : " Prosecute your cause at Rome
and at Naples, trust in Cardinal Spinelli ; God will protect
you." Mgr. Dominicis died on the 22d of August of this
year, and to the great dismay of the disaffected, he was
succeeded by Mgr. Volpe, who was equally well disposed
towards the missionaries as his predecessor had been.

CHAPTER XIV.

Jllphonsut founds the Houses of Iliceto and Caposeh, and
establishes a Novitiate. His first Publications. He seeks
to have his Congregation approved by the King.

WHILE the house of Pagani was thus agitated by the
tempest, and Alphohsus with his companions, drank,
during eight months, the bitter chalice of tribulation, God
opened a new field to him, destined to receive seed no less
productive than that which had hitherto been sown. The
prince of Castellaneta, D. Matthias Miroballo, of Aragon,
besought Alphonsus to visit his fief of Iliceto, to give the
inhabitants the instruction and consolation of which they
were so much in want; the Bishop of Bovino, Mgr. Lucci,
dispatched at the same time a canon of his Cathedral,
James Casati, to join in the invitation. Alphonsus, acced
ing to the demand, arrived there with his companions, on
the 12th of November. This mission had the usual suc
cess. But the Canon had a further object in view. At
the corner of a wood, called the Vallin-Vincoli, on a small
elevation, stood an ancient church, dedicated to the Virgin,
under the title of Mary of Consolation. It had once be
longed to the Augustinians, and in the church was a large
painting of the Virgin Mary, for which the faithful of the
neighborhood had a great devotion. There the Canon had
resolved on establishing a community. Alphonsus how
ever hesitated to accept the proposal, because the distance
between the church and any inhabited place was very

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 113

considerable ; but when visiting the picture, he was so
captivated, that the Fathers Cafaro and St. Severino easily
persuaded him to accept the offer, to the great joy of all
the people, and to settle there at once. Near Iliceto there
were vast domains of the crown, where thousands of men
were employed in keeping flocks and herds, and cultivating
the ground ; a great number of whom rarely received any
spiritual assistance, and, even on feast days, had seldom an
opportunity of hearing mass. Touched by their destitu
tion, Alphonsus sent his companions out in different direc
tions, to distribute to them the bread of life ; and he
looked forward to the house of Iliceto becoming the place
from whence these abandoned people would derive spi
ritual succor in time to come. His Majesty gave his ap
probation for this new house, on the 9th of January, 1745.

Having arranged the affairs of this house, he assembled
his companions, and departed towards the end of the
same month, for Madugno, where D. Dominic Fiori, profes
sor of music in the Cathedral of Naples, had invited him
to give a mission, being determined to found a house in this
his native place, having himself no heir to succeed him.
This mission was a difficult one, and cost much labor and
fatigue ; it lasted forty days, so great were the wants of
the inhabitants. It was in this mission, that Alphonsus,
one morning, while celebrating mass in the church of a
monastery, was raised several feet from the ground, as
the religious attested. As for the foundation of a house
in the place, he advised Fiori to make arrangements
with the fathers of St. Vincent of Paul, having heard that
the king had granted them an establishment in the
neighborhood, and not wishing to interfere with this
foundation.

After their return from Madugno, Alphonsus and his
companions suffered much in their new establishment at
Iliceto. Besides their voluntary penances, they experi
enced on all sides suffering and affliction. A priest who
was there during that winter, said in a letter, " the bread
was of rye, mixed with bran, black as a coal, and ill baked,
10*

114 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

and sometimes the}7 had none at all, and were obliged to
accept the charity of an old man, who lived on the produce
of his goats and the culture of a small field near his cot
tage. For pottage, they had a species of broth or panada,
or bruised beans, so old that they had the color of bread.
They never tasted meat, except when some sheep or cow
died of exhaustion. They had no fruits but wild chestnuts
or crab apples. They rarely had wine, and then but in
small quantity, and very bad. On feast days, they had a
large cake made of the same flour as the bread, but sea
soned with a little cheese and salt, for sugar or pepper
were luxuries they could not afford. They had no linen,
and no money to buy it. They were almost shirtless, arid
could only change once in two or three weeks. There
never was a religious house where greater poverty reigned:
their clothes were ragged and patched. . . . The house
was an old convent, suppressed during the pontificate of
Innocent XI, and but a mass of ruins. The wind blew
more keenly within than without, the walls were full of
cracks, the partitions brick without mortar. The windows
were of oiled paper instead of glass. The roof was bad,
the cells without ceiling, so that the snow covered the beds
during winter; in short, the misery was so great, that one
of the fathers lost courage, and returned to the world."
Among all these miseries, or rather in consequence of
them, Alphonsus had the misfortune to lose his dear Vitus
Curzius. During the month of July, he was sent out to
beg for a little corn. Although the good brother was
unaccustomed to traverse the country during the burning
heats, he nevertheless obeyed cheerfully ; but one evening,
being refused a lodging where he had applied for one, he
slept in the field, and, during the night, was seized with a
violent fever. Not being able to drag himself to his con
vent, he was taken into the house by a charitable priest, and
ifter forty-nine days of intense suffering, went to receive
the reward of his labors in the mansions of the blessed.
This death afflicted Alphonsus deeply, though he was con
soled on the other hand, by the reflection that he had died

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 115

rich in merits and virtues. An abridgment of his life has
been written by Alphonsus himself.

The fury of the disaffected of Pagani was not abated,
and new plots were invented to ruin the missionaries.
Contaldi, finding himself disappointed in obtaining his ob
ject through the instrumentality of others, threw off the
mask, and openly attacked them. Scarcely had Alphonsus
returned from the Pouille, when he openly revoked the
donation he had made in their favor, and in concert with
his sister, called them to appear before the council of the
king. Not knowing how to justify his steps, he pYetended
that the missionaries had deceived him in usurping the
title of Congregation, when they had neither been recog
nised by the king nor the Pope ; he demanded, in conse
quence, that they should be forbidden to build, protesting
that he had made the donation not for a religious commu
nity, but for a college of priests. But the royal council,
having sent an auditor to verify the facts, the claims of
Contaldi were found insufficient, and on the llth of Janu
ary, 1745, the auditor, in the name of the council, con
firmed the missionaries in the possession of the property,
the donation being found valid and inviolable.

This disappointment did not abate his animosity. He
presented a claim to the king, filled with malignity rather
than reason. But the Syndic of Pagani and three other
Syndics, undertook the defence, and the indubitable integ
rity of Alphonsus and his companions, made his Majesty
withstand all his numerous attempts against them. It was
plain, however, that these men acted entirely at the insti
gation of the devil. For they introduced two barrels of
gun-powder under the foundation of the house, and had
not one of their accomplices, stung by remorse of con
science, revealed the plot, the whole \vould have been de
stroyed. From that moment, they were obliged to keep a
strict watch nightly. Alphonsus was then at Iliceto, and
far from being discouraged by this barbarous attempt, his
confidence became greater from having escaped so many
imminent dangers. Until now, the fathers had lived under

116 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

the same roof with Contaldi, and were, therefore, placed
under a continual restraint. At last, on the 24th of Sep
tember, 1745, they resolved to remove to the new building,
without heeding the risk they ran from damp and other
inconveniences. When Alphonsus, at Iliceto, heard of
their installation, he rejoiced exceedingly, and wrote to
urge them tp a stricter observance of the rule, which had
been somewhat interrupted by all the previous proceed
ings, assuring them that God would bless them and make
them become saints, only inasmuch as they observed the
rule in its strictness.

The malcontents, provoked to see them established in
their new house, again conspired against them, and ob
tained an order from the council, forbidding them to do any
thing new. Their intention was thus to interdict their en
trance into the church of^St. Dominic, where they had till
now, exercised their -ministry, and to prevent the comple
tion of the little church yet in progress of building, hoping
that by depriving them thus of every opportunity of per
forming the functions of their ministry, they would force
them definitely to abandon the foundation. Informed of
all this, on the evening before the day on which they ex
pected to receive the formal orders, Father Sportelli be
sought some gentlemen of Nocera to detain the king's
officer for one night only. This was done, as he had de
sired, and during the night he sent for the workmen, and
in spite of the protestations of the architect, he boldly
took away the props, smoothed the earth, erected a por
table altar, and arranged, as well as he could, a sort of
confessional. They ornamented the altar and the walls
with hangings and tapestry, placed garlands and artificial
flowers about it, and having, the evening before, obtained
permission to bless the church, at day-break, he celebrated
mass, preached, confessed, and gave communion to the
people. During the proceedings, the officer arrived, fol
lowed by a crowd, and calling for F. Sportelli, and those
of the household, he declared to them by order of the king,
that no one must have the temerity to attempt any thing

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 117

new, at the risk of incurring the penalties mentioned in
the decree. " We will do nothing new," replied^F. Spor-
telli, "and we will conform to the order you bring, but I
protest that this edifice is a church ; the Holy Sacrifice has
been celebrated in it, we have preached in it, and in it the
holy sacraments have been administered to the people."
Thus they were outwitted in their attempt, and hell had to
yield the victory.

While Alphonsus was at Iliceto, another circumstance
occurred to second his zeal for the salvation of the people.
Benedict XIV, convinced of the great good produced by
missions, conceived the project of reforming, by means of
them, the whole kingdom of Naples. By a brief dated the
8th of September, 1745, he delegated Cardinal Spinelli to
superintend this work, with full powers to send whom he
would. Many bishops, upon this, solicited him to send
into their dioceses Alphonsus and his missionaries, to
which the Cardinal agreed, well knowing the good they
did. When the time of the vintage was over, Alphonsus,
having received the necessary commission from the Car
dinal, and provided with particular graces from the holy
Father, began his mission in the diocese of Bovino. At
Foggia, the capital of the Pouille, a terrible example ot
divine justice occurred, and served as a powerful warning
to sinners. One of the Fathers went through the public
places to call the people to the church. Happening to
pass before a tavern, he invited the drinkers to take part in
the mission. A tipsy fellow, holding up his glass, called
out : " My Father, would you like to see what is my mis
sion ?" and putting it to his lips, he instantly dropped
down dead. Another circumstance which happened, gave
a high idea of the sanctity of Alphonsus. One evening
he was preaching before the image of the blessed Virgin of
Seven Veils, which they had exposed on the altar. When
he spoke of the glories of the Mother of God, the people
believed they saw an angel rather than a man. A bright
ray of light darted from the image, and rested on the coun
tenance of Alphonsus, who, at the same moment, fell into

118 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

an ecstasy, and was elevated several feet into the air. At
this spectacle the people uttered such loud cries of joy,
that crowds from a distance ran tumultuously towards the
church. More than four thousand persons witnessed this
miracle.

In a rich and commercial town, great numbers of chari
table persons are to be found. Many purses, therefore,
were opened to Alphonsus, who earnestly sought out the
most necessitous. Young girls were succored, whose
poverty placed them in danger; others were placed in
orphan houses. Asylums were procured for repentant
sinners, and the aged were assisted in their necessities.
Christian charity reigned in all hearts, and the town was
delivered from many sources of sin.

During the mission at Troy, one day, when on the point
of mounting the pulpit, Alphonsus was told of his father's
death. He remained some time in prayer, and then re
commended him to the prayers of the people. He had
heard of his illness, but was so much occupied in his apos
tolic labors, that he sacrificed the feelings of nature to his
God, and continued the mission. When at St. Agatha, he
was seized with fever; but this did not prevent his preach-'
ing, and when he appeared in the pulpit, the sight of him
alone produced compunction in the hearts of the people.
After this mission, he was called to Iliceto, the Canon
Casati being dangerously ill. Unable to ride because of
his fever, he was obliged to take a carriage, and arrived
the evening before the Canon expired. He had left all he
possessed to the Most Holy Virgin Mary of Consolation,
and at his request was buried in the church, at the feet of
the Virgin. Alphonsus, full of gratitude for his donation,
celebrated his funeral with the utmost magnificence, and
had one hundred ducats distributed to the poor.

From the month of March, 1746, a great drought had
desolated the Pouille, and the seeds sown were almost de
stroyed. The inhabitants of Foggia besought Alphonsus
to give a novena in honor of the Blessed Virgin, knowing
how much he was beloved by her. He was still at Iliceto,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 119

ill of a fever, but when he heard how afflicted they were at
Foggia, he immediately set out, and was received as an
angel from heaven. The novenahad scnrcoly commenced,
when his fever suddenly left hi:ii : the usin fell in abun
dance, the seed was saved, and pi (Minced a rich harvest.
During his sojourn in this town, God prepared the foun
dation of another house in the diocese of Conza. The
Archbishop, Mgr. Nicolai, regretted to see himself at the
head of a vast province in the greatest want of spiritual
assistance. When he had learned the services the Con-
gregation had rendered to so many dioceses, he sent im
mediately the archpriest Rossi, to meet Alphonsu> «J
Foggia. He was by no means anxious to embrace the
proposal, circumstances not seeming favorable, but at the
request of F. Villani, he consented to give a mission there,
in order to see more clearly the will of God. During the
mission, on the third of June, he went with several gentle
men to visit the church which was offered him, and which
bore the name of Mater Domini. He was pleased with
the situation, being in the midst of an archdiocese, sur
rounded by many other dioceses in great want of spi
ritual aid.

The Archbishop being then at Calabritto, a few miles off,
Alphonsus went to visit him. Mounted on a mule, he ar
rived at the house of the family del Plato, where the Arch
bishop was staying. Hearing he was at dinner, he went
into a small chapel in a wing of the palace, to say his
office. While there, the eldest son came to shut the door,
and seeing a man covered with rags, and with an unshorn
beard, he took him for a vagabond, who was waiting to
beg from the Archbishop, and told him to go out, as he
was about to shut the door. " Would you have the good
ness to wait until I finish vespers," said Alphonsus. " Go
out instantly," said the young man, " it is only yesterday
we had a napkin stolen, it would be too much to have
another stolen to-day." Alphonsus was forced to go out,
and finish his vespers in the street. After some time, he
presented himself at the palace, and the Archbishop, hear-

120 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

ing of his arrival, came out and received him with every
mark of esteem. The young del Plato looked confounded,
and his confusion increased, when he found Alphonsus
was a noble Neapolitan gentleman, and Superior of a
mission. Alphonsus appeared not to notice the young
man's confusion, but continued the conversation, and after
having arranged a meeting at Caposele, he returned in
time for the evening sermon.

God showered down many benedictions on this mission.
The humility, the modesty, the contempt of himself, shown
by Alphonsus, touched all hearts as much as his sermons.
At this time he suffered such violent tooth-ache as to
cause convulsions. Notwithstanding this, one evening he
spoke for two hours, and at last overpowered by fatigue,
he had to be carried home, from total inability to walk.
Generally, in his sermons, he seemed to be ravished out of
himself, and one evening, while he preached, God made
him see in spirit what was passing at Iliceto. " We are
occupied here with the mission," he said, " and at this
moment the devil is tormenting my poor children at Ili
ceto." Next morning, a lay-brother came to see him, and
spoke with him for three hours of the miseries they were
enduring there.

The Archbishop came to Caposele, and arrived during
a sermon on the blessed Virgin. He was so much touched
that he wept, and determined to assist daily at the sermons.
The archpriest Rossi arrived at this time, with several
other gentlemen, who resolved on contributing towards
the establishment of the Congregation there. All seemed
to go well, but it was necessary that the devil should at
tempt to overturn it. A party among the clergy, addressed
to the Archbishop a protestation against the new project.
When Alphonsus heard of this, he said : "I like to see op
position, it is a mark that the devil apprehends defeat, but
God will triumph." When the Archbishop went to the
hermitage, accompanied by the gentlemen friendly to the
measure, a priest, a very learned man, who had great in
fluence with both clergy and people, attended to oppose the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 121

foundation in the name of the chapter. Having entered
the church to visit the Blessed Virgin, as he approached
the altar dedicated to the divine Mother, he was struck
with apoplexy, and his mouth was twisted on one side. He
recognised the just punishment, and turning towards the
Virgin, said : " Mother of my God, I protest that I have no
longerthe intention of opposing the foundation." No sooner
had he uttered these words, than he recovered, and his mouth
resumed its natural position. He immediately joined the
others, and far from resisting, he now seconded the pro
posal with all his eloquence. On the 4th of June, 1746,
the establishment of the Congregation was decided upon.
When the news spread at Caposele, that the missionaries
were to be established in the diocese, every one testified
the most unbounded joy. A noble family in the neighbor
hood put their forests at their disposal, to supply the wood
for the buildings. The inhabitants had another consola
tion in the fulfilment of the prophecy of St. John Joseph
of the Cross, that at the end of twenty years, a devout and
zealous community of missionaries would be established
among them. The twenty years had just expired.

In Pagani, they were not yet left unmolested. The
Grand Council having repulsed them, Contaldi tried to
obtain satisfaction from the commissary of the king, and
this magistrate, being deceived, had ordered the sequestra
tion of certain rents that had been assigned to them, and
that they should be given to others. To embroil matters
still more, Contaldi made to a priest who was related to
him, a donation of a certain property he had already given
to the missionaries, and by these measures ceased not to
keep them in continual disquiet. Alphonsus could not
see without sorrow the vexations his companions had to
endure, but this did not lessen his zeal; he continued to givt-
missions in the country round about, which were always
attended with the greatest success, vice disappearing, and
virtue reigning in its stead.

Towards the end of December, 1746, Foggia invited
him again, and he eagerly yielded to the request ; but on
11

122

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

his arrival, he found that a theatre with foreign come
dians had been opened, and that certain gentlemen had
bound themselves to support it. This new occasion of sin
grieved him exceedingly, and lie did all in his power to
engage them to send the comedians away, but without
success; upon which he left the town, and when they
would persuade him to stay, he replied : " We cannot at
the same time serve God and the devil. Foggia will not
listen to me, but God will lay his heavy hand upon her, and
chastise her for her libertinism." Scarcely had he departed,
when the town was shaken with a violent earthquake ; they
sent after him, but he would not return at that time.

The building of the new house at Caposele was now
begun, and carried on with great ardor. On the. 1st of
May, 1748, the first stone was blessed by Mgr. Amati, and
the gentlemen commenced to superintend the different
works, each placing himself at the head of a division, arid
in the evening arranging the work for the next day. The '
Blessed Virgin deigned to testify her approbation of this
establishment, and to show in a special manner, that the
missionaries were her children. There lived in a neigh
boring village a wretched being, loaded with sin, who had
for three years been confined to bed by a most painful
illness ; every night he saw the devil, under the form of a
goat, place himself on his breast, and press his throat and
his sides until he was almost choked. One morning when
he awoke, he saw the Blessed Virgin appear in his cham
ber, radiant with glory, and accompanied by two angels.
"My son," she said to him, " how hast thou still the
boldness to live in sin? quickly change thy life ; to-mor
row thou shall see my children of the house of Mater
Domini. Confess, and repent of thy sins, and Jesus will
pardon thec." The vision disappeared, and the sinner felt
re-animated, but without knowing what to think of what
he had heard, for he knew nothing of the mission, nor of
the establishment at Caposele. Next day, he heard the
bells ringing, and on asking what it was, they replied that
the missionaries had arrived; full of joy. he said he must

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 123

see one of them instantly. F. Matthew Criscuolo went to
him, when he related what had occurred, and made his
confession amid torrents of tears. The father asked him if
he had been in the habit of practising any devotion to the
Blessed Virgin; he replied, that he had made a vow to
recite the Rosary daily, and that he had never omitted it.
He died during the mission, giving evident signs of a
true repentance.

Until now, the Congregation had not had a regular no
vitiate. Hitherto they had received only clerics, who had,
in a manner, been professed before they became novices,
subdeacons only being admitted ; and these made their
novitiate in following Alphonsus from village to village. A
year before, they had decided on admitting young men of
eighteen, as being less filled with the spirit of the world,
and consequently more ready to receive the impressions of
grace. Alphonsus then thought of establishing the novi
tiate in the house of Iliceto, but because of the extreme
poverty of this house, the young people were discouraged,
looked back, and withdrew their hand from the plough,
some even, not having the courage to declare their weak
ness to F. Cafaro, who was master of novices, fled secretly,
escaping by the windows, as the door was shut. Afflicted
by the inconveniences of ihis house, and the inconstancy
of the novices, he removed the novitiate to Ciorani, the 1st
of February, 1748. God blessed the arrangement, and
there were soon twenty novices under F. Villani, whose
conduct caused great consolation to Alphonsus.

It was at Iliceto Alphonsus first began to write and pub
lish. Until then he had labored only for the countries in
which he was placed, but this was a field too narrow for
his burning zeal. He wished that all Christians should
profit by the reflections he had made. He had long been
groaning over the indifference of men, and their estrange
ment from the adorable mystery of the Eucharist; he re
solved to publish the sentiments with which he was pene
trated towards the Beloved of his soul, and arrange them
in the form of visits for each day of th-e month, and as his

124 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

affection for the most Holy Virgin was only inferior to that
he bore to her Son, he published also his sentiments of
affection for her, in order to induce the faithful to love and
serve her. This little work was every where received with
applause, and fully answered the purpose for which it was
intended, for before long, almost every one had it in his
hands, not only in the kingdom of Naples, but throughout
Italy. In 1777, Alphonsus received a French translation
of it, taken from the fiftieth Italian edition. Next he pub
lished another little work, entitled "Reflections and Af
fections on the Passion of Jesus Christ." Since he had
embraced the ecclesiastical state, he had taken St. Theresa
for his special advocate, and often in his spiritual wants
had experienced the efficacy of her intercession. Desirous
to see her honored, he published several meditations, in
form of a Novena, in which were comprised all the beautiful
things that could be said in her praise. In order to awaken
the Bishops, he composed a little work on the precise obli
gations of the episcopate, which he transmitted to all the*
bishops in Italy, many of whom wrote to him, thanking
him and complimenting him on the occasion. About this
time also, he had publicly proclaimed his opinion regarding
certain cases of conscience. This gave offence to a priest
belonging to a religious house in the Pouille, who, instead
of discussing the subject, wrote to him thus: "Who art
thou, who comest out of the woods, with the pretension of
making thyself Doctor, and giving laws to others?" And
having nothing else to say, he treated him as a heretic, and
accused him of condemning vocal prayer. Alphonsus
replied, and, having abundantly refuted the falsehood, fin
ished his letter, by thanking his accuser for the advice he
had given him, without testifying the least resentment.

When the missions in the Pouille were finished, Al
phonsus went in April, 1747, to Ciorani; there he found
the novitiate filled with virtuous young men and priests,
eminent for learning and sanctity. He then returned to
Pagani, where he found the church frequented by persons
of all conditions, the pious practices taught by the Con-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

gregation existing in all their vigor, and a confraternity of
artisans, among whom were found persons eminent for
their sanctity. The success of the two houses was a sub
ject of great consolation for him, making him shed tears
of joy. But, remembering that the argument constantly
brought forward 'by his adversaries was, that the Congre
gation was not authorized by the king, in order to deprive
them of this pretext and insure the existence of the houses
already founded, he resolved on going to Naples, deter
mined, in spite of every difficulty, to obtain the necessary
authorization.

Arriving at Naples in the month of June, he immedi
ately addressed himself to the Marquis Brancone, Minister
of State. Before he would hear him say a word, the Mar
quis first announced his determination of making him a
Bishop. Alphonsus, confounded by the proposition, said:
" If you love me, never again speak to me of such a thing.
I have abjured the world; its dignities can only inspire me
with horror." He said, besides, so much, that at length the
Marquis promised to torment him no more on this subject.
After having recommended to him the interests of the
Congregation, he addressed himself to the Chamberlain, to
obtain for him an audience of the king. He had not long
to wait; for one day as he was walking in the cloisters of
St. Catherine, occupied in saying his office, he was told
the king waited for him. He wore then, as usual, an old
patched cassock, and his beard unshaven ; it was, however,
in this miserable condition, that he ran in all haste to the
palace. Introduced to his Majesty, he exposed to him the
multitude of souls deprived of spiritual succor, how ar
dently he desired to remedy such an evil, the zeal with
which his companions burned, and the reforms they had
already produced in so many dioceses ; but that the mis
sionaries could not sustain themselves in a position so
precarious, and being daily engaged in struggles which
threatened their existence, it was necessary that his Ma
jesty should now recognise their institute for a regular
Congregation. He presented to his Majesty the rules c»f
11*

126 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

the Institute, explaining them in a few words. The heart
of the pious monarch was touched; he took notes with
his own hand, and placed the rules, with the petition, in
the hands of Mgr. Celestine Guliano, his grand almoner,
recommending him to examine them and make his report
without delay.

F. Vincent Mandarini, Superior of the Congregation
of the Most Holy Sacrament, soon learned what was going
on, and more anxious than ever for a re-union, went to
Ciorani, and in the name of himself and his companions,
offered to embrace unreservedly the rule of Alphonsus,
and to submit to his authority. Alphonsus refused to
agree to this. "He who has been accustomed to possess
and to command, will have much repugnance to see him
self poor and deprived of his liberty. To-day, before he
makes the vow of obedience, he is ready to sacrifice his
own will; but once bound, he will begin to repent of hav
ing submitted his opinion to another. You are sincere in
wishing to submit to me, but be sure, to-morrow your fervor
will yield on reflection ; the remembrance of your liberty
will torment you and your brethren, and the contagion of
insubordination and regret would seize upon my own
Congregation. It is thus misfortune would menace two
communities, and we ought to guard against this." Thus
repulsed by Alphonsus, Mandarin! applied to the grand
almoner, and through influential persons, persuaded him
*o endeavor to promote the re-union. The grand almoner
represented to Alphonsus, that he ought not to reject the
proposal, and on his explaining to him the motives which
inclined him to refuse, the almoner cut him short by saying :
• I wish it." Although much alarmed, Alphonsus did not
tfive up hope, but doubting his own judgment, he had re
course to prayer, yielding himself entirely to the will of
God.

At the same time, he began to look about for some influ
ential person, who would interfere in his favor with the king
and the grand almoner. He was often not well received ;
many refused him an audience, and others listened coldly ;

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 127

and if he was received once, he was refused admittance
when he came again. One day he had with difficulty been
permitted, hy the valets of a certain prince, to wait in the
ante-chamber, when the princess, who knew him, happened
to pass. Seeing him so poor and ragged in appearance,
she exclaimed: " How dirty you are!" " I do not under
stand you," said Alphonsus. " Ah, then," she said, turn
ing her back upon him, " you are from Calabria." Many
others received him, however, with marks of profound re
spect ; in either case, he was unmoved, always calm and
serene.

Notwithstanding all the pains taken by Alphonsus, the
grand almoner declared on the 21st of August, against his
petition for authorization. This declaration afflicted Al
phonsus, yet he did not lose courage. He put his confi
dence in God, and tried to obtain from heaven what man
refused. The different houses of the Congregation com
menced regular prayers, masses were said, and they ex
posed the Blessed Sacrament in the evening. Many re
ligious houses united with them in prayer, while they them
selves redoubled their penances and mortifications. Al
phonsus went five times to obtain an audience of the
almoner, but was always refused. He went a sixth time,
and was at last admitted, when he knew so well how to
plead his cause, that his Lordship could not refuse prom
ising to protect him. He, in consequence, placed before
the king what he considered the advantages that would re
sult from authorizing the Congregation ; but in the event
of its being authorized, he wished them to unite with that
of Mandarini. Upon this point the council of state was
divided, and also upon certain other conditions not very
satisfactory, so that at last it was decided the affair should
stand over, and continue to rest on its present precarious
basis. Alphonsus, learning this decision, bowed his head,
adoring the will of God, and only said: "Fiat voluntas
tua." That night he was unable to sleep. The king re
gretted this decision, and in order to comfort him, sent a
message by the Marquis Brancone, bidding him rest as-

128 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

.sured of his protection, and continue to labor with the
same zeal to promote the glory of God and the good of
the state. Mandarin! on the other hand, ceased to insist
on the union of the two Congregations.

Alphonsus made yet another attempt in favor of the
Congregation, but it also fell to the ground. He explained
to the king the impossibility of giving missions in many
parts of the country where the spiritual destitution was
great, because of their own poverty, and the poverty of the
people, and requested his majesty to make them some
allowance for the purpose. "The demand is just," said
the king, " we must try to furnish them with some sub
sidy." It was accordingly arranged, that they should have
the surplus revenues of the chapels of the Castelle de
Sangro in the Abruzzi; but the individuals who had the
management, pretended" there were no surplus revenues ;
they consequently got nothing.

During his stay at Naples, he devoted himself to every
work that could promote the glory of God, and husbanded
his time so well, that not a moment was lost. He often
went, at the request of the director of the seminary, to
animate the young people by his exhortations. He fre
quently visited convents of nuns, who desired to have the
affairs of their conscience regulated by him, and gave re
treats in different monasteries. He often visited also the
college of the Holy Family, established to promote the
conversion of China, delighting to animate the young men
with love for Jesus Christ, and zeal for the salvation of
souls. But while he was enjoying these delightful labors,
a storm was preparing to overtake him- The church of
Palermo became vacant in the July of this year by the
death of Mgr. Rossi, and his Majesty insisted that Al
phonsus should succeed him in that see, saying to Marquis
Brancone : " The Pope makes good promotions, but I will
make one still better than the Pope." The Marquis was
pleased with the election, and applauded it as a divine in
spiration, and having sent for Alphonsus, made known to
him his Majesty's determination. He wa?, as it were,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 129

thunderstruck, and with tears begged him to return his
grateful thanks to the king for the honor he proposed con
ferring on him, but to explain the vow he had made to
refuse all dignities, and the ruin it would cause, were he
to abandon his brethren at such a juncture, The Marquis,
seeing the affliction of Alphonsus, entered into his feelings,
and promised to help him with the king; but the prince
would take no refusal. This alarmed Alphonsus ; he fore
saw the king would be supported by the Pope, and the
thought of being forced to accept the dignity, left him no
repose by night or by day, and he wrote to F. Cafaro, his
director, that he would sooner conceal himself in the depth
of the forest, than be made bishop. He wrote at the same
time to all the houses of the Congregation to pray for him,
and had recourse to many holy souls and religious houses
to help him by their prayers, while he redoubled his aus
terities and penances. During the whole month the king
persevered in his resolution, Alphonsus was in a continual
fright. At length the Marquis succeeded in persuading his
Majesty, that he was far more useful as a missionary, than he
ever could be as Archbishop of Palermo ; and he conse
quently abandoned his resolution, though with much regret.

Alphonsus had left Naples to go to Ciorani for a few
days, when, immediately on his return, he was requested to
preach the Novena of the Assumption in the church of
St. John Major. Although unprepared, he had not the
courage to refuse, and the result was as miraculous as
usual. Each of his sermons occupied not less than one
hour and a half. During this Novena, thousands of souls
awoke from sin, and penetrated with a lively repentance,
returned to God. Towards the end of September, he re
turned to Nocera.

We ought not .to omit here two instances of the true
apostolical liberty of Alphonsus, both of which happened
during his stay at Naples. The ^Superior of the Apostolic
Mission had invited him to give a retreat. During his
discourses on this occasion, he spoke to them of the obli
gation they were under to make known Christ crucified,

130 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

and not to preach to make themselves known. He con
demned the measured style and far-fetched expressions
which some made use of, above all, when treating of moral
subjects, or the lives of the Saints. He spoke with vehe
mence against a celebrated preacher lately dead, who, he
said, by his manner of preaching had showed himself an
enemy of souls and a traitor to the word of God ; and he
blamed some among them who strove to imitate him. "Fill
your discourses," he said, " with evangelical truths, without
embarrassing yourselves with vain ornaments, which pro
duce no fruit, but exhaust the preacher in seeking for
them." This language offended some of the young mis
sionaries at first, but afterwards they recognized the truth
of what he had said, and were filled with a salutary con
fusion. At another tirne, he was celebrating mass in the
church of the Fathers of the Oratory; when, turning to
wards the assistant to give communion, he observed a
gentleman seated in the choir with his legs crossed. After
having said: "Agnus Dei," and seeing this person still
sitting and showing no sign of reverence towards the
Holy Sacrament, he exclaimed: "Have you lost the use of
your limbs, that you cannot kneel ?" The gentleman, quite
confused, immediately knelt, but excessively provoked, he
began to cough and make different noises until the end of
mass, when he ran hastily to the sacristy to ask what
wretched priest had said mass; but when he heard the
name of Alphonsus de Liguori, he felt greatly ashamed.

At the beginning of the year 1748, Alphonsus returned
to Naples. Marquis Brancone then informed him, that the
king was dissatisfied, that the council of state had refused
his request, and advised him to take advantage of the fa
vorable feelings of the monarch towards him, and obtain a
subsidy for the Congregation. Instead of this, Alphonsus
presented a new petition to obtain the confirmation of his
institute, saying to the Marquis, that he wished for nothing
else; a mark of disinterestedness which pleased him, and
induced him to present the petition himself to the king;
but the political views which directed Tanucci, the then

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 131

minister, did not accord with the pious views of the king,
and again the business fell to the ground.

He was scarcely twelve days in Naples, when he was
seized with an asthma so violent that he could not speak,
and was almost dead. He was unable to say mass for
some weeks, and had to keep his bed, yet, he nevertheless
continued to give advice and consolation to those who
came to him on affairs of conscience ; the house was never
empty. Immediately after his recovery, he began again to
preach and give spiritual exercises. It was about this time
that he became the object of a very malicious calumny.
When speaking one day of the extreme goodness shown
by our Saviour in the Sacrament of the altar, where he is
always ready to give audience, he used the following
words of St. Theresa : " Ii is not thus with kings on earth ;
they give audience only a few times in the course of the
year, and how much it costs one to obtain an audience !
And then no one can speak as he would wish to do, nor
with the same confidence with which all may go to Jesus
Christ in this sacrament, and at any moment." A certain
person present construed these words into an insult to
the king, and to ingratiate himself with his majesty, added
all that his wickedness could suggest, and represented Al-
phonsus as a man discontented with the king, and who
would misrepresent him to his subjects. The accusation
was listened to by Marquis Tanucci, who, being unac
quainted with his integrity, threatened to banish him from
Naples. The affair became public, and Alphonsus was
looked upon as a guilty person about to be banished for
disrespect to his sovereign. It was not until six days after,
that he heard of all this. He went immediately to the
Cardinal, to implore his protection, and then to Marquis
Brancone, both of whom, convinced of his respect for his
sovereign, bade him continue his apostolic labors, and fear
nothing, assuring him that the king knew him too well to
lend an ear to such a report. They both spoke to Tanucci,
who was soon undeceived, and from that time held him in
the highest esteem and veneration.

13*2 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Through Marquis Brancone he obtained another audi
ence of the king, when he strove to convince him of the
necessity of his approbation for the new-born Congrega
tion, in order to sustain it against the attacks of its ene
mies. The king, pleased with all he heard, dismissed him,
bidding him take courage and rely upon his protection.
Before leaving Naples, he was requested to give a retreat in
the barracks at Pizzofalconi, which he opened on the 28th
of March Prince Castropignano assisted with the state
major and many other cavaliers. When the prince saw the
effect produced on the officers, he besought him to give
the spiritual exercises also to the men. He consented, and
gave two hours more to the soldiers, although he suffered
much from the excessive cold of the church. On the 7th
of April, the exercises terminated ; scandals had disap
peared from among the soldiers, blasphemies were no
longer heard, taverns were deserted, and lewd women
banished from their quarters. He procured for them book?
of devotion, and as they could not afford to purchase them,
he furnished a little library for them. The effects pro
duced on the officers were still greater, and five among
them quitted the service, and entered religious houses.

The Congregation at Nocera was still agitated by the
tempest, when an event occurred which brought peace at
last to the Community. A Dean in the neighborhood,
who had been prejudiced against them, one evening, when
he was returning home, was beaten on the head with some
sharp instrument by one of his relatives, for having often
remonstrated with him because of the irregularities of his
life. He was carried into a neighboring convent appa
rently dying, which when F. Mazzini heard, he ran in all
haste to render him assistance, and continued to assist
him with the utmost care until he was convalescent. The
other fathers were also assiduous in their attention to him,
and such was the change produced on his mind, that he
could think of nothing but how to recompense their ser
vices. His conduct disconcerted the malcontents, and he.
in concert with Mgr. Volpe, labored to disabuse the Supe-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 133

riors of religious houses and the few priests who still
stood out against them, and peace was shortly restored.
The generosity of Alphonsus soon consolidated it. In
the month of October, the king's council had decided in
his favor, and against Contaldi. Alphonsus, having the tran
quillity of the Congregation more at heart than its tempo
ral interests, succeeded in persuading the Bishop to allow
him to resign at once the donation made by Contaldi, only
requesting him, as a favor, to pay a debt of nine hundred
ducats, contracted in building. This disinterested con
duct gained him more than ever the esteem of good men,
and as for the Dean, he could never cease expressing his
admiration; he came to make a retreat at Ciorani, and
ever after continued to be a powerful protector of the In
stitute in every emergency. Mgr. Volpe contributed much
to the establishment of peace. A just appreciator of the
merits of Alphonsus and his children, he frequented the
house, and consulted the missionaries on all occasions of
difficulty. He gave audiences in their house. He ordered
a great number to come to it for spiritual exercises, to be
instructed in the rubrics, or to reform their conduct. The
esteem thus shown by the Bishop, ended in conciliating
the respect and veneration of their greatest enemies.

After his return from Naples to Ciorani, Alphonsus, in
vited by the people and neighboring curates, continued
his warfare against the strongholds of Satan, in every di
rection, and with his accustomed success. In October he
returned to Naples, not having been able to comply, on his
last visit, with all the demands made upon him. He com
menced by opening a mission in the church of St. Anna
de-Palazzo, in which numbers were converted who had
never approached the tribunal of penance, and it seemed
as if he had only to cast the net, to receive the miraculous
draught of fishes. After this he was sent for to preach
penance in the suburb of St. Anthony, to which, on a
former occasion, through the endeavors of F. Sarnelli and
partially of himself, the unfortunate women of the town
had been compelled to withdraw. His labors were not
12

134 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

unfruitful ; many of these poor creatures, touched by grace,,
began to detest their crimes; numbers were placed in
houses of refuge, others were taken care of by charitable
persons; besides, a great number of young girls were saved,
who, though not yet engaged in the ways of sin, were pre
paring for it. He also visited and preached in many
houses of religious women, while many, both of the priest
hood and laity, daily came to him for instruction and ad
vice, so that he had difficulty in finding leisure to recite
his office and perform his other devotional exercises.

Cardinal Spinelli desired him to give a retreat in the ca
thedral, during which the church could scarcely contain
the multitude. An eye-witness has remarked, that eternity
only can disclose the wonders of grace then operated, and
this even among many professed infidels. At length Al-
phonsus departed for^the country, to distribute the bread
of eternal life to the more destitute. At the town of Vietri.
a man renowned for his infidelity, went one day into the
church, for the purpose, he said, of criticising his sermojn.
He had not listened long, when entering into himself he
recognised his deplorable condition, and full of repentance,
detested his former blindness. "The sermons of other
preachers," said he, " speak but to the mind ; but the
sermons of F. Alphonsus penetrate to the heart." He
immediately went to confession, and persevered to the end.

CHAPTER XV.

Alphonsus obtains the approbation of his Congregation at
Rome. He holds the first General Chapter, and is elected
Rector Major. Difficulties with some subjectt. Other
difficulties in Naples. He publishes his Moral Theology.

ENCOURAGED by the pious disposition of the king,
and having obtained for his Congregation the support
of so many Bishops, Alphonsus determined to apply for
approbation to the Pope. He addressed a petition to Ben-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 135

edict XIV, by the hand of Mgr. Puoti, a prelate whom his
Holiness honored with his particular friendship. The
Pope ordered at once Cardinal Gentili, prefect of the Con
gregation of the Council of Trent, to charge Cardinal Spi-
nelli to take information and declare his sentiment on the
subject. His Eminence asked for the rules, and gave them
to the Canon Simede, and his auditor, the Abbe Blaschi,
for examination. All three admired the wisdom with
which every thing had been arranged. The Cardinal,
however, wished some alterations, viz. with regard to fast
ing, fearing for the health of the subjects, when undergo
ing so much fatigue, and then with regard to the number
of consultors, wishing to have the number limited to six,
instead of twelve, which number Alphonsus had deter
mined upon, to imitate the College of the Twelve Apostles.

When he was thus assured of the approbation of Car
dinal Spinelli, every one advised Alphonsus to go himself
to Rome, but he concealed his humility under the pretence
of his infirmities, and confided the whole affair to the man
agement of F. Villarii, who was accompanied by another
Father. Many Bishops, besides those in whose dioceses
the Congregation was established, wrote to give them fa
vorable testimony at the court of Rome; and they had
letters from the most distinguished personages to the Car
dinal Orsini, and the Duke of Tora. The general of the
the Order of St. Basil, and the missionaries of St. Vincent
of Paul, exerted themselves also in their favor, and the
Abbot of another religious house gave them great assist
ance. Cardinal Bisozzi was named Reporter; they had
wished for Cardinal Orsini, but Cardinal Gentili, the prefect,
said to F. Villani, that by this appointment he secured for
them a man of still more weight, and when Orsini was
told of it, he remarked : " You have now two instead of
one," and afterwards went himself to deliver the request
into Bisozzi's hands.

When the rule was presented to the Sacred Congrega
tion, they retrenched, as superfluous, the vow of placing
themselves at the disposal of the Pope, to be sent, whenever

136 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

he should be pleased, to preach to the heathen. " We sup
pose," said the Cardinal, " that all religious orders are al
ways ready to obey the first signal given by the Holy Fa
ther." Besides, Alphonsus, in order to take from his Con
gregation the means of amassing wealth, having fixed that
the rents of no house should exceed the sum of twelve
hundred ducats, the Cardinals, though admiring his mode
ration, fixed the maximum at fifteen hundred for ordinary
houses, and two thousand for the house of novices and stu
dents, in consideration of unforeseen expenses that might
come upon them. They were satisfied with every thing
else, and full of admiration for the rule, they unanimously
approved it. But the devil would not allow things to pro
ceed without his interference. The auditor of Cardinal
Bisozzi, having read the approbation of Cardinal Spi-
nelli, which exalted the great good done by the Institute,
and its utility to the kingdom, pretended that this meant it
should be confined to the kingdom of Naples. But the
Cardinal, having been consulted, said that Alphonsus had
not applied to the Pope for the kingdom of Naples only,
but to obtain his sanction for the Congregation throughout
the whole Church. " It is but just," he added, " that a
work of so much magnitude should be universal."

Although all was in train, nothing was yet decreed.
-At length, towards the end of February, (1749,) F. Villani
went to Cardinal Orsini, who said to him : " Be comforted,
this morning the Sacred Congregation has had one of the
most difficult conferences." "But," said F. Villani, "what
cannot be done in the Congregation, might it not be done in
the house of the Cardinal Prefect ?" " True," said the Car
dinal, " and I will go to him immediately, for I have some
thing to say to him that concerns myself." " If you would
succeed in your affairs," replied Villani, "begin by speak
ing of mine." " Depend on it," said the Cardinal, "and
since you say so, recommend my business to God with
yours." That same day, the decree of approbation was
given, and the Cardinal, with his own* hand, wrote to
inform Villani of the news.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 137

F. ViHani being presented to the Pope to thank him for
his approbation, and ask the confirmation of it, his Holi
ness inquired for the decree. He replied that it was an
nexed to the rule. " That is what I wish to examine,"
said the Pope. The following day he read the decree and *
rule. He was particularly pleased to find that the offices
of Rector Major and his Counsellors were perpetual. " It
is this," said he, " that hinders parties and divisions, so
often met with among regulars." Seeing that the Congre
gation bore the name of the Holy Saviour, and reflecting
that there was a Congregation established at Venice, which
already bore that name, he wished them to take the title of
the "Most Holy Redeemer." The Pope named also AI-
phonsus perpetual Superior of the Congregation. Hearing
of this, Alphonsus wrote from Ciorani to beseech them to
obtain for him deliverance from so heavy a burden, express
ing in the humblest terms his weakness and incapacity for
sustaining such a charge. F. Villani wrote to him re
peatedly on the necessity and propriety of continuing Rec
tor. In one of his last letters on the subject, he says :
" Since your Reverence is named perpetual Rector, it is
necessary to have patience and submit to the yoke. My
Father, speak no more on the subject; I believe you are
bound by duty, by justice, and by gratitude."

There had been still another attempt made to crush the
affair at Rome. A respectable Congregation at Naples,
beheld with a jealous eye the success of Alphonsus and
his Congregation, and sent with all haste one of its mem
bers to Rome to oppose him as much as possible ; but he
could do nothing. The same institute sent another Father
for the same purpose, but he wrote back that he had come
too late, for every thing was already concluded to the great
satisfaction of both Pope and Cardinals. But if the au
thor of evil could not hinder the Holy Father -from giving
his approbation, he tried at least to paralyze it. We have
already seen that the Sacred Congregation approved the
rules and the Institute. Now, the person charged with the
arrangement of the minutes, having been gained by the
12*

138 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

friends of the envoy mentioned above, wrote, " Regula et
non Institutum." But the Pope, when the decree was
presented to him, seeing the ruse, was very indignant, and
taking the pen in his own hand, wrote, "Regula et Insti
tutum," so that, to the confusion of the malevolent, Al-
phonsus had the satisfaction of receiving from Rome, on
the 25th of February, 1749, the confirmation of the Rule
and the Institute. When he received this news, he burst
into tears of joy, and cast himself with his face to the
earth, all the others present following his example. After
having in this posture thanked God for his mercies, they
rang the bell of the community, when, all proceeding to
the church, the Te Deum was chanted, after which !A1-
phonsus exhorted all to correspond to so great a grace, by
redoubled fervor in the exact observance of the rule, and in
love towards Jesus Christ and his holy Mother Mary.

The approbation of the Institute made a great noise at
Rome ; they spoke of nothing but the new Congregation
of missionaries approved by the Pope, of the fervor which-
reigned among them, and the great good they did. In con
sequence of this, a great number of subjects, distinguished
for their virtue as well as for their science, applied to
be admitted into the order. Two curates renounced their
benefices and quitted Rome for Ciorani. About the same
time, the Abbot mentioned before, as having been useful in
obtaining the approbation of the rule, wished also to be
admitted. He was a man of great merit, profoundly versed
in science, divine and human. Though Alphonsus had
made it a rule never to admit into his Congregation any
regular, nor any one who had ever lived in community, yet
in consideration of the distinguished merit of the Abbot,
and the services he had rendered to the Congregation, he
made no difficulty in receiving him. The Pope; by a brief,
agreed to, and even encouraged, this determination, and the
Abbot, after having, with the consent of Alphonsus, made
the vows prescribed by the rule, to Cardinal Orsini, at the
feet of St. Peter in the Vatican, laid aside his insignia, took
the habit, and departed for Ciorani. When it became known

LIFE OF ST. A.LPHONSUS. 139

at Naples that the Congregation was confirmed by the
Pope, a great many excellent young men and distinguished
priests, presented themselves also for admission. The
prince of Castellaneta, D. Matthias Miroballo, of Aragon,
renewed his solicitation to be admitted, but Alphonsus be
lieved himself bound to refuse him. F. Mandarini again
began to solicit a re-union, but he refused again to yield to
his entreaties, as also to those of his subjects who requested
individually to be received.

In the month of October of the same year, Alphonsus
held his first General Chapter. At the opening of it, he
invited all the members, through F. Cafaro. who opened
the meeting, to accept the rules, and to proceed to a formal
election to all the offices in general, and in order that the
suffrages might be free, that each one should first divest
himself of the office he held. All obeyed, and although
the Pope had confirmed him in the perpetual Rectorship,
he was the first to give the example, and kneeling in the
midst of the chapter, laid down his authority, humbling
himself before them, and asking pardon for all that had
been amiss in his past conduct. Afterwards, that they
might recommend themselves to God, he suggested that all
should make a retreat of three days, and above all, he in
sisted that, in electing the Rector Major, they should vote
for him whom before God they thought best qualified to
fill the office; in short, he neglected no means for exempt
ing himself of the burden. The rules were read, and all
joyfully accepted them, and renewed the vows of poverty,
chastity and obedience, with the oath of persevering in the
Congregation until death. After the three days' retreat,
they proceeded to the nomination of the Rector Major, and
at the first scrutiny Alphonsus was unanimously elected
for life. He adored the judgment of God, thanked the as
sembly who deigned thus to honor him, and submitting to
the divine will, again took up the heavy burden. They
proceeded then to the election to all the other charges and
offices, and established the necessary regulations for the no
vitiate, as also for the house for studies, determining the

140 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

system and authors to be followed in the teaching of belles-
lettres, philosophy, and theology. The chapter finished
by appointing the F. Abbot professor of philosophy and
theology, for which office his vast erudition rendered him
eminently qualified.

It was during the sitting of the chapter, that the heart of
Alphonsus, saddened at the temporal poverty in which they
were plunged, was gladdened by the determination of some
gentlemen of Pagani. They had seen, some months be
fore, the young students walking in the neighborhood, and
from their modesty and good behaviour, formed a very
favorable judgment of the Institute. They earnestly re
quested him to transfer the students to the house at Pa
gani, promising that if the Congregation would not support
the expense, they would willingly contribute to it them
selves. Alphonsus consented to this, and they all sub
scribed certain annual sums, and Dominic de Mayo, the
Dean, signalised himself among them by his generosity.
The Bishop also contributed largely, taking the greatest
interest in the education of the students.

When all was regulated for the interior of the Congre
gation, Alphonsus recommenced in the autumn his course
of missions. At the opening of the Jubilee in 1750, Mgr.
de Novelles invited him to give a mission at Sarno. God
showered abundant graces on this mission in particular.
A great number of bravos by profession, placed in the
hands of the missionaries their daggers, their pistols, and
bayonets, and from that time, embraced a peaceful and
pious life. It is on record, that for ten years after this, the
taverns, were quite deserted. It was during this mission
that Alphonsus gave an extraordinary example of submis
sion and obedience. His beard had been clipped with
scissors the previous evening, and its irregularities were
quite in keeping with his mantle and cassock, both mended
in a thousand places. The Bishop, wishing to try him,
said laughingly: "Notwithstanding our wish to be eco
nomical, a few grani are necessary to have you shaved,
so I will pay for you myself;" at the same time, he made a

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 141

sign to a servant to call a barber. Alphonsus said nothing,
and when the barber came, he presented himself to be
shaved with the most perfect indifference, although it was
eighteen years since a razor had touched his chin.

When he had finished the mission in this town, accom
panied by fourteen missionaries, he commenced to go
through the whole diocese. During his sojourn at Malfi,
in the Pouille, where Mgr. Busti had invited him to preach
in his cathedral, Alphonsus learned the happy passage to
heaven of F. Cesar Sportelli, his first companion in the
Congregation. This loss was a heavy blow to him, but he
had to rejoice, because of the circumstances attending his
death. A month previous, the saintly Father had foretold
the day and the hour of his death, and when one of the
Fathers set out to join Alphonsus on the mission, he said
to him, "Kiss the hand of our Rector for me, and say to
him that, when he shall receive at Malfi the news of my
death, he must recommend my soul to Jesus Christ." He
died in the odor of sanctity, and God glorified him by
many miracles. Six months after his death, when they
opened the coffin in presence of the ecclesiastical judges,
the body was found uncorrupt, and blood was drawn from
his veins.

In the course of his missions in the diocese of Malfi,
Alphonsus visited Ripacandida, where there was a convent
of Carmelite nuns, strict observers of the rule. He gave
them a retreat from which he drew not less profit than he
gave. He modified, however, their bodily austerities, in
which he wished them to use more discretion, and estab
lished some relaxation both for the body and the mind. " I
did not believe," he said, "that I should find on this rock
such a beautiful flower."

Having returned to Ciorani, he finished and published in
the course of this year, 1750, his precious work entitled
the " Glories of Mary." It was the fruit of years, in which
he had employed himself to choose from among the works
of holy Fathers and Theologians, the most conclusive
proofs in favor of the prerogatives of Mary, and the fittest

142 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

to engage the faithful to devote themselves to her service.
The applause with which the book was received, and the
number of editions through which it has gone, is scarcely
to be credited.

The contradiction which so many young men had to en
counter who joined the Congregation, induced Alphonsus
to write, about this time, a small work entitled "Advice re
garding a Religious Vocation," in which he showed that a
divine vocation is not to be subjected to the will of rela
tions, and that, when God calls us, we must obey Him. He
showed the excellence and advantages of the religious
state, which is the most certain way of salvation, and
pointed out the means of preserving the vocation. This
last point he treated in particular in another little work
called "Advice to Novices," to aid them in persevering in
their vocation. He presented these two little works to all
the novitiates in Naples, and it was every where favorably
received. " If," said he, " I can hinder one vocation from
being lost, the gain is not little."

[9, Alphonsus was enjoying the greatest happiness in seeing
his Congregation approved by the Pope, and each day
making new progress, when a sad reverse came to change
his joy and consolation into bitterness. The Father Ab
bot was scarcely settled at Ciorani, when, by the brilliancy
of his talents, he had gained the admiration of all the stu
dents, and their hearts also by his edifying conduct. He
had been sent with twelve of the most talented to Pagani.
Besides philosophy, he taught them, with the greatest suc
cess, the elements of sacred and profane history, and the
learned languages. The Fathers in general rejoiced in his
success, but Alphonsus feared that the pre-eminence of
belles-lettres would hurt the spiritual advancement of the
young men. The commencement with the Abbot had
been good, but his fervor did not last ; habituated to com
mand, he could not humble himself to obey. The rule
became a restraint for him; the want of liberty preyed upon
his mind; in his conversations with the young men, he
would sometimes disapprove of one thing, sometimes

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 143

would modify another; and with regard to certain practices
of devotion, he would not even suffer them. Other prac
tices of exterior humiliation, were in his opinion but grim
aces, which produced no effect, though on his first arrival
at Ciorani he had practised them himself, and considered
them as being useful for promoting humility. F. Mazzini,
being informed of all this, believed he ought to give him a
friendly warning, but the Abbot received it with a very bad
grace, and ceased not to spread maxims contrary to a re
ligious life. When Alphonsus heard at Ciorani of this
sad news, his heart was oppressed. He advised F. Maz
zini to be prudent, and wrote at the same time to the Ab
bot, representing to him the great evil that might result
from diversity of opinion in a newly established institute ;
but seeing that this only embittered him against F. Mazzini,
he withdrew the latter from Nocera. Notwithstanding this,
things did not take a better turn ; he troubled the minds of
the students to such an extent, that they formed themselves
into two opposite parties. When Alphonsus saw the evil
thus grow worse, he summoned the Abbot to Ciorani, in
the month of September, 1750, and as they were giving a
retreat to the young men preparing for holy orders, he gave
him the charge of it, that he might not think of returning
to Pagani. The Abbot did not like this, and showed great
discontent, when Alphonsus said to him firmly : " Either
you must obey, or you are free to return to your own
Order." He passed the night in consideration, and then
agreed to give the exercises, but declared his intention of
leaving the Congregation. He, however, entered into
himself and became humble. The Fathers Villani and
Cafaro interceded for him, and Alphonsus, not wishing to
disgrace him, sent him back again to Nocera. Peace
seemed re-established, but it was only a truce. The
Abbot recommenced his instructions, and among the
students one was of Paul, another of Apollo. Not to com
promise every thing, Alphonsus tried another expedient.
He recalled him to Ciorani. " Every Congregation," said
he, " has an asylum at Rome, why should not we try to

144 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

establish an hospice there?" And it was agreed to send
him there with another Father. But the Abbot, beginning
to see the reason why Alphonsus had taken this resolution,
was exceedingly displeased, and yielding to the temptation,
meditated the ruin of the students altogether. He pro
posed to them to join with him and go to Rome, where
they would found a new institute on a footing altogether
different. Four of them, the flower of the whole, deter
mined to follow this new founder, Alphonsus was igno
rant of this plot, and engaged in arranging all things for
the journey of the Abbot. He was to depart for Naples on
the 15th of October; he had already taken leave of his
friends; and on the 14th, Alphonsus had made the twelve
students come to Ciorani. They arrived in the morning,
and the same evening Alphonsus assembled a council, and
all at once proposed the expulsion of the Abbot; he was
opposed, but the very next day they changed their resolution,
when the four young men presented themselves to Alphon
sus with staves in hand and mantles under their arms, de
manding dispensation from the vows. Alphonsus threw
himself at their feet, the tears gushing from his eyes, as he
strove to convince them of the snare into which they were
falling. Finding them obstinate, he proposed to them to
make a retreat of eight days, and after that to make their
decision; but all was useless, they turned their back on
him, and with an air of contempt, without having obtained
their dispensation, they all four departed for Nocera.

There was a circumstance which showed in a striking
manner the protection God granted to Alphonsus. The
Abbot, in order to justify himself, had drawn up a memorial
signed by these four young men, and addressed to the
Pope, in which they stated a thousand lies against Al
phonsus and the Congregation, which they said was full
of grave disorders. Thus he flattered himself he should
not only obtain a dispensation for the four students, but
that his Holiness would advise them to enter the institute
he proposed to form. That same morning Alphonsus sent
an order to F. Fiocchi, Rector at Nocera, to inform the

LIFE OF ST. -ALPHONSUS. 145

Abbot, in whatever spot he might be found, that he was
no longer a member of the Congregation. The Abbot had
gone to take leave of the Bishop, and F. Fiocchi followed
him and told him the decision that had been come to. He
had not the presence of mind to return to the house and
remove his papers, and the memorial just alluded to was
found in his table drawer: so he was minus his memorial,
and fully unmasked.

Such were the consequences of the conduct of a subject
who had repaid with ingratitude the high estimation in
which he had been held. At Naples, he joined the four
students, where he seduced a young priest in the College
of the Holy Family, under the pretence that he had already
established at Rome his new Congregation, and that the
Pope had himself designated the four students as so many
apostles to gain the palm of martyrdom among the infidels.
But the Abbot soon set out alone for Rome, and abandoned
the four young victims without their having the least suspi
cion of it. Alphonsus on this occasion made of him a
prophecy, fulfilled a few years later; he said to one of the
Fathers of the same order: "The Abbot has made us weep
to-day; a time will come when he will make you weep
also." Indeed, he troubled the whole order by dividing
the abbeys of the kingdom of Naples from those of the
Pontifical States, and making himself be declared by the
Pope, Perpetual Abbot in Rome, and commissary-general
for life to the abbeys in the Pontifical States, causing many
other annoyances to the convents in both kingdoms. Al
phonsus attributed the discovery of the plot to the special
protection of St. Theresa, for all happened between the
first and second vespers of the feast of that saint. Since
that time the Congregation has taken her for one of its
principal patrons. The affliction of Alphonsus was, how
ever, partly tempered by the return of one of the four young
men a few days after, who threw himself at his feet. Some
time later, a second followed his example. He received
them both as a tender father, and ever after showed them a
special affection.
13

146 LIFE OF ST." ALPHONSUS.

Several of the counsels Alphonsusgave to the young stu
dents on this occasion, are still on record: "My dear
brethren," he said, "I would earnestly recommend you not
to keep your conscience closed, for if these unfortunates
who have gone out from us had manifested the state of their
souls to their Superiors, they would not now be where they
are. Had they declared themselves not to any one indif
ferently, but to him who holds towards us the place of God,
and cannot deceive us, this had not happened." Again :
"During a temptation, never take a resolution, whatever
the case may be, and however holy it may appear, but go
instantly, and discover it to your Superior. When the
temptation is upon us, we do not recognise that it comes
from the devil. He conceals himself under a veil, and
puts before our eyes treacherous spectacles, making us see
things, not as they are in themselves, but according to our
passions. If we would avoid the snare, we should instantly
recommend ourselves to God, and abandon ourselves into
his hands." And again: "Sapere, et sapere ad sobrieta-
tem." The Abbot had introduced among the students a
forced application to study, but all this afflicted Alphonsus,
and he would not suffer it. "I am not sorry," he said,
after his departure, "when I see you retrench from your
studies and give more time to prayer. We have been called
to succor poor destitute souls in the country, for this rea
son, we have more need of sanctity than of science. If
we are not holy, we are exposed to the peril of falling into
a thousand imperfections and a thousand impatiences with
this sort of people. I repeat once more, if to give to spi
rituality you retrench something from your studies, far from
being sorry, I shall on the contrary experience great con
solation." All this must be understood of a forced appli
cation, as that introduced by the Abbot to the detriment of
the spirit of piety. For nothing can be more strong than
the terms in which he recommended, at other times; as also
in the rules, the proper application to science, and this as
well in regard to the students, as in regard to the priests of
the institute. His motto was: "A laborer without science,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 147

though he be a man of prayer, is like a soldier without
arms." He wrote, at the same time, to all the houses the
following circular:

"To my Brethren of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer. Blessed be Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and Theresa.

" My very dear Brethren, you know that I am not afflicted
when I hear of some one among my brethren being called
to another life. I am touched by it, because I am a crea
ture of flesh and blood; but I am comforted, because he
has died in a Congregation of which I am certain all the
members will be saved. Neither am I afflicted when one
among us, because of his faults, ceases to be a member of
the Congregation; I am even consoled by seeing that we
are delivered from a sickly sheep that might have infected
others. Far less am I afflicted because of persecutions;
on the contrary, they inspire me with courage; because if
we conduct ourselves well, we are certain God will not
abandon us. But that which alarms me is, to learn that
there is among us one who is vicious, who is negligent in
obeying, and who pays little regard to the rule. My
brethren, you know it, some who have been with us, are
now out of the Congregation. What will their end be? I
cannot tell. But of this T am certain, they will lead a life
of continued misfortune, they will live in trouble, and die
without peace, for they have abandoned their vocation. . . .
In mental prayer, they will be torn by remorse of conscience
for having left God, and thus they will abandon it, and then
God knows where they will end.

"I beseech you to avoid faults of deliberation, arid above

all, those for which you have been reprimanded. If cor-

•rection leads the delinquent to amend, the fault will be

nothing, but when he will not amend, the devil employs

every artifice to make him lose his vocation.

"By the grace of God, wherever we go on mission we
perform wonders, and people say they have never had a
mission such as ours. And why? Because we go by obe
dience, we go in poverty, we preach Christ crucified, and
each one is attentive to acquit himself of the charge im-

148

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

posed upon him. I have been deeply grieved to learn that
some among you, when on mission, have been desirous of
obtaining the more honorable employments, such as preach
ing or instructing. But what fruit could he produce, who
preaches from pride ? It is a thing which I have in horror.
If the spirit of ambition enters the Congregation, the mis
sions will do little good, or rather they will do none at all."

Towards the end of the autumn of 1750, Alphonsus
continued to give missions in different quarters, chiefly in
the diocese of Salerno, and at Montemarano, in which
place numbers of criminals came to him, touched by re
morse, and were placed by him in the right way. The
conversion of these malefactors was a subject of great
consolation in the town, and still more in the neighboring
country.

He had scarcely returned to Nocera, when his heart was
pierced by a new sorrow, the departure of an ancient
Father whom he loved much, and who was very useful in
the missions. Offended by a reasonable and moderate
correction from his Superior, he communicated to no per
son his temptation, and set off for Nocera, believing Al
phonsus would give him satisfaction. But reflecting by
the way on the inconsiderate step he had taken, and not
feeling the courage to present himself before Alphonsus^
he directed his steps to his own house. All the efforts of
Alphonsus and others, to induce him to return, were una
vailing. This happened on the 25th of July, 1751, and as
the inconstancy of this Father had produced a great sensa
tion in the Congregation, he again wrote a circular to all
the houses on the 27th. Among other things, he says in
it: "I pray God that he may immediately chase from among
us all those proud and haughty spirits who cannot brook a
reprimand. ... He who refuses to be as potters' clay, to be
trodden under the feet of all, let him fly, and let him fly
immediately. The Lord will be better satisfied if there re
main but two who are truly humble and mortified, than if
there remained a thousand who were imperfect. ... I would
impress it also upon the heart of each one of you, never to

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 149

speak evil of the conduct or any thing else of the Supe
riors. The in-discreet zeal of some does far more harm than
good to the Congregation. Those who are truly zealous,
when they remark some disorder or inobservance, let them
tell it in secret to the monitor of the house, &c. Be atten
tive, to take count of the least faults, because they are the
little foxes the devil makes use of to devastate our mind,
and render us incapable of being solicitous to preserve our
vocation. Let us, my dear brethren, sustain ourselves by
prayer, and by continual prayer, otherwise we shall do
nothing." After the apostolic courses of the year 1751,
which were not less fruitful in conversions than the former
ones, and having giving missions in the territory of Maria-
nella, where he had first seen the light, he wished to pass
through Naples on his return. He alighted at the door of
the small hospice given to him by his brother Hercules.
When the people saw a man riding on a white ass, his
beard neglected, and his clothes ragged and worn, they did
not recognise him, but mistaking him for a vagabond, they
began hooting and ridiculing him. Alphonsus took it all
with great good humor, till a merchant calling out his
name, made them understand he was the brother of D.
Hercules. It was evening when he arrived, worn out with
fatigue; he would not sup, but said to the lay-brother that
he would lie down. D. Hercules came to visit him, but
fearing to disturb his sleep, he resolved to return in the
morning; but when he came, Alphonsus had not yet risen ;
he returned after a while, and fearing some accident, forced
open the door. He found him extended on his bed in a
fainting fit, and ran to obtain help. The doctors ordered
him to be undressed, and they found his body enveloped in
sackcloth, which hindered him from breathing. They bled
him, and then he began to come to himself. Seeing that
he was discovered, he bitterly complained to the brother for
having permitted such a thing. Fatigued and weak though
he was, he nevertheless consented to give a sermon to the
students of the Archiepiscopal Seminary, and visited seve
ral monasteries where he was invited.
13*

150 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

This same year a new annoyance had overtaken Alphon-
sus unexpectedly, which threatened ruin, and caused him
great anxiety. It happened towards the end of January
that the King, while hunting in the territory of Iliceto, saw
the house of the missionaries, which is built on an emi
nence, and asked one of his courtiers to whom it belonged.
"It is the house of F. Liguori's missionaries," he replied,
"and they have made a good hit there, having fallen heir
to no less than sixty thousand ducats." He referred to the
will of the late Canon Curate of Iliceto, which was men
tioned above. "Ah!" said the King, "these then are just
like the others: scarcely do they begin, when they set
themselves to acquire wealth." Deceived by what he had
heard, the King conceived an unfavorable opinion of the
Congregation; all the court soon knew it, and every one
talked of their ambition and the certainty of the order be
ing suppressed. A tempest so unexpected alarmed the
whole Congregation. Alphonsus, however, full of confi
dence in God, said to his brethren: "The Lord will make
the Congregation prosper, not by the applause, and the
protection of princes, but by means of poverty and con
tempt, of misery and persecution; when have we ever seen
the works of God begin in the midst of applause?" Con
fiding in the integrity of his conscience, he went to Na
ples; he found the ministers too much prejudiced against
the Congregation; everywhere they spoke of the wealth
the missionaries had acquired. Alphonsus had recourse
to the protection of God, and tried to obtain mercy by in
creased mortifications, exhorting at the same time his
brethren to join him in penance and prayer, by reciting in
all the houses the psalm, " Qui habitat," and taking a dis
cipline in common, in addition to those appointed in the
rule. They multiplied their alms and offered many masses.
In these critical circumstances, their affairs were the
object of research to notaries and their subalterns, to as
certain, in consequence of orders from Naples, the acquisi
tions they had made in the several houses. But his Ma
jesty, who could not doubt the integrity of Alphonsus, was

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 151

not slow to reflect on the improbability of his suspicions,
and said to the Marquis Brancone, that Alphonsus himself
should arrario-e an account of the revenues of the different

O

houses. Alphonsus declared that the house of Iliceto had
in all a yearly rent of three hundred ducats, and that the
deductions made in consequence of different charges upon
it, reduced it to much less; that those of Ciorani and Ca-
posele had each about five hundred ducats of revenue;, but
that Nocera had only the bare walls, and a small bit of
garden ground. The reports made by the local authorities
attributed much less to each house than Alphonsus had
done, and his great sincerity confirmed the King more and
more in the high opinion he had of him. But even when
the calumny was exposed, Alphonsus could not get rid of
uneasiness, the ministers were yet asking whether or not
the Congregation should be suppressed. All were inclined
to abolish it, they thought the kingdom had already more
than sufficient religious establishments, and rather than to
consent to the establishment of new ones, they thought of
diminishing those already in existence. Alphonsus was
without any human support, but he did not lose courage;
he said that the souls of the blessed would defend his cause,
and abandoned the interests of his Congregation to the
piety of the King and the protection of Providence. He
quitted Naples, and withdrew to Nocera to prepare for the
missions of autumn and winter, and went to preach pen
ance in the Archdiocese of Salerno. After Easter, 1752,
he went to Gragnano, accompanied by twenty-two mis
sionaries. Prodigies of grace were performed, particularly
among the malefactors, many of whom were seen deposit
ing their daggers and pistols at the feet of the Blessed
Virgin. Among these was a celebrated bandit, who, in the
procession to erect the calvary, carried one of the crosses
on his shoulders, weeping so as to cause the whole people
to shed tears of joy.

In the course of these missions, Alphonsus had written
to the Marquis Brancone to intercede with the King. The
Marquis embraced every opportunity of speaking with his

152 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Majesty, and at length wrote to Alphonsus that matters
were so arranged, that he should come to Naples himself,
which he accordingly did as soon as the missions were fin
ished. He presented himself to the King, told him how, for
nineteen years, he and his companions had visited the most
remote and destitute villages of the kingdom ; he told him of
thousands that had been converted in his own royal domains ;
that each year they had given more than forty missions;
he represented to him that the Archbishop of Conza and
Salerno, and the Bishops of Bovino and Nocera, seeing
the good produced, had established houses of missionaries
in their respective dioceses, and that the Pope, informed of
of what had been done, had approved the Institute for the
whole Church; but that it was also necessary that the ap
probation of the sovereign should be given, to insure the
future existence of so^great a work. As for the acquiring
of riches, as this was the sole obstacle that the ministers
could oppose, he opened his heart to the King, showing
him how very far he was from wishing his Congregation Jo
become rich. "I am persuaded," he said, "that wherever
abundance reigns, the laborer will abandon the axe, and
the spade, and seek only repose. I would not wish that
opulence should reign in the Congregation. I seek only
to procure a modest livelihood, according to the intention
of the Pope, and I beseech your Majesty to establish a fixed
revenue, beyond which we may not go." He also had re
course to the intervention of the Queen, which he managed
to secure through the celebrated Jesuit, Francis Pipi, and
Mother Mary Angela of Divine Love, who had been his
penitent in the world, but was now Superior of a Carmelite
Convent at Caporea, to which the Queen often resorted.
He visited also the ministers, to urge upon them the im
portance of this affair, in promoting the salvation of multi
tudes of people. He spoke to them with tears, but his
illustrious birth and extraordinary merits were not sufficient
to protect him from insult. Some rejected him with unpi-
tying bitterness. One minister in particular treated him
with the utmost rudeness, and after listening with marked

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 153

incivility to what he said, almost turned him out of doors.
"Do not talk nonsense to me," he said, "and tell your
stories to some old woman." Alphonsus bowed his head,
and said nothing. On another occasion he said to one of
the ministry, "My Lord, I recommend to you the cause of
Jesus Christ," who replied in the most contemptuous man
ner, "Jesus Christ has no cause in the royal chambers."

In the midst of these difficult affairs, which detained him
at Naples, he did not forget the work to which he had
devoted his life. Even his sojourn in that capital was a
continual mission. He gave a retreat in the church of the
Pilgrims, during which, besides the conversion of many old
in sin, hundreds of infidels abjured their errors. He often
preached in the Chinese College, and many convents pro
fited by his labors, When the negociations approached a
close, he had many masses said, and multiplied his pen
ances, to force, as it were, the benedictions of Heaven.
He made special vows to the souls in purgatory, to St.
Joseph, and St. Theresa, and wrote to many monasteries,
begging for prayers and novenas. His hope being thus
fixed on Him, in whom it can never be confounded, the
affair was again proposed in the council, and they were
finally approved in November, 1752, on condition that they
acquired no new revenues for the future, the king furnish
ing each priest and lay-brother with about twenty cents (of
our money) a day, the surplus revenue being to be distri
buted to the poor, and the moveables already acquired be
ing to be adrninisterered by the bishops of the dioceses in
which their houses were situated, the king not recognising
their houses or colleges as ecclesiastical communities.
This decree caused great embarrassment to Alphonsus,
because he feared the existence of the houses was still
insecure; but the Marquis Brancone viewed it in another
light, and re-assured him on the subject. Thus was par
tially fulfilled a prophecy he had made before, writing to
Mary Angela of Capua: "I believe," he wrote, "that God
will mortify my pride, and that this approbation will not be
given until after I am dead." Indeed, it was not until the

154 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

next reign, after he was dead, that the Congregation was
placed on a proper footing.

Towards the commencement of the year 1753, notwith
standing his grave and multiplied embarrassments, Alphon-
sus published his Moral Theology. In the year 1748, he had,
at the request of the Fathers of his Congregation, enriched
Busembaum with notes, which they wished to have printed,
that they might consult them with facility. At a later pe
riod, he enlarged this work, and published it in two thick
volumes, which he dedicated to Benedict XIV, who gave
it his approbation.

This work was the fruit of a pure zeal for the glory of
God and the salvation of souls, and while he labored at it,
he never embraced or rejected any opinion without having
this double object in view, nor did he ever take up his pen
without recommending* himself to Jesus Christ and the
Blessed Virgin, whose images he had always before him.
He was exceedingly careful to avoid the extremes of a re
laxed probabilism, or a rigid austerity, both of which are,
pernicious to souls; but he followed throughout the line
of exact equity, equally free from that rigid spirit which
turns into precept that which is not, wishing to make every
thing sinful, and from that easy and accommodating spirit
which gives liberty where there is precept. Attaching him
self to no party, he respected all, but above all he revered
reason, and made the authority of the Church his law. He
several times reproached the decisions of the most rigid
theologians with relaxation, and hesitated not sometimes to
reject, as too rigid, the decisions of the most indulgent.
When he hesitated between two opinions, he left the reader
at liberty to choose between them for himself. Whenever
he had a difficult case to consider, besides meditation and
prayer, he passed entire months in examining different
opinions, and when he was not convinced, not satisfied
with consulting the Fathers of his own Congregation, he
sent to Rome and Naples for the opinions of the best the
ologians, and principally to the Sacred Congregations which
are at Rome, as the organs of the Sovereign Pontiff.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 155

Notwithstanding the favorable reception the first edition
of this work met with, he reviewed the whole, to examine
it with still more reflection before publishing a second edi
tion, he corrected it in several points, as he himself an
nounces in the preface. The respectable Congregations of
Naples, however, did not agree in his retractations, judging
that the opinions which he retracted were sufficiently pro
bable. Some also said these retractations were not to his
credit. "Let them say what they will," he replied; "I
seek not my own glory, I seek only the glory of Jesus
Christ, and the salvation of souls." The present time in
which we live shows how much and in what manner God
blessed his labors and upright intentions, not only in Italy,
but in all other countries. The Pope spoke prophetically,
when he assured him of universal approbation, this being
literally the case in these our times. Benedict XIV had
such a high esteem for his wisdom, that on one occasion,
when a celebrated Neapolitan missionary came to consult
him on a difficult case, this great Pope would not give a
decision, but contented himself with replying: "You have
the Father Liguori at Naples, consult him."

The King, Charles III, showed during this year how
much he was satisfied with the labors of Alphonsus and his
companions. A respectable and very ancient order had
fallen into decay, and a holy individual, charmed with the
zeal of Alphonsus, proposed to his Majesty that he should
undertake the reform of it, in order that the Congregation
might thus be legally erected into a religious order in the
kingdom, to perpetuate the work of the missions. The
King and the Queen were delighted with the idea, and
proposed to the Marquis Brancone to mention it to Al
phonsus. Their plan was, that he and his companions,
without abandoning their own rule, should take the habit
and the name of the order in question, the ancient religious
being permitted to retire in certain of their convents, with
out being disquieted by the reform. Alphonsus begged the
Marquis to give him time to consult with his companions
before replying to the King. The project was advantageous

156 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

in some respects, but they recognised that, besides many
dangers and contradictions to which the enterprise would
expose them, the work of the missions, instead of progress
ing, would only be seriously impeded, and that if the King
died before every thing was settled, the ancient order con
tinuing to exist, they might find themselves some day nei
ther missionaries nor religious. From these and other
powerful considerations, he abandoned all idea of the
scheme, although deeply grateful for the favor his sovereign
had shown him.

In the month of July, 1753, during the Novena of the
feast of Mount Carmel, which, though overpowered by
previous fatigue, he had accepted to give at Saragnano, the
Virgin, his Mother, showed how agreeable he was to her.
They were lodged in the house of a physician named Fran
cis Mari, who had invited them. Twelve Fathers arrived
one Thursday immediately before dinner, and as they were
not expected, nothing was prepared for such a large party.
The physician sent to his neighbors, but as he could get
nothing, he requested Alphonsus to dispense with the rule
and allow him to serve fowls. "No, no," said he smiling,
"give yourself no further trouble, put the meat you have on
the table, and God will supply what is wanting." And lo !
while they were cutting the meat in the kitchen, they saw
the pieces becoming visibly larger, and so much so, that,
after the whole party had been abundantly served, a con
siderable quantity remained. Mari afterwards attested that
the meat had increased at least seven-fold. Alphonsus,
seeing the astonishment of Mari, said: "In all embarrass
ments, let us have recourse to God, and never doubt his
providence."

The autumn and winter of this year were fruitful in mis
sions as usual. The inhabitants of Resina asked for a mis
sion, but because of its proximity to Naples, Alphonsus
refused; the people, however, applied to the King, who laid
his command on him and furnished all the expenses him
self. They afterwards went into the royal territory of Per-
sano, always at the expense of his Majesty, whose good

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 157

heart delighted in affording his subjects means of grace.
The Marquis Brancone, convinced of the greatness of the
work, sent them also frequent subsidies, and many bishops
contributed liberally towards the expenses of the mission.
Alphonsus had, this year, to mourn over the death of F.
Cafaro, who died at Caposele on the 13th of August. He
loved and esteemed him, regarding him as a model of he
roic sanctity, whose example drew others to sacrifice them
selves for God. Prayer and mortification were his two in
separable companions ; he was the director of Alphonsus.
He besought the prayers of all, that this great support of
the Congregation might be spared, but the hour was come,
and Alphonsus bowed in submission, adoring the decrees
of God. He himself wrote a short abstract of his life.

CHAPTER XVI.

Jllphonsus founds a house in the Pontifical States. Various
apostolical courses and labors. He founds a house in
Sicily.

A LTHOUGH approved by the Pope, the Congregation
XL had not yet entered the Pontifical States. It was in
the year 1753, that Mgr. Pacca, the Archbishop of Bene-
vento, to supply the necessities of his vast diocese, applied
to Alphonsus for the establishment of a house of the order
in it; he was persuaded so to do by his Vicar-General, D.
Joseph Fusco. To arrange matters, Alphonsus sent F.
Villani, who set out for Benevento with Mgr. Nicolas Bor
gia, Bishop of Cava, who had offered to accompany him,
in order to second the measure. The two travellers expe
rienced a special protection of God's providence. When
they set out, the weather was beautiful and calm, but before
they had proceeded far, a thunder-storm came on, the light
ning flashed, and the rain fell in torrents. Twice within a
short time a thunderbolt fell at Mgr. Borgia's feet, without
14

158 LIFE OF ST. ALFHONSUS,

hurting him in the least, nor his companion. At Bene~
vento it was decided they should be established at St. An-
gelo della Coupola, and to prevent delay, the Fathers were
to lodge in the mean time in a country-house formerly in
habited by Benedict XIII, when he was only Archbishop,
in which they were established on the 6th of April, 1755.
The Archbishop was so charmed with the resujts of their
first labors, a retreat given to the students, regular and
secular, and also to a part of the seminarists, and another
given in the cathedral during a great drought, that he went
to Nocera to visit Alphonsus, and thank him as the author
of a work so salutary for the people. He invited him to
give a mission at Benevento himself, which he agreed to do
in November following. The Archbishop declared that it
was to him, after God, he would confide the interests of
his diocese, and offered every assistance in his power to
promote the building of the establishment.

Alphonsus having now resided at Nocera several years,
F. Rossi invited him to give a retreat at Ciorani during
Passion Week. As soon as his arrival was known, there
was such a concourse of priests and gentlemen, that mes
sengers had to be despatched in different directions, to
warn them that there was no more room, but they would
not return, and resolved to pass the night before the door
rather than not hear Alphonsus. The Prince of Castella-
neta was there with twelve officers of his regiment, and
anany gentlemen, who slept four in a room, or on mattresses
in the corridors. The Count d'Aguila was so touched by
grace, that hearing one of his soldiers swear by the blood
of Jesus Christ, he condemned him to be tied to a pole,
three hours morning and evening, by the hair of his head,
with a gag in his mouth, for a whole week.

It was at this time a discussion took place between Al
phonsus and a polemic, who was displeased by his cen
sures on Muratori for having shown himself too reserved in
exalting Mary and speaking of her power. Alphonsus
answered his attacks mildly, but at the snme time so
convincingly, that his adversary, a disciple of Jansenius, set
\

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 159

himself all at once to attack his Moral Theology, not sparing
his very person. But the moderation with which Alphon-
eus confounded his adversary, drew upon him the esteem
of all Italy.

In the course of the autumn, 1755, Alphonsus went, as
he had promised, to give a mission at Benevento. He
went by Naples, where he found his mother dangerously
ill, but he had the consolation of seeing her delivered from
the scruples which had formerly tormented her, and entire
ly resigned to the will of God. He administered the sacra
ments to her, and fortified her by his counsels during three
days. As he could no longer delay his mission, he asked
her parting benediction, and set out for Benevento, con
soled by seeing his mother dying the death of the just, and
full of joy, that her son left her only to conquer souls for
Jesus Christ. He arrived at Benevento accompanied by
twenty missionaries. A prelate who was present wrote
thus: "It is long since we have seen such truly apostolic
men ; one can form no idea of the effects they produce.

The voice of the holy missionary was weakened

by age, and still more by fatffrue, but the sight of his zeal
was sufficient to soften the hardest hearts and melt them
like wax. Benevento has been sanctified, and numerous
malefactors, when they saw him there, became models of
piety. All souls profited by his labors, so that a general
reformation of manners succeeded."

The fruits of this mission were so great that the renown
of it reached Rome, and Cardinal Orsini wrote to Alphon
sus, that the Pope had been so satisfied with what he had
heard, that he spoke himself to the Duke of Cerisan to ob
tain from his Majesty an exequatur to the brief of approba
tion given to the Congregation.

It was at this time that to render priests, particularly
thrffee in remote parts of the country, more skilful in hear
ing confessions, Alphonsus published his Moral Theology
in Italian, in three volumes, giving it a new but abridged
form, and adding three interesting appendices for the direc
tion of souls. The work met with great applause at home,

160 LljE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

and when it became known out of Italy, and the demand
for it in foreign countries increased, he wrote a similar one
in Latin under the title of " Homo apostolicus."

Different affairs connected with the Congregation obliged
him to go to Naples towards the end of February, 1756.
The Cardinal Sersales, who knew the talent God had given
him of touching hearts, besought him to give the spiritual
exercises in a hall of the palace to the ecclesiastics. He
expected only the young students, but as soon as he was
known to be there, there ran thither such multitudes of
canons, missionaries, and entire religious communities, that
the number of those who attended was not less than a thou
sand. His Eminence assisted, and experienced indescrib
able satisfaction in seeing such a concourse of penitents.
Alphonsus on this occasion saw canons, superiors of orders,
arid even bishops, pressing to the door of the saloon, in
order to kiss his hand ; but he humbled himself interiorly,
and enveloped himself in his mantle to escape observation.

When the Cardinal saw the effect he had produced on.
the young people of the seminary, he insisted on his return
ing to preach to them once a week, to confirm them more
and more in the good resolutions they had formed. The
directors of the seminaries in the town and in the diocese
also entreated him to grant them the same favor, so that he
often preached two and three times in one day.

The disorders of which Naples, like all other capitals,
was not free, caused much pain to Alphonsus; but above all,
the increase of homicide, caused by the doctrines of the
materialists and deists propagated in Italy. Deploring the
sad consequences which he foresaw would accrue from
these doctrines to the Church and the State, he pointed out
to the Cardinal the great evils produced by the introduction
of impious books, which passed from Naples into the pro
vinces, and urged him to remonstrate with the King rfnd
the ministers on this subject. To inspire the people with
horror for such productions, he spoke openly from the
pulpit, condemning, as guilty of grave sin, those who sold
such books, and also those who kept them in their houses]

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 161

he spoke also to the most respectable ecclesiastics and
confessors, advising them to devise means to warn the
faithful against the anifices of impiety. He also published
his learned treatise of the defence of Religion and of the
State, against the materialists and deists; a work which was
well received, and found to be particularly useful against
the sophists who tried to pervert the minds of the people
and sap the foundations of their faith.

Alphonsus returned to Nocera in Holy Week, 1756, but
scarcely had he reached the house, when he was called
away by the queen-mother, who wished to consult him on
affairs of conscience. The court was then at St. Lauro.
The nuns of the monastery of St. .Lauro wished to obtain
a piece of his clothing. They hit on the following expe
dient. They invited him to visit a beautiful reliquary they
preserved in their church, and begged him to give it to
each of them to kiss, and while he bent forward for this
purpose, one of the pensioners came behind and cut a
large piece off his mantle. In the evening, as it was cold,
he spread it over his bed; but finding it very short, he said
to F. Galdieri, who had accompanied him: "This mantle
is not mine; is it yours?" "It is your own," replied the
Father; "the Nuns have played you that trick." "Yes,"
he replied, in confusion, "I see now; I could not com
prehend how, in walking, I always felt something striking
against my leg;" adding: "The fact is, it would require an
old clothes shop to mend it." It was not seldom such
thefts were committed when he stopped in any place.

In the beginning of July, 1756, he went again to Naples.
The interests of the Congregation detained him at the
court, and he wished to assure himself more and more
of the protection of the King, and obtain at length the
exequatur of the Apostolic brief. On the tenth of the
same month, he wrote to the different houses, ordering a
Novena to be made for the success of this affair, and a
discipline every evening. On this, as on former occasions,
the invitations of curates for Triduos, and instructions for
the people, and the convents, left him no repose. He
14*

162 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

published also at this time a little work, entitled, "Method
for the Confessor to exercise his Ministry well." In it he
considered the Confessor as a father, as a physician, as a
teacher, and as a judge, giving rules of conduct proper to
each of these characters. This work was so much admired,
that the most learned men went the length of saying that he
could not have composed it without the special assistance
of his guardian angel. The author of the Dictionary of Illus
trious Men, says of it: "It breathes a divine unction, all is
charity, gentleness and moderation." And Fr. Zaccharie,
in the 12th vol. of his History of Literature, speaks thus
of it: "What a precious book! It is an antidote against
the poison contained in the Instructions to Confessors and
Penitents, published by Occhi; what a difference between
these two books! The practice of F. Liguori breathes a
divine unction; we see" in it but charity, gentleness, and
moderation. ... In it we see the wise man who seeks the
salvation of souls. . . . He follows a method just and wisely
reasonable, which smooths the way for penitence."

Alphonsus remained at Naples during the following
month, but notwithstanding all his endeavors, the opinion
of Mgr. Galiani, the Grand Almoner, prevailed; and under
pretence that the King, in granting the exequatur 10 the
bull, would not be free to suppress the Congregation, should
it degenerate, the petition was refused. But the King, to
console Alphonsus, took several opportunities of assuring
him that he might rely on his continued protection. At
this time Carmin Ventapane, one of the first physicians in
Naples, a wealthy and zealous man, proposed to send the
missionaries at his own expense into Calabria; the only pro
vince of the kingdom which had not been benefited by the
labors of the Congregation. Alphonsus, who knew the
destitution of these provinces, rejoiced exceedingly, and
had the pleasure of despatching a number of his mission
aries to Calabria in November, 1756. While they labored
successfully in that province, he himself went with fourteen
others to give a mission at Amalfi. God blessed it in a
most remarkable manner. Among others, there were two

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 163

suburbs in this town, peopled entirely by women of bad
character, who were the ruin of the inhabitants, and a
scourge to all strangers. It is attested that every one,
without exception, was converted, and persevered in her
amendment. Tamborines and guitars were common in the
streets, and gave occasion to scandalous dances, which were
characterised by libertinism and effrontery. He preached
with such force against these disorders, that the young
people piled these instruments in front of the cathedral
and burned them. God was pleased to concur in a miracu
lous way in order to confirm the good done in this place.
The evening before they left, Alphonsus said in his sermon
•'We are much fatigued in laboring for you; but to-morrow,
as soon as we shall be gone, a devil will come down from
the mountain to destroy the fruit of this mission. Lislen to
me, and look well to it, for you will draw upon yourselves
the chastisement of an earthquake." Next day a buffalo
was set loose for the amusement of the people, who all ran
to the ring; but scarcely was the play begun, when a violent
shock frightened the whole town, and the terrified people
fled to the church. The Bishop ran thither, and while he
recalled to them the prediction of Alphonsus, and the con
tempt for it which they had shown, another shock was felt,
so violent that the flambeaus and the chandeliers were over
turned. The Bishop himself became alarmed, and ordered
the priests to give absolution to all. Thus a new testimony
was given to the truth of the words of Alphonsus.

From Amalfi he was called to Nola by Mgr. Carracciolo,
to aid him in the reform of his Seminary, in which the
disorders had risen to such a deplorable height, that they
seemed too great to be remedied. He went, but for several
days he might as well have preached to the walls. The
most awful truths of hell and eternity were but subjects of
ridicule for many, who amused themselves by imitating the
tone of his voice and his gestures. The Bishop was for
reforming these disorders by gentle means, but Alphonsus
said: "Mgr., do you know how many Bishops are damned
because of the Seminaries? This will be your fate, if you

164 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

do not change your system and employ rigor to banish the
evil." He continued to preach, and when the exercises
had nearly finished, in spite of the ridicule which still con
tinued, all were suddenly seized with terror. Four of the
most turbulent fled, others asked to be dismissed, ajid the
remainder were filled with humility and repentance. A
change so unexpected was regarded as the fruit of his
prayers and penances. The reform was general; he estab
lished morning meditation, visits to the Blessed Sacrament
and the Blessed Virgin in the evening, and the practice of
Christian mortification. All began to frequent the Sacra
ments, and even those who had been among the worst,
went to communion several times a week. He prescribed
Novenas in honor of Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin,
with other practices of piety, and a day of retreat each
month. When the morals were thus reformed, learning
began also to flourish, and this Seminary became after
wards eminent for the learning of those educated there.
Alphonsus, during his long life, always took a deep interest
in it, and, if he could not go in person, sent his missiona
ries every year to give a retreat.

From Nola he went to the diocese of Cerreto. On
arriving at the palace of the Bishop, he requested a servant
who was sweeping the saloon, to inform his master of his
arrival. The man, seeing an ill-dressed individual with a
long beard, continued his work without paying any attention
to what he said; and when Alphonsus repeated his request,
he began to mutter in bad humor, "I must finish this," and
went on sweeping; as he approached where Alphonsus sat,
he said: "Don't you see me here, why don't you rise?"
Alphonsus rose without showing any annoyance, and when
he had finished sweeping, again begged he would inform
his master. The servant went and merely said a poor man
wanted to speak to the Bishop; he was told to inquire his
name, and what he wanted; but when the Bishop heard it
was Alphonsus, he got up in a great hurry, calling first to
one and then to another for different articles of attire, that
he might receive him in a becoming manner. The valet,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 165

seeing all this, ran in great fear to hide himself. Alphonsus
desiring to say mass, Monsignor sought for the valet to
serve him; at first he could not be found, but after being
called repeatedly, he came and threw himself at the feet of
Alphonsus, asking pardon for what he had done. The
Bishop, astonished, demanded an explanation, when the
valet with tears avowed what had happened, Alphonsus
laughing good humoredly at the whole affair.

From Cerreto he returned to Naples. It was whilst he
Was staying there that the following example of bilocation
occurred. A woman whom he had reclaimed from an
abandoned life, was in the habit of coming every Saturday
for alms. Being told this time Alphonsus had gone to
Naples, she went to the church, sad and disappointed, to
recommend herself to God, but while praying, she heard
her protector, who called her to the door of the sacristy,
and gave her the accustomed alms, beseeching her to re
main faithful to God. The woman on leaving the church
said to the porter: " How is it that people call you a saint,
and you have told lies? you have said the superior was at
Naples, and he is here." When the porter denied this,
she said: "I know he is here, for he called me just now,
and gave me this money ;" and she showed what she held
in her hand. The porter, stopping the woman, ran to inform
the Rector, who came with others of the Fathers to interro
gate her, and convinced themselves that while laboring in
Naples, he had been at the same time present at Nocera.
A similar miracle happened in one of the missions at
Amalfi, when he was confessing in the house and preach
ing in the church at the same moment.

Towards the end of May, the missionaries returned from
Calabria, followed by numerous letters of thanks and sup
plications for more missions. In the month of November
he sent again two detachments into the same province, the
Prince John Filomarino having besought him to send them
to the more remote parts of it at his own expense, to evan
gelise his poor vassals. Before their departure, the Blessed
Sacrament was exposed, and Alphonsus gave them his

166 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

benediction, almost envying their happiness at being sent
on such a mission.

In January, 1758, he went himself with twenty of his
companions to Salerno. His voice was too weak to be
heard through all the extent of the cathedral, but notwith
standing, the geople were dissolved in tears, and the greatest
sinners, touched to the heart and deeply contrite, came to
cast themselves at his feet. One in particular, sobbing
convulsively, exclaimed, "How should I not weep, I who
have offended God so much, when I see this holy religious
doing penance for me." Long after, when Mgr. Pento
had become bishop of Tricarico, he wrote in reference to
this mission: "The benefit was great and permanent, the
conversions innumerable and astonishing, the aspect of the
whole town was changed, beginning with the highest and
going down to the lowest. The fruits of this mission were
of long standing; I myself owe the grace of being enabled
to quit the world, to the light I then received." All agreed
that greater effects could not have been produced even by
the Apostles themselves.

In the course of this mission, Alphonsus had to bewail the
loss of F. Xavier Rossi, the support of the house of Ciorani,
and one of his oldest companions. But if he had reason
to deplore his premature death, he had more reason to
rejoice in his having died the death of a saint. This same
Father had formerly been miraculously restored to health by
the prayers and faith of Alphonsus. When he was told
that the doctors despaired of his recovery, he wrote to him:
"Invoke the peace of Jesus Christ, ask him to come and
bless this malady and chase it away. I will that you live,
and labor for the Congregation." This was sufficient, F.
Rossi was cured.

During Lent, Alphonsus was called to Naples, and gave
retreats in many monasteries. In that of St. Gaudiosa
there occurred a circumstance too remarkable to be omitted.
Father Galdieri, who accompanied him, desiring to vene
rate the blood of the Martyr St. Stephen, which was pre
served there, Alphonsus having requested this favor from

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 167

the nuns, they went in procession to bring the precious
relic, and placed it near the tabernacle. Alphonsus in
censed it, and two minutes had scarcely elapsed, when the
blood liquified and became of a vermillion color, to the
great astonishment of all present, for this miracle was never
known to occur except on two occasions, the day of the
celebration of his martyrdom, and that of the discovery of
his relics.

It was about this time, that the same Father being about to
sail for Calabria, one evening Alphonsus called him and
said : " I wish you would not go by water, especially by this
ship, in which you have taken your passage. Wait a little,
in a few days some priest or other will arrive who has
travelled by land, and you can return on his mule." F.
Galdieri obeyed, and in a few days a priest came from
Mormanno, and all happened as Alphonsus had said. But
this was not all ; the vessel in which he had taken his pas
sage, was wrecked in the Gulf of Policastro, and all on
board had perished.

A few days after, an event occurred much similar to the
foregoing. One evening, when Alphonsus had still to
recite his office, and also to correct some proof-sheets
which the printer waited for,, he was sent for in all haste to
assist a certain duchess who was believed to be in ex
tremity, and desired instantly to speak with him. He
replied to the messenger: "Go, and tell the duke I am
prevented from coming, but bid him take courage, the
duchess will recover, and I shall see her to-morrow."
During the night, although the case was thought desperate,
the duchess recovered.

On account of all these extraordinary gifts, Alphonsus
became the object of universal veneration and respect, but
he only humbled himself more and more, as the following
instance proves. Invited by the Provincial of the Jesuits to
dine at their convent, these Fathers were anxious to have
something that had been worn by him, and had recourse to
the following contrivance. They remarked that his cinc
ture was completely worn out, and brought him another in

168 LIFE OF ST. ALP-HONSUS.

the hope of retaining the old one, but Ire, guessing their
design, fastened the new one around him, without taking
off the old.

Being besought by the inhabitants of Amain to preach
the novena of the Assumption, he went, and as usual gath
ered much fruit. One evening, at the end of the sermon,
he prayed to the Blessed Virgin for all present, and then
besought his auditory to beseech her to bestow upon him
some grace; when instantly a bright light, like a sunbeam,
darted from the statue of the Virgin and rested on the
figure of Alphonsus, who was elevated some height from
the pulpit; his face glowed as fire, giving him more the
appearance of a seraph than of a man.

About this time he gathered together the most important
maxims of our holy religion, in a work entitled "Prepara
tion for death." It met with great success, producing
throughout the kingdom the effect of a mission, and caus
ing many remarkable conversions. He gave then also to
the public nine discourses with meditations for Advent, an4
a novena for Christmas, to excite a tender devotion towards
the great mystery of the Incarnation and make its grandeur
be comprehended, also a novena in honor of the Sacred
Heart of Jesus, and considerations for the seven days
which precede the feast of St. Joseph, all of which works
had wonderful success.

In the year 1758, many of the people of Asia, of the
sect of the Nestorians, having opened- their eyes to the
truth, declared to Clement XIII, their intention to re-unite
themselves to the Roman Church, and be instructed in the
Catholic faith. The Cardinals of the Propaganda, know
ing the zeal of Alphonsus and the devotedness of his mis
sionaries, asked him for workmen to labor for the salvation
of these people. He agreed to their proposition, and in
July of the same year wrote to the different houses to in
form them of the circumstance, asking that those desirous
of gaining the crown presented to them by the Lord in this
work of so great difficulty, should inform him of their
desire. This letter was responded to by all, every one

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 169

being eager to give his life for Jesus Christ. Thirty of the
novices offered themselves also for the work. Some even
wrote their letters with their own blood, and Alphonsus
was rilled with consolation at witnessing such zeal. This
project however was never put in execution; the circum
stances which interfered to prevent it are unknown.

In the year 1759, Mgr. Lucchese, Bishop of Girgenti, in
Sicily, applied to Alphonsus to have the assistance of his
missionaries in his diocese. He had met him previously in
Naples, and had it always in mind to claim their services,
till the following curious circumstance made him think of
it in earnest. A swindling Neapolitan took advantage of
the veneration in which Alphonsus was so universally held,
to write in his name to different dioceses, requesting pe
cuniary assistance, and large sums were obtained in this
way, for he was careful to inquire regularly at the post-
office for the expected supplies. On one occasion, how
ever, he was forestalled by the lay-brother who had charge
of their affairs at Naples, and who received a letter from
this prelate with twenty ducats. Alphonsus wrote to him to
thank him for his bounty, and thus the cheat was dis
covered ; but the correspondence ended in the missionaries
going to Sicily.

About this time, ^Alphonsus undertook, with the aid of
his missionaries, another very important work, viz: the
reform of a royal hospital for female foundlings at Gaeta,
which was by mismanagement reduced to a most miserable
condition, both temporally and spiritually, the younger
children, about four hundred in number, being entrusted
to the care of the older ones, so that every thing about the
place breathed only misery and sin ; and this establishment,
founded by piety, and liberally furnished with every thing
from the hospital of the Annunciation at Naples, resembled
rather a stable for the body and a hell for the soul. The
case being represented to the King, he, knowing the zeal
of Alphonsus and his missionaries, charged them with the
reform, which had been attempted by different zealous
priests, but without success. Alphonsus shed tears on
15

170 LIFE OF ST.

hearing of such misery; he accepted the commission, and
arranging a plan, sent the Fathers Mazzini, Fiocchi, and
Gajano, as the best qualified to carry it into execution ; and,
after a work not of months but of years, Alphonsus sending
often Fathers who remained there six months at a time,
with the aid of four skilful sisters from the hospital of St.
Vincent of Paul, at Naples, this asylum was at length con
verted from abandoned wretchedness into a little paradise,
where prayer and mortification, silence and recollection
reigned, and all virtues were practised, to the delight of
Alphonsus and the great satisfaction of the King.

Always burning with the desire of saving souls, Alphon
sus published about this lime, 1759, several works calcu
lated to promote this end. 1st, the Great Means of Prayer.
This book may be said to be the essence of the soundest
theology ; it was regarded as a chef-d'oeuvre by the most
learned theologians of Naples and Rome. He himself says
in the preface to it, that he wished to have the means to
print as many copies of it as there are men in the world,,
in order to be able to place one in the hands of each, the
neglect of prayer being the cause of the ruin of all the
damned. 2d, a learned dissertation entitled, " Of the just
Prohibition of Bad Books," in which he demonstrated the
necessity of interdicting the sale of dangerous works, and
proved that the Church, from her birth, had not ceased to
prohibit and destroy them, replying also to the objections
of adversaries who refused this power to the Pope. The
Marquis Tanucci was displeased that such a work had been
printed, and sent immediately the agents of police to the
different booksellers to seize all the copies. This persecu
tion vexed Alphonsus, who represented to the minister and
other members of the council, that he had published the
work only to obviate great evils, and without the slightest
intention to give offence to the King. This representation
was as water thrown on the fire, and produced immediate
benefit. On the other hand the incident made a great noise,
and the book, which had been previously little known, was
so eagerly sought after, that the booksellers raised the

LIFE OP ST. A.LPHONSUS.

171

price, and, to supply the demand, secretly printed many
more copies in the course of two nights. 3d, the True
Spouse of Jesus Christ, published while he was in Naples,
during Lent, 1760, and, notwithstanding his weakness
caused by excessive fatigues and many infirmities, gave
retreats in several convents ; an admirable work, useful not
only to monks and nuns in particular, but also to seculars.
In it he treats of the practice of all Christian virtues, and
gives lessons by which all may profit according to their
state. 4th, Reflections and affections on the Passion of
Jesus Christ, simply stated according to the writings of the
Holy Evangelists, a book admirably calculated to imprint
deeply in the hearts of the faithful the Passion of Jesus
Christ, and to animate them in making it the object of their
meditation. 5th, under the title of " Silva of Matters to
be preached," he published about this time a collection of
instructions extracted from the Holy Scriptures, the Canons,
and the Fathers, by means of which ecclesiastics could
give the exercises in retreats. In the first and second
parts he treats of the sacerdotal dignity, its end and sanc
tity, and of the virtues proper to the ministers of Jesus
Christ. The third part contains the principal rules of pop
ular eloquence, to aid preachers in acquitting themselves
with success in the exercise of preaching and giving missions.
All the arrangements necessary for the foundation at Gir-
genti in Sicily, having now been agreed upon, Alphonsus
sent a colony towards the middle of September, composed
of F. Blasucci, Superior, and F. Francis Pentimalli, and
two others. They embarked under a cloudless sky, and the
vessel was soon in sight of Palermo ; but at the moment
they were about to land, they were overtaken by a violent
tempest, and the vessel was thrown back into the Gulf of
Naples, where they were forced to run aground. When
the sea became calm, they set sail a second time; but again
a storm came on, when they were opposite Palermo, which
drove them into the Straits of Procida; they made a third
attempt; but the more they endeavored to reach the Sicilian
shore, the more the powers of hell seemed to set all in

172 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

motion to oppose them. Again they neared Palermo,
when a third tempest was let loose upon the unfortunate
boat, which, being tossed about, at length was nearly lost
between the Islands of Corsica and Sardinia, the vessel
being so much damaged, that the passengers were hopeless
of escaping. All this was seen by Alphonsus in spirit,
and at the moment of their danger, he was heard to cry,
while he raised his tearful eyes to heaven: "My poor
children! my poor children!" He approached the window,
looked^at the weather, and sighed, then turned away, still
repeating, "My poor children!" Those who witnessed
this scene could not comprehend it, for they believed the
Fathers had arrived in Sicily long before, and they said so
to Alphonsus in order to calm him, but without success,
he still continued to sigh and to repeat; "My poor chil
dren !" The tempest lasted more than twenty-four hours.
On the third day the vessel with great difficulty reached
Baja; their safety was an evident miracle wrought by the
prayers of Alphonsus. The terrified missionaries, more
dead than alive, took the way to Nocera, and the joy of
Alphonsus may be imagined, when he saw his dear children
once more in safety.

The missionaries had hardly taken a little breath in
safety after their fatigues and dangers, when they were
^gain despatched to embark anew, but another annoyance
awaited them. Two vessels from the Levant had been
shipwrecked near the port of Messina, and for fear of the
plague all communication with Sicily was forbidden.
Father Pentimalli, seeing it impossible, for the moment, to
proceed, halted at St. Euphemia, his native place; but
scarcely had he arrived, when he was seized by a violent
fever, which carried him off in three days. This loss
afflicted Alphonsus deeply, F. Pentimalli being one of his
best missionaries. But this affliction was softened by hear
ing at length of the safe arrival of the others at Girgenti,
and their joyful reception.

After their departure, Alphonsus, like an old soldier who
wishes nothing so much as to die sword in hand, went to

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 173

war against the enemies of God, on the old field of Amalfi.
The Lord, in order to show the favor with which He re
garded him, performed several miracles through his hands.
The town was ravaged by an epidemic which seemed to
defy the power of medicine. A canon who had great con
fidence in the merits of Alphonsus, begged F. Galdieri to
give him the shirt the Saint took off after the sermon. He did
so, another always being brought in exchange. On being
asked what he did with them, he replied : " During this
mortal epidemic, all those who have put on one of F. Al
phonsus' shirts have immediately been cured." When he
went to, and returned from, the church, he was the object of
such veneration, that the canons were obliged to escort him
to save him from the pressure of the crowd, who precipitated
themselves upon him to get his benediction, while some,
armed with scissors, cut pieces from his mantle.

The nuns of Conca besought him to come and give a
sermon to their community, and during the voyage by sea
they passed several fishing vessels, whose crews had been
casting their nets without success. The poor people com
plained bitterly of their ill-luck, and besought Alphonsus
to bless the sea, and scarcely had he done so, when the
fish appeared in myriads, and their vessels were loaded.

After finishing the exercises at Amalfi, several convents
of nuns at Naples besought him to visit them. He accord
ingly went, and preached with great success. At the con
vent of St. Marcellina, he found one of the pupils, Catha
rine Spinelli, dangerously ill ; he visited her when she was
almost on the point of expiring. " Catharine," he said,
•'would you wish to live, or die?" "I wish to live,"
replied the young girl. Alphonsus then made the sign of
the cross upon her and said: "You will live, but you must
become a saint." She was instantly cured ; after some
time, she became a nun, and attained a high degree of
sanctity.

He returned again to the capital during the following
Lent, when he gave a retreat in the church of Purgatory
to a great many students and priests, strangers, as well as
15*

174 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Neapolitans. Inflamed with the desire of seeing priests
attentive to the fitting celebration of the holy mysteries, he
published, during this visit to Naples, a work in which he
showed the necessity of observing the holy rubrics, and
gives salutary instructions on the dispositions with which
the holy sacrifice ought to be celebrated. He published
also a letter addressed to a religious, on the manner of
preaching Jesus crucified, with evangelical simplicity, and
avoiding the vain ornaments of a florid style. He sent this
letter to all the superiors of religious orders, and every one
admired the high degree of sacred eloquence which he
possessed, and his extreme desire that all should strive to
excel in the same, so as to preach Jesus Christ and effec
tually gain souls for him. Besides this retreat, he preached
penance in the barracks, and scandals disappeared. He
also gave missions in theMiflerent parishes. On one occa
sion, preaching in the church of the Holy Spirit, he sud
denly exclaimed in a transport : " 0 thou who enterest
here, and who flatterest thyself that thou canst be saved in '
the world as well as in a convent, unhappy that thou art,
how far thou art wandering! but ere long thou shalt come
to a deplorable end." At that moment, a young Calabrian
had entered the church, who, led away by his passions, had
long struggled against the grace that had been calling him
to a religious life. He applied to himself the words of
Alphonsus, and yet he dared to smile at the menace. But
a month had scarcely elapsed, when he was killed by a
musket shot. When dying, he told his friends what had
happened in the church of the Holy Spirit.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 175

CHAPTER XVII.

J3.lphonsus' Maxims and Conduct in his quality of Founder
and Superior of a Religious Order.

A LPHONSUS was now nearly seventy years of age.
_1JL Laden with infirmities, he believed himself already at
the end of his course, but God had ordained otherwise,
viz: that he should be raised to the episcopal dignity, and
become a perfect model of a fervent and zealous bishop, as
he had successively been a perfect model of a fervent and
perfect layman, ecclesiastic, and missionary. But before
we follow him in this new career, let us relate some of his
maxims and actions, particularly relating to his quality of
Superior and Founder of a religious order.

His first care was to inspire his missionaries with a true
zeal for the salvation of souls. Therefore he was often
heard to say to them : " What have we to do in the world,
and for what purpose have we withdrawn into the Congre
gation, if not to devote ourselves to the glory of God ?
We are his adopted children, and more than all others
ought to fight in the first ranks against his enemies without
anxiety for life or death, since he has given His life for us."
And again: "The love of Jesus Christ constrains us, irre
sistibly forces us. to love Him and make others love Him.
If sin be not pursued by us, against whom shall we make
war? It makes me ready to die, when I see a priest in
different about any thing that concerns the honor of God."
"Our employment," he used to say, "is the same as that
exercised by Jesus Christ himself and His Apostles. He
who has not the spirit of Jesus Christ, nor the zeal of the
Apostles, is riot fit for this ministry."

Next he required humility, saying: "It is this virtue
which makes us respected by the people ; it is this which
gains and attracts sinners, however haughty and proud
they may be. If the missionary wants humility, he wants

176

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

all, and I know not whether the evil he will do will not be
greater than the good he pretends to do, for how can God
aid him who resists Him?" "It is not possible," he said,
speaking of the humility and submission due to bishops,
and particularly curates, with whom they came in more
immediate contact, " it is not possible that God will bless
our missions, if we fail in respect and humility towards the
heads of the churches, and if we do. not put ourselves
entirely under them." Having heard, on one occasion, that
a missionary had shown a want of submission to a bishop,
he punished him immediately, and sent him at once to
make the fullest apology for his conduct. He also exacted
from his missionaries, humility towards each other, and
more especially towards superiors, whose will he would
have respected and fulfilled without delay. Every other
failing was pardonable irl his eyes, but this he considered
inexcusable. Resistance on this point was always fill-
lowed by expulsion. He was willing that every diffi
culty which he might not have foreseen should be pointed •
out to the superior, but he required that it should be
done simply, without the least intention of resisting." "If
obedience is wanting in a religious institute," he said, "all
is wanting, for disorders, confusion, and trouble will be the
result ; a vessel guided by several pilots can hardly escape
shipwreck, or at least she will make a very dangerous
voyage." It was enough for any one to push himself
forward, in order to be forgotten. A Father once com
plained that it was long since he had been appointed for
the principal sermon in the evening. This was enough,
he was not allowed to preach at all ; and he was so vexed
at the possibility of never appearing in the pulpit again,
that he abandoned the Congregation.

Another characteristic he exacted from his missionaries,
was a spirit of mortification and a love of suffering. With
out these qualifications, he considered them unfit to be
employed. We have already seen how much he insisted,
in missions, on mortification and austerity with regard to
food. He gave once a severe reprimand to , and imposed a

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 177

penance on, Father Villani, for a very slight deviation from
the regulations he had established on this point. "Men
of the world," he said, " pay more attention to what is
done than to what is said, and above all they remark the
conduct of missionaries." And again: "They will not
fail, when you are in their house, to insist and entreat, they
will even appear displeased, if you refuse what they offer,
but always decline; they will be edified by your firmness,
when they would have been surprised, and perhaps have made
you the subject of raillery, had you yielded." He abhorred
the slightest appearance of delicacy, above all in him who
preached the evening sermon, whoever he might be. At
the mission of Salerno they had every day rancid cheese,
and a Father took the liberty of asking that his morsel
might be roasted. Alphonsus reprimanded him on the
instant, although he was an old man, and a most zealous
missionary. He distinguished, however, between what was
delicacy, and a reasonable care for health. " Health," said
he, "is the capital of the missionary; if that fails, he
becomes bankrupt." But he charged the Superior to
attend to that, and forbade the others to interfere, and
rigorously exacted that no discontent should be shown
with regard to food or lodging.

He disliked all familiarity and intimacy with laymen, and
still less could he endure any species of idle discourse,
unworthy as it is of the sacred character of the ministry.
"I recommend," he said, "not to seek relaxation with any
one whatever. It is necessary to be civil, but also to be
serious, with every one, that they may conceive and also
preserve esteem for the missionaries, in whom they ought
to find men holy and without reproach ; this is necessary if
we would produce good. When we hold too much conver
sation with people of the world, and talk of things not spi
ritual, we let them perceive in us a thousand faults, which
hinders the success of the mission If any one neg
lects to correct himself on this point, I will no longer send
him on missions." He forbade with the same severity, as
well in missions as at home, all species of unnecessary visits.

178 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Preaching being one great means of laboring for the
conversion of sinners, Alphonsus was anxious that his
missionaries should acquit themselves well in this work.
He desired they should in every sermon preach Christ
crucified. "He who does not preach Christ crucified,"
he said, " preaches himself, violates his ministry, and does
no good." He required a simple and popular style that
every one could understand, and he compared to balloons
filled with air, those who, puifed up with their own impor
tance, made fine discourses which they could hardly com
prehend themselves. "When the devil wishes to hinder the
preaching of the Gospel," he said, " he makes use of such
preachers, to paralyze its effects. Miserable wretches, they
will be condemned, not for having hidden their talents in
the earth, but for having drawn no profit from them." He
insisted on reasons andvnot on words, and clear and solid
reasons too. He disliked studied and far-fetched com
parisons, but recommended such as were suited to the
people. "Jesus Christ," he said, "understood rhetoric better,
than we, yet to be better comprehended by the multitude,

He chose ordinary comparisons in His parables

The end the preacher ought to propose to himself is to
persuade and to move. If the people be not convinced,
(and how should they, if they do not understand?) they will
form no good resolutions, and they will not forsake sin.

What would suit Boccacio, will not suit in a

preacher of the Gospel, and many who study Dante and
Boccacio will expiate their folly in purgatory." He was
himself a perfect model of this apostolic simplicity, as we
have already seen, and as is confirmed by the following
testimony. Mgr. Carnovale having once been present at a
sermon of Alphonsus, while yet very young, he said to
himself, when he heard his simple and gentle manner:
"This is time lost, F. Alphonsusdeceives himself, if he thinks
to touch rocks with such mild words." But when the ser
mon was finished, he beheld thousands weeping and sobbing
bitterly; crowds of young men, known for their loose and
irregular conduct, were converted by his simple eloquence.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 179

He watched over the young preachers with the greatest
care. One Saturday, on his return to Nocera from Naples,
he was to preach the sermon of the Blessed Virgin, as he
had vowed always to preach in her honor on that day of
the week ; but being suddenly attacked by fever, the young
F. Alexander de Meo was appointed in his place. Not
being prepared, he enlarged on several learned subjects
not suited to the people, and spoke of the times pre
vious to the birth of Mary, and introduced the Sybils and
the Argonauts. When Alphonsus, who had been brought
to the choir in spite of his fever, heard these words, he be
came restless, and leaning towards the others demanded :
"Is it thus they preach here!" They knew not what to
answer, and F. Alexander went on in the same style. Ai-
phonsus rose, he sat down, he knelt, and said : " I must
make him come down immediately. Go," said he to a lay-
brother, "and tell him to descend instantly," and almost im
mediately he interrupted the sermon by intoning the "Tan-
turn Ergo." But this correction did not stop here ; on
entering the house, the poor Father met Alphonsus on the
stairs, and falling on his knees, begged pardon. After hav
ing reproved him for the impropriety of his sermon, he con
demned him to remain silent during three days, and also to
abstain from saying mass.

He exacted from confessors the greatest prudence and
the most profound skill, as from their decisions there would
be no appeal. He was scrupulous and even rigid in the
examination of confessors, and would not confide this to
another, but examined them himself, sometimes employing
ten or twelve days, interrogating them upon all they had been
taught, and if he did not think the candidate fully capable,
he delayed giving him faculties. He inculcated upon con
fessors, as the thing most essential of all, to use the greatest
charity and gentleness towards sinners. ;*" The spirit of
harshness and rigor," he said, " is what distinguishes the
Jansenists, who do much more harm than good, and cer
tainly have neither the spirit of Jesus Christ, nor that
of those apostolic men whom we honor on our altars. . . .

180 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

An energetic word is sometimes necessary to make the
sinner comprehend the gravity of his crimes, but this ener
getic word must not be repulsive, and before he .withdraws,
he must be calmed by kind words, so that he be at the same
time full of hatred for his sin and of confidence in his Con
fessor." On another occasion he said: "If it happens
that you feel yourself overpowered by bad humor, leave the
confessional on the instant, because with your irritability
you will cause your penitents to commit more sacrileges
than you will do good to them." He could not suffer the
least shadow of gallantry towards any woman, and recom
mended the greatest reserve with them. He regarded as a
scandal having respect of persons in the confessional, all
the world being equal before God. " Show charity," he
said, "but not partiality. Ladies of quality will make way
for themselves, but it is, not the missionary's business to
take care of them, we ought to be equally at the service of
all, and ready to receive every body with kindness."
Neither would he permit any preference to be given to a
gentleman.

When he noticed a Father much sought after in the
church, he immediately changed his residence. There was
a young Father whom he had been at great trouble to
educate, and whom he loved for his excellent talents.
When he was authorized to enter the confessional, a great
number of young penitents came to him, apparently at
tracted by his gracious manner. This displeased Alphon-
sus, who, fearing unpleasant consequences, wished to send
him to another house. He resisted ; but Alphonsus said :
" Either obey, or leave the Congregation." He would not
submit, and was expelled.

On the other hand, to encourage the timid, and inspire
all with a great desire to help souls by means of the con
fessional, he said: "The preacher sows, but the confessor
gathers the harvest. The confessional is the touchstone of
the true laborer; he who loves not the confessional, loves
not souls, to whom is applied there the blood of Jesus
Christ, and the merits of His grace. In the sacred tribunal

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 181

we gather fruit for ourselves and for our penitents; it is not
so with the pulpit. If we do good by a sermon, a breath of
vanity can make the preacher return with his hands empty.
It is otherwise in the confessional, vanity does not enle
there, but patience is necessary." He could not endure
the idea of a confessor being shocked at the thought of
hearing a very wicked individual, and who sought pretexts
for refusing to listen to such persons. He considered this
as a great fault, and insisted that they should willingly
listen to all, and that if they could not give them absolu
tion, they should at least point out to them the means of
amending, and encourage them to return to them again.
He was especially delighted when he saw any of his young
priests desirous to seek out those abandoned souls.

He exacted from the priests of his Congregation a pro
found and continued study of moral theology. " This
study," he said, " shows us our own ignorance, and hinders
us from erring. The Rigorists and Jansenists of our day are
ignorant on the science of morals, hence they are so extrava
gant and absurd. They wish to be considered masters, al
though they have never been disciples." A member of the
Congregation, a learned and talented professor, fascinated
by the opinions of the Rigorists, had constructed for him
self a most incoherent system, and hesitated not to combat
the opinions of Alphonsus, condemning the wisest authors,
and speaking of them with contempt. As confessor, he ruined
souls; as professor, he misled the young students. Alphonsus
labored long to correct him, but seeing his efforts useless.
he took his office from him, sent him to another house, and
forbade him to hear confessions. The unfortunate man
was offended by the correction, and not having the courage
to suffer mortification, haughtily demanded a dispensation
from his vows. Alphonsus employed the mediation of
others to convince him of his errors, but all in vain. At
length he said: "My son, you abandon the Congregation,
and you persist in your errors, but tremble, for you will
make a miserable end." He departed, but God was not
•low in chastising him ; in a very short time a horrible
16

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

cancer appeared in his face, and finding peace nowhere,
he ran about the streets, uttering cries of despair. When
about to die, he besought with tears to be re-instated in the
Congregation, that he might not die in despair. In con
sideration of his condition, his request was granted by F.
Villani, Alphonsus being then bishop.

To inspire all with a true sense of humility, he said :
" Humility is necessary in the mission, and it is necessary
in the house; my brethren, Humility at all times and in all

places, if we would please God He who has

humility will have sanctity, but without humility all fails."
The very name of pride and self-love was odious to him as
blasphemy. "This accursed self-love," he used to say,
" ruins daily multitudes of laymen, priests, and religious; it
sends numbers into purgatory, and many into hell. If this
accursed spirit comes into the Congregation, better it would
be if it should be destroyed. I beseech God to destroy it,
the moment such sentiments are tolerated." It happened
one day, that a Father chanced to use the expression, " On
my honor." This was worse than heresy in the eyes of Al
phonsus. In the next conference he continually repeated,
"On my honor!" "Our honor," said he, "is, to be de
spised, vilified, and to be, like Jesus Christ, the opprobrium
of men, and the abjection of the people."

Alphonsus never approved of the indiscretions of exces
sive zeal; he thought them a cause of unnecessary pain to
others, and he dreaded the odium that they might cast on
the Congregation. To give an example, there was a
diocese which was dissatisfied with its bishop. Father
Rizzi's zeal led him to write to the bishop to inform him of
what had happened, and to remind him of his duty. When
Alphonsus heard of it, he wrote to his Superior: "Tell
Father Rizzi, that he has done wrong. He has acted
through zeal, but he does not seem to know that we are
forbidden to meddle with things out of the confessional,

which may cause embarrassment to others He

must say three Ave Marias as a penance, and when his
lordship comes to the house, let him go to him privately

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 183

and throw himself at his feet, confessing his indiscretion
and asking for forgiveness."

Poverty and obedience were the foundations on which
Alphonsus erected the whole structure of his Congrega
tion ; he said that if these two virtues always remained
therein in full vigor, they would sustain it against all
attacks, and that fervor would continue constantly to be on
the increase. Although all about them had an air ot
poverty and misery, it was still too sumptuous for Alphon
sus, who forgot the magnificence and the grandeurs of the
world, and had only St. Peter of Alcantara's cave before his
eyes. He wished indeed that poverty should reign amongst
his sons, but not such a degree of misery as to be contrary
to decency. One day, he saw a young cleric in a pair of
shoes which were thoroughly worn out ; he did not speak,
but he cast such looks at the shoes and at the Superior,
that the latter immediately understood his meaning; and
if he saw any Superior was negligent in procuring what
was necessary for the subjects, he became excited by a
holy zeal, reprimanded him, and even chastised him for it.
He was particularly dissatisfied when he saw a Superior
act with indulgence towards himself on this point, and with
severity towards others. "Oh," he exclaimed, " how many
Superiors will be damned at the Day of Judgment for hav
ing themselves violated the vow of poverty, and given a blow
to charity and the common life in others."

He heard that F. Fiocchi had caused pewter dishes to be
used in the house of Iliceto, in place of earthenware ones;
he immediately wrote to him to say that he must sell all
these dishes. It was in vain that various reasons for keep
ing them were alleged, and that he was told that, as earthen
ware dishes easily broke, and the house was far from a
pottery, they occasioned great expense every year. "Pov
erty," he replied, "thinks of the quality of things, and
that which suits it best, is that which is the vilest and
coarsest. There is no example of such vanity, even in the
less austere orders ; he who is poor and professes poverty,
ought to be poor in all things." Father Sportelli, when

184 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

building, asked if he approved of a cornice which had been
commenced under the edge of the roof; but Alphorisus
blamed this as a luxury ; he wished that nothing but the
unpolished stones should be seen on the exterior of the
buildings. "While F. Cajone was Superior at Caposele, the
choir of the church was put in order, and a new library was
put up. The brother put little cornices on the stalls in the
choir, and round the upper part of the library. Alphonsus
no sooner heard of these trifling ornaments, than he wrote
to F. Cajone, in a tone of great reproof: " You ought to
know, that I do not choose to have any ornaments either
in the choir or in the library. You must submit to this.
If you have put any, you must take them away, and let all
be quite simple. Poverty loves what is simple and neces
sary, but not what is superfluous." Some of the Fathers
began to use snuff-boxes ef varnished paste-board or of yel
low leather; as soon as Alphonsus saw it, he immediately
forbade them to do so again, and wished wooden ones
always to be used, as before. One day he saw a hat which
shone more than the others ; that was enough to make him
prohibit its further use and consider it as a scandal. Some
of the Fathers told him that common cloth was not durable
enough for the mantellas and capotes, and that this rnaterial
was prejudicial to poverty instead of favoring it, and that
the houses of the Congregation would gain by buying cloth
of a better quality. "It is we," answered he, "who have
made the vow of poverty, and not the houses ; and it is we,
and not the houses, who must submit to the consequences
of this vow. Common cloth humbles and abases, and that
is required by poverty." F. Ferrara represented to him
several times, that brass lamps would cause less expense
than earthen ones, which easily break and cause the oil to
be wasted. All these reasons were unavailing, Alphonsus
remained firm, because his only motive for not yielding
was that brass was a luxury, while earthenware was more
conformable to evangelical poverty. The prompt and per
fect obedience which he exacted to his own orders, as we
have seen above, he exacted also to those of all other Su-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 185

periors. "It is not wonderful," he often said, " if I am
obeyed, but I wish an equal submission to be shown to
whoever presides over any exercise, for, whatever maysbe
his personal merits, he holds the office of Superior. If
this is not attended to, mischief is done, and we shall see
nothing but disorder and confusion." One of the most
distinguished of the Fathers, but one tormented at times
by a fretful temper, blamed, in a n't of melancholy, some
regulations which his Superior had made about a mission.
Alphonsus heard of this, and although he felt compassion
for him on account of his illness, he nevertheless wrote to
him in the following terms: "I have been relieved to hear
of your recovery ; but I have been distressed to find, that
you have given vent to some observations in regard to your
Superior which were not at all right. Many things may
appear absurd, which it is, however, reasonable to approve,
because their motive is not known. If each subject wishes
to do what seems to him to be the best, obedience no
longer exists. I must, therefore, beg you, when things do
not appear to you to be done as they might be at any other
time, to state your opinion with simplicity, and then do
nothing beyond writing to tell me what you think is wrong."
He was still more alarmed at hearing that the subjects of
the Congregation had united together against the will of a
Superior, for this was a fault which he never pardoned.
"Public murmurs against a Superior," he wrote on one
occasion, " are unpardonable faults, and deserve a severe
punishment." The lay-brothers once complained of hav
ing been deprived of the siesta after dinner during the
winter; as their discontent had been public, Alphonsus
wished their penance to be so also. He deprived the two
chief subjects of the habit for a considerable time, he con
demned them to dine on their knees, to do without fruit or
meat, and not to receive holy communion oftener than every
eight days. Intercessions were made in their favor, but he
was inexorable. He was accustomed to say that obedience
works miracles, when it is exercised with promptitude and
submission of mind; and that, on the other hand, the sub-
16*

186 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

ject goes astray, when he tries to set himself up to judge of
the thing commanded, and to deviate from the will of his
Superior.

With regard to the observance of the rule in general, he
was careful to see it always kept up in full vigor. He
often said that he would prefer to see the Congregation
dissolved, notwithstanding all the trouble its establishment
had cost him, rather than see any want of discipline in
it. When he was importuned by requests to found new
houses, he replied : " Why should we wish to found new
monasteries ? Where there is no family there can be no
observance of the rule. What I am anxious for, is to see
fervor increase in the Congregation, and not to increase
the number of houses." He never consented to any foun
dation, before he had enough subjects to form a community
in which the rule would be perfectly observed. It happened
once in the house of Nocera, that some dispensed them
selves from assisting in the choir at the public exercises in
the morning, either on the plea of not having slept well,
or under some other pretext. Alphonsus, who attributed it
to idle sloth, and not to any real necessity, ordered the
brother innrmarian to take them a cup of tea after prayers,
and to reiterate the same thing at every following hour,
ordering them not to get up before the doctor's arrival.
This had the desired effect, all the ills vanished, and the
choir was filled before the time, every morning afterwards.

Speaking one day about the necessity of silence and of
interior recollection, he said : " This rule is the rule of
rules; if we observe it faithfully, we shall become saints.

The author of the Following of Christ says that

the pious soul profits much by silence and repose ; it is
through them that she penetrates into the secret things of
the Scriptures ; it is there that she finds the source of those
tears which wash and purify her. My fathers and brothers,
let us not complain if we feel ourselves to be imperfect
through dryness and want of recollection. Let us speak
little to men, so as to be able to converse much with God,
and he will act differently towards us, and will raise us up

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 187

to a state of holiness." "Without recollection of mind,"
he also often said, "there can be no spirit of prayer, and
those who go to the choir in this disposition of mind, go
to torture ; every instant seems an age to them, they come
distracted, and they go away distracted ; they lead a mise
rable life, neither possessing God, nor enjoying the world."
In a word, Alphonsus desired that his missionaries should
be Apostles in missions, and Carthusians in the house.
" When you are without," he said, "you ought to sanctify
others, but when within, you must sanctify yourselves."

With regard to tepidity, he one day said : "My fathers,
let us drive away tepidity : the tepid soul is an object of
disgust to God ; she is a burden to the community and to
herself. Let us reform ourselves, and betake ourselves to
our former fervor, if we wish to please God, to be a comfort
to the Congregation, and to live a holy and happy life."
When he»met with any who were afflicted by this malady,
he did all he could to cure them. He called them to him,
and warned them, as a father, of their danger. The incor-
rigibles often caused him loss of sleep. He made use of
the spiritual exercises, retreats for some days, and reite
rated warnings, and did not give up his efforts, until he saw
that the case was a desperate one.

He made use of three methods for delivering the Con
gregation from these incurables. The first was to torment
them by frequent punishments, by mortifications, and pen
ances. When they found themselves treated so severely,
these miserable and unenergetic subjects declared that they
would not bear such a burden, and asked for a dispense
from the oath of perseverance. The second method was
to keep them in the house, and to forbid them to practice
any apostolic works whatever. "The rebels," he said,
" have a stronger desire to labor than the most fervent
subjects, not from a zealous wish to win souls to God, but
to enjoy greater liberty." The third, and not the least
efficacious one, consisted in causing them to change their
abode, and in sending them to whatever monastery pleased
them the least, because of being either the most incommo-

188 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

dious or the least frequented. Besides the constraint
which they experienced from this change, they were also
subjected to the pains and privations of the first two
methods. If they were dangerous and likely to cause
trouble in the Congregation, Alphonsus tried the effect of
leaving them in a sort of abandonment, by not appearing
to take any further care of them ; he gave them leave to
return to their families, without fixing the time of their
return. Thus abandoned, they returned to the world, and
themselves renounced the Congregation, to which they had
no further desire to return, or else, he let them know after
some time, that they had nothing more to do with the Con
gregation. There was one who caused great torment to
Alphonsus, and to several Superiors. Repeated correc
tions and charitable offices had had no effect upon him.
He asked for permission to go and see his relations, and
obtained it; after some months had elapsed, Alphonsus
pronounced his expulsion from the Congregation, and pre
dicted that he would come to a most miserable end. In
fact, after having committed several excesses, the unfortu
nate man perished a victim to one of his enemies, who
caused him to swallow poison at the altar on Holy Wed
nesday, and on Good Friday, when all the bells were silent,
he was buried as an infamous person, and his corpse was
exposed to examination in presence of the officers of
justice, and a crowd of spectators.

To inspire his sons with a high idea of their vocation,
and thus to encourage them to correspond with it and put
off the old man, he said, that vocation and predestination
were one and the same thing, and that the having been
chosen by God to form a part of a rising Congregation,
was a grace, which, of itself, required in us a great degree
of perfection and holiness. "In calling us to this state,"
he said, "God has not conferred a merely ordinary grace
on us, but one which is as great as it is uncommon. We
must therefore pray that Almighty God may cause us to
understand the value of this grace, for if we do not corres
pond to so holy a vocation, we shall run the risk of eternal

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 189

ruin. God has chosen us to be coadjutors of His Blessed
Son, and to rescue souls from the grasp of the devil."
" We ought to be most thankful to God," he said on
another occasion, " for having taken us out of the world
and led us to enter into His house, where the truths of
faith are always put before our mind by frequent medita
tions, spiritual reading, pious discourses, and good ex
amples. All these things are a great help to us in difficult
positions : whereas those who are in the world, from only
thinking and speaking of the things in the world, have few
good ideas and many depraved ones in their imagination
which cause them to give way on the least temptation."

When any one of them was on the point of death, the
pious Superior felt a mixture of sadness and joy; he wept
for the loss of a laborer, but he rejoiced much more at see
ing a saint die ; he therefore wished that the day of his
death should be one of common recreation at table, instead
of mourning.

He was not satisfied with ordinary holiness in those be
longing to him; he wished them to aim higher. "We
know not the secrets of God," he said, " nor on what con
ditions He may have caused our predestination to depend.
He who is called to great holiness does not satisfy the
heart of Jesus Christ by a low degree ; if we do not aim
very high, we shall not easily succeed in reaching the end
which God has appointed for us."

If any reverse of fortune had befallen the parents of any
of them, he pitied their distress, and wishing to preserve
their vocation, he did not hesitate to relieve their families,
in spite of the great want under which he himself labored;
he did so on many occasions, by giving up to them the
fees of their masses. Some of the Fathers thought that
such instances of charity were excessive, on account of
the poverty of the Congregation ; but Alphonsus replied,
that charity can never fall into excess, and that God repays
all that is given in his name. His affliction was extreme,
when he saw one overcome by temptation and ready to fall
back. If these combats were caused by temptation, he

190 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

pitied the subject, and tried to aid him by his prayers and
those of others, he even forgave him some impertinence.
In such a case he wrote to one most graciously : "St. Paul,
the first hermit, said to St. Anthony the abbot, who begged
him to open the door, or else he should die on the spot,
' this is a new way of begging, you beg with a menace.'
I say the same thing to you. I feel pity in seeing the
strife that has arisen in your heart: who ever sent you to
Iliceto as a punishment? And then, just observe what you
say: 'Otherwise I shall ask for a dispensation.' This is
very well, but who will give it to you ? Another time I
trust you will not be so angry. I repeat, that I forgive you,
for it is not you who speak, it is temptation. But let us
have patience, and wait till this noxious influence has
passed away." These words drove away his temptation
and restored him to peaoe. But when he was convinced,
that in any one these combats rather proceeded from malice
of self-will, and that he had lost the grace of God, and
therefore no longer cared for his soul nor for him, Al-
phonsus did riot hesitate an instant to free him from the oath
of perseverance, although he did so with great regret, and
often accompanied the act by the most fatal predictions;
he considered such a dispensation as a very passport to
the devil's house, and only gave it in tears.

To one, carried away by excessive attachment to his
mother, as nothing succeeded in turning him aside from
his purpose, Alphonsus at last said, on seeing his obstinacy,
" I give you leave, but you will come to a bad end." The
prediction was fulfilled. The unhappy man went away, and
returned home, where he became the victim of God's anger
and that of man also : he was despised by all priests, and a
prey to a thousand contradictions. But his own mother
caused him the greatest distress of all; for though he was
seriously ill, she turned him out of doors, and he ended
his life, deprived of every sort of assistance, in a miserable
out-of-the-way hovel.

Alphonsus took no further pains about those who left the
Congregation in this way, or who had caused themselves

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 191

to be expelled from it, and there is no instance of any one
of them ever having been admitted again by him. Any
further intercourse with these deserters was forbidden, and
they were considered as so many heathens and publicans.
No reiterated requests to be admitted again, no interces
sion in their favor, caused their wishes to be granted, the
prayers of the most influential persons, such as those of
our oldest fathers, or bishops, would not prevail on the holy
Superior. One who had been sent away, perceiving what
a deplorable state he was in, presented himself before Al-
phonsus, threw himself at his feet, and all bathed in
tears, entreated him to admit him again ; but he was im-
moveable. This Father, knowing that he never refused
any thing he was asked in the name of the Blessed Virgin,
conjured him to pardon him for the love of Mary. But
Alphonsus replied vehemently, " The Blessed Virgin Mary
does not wish me to go to hell for you."

The heart of the most tender father could not feel greater
love for his children than Alphonsus did towards our stu
dents. " We are their fathers;" said he, speaking to their
Superiors, "and the Congregation is their mother. Since
they have left their parents in order to give themselves to
God, it is right that they should be treated with the great
est charity." There were three things which he wished
them never to forget in the course of their studies : first, he
did not like them to seek to know any thing but what was
useful and necessary, and always with suitable moderation;
in the second place, he objected to any boasting before
others of more knowledge than was really possessed, much
more, to setting up for acquirements which one had not ;
and in the third place, he wished for a continual growth
in virtue, and especially in humility. "True knowledge,"
he said to them, "consists in knowing Jesus Christ well.
Of what good will knowledge be to us, if its end is not to

seek after God? We must study, it is true, as we

are laborers ; but we ought to be fully persuaded that the
one thing needful, and that which Jesus Christ requires
above every thing else, is that we should endeavor to be

192 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

saved as saints. We must study, but our sole object in
studying ought to be that of pleasing God, otherwise it will
only cause us to be a long time in purgatory, nay, even may
lead some perhaps to the torments of hell, which may God
forbid. Let your aim then always be the glory of God and
the good of souls, and when an opportunity occurs for
seeming ignorant, do not recoil from it, for it will not hurt
you."

He had also an extreme affection for the young novices.
When the noviciate was in the house where he himself
lived, he always passed the evening recreation with the
novices. In order to inspire faithfulness in following the
vocation, and fear of losing it, he was in the habit of say
ing: ''Vocation and perseverance are two distinct graces;
God may give us the former even in the midst of our infi
delities, but we shall not have the grace of perseverance, if
we do not deserve it through prayer and good works. It is
this crown which the devil wishes to take from us, and
God allows him tdfrtempt us, to try our constancy and to
reward us proportionably." Three things he required in
the novices, to insure their persevering arid triumphing over
temptations, viz : humility, obedience, and openness of
heart. " He who is humble and knows his own misery,"
said he, " is all-powerful against the devil, he can never go
astray, if he blindly trusts to the guidance of his Superiors,
and above all if he is candid in confiding all that he feels
to his director. A temptation which is revealed to another
is vanquished, or half vanquished, for the devil, who is pride
itself, does not suffer his artifices to be disclosed to a crea
ture of earth, such as man is." When he found these dis
positions in a novice, he felt sure that there was nothing
to fear.

With regard to novices who became sick, his maxim was,
that those who were patient and pious in illness, assisted
the Congregation by their example, and that as they were
themselves pleasing to God, they drew down innumerable
graces upon it also. When a fervent novice was at the
point of death, Alphonsus was not distressed, for he re-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 193

joiced in the assurance that such a novice was happy. If
on the contrary a sick person wished to leave us, he
only granted it with pain. "If the doctors and remedies
we have here," he said, "cannot restore their health,
they will not recover it any better in the house of their
parents. If God wills that they shall die, it is better for
them to die in the Congregation, than in the midst of
the world."

Let us close this chapter by giving the wise rules Al-
phonsus prescribed to himself, which directed his conduct,
and caused him to be an eminent Superior:

1st. A Superior ought to lead an exemplary life, for if
he does not practice what he teaches, his government will
be useless and dangerous.

2d. The Superior ought constantly to labor for God, and
to be persuaded that he will often meet with ingratitude
from man.

3d. Too severe a Superior makes the subjects imperfect
and deceitful, because they will act only through servile
fear.

4th. Pride makes a Superior odious to all, it hinders his
own sanctification and that of his subjects, as well as the
preservation of order in the institute.

5th. The Superior ought to possess heroic patience, he
ought to bear all kinds of labor, fatigue, and contradictions,
and always appear calm, and affable towards all.

6th. The Superior ought to give every one a reception
full of charity and affection, and be all to all on all
occasions.

7th. The Superior ought to be careful to cherish the
same degree of love towards all, and to assist all alike in
their spiritual and temporal wants.

8th. The Superior who does not overcome his antipa
thies, sympathies, or impressions caused by ill-temper, is
hasty in his judgments, and falls into a thousand faults.

9th. The Superior ought not to be so presumptuous as
to try to govern the institute by means of his own lights
only, he always stands in need of prayers and counsels.
17

194 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS,

10th. The Superior ought to provide for the spiritual and
temporal wants of his subjects, and to relieve them with all
the care of a father and a brother.

llth. The Superior ought to be vigilant as to the observ
ance of the rule, he must therefore inquire into every
thing with the greatest exactitude.

12th. The Superior must not judge things hastily, but
weigh them well, and reflect and inquire into them, before
giving any decision.

13th. The Superior ought to punish offences against the
rule, but he ought first to give repeated warning, which
should always be accompanied by charity.

14th. The Superior ought to be firm with the incorri
gible, and he must take care to prevent the contagion of
bad example.

15th. The Superior ought to be just, exemplary, prudent,
charitable, affable, and vigilant, if he would not undergo a
terrible judgment at the tribunal of God.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Alphonsus is chosen Bishop. His journey to Rome and
-Loretto. His Consecration.

WE are now arrived at that period of the life of our
Saint, in which God, in His wonderful providence,
placed him on the candlestick, to enlighten all those who
were in the house of His holy Church, and that he might
labor for His glory by new works, and in new combats
The episcopal see of St. Agatha of the Goths, a town
situated at the foot of Mount Taburno, between Bene-
vento and Capua in the Abruzzi, buik by the Goths on
the site of the ancient Saticola, mentioned by Titus Livi-
us, 7th Book of the 1st Decade, chapter 8th, had become
vacant by the death of Bishop Flaminius Danza. The
succession to it was solicited by at least sixty candidates,

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 195

amongst whom were bishops, and even archbishops. The
Pope, Clement XIII, much embarrassed by the number of
competitors, the claims of one not the most worthy, being,
besides, singularly favored at Naples by a very high person
age, consulted the Cardinals, and Cardinal Spinelli gave
the advice to choose a man whose merits surpassed those
of all the rest, and proposed Alphonsus, who, from the
lustre of his origin, science, and sanctity, enjoyed an
esteem as general as it was merited. This advice was
followed, as being calculated to put to silence every pre
tension, and to end every anxiety. The news of the Sov
ereign Pontiff's decision being spread through Rome, filled
all those who knew the future bishop, with joy, and the
satisfaction was such that many prelates, and particularly
the Cardinals Orsini and Cartelli, went to thank the Pope.
Many other distinguished personages, among them, Prince
Piombino and D. Gae'tan Buon-Compagno, who had
known Alphonsus at Naples, were so rejoiced at this nomi
nation, that they presented themselves in person to his
Holiness, and congratulated him on having raised so
learned and holy a man to the episcopate.

While this matter was being settled at Rome, the mind
of Alphonsus was occupied with anything but this church
and bishopric; one day, when conversing with Bishop
Nicolas Borgia of Cava, on the mercy of God in rescuing
him from the world, he said : " One of the greatest graces
that I have received from the Lord, is that of having
escaped the peril of being a bishop, a peril which I should
have had difficulty in avoiding, had I remained with my
family." Thus thought Alphonsus, but God had ordained
otherwise. A courier arrived at Nocera on the 9th of
March, 1762, with a letter from Cardinal Socatelli, Nuncio
at Naples, inclosing one from Cardinal Negroni, which
announced to him his election to the bishopric of St.
Agatha, in the name of the Pope. On reading them,
Alphonsus was thunderstruck; his senses became troubled,
and he could not speak. As soon as the community were
informed of it, they hastened to his room, and found him

196 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

agitated, silent, and bathed in tears. After recovering
himself, he became tranquil, persuaded that his refusal
would immediately end all, and that the election was a
mere mark of esteem which the Pope wished to give him.
Alphonsus in consequence wrote a letter to the Cardinal-
auditor, in which he thanked the Pope for his goodness,
and exposed his own incapacity, his great age and infirmi
ties, the vow by which he had engaged himself never to
accept any dignity, and the scandal which his consent
would give in the Congregation. When the courier was
gone, Alphonsus said to F. Corsano: "See, this storm has
cost me an hour and four ducats," alluding to the money
he had had to give to the messenger, he then added, that
he would not give the Congregation for all the kingdoms
of the great Turk. He wrote at the same time to Cardinal
Spinelli, to let him know the motives which had determined
him to refuse the honor offered to him, and to beg him to
cause his refusal to be accepted by the Pope. He wrote
at the same time to his friend, the Abbe Bruni, who had
much influence with the Cardinal. The next day, Bishop
Borgia came to see him, and gave him a confidential letter
from Cardinal Spinelli, who wrote, that his Holiness wished
that he should immediately accept the bishopric, to take
him out of his embarrassment, but that he should be at
liberty to renounce it afterwards, when affairs should be
come more tranquil. This threw Alphonsus into new con
sternation, and greater than the first. Persuaded that the

> o

Pope would make difficulty to accept his resignation, he
saw that he had no hope left but in God, and he made
his brethren pray, that the Lord would deign to exempt
him from this punishment, which he always acknowledged
to have deserved by his sins. In his sermon on the follow
ing Saturday, he recommended himself to the prayers of the
people, he redoubled his penances, he condemned himself
to a severe fast, he diminished his sleep, and neglected no
means to appease what he considered so violent a tempest.
As the time drew near, when the decision was to be
given at Rome, the disquietude of Alphonsus increased;

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 197

but in spite of his extreme agitation, he was heard often
repeating : " May the will of God be done." He remained
balancing between fear and hope, but fear had the prepon
derance. " Tf the courier comes," he said several times
to Fathers Ferrara and Mazzini, " do not let me see him.
for he would seem to me like an executioner with the axe in
his hand." At Rome, many well qualified personages who
were acquainted with the reasons alleged by Alphonsus,
hastened to intercede in his favor, especially dwelling on
his age and his enfeebled frame. Cardinal Spinelli, in
formed of the state of Alphonsus, pleaded his cause him
self, though with regret. On the evening of the 14th of
March, the Pope seemed disposed to accept the resigna
tion, but the next morning he decided to the contrary,
without any one knowing why he did so. On the morn
ing of the 18th of March, 1762, the messenger of the
Nuncio appeared again at Naples. Fathers Ferrara and
Mazzini opened the letters, and when they saw the firm
resolve of the Pope, they went to Alphonsus, but before
letting him know the truth, they got him to recite an
Ave Maria with them. Alphonsus felt his heart beat,
and said: "The courier has returned." They confessed
it, and told him the Pope commanded him to accept. Upon
this he raised his eyes to heaven, bent his head in token of
submission, and said: " Obmutui, quia tu fecisti;" then
becoming thoughtful, he added : " It is the will of God,
God sends me out of the Congregation for my sins."
Then turning towards the Fathers, he said: "Do not
forget me. Ah ! must it be that we shall separate, after
having loved each other during thirty years ?" On this he
was silent, and his eyes became bathed in tears. The
Fathers observing that he lacked not friends in Rome, who
would cause the motives of his resignation to prevail, "It
is not possible," replied Alphonsus, "to make explana
tions. The Pope has declared himself in absolute terms,
which do not permit it: I must obey." At these words,
he fell into such convulsions, that he remained speechless
for five hours. When he came to himself, he wrote to the
17*

198 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Cardinal-auditor and to the Nuncio, that he was ready to
accept, and to submit to the will of the Sovereign Pontiff.
The refusal of Alphonsus had caused a great sensation, all
Rome was edified, and this edification increased still more,
when his unreasoning obedience and complete submission
to the will of the Pope became known.

When D. Hercules heard that his brother had accepted
the episcopate, he rejoiced, and hastened to offer such ser
vices as might be necessary to him under the circum
stances. Alphonsus replied as follows: "My dear brother, I
have been so stunned by the command of the Pope, that I
should accept the bishopric on obedience, that my ideas

seem to have left me I thank you for your offer

of advancing the money What do you wish I

should say? you rejoice; for my part, T can only weep. I
have lost my sleep and appetite, I am beside myself, a fever
seized me this morning, and this evening, whilst I write, it is
not gone. I ask of myself, why my old age is to be afflicted
by the painful labors of the episcopate, and how it is that the.
Pope, who never gives such commands, has adopted a tone
of such severity with me ? To conclude, may the will of
God be done ; He desires the sacrifice of the rest of my
Jife, I must submit, whatever I may wish."

It being the custom of the bishops of the kingdom, who
came to Naples, to establish themselves in a house accord
ing with their high dignity, Alphonsus, having accepted
the bishopric, wrote thus to his brother: "As regards th
house, I do not want to charge myself with the expenses.
I think that when I come to Naples, one or two rooms on
the first floor will be enough for me to receive the people
in, who may wish to speak to me." To the lay-brother he
wrote : " I hope that I shall not return to Naples, but in
any case four straw chairs will be enough for me. If I
have accepted the bishopric out of obedience, I must follow
the example of saintly bishops: do not speak to me, then,
about a carriage or livery. What good will it do to me to act
the great lord in Naples?" Bishops Borgia and Volpe, and
ihis director F. Villani, having shown him the necessity of

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. ]£9

his having a carriage, he consented to it, and wrote to his
brother: " Yes, I am resolved to buy one, but I wish to see
beforehand whether the late bishop has not left a carriage
which might do, because I should have that much cheaper.
I shall be in Naples this week or next, and then we will
speak about it, for the short stay I shall make in that town
I have no need to buy a carriage and mules immediately. I
will use that of the Cordeliers for tjie visits I shall have to
make there."

Great as was his submission to the will of the Pope, he
made so violent an effort, and experienced such internal
constraint, that the fever which had seized him on the 20th
of March, became so alarming, that his life appeared in
danger. "Just are the judgments of God," he exclaimed,
"the Lord casts me out of the Congregation for my sins."
One thing alone brought him relief, it was the hope of
being able to re-enter the order. "I believe it is certain,"
he said, "that after God's anger is appeased, (and I hope
that my prayers and zeal in fulfilling my duties may disarm
it in a few years,) I am certain that then the Pope will have
pity on my sorrows, and will willingly choose a more worthy
person for St. Agatha ; then he will send me back here to
die within these very walls whence I am now going out."
The Pope, rejoicing at the obedience of Alphonsus, wished
to testify to him the satisfaction he felt, and in conse
quence the Cardinal-auditor wrote to the holy man to this
effect, signifying at the same time, that his Holiness had
consented to his deferring his journey to Rome, on account
of the inclemency of the season. Hearing afterwards of
his serious malady, the Pope was extremely afflicted, but
said : " If he dies, we shall give him our apostolical bene
diction, but if he lives, we wish to have him in Rome."
D. Hercules, hearing at Naples of the dangerous state of
his brother, hastened to Nocera, bringing one of the most
skilful physicians of that capital with him.

The submission of Alphonsus to the will of the Pope had
caused great joy at St. Agatha. The chapter deputed several
canons to congratulate him, but their sorrowful surprise on

200 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

finding him in bed and in danger of death, was as great
as their ardent desire o/ becoming acquainted with him
whom God had destined to be their father, and of
whose zeal and sanctity they had heard so much. On
their return to St. Agatha, this news spread consternation
among the inhabitants, and in unison with the clergy they
addressed their prayers to God, that he would deign to
restore the health of their future pastor. Public prayers
were also offered to God in all the houses of the Con
gregation, each feeling a deep interest in the life of him
whom he looked on as his father.

As his mind resumed its calmness, his body also re
gained its strength, but that he escaped from death, was
considered a real miracle. When his humility would
oppose itself to the Pope, he was heard to say : " God
wills that I should be a bishop, and for my part I will to
be a bishop." He was in this disposition of mind when,
on the«morning of Easter day, finding that he was almost
well, he took the sudden resolution of going to his bishop
ric. He then, without loss of time, entered into one of
those miserable carriages which are called mantice, and set
out for Naples, from whence he had to repair to Rome.
He was accompanied by F. Villani. On the Saturday
before his departure, he did not omit to preach, according
to custom, in honor of the Holy Virgin Mary, and
he did it in so pathetic a tone, that he affected all his
audience in an extraordinary degree. On leaving his
brethren at Nocera, he begged all there present not to
forget him in their prayers, in order that the Lord Jesus
Christ and the Blessed Virgin might aid him to bear the
load which had been placed upon him. After that, he
added: "Do not grieve, my dear brethren, because I am
going away ; I promise that I will return here again to end
my days." On passing by the Tower of the Annunziata,
he stopped for a few moments, in consequence of a pressing
invitation, at the house of the Garganos, a family of which all
the members were greatly devoted to him. " I go to Rome,"
he said to them, "but I -am sure that my representations,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 201

which have been powerless at a distance, will be more
favorably heard when I am on the spot; the holy Father
will let me go and die among my brethren, when he finds
in me only a miserable carcass." He found fresh subjects
of distress on his arrival at Naples. Being obliged to pay
his respects to the ministers and magistrates, and finding
himself beset at home by the crowd who came to compli
ment him, he required all his virtue to bear this new mode
of life. "Recommend me, and let me be recommended
by others very particularly, to Jesus Christ." he wrote to F.
Mazzini on the 14th of April, " if I do not lose my senses
now, I shall never lose them. Unhappy that I am, I left
the world in my youth, and now in my old age I have to
begin again to hold intercourse with it."

Very touching was the meeting of Alphonsus with F.
Janvier Fatigati. Some years before, Alphonsus, when at
Naples, having heard that this, his friend, was going to be
elected bishop, went to see him one morning, and met him
on the threshold of the door. " F. Janvier," he said to
him with ardor, "do not accept the episcopate, if you do,
you will be damned." Alphonsus in his turn received, at
the time we are speaking of, the visit of his friend, who,
more fortunate than himself, had been able to decline the
burden. When they met, they were mutually silent, their
eyes were bathed in tears, and the features of Alphonsus
showed the bitterness which rent his heart, while those of
F. Fatigati depicted the compassion he felt for his friend.

The expenditure of Alphonsus, when at Naples, for his
equipment, was really extraordinary. His episcopal ring
cost only a few carlins, it was adorned with a simple bit of
glass; the brilliants in his pastoral cross were also made of
false stones. When the jeweller gave it to him, Alphonsus
said, "Oh what a heavy cross you bring me!" "What!
heavy!" replied the workman with astonishment. "Yes,
heavy," answered Alphonsus, bendinghis head twice, " alas!
it is so weighty that I know nothing more overwhelming."

On Monday, the 19th of April, after Easter week, Alphon
sus, accompanied by F. Villani, set out for Rome. He

202

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

went to Cisterna to see Cardinal Spinelli. His Eminence
could not help smiling on seeing him ; but Alphonsus
said at once: "My lord, you have not acted fairly towards
me." The Cardinal related what had passed at Rome
concerning him, and urged him to undertake the burden
of the episcopate courageously, saying: "My lord, be
sure of the assistance of God, for your divine vocation is
most certain." The first thing which our saint did on
arriving at Rome, was to visit the tomb of St. Peter. He
remained before the altar in a sort of ecstasy for more
than an hour, and he stayed for a long time on his knees
before the image of the holy Apostle which is in the
Vatican besides. They were so prepossessed in his favor
at Rome, that he was welcomed every where with especial
marks of esteem. The Fathers of the Congregation of the
Pious Workers wished to have him in their house, and the
Duke of Sora, Prince of Piombino, D. Gae'tan Buon-Com-
pagno, being at Frescati, and hearing of his arrival, begged
him to lodge in his palace, and offered him the use of his
carriage. Alphonsus declined the dwelling-place, but
accepted the carriage, which his weakness and great age
rendered indispensable to him. When the Abbe Bruni
came to see him, Alphonsus, who knew that he had taken
part with Cardinal Spinelli in his nomination, could not
help gently reproaching him by representing his incapacity.
"I have no quality which fits me in the least degree for a
bishop," he said, "but I submit because the Pope com
mands, and God wills that I should obey him." "The
Pope wills that I should be a bishop," he said to the Abbe
Troppi, a professor in Rome, " but I have come to let him
see that I am but a machine out of order."

His humility made him quick in finding pretexts for ex
cusing himself courteously from the most of the invitations
he received. The Fathers of the Mission of St. Vincent
of Paul invited him to dinner one day: " My Fathers, ""he
said to them, " please give my dinner to Jesus Christ's poor
for me, in order that He may let me see His holy will dis
tinctly while I am at Rome," Cardinal Orsini invited him

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 203

to his table. Alphonsus wished to excuse himself again,
but it was in vain; he was told that the Cardinal had in
vited other great personages to meet him. When he was
preparing to go to the Cardinal's, he was told that he
ought not to present himself there in such a dress, (Al
phonsus, even in Rome, gloried in wearing the habit of his
order,) but should put on a court-dress. He did not attend
to this advice, and when he met the Cardinal, he said to
him: "My Lord, I am come as I was." The Cardinal
smiled. "I know," added Alphonsus, "that you are
ashamed of me." "Well my wish is, that you should
shame me," answered the Cardinal ; then he embraced him
heartily, and led him in his cabinet.

Alphonsus had suffered a great deal at Naples from the
numerous visits and compliments, but it was worse at
Rome. "The time which must pass before I can leave
Rome, seems like a thousand years," he wrote to his brother
Hercules, "how I long to be free from all their ceremo
nial!" On his arrival, he heard that the Pope was at Civita
Vecchia, and would not return immediately. He resolved
therefore to go in the meanwhile to visit the holy house at
Loretto. F. Villani tried to dissuade him from it, to save
him from this additional fatigue. "My good mother Mary
will strengthen me," he answered; "when will so favora
ble an opportunity offer itself again ? Nothing will hurt
me, if I can have the satisfaction of visiting the house
where the Eternal Word became man for me." This jour
ney, like that from Naples to Rome, was to him a con
tinual union with God. He commenced before day-break
by a long meditation and other prayers ; then he said the
canonical hours, paid a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and
to the Blessed Virgin ; he then said the Rosary and Lita
nies, and wished his servants also to recite the Rosary with
uncovered heads. He said many prayers for the souls in
purgatory, and passed the most of the time till twelve, in
singing pious hymns, and in holy converse with F. Villani.
He celebrated Mass every day, and when the hour ap
proached, made his preparation, with a long thanksgiving

204 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

after it, While he continued his route, he said Vespers
and Compline ; he then made a long meditation, together
with a visit to Jesus and Mary, and .recited the Rosary
again. On arriving at the inn, he said Matins and Lauds
for the following day. His attendants were humility and
poverty. He fasted in the morning, and took his evening
meal in a strange manner, for he went to the same table as
the drivers, as if he had been the poorest of the travellers.
He experienced ineffable consolation, the three weeks
he passed at Loretto. He observed, or rather meditated on,
the smallest local circumstance. "It is here," he ex
claimed in unceasing rapture, " it is here that the Word
became man. It is here that Mary held Him in her arms!"
One day he told F. "Villani to retire, wishing to contemplate
at his leisure the mysteries which this cradle of the divine hu
manity recalled to his mind. During all the nights he passed
at Loretto, he never went to bed ; he remained constantly on
his knees, sometimes without any support, sometimes. with
that of his bed. These details were given by his servant, who
watched him through the crevices of his door. The same
servant related also, that for his supper he took only an in
fusion of sage, ate very little at dinner, and when he was
urged to take some dishes which the inn-keeper brought
for him, he always declined it adroitly. He never left the
house to go to see the town, only going out to celebrate
Mass in the morning, and to pay a visit in the evening to
the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin. The pil
grims came to the saintly man in crowds, and he neglected
nothing in order to relieve their misery. One of them
coming before him half-naked, he opened his trunk and
gave him his best shirt, and a tolerably large alms besides.
When he was obliged to leave Loretto, one may say he
left his heart behind him on that holy spot. On his return,
he did not cease to speak of the great mystery, the very
scene of the accomplishment of which, he had been visiting.
A heavy rain fell the night after his departure, which
swelled the stream of the river Tarni. The next morning,
in leaving Marino in a boat, an awkward evolution nearly

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 205

upset the barge ; Alphonsus fell into the water, and disap
peared in the middle of the river; but the servant threw
himself into the stream, and miraculously succeeded in
bearing him out on his shoulders to the other side. When
they arrived at Spoletto, Mgr. Acqua, bishop of that city,
being informed of the passage of his saintly colleague,
sent his carriage to the hotel for him, being himself con
fined to bed by gout, and under great uneasiness as to the
state of his diocese. He opened his heart to him whose
works he admired so much, and told him all his trials.
Alphonsus consoled the holy bishop, who passed the greater
part of the night with him, blessing God for having been
able to converse with a man so full of the Spirit of God.

Alphonsus returned to Rome on the evening of May 8th,
1762; and the Pope arrived almost at the same time from
Civita-Vecchia. He went to do homage to him immedi
ately; as he bent to his feet, the Pope hastened to raise
him, and embracing him, made him sit beside him; but
Alphonsus threw himself anew at his feet, and supplicated
with tears to be exempted from a charge which his infirmities,
his age, and above all, his incapacity, rendered him unfit
for. "Obedience," answered the Pope, "enables one to
work miracles ; trust therefore in God, and he will assist
you." He then made him sit down, and questioned him
as to the state of Naples, both in its political and spiritual
relations ; he kept him for an hour and a half, as he took
very great pleasure in talking with him.

When going to visit Cardinal Torregiani, secretary of
state, he wished, before making himself known, to wait till
all who had asked an audience were Satisfied ; so he staid
humbly in the ante-chamber. But Bishop Molinari, who
knew him, happening to enter the ante-room, informed the
Cardinal's servant who he was. He had been taken for a
mendicant; the Cardinal was immediately informed, and
received him with distinction above every one else. The
Pope wished often to see him, and conferred with him on
many affairs of much importance to the Church. He con
ceived the highest opinion of his virtues and science from
18

206 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

these interviews. He never spoke of him without admira
tion, so much so that a rumor went about that Alphonsus
would be made a Cardinal. Alphonsus himself seemed to
confirm these reports, by the terms in which he wrote to
his brother Hercules of what had passed between himself
and the Sovereign Pontiff.

In -one of these visits to the Holy Father the conversa
tion fell upon frequent communion ; Alphonsus told him
that he had been opposed at Naples on this subject by
some men more rigorous than devout, who, by exaggerating
the dispositions which this sacrament requires, discouraged
the faithful and kept them at a distance from it. He dis
approved of the silence of Alphonsus, and charged him to
refute his adversaries. Alphonsus consented, and during
his stay in Rome composed and published a treatise on this
subject, which the Pqpe received with great satisfaction.

He went to visit the examiners, and when he was asked
on what treatises he wished to be examined, he wanted
to leave it to their own choice ; but as they insisted to
the contrary, he named those de Mutuo and de Legibus;
but one of them, who knew how much he dreaded the
episcopate, wished to propose a question which would
please him ; it was this : "Is it lawful to wish for the epis
copate?" On the eve of the examination, the thought of
the burden which threatened him brought on a sick head
ache, which took away all his rest; he would not eat, and
indeed was incapable of taking anything ; however, he took
a little in obedience to F. Villani, and the next day, in
spite of the discomfort he felt, he presented himself for the
examination. One of the examiners, having proposed the
question, begged him to raise his voice a little, but Cardi
nal Gallo, turning to the Pope, said : " Holy Father, he does
not hear, because he does not wish to hear." The Pope
smiled, so did the examiners and persons present. At the
end of the meeting, one of the Cardinals suggested to him
that he should return thanks to the Pope ; but either he
did not understand it, or feigned not to understand it, as
the Cardinal repeated it a second time. "Most Holy

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 207

Father," said he then, "since you have deigned to make
me a bishop, pray God that I lose not my soul."

On St. Basil's day, the 14th of June, Alphonsus was
consecrated bishop, in the church of Minerva, by Cardinal
Rossi, assisted by two bishops. It was an overwhelming
day for our saint. He confessed to his director afterwards
that he had had two great battles in his life : the first, when
he left the world, and had to struggle against the tender
ness of a father who clasped him tightly in his arms ; the
second, when he was forced to be ordained bishop when at
Rome. " For then," said he, " I was cast down by fear in
thinking of the burden I was loaded with, and the account
I should have to give of it to God." After the consecra
tion, some one said to him that if he wished to enjoy the
privilege of wearing a cap at the altar, he must obtain a
brief: "Oh!" he exclaimed, "what a thing it would beif.I
should spend money in order to contract a wicked debt
towards Jesus Christ!"

Our Fathers, seeing what great harm might happen to
the Congregation by his loss, had united to entreat the
Pope to grant them that Alphonsus might continue to be
superior and rector-major of the institute, and that a vicar-
general should govern it in his name. This request was
supported by F. Villani, to whom the Holy Father immedi
ately replied with kindness : " I wish that this Congrega
tion should go on and be well supplied with subjects, and
I do not intend that it should suffer any harm from the
elevation of its founder, for the great good it has effected
in the Church and in the kingdom of Naples, is a great
consolation to me." Thus his Holiness condescended to
grant all their wishes, which helped in no small degree to
alleviate the sorrow of Alphonsus, who had believed him
self cast out of the Congregation in punishment for his sins.

The Holy Father desired the new bishop to come to his
private audience six or seven times ; at his last visit, in
bidding him farewell, he loaded him with kindness, and
seemed unable to separate from him ; he recommended the
Church and himself to his prayers. He gave him his bulls

208 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

gratuitously, and Cardinal Atitonelli, secretary of the con
sistory, defrayed the other expenses.

During all the time he staid in Rome, Alphonsus led the
most edifying life ; he never went out but from necessity;
or to visit the sacred places. After his consecration he
revisited the tomb of the apostle St. Peter, and placed him
self and those committed to his care under his protection.
Cardinal Orsini invited him a second time, but Alphonsus
declined the honor, excusing himself on the plea of his
infirmities. He mortified himself at Rome as elsewhere.
The great heat caused him to suffer much from his head ;
he was asked one day to take an ice which was offered to
him, but he refused to accept it, and contented himself with
a glass of lemonade, which is called fresh water in Rome.
He was always dressed as a missionary, and wore the Ro
sary at his girdle, and & broad-brimmed hat. A person of
high rank could not help telling him : "In not leaving off
the habit of your order, you have given a most edifying
example to Rome." The Pope himself did not cease to
praise his virtues, and said to several Cardinals: "On the
death of Bishop Liguori we shall have to honor another
saint in the Church,"

CHAPTER XIX.

Mphonsus leaves Rome and goes to his diocese. His manner
of life as a bishop. He gives the Spiritual Exercises to
the Clergy, and a Mission in his Cathedral. Some exam
ples of his severity against hardened sinners.

ON the 21st of June, after celebrating mass at the altar
of St. Louis Gonzaga in the church of the Gesu, Al
phonsus left Rome. In this journey, as in the preceding
ones, poverty was his inseparable companion ; though a
bishop, he sat at table with the drivers, without suffering
any distinction to be made. He arrived at Naples on the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 209

morning of the 25th. He visited among others the four
ministers, and commended himself most particularly to the
Marquis, of Marco. "I go into a diocese a little in disor
der," he said to him, "and each one will wish to justify
his conduct. I pray God that they may all really be able
to do so ; but I entreat you to regard the honor of God
and the welfare of souls." " Do not be distressed," the
Marquis answered, " and if you require the King's support,
be assured you will obtain it." He was invited to the
royal table, and went there; but while he was in the ante
chamber he was not recognised by the two young cheva
liers in attendance. The Canon D. Fabricius Martini made
it known that he was Bishop Liguori, and Alphonsus be
came immediately an object of great attention and venera
tion. Confused by this, he gently complained to Mgr.
Martini for having made him known. In the drives through
the town, he always told the coachman not to attempt pre
cedence, but to give way on all occasions. At the gate of
the Santo Spiritu, he met a prince's carriage, which seemed
disposed to go first. His coachman wished to dispute this
advantage, but when Alphonsus perceived it, he ordered
him to leave the passage to the prince, and reprimanded
the man on his return, enjoining him to give place for the
future, even to a groom. The religious of the principal
convents, and others, asked him to visit them and to
say mass in their churches, but not wishing to prolong his
stay in Naples uselessly, he gratified only a few, among
them his cousin Francis Cavaliere, who, with the concur
rence of the Cardinal, wished him to give the Sacrament
of Confirmation to one of his daughters in the chapel of
his palace.

Before he left Naples, a priest of Arienzo went to visit
him. He thought it meritorious to present himself before
his bishop with a worldly affectation of dress; he was per
fumed and curled, and wore buckles which covered all his
shoes. Alphonsus felt pity on seeing such vanity of mind,
and said to him with touching goodness: "My son, these
are not the buckles of a priest, and this head-dress does
18*

210 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

not suit you at all ; if you act thus, you who should be an
example to the people, what then will men of the world
do?" The poor priest was quite confused, and changed
his conduct.

Alphonsus left Naples on the 3d of July. He visited
Cardinal Sersale at the Tower of the Annunziata. He re
ceived him with the tenderest proofs of friendship, and said
smiling: "You are, then, caught." "Obedience so willed
it," answered Alphonsus. The Cardinal accompanied him
to the stairs, and on seeing his equipage, said jestingly :
"But so, you have taken the livery of a Cardinal." "It
was riot I who ordered it," replied Alphonsus, " it was the
work of D. Hercules." Alphonsus had wished it to be of
a dingy ash color, but to his great regret, Hercules had
made it of crimson on blue ground. Casting his eyes after
that on his shoe buckles, the Cardinal said laughingly:
"You must have bought these at Rome, and no doubt they
cost you a great deal!" They were little iron buckles,
which had cost a carlin.

He arrived at Nocera on a Saturday, and preached there
according to custom, in honor of the Most Blessed Virgin
Mary. On seeing the saintly bishop, the whole audience
melted into tears. The Fathers, because of the visits which
•would be paid to him, did not put him in his ordinary cell,
'but gave him two in another part of the house, that he
might sleep in the one, and receive visitors in the other.
One evening passing before his old cell, he exclaimed: "0
my cell, formerly thy sight consoled me, now it afflicts me."
He was so overcome by regret that he could not banish
tears from his eyes.

On the morning of the 8th of the same month, after a
tender farewell to his dear monastery of Nocera, he took
leave of the missionaries and set out for Naples, accompa
nied by F. Francis Margotta. " My brethren," he said,
when going away, "do not forget me. I go into exile, far
from my dear Congregation." He could say no more, for
.his emotion was extreme.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 211

As it was during the burning heats of summer, and at
that period when the weather frequently changes, the doc
tors of Nocera had given him the advice to defer the jour
ney, but considering it the part of a good shepherd to give
his life for his sheep, he braved the inconstancy of the
season, and set out immediately to go and unite himself
with his church. "A bishop," he said, "ought not to
think of his own life, but should sacrifice himself for the
souls which are entrusted to him." He was also strongly
advised to stop at Arienzo, a town of his new diocese, on
account of the comfortable house and more salubrious air
he would have found there, but he wished to go to St.
Agatha, as the place where God had fixed his abode.

No triumph in the memory of man had ever been seen
equal to that of Alphonsus when he entered the diocese of
St. Agatha. He wept, being affected at the sight of the
crowd of people who filled the road and had hastened from
all parts to receive his first benediction. On arriving
at the gate of Real- Vale, he was saluted by a discharge
of mortars and brilliant fire-works. When passing be
fore the parish church, he perceived an immense crowd,
who had hastened from the country, desirous of having his
episcopal blessing; affected by this pious eagerness, he
got out of the carriage and entered the church, where after
a short act of adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, he com
forted all the faithful by a simple and pathetic discourse.
In passing by Bagnoli, a fief of the see of St. Agatha, he
was again saluted by roars of cannon and by a thousand
acclamations from a joyous people.

On his arrival at St. Agatha, he received, on descending
from the carriage into the court of the episcopal palace,
the congratulations and homage of both the secular and
regular clergy, and of a number of distinguished inhabitants
of the town and diocese. After a moment's repose, when
they were making ready to conduct him to the church in
procession, the canons discovered that he had no cap or
green hat. Not being able to do better, they took that
which was placed on the tomb of the deceased Bishop

212 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Danza. After the Blessed Sacrament had been exposed,
Alphonsus prostrated himself for a long time with his face
on the ground, which he deluged with his tears. The
cathedral was so crowded, that spacious as it was, a good
many people were obliged to stay at the door. When they
had chanted the Te Deum. the bishop descended from his
throne, and placing himself on the right side of the altar,
he comforted all present by a discourse in which his love
and zeal were equally shown forth. All who assisted there
shed tears of joy, and thanked God for having given them
an angel for their pastor, and when they left the church
were heard to repeat : " We have a saintly bishop, we have
a saint among us." Such was the impression the first sight
of his poverty and humility, and the words of his burning
zeal, made on the mind of the people.

During this first sermQn, Alphonsus had been suddenly
attacked by an obstinate fit of coughing; one of the canons
turned to the others, and said in joke: "Make ready, gen
tlemen, to elect a new vicar-capitular, for if my lord has
another such attack, we shall infallibly lose him." Al
phonsus, to whom this remark was reported, together with
the canon's name, said jestingly in his turn: "He does not
know that green pears fall more easily than ripe ones." A
short time afterwards, this priest, though in the prime of his
life, was carried off by death, the first of all the chapter.
The same evening, Alphonsus had occasion to give proofs
of his great disinterestedness; several of the most dis
tinguished people sent him a quantity of provisions of great
price, for his table ; but he sent them all back, giving
money to the servants who had brought him these presents,
and expressing his gratitude for so much kindness. Some
days after, the Provincial of the Dominicans sent him a
great quantity of choice dishes, but he refused all, and
caused him to be told that he never accepted of such pre
sents. The Fathers Conventual also wished to show him
their friendly inclinations, by sending him a basket of little
cheeses, with a quantity of sweetmeats, and small wax

, LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 213

tapers. Alphonsus took one of the cheeses and sent back
all the rest. Others were not more fortunate.

The holy prelate's secretary, Don Verzella, seeing they
had several distinguished guests, D. Hercules and others,
thought he ought to provide a suitable supper, Alphonsus
was dissatisfied, and sent for him and said: "Felix, may
God forgive you, .what have you done ? I am not come
here to give sumptuous repasts; I do not wish to treat you
harshly, but I cannot understand any excess. When there
are so many poor who die of hunger, it does not befit us
to make good cheer." Not satisfied with this reprimand,
he sent for him again, and fixed the fare for each day; he
desired that for his dinner, soup and boiled meat should
be prepared ; an extra dish was only to be had for those of
his household, or for guests.

Though raised to the episcopate, he did not change his
manner of life ; he even followed a severer rule. Before
his departure from Nocera, he had sent a lay-brother to ar
range the palace of St. Agatha, and charged him to carry
his empty palliasse there, as he did not wish to have any
other bed. Not finding this, he complained to the brother,
who excused himself by saying that the canons had pre
vented it, and that they had not been able to procure suit
able straw. " Let it be procured," said Alphonsus, "and
let it be bought at any price." He had the mattrass re
moved, and spread the empty palliasse on the boards of the
bed, where he passed the night, and the next day was not
at rest till he had seen his palliasse arranged according to
custom for the following night. He went all over the
palace, and chose the most inconvenient and the plainest
room for himself, giving the best to his Grand-Vicar, to his
secretary, and to F. Angelus Majone, who was to remain
with him ; he did not go to bed the first evening till he had
disciplined himself severely for a long time. He also visited
the garden. He found it destitute of trees and vegetables;
he sent for the brother, and ordered him to plant a number
of kitchen plants, as if it were the month of February.
The brother smiled at this order, and represented to him

214 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

that it was not the proper season. " Do as I tell you," re
plied Alphonsus. The brother obeyed, and every one
laughed at it, but they were much surprised when, a little
afterwards, they saw that all without exception throve won
derfully.

From the time of his arrival at St. Agatha, he made a rule
of daily conduct, which he continued to follow throughout
the thirteen years during which he sanctified his Churcb-
As soon as he arose, he gave himself the discipline to blood
each morning. After that, he made half an hour of medi
tation with his whole household, the Vicar-General alone
being free not to assist. The canonical hours followed,
and after a suitable preparation, he celebrated Mass; he
then heard on his knees that which his secretary or another
priest said immediately after. Having thus done his duty
towards God, he gave audience to those who had to speak
with him, and occupied himself in satisfying the messen
gers who came from divers parts of the diocese; to spare to
all the tedium of the ante-chamber, he told his servant to
usher in immediately every person, however poor. The '
cures and vicars, as well as confessors, had no need of
being announced, he wished them to enter at all times with
perfect confidence. "These are my privileged ones," he
said, "they ought not to suffer any restraint." When no
one asked an audience, he began to compose or to dictate
immediately after mass, which he never did when he had
to attend to the people of his diocese. As soon as there
was any one to hear, he directly left his study and did not
return till he had satisfied the visitors.

The furniture of his room -consisted of little more than a
writing table ; it was there he placed himself in the morn
ing, with a crucifix and a figure of our Lady of Good' Counsel
before him, continually engaged in prayer, in work, and in
giving audiences and attending to the affairs of his diocese.
As his dislike to useless visits was known, no one went to
him but for things worthy of notice, and if, after having
satisfied them, they did not retire, he said : " Now then, do
not let us lose time," or, "Recommend me to Jesus and

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 215

Mary." If he had to do with people he could not with
propriety dismiss, the constraint he suffered interiorly, on
account of the loss of time, of which he was only avari
cious for the glory of God and the good of his neighbor,
became visible. Every one had free access to him except
females; if any one of these asked to speak to him, he
desired to be informed first, and generally conversed with
them out of his room, and always with a witness. A lady
of rank and of a great age wished to speak to him alone:
"There is no objection to this brother being present," Al-
phonsus said to her; (it was brother Anthony,) "he is pru
dent, depend upon it." Another day, he was seen to give
audience in a drawing-room to an old lady who was quite
decrepit; he made her sit on a long bench, of which he
occupied the opposite extremity, and conversed with her,
with his back half turned towards her. When he went to
church, he wrapped his right hand in his handkerchief and
held the left in the opening of his cassock; if a woman
presented herself to kiss his hand, he said : "Kiss the
habit, that will suffice."

The habit which our saint had adopted of assisting &t all
theoffices, was not discontinued when he was a bishop ; he
liked to preside over all that was done in his cathedral, at
the high masses, vespers and canonical hours, — no indis
position stopped him; he was known to officiate pontifi-
cally when seized by fever; one day that he had applied a
painful remedy to his legs, he officiated notwithstanding,
and suffered so much that he was seen to tremble on his
throne.

During his meals, he took care to give food to the soul
also; each one read in turn. It was generally from the
life of St. Charles Borromeo. The time which he passed
at table and in recreation did not exceed an hour and a
quarter. When the fruit was brought, he conversed with
his grand-vicar on the affairs of the diocese, or on some
point of devotion, or received those who had not been able
to speak to him in the morning, especially if they were
poor, or messengers. After dinner he took some rest,

21t> LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

which is so necessary in Italy; he was satisfied with twenty
minutes, or at most half an hour, and before it he never
failed to say the Five Psalms in honor of the name of Mary,
a devotion which he had practised from his youth; but
often he studied instead of taking this rest. As the exam
ple of the saints, as he used to say, encourages us and
excites us to do, good, he never omitted to employ half an
hour each day in reading the lives of the saints, and above
all those of holy bishops who had been distinguished by
their zeal and contempt of themselves. This was followed
by half an hour's meditation, vespers and compline. The
rest of the day he gave to business or study. On feast
days, and especially in Lent, after vespers, he instructed the
children himself, and taught them the catechism. He
knew how to attract them by giving them pictures and
rosaries; with thesejittle ones, older persons attended in
crowds. For visiting the poor, the sick, and those whose con
sciences were neglected, he went at about five o'clock in
the evening; he took care not to forget ecclesiastics who
might be ill, making it an indispensable duty to go 'and
comfort them in their infirmities. At half past five, the bell
rang for the visit to the Blessed Sacrament, and he himself
spoke to the people for half an hour, to inspire them with
sentiments of faith and love towards Jesus Christ in this
divine mystery. Though the sacristan placed a prie-dieu
with a cushion for him, he knelt an the pavement near the
altar. It was during this devotion that, wishing to banish
profane and improper songs, he introduced hymns full of
unction and piety, he gave the tone himself, and repeated
the verses in union with the people. A doctor, observing
to him that this weakened his chest, he replied: "I must
make the people like these hymns, to disgust them with
dangerous songs."

When he had returned home, he gave audience and dis
tributed his alms; then, said matins and lauds, which were
followed by half an hour's meditation with the lay-brother,
and after this, if it were in winter, he worked till nine or
ten o'clock, but in summer he immediately assembled all

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

217

his household, without even excepting the Grand- Vicar, to
say the rosary together, the litanies of the Blessed Virgin?
and some other prayers. Then came the examen of con
science, followed by acts of faith, hope and charity. All
those who happened to be in his house, servants, strangers,
and even prelates, had to assist at these prayers; noticing
one evening that a bishop who was then in the palace did
not assist, he immediately sent to call him; even princes
and great lords who visited him were not dispensed from
it; and this same severity he practised, wherever he was.
When these prayers were ended, supper came, after which
he conversed for a few minutes with his Grand-Vicar and
other members of the house, on subjects which might con
cern the diocese ; after this every one retired, and Al-
phonsus resumed his scientific occupations, or was em
ployed in prayer. He did not suffer from this, as he ate so
little as to be able to recommence prayer or study immedi
ately. For a long time he took no supper, and only
drank a glass of water before going to bed. F. Fabius
Buonapane declared, that he regularly employed sixteen
hours each day in work and prayer.

Besides the Vicar and Br. Anthony, Alphonsus had a priest
with him who filled the offices of secretary, steward, and
almoner, one servant, and a watchman, who acted at the
same time as groom and cook. His servants were obliged
each day to assist at the mass of the Bishop and the Grand-
Vicar, and to approach the sacraments at least every fort
night, and on the principal feasts of our Blessed Lord and
the Holy Virgin. They were obliged to communicate at
the bishop's mass. Every sort of game was forbidden to them ,
above all, games at cards, where interest might be concerned .
Public houses were prohibited to them still more strictly ; in
a word, he wished the members of his household to edify
every one by irreproachable conduct. Though indulgent for
every other fault, yet, if holy purity were in question, who
ever the culpable one might be, he was dismissed on the spot,
He thought he perceived that the cook had some attachment
for a woman ; not content with sending him away, he wished
19

218 LltfE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

that he should live in another place ; and, as he paid no
tattention to his wishes, with the consent of the civil au
thorities, he charged the constables to arrest him. He also
dismissed another, who went out during the night. He
made a rule never to receive any servant who was not mar
ried, and who had not his wife at St. Agatha. Thus Al-
phonsus, from the time of his entrance into the diocese,
exerted himself to fulfil every duty which is included
in the maxim of the Apostle, " He who knows not how to
govern his own house, is not fit to rule the Church of God."
Alphonsus found the diocese in a most lamentable con
dition on his arrival, but on this very account it was a fit field
for his apostolic zeal. On the Sunday which followed his
entry into St. Agatha, he began to give spiritual exercises
to all the clergy, in a retired part of the church, and on
the same evening ha opened a mission for the people; he
preached the principal sermon himself, and committed the
catechisjng to F. Margotta, and requested several able canons
to go through the town before the sermon, to give lively
exhortations to the people. Floods of tears were she'd in
the church, and all owned that in the memory of man, St.
Agatha had never had an example of such entire devotion
and fervor. Grace triumphed over the most hardened sin-
siers. To give complete liberty to consciences, and prevent
sacrileges, all the priests of the town were forbidden to
hear confessions, and in their stead were summoned the
best curates of the diocese. The good done by the mission
Was incalculable; there were reconciliations and wonderful
acts of restitution made; sinners who had been sunk
in disorder for years, embraced a new and exemplary course
of life, and the spirit of penance infused into their hearts
was such, that in the case of two individuals, who died
shortly after, their death was wholly owing to their fervor in
the exercises of penance. A young gentleman, well
known as an usurer at St. Agatha, was so struck with ter
ror, when he heard Alphonsus, with black stole, and torch in
hand, pronouncing the malediction against usurers, blas
phemers, and above all, against impenitent sinners, that

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 219

he was seized with fever and carried off in a few days. On
the following Sunday, the general communion, for which,
Alphonsus had obtained a brief from the Pope granting a
plenary indulgence, was so touching, that all those present
burst into tears, rich as well as poor, clergy as well as
laity. In short, the town of St. Agatha was sanctified;
communions became frequent, the Most Blessed Sacrament
and the Holy Virgin Mary became the objects of great de
votion, and every evening the church was seen filled with
fervent worshippers.

So much labor in an old man already burthened with in
firmities, filled every one with admiration. "We prayed
God," exclaimed a Dean, "to send us a good bishop, and
God has heard us favorably, but my lord will exhaust and
kill himself." " What are you thinking of," said the trea
surer to the Grand- Vicar, "do you not see that his lordship
is shortening his days? have you forgotten the tears we
shed, and how much it cost us to have him ? Curb his zeal
therefore ; its excess will be fatal to him." And he advised
him to speak to his confessor, to enjoin him to put bounds
to his immoderate zeal. In this mission, Alphonsus had an
opportunity of giving proof of his admirable patience and
humility. He had only two teeth, and God permitted, to
, augment the merits of his servant, that he should feel such
sharp pain, in the middle of the mission, that it was impossible
for him to take any rest. To the proposition of sending
for a celebrated dentist from Naples, he replied: "Are not
the dentists in this place as worthy as in Naples? Have
we not the barber? let him come, and let us be patient,
God wills that I should employ the people of my diocese."
They had to wait for the next morning, for the intempe
rate habits of the barber incapacitated him for work for
the remainder of the day. When he arrived, Alphonsus
seated himself on the ground, on a cushion, and his secre
tary advancing to hold him, he took his crucifix from his
neck, saying: " What better support can I have than Him
who suffered such pain for me ?" Then he crossed his
arms and pressed the crucifix to his breast, and bore the

220 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

extraction without the smallest exclamation. Notwith
standing his state of suffering, he did not omit to preach
in the morning to the clergy, and in the evening, to the
people. There remained one tooth, which, far from being
useful to him, only served to incommode him ; when the
mission was terminated, he had that also extracted by a
most painful operation. The barber was obliged to recom
mence three times, before he could succeed in taking it
out. " Oh," Alphonsus exclaimed when all was done,
" how firmly this tooth was fixed!" Then turning to the
barber, he said gaily: "Master N., henceforth you will
have no more of my custom."

Alphonsus had waited, to celebrate pontifically at St.
Agatha, until the Annunciation, under which title the Blessed
Virgin was the patron of his church, though he had done
so in other churches on various feast days. In order to
enhance the solemnity of these first functions, he had ob
tained from the Pope a plenary indulgence to all who
should, after having assisted at them, approach the ^sa
craments, or visit the cathedral, the same day. From
morning till night the cathedral was filled with the faithful.
He had obtained the same favor for the visitations in the
diocese. Alphonsus was consoled at the happy success of
these, his first labors. "I am well," he wrote to our Fathers at
Nocera, . " and thanks be to God, our labors are fruitful." On
the other hand, he wrote to F. Villani: " I am full of anxiety
for my church, this spouse whom God has given me."

However great had been Alphonsus' zeal during the
mission and spiritual exercises, he had not been able to
convert all. A canon of his cathedral had for many years
grieved his superiors and fellow-citizens by the most la
mentable behaviour. Supported by the credit of his family,
and strong in the protection of one of his colleagues in the
chapter, he had not attended to the remonstrances of the
preceding bishop, and he despised still more Alphonsus, in
whom he only saw a little man, whose humble exterior an
nounced nothing but poverty, and who was bent down
under the weight of years > he did not care the least, there*

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 221

fore, for the repeated kind warnings which he gave to him
and carried his contempt so far as to use unbecoming ex
pressions. Alphonsus invited him several times to his
table; at last, he threw himself at his feet, and taking the
crucifix from his breast, he presented it to him, and said with
tears: "My son, if you will not do what I ask you in con
sideration of the character with which I am invested, do it
for Jesus Christ's sake, who died on the cross for you
and forme:" nothing succeeded; equally indifferent to the
name of God, and the entreaties of his bishop, he conti
nued to live as he had done before. Alphonsus, after having,
besides, had recourse to the mediation of several good peo
ple, without success, at last sent for him, and told him that
if he did not repair the scandal he gave, he would crave
the aid of the sovereign's arm. This menace made the
culprit very angry, and he became so furious, that he nearly
used violence towards the bishop.

^All the mild measures which Alphonsus used for the
conversion of another individual, a beneficiary at Majano,
equally failed, and so exasperated the man against the mo
ther of the object of his passion, who had complained to
Alphonsus, that on the night of the 4th of August, he fired
against the door of the house, killed the mother, and
wounded one of the little children. It was then that Al
phonsus, seeing no other resource, applied to the King,
and an order was despatched to the President of Monte-
fusco, to arrest the two criminals, and place them in the
prison of that town. The canon was arrested by the po
lice, in the public place of St. Agatha. There was an ex
traordinary consternation in consequence, but all were
amazed at Alphonsus' zeal arid courage.

The relations of the canon used all their interest to con
ciliate Alphonsus' clemency, and to induce him to keep
him in the prison of the officially. Alphonsus, wishing to
pacify them, and prevent further excesses, sought for some
one to inform them of the impossibility of satisfying thei
request. As the secretary was too dejected to go, and be
sides, did not wish to leave the bishop, Alphonsus hurried,
19*

222 LIFE OP ST. ALPHO^StfS.

himself, to call a chaplain of the cathedral ; he met one,
who, vested in his choir-dress, came out of the sacristy at
the very moment. On seeing him, the bishop said, in a

quick and animated way: " Take off these things "

At these words the chaplain fainted, and fell at his. feet.
The bishop could not understand the cause of such terror,
but the mystery was soon cleared up. He had believed
himself arrested like the canon, being also engaged in
criminal courses. "Two birds are killed with one stone,"
said Alphonsus, " the finger of God is here, let us pray him
to finish that which he has begun." The chaplain was so
frightened at the meeting, that he thought no more of the
past, but only of an entire change of conduct, which was
so exemplary from that time, that Alphonsus, after some
years, allowed him to hear confessions.

The relations of thevcanon obtained his re-entry into St.
Agatha, on condition that they should place two guards at
their own expense, to prevent his escape. One day Al-
phonsus sent for him: "My dear canon," he said to him,
" it is not you that I punish, but your sin ; I love your soul,
and desire that it should not be lost. Remember then, that
you have a soul, and remember that there is a God." He
had the consolation to see that the canon insensibly began
to think seriously ; he often sent him books of devotion^
figures of our Blessed Saviour on the cross, and of the
Blessed Virgin. After one year's imprisonment, the epis
copal court condemned him to a three years' seclusion with
the Conventual Fathers, and it was not until a long time
after, that the canon was enabled to say mass again. The
beneficiary, on the other hand, was arrested on the same
day at Majano, and kept in the common prison at Hevano,
Alphonsus refusing him the privilege of ecclesiastics, as
he had never worn their dress. After a long imprisonment
he was condemned to ten years' incarceration in a fortress.
These two examples of severity produced a salutary fear in
many, who hastened to reform their conduct.

Alphonsus' zeal did not manifest itself with less ardor
and energy, with regard to the regular clergy and to lay-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 223

men. Among many others, we will give two examples.
There was a monastery in the diocese, consisting of but four
religious, including the Superior, who disgusted all repu
table people by their scandalous behaviour. After being
sent for by the bishop, and admonished, they laughed at it,
and did not reform themselves in the least. Alphonsus
then cited them before the episcopal court, and informed
their provincial of it. He tried to defend his religious.
11 Your Reverence must send your subjects an order to go,"
replied Alphonsus, " or I shall give them into the custody of
the head of the police." This menace had its desired ef.
feet; two of the religious went off with the Superior; as
the third was less culpable, Alphonsus was satisfied by his
repentance. In the first mission, a married woman, who
had lived for a number of years in adultery with one of the
first gentlemen of the town, was converted, and went so
far as to ask pardon publicly in the church, for the scandal
she had given. After this generous confession, she yielded
to seduction again, which caused inexpressible sorrow to
the pious bishop. He wept over it, and the next morning,
before day-break, he sent for the gentleman, represented
to him the grievousness of his sin, arid exhorted him to peni
tence; the man, as proud as he was powerful, turned his
back upon him with disdain. The bishop, seeing his mis
conduct, still sent for him again, but the hardened offender,
wearied by so many entreaties and reprimands, answered by
insults, and even menaces. The bishop was not offended
at it, but as he saw that the scandal continued, he informed
the King. An order from the Minister of state being sent
to the tribunal of Montefusco, a constable went to arrest
the nobleman and the woman. Alphonsus was then at
Airola ; the gentleman, whose passion had made him fu
rious, had come to Airola also, accompanied by a troop of
brigands, in order to ill-treat his bishop, and hasten his pas
sage to the other world, as he said, which he would have
done, if another gentleman had not succeeded in persuad
ing him to retrace his steps. When Alphonsus heard of
this, he said calmly: "He can assassinate me, if he likes:

224 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

well! he will give me the crown of martyrdom." When
the wretched man recovered from his rage, and saw that he
was the object of judicial pursuit, he fled from the diocese
and retired into a distant country. The woman was arrested
by the constable, bound, chastised, and taken to Monte-
fusco, where she suffered the rigor of justice for many
months, and was afterwards banished forever from the dio
cese. Alphonsus, hearing afterwards that the gentleman
had returned, and was concealed in his house, feigned to
be ignorant of it, in order to win him over the better, and
succeeded in it so well through the medium of persons in
authority, that he acknowledged his faults, cast himself at
his bishop's feet, and consoled him as much by the sincer
ity of his repentance, as he had grieved him at first by his
scandalous conduct.

The terror inspired by these and other examples of se
verity, had its salutary effects, not only at St. Agatha and
Airola, but all over the diocese and its neighborhood. The
same was not less the case with the following occurrence.
On the arrival of Alphonsus in the diocese, a young libe
rated galley-slave was living in crime at St. Agatha. He
was first reprimanded, but paid no attention to it. Al
phonsus had recourse to the magistrate, who ordered his
arrest. He was seized in the house of his accomplice,
and as he resisted, he was killed on the spot. Alphonsus
wept over the loss of his soul ; but to give libertines a
spectacle as salutary as it was terrible, he ordered, in con
cert with the authorities, that his corpse should be placed
on a mule, between four lighted torches, and thus carried
out of town, and thrown into a ditch. The blessing of the
Lord, which was granted to this zeal of our saint, is the
most glorious justification of his conduct. Nothing but
this divine blessing on the exertions of the saintly bishop
could have changed a field full of weeds into a flourishing
vineyard.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 225

CHAPTER XX.

Jllphonsus commences his Episcopal Visitation. He reforms
and regulates the Diocesan Seminary. His zeal, prudence
and manner of life during the visitation of the diocese.

A LPHONSUS commenced his episcopal visitation in the
jLl_ town and surrounding country. "Why put off until
to-morrow, that which can be corrected to-day?" he re
plied to some who wished him to defer it on account of the
heat, "it is wrong to temporise with abuses." He had
convoked the treasurer, Cacciopuoti, the Dominican Mas
ter, F. Caputo, the theological canon, D. Evangelist Dud-
dio, and the archdeacon Francis Rainone, all men distin
guished for their piety, prudence and knowledge, as well
as several curates, with whom he consulted at once, in order
to see what would be best suited to procure the good of
the diocese. The seminary was the principal end of this
first visitation : "It is on the seminary," said he, "that I
found all my hope of sanctifying the diocese. If that does
not second me, all my trouble will be of no avail." He
found a great number of scholars in it, but all were not ac
cording to his heart. He therefore ordered a general ex
amination, at which he assisted in person, and afterwards,
found an excuse for giving the vacation sooner than usual,
When it was ended, he wrote to all the pupils, to tell them
that all those who wished to re-enter the seminary, should
address a request to him to that effect. Thus he was able
to make his choice, and purify the house ; this decimation
was painful to the relations of the rejected subjects, but,
seeing, themselves, their misconduct, or want of aptitude,
they began soon to appreciate the wisdom of their bishop.
The buildings of the seminary had more the appearance of
a prison, than of a house of education, being too confined,
and unhealthy for want of air, and subject to a most trou
blesome multiplication of insects in summer. He sent for
two architects from Naples, to remedy these evils, and

226 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

to repair the interior of the building, directing their labor
himself. He conceived at the same time the grand project
of pulling down all the old buildings entirely, and raising
new ones instead. A plan was got ready, materials were
procured, and without delay the work was begun. For the
government of the seminary, he established new rules, full
of wisdom and prudence, so much so, that many bishops
adopted them afterwards for their own seminaries. Don
Lucas, who had been at the head of the establishment for
more than thirty years, was more than an octogenarian,
and, in consequence of this, his advanced age, little fit for
the government of it. In order not to hurt this poor
old man, Alphonsus confirmed him in his post, and a co
adjutor was given to him, in the person of F. Caputo, the
Dominican Master. He spared nothing in order to choose
good masters, whose knowledge and conduct might serve
as models. He abolished the custom of giving the office
of prefect to a student, wishing that exemplary priests
alone should have the charge. ' He chose for porter, a dili
gent man, full of the fear of God. "If death," said he',
"enters into us by the windows, it enters into seminaries
by the doors." A porter went out one evening, without
leave from the president ; Alphonsus had him discharged
immediately, notwithstanding his tears, and the interces
sion of several persons.

The autumn vacations were shortened, and replaced by
innocent recreations and feasts. " A month's vacation," he
said, "is enough to lose all that has been gained with much
labor during the year, and which is replaced by sin and
vice." He found the terms of the seminary were equitable,
but he could not approve that when a pupil went away
from infirmity, or any other cause, he was made to pay for
the whole six months, and it was with difficulty he con
sented to the seminary's receiving payment for the month
of vacation, as was done every where else. He did not
wish any distinction in the provisions for the Superiors, he
called it a detestable abuse, and wished to see all treated
equally well. They complained that the cook was not

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 227

skilful ; Alphonsus sent his own, several times, to instruct
him. Often, at the dinner hour, he went to examine the
cleanliness of the dishes, and above all, if the bread and
wine were good. Once he found the bread was not of a
good quality. The Superior and the housekeeper were im
mediately sent for and reprimanded, and he ordered that
all the bread in the seminary should be immediately given
to the poor. When he officiated pontifically, he was in the
habit of giving each pupil a small tart, or slice of cake, pre
pared by his own cook, and was, besides, always provided
with sweetmeats for these family rejoicings.

He forbade the dictation of lessons, and wished that
printed books should be used. He prohibited Italian 'poe-
try, and romances. Before this, Greek had also been
taught, but he did not think it necessary, as the students
were mostly of the diocese, and destined to supply the nu
merous churches of the surrounding villages: "Greek is
very good in the East," he said, "but for us, who are in
the West, Latin is what we want. My diocese requires
good confessors, who may aid me in helping the souls of a
number of country people." However, he allowed a slight
knowledge of it, sufficient for reading and understanding
certain passages which occur in philosophical and theolo
gical authors. Scholars who returned home for their meals,
and to sleep, he would not allow, saying: " They serve as
messengers for the seminarists, which is very dangerous for
the morals of both." He was in the habit of being
present at the lesson twice a week. He took pleasure in
hearing the rehearsals, and took part in the discussions. He
fixed that once a month, theses should be publicly main
tained on philosophy or theology, and, when confined to
bed by illness, he wished the meeting to take place in his
room. He established also, an exercise for preaching, once
a week, at which he made some of the canons, chaplains,
curates, jand other ecclesiastics assist,, also. To cause virtue
to dwell in the seminary, he established half an hour's me
ditation in public, each morning, after mass, and prescribed
examination of conscience, in common, twice a day, in the

228 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

morning, before dinner, and in the evening, before night
prayers ; and during the morning and evening meals, spiri
tual reading took place by his orders, as it had not been
the custom before. He prescribed, besides, a visit to the
Blessed Sacrament and the Holy Virgin, together with the
recitation of the Rosary. Usually, on Saturday, he went
himself, before going to church, to give them a practical
sermon on the beauty of virtue. He introduced the practice
of Novenas, in honor of Jesus and Mary, with some morti
fication, on certain days, recommending them to forego
something at table, to eat kneeling, or sitting on the floor, to
fast in the ordinary manner, or on bread and water, leading the
young people to fly all effeminacy ; besides, he exhorted them
strongly to the cultivation of humility, of obedience to their
Superiors, and of fraternal love, instead of vain friendships,
taking rise in sympathy and a spirit of worldly rivalry. He
instituted a monthly retreat, and every year, before the re
commencement of study, all had to go through the spiritual
exercises for eight days. As a kind of relaxation, he gave
them a virtuous and zealous ecclesiastic to teach them
chanting. He set the hymns he had composed, to music,
and had them taught to the young people in relaxation time,
and liked to hear them sing them at recreation ; he often
joined them himself, and was exceedingly pleased to see
them joyous and contented. In order to be admitted into
the seminary, it was necessary to give certain proofs of ex
emplary conduct; he inquired if the subject frequented the
sacraments, if he assisted at mass in the morning, and at
the visit in the evening.

When the seminary was thus regulated, all became edi
fying there, and although he had not fixed communion
every fortnight, as he had done for confession, many ap
proached the sacred altar every week, and others, still more
frequently. Charity dwelt amongst them, they studied di
ligently, and each one advanced in virtue and knowledge.
The saintly bishop rejoiced at it, and was accustomed to
call the seminaryt he apple of his eye, or the jewel of his
diocese. To preserve it in this state, he exerted himself,

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONStJS. 229

and solicitously watched to prevent every seed of corrup
tion, establishing secret inspectors, and frequent visits of
the rooms. He spared no one ; a very orderly young man
was surprised reading a Neapolitan poet, Alphonsus made
him come down from the course of rhetoric, into that of
grammar, in which he had to remain till a new course began.
Having heard that some rather loose verses were circulated
in the seminary, hex>rdered immediately a search, and such
great terror spread among the pupils, that he who had
those verses swallowed them, not having time to get rid of
them otherwise. Two were found having forbidden knives,
they were immediately dismissed. Three others committed
an act of levity, through the windows, towards a woman
who had often to pass in the court, he sent all three away
on the spot, notwithstanding their submission and pro
mises, and the entreaties of several respectable persons.
After many years he admitted one of them to the sub-dia-
conate, on the representations of his curate, who exposed
the wants of his church, and made a protest as to the
amendment of the candidate, but Alphonsus thought he
perceived other faults in him, though less considerable, so
he left him a subdeacon. He perceived a certain vice in
the nephew of a professor; he dismissed him the same in
stant, without any regard to his uncle, who asked in tears
for his forgiveness, and who, when he saw the bishop's in
flexibility, gave up his class and left the seminary. " What
charity ! What charity !" he answered to those who wished
to intercede on similar occasions, c< to pity one individual,
and risk the ruin of all the rest ? that is not charity, it is
cruelty." One example is known of a young man, who,
after having fallen, found pardon from Alphonsus. He had
not sinned against morality, but being wearied of study, he
had run away from the seminary twice, and he found mercy
only in consideration of his belonging to a place singularly
abandoned, where there was not a single priest.

Alphonsus, though inflexible towards the vicious, had a
father's tenderness for those who were worthy of his care.
One of these had maintained in a brilliant way, several
20

230 LIFE OF ST. ALPHOHSUS.

thesas of theology ; as he was poor, he gave him several
ducats each year; and when he noticed any young man of
talent among the children of the inhabitants of small
places, he tried to persuade him to embrace the ecclesias
tical state, and generously gave him an entrance into the
seminary. "The seminaries were only instituted for the
help of the churches," he replied to the members of the com
mission who objected to this charity, " and the pious per
sons who left their goods in favor of these establishments,
could have had no other intention than the good of the in
habitants, and especially of the poor." It was thus, that he
procured excellent priests for many villages and country
places, of which they had till then been destitute.

For preventing the vacations being of any injury to the
morality of the young men, he prescribed that they should
make half an hour's meditation every morning in their
parish church, before mass ; they had to visit the Blessed
Sacrament every evening, and on feast days, to be present at
all the offices, as well as the instructions of the curate ; they
were to approach the sacraments of penance, and the eu-
charist, every eight days without fail, and never to leave the
house without the soutane, collar, and cincture. They were
not on any account to be present at vintages, and still less
at hunts. These rules were sent to the curates of the young
seminarists. No one was re-admitted into the seminary who
had not an attestation of good conduct from the curate.
Several pupils, for having committed very slight faults against
these regulations, experienced all his severity.

While Alphonsus labored for the reform of the seminary,
he neglected nothing which could be conducive to the
end of the visitation. Being informed of the disedifying
conduct of several priests, he made some retire into mon
asteries, and punished others by imprisonment; but the
greater number yielded to his charitable remonstrances,
and by their after-conduct consoled the heart of their
pastor. The sacrifice of the altar and the sacrament of
penance were the principal objects of his care during the
visitation. He assembled the priests for examination on the

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 231

rubrics at an altar erected for the purpose ; he instructed the
least capable himself, and confided several to the care of
others. Some he found so inobservant in regard to the
most essential rubrics, that he was obliged to suspend
them, and he only reinstated them with difficulty and after
many months probation. This necessary rigor caused the
rubrics to be studied, and mass was celebrated every where
with an admirable degree of precision and devotion. He
examined also the confessors, but to use the necessary
prudence, he called o'nly those before his council who were
pointed out to him as relaxed or ignorant, and questioned
them in order to know whether he could continue their facul
ties. In a certain village, he found two in the most complete
ignorance ; besides prohibiting them from hearing con
fessions, he forbade them even to say mass ; some time
after, he permitted them to celebrate, but continued to
refuse to let them sit in the sacred tribunal. He found
even several curates wanting in necessary knowledge. In
the town and suburbs alone he found four completely in
capable. He appointed them canons, in order not to
injure their reputation, and to avoid the evil which might
have resulted to those who would have been alarmed
at severities exercised towards men whose functions had
acquired their confidence. One of them had deviated so
far from rule, that Alphonsus was obliged to propose his
immediate resignation. He wished to resist, but was
forced to yield whether with good or bad grace. After a
scrupulous examination of the town and surrounding
country, he commenced the following year to visit the
other parts of the diocese. The following facts and ordi
nances will serve to illustrate his zeal for the glory of God
and the welfare of His Church, as also his prudence, wis
dom, and firmness.

He met with a curate, well informed and of excellent
character, who could not resolve to reside, pretending that
his church was too isolated, and that his parishioners were
few and scattered about, and who, in consequence, lived in
town. The most he did was to say mass on Sundays and

232

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

feast days. Alphonsus enjoined him to reside in the pres
bytery ; he resisted and was ordered immediately to resign.
As he hesitated, Aiphonsus said to him: "Decide, give in
your resignation, or I will suspend you." Afterwards, by
mildness he was able to persuade him, and obtained all he
had wished for. Wishing to spare him, he obtained a dis
pensation from the Pope for him with regard to the fruits
of his charge, which he had gathered so ill.

He found that in a rural church there was a door in the
interior which gave entrance into the" cell of a hermit; he
•immediately prohibited women from all access to the her
mitage, under pain of excommunication ipso facto, and
threatened the hermit with three months imprisonment and
the deprivation of his hermitage, if he dared to introduce
them there for the time to come. He ordered other hermits,
in order to prevent them from enriching themselves by the
alms of the faithful, to place all that was not necessary for
their support in the hands of a canon, to be employed for
the benefit of the respective churches.

He met with a priest who had obtained permission from'
Rome to wear a wig, nevertheless not without his bishop's
approbation. Alphonsus wished to see it, and not think
ing it suitable, he sent for a vessel of boiling water, into
which he plunged the wig, and thus straightened its curls.
'•' This is how it ought to be," said he, "and in no other
way." In all ecclesiastics he blamed and prohibited the
wearing of curled hair, and the use of perfumes. He for
bade them also under pain of suspension latsc sententia?
to wear colored mantles, and prohibited their entrance
into the church without the soutane. To remedy the pre
cipitation with which some celebrated mass, he declared
that whoever did so in less than a quarter of an hour should
incur suspension latre sententice.

He found in a convent a nun, who forgetting her duties
as a spouse of Christ, afflicted all the house by her irregu
larities. She was a Neapolitan. Alphonsus sent her
away, and had her conducted back to her home by several
excellent priests; but she soon again presented herself at

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 233

the convent door. The bishop on hearing that she acted
with violence in order to enter it, and that she received the
aid of her parents, who had accompanied her, went to the
convent himself to prohibit her re-entering it.

Finding that a great number of the laity transgressed the
commandment of the paschal communion, he charged the
curates to insist upon it, and not to give rest to those who
refused to amend. He sent for several, to warn them him
self and to urge them to perform their duties; to others he
sent warnings in writing. It was a custom, or rather a
general abuse in the diocese, that after the ceremony of
betrothment, the parents received the young aspirant to
their daughter's hand into their house. Despairing of
being able to prevent these dangerous meetings, except by
rigorous measures, he made it a reserved case, and alarmed
the offenders by threatening them with excommunication.

Throughout the diocese, the catechising of the children
only took place in Lent. He ordered, under very severe
penalties, that it should take place every Sunday and feast
day, as well as every day during Lent. In order to remedy
the ignorance of the people, he recapitulated the most
essential points of Christian doctrine, and had them printed
on one sheet for their convenience ; besides, he ordered
that these instructions should be put on a tablet board, and
be read by the curates and other priests, on every feast day,
at the first mass, and at that at which the most people was
present; and he prohibited confessors, under pain of sus
pension, from admitting any one to the sacrament of
penance, in paschal time, who had not been examined by
his curate on Christian doctrine, and was not provided
with his certificate. Fearing that the sacrament of baptism
was not well administered in cases of danger, through the
ignorance of the midwives, he examined them himself, and
instructed them where there was need of it.

He ordered all women of irregular life to come to him,

and in presence of the curate he showed them on one

hand his indignation, and on the other his mercy. "If

you reform," he said, " you will find in me a father full of

20*

234 LIFE OP ST. A.LPHONSUS.

charity; but if you remain obstinate in sin, I shall be to
you a severe and importunate judge." He advised the
curates to watch overthem-and inform him of their conduct.
A great number of these repentant sinners experienced
acts of love on Alphonsus' part, but the incorrigible be
came the objects of his justice and severity, so that he
invoked even the civil authority against them.

He established every where, the practise of paying in the
evening a visit to the Blessed Sacrament and to the Holy
Virgin.

As for the churches, he caused the walls to be white
washed, the furniture as well as the buildings to be repaired,
and ordered to dust every part of the church every week, and to
clean the holy water stoups. "The house of God," he said,
" demands cleanliness and decency, and too much pains
cannot be taken to put it in proper order, for it is difficult
for people to pray where their sight is painfully affected by
what they see." A cobweb in a church was the cause of
a severe reprimand to the curates and sacristans. He for
bade images and altars to be preserved which had become'
disfigured by time, saying: "An image is useless, when it
does not inspire devotion." He ordered that all chalices
and^ciboriums, which had need of it, should be re-gilt in
the space of two months. Many unsuitable ones were
ordered to be replaced, and ornaments capable of repairs
to be put in a good state. A great quantity of albs, cha
subles, copes, and missals, &c., were rejected, and great
cleanliness in corporals and linen for the altar was exacted.
Where they were wanting, he ordered to be procured, cano
pies for the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and for
the viaticum, as also remonstrances; and he had the cotton
lining in tabernacles replaced by silk lining If little
anxiety in making the necessary expenses for these things
was shown, he declared that wherever omissions and faults
in these points should be found, he would stop the
revenues.

At Airola, having been informed of the dissolute conduct
'Qf some laics, he sent for them and gave them a paternal

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 235

correction; but finding them incorrigible, he imprisoned
them, and afterwards banished them by the aid of the
Prince della Riccia. A nobleman of the first rank, was
eno-ao-ed in a criminal intercourse, and instead of amend-

O G '

ing, as Alphonsus had succeeded in making him promise,
he quarrelled with his wife, and for fear she should denounce
him to Alphonsus, he threatened to take her life. Alphon
sus immediately ordered his arrest, and had him banished
with the prince's aid ; and as he continued to live in
licentiousness, the prince, at the instigation of Alphon
sus, shut him up in a state prison, where he died in
impenitence.

While Alphonsus thus performed the visitation of his
diocese, God proved him by infirmities and sickness. His
asthma tormented him again at Airola, and this tor
ment was soon followed by a fever, accompanied by
symptoms which appeared mortal. It was proposed to him
to send for some skilful doctor from Naples: "The doctors
of Airola will suffice for me," he replied, "have they not
studied out of the same books as those at Naples? besides
my life is not of so great value." The state in which he
was did not prevent the continuation of the visitation ; his
place was supplied by the Grand-Vicar, whom he ordered
to go through the surrounding country, while he himself
received accounts of the state of things from the curates
and several gentlemen, and gave the necessary instructions
and orders.

During this illness he did not fail to communicate each
day at a mass said in his own room, and to make his cus
tomary meditations in the morning and evening. On the
ninth day, the malady got worse, and he asked if there
were any danger. The physician knowing the firmness of
the saintly invalid's mind, partly avowed the real state of
the case. Alphonsus then sent for his secretary, and
ordered him to administer extreme unction to him without
loss of time. He received it with pious confidence, his
face manifested the joy of his soul and his entire submis
sion to the will of God ; far from fearing death, he seemed

236 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

to invite it as a friend, who would deliver him from his
exile and lead him to his true country.

The visits which were paid him were burthensome to
him; if he did not expressly dismiss the visitors, they were
obliged to retire, always finding him meditating or listen
ing to the reading of some pious book, which was not in
terrupted by the arrival of any one whatever. The doctor
cautioning him not to fatigue himself by too much applica
tion, he replied : "It is that which relieves me ; without it my
illness would be too painful to me." His health improved
after the fifteenth day, and he was scarcely convalescent,
when he returned with ardor to the objects of his pastoral
care. He was still in bed, when he examined priests on
the rubrics and made them practice under his own eyes,
and examined several on moral theology.

In all populous parishes, he established the Congregation
of " Cases of Morals" for the Clergy. In order that the
same case should be discussed on the same day throughout
the diocese, and that no one should find an excuse for not
being prepared, he made a choice of several questions
himself, and every year he had the list of cases for each
week printed in the calendar of the diocese. He also
wished that note should be taken of all the decisions and
conferences, for future use. The rubrics of mass were also
made the subject of special exercises in these conferences.
Besides this re-union for the study of morals, he attached a
school of moral theology to the cathedral, which had to
assemble every week in his palace, he himself presiding at
the sittings, whenever he could. This academy was a sweet
source of consolation to Alphonsus, and its members were
those he most frequently chose for curates.

Besides, as there was a great number of young men
unable to maintain themselves in the seminary for want of
the means, Alphonsus anxious about their vocation, founded
societies on purpose for their benefit, under the manage
ment of learned priests, with all necessary regulations, cal
culated to make them useful for the diocese. He also
instituted a society of priests in his capita!3 destined to give

LIFE OP ST. A.LPHONSUS. 237

missions. These new missionaries distinguished themselves
so much, that Alphonsus attached them to the Congrega
tion known at Naples by the name of the Conference.
He established also in many places particular confraterni
ties for gentlemen, for young men, and for girls, who
received in them instruction on their duties, and mutually
encouraged each other in virtue and goodness. At Arienzo,
God was pleased to manifest that he was with the saintly
prelate, and inspired him with His holy zeal. One day
in a sermon which he preached before the gentlemen
he had united in such a congregation, he suddenly fell
into an ecstasy, in which he appeared quite transfigured ;
his face became beaming with so brilliant a light, that
the church became resplendent as from the rays of the
sun.

He introduced the practice of mental prayer in common
in the cathedral, as well as in the other parish churches ;
at the first mass, a priest, for the aid of the people, read at
various intervals, a chapter on the eternal truths, the enor
mity of sin, or the mysteries of the passion of Jesus Christ.

To remedy several disorders and evils which he observed
during his visitation, he composed his little book on hur
ried mass, with acts of preparation and thanksgiving; also,
another practical little book containing an easy and devout
method of assisting the sick and dying, which he distri
buted to all the priests, and especially to the curates and
vicars; and lastly, he summed up all the most essential
things for the right administration of the sacrament of pe
nance, in one small volume, with all possible clearness,
and in the vernacular tongue. He entitled it "The Guide
to country confessors." For which work many bishops
testified to him their gratitude, for it spread speedily over all
the kingdom.

Having terminated the visit at Airola, Alphonsus returned
to St. Agatha, and charged his Grand-Vicar to finish the
visitation in the other parts of the diocese. As long as he
was bishop, he made it a rule to visit it every two years,
each year doing half, and he never failed in this,

238 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Humility and charity, penance and disinterestedness were
his inseparable companions during these visitations. All
the equipage consisted, besides himself, of his Grand- Vicar,
his secretary, a canon of the cathedral, and a servant, who
waited on them. A wretched hired beast was all his train,
the saddle he had borrowed. He was seen seated as wo
men sit, on an ass, the bridle of which was held by a child
of ten or twelve years. On the other side was the child's
father, who supported the bishop ; a sight that caused all
who beheld it to shed tears of compassion. As he never
omitted any of his ordinary devotions, and never let any poor
person pass without consolation, he got on so slowly, that
he was often on the road, in the burning heat of the sun, so
that the Grand-Vicar often excused himself from starting at
the same time, and did not set out till towards evening.
At Frasso, a person ofv distinction, who had prepared for
his reception at his house, seeing him arrive on an ass,
said: "Why, rny lord, do you travel on an ass?" Alphon-
sus replied with a smile, " hi in curribus et hi in equis,
DOS autem in nomine Domini." " Some in carriages, and
others on horses, but we in the name of the Lord." At
Mugnano, a gentleman offered him his carriage, but he de
clined it and said: " I am so comfortable on this beast that
it is wonderful." At Arpaja the canons exclaimed in their
surprise at seeing such an equipage : " What ! to travel in
this heat, and on an ass !" Alphonsus smiled, and point- -
ing to a vender of poultry, who happened to pass, said :
" Look at this poor man, which of us has come more easily,
I on this ass, or he on foot, arid with this basket on his
head." Here is another trait: one day he could not pro
cure enough beasts for all his followers: not wishing to in
commode any one, he set out on foot, accompanied by his
servant. It was during the heat of the month of August.
He had pity on the poor young man, who was bathed in
perspiration. "My son," said he, " it is exceedingly hot,
take off your waistcoat, and give it to me to hold." The
servant at first would not consent, but Alphonsus gave such
persuasive reasons for it, that he was induced to give him

•

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 239

the waistcoat ; he went very nearly half the way on foot,
and he would have done so for the whole, if he had not
been overcome by fatigue. On the way, he observed always
the rule which he had fixed for his journeys, during which he
was constantly engaged in saying the Rosary with those
who accompanied him, and the litanies of the Blessed Vir
gin, with other prayers, in honor of his patron, and those of
the different places through which he passed.

Once, in going from Durasano to Frasso, being indis
posed, he made use of a conveyance, rather in order to
please the Grand-Vicar. The coachman, through awk
wardness or drunkenness, upset them twice. The second
time Alphonsus fell on the Vicar, and dislocated his wrist;
he showed no sign of dissatisfaction, and though in great
pain, he pursued his journey on a mule. He was to com
mence the pastoral visit at Frasso, the same evening, and
so he would not stop and take rest in St, Agatha, near
which he had to pass, but passing through a place called
the Steps, a rich merchant forced him to alight at his house,
and it was there that a doctor set his wrist. On arriving at
Frasso, he opened the visitation the same evening, and as
if nothing had befallen him, preached, and was as cheerful
as usual. The merchant who had received him in his house,
was rewarded for his charity by the miraculous cure of his
son, who was ill at the time, and had been given up by the
physicians. Alphonsus went to see the dying boy. On
approaching him, he made the sign of the cross on his fore
head, and then turning to his father and mother, said to
them : " Be of good courage, and be assured that your son
will recover." Indeed, at the same moment, the child be
gan to get better, and three days afterwards he was walking
about.

At Airola, the prince of Riccia had placed his palace at
Alphonsus' service, and he had accepted it, not to displease
a nobleman who had so powerfully protected him. His
steward had prepared a magnificent bed for him in the
apartment which the prince was in the habit of occupying
himself; when Alphonsus saw it, he praised it highly, but

240 UFE OP ST. ALPHONStS.

examining afterwards the rooms prepared for his Grand-
Vicar, and that destined for his valet, he gave the preference
to the latter, saying, " I shall be best off here, for I suffer
from my chest ; large rooms where there is much air are
hurtful to me." At Frasso, convenient rooms had been
prepared for him and his Grand- Vicar, but for some reason
or other, the Grand- Vicar was very much dissatisfied with
his, and disturbed every one on account of it. Alphonsus
heard of the thing, and said: "It is nothing, I know how
to remedy it." When the Vicar was gone to church, he
had his own bed, which was the plainest, moved in the
Vicar's room, and that of the Vicar, into his, who, on his
return, seemed not to notice any change, and was quiet.

At Real- Vale, God manifested how agreeable His servant's
humility was to him : the room which he inhabited in the
house of D. Anthony di Martino, had been infested for a
great many years, with beetles, and no means of getting
rid of them could be found. The Saint passed a night
there, and it was entirely freed.

On arriving in a place, he went first to the principal
church, where he opened the visitation by a discourse to
the people, and announced the plenary indulgence. When
the day after his arrival was a Sunday or feast day, he of
ficiated pontifically, if the parish was populous enough,
and if the church was not a collegiate one, he sent, at his
own expense, for seven canons from the cathedral, or the
nearest collegiate church, and also for the seminarists of
the place. The second day he commenced the mission in
the afternoon, which lasted for eight days. He preached
himself every day, and in the evening visited the Blessed
Sacrament with the people, which was in itself another ser
mon. The people were so touched by his words, that at the
first sound of the bell, every one hastened to the church,
" to hear," as they said, "the Saint who smoothed their
way to heaven." He also gave a retreat to the clergy every
morning during those eight days, as well as at the convents
which were in the town. He assembled the children after
vespers for catechism, being anxious to see himself what

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS,

241

instruction they received. He instructed also the children
for confirmation, himself. He wished that the children
should be at least from seven to eight years old, to be ad
mitted to the reception of this sacrament, and that all
should be present at the first imposition of hands, recom
mencing the imposition when others were assembled again.
He was so scrupulous on this point, that if any one came
too late, he administered the sacrament to him in the pri
vate chapel, not to put him off till another year. For the
infirm, who were not yet confirmed, he went to visit them,
in order that they might not die without the benefit of this
sacrament, or be too long deprived of it. On one such oc
casion, at Airola, he predicted the death of the invalid.
He was a young man, to whom he said : "My dear Pascal,
be very glad, for in three days you will go to Paradise."
The third day arrived, and the sick man seemed far from a
speedy death, for he appeared to be better; however, to
wards the close of the day, the symptoms of fever became
more alarming, and before night, young Pascal was dead, as
Alphonsus had foretold.

The poor were also the object of his solicitude, in his
visitations. He inquired into the miseries of all, from the
curates and others. He strove particularly to know those
whose houses were irregular, and who made their children
sleep, pell-mell, in the same bed. When he was convinced
that their indigence was real, he endeavored to supply beds,
clothes, and all other necessaries; but he cared most for
widows, as also for young women in danger, and spared no
expense in aiding them. The sick, above all, the sick poor,
were not forgotten, he inquired about them most solicit
ously, went to visit them himself, and consoled them by
his words, and by his alms; and desired their medicines to
be furnished at his own expense.

The spirit of mortification also accompanied Alphonsus
on these visitations. His table was the same as at St.
Agatha, wherever he went, both for himself, and his suite,
and he never omitted his seasonings of bitter herbs. Neither
did he exempt himself from mortifying himself daily by hair-
21

242 LIFE OF ST, ALPHONSUS.

cloths and disciplines. Once, when setting out, he had
forgotten the instruments of penance; he immediately sent
his servant to seek for them secretly. The person who
made his bed in the morning, when he was at Real-Vale,
attested that the sheets were spotted with blood, and small
stones were found in the bed. The valet de chambre of
Prince della Riccia, at Airola, also attested that at his de
parture he found nine stones as large as an egg, on the
mattress. For a great number of years, and until his in
firmities became extreme, he carried the covering of his
straw bed about with him, and wherever he arrived, he had
it filled with straw, and did not use the bed which had been
prepared for him. In the morning, he occupied himself in
meditating on sacred things, from the moment of his
awaking, and in the evening, after his own prayers, he as
sembled his family to* recite the Rosary, and the other ac
customed prayers, in common. His disinterestedness was
such, that he always returned from his rounds destitute of
money, and burthened with debts; for h% scrupulously ob
served the law he had made to himself, never to accept any
present, and besides, reduced the fees of the visitation to
nearly nothing. For the members of his household, he
recommended them to keep to the maxim of St. Francis of
Sales: "Ask for nothing, and refuse nothing."

Such conduct gained him general esteem and respect,
so much so, that people thought themselves happy if they
could obtain a small piece of his garment. His mitres
were several times found without pendants, and one day a
piece was cut off his cloak. These relics were very care
fully preserved ; they were applied to the sick, and every
where they related what miraculous cures had been pro
duced by their touch.

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

243

CHAPTER XXI.

His Conduct at his Brother's second Marriage. His Zeal
for the Preaching of the Word of God by Himself and
Others. His Charity during a Famine.

D HERCULES having become a widower about this
i time, (1763,) and having no heir, resolved to enter into
a second marriage. He imparted his design to Alphonsus,
asking him to aid him by his prayers and by saying masses
for this intention. With regard to the projected marriage, he
answered him on the 9th of November, 1763: "Ib€gofyou
to be very careful to choose a young woman of moral habits,
not a vain person, or one who would be disposed to take

advantage of your advanced age It would be

better, as I have already written to you, that she should
have less of birth and fortune, than that you should run the
risk of some vexatious embarrassments happening to you.
Be sure to declare your intention from the first, both to her
and her parents, and say to them that you do not like visits,
meetings, &c. When the wedding has taken place, try to
give your wife good habits from the first; for this purpose
take her to Marianella, and make a long stay there." In
another letter of the 12th of the same month, he says : "I
am rejoiced that such good alliances are offered to you.
Use all possible care to choose the wife who will make you
least anxious, considering the times in which we live. Be
persuaded, that young women have more affection for young
men than for those in advanced age as you are. I would
warn you of another thing, that now, when you are alone,
you ought to take care to send all young female servants
away from your house. The devil is always a devil, and
with temptation so near, and in the liberty in which you
are, I should tremble for myself. Can you not dismiss
them for the present, and tell them that you will take them
back when you again set up your establishment? You ask
me for money, and I would wish that you could lend to

244 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS',

me, for this year has been a gulf of expenses. I had to
repair two houses, and had to pay to the Nuncio four hun
dred ducats for the dilapidation of the chapter. I have in
curred a debt of four hundred more, to meet the costs of

buildings erected at the seminary I sympathise

with your pain in having to go to many expenses without
having enough to supply for them. The misfortune is, that
the episcopate is corne to me at the same time as your
marriage. Besides, I may say that I too am married,
*but to a spouse who leaves me no moment of rest." D.
Hercules espoused D. Mariana Capano Orsini, of the illus
trious house of Nilo, a lady of exemplary conduct and ex
traordinary piety. Alphonsus rejoiced at her virtues more
than at her titles, rendered thanks for it to God, arid con
gratulated his brother.

Alphonsus' great an-xiety for his brother, proceeded from
a heart, which, though full of charity, was otherwise wholly
detached from all which concerned the interests of flesh
and blood; of which detachment he gave proof on all occa
sions. He never had the curiosity to inquire into the state
of affairs of any of his relatives, and during the thirty years
that he lived in the Congregation, though his journeys to
Naples were so frequent, he only entered his paternal
house once, when he had to fulfil a last duty to his mother,
who was mortally ill. Though his brother lived in the same
;house in which the hospice of the Congregation was, as
•we have said before, he never visited him. One day he
•went to Naples and found the door of the hospice shut;
he chose rather to eat a morsel of bread with some fruit
in the ante-chamber, rather than to enter his brother's
apartment; and when the nuptials were celebrated, as
custom seemed to require some present to the bride, Al
phonsus, for his only wedding present, gave her a paper
print of the Blessed Virgin, inclosed in a little wooden
frame. Don Hercules was displeased at this conduct, and
returned the little frame almost angrily. " My brother
takes offence," said Alphonsus, "I have however more
cause than he ; what did he expect to receive ? I have so

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 247

As soon as he knew that any particular solemnity would
attract a great concourse of people in any church, he was
there to preach. He said: "Jesus Christ began to convert
souls by preaching, and by preaching this must be conti
nued. Every thing consists in preaching well, Jesus Christ
crucified." One feast day, at St. Mary del Vico, he passed
before the church of St. Nicholas, and noticed that it was
filled by the faithful ; he immediately got out of the car
riage and entered the church to preach. He did the same
on all other similar occasions. There was another reason
which prompted him, whether ill or well, to preach on such
extraordinary occasions. " There is no festival," he said,
" where many sins are not committed," and he wished to
contribute, personally, towards the diminution or expiation
of those sins. On Easter Monday, the people went in
crowds to the convent of the Capuchins, at Arienzo, plea
santly situated on a hill. Many parties of people, of all
classes, went there to pass the day in various diversions, " to
eat pigeons," as they said. In order to prevent the disorders
which might be committed, Alphonsus went to this church
after vespers; he had exposition of the Blessed Sacrament,
and when the people were assembled together, he preached
for hours. "The Word of God;" he was in the habit of
saying, " always brings forth fruit, and there is nothing
which hell labors more to hinder than preaching." His
zeal was especially manifested when he had to preach to
men, and particularly to nobles, or the learned ; he said :
" When the men are converted, piety will reign among wo
men also." He took also advantage of public calamities,
to exercise the ministry of the Word. In the spring of the
year 1768, there was so great a drought all over the diocese,
but principally at Arienzo, that all the wells were dried up.
In this general distress he celebrated a Novena in honor of
our Blessed Lady, to implore the mercy of God ; this ex
ercise became in fact a mission. On the first evening, after
having addressed his numerous audience, he assured them,
that if they would become truly converted, the Lord would
comfort them, by sending an abundant rain on St. Anne's

248 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

day. He continued to preach on the just punishments
which overtake the sinner, and often struck himself severely
with a thick rope. He sent two Capuchin Fathers of Na
ples, through the neighboring country, after the sermon, to
exhort people to penance ; after this, he kept these two
fathers with him, together with some others, to hear con
fessions. Dry weather continued, and there was no hope
of rain ; but on St. Anne's day, towards noon, the heavens
became covered with clouds, which poured forth an abun
dant rain, and watered all the distressed country, as he had
promised. The consequence of all this preaching, was,
that every where piety flourished, sin was done away with,
crime disappeared. "Since his lordship's arrival at St.
Agatha, we have lost a great deal," said an officer of justice,
who had the care of the diocese, to a Neapolitan incum
bent, "for his sermons, and those he has caused to be
preached, have made the people so peaceable, that there is
no longer any disorder to be found."

He was not satisfied with putting his own hand to the
plough for the culture of his vineyard ; he wished to be as
sisted by laborers, animated by the same spirit, and provided
with necessary science, to aid him in his toils, and hasten
the maturity of the fruit. As soon as he entered the dio
cese, or rather, from the time he accepted the bishopric,
he thought of missions. He applied, when at Naples,
for laborers, to the Superior of the society of the Apostoli
cal Missions, and of that of the Conferences; he also so
licited the Superior of the Congregation of Pious Work
men, as well as the Provincial of the Jesuits, and addressed
petitions to the Superior of the Missionary Priests of the
church of St. George, and to the Dominican Fathers. In
the course of the autumn of 1762, the Superior of the
Congregation of the Conference, placed more than five and
twenty missonaries at his disposal; Alphonsus sent them
to labor in several populous places, and caused the Pious
Workmen to preach at Arienzo at this time, and the Jesuits
at Durazzano. He repaired to Arienzo himself, " and I
also," he said to the Pious Workmen, "I wish to do some-

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

245

many poor here who die of hunger! yes, so many poor
mendicants, and they demand that I should make presents."

Alphonsus held preaching, as among his first duties as a
bishop. "This ministration," he said, "is almost the only
one that Jesus Christ seems to have imposed on the
Apostles, and it is one which he exacts from his bishops;
to fail in it is to neglect an express command." So he
became remarkable for his assiduity in preaching. When
he was at St. Agatha, he never missed preaching every
Sunday at the cathedral, after vespers, and on all feast days
which fell during the week, he went to preach in the par
ishes. Every Sunday before the sermon, he catechised the
little children, whom he attracted by giving them rosaries,
pictures, and sometimes even money. He went also every
Sunday to give instructions to the Congregation of nobles,
and that of the young girls, which he had established.
When he was at Arienzo, as the people could not easily
come to the collegiate church, he preached alternately in
one of the seven parishes of the town, and as his sermon
was always accompanied with exposition of the Blessed
Sacrament he furnished the candles on these occasions
himself, saying : " I wish, for God's glory, not to burden
you with expense." He was accustomed, before the ser
mon, to sing one of the pious hymns he had himself corn-
posed. Every Saturday, as he had vowed, he published
also the praises of our Blessed Lady. Not satisfied with
doing this himself, he established this devotion in the whole
diocese, and according to the convenience of the people, it
took place in one town on Saturday, and in another on
Sunday, always with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
At Arienzo and in other populous parishes, he wished it to
to be done twice, both on Saturday and on Sunday. Each
month he visited a church fixed on beforehand, and made
the protestation for a good death there, with a sermon and
exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. It is impossible to
believe what great good he effected by this exercise.

During the three last days of the carnival, he was in the
habit of having public adoration and exposition of the
21*

246 LIFE OF ST. ALPHOKSUS.

Blessed • Sacrament, to hinder the people from going to
public shows, and from otherwise offending God. When
he was at St. Agatha, there was a sermon in the morning,
at which he assisted, and which was delivered by a deacon
of the seminary. He preached, himself, in the evening, and
enlarged on the exceeding love of Jesus Christ for man.
He fixed that, at Arienzo, there should be in the church of
the nuns of St. Philip, a sermon, with exposition, during the
Sundays of Lent, after vespers, and this sermon he preached
himself, whenever he was in the town ; however bad the
weather might be, he never failed to go. One Sunday, a
furious storm came on, notwithstanding which Alphonsus
went, though ill, and urged not to go ; he caught a cold,
from which he suffered a long time, in consequence. The
Conventual Fathers of St. Agatha were in the habit of
exposing the Blessed Sacrament every Saturday in March,
and had a sermon each time from one of their clerks.
Seeing that these discourses were merely an exercise for
the young men, and without fruit to the people, he offered
to preach there himself; when he had no carriage, he
went there always on foot, however severe the weather
might be. Before the sermon, he sang his hymn; " 0 my
Jesus," in so touching a manner, that all the people melted
in tears. The convent generally gave the young preacher
ten carlins ; Alphonsus, not to deprive the clerks of this
retribution, wished they should continue to fix on some
one who could preach in his stead, in case he should be
prevented, and give him the same sum whether he preached
or not. He also adopted the custom of celebrating the
novena of the birth of our Blessed Lord in his cathedral,
as well as that of the Assumption and that of St. Joseph;
instead of which latter, he celebrated sometimes the seven
days which precede the feast of this saint. The panegyric
of the Saint, however, he left to one of the Capuchin fathers,
not wishing to deprive these religious of the alms attached
to it. During Lent, he was in the habit of giving the
spiritual exercises to the regular and secular clergy at
Arienzo, or at St. Agatha.

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. £49

thing." He gave the spiritual exercises to the gentlemen
and noblemen, whom he united in a Congregation. In
the sermon on the patronage of Mary, which he preached
himself, he spoke with the fire of a seraph ; his face was
illuminated, and its brightness shed a supernatural splen
dor in the church: he exclaimed at the same time, carried
away in an ecstasy, "See, here is the Virgin coming to
scatter blessings ; ask her for these blessings ; she is ready
to grant you every thing." Thus the Blessed Virgin, re
compensed, on this, as she had done on many other occa
sions, as we have seen above, the zeal of her servant for
her honor; for it was Alphonsus who had introduced this
sermon on the Blessed Virgin, and had made it a rule, that
it should never be omitted. After the mission at Arienzo,
he went with ten Dominican Fathers from Naples to St.
Mary del Vico, a place of more than four thousand inhabi
tants ; he himself undertook the principal sermon. Several
times, while weeping over his people's sins, he struck him
self in the pulpit most cruelly with a thick rope. The mis
sion lasted twenty-two days, and every one marvelled to
see how an old man of sixty-seven, broken down with in
firmities, could bear up under so much fatigue. But what
astonished them most was, his penitential life; for besides
his other austerities, he never departed from the severe rules
of diet, which he had prescribed to himself, especially for the
time of missions, as we have seen before.

One evening, after the Father who preached to the
clergy had ended his sermon, Alphonsus unexpectedly
presented himself before them, and said : " If any one has
any scruple about having obtained his benefice by simony,
let him come to me ; I am come here to help him." The
fact was, that a young ecclesiastic was in this case, and
that, after having been to Alphonsus, he was freed from his
scruple and preserved his benefice. At the mission of
Airola, he contented himself with being present only, and
returned at Christmas to Arienzo, and celebrated pontifi-
caily in the collegiate church. During mass, after having
received the precious blood, he entered on a sudden into

250 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSflS.

an ecstasy, as many persons attested, and his face beamed
with heavenly fire.

After having visited all the diocese, he kept one of the
most zealous missionaries with him, and caused him to
give a spiritual renewal of the missions. Alphonsus, as we
have said above, visited his diocese every two years, and
hex also caused the missionaries to go through it in the
same space of time, and to those who blamed this multi
plicity of missions, he answered that skilful husbandmen
are accustomed to throw a double quantity of seed into
places where the earth is dry and barren, and he- added:
" It is thus we must do, if we would have an ample harvest.
When the seed is sown in abundance, if all does not come
up, at least a part of it does. Jesus Christ compares the
Word of God to wheat : if it is not sown, neither can it be
gathered." Besides these missions, he had also recourse
to divers other exercises, as novenas and triduos, in order
to strengthen the good, and awaken the sinful. From the
first, he also introduced the adoration of the forty hours, at
the carnival, and caused, then, the most zealous preachers
to ascend the pulpit.

He did not like to employ missionaries of his own Con
gregation, when he first arrived at St. Agatha, for fear that
they might be suspected to be his spies. He founded his
hopes on them, however, and in the end, caused some of
them to come each year from Nocera, Ciorani, and St.
Angelo. The two principal counsels he gave to all these
missionaries were: charity towards sinners, and a popular
style in preaching, and he was very ^anxious to see them
followed. Once, he spoke very plainly to one of them,
whom he knew to be guilty of rigorism. "My father,"
he said to him, "too much indulgence in a confessor is
hurtful to souls, but too much rigor is not less prejudicial ;
I blame certain rigid spirits, who act not according to
knowledge, and destroy rather than edify ; with sinners,
charity and mildness are necessary. Such was the method
of Jesus Christ, and if we would lead souls to God and
save them, we must not imitate Jansenius, but Jesus Christ,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 251

the chief of missionaries." As to preaching: "When
Jesus Christ preached," he said, " He did not use turns of
sentences nor rhetorical expressions ; all His words were
on a level with the people's comprehension ; His proofs
were natural, and never abstract. He used parables and
comparisons, which, by striking the mind and heart, tri
umphed over the will. The Apostles were instructed by
Him, and they imitated Him, and we also must do as they
did ; otherwise journeys, expense, and fatigue of every
sort, will all be useless." One day, when he was present at a
mission, he was seen to move about uneasily on his throne,
because the preacher used chosen terms and studied phrases.
The sermon was hardly ended, before he sent for the
preacher, and reprimanded him severely, saying: "That is
to betray the people and Jesus Christ; if you only seek to
preach yourself, and not Jesus crucified, why did you take
the trouble to leave Naples. I do not excuse you from
mortal sin."

The expenses of these missions, except those that were
provided for by foundations, were all placed to his own
account. He paid for the journeys, lodgings, and food,
even in case of labors which the missionaries undertook of
their own accord. He freed the incumbent and the towns
from all expense, furnishing even the oil and candles for the
churches, and enabled the missionaries, besides, to give beds
and other indispensable things to the poor, whose misery
caused them to make their children sleep together, exhort
ing them to take particular care of necessitous families,
converted females, and young girls in danger. Notwith
standing all this, he had sometimes much difficulty in over
coming the obstacles he met with from the incumbents.
We give the following example, as it shows at the same
time his incomparable forbearance and readiness to forgive.
One incumbent had excused himself, saying that he had
no house and could not procure one. Alphonsus, who
divined his real feelings, answered that he must procure
one, at any price, and that it would be defrayed for him.
The priest replied in terms any thing but respectful. In-

LIFE OP ST. ALFHONStfS.

dignant at this refusal, the grand-vicar and others wished
him to be imprisoned, but Alphonsus blamed their hastiness
and pitied the incumbent's weakness, who in the end asked
for the mission. On this, Alphonsus far from showing any
further dissatisfaction, even begged his pardon. " I do not
say," he wrote to him, " that your reverence has put any
impediment in the way, but I said that you did not show
the anxiety I should have wished ; if I have been wrong
in this, I hope that now all will be as before. Blessed be
God, who has permitted this unpleasantness to arise to you
as well as to me."

To cause the Lenten sermons to be as profitable as those
of the missions, he also exacted their being in a popular
style. As in many localities, the parishioners had the right,
founded on ancient usage, of electing the preachers, he
had often the sorrow tov see elected persons who were far
from being according to his own heart. In order to remedy
this abuse, he never failed to speak to the most influential
persons in each place, to get them to choose subjects who
were well known, and according to his wishes, and lastly, h'e
asked and obtained that the preachers should be chosen
from among the Capuchin Fathers exclusively. Before
giving his approbation to the preachers selected, he obliged
them to engage to give the spiritual exercises during Pas
sion week, in the form of a mission, and those who showed
repugnance to do so were always refused. He was in the
habit of saying to those who nominated the preachers :
"The right of election belongs to you, but it is for me to
regulate the subject, and the form of the sermons."

During this time of Lent, he was attentive in seeing that
the confessors should mutually exchange parishes, pro
viding himself for their food and other expenses by means
of the rural deans ; and in this way, the Lenten exercises pro
duced general advantage, thanks to the pains-taking care
of the vigilant bishop. Besides, when the preachers and
confessors presented themselves before him to receive his
benediction, he liked to keep them, for some days, with him,
and in conversing with them, he judged of their capability

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 253

and knowledge. The obligations of the sacred ministry,
charity towards sinners, and the necessity of encouraging
them to penance, furnished him with inexhaustible subjects ,
of conversation, but above all, with the motives for very
particular exhortations. Even in panegyrics and sermons,
on festivals, he wished, as we have seen, that the preacher
should speak simply, in order that the people might profit
by them. One day, on the celebration of the feast of the
Sacred Heart, at Arienzo, they invited a celebrated preacher,
of a well known order in Naples. Alphonsus, too ill to
officiate, wished, notwithstanding, to be present, but suf
fered much in hearing flowery expressions and high flown
phrases delivered by the preacher ! If he did not quit the
church, it was only to avoid creating disturbance in the
ceremony. At last he turned towards the altar, arid turned
his back on the pulpit and preacher, and on reaching his
house he sent for him, and in a tone of authority, thus ad
dressed him: "Is it not to wish to betray Jesus Christ and
the people, to preach in that way ? If I did not make you
come down from the pulpit, it was from respect to the
habit you wear. What fruit have the people gathered from
all the tropes, from all the figures of speech and pompous
descriptions with which you ornamented your discourse?
All that was only the fruit of vanity, and can only merit
the fire of purgatory. Your end ought to have been to
touch hearts, and cause tears to be shed ; but the people
were insensible, because they understood nothing."

In the year 1763, all Italy was a prey to most fearful dis
tress, a famine, which caused our saint to have an increase
of sorrow and merits. He predicted this calamity, even
before his election to the bishopric; for preaching once in
Naples, and becoming more animated than usual, he ex
claimed: "Beware, beware, God will overtake us with fa
mine." This he predicted on other occasions, and during
the Mission of St. Agatha, he said : "My children, cease to
sin, for a great calamity is threatening us," and on another
occasion : " Amend your lives, I repeat to you, and recom
mend yourselves to God, for a great famine will soon aftlict
22

254 LIFE OF ST. ALPHGNStfg.

you." The same prediction he repeated twice at Arienza,
in the year which preceded the fatal winter of 1763-1764,
and expressed himself still more definitely. The people
were wearied with these reiterated predictions, and said :
" Where is this bishop come from ? He only fortells famine
and bad seasons." After the harvest of 1763, he ordered
his secretary to buy a great quantity of kidney and French
beans, and other vegetables. No body understood the
mystery, and all laughed at it, the secretary being the first
to do so, for the harvest had been at least a tolerable one.
But the month of November had not terminated, before the
scarcity spread from one end of the kingdom to the other.
It is difficult to imagine the holy bishop's sorrow in seeing
the multitude of starving poor; they had no bread left, and
so all recurred to their common father for aid in their dis
tress. The large halUof the episcopal palace was some
times crowded with four or five hundred of these distressed
people, who in the most suppliant posture, and with tearful
eyes, begged for a morsel of bread. Alphonsus tried to
relieve them all, saying to the servant: "Make them all go
away satisfied, they only ask for what belongs to them."
He sent in every direction to obtain corn, and applied to
D. Hercules, then governor of Naples, from whom he ob
tained plenty of corn, though it had already begun to be
sold at six ducats the measure. He applied to his rich pa
trons, and received numerous donations, and was overjoyed
at being able to assist his poor children. 213-1

He had a large list placed in the great hall, on which all
the necessitous families were noted down, alphabetically,
and as they presented themselves, they received according
to their poverty, a portion of beans or vegetables, together
with some money. Besides this, he had arranged a private
list of families, who were prevented from coming to his
palace through shame or some other cause. But as he soon
became destitute of money, he wished to borrow, by paying
interest, but was constantly refused, nobody being willing
to be satisfied with the guarantee of an old man, asthmatic,
and broken down with infirmities. In this extremity he

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

255

sold the ring, which he had received as a present from Jane
Versale, as well as that which he had received from Bishop
Giannifii, (and which had belonged to his uncle, the bishop
of Troy,) with his pectoral cross, only keeping one, silver
gilt, for pontifical ceremonies. He ordered also his secre
tary to sell the little plate he had. Not knowing what else
to sell, he was on the point of getting rid of his rochet and
watch, but he gave up this idea on its being represented to
him, that they were of little value, while to him a watch
was indispensable. As the scarcity increased, he resolved
to sell his carriage. Being opposed in this by the Grand-
Vicar and others, he said: "St. Peter was Pope, and he
had no carriage, why should I have one, I, who am not
greater than St. Peter?" When D. Hercules interfered,
and joined his opponents, he replied : "All these pretexts
to induce me to keep my carriage, are only a temptation of
the devil, in my opinion. I am old, I have already one
foot in the grave ; I am burthened with debts, I want a
great deal of money, and am distressed to death at being
able to do nothing. Do not trouble me any longer about
this affair, for I will not answer you any more. You know
very well, besides, that when I come to a resolution, after a
careful examination, I never go back from it. I cannot
bear to see the mules remaining in the stable nearly all the
year with nothing to do, while the coachman is wasting his
time, and the poor are asking for bread." That which he
had resolved on, he executed, and on the 5th of January,
sent his carriage and mules to Naples. His brother, D.
Gaetan, not wishing them to pass into the hands of stran
gers, bought them himself, and at a very high price. When
he had nothing more to sell, he thought of getting rid of
the plate which had belonged to his predecessors, the pas
toral cross, the ewer, and candlestick, as well as the pre
cious stone which adorned the clasp of the cope. But being
resisted by the canons, he asked to be allowed, at least, to
pledge these things ; but this also was denied. This second
refusal grieved him so much, that he was seen walkino-
about, alone in his room, weeping and giving way to all the

256 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

bitterness of his heart. While in this great sorrow, he en
vied rich bishops, as they had more .power to do good.
'•Oh, that I merited as much before God, as St. Thomas of
Villanova," said he one day, "I might find my granaries
filled with corn, as he did."

The scourge continuing to increase its ravages, the
zealous pastor applied to the Pope, supplicating him to
grant him the permission to mortgage all his income, in
•order to be able to succor the poor. But though the Pope
consented to this, the answer did not arrive in time. He
assembled, moreover, all the heads of the chapels together,
and begged, or rather commanded them, to pawn all their
plate. This was done, but it was only as a few drops of
water cast on a great conflagration. The indefatigable
pastor, however, took no rest ; he daily assembled the prin
cipal gentlemen, canons, and chief functionaries, and con
sulted with them as to the means of relieving the town, and
preventing the death of the poor by hunger. Many refused
to give him money, but many others being moved with
compassion, placed generous donations in his hands; others
supplied him with money under the name of a loan, but, no
doubt, never expected to recover the advances they made.

But the pious pastor considered himself as charged with
the sins of his people, and offered himself as a victim to
the justice of heaven, he bound himself with hair-cloths,
•and disciplined himself most severely every day, and did
not cease to excite the people also to do penance for their
sins. One evening, after such a fervent exhortation, on
his return home, a woman of the town ran after him, and
exclaimed in fury: "Would to God you had never come
among us ! since you have been here you have only an
nounced calamities, and now you make us eat bread at
seven grains the pound." Then raising her hand in a
menacing way, she added: "You have plenty of money,
you, I say, to eat it at this price." Alphonsus, far from
being moved at these violent and undeserved reproaches,
gave his blessing to the woman. The sacristan, who ac
companied him, began to scold her, and took her by the

OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 259

people rebelled, and chose as the victim of their blind re
sentment, the syndic Dominico Carvo, the superintendent
of provisions at St. Agatha. The mutinous people, desir
ing to assassinate him, attacked him in his house, and
broke down his door. The unfortunate man happily suc
ceeded in escaping, and took refuge in the episcopal
palace. The mob having heard of this, hurried thither, and
besieged the palace ; they penetrated into the interior, and
sought for the syndic in order to murder him. Alphonsus,
in alarm, appeared before the furious mob, and offered him
self as a victim to their anger; he ran into the midst of
them, pressed them to his heart, and in tears endeavored
to exculpate the syndic. " Life for life," cried the multi
tude. Alphonsus, not knowing what more he could do to
calm their fury, famine rendering them deaf to all his
reasons, distributed to them all the meat and bread which
he had kept for the most necessitous poor, as also all the
bread and provisions of the seminary. This alarm had
scarcely ended, when another sorrow succeeded. The
court at Naples, being informed of the revolt, despatched
sixty horsemen to St. Agatha, to prevent still more serious
disturbances ; which measure, far from intimidating the
people, only served to exasperate them more. Alphonsus,
considering this sad state of things, could neither eat nor
sleep; he consulted, every moment, with the officers, in
order to prevent the soldiers causing inconvenience to any
one, while he at the same time negotiated at Naples for the
recall of the military. He spoke to the most influential of
the populace, to urge them to be peaceful; he procured
new stores of corn and vegetables, and his active charity
took no rest, until he saw the soldiers depart, and tran
quillity re-established.

Assisted by divine light from on high, he often foresaw
the misfortunes which would happen, even out of town,
and was thus enabled to obviate them. At Arienzo in
particular, he saved D. Giro Lettieri, the first magistrate of
this town, from a great disaster. The brother of Giro was
employed by Alphonsus to put the archives of the bishopric

S60 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONStJS.

in order. It was supposed he would have to be occupied
in this, at least a fortnight. But eight days had scarcely
elapsed, before Alphonsus suddenly sent for him one Sa
turday, arid said: "I wish you to return to Arienzo this
very evening, for your presence will be necessary there."
Greatly surprised at such a dismissal, he set out, little satis
fied with the bishop's proceedings. On the Sunday morn
ing, being at Arienzo, he heard the sound of the tocsin, he
went to the piazza, and found the people collected to
gether, and with arms in hand, proceeding tumultuously
towards his brother's house. He understood then what
that necessity for his presence was, and he was just in
time to save his brother, who but for him would have been
killed. He got before the populace, and caused D. Giro to
take refuge in the monastery of the Fathers of St. Augustine,
whence, clothed in a refigious habit, he fled from the town
and escaped from the seditious mob. The tribunal of Mon-
tefusco, being informed of this tumult, commissioned an
officer to seek for the principal rioters. Thirty fathers o£
families were denounced by the subordinates; they were
innocent, but were all obliged to appear at Montefusco.
The governors of the town, out of consideration for the
ruin of so many families, applied to their common father.
At this news, Alphonsus was filled with grief, and wept
over the possible consequences of this denunciation, and,
without loss of time, represented to the president of the
tribunal the innocence of the accused, and entreated him
to stop the prosecution. His representations were so ef
ficacious, that the court granted all that he desired.

As the spring of 1764 advanced, it brought with it new
resources, which gradually put an end to the fearful scarcity,
and the holy bishop was able to resume the course of his
visitation. Many disorders had arisen during the famine ;
some people had profited by the general misery to practice
usury extensively ; others tortured their debtors, and con
strained them to subscribe to exaggerated claims. He in
veighed against these abuses, and used every means to
remedy them. He sent for the merchants and moneyed men.

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSXTS. 257

shoulder in order to force her to go away ; Alphonsus was
indignant at this and punished him for it, by four days' im
prisonment. "These unhappy people deserve compas
sion," said he, " it is not their heart, but famine which
makes them speak." God, however, did not leave such a
wicked act unpunished, and this woman, who had lived in
ease before, was soon reduced to the lowest beggary.

Poverty increased, particularly in Naples, to such a
degree, that the scourge spared no one; the starving poor
were seen, as Alphonsus had predicted, eating the grass
of the hedges, and seeking in the country for the nourish
ment which beasts had refused to eat, so as even to feed
on noxious herbs. On seeing thousands of these poor
people going about the streets like spectres, Alphonsus
was ready to die for sorrow. He confined himself to bread
and broth, and one day said to his secretary and grand-
vicar: " You see how the people are dying with hunger,
it is necessary that we should do without something more;
and so you must bear patiently yourself as well as others."
In consequence, his table was only supplied with broth and
boiled meat, with which every one, without exception, had
to be satisfied. He invoked also the superiors of all the
convents of the diocese, and not only begged, but com
manded them, to contribute to the relief of the poor, by
retrenching some part of their ordinary expenditures. He
heard that the superior of a wealthy convent was very
stingy towards the poor; he sent for him and reproached
him for his hard-heartedness. "I am obliged," replied the
religious, "to maintain my family; I give what is over to
the poor, and no more." This answer pained our saint:
he rose from his chair full of indignation, and said :
"Do you know what maintain means? It signifies that
it is necessary to eat enough to preserve life, and the
surplus ought to be given to the poor. When you became
a religious, you said that you wished to lead a life of
poverty and penance. Do you believe in the Gospel, or
are you a Turk ?" The religious changed his line of con
duct, and the poor of the place were quite differently
22*

258 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

treated, from this time. He begged also the monasteries
in Naples, and his penitents and relations, to bestow gifts
on him for the sick.

Thus Alphonsus acted like a true apostle of charity,
during this calamity. He was delighted when he could
assist the poor, and wept when he had nothing to give
them. Every thing was open to them, and there was not
a single room in the palace, where one did not see some
poor person being comforted or snatched from the grasp of
death. One evening, after all had been relieved, the Sec
retary, in going to bed, saw a man stretched on a bench in
the hall, motionless and nearly expiring. Alphonsus, being
informed of this, hastened hither, and at the sight of the
unfortunate man was filled with sorrow; he sent for
vinegar and other things to try and revive him ; he ran to
his room himself and took a piece of chocolate, which he
succeeded with difficulty in placing in the mouth of the
dying man. At length by dint of much pains, he had the
happiness to see him come to his senses again, and his
heart rejoiced at the sight of the poor man thus restored
to life.

As St. Agatha was not the only town which suffered
from the famine, and as there was a dearth of bread
throughout the diocese, all had recourse to him, and he
had a helping hand for all. There was no place in the
diocese which he did not aid with a quantity of corn and
lentils, as well as with money. As bishop, he was lord of
the fief of Baynoli ; the inhabitants of this domain also de
manded his assistance, and more than this, they used men
aces. He succeeded in procuring a great quantity of
corn from Naples, secretly, and distributed bread to the
poor of this estate every day. Thus the diocese of St.
Agatha had much less to surfer than the other dioceses, for

o

while, every where, bread was from ten to twelve grains the
•pound, at St. Agatha, it only cost six and a half.

But however great was his solicitude, he could not
satisfy the wants of all. On the 20th of February, 1764,
the horrors of famine having become still more felt, the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 261

and enjoined them not to deviate from the rules of equity.
After having thus contributed to the restoration of order at
St. Agatha, and in the neighboring country, he especially
enjoined on the parish priests the relief of many sick per
sons, convalescents, and the most necessitous families, and
then set out to visit the other parts of the diocese ; he was
greeted in all parts with shouts of joy, which showed plainly
the delight which the presence of their charitable bishop
caused in the hearts of the faithful.

CHAPTER XXII,

Jllphonsus presides at a general Chapter of his Congregation.
He defends his Moral Theology . He publishes Ordinances
for the Regulation of his Diocese. He establishes new
Parishes. Becomes dangerously ill. He publishes his
Book on the Truth of Faith. Circular to his Congregation.

ABOUT this time, his Congregation had to assemble in a
general chapter, and the saintly founder was begged
to preside. He accepted the invitation, though he was then
overcharged with business. He went, in consequence, to
Nocera, towards the end of September. In passing by
Nola, he stopped at the seminary, and, at the invitation of
the Superior, gave an exhortation to the seminarists, which
lasted more than an hour; he also saw Bishop Carracciolo,
who, as well as our saint, was ao enemy to those pompous
titles which were adopted by certain bishops at that time.
He related to Alphonsus, that, having been addressed in a
letter from one of his colleagues by the title of Excellency,
he had not returned the compliment. " You did very
right," replied Alphonsus, " I cannot understand what
gave rise to this plaguing Excellency. The Council of
Trent condescended to grant us the title of Right Reve
rend, and now they wish to introduce, Most Illustrious., If

262 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS,

we had wished for Excellency, we could have staid at
home." When he entered the Church to visit the Blessed
Sacrament, he was given an arm-chair, which was used by
the bishop; he refused it, and placed himself on a bench,
saying, " This place befits D. Alphonsus;" wishing to say,
that not being in his own diocese, he ought not to usurp
any mark of distinction.

The chapter lasted a month. The customs and rules
already in vigor, were revised and confirmed. Every thing
was done in the most satisfactory manner, thanks to his
prudence and wisdom. The chapter was scarcely termi
nated when he set out again for St. Agatha, where he un
dertook to combat a new enemy. A distinguished Domini
can, F. Vincent Patuzzi, unceasingly criticised the Moral
Theology of the saintly doctor. Alphonsus, after his return
from Rome, had already published a long and learned dis
sertation, wherein all the most weighty authorities were
brought forward in support of his system, and which was
considered as a master-piece. Father Patuzzi, not being
willing to give up the combat, had taken up arms again.
Patuzzi's work was but a libel, under the name of Adolphus
Dositheus, entitled, "The cause of probabilism re-pro
duced after the examination of Bishop Liguori, and again
convicted of falsity." Alphonsus replied now in a learned
and moderate address, in which he supported his doctrine by
the authority of the canons, of the Holy Fathers, and of the
most celebrated theologians, principally of St. Thomas.
He dedicated his book to his Holiness, Clement XIII, with
this declaration : " I protest that in all which I have written
on this subject, I had no other intention than to make the
truth clear in so grave a matter, on which depends the good
or evil direction of consciences, and as I had the honor of
dedicating my Moral Theology to the Sovereign Pontiff,
Benedict XIV, some years ago, I venture to present and
submit to your Holiness, this treatise, which is an appendix
to the same Moral Theology, in order that you may deign
to look over it, to correct, modify, and cancel all which may
be opposed to the rules of Christian wisdom." Alphonsus

LIFE OF ST. ALFHOHSUS. 263

sent his apology to the bishops and archbishops, as well as
to the other theological doctors, who all united with one
voice in praising the author's great learning, but not less,
the great humility and moderation with which he defended
his system, as is proved by many letters of approbation he
received on the occasion, the greater portion of which are
quoted by Alphonsus himself at the end of his apology.
Patuzzi, notwithstanding, sharpened his pen anew, and
published another libel, which contained the same abuse as
his former writings, only under another form. Alphonsus,
without departing from his usual moderation, replied to
him on the 16th of January, 1764: "I have received your
well meant letter, wherein are mingled praises and coun
sels, admonitions, reproaches, and menaces." Then, after
having apologised for not being able to reply more at
length, on account of the business of his diocese, he adds:
"You tell me that you are astonished, that, while leading
an edifying life, (you had better said that I deceive the
public,) I, notwithstanding, profess an erroneous doctrine.
My Father, I judge and see precisely the contrary ; I see
that my life is neither good nor exemplary, but full of faults,
and on the contrary, I am sure that my system is very wise
and certain." He then continues to overthrow his adver
sary's objections with admirable skill and learning, sup
porting his arguments principally by St. Thomas, and other
learned writers. F. Patuzzi was conquered, but not con
vinced, and thus the controversy ended.

When Alpho-nsus had made himself thoroughly ac
quainted with the state of his diocese, he informed the
Pope that he thought he ought to assemble a synod, in
order to remedy numerous abuses, and supported by the
approbation of his Holiness, regulate many things which he
judged necessary. The Pope heard this determination with
pleasure, and to favor his undertaking, he granted, by a brief
of the 21st of June, a plenary indulgence to all who, after
havingconfessed, should communicate and visit the cathedral
of St. Agatha, on the day of the opening of the synod,
and also every year, on its anniversary. But Alphonsus

264 LIFE Of ST. ALPHONStJS,

consulting Bishop Borgia, of Aversa, about this matter, as
well as F. Fatigati, the founder of the Congregation of the
Holy Family, they both disapproved of the project, and their
opinion was shared by several bishops who were friends of
our saint. After reflecting on their reasons, he said: "I
will accomplish what I wished to regulate in a synod, by
simple decrees, and thus I shall not have to fear some un
quiet spirit preventing my obtaining the roya) assent, at
Naples." He consulted then several times the most judi
cious members of his clergy, and thus the articles which
he had prepared for the synodical assembly, were replaced
by six ordinances, which he promulgated in due form, and
caused to be rigorously observed throughout the diocese.

The first referred to the canons, the priests of the ca
thedral, and the chaplains, concerning the rubrics, the
ecclesiastical discipline, of the choir, and the conditions of
gaining the distributions, with divers regulations, concern
ing the divine service in the cathedral, and the meetings of
the chapter.

The second referred to the duties of the archpriests,
vicars, and rectors, throughout the diocese. He renewed
the order given after his first visitation, that the summary
of the Christian doctrine, composed by himself, should be
read twice to the people every Sunday and feast day ; and
ordered that every Sunday morning, the parish priests
should give a detailed instruction on the truths of faith,
especially to little children ; that the children should be
made to know the meaning of the words their lips uttered;
and that they should be taught the acts for holy commu
nion, several weeks before Easter, in order that they might
understand well the importance of this sacrament, the
benefits it procures, and the dispositions it requires; that
they should be admitted to this sacrament when nine or
ten, or at most, twelve years old. He ordered also, that
all who wished to enter into matrimony, should be exam
ined on the most essential points of Christian doctrine, and
this indispensably and without distinction of persons, ac
cording to the prescriptions of the Roman ritual, and the

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 265

doctrine of Pope Benedict XIV. In the same ordinance
he set before the parochial clergy, their strict obligation to
preach every Sunday, reminding them also, that accord
ing to the Council of Trent, preaching should be familiar
and level to the people's capacity. In order to prevent
serious evils, and many sins, he obliged them to receive no
promise of betrothal, without the certainty of a speedy
marriage, and wished that parents should be repeatedly ad
vised not to receive young men into their houses, who might
prove an occasion of scandal to their daughters, this being
a reserved case. He also ordered, that no one should be
admitted to Easter communion, without having been previ
ously examined by his parish priest, on the things necessary
to salvation, and forbadeWonfessors to administer this sa
crament to those who were not provided with a certificate
of having been thus examined; that those who had not
fulfilled the paschal duty, should be warned of the. excom
munication they would incur, if they did not fulfil it in their
parish church, and that if any one had not performed his
duty, by Trinity Sunday, the incumbent should then report
it to the bishop, without delay. For the young of both
sexes, he ordered two general communions, the one on the
Sunday after the Assumption, and the other at Christmas.
This same ordinance reminded the parish priests, that ac
cording to the Roman catechism, they sinned grievously, if
they did not administer extreme unction till the dying person
had lost the use of his reason. Rectors and other priests
were ordered to have a list in the sacristy, in which should
be noted, the days, and the altars, at which the perpetual
masses ought to be celebrated, and that, when a legacy was
left in favor of the church, the payment should be required
from the heirs in a month after the death of the testator,
and that in case of refusal, recourse should be had to a
competent judge, to compel them, or else the bishop should
be informed ; and besides, informing the bishop before ac
cepting any legacy, that a list of the foundations should be
made every ten years, and a copy of it remitted to the
heirs, and another deposited in the hands of the chapter.

266 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

This same ordinance concluded with several regulations
concerning the reserved cases, the distribution of the holy
oils, the mass to be said for the people on Sundays and
feast days, the residence of the curates, &c.

The third was addressed to all confessors, secular and
regular. He reminded them of the necessity they lay under,
to study moral theology, and ordered them to join
some Congregation for discussing cases of conscience.
He wished them to ask parents, whether they sent their
children to be catechised, this being a reserved case, and
especially, minutely to interrogate those who confessed
seldom, or, whose consciences were not known to them.
He told them to refuse absolution to backsliding, and ha
bitual sinners, except they gave extraordinary signs of con
trition, and to those in occasion of sin, before they had
quitted the occasion. He inculcated on them the duty of
reminding physicians of the strict obligation which the bull
of Pius V, imposes on them, of ordering the sacraments to
be administered to those of their patients whom they found,
after the third visit, to be in danger, or likely to become so.
He condemned the facility with which many confessors
granted absolution to venial sins, without being certain that
the penitents repented of them, and were resolved to amend.
He advised confessors to exhort their penitents to frequent
prayer, and to urge them to invoke the sacred names of
Jesus and Mary, unceasingly, when in temptation, and
above all, to recommend to them, devotion to the Blessed
Virgin, the recitation of the Rosary, as well as three Aves,
morning and evening, in honor of the Mother of purity and
perseverance, and to teach briefly, the exercise of mental
prayer to those whom they saw most disposed to piety.

The fourth renewed the pain of suspension, ipso facto,
for all those who should finish mass in less than a quarter
of an hour, and contained several other regulations re
garding the holy sacrifice. He reminded besides, all eccle
siastics, of the suspension, ipso facto, to be incurred by
amusing themselves at games of chance, or any other
game in public. He equally forbade hunting with a gun,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 267

or with nets, without the written permission of the bishop,
&c.f and lastly, exhorted all the clerics to second their
parish priests in the instruction on Christian doctrine.

The sixth, (we shall speak of the fifth hereafter,) provided
that which was becoming, in regard to clerical dress and
tonsure. These were the principal regulations Alphonsus
felt it necessary to make, for the good of his clergy and
diocese. He confessed that, in consequence of the cir
cumstances of the times, he had riot acted after the rigor of
the ancient canons, but he also declared, that in proportion
to this indulgence, would be his severity towards trans
gressors. "Any kind of contempt for myself, does not
affect me at all," said he, "on the contrary, I thank God
for it; but I cannot suffer any disregard for my ordi
nances." He was therefore very attentive in watching to
see that they were kept, and not satisfied with the reports
which were addressed to him by the rural vicars, who were
especially bound to attend to what was going on in the
different parts of the diocese, he commissioned certain per
sons, to inform him privately, of all kinds of infraction of
these ordinances, and when he saw that the offences were
in consequence of contempt of his wishes, he acted with
severity, and more than one ecclesiastic suffered an exem
plary punishment in consequence. One was deprived of
the revenues of his parish; another for having twice failed
to be present at the meetings of the discussion of moral
cases, was sent for by the bishop, who reprimanded him
with severity.

One of the greatest evils which Alphonsus had remarked
during his pastoral visitation, was the spiritual abandon
ment, in which thousands of souls were to be found, who
were dispersed through the country, and above all, in the
neighborhood of St. Agatha. The population of this town
and its environs, amounted to more than twenty-four thou
sand inhabitants, who were scattered about in a number of
villages, hamlets, and farm-houses. In the suburbs and
villages, there were not less than two hundred families, who
comprised altogether, more than thirteen hundred souls,

268 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

and formed, what was called, the parish of St. Thomas,
divided into several sections, some of which were four or
five miles from the church. This occasioned serious incon
veniences, for while the heat of summer caused the access
to the church to be very painful, winter rendered it nearly
impossible; the old and very young, never saw their parish
priest. There was no catechising for the young, nor in
struction for the adults, and what is worse, nearly all the
sick were deprived of the viaticum, and extreme unction.
The vigilant bishop, grieving over such a deplorable state
-of things, determined to divide the parish of St. Thomas,
and to form three others, which should be supported by
some benefices of free gift, which till then, had only been
.conferred on clerics, attached to the bishop, or on strangers.
The execution of this project was far from being an easy
matter, but our saint's,.zeal and constancy triumphed over
all obstacles, and three parishes were established in three
ancient churches, at convenient distances.

At Cancello, a place within three miles from Arienzo,
there were dispersed about in various estates, a great
number of families, dependant on the parish of St. Felix
of Arienzo, which being four miles distant, at the least, the
inhabitants for the most part, died without any religious aid.
Alphonsus resolved to make a parochial chapel of the one
to be found there, but finding opposition, he contented
.himself with establishing there a chaplain, to say mass on
Sundays and festivals, for which, the Duke of Maddalon,
who possessed large farms on this domain, gave him yearly
twelve ducats, to which Alphonsus added six more, out of
.his own income, in order to induce him to consent to
.preach, and teach the catechism to the children. He pre
sented to the church, a beautiful missal, and other books,
for the celebration of the offices, and promised the priest
not to forget him, when a vacancy should occur in the
livings. He made the same, or similar arrangements in
many other parts of the diocese, so that the word of God
was announced in many rural chapels which were distant
from the parish churches, he himself supplying what was

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 269

necessary for the maintenance of these chaplains. Olher
churches, where the revenues were inadequate, were by
his care endowed with rentals and benefices, taken from
those which were superabundantly provided. By these
means he attracted a number of meritorious priests, who,
till then, had been kept at a distance, through fear and
distress.

Alphonsus, exhausted with austerity and fatigue, became
ill, at the close of the year 1764. The fever made such pro
gress, that his life was soon despaired of, and they hastened
to administer to him the viaticum, and extreme unction.
It was an affecting sight, to see the bishop of St. Agatha,
lie on a bed of straw, between two sheets of coarse cloth,
and covered with all the emblems of poverty, with a dying
voice, asking the two clergymen who assisted him, to
suggest some sentiments of love to him. One of them
tried to suggest some holy thoughts, but tears stifled his
voice, and he could not utter a single word. "My lord,"
said then the other, "When St. Martin was near death, he
addressed the following prayer to God: 'Lord, if I am still
necessary to thy people, I refuse not to work;'" and Al
phonsus, who could scarcely move his lips, immediately
repeated, " Non recuso laborem," " I refuse not to work."
No children ever wept more bitterly, at the death bed of a
father, than the inhabitants of St. Agatha did, at the pros
pect of so soon losing their bishop. Public prayers were
had in every place, throughout the diocese, and several re
ligious communities at Naples, offered up Novenas, and
other prayers, in order that the Lord would deign to preserve
the pastor to his diocese, or rather to the whole Church.

As the invalid's danger had been seen from the first, they
proposed to him to send for a physician, to Naples, but he
would not hear of it, saying that his life was not worth so
much trouble, and that he ought to employ the physicians
of St. Agatha, since God had given them to him. Never
theless, his brother Hercules was no sooner informed of his
state, than he came to see him, accompanied by two of the
first doctors of the capital. He escaped from death at
23*

270 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS,

last, but it may truly be said, that his recovery was a re
compense for the tears of the poor, and it was plainly seen,
that the Lord wished, for the salvation of his flock, to pre
serve his life, of which they had still the greatest need.
God also manifested his servant's sanctity, during his illness,
by a miracle. One day, while he was still in bed, he re
ceived a visit from a canon, who brought him some fig-
peckers, which he had shot. He was accompanied by his
nephew, who, although four years old, could not say a
single word. Alphorisus asked the canon what was his
nephew's name ; the uncle replied, that the child was called
Thomas, but could not yet speak, and that they believed
he would continue to be dumb. Alphonsus immediately
made the sign of the cross on the child's forehead, and
taking a picture of our Lady of Power, gave it to Thomas,
to kiss, and asked hkn what this Lady was called. The
child kissed the picture, and his tongue being unloosed
at the moment, he replied, "The Madonna." Alphonsus
turned to the canon, and to conceal the miracle, said to
him: "This child is not dumb ; it is true that there is an
impediment in his speech, but you will see that it will
gradually disappear." From that time, the child had the
use of speech, in fact, he articulated every sound perfectly,
and asked for all he wanted.

The doctors foreseeing the tediousness of his recovery,
and fearing that, if he were not entirely set up before the
autumn, he would languish all the winter, advised him to
go to breathe the salubrious air of Nocera. This proposi
tion alarmed him. "I cannot go far from my residence,"
said he, "let us place ourselves in the hands of the Lord,
and he will do the rest." It required a command from
F. Villani, then present at St. Agatha, to cause him to
consent to go. From the time that he was among his Con
gregation again, he never failed, even though not well, to
follow all the exercises of the community; he resumed his
scientific occupations at the same time, not allowing him
self a moment's relaxation. Being asked one day, by a
.priest, to play the harpsichord, he replied: " What will be

LIFE OP ST. ALPKONSUS» 1

said, if I pass my time at an idle instrument, in place of em
ploying it in thinking of my diocese. My duty, arid that of
every bishop, is to give audience to all, to pray, to study,
and never to play the harpsichord." He preached again,
each Saturday, in honor of the Blessed Virgin, and from
time to time was called on to give familiar instructions to
nuns in their convents. The Rector caused him to be
treated with some distinction, with regard to food, because
of his indisposition ; these attentions were a martyrdom to
him, he wished no distinction to be made between himself
and the rest of the community.

He ate in an upper room, and this was the occasion of a
heroic act of mortification for him. As he drank no wine,
he once asked for a glass of water, and the brother who
was waiting on him, saw a vase, which was full of it, and
presented it to him; Alphonsus took it and drank, but a
Father who was beside him, smelt a bad odor, and saw that
the vase was filled with corrupted water, which had been
used for keeping flowers in, a few days before. Alphonsus
did not show the least displeasure, or say a word to find
fault with one who had waited on him so badly. Here also,
God favored him with special graces. Once, when he was
saying mass in the domestic chapel of the Mother of Sor
rows, and had come to the psalm, "Judica me Deus," he cast
his eyes on the Image, and suddenly broke off and stopped
in the middle of the verse he had commenced. The Father
who served his mass, thinking he was distracted, wished to
recall him to the place again, and said the end of the verse
a second and a third time, but Alphonsus did not say a
word, he was in ecstasy. It was not till the Father had
shaken him several times, that he continued the psalm.

Though far from St. Agatha, the holy bishop had the
wants of his diocese before him every instant; and as he
wished to be informed of every thing, couriers arrived at
Nocera constantly, from his Grand-Vicar, the parish priests,
and others. One day he received as many as eight, to all
of whom he gave an answer, so that one matter was hardly
ended, when he began another.

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

He had been barely a month at Nocera, when he heard
that a person, who, for her disorderly conduct, had been
sent out of the diocese, was endeavoring to re-enter it.
This news tormented him so much, that without regard for
his health, he hastened his return, the prayers of the Fa
thers, and of his friends, being unable to retain him. "God
wills," said he, "that I should be at Sf. Agatha, and not at
Nocera, I have overwhelming scruples already." As he
had suffered a good deal during the preceding winter, from
coughs and affections of the chest, the doctors advised him
to reside at Arienzo, as it had a better climate; he yielded,
but not without having, consulted F. Villani, as he had
scruples at leaving St. Agatha, where he had his cathedral,
his chapter, and what was of more consequence to him,
his seminary. "I wish to have your opinion," he wrote
to him, "to take away- my fears." F. Villani, as well as
bishops Borgia and Volpi, and others whom he had con
sulted, also wished him to banish every scruple, and go to
Arienzo.

When his health was re-established, he recommenced his
visitation. F. Villani forbade him to make use of his straw
bed during the visitation, in consideration of his age and
infirmities, and the numerous maladies which had ex
hausted his strength. Alphonsus obeyed, but this submis
sion cost him a great deal when he had no fever, for then
he thought, that he enjoyed too good health ; and he was
scarcely recovered, when he recommenced his penances
and macerations, but not without the sanction of his direc
tor, so he wrote to F. Villani, on the 28th October: "I
have not slept on straw again, but the milk diet has quite
restored me, and so if you will permit it, I wish to resume

the straw bed I have begun to wear the chains on

the part where the old blisters" (new ones had been ap
plied) "have been taken away. I beg for your blessing."
And in another letter : " I have only taken .boiled meat at
dinner, till now, leaving the first dish untouched ; but as I
am obliged to eat only once a day, I have consulted F. Ma-
jone, and he has told me to take a second dish. In case

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 273

the boiled meat is sufficient, I wish to ask your Reverence,
as my principal director, to allow me to eat the bouilli only.
If you do not approve of my request, I will submit to your
decision."

Alphonsus' mind was agitated by painful anxieties, at
this time. Every day he heard of the great number of evil
books, which spread their contagious influence in Europe,
and particularly in France, and were clandestinely intro
duced into Italy by the librarians, who spread them in the
provinces. He was constantly protesting against these
works at the court, and entreated the Marquises of Marco,
and Tanucci, to forbid the importation and sale of them.
He enforced on confessors, and preachers, the duty of in
spiring a horror of such reading, and especially commanded
this to be done, by his missionaries, and those who went
through the provinces. Basnage's abominable book, af
flicted him very much. He would have liked to enter the
lists against this dangerous writer, but being prevented from
so doing, he manifested to F. de Meo, his desire to see him
abor, to refute his errors, at least, as to matters of religion.
He was again attacked on account of his Moral Theology,
by Fathers Patuzzi, and Gonzales. "Let them do as they
please," he replied on the 7th of January, 1766, to F.
Sapio, of the Oratory, who had apprised him of it, " I did
not write to gain honor, but only to make truth known. If
what I have written is convincing, it is well ; if otherwise,
I do not wish to be victorious by obstinacy .... I re
gret, that the learned have a prejudice, that he who does
not write to defend tutiorism, so in fashion in our days, is
not well informed. The ultramontane party has spread in
many Catholic countries, it triumphs, and souls go to their
ruin. Let us pray to God to put a stop to this. A book
has been published, entitled, 'The Realization of the pro
ject of Boury-Fontaine,' which shows the Jansenists' in
tention of overthrowing the Church. This book is im
portant, your Reverence must procure and read it." He
also was transported with zeal, against the sect of the Free
masons. "JThis sect," he said, with tears in his

274 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

" will cause evil, not only to the Church, but also to king
doms and sovereigns. Kings do not attend to them, but
they will recognise their fatal negligence, when too late.
Free-masons act against God at present, and the,y will soon
attack kings." Besides addressing a great number of letters
to the members of the regency, established at Naples after
King Charles III, had quitted that town, he also wrote to
Cardinal Sersale, to engage him to use all his influence,
in order to free Naples, and the provinces, from this abomi
nable sect. He composed his great work, on The Truth of
Faith, at this time, against the unbelievers of modern times.
And as the infallibility of the Pope was then also attacked,
and questioned, particularly by the defenders of the decla
ration of the Assembly, in Paris, in 1682, he undertook to
refute them, in a treatise, which he published, under the
title of "Reflections onvthe declaration of the Assembly of
Paris, on the subject of the infallibility of the Sovereign
Pontiff."

Another thing caused him much sorrow, and that was
the storm raised up throughout Europe, against the Jesuits.'
He wrote to the F. Provincial de Mattei, as follows: "I
have not received any tidings about the affairs of your so
ciety : I feel almost as much uneasiness, as if it related to
our Congregation. A society is menaced, which one may
say, has sanctified the world, and which continues, unceas
ingly, to sanctify it." "The Jansenists, and all innova
tors," he said, on another accasion, "would like to anni
hilate it, in order to overthrow the bulwark of the Church
of God. Against such enemies, where shall we find
vigorous champions, such as those which the company of
Jesus alone can train up?" When Pope Clement XIII,
issued a bull, by which he confirmed the company anew,
Alphonsus was full of joy, and felt that he must write to the
Sovereign Pontiff, to thank him, which he did, in a letter,
dated the 19th of June, 1765, to which the Pope answered
most affectionately.

Amidst these labors and anxieties, he did not forget his
own little Congregation. He wrote a circular, dated

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 275

the 27th of August, in order to stir up a daily increasing
fervor, from his great wish to see it become more and more
perfect. He cherished this work as the apple of his eye,
and the smallest spot which he observed in it, afflicted him
deeply, and always appeared to him considerable. "I per
ceive with sorrow," said he, in the exaggeration of his feel
ings, " that fervor is much decayed amongst the subjects of
the Congregation, and I beg each of you to watch over
himself attentively for the time to come, because I cannot
suffer any relaxation in the rule during my life. I am told
that there is very little inclination for poverty and mortifi
cation. Ah ! have we then entered the Congregation to
enjoy our ease, and to exclaim against pain ? . . . I hear
also, that obedience to Superiors is lessened; if obedience

ceases, the Congregation will not survive it Lhave

told the F. Vicar-General, D. Andrew Villani, to punish
public faults by public mortifications, and to expel such as
shall show themselves to be incorrigible. The Congrega
tion has no need of subjects : it only seeks for those who
wish to become saints. It is enough for it, if ten remain,
who truly love God. It is being too ungrateful towards
God, to repay him, for the love with which he protects the
Congregation, by failings and neglects. Do we wish to
become like so many others, who cause the Church scan
dal, rather than edification ? I have told F. Villani, that
his government is too weak and mild, and that, for the
future, I wish to be better informed of all that occurs of an
important nature Above all, it is necessary to mor
tify ourselves and to please God, otherwise God will not
aid us, and we shall preach in vain. I bless you all, I
mean, all those who are well-intentioned ; if there are
others, I do not curse them, but God will curse them, and
will expel them from the Congregation,"

276 LIFE OP ST. ALPttOKStTS.

CHAPTER X X 1 1 Im.

JLlphonsus seeks to resign the Episcopate. He establishes at
St. Jlgatha a Convent of Nuns. His great Solicitude in
conferring Holy Orders, in giving Jurisdiction to Confes
sors, and in choosing Subjects for Parishes and Benefices.

A LREADY, in the year 1764, Alphonsus had thought of
JLJL resigning the burthen of the episcopate, as he had
been told, when he was nominated bishop, that circum
stances required he should accept, and that he could re
nounce it afterwards; the Pope had then answered him
that he must not think of quitting his diocese, but that ill
and infirm as he was, he should govern it. But his infirm
ities increasing daily, he thought of it again this year, and
asked the opinion of several enlightened persons, in order
to be sure of the will of God in regard to it. Amongst
others, he consulted Mgr. Borgia. This prelate approved
of his resolution, but his reasons did not satisfy Alphon
sus, nor give rest to his conscience. He wrote to F. Vi!-
lani on the 14th of January. 1765, " . . .At present I beg
you again to speak before your departure to D. Janvier
Fatigati, and to the Fathers Alasio, Porcara, and de Mat-
teis. The principal reason for my resignation must not be
the desire for retirement, as Mgr. Borgia says, for this
cause is rejected in the chap. Nisi de Renuntiat, but it
ought to be, my advanced age, for I shall enter my 70th
year in September, and besides my usual affection of the
chest, I was almost constantly ill during the winter, last
year ; this year, I may say, I have been so even till now.
I have been confined to bed, with asthma, for upwards of
a month. It is true, (for I must tell all, to prevent scru
ples,) that I continue to attend to business, and that every
thing is done as usual ; but as long as winter lasts, I am un
able to go about on visitation, or to assist in the choir. In
summer, as I am then free from my malady of the chest, I
go through my diocese, during three or four months. I

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 277

feel forced to ask for my dismissal, for I have a host of
scruples, at seeing the dissatisfaction that arises from scan
dals of which I am a witness, and which I ought not to
tolerate. I tremble most from the fear, that I have sought
for my own ease in this resignation, and not God's glory:
this is why I wish to be sure as to what will really conduce
to the glory of God." In another letter he said : " I wish that
my conscience should be free from a load of disquietudes;
I meet with many things to disgust me, but I hear it said
to me, ' Si diligis me, pasce oves meas,' and it matters little,
whether I die or succumb. The uncertainty I am in, not
knowing whether I am doing the will of God or not, in giving
in my resignation, is a greater anxiety to me than all the rest."

Having taken all these opinions, (Fathers Alasio and
Poscara having coincided with Mgr. Borgia,) he resolved,
at last, to represent his age and infirmities to the Pope in
a simple manner, to propose his resignation, and to leave
the decision with his Holiness. The Pope was entirely
opposed to the holy bishop's wishes, and Cardinal Negroni
answered him, in a letter of the 18th of June, 1765: ". . . .
The Holy Father thanks God for the great good which you
have effected by His aid until now, and he is persuaded
that you can continue this good by your authority, your
direction, and your example, even should your malady
become still more serious, and should your physical weak
ness become still greater His Holiness charges me

then, to reply to you, and to encourage you, in his name,
to cast aside every scruple on this subject, to be in perfect
tranquillity of mind, and to persevere in your vocation,
which is most certain, laboring for the good of the souls
which are entrusted to you, and for the glory of God, who
will assuredly grant you all needful succor."

At the request of the saintly old man, Cardinals Spinelli
and Rossi, and Mgr. de Simone, who was Auditor, had
supported his request to the Pope, but he answered: "His
shadow alone would suffice to govern the whole diocese."
Alphonsus did become tranquil, and was content, even if
he had to die under the burthen. In the midst of all these
24

278 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

anxieties, quite a mysterious circumstance happened to
him. From the 1st of June, 1765, he, as well as those
who were near him, heard a great number of little blows
from the cross he wore at his neck, every time lie said
the Rosary. They examined to see whether there was
some insect there, and made other searches, but they could
discover nothing. As soon as he had received the answer
of the Pope, the little blows were heard no more. He
concluded that there had been a mystery therein, and that
God had wished him to understand that he ought to con
tinue to bear the cross with which he had been charged.

At this time Alphonsus succeeded in establishing at St.
Agatha, a convent of the nuns of the Most Holy Redeemer.
The want of such an institution, wherein young ladies of
high family could receive their education, or consecrate
themselves to God, was regretted, but no one had yet been
able to supply it. The work had been attempted several
times during two centuries, but all the plans had remained
imperfect. Alphonsus took it in hand and succeeded
gloriously. All the other obstacles having been removed,
one still remained ; there was no sufficient revenue. Al
phonsus fortified himself by trust in God, and managed so
well that he obtained from the Pope an annual subsidy of
ninety-seven ducats, on the ecclesiastical chapels, and a
rent of twenty-five ducats from the King, on the lay
chapels. The town granted fifty ducats annually for ten
years, which being added to the four hundred and twenty-
two which the church he had chosen for this establishment
already possessed, formed an income of six hundred and
ninety-four ducats, which, together with the portions, was
sufficient for the support of the convent. He caused the
buildings to be repaired ; it was an old convent, built a
century and a half before, but now abandoned, and des
tined to lodge the soldiers who might come to St. Agatha;
he went to the spot nearly every day to encourage the
workmen and hasten the work, saying : " Who knows how
much longer I may have to live." He arranged that the
religious from the convent at Scala should come there as

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 279

foundresses, and the Pope permitted him to instal them in
the new cloister, in the month of June, 1765. Sister Mary
Raphael of Charity, whose sanctity was well known, was
chosen to preside over the beginning of this convent; she
was accompanied by two other choir-sisters and one lay-
sister. Mother Raphael had the consolation of receiving
two recruits on the road, the daughters of the family of
Speltri de Vitulano.

Alphonsus, filled with joy at the arrival of the religious,
persuaded the people to adorn the gates of the town with
magnificence and to ornament the streets with wreaths of
myrtle, rosemary, and boughs of trees. He advanced, in
his pontifical vestments, at the head of the chapter and of
all the clergy, to meet them at the cathedral door, while
the firing of cannon and the ringing of the bells testified
the joy of the inhabitants. After having adored the Blessed
Sacrament, they went in procession to the new church of
the convent, where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed and
the Te Deum solemnly chanted, during which the foun
dresses took possession ofthe convent. Alphonsus had taken
care to provide every thing which was wanted for the
nuns. He sent eatables, already prepared, to the new
comers, for the first eight days. He wished to continue to
do so for a month, but the nuns dispensed him from it,
wishing to live in the poverty prescribed by their rule.
When the new foundation made under the auspices of
Bishop Liguori became known in the province, as well as
the great regularity which existed there, and, above all, the
holiness of its foundresses, the convent was soon filled with
pupils from St. Agatha, Arienzo, and Naples.

Soon, two pupils determined to take the novices' habit,
with the two recruits mentioned above, and Alphonsus
gave them the exercises ofthe retreat. One of them began
to be tormented by melancholy in such a degree, that full
of regrets, she unceasingly wept and sighed for her father's
house. One evening, after the meditation, Alphonsus
called her to the grate, encouraged her, and succeeded in
restoring her serenity; he then gave her a crucifix to kiss,

280 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

and made her promise to take Jesus Christ for her spouse;
the young lady immediately experienced a complete change,
she returned gaily to the noviciate, and from that time was
freed from all thoughts of regret. He did not exercise the
same compassion towards another pupil : "We must dis
tinguish," he said, "between temptation and obstinacy."
The one of whom we speak, repented of the step she had
taken, and lived in a manner little edifying, thus doing harm
,t© herself as well as to others; though she was archdeacon
Rainone's neice, Alphonsus silenced all human respect,
and sent her back to her parents.

The two young pupils who had joined the religious on
£he road, were the objects of his peculiar kindness. These
young ladies' two brothers were dissatisfied with the part
they had taken, and for several years refused to pay their
pension. His Lordship, aware of the distress they felt,
paid it for them, and amongst other things, supplied thirty
measures of corn to the convent: the brothers gave up
their opposition, in the end, and they received their portion,
and made their profession. Alphonsus, considering this
convent as his own work, continued to assist it as far as
possible, although he was himself in great poverty. He
gave fifty measures of corn to it yearly, and also a great
quantity of oil. He even went so far as to promise, that
he would maintain the four foundresses, as long as he lived.
He very often made them a present of from ten to thirty
ducats. He sent them their allowance weekly, whilst he
lived at St. Agatha, and let them have it at least monthly,
even when he resided at Arienzo. He sent them various
little treats on feast days; and when he received any pre
sents from his relations in religion, or others, he bestowed
the greatest part on the pensioners and novices.

The most formidable responsibility of the episcopacy, to
our saint, was, the imposition of hands. He required
learning and virtue from the young Levites. In one of the
regulations that he made for the good administration of his
diocese, he determined on the points on which the young
clerics ought to be examined. Those who received the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 281

tonsure, were obliged to give an account of Christian doc
trine, and to specify the different parts of meditation which
are necessary to reap fruit from it. Those for minor or
ders, had to know the matter and form of orders, all that
appertains to the sacraments, and the Latin grammar.
Those for the subdiaconate, had to know the treatises on
oaths, vows, canonical hours, censures, as well as on what
belongs to orders. Those for the diaconate, the treatises
on conscience, laws, human acts and sins, as also the trea
tises on the theological virtues, on religion and its opposite
vices, and on simony. Those for the priesthood, had to
repeat, besides the things which relate to this holy order,
that which they had already known before, and to know the
treatises on the eucharist, the sacrifice of mass, on pe
nance, extreme unction, and marriage, with all that belongs
to the commandments of God, and of "the Church.

He presided over the examinations in person, and caused
all the examiners to assist thereat, as also the other candi
dates to be present, both to instruct them, and also to show
them that there was no partiality, for he always acted as a
father, rather than as a superior, speaking to them with so
much kindness, that, far from disconcerting them, his pre
sence inspired them with courage. When he reprimanded,
he always did it in a way to encourage the subjects to study,
and promised that he would not delay in comforting them.
The dean told him, that he ought at least to make them
stand, during the interrogatories. Alphonsus replied : "I
am a father, let us not forget what it is to be examined."
A deacon, who had been sent away several times, present
ed himself at the examination again, but, in spite of the
efforts made by one of the examiners, to cause him to pass,
by suggesting the answers, he could not succeed. "My
son," said Alphonsus to him, " I can do nothing more in
this, study well, and with application, and I will ordain
you by-and-by." This cleric was the nephew of a priest,
whom he esteemed greatly. He came to see him, and Al
phonsus let him see how much he was distressed. "For
give me," he said, "for I am myself distressed about your
24*

282 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

nephew; forgive me for the love of God. for my conscience
does not reproach me at all. Ask canon Wichella, with
what charity we treated him." Another time, a young
man of excellent conduct, was attacked by a pain in the
chest, which prevented him from learning the treatise, "de
censuris." When he presented himself for examination
for the priesthood, he was found wanting. "The rules are
made to be observed," said Alphonsus to him, " not
merely to be posted up in the sacristy." But when the
parish priest, whose pupil the young man had been, as
sured him that he was well acquainted with the other mat
ters of examination, his lordship listened to him, and finding
that this was really the case, he made no further difficulty
in admitting him.

Of all the orders, the subdiaconate, as being the first of
the major orders, was the one which caused most embar
rassment to the young men, as well as to Alphonsus him
self. One priest has affirmed, that he was kept sitting
during five hours, at an examination for the subdiaconate.
The seminarists themselves, who had already given proofs?
of their capacity, in examinations undergone in the semi
nary, in his presence, were still obliged to go through the
usual examination before entering into holy orders. If
one of these latter were found wanting, and wished to
trust to the indulgence of the examiners, imagining that
his attending the course of lectures would supply the place
of the rest, Alphonsus immediately overthrew his hopes.
" I wish," said he, "the thing done, and not the thing to be
done, and in this matter I know of no future tense in my
grammar, I know only of the past tense."

From the time of his arrival in the diocese, he had de
clared, by an edict, that no one need hope to obtain orders
or benefices through influence, and that to manifest such
a disposition, would be sufficient cause for being excluded,
and declared unworthy. The real qualities of the candi
date, and the testimony of respectable persons, were the
only claims which prevailed ; if these were wanting, the
case was desperate. A gentleman tried to make him or-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHCmSUS. 283

dain a subject whom he loved, believing Alphonsus would
be satisfied with his testimony, and attempted to persuade
him with many plausible reasons, on which he enlarged for
an hour. Alphonsus listened to him with immoyeable pa
tience ; at last, when the gentleman had exhausted the
matter, and thought he had gained his cause, Alphonsus
asked him if he had said all. " I think," replied the gen
tleman, "that I have wearied you long enough." "Well,
that may be," answered Alphonsus, smilingly, "but ima
gine that you have spoken to a dead man." "What do
you mean by that?" replied the gentleman. "A dead
person," answered Alphonsus, "could not reply to you.
Well, no more can I." Alphonsus had a serious reason
for rejecting the candidate, and therefore endeavored to
extricate himself in this manner.

The Prince della Riccia, also tried to induce him to
admit one of his tenants to the subdiaconate, whom he had
previously rejected. "My most honored Prince," -he an
swered him, "I beg you to pardon me for not doing your
pleasure, because in conscience I cannot do it. It is a
thing which could not be done, without injury to my soul,
and I was not made a bishop in order to damn myself."
The prince was edified by this proof of zeal and apostol
ical firmness, and promised not to disquiet the tenderness
of his conscience by similar requests again.

Those candidates for holy orders, who presented them-
elves with dismissory letters from their bishops, were also
obliged to give proofs of their learning, in order to be ad
mitted to ordination. A young man having been sent by
the bishop of Caserte, Alphonsus did not admit him with
out making him undergo an examination. The bishop, in
retaliation, caused a cleric, whom Alphonsus had sent to
him when he himself was ill, to be examined also. This
caused dissatisfaction at St. Agatha, but Alphonsus said :
"If he has acted so, he has done his duty." The regulars
were obliged to pass through the same ordeal, in spite of
the dismissory letters of their provincials. In order to make
the thing agreeable to them, he sent for two fathers be-

284 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

longing to their order, and caused them to examine them
in his presence; but if there was no monastery of the
order in the neighborhood, he examined them himself, as
sisted by his grand-vicar, and a canon. Once, when he
was administering holy orders, at the moment he was going
to officiate, the master of ceremonies told him that a young
religious had just arrived. "That is very Well," replied Al-
phonsus, "but he must be examined." He sent for him,
and told him that he was going to question him; the young
man replied, that he had already been examined by his
provincial. " I am quite persuaded of that," said Alphon-
sus to him, "but it is I who must impose hands on you,
and not the Father Provincial ;" and as he was firm in ex
acting the examination, the young religious thought he had
better not expose himself to it, so he took of£ his surplice,
and departed. k-

Alphonsus wished the candidates to present certificates
of good conduct, at least a month before the ordination,
and all at the same time, in order to have facility in making
his secret investigations in case of need. In order that the
parish priests should only give sincere testimonials, he re
presented the duty of so doing, very strongly to them. He
was not contented with a simple attestation, but wished
they should testify, on oath, that the candidate had not
failed to assist at church, on any Sunday, or day of obliga
tion; that he had assembled the little children, and taught
them the catechism; that he had confessed, and communi
cated, at least, every fortnight; that he had not been seen
without a cassock ; that he had never played at cards ; and
that he had never engaged in any kind of sport. He was
especially severe towards young men who had studied at
Naples. He used every method to be sure of their merits,
and never seemed satisfied ; he inquired of the master under
whom they had studied, and asked if they had been dili
gent in following the lectures ; what persons they had visit
ed, and if they had avoided games and theatres ; above
all, he wished to know if they had often received the
sacraments, and assisted at the congregation of foreign

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 285

clergy, every Sunday. He never decided, under a consi
derable time, and did not neglect to charge some friends at
Naples, to furnish him with the most exact information
about them.

If, after all this information, he was not entirely satisfied
as to the conduct of the candidate, he was refused at once.
Thus he refused to receive a young man to minor orders,
though his conduct was very exemplary, because he some
times conversed with a suspected priest. He had no
more pity for another seminarist, who was several times
excluded from orders, as being little studious, and little
edifying; and who, despairing of entering into favor with
the prelate, laid down the clerical dress, and quitted the
seminary. A deacon having walked about during the
night, in company with some singers with whom he had
amused himself, Alphonsus refused to make him priest, at
which the young man shed tears, and got several persons
of distinction to intercede for him, but all was useless. A
cleric in minor orders, was refused, for a number of years,
without being able to be made a subdeacon, because he
was fond of wine, although he protested that he had put
himself on a regimen of water; nor was he permitted to
stay in the seminary. The young man went to another,
but in spite of the good testimonials of his new director,
Alphonsus always remained inflexible. In order to be sure
of his amendment, he made him return to St. Agatha, and
did not ordain him until he was convinced of his constant
temperance. He who did any thing to cause a shadow of
suspicion with regard to purity, was obliged to renounce
all hope of ever being a priest; he was not only excluded
from orders, but was also obliged to give up the clerical
habit. With all this solicitude, Alphonsus had, notwith
standing, two misfortunes to deplore, in regard to ordina
tion. The first was, in regard to a deacon he found in the
seminary at his arrival at St. Agatha, who was so distin
guished in his studies, that he solved the most difficult
questions in theology and philosophy; but Alphonsus
heard that he was addicted to wine, and from that time he

286 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

determined not to admit him to the priesthood. Some per
son of distinction interfered, but without success. After
several years, the parish priest, and other ecclesiastics of
the chapfer, again endeavored to speak in his favor. Al-
phonsus resisted for a long time, but at length he could
not refuse to yield to the numerous reasons they gave, to
assure him of his amendment. " I consent to ordain him
priest," said he, "but he will enjoy the dignity but a short
time, he will fall back into sin, and die miserably." The
deacon was made a priest, but in a little time he took to
drinking again. Alphonsus grieved over this ; he sent for
him one day, and said to him, before his parish priest: "If
you do not give up drinking, woe will be to you ! Wine
will be your ruin." A year after this prediction, the in
corrigible man got drunk again, and fell into a ditch, where
he lost his life. The other case was that of another dea
con, who had been excluded from the priesthood for several
years, as he did not appear to possess the requisite disposi
tions. An ecclesiastic of merit tried to overcome the
bishop's repugnance, and represented to him this deacon's
regularity in frequenting the sacraments, and his retired
and constantly exemplary life. Alphonsus was prevailed
on, but he had scarcely ordained him, before his conduct
became a source of continual scandal to the diocese ; he
was soon thrown. into prison, but he broke his irons, and
banished himself.

He required that those who were to be admitted to holy
orders, should also present proofs of a suitable patrimony.
He wished them to have five hundred ducats, free from any
burden. He examined into the property, as well as the
rental, himself, and if the income of twenty-four ducats was
not clear, he rejected the case.

Alphonsus was neither too easy nor too cautious in or
daining new clerics, but he admitted all in whom he recog
nized a real vocation. "It is not our business," said he,
" to call any one to this holy state, nor to reject him from
it; it is God who calls, and He does it as He pleases."
He liked to see young men eager to consecrate themselves

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. '287

to the service of the altar, and if they showed themselves
worthy of it, he was happy to receive them. He was par
ticular in observing the degrees of advancement, and only
granted a dispensation in cases of necessity. Above all,
he never consented to give a dispensation, on account of
age, unless there was a real necessity, and for a subject of
most exemplary conduct. He attached, also, great im
portance to the spiritual exercises before ordination, re
garding them as the only means of instructing young men
in their duties, but he did not allow them to be gone through
in a religious house of relaxed observance. He wished them
to perform them in one of the houses of his Congregation,
or of the Fathers of St. Vincent of Paul. And if he knew
any one who was really poor, he himself paid the neces
sary expenses.

On the day of ordination, Alphonsus was in the habit of
assembling the young men in the chapel, beforehand, and
of giving them a sermon on the greatness of their state,
and their obligation to live in it holily ; moreover, during
mass, he usually gave them a little exhortation, in order to
excite them to receive holy communion with fervor, and he
did it with so much unction, that it caused the candidates
and spectators to shed tears.

Alphonsus, fully convinced of the wants of the diocese,
desired to have the new priests, not only of good character
and well instructed, but also truly disposed to aid souls,
and to cause religion to be honored. " I do not try," said
he, to the examiners, "to approve the candidates, simply
that they may be able to say mass, for masses will not be
wanting, but in order to have useful workmen for the
Church. I wish that, after having ordained them, they
may be capable of hearing confessions, and of serving me
in time of need, not only in the parishes, but also in the
monasteries; and that they may be capable of serving in
the missions, and attending to all the wants of my diocese."
He himself instructed all the candidates, as to the manner
of hearing confessions, and gave them methods of con
duct to be used towards habitual sinners, towards the back-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

sliding, and towards those who were living in occasions
of sin. When he noticed any among these young
priests, of very promising dispositions, he immediately
managed to place them as curates. Having found two
deacons whom he judged fit to receive the priesthood, and
to hear confessions, but, who were poor, and still under
the required age, he obtained a dispensation for them, at
bis own expense.

He gave no one power to celebrate his first mass, if he
were not, beforehand, assured that he knew even the mi
nutest rubrics. " When a person begins in a bungling
manner," said he, " he never gets right again." He often
made young clerics celebrate in his presence. Neither did
he allow the first mass to be an occasion of feastin^ and

O

worldly rejoicing; he even forbade the giving of extraor
dinary repasts at that time, and the inviting of strangers to
them. "Wine has sway at table," he said, "and when
wine has sway, sin is not far off." He wished that the
young priest should preserve a state of recollection on this
day, in order to merit from God the plenitude of graces so
necessary in this sublime state. He called this day, that
of the solemn marriage of Jesus Christ with the soul, and
for this reason, he wished that the mass should then be
celebrated in a retired place. He urged, also, the newly
ordained priest to make a good preparation before cele
brating mass, and to excite in himself good dispositions
by repeated acts of faith and charity, so that he might wor
thily handle so awful a mystery, and recommended him,
moreover, not to leave the church without making his
thanksgiving. "By the acts which precede," said he,
" above all, by those of contrition, the vessel is emptied
and purified ; and by the acts which follow, it is filled with
the gifts of grace." As he detested all precipitation in
saying mass, so he equally condemned lengthiness, which
is always wearisome to the people. "A mass," said he,
" which exceeds half an hour, creates weariness, and not
devotion in those who hear it." And he was in the habit
of adducing St. Philip Neri's example, who prescribed this

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 289

rule, to himself, when he celebrated in public. He ex
horted them also, to recite the office without hurrying it
over. "Mass and the office," he said, "will sanctify us if
we go through them as we ought; but they will destroy us,
or deprive us of very great graces, if we perform them ne
gligently." Such were, among many others, the measures
which Alphonsus took, in order to have well instructed
and edifying priests, who might save the people, and con
sole the Church.

Alphonsus was very careful and prudent in giving an ap
probation to new confessors. The examination, however,
was not rigorous, but was conducted with a wise degree of
slowness; it was sometimes prolonged for several weeks,
during which the subject was obliged to return very often,
and to undergo new interrogatories each time. He caused
all the questions to be published, and they filled twenty-
four pages. If he saw that one was weak and hesitating,
he put him off to another time. At times, several were
found to be capable who did not receive their powers, or
at least, only on condition of returning after two or three
months. When the parish priests, or others, came to ask
him to give a priest the faculty to hear confessions, saying
that their parish was in want of confessors, he admitted no
one to examination, without being informed whether he
was a man of prayer ; whether he made his thanksgiving
as he ought after mass, whether he ever failed to visit the
Blessed Sacrament every evening, and above all, whether he
ever visited suspicious or dangerous people. If any doubt
remained on his mind, he was not even admitted to
examination.

He was not less severe with the regulars; so that when
a regular presented himself to obtain the faculties for con
fessing, the testimony of his provincial, and letters certi
fying that he had been a confessor in other dioceses, did
not in the least exempt him from the examination. A
newly elected abbot of a certain monastery, when he came
the first time to see Alphonsus, asked him for faculties for
two of his religious. Alphonsus begged to be excused, as
25

290 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

he could not acquiesce, without scruple of conscience,
before having had proofs of their capability. The abbot
insisted and entreated, but all was in vain. When he saw
such immoveable firmness, he had not the courage to ask
for jurisdiction for himself, and did it through the medium
of a person of influence, but this was without success ; he
was obliged to present himself in person. His lordship
acted, however, with prudence; he conversed with him
alone, and without formality, and proposed some doubts to
him, after the removal of which, he conferred the powers
on him. As to the two religious, they did not present
themselves, until after they had studied morals for a con
siderable time. When Abbot Pignatelli, who afterwards
became Archbishop of Bari and Capua, went to the abbey
of Ariola, Alphonsus, who did not know him well, replied,
when asked to give the abbot faculties for hearing confes
sion, that he could not*give them if the abbot did not pre
viously answer to the questions which he would put to him.
This offended the abbot; he came to visit Alphonsus how
ever, who treated him with every mark of attention, but
never spoke of the jurisdiction. The Grand- Vicar, at lastj
said to him, to do away with his scruples : " Suppose, my
Lord, that when the abbot comes again to visit you, we try
to make the conversation fall upon theology, and, if he
proves his capacity by his answers, you can give him juris
diction, without fear." Alphonsus agreed to the plan, and
put it in execution on the very next visit of the abbot, and
the result was completely in favor of the learned religious.
Abbot Pignatelli was able to appreciate Alphonsus' impar
tiality, and had the most sincere attachment to him from
that time. Alphonsus, on his part, was convinced of the
abbot's merit, and took a great deal of pains to cause him
to be nominated archbishop.

It may be said that Alphonsus was as prompt in with
drawing faculties for hearing confessions from those who
proved to be unworthy of them, as he was prudent in giving
them. Having heard that a religious, at Arpaja, was in the
habit of despising the poor, and occupying himself too

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 291

much with the direction of some devotees, he sent for him,
and immediately withdrew his powers. He also suspended
several others, and some he even expelled from his diocese.
Convinced of the importance of the duties of parish
priests, Alphonsus gave the most scrupulous attention to
their election. "A zealous priest," said he, "sanctifies
all his people, but an indifferent one does not preserve
the good, and can only do harm." He did not require
great learning in them, but wished that they should have a
sufficiency of information, and, above all, that they should
be versed in moral theology, and capable of instructing the
people properly. The concourses for the parishes always
took place in his presence, and he wished the examinations
to be made with severity, and urged the examiners to fulfil
their office faithfully, representing to them, how much he
sins who co-operates in the nomination of a parish priest
who is unworthy of his ministry. An admirable delicacy,
also, presided in these examinations. A priest was once
rejected by the examiners, for having followed authors op
posed to the system of Alphonsus. When he heard of
this, he said : "The authors whom he follows, are standard
and approved ones ; I have no authority to act as a law, in
matters of opinion ; every one is at liberty to follow his
own, when the Church has not condemned it." He thus,
undertook the defence of the priest, and the consequence
was that he obtained the benefice. At another time, a
living having become vacant, a deacon was the one who
answered the best among the candidates. Alphonsus wit
nessed it with satisfaction, but in consideration of the age,
and merits of a priest, who was also a candidate, he
begged the deacon to be patient for this time, and he spoke
to him with so much humility, that the young man was
quite confused at it. However, if charity made him give
preference to the priest, he did not wish the deacon's rights
to be neglected, and the Cathedral parish having become
vacant shortly after, the right of election to which belonged
to the chapter, Alphonsus immediately wrote to Arch-

292 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

deacon Rainone, to beg that, for his sake, the parish should
be given to the deacon, and his request was granted.

He always preferred sanctity to learning; moderate abil
ities and exemplary conduct were in his eyes sufficient to
make a good parish priest. "Those of great talents," he
said, "are more solicitous about the dead, than the living.
They are full of erudition and speculation only. If they
preach, they are not understood ; they do not lower them
selves to teach children, and will only instruct clerics. I
wish the priest to find pleasure in remaining with the dying,
;aml that he should be able to pass his time in talking to
•one of little capacity, while endeavoring to teach him the
Pater noster." He therefore chose subjects who proved
themselves humble and submissive, in preference to those
who set up for learned; provided, always, they were not
wanting in aptness for acquitting themselves of the func
tions of the ministry. .A holy man destitute of energy,
•or a man whose sanctity did not extend further than to
think of himself without anxiety for others, could not,
according to him, make a good parish priest.

He wished, from the first, to cause the livings to be con
sidered honorable, so as to have good occupants; and he
therefore raised the parish priests to the prebends. It may
be said, that, before his time, those who were candidates
for parishes, were only the priests who were thought least
of, among the clergy, and who, for the most part, were
distinguished in no way, and were of no rank ; but when
the parishes became as the ladders whereby to reach a
more elevated position, the first gentlemen labored to ob
tain them, and in this way the livings were administered
with zeal, and to the great advantage of souls.

The holy bishop was still more solicitous, when he had
to make the collation to benefices.* Even those which

* Although the diocese of St. Agatha was not so extensive, num
bering only 30,000 souls, yet, with the exception of that of Capua,
there was not one in the kingdom which had a greater number of bene
fices. Besides the chapter of the cathedral, there were in it six col
leges of canons. *

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 293

were simple, and without the care of souls, but which re
quired residence, caused him great anxiety. Not satisfied
with the good conduct of the subjects, he further wished
that they should have great merit, as regarded the Church
and the people. "The Church and the people," he said,
"are both interested in the collation of benefices." He
had a little book, wherein the names of the priests and
clerics of the whole diocese were inserted, with the merits
and demerits of each, so that when it was necessary to
make an appointment, he had usually no need of any
further inquiry. A nomination was made without delay ;
as soon as one incumbent expired, a successor was ap
pointed. When it happened that he could not decide im
mediately, because he saw good conduct counterbalanced
by some defect, or because he had several ecclesiastics of
equal merit, he took the opinion of impartial persons, and
then weighed the merits and demerits of each in the bal
ance of the sanctuary, and took the matter in considera
tion, several times, before God. On such occasions, he
went often through a real martyrdom, as Archdeacon Rai-
none, who enjoyed his entire confidence, has declared.
One day, Alphonsus said to him • " The anguish which the
death of this canon will cause me, is so great, that I would
willingly give my life for his ; the canon will only die once,
while I shall die more than a hundred times." He did
not confine himself merely to the town of St. Agatha,
when looking for a successor to one who was dead, but
searched throughout the whole diocese — and, for the same
reason, he never favored any stranger; he would have con
sidered it as an injustice to stand in the way of those of
his own diocese.

There is recorded an instance, in which Divine Provi
dence visibly interposed, as it were, in the nomination to
a vacant prebend. He had sealed the letter containing the
nomination, and the servant was all ready to take it, when
a violent storm came on, which kept him in the house,
and thus deferred its delivery. Alphonsus received a letter
from the archdeacon, during this interval, which informed
25*

294 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSU8,

him of the merits of another candidate. He directly look
back his own, destroyed it, and nominated the more worth)
competitor who had just been pointed out to him. How
ever, the merits of the second candidate -must have ap
peared to him incontestibly great, for, otherwise, he always
remained unmoveably fixed in his first determination.

From the time he had entered the diocese, he had de
clared, as we have seen above, that no one's influence was
to be used in order to obtain livings or benefices, and that
all the efforts of the sort which might be made would be
so many means of becoming unworthy of them; and,
during all the time that he was bishop of St. Agatha, he
never listened to the solicitations of persons even of the
highest rank. Merit was the only claim in his sight, and
even merit vanished when it sought the support of a pro
tector. Out of many examples on record, let the follow
ing suffice as an illustration of the strictness with which he
adhered to this rule. A prebend became vacant at Ari-
enzo, and Alphonsus decided on giving it to a priest who
seemed to surpass the others, especially because he was
the only one amongst the canons who had not got some*
one to intercede for him. He was ready to expedite the
nomination, when he saw him present himself with a letter
of recommendation from the Prince della Riccia. "God
forgive you," he then said to him, "I was determined to
give you the prebend, but since you have brought me this
letter, I have changed my mind, indignus quia petiisli."
He said to the prince, afterwards, that he hoped he would
not take his refusal amiss, since, if he gave such a prece
dent, he would open the way to other and scandalous in
trigues. He used to say, that recourse to recommenda
tions, and simony, were twin sisters, and that they had the
same devil for their father.

The Marquis of Marco, the king's minister, once wrote
to him, quite in a friendly manner, to beg him to confer a
living which was vacant, on a young ecclesiastic, whose
merits, he said, had caused him to take this liberty ; but
even this recommendation only served to throw discredit

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 295

on the protege. Another living became vacant, and a
priest induced another priest, whom he believed to possess
great influence with the bishop, to intercede for him ; he
wrote 1o tell his friend to ask it for him, for the love of the
Blessed Virgin, saying, that if he adopted this method, he
would certainly be heard, as the Saint never refused any
thing which was asked in her name : but as Alphonsus did
not consider him worthy to be appointed because he had
procured this recommendation, he replied: "Tell him
that I refuse to give him the living for the love of the
Blessed Virgin, for our Lady only likes what is good."
In several cathedrals, and even in the collegiate estab
lishments, they professed to consider the chaplains as
merely the prebendary's servants, which caused the latter
to look down on them, and to dislike seeing them raised
to their own dignity. Alphonsus, however, who only
thought of merit, was always ready to advance such of
them, as were worthy of it, to the prebendal stalls, so that
the situation of chaplain, being as a ladder whereby to as
cend to the prebends, became more honorable. The elec
tion of the chaplains of St. Agatha was made by the bishop,
and Alphonsus, in order to promote the greater good of the
Church, decreed that these situations should be the reward
of particular merit. As their office is to chant in the choir,
he established meetings for chanting; and in consequence,
all the clerics, in the hope of becoming chaplains, applied
themselves to the Gregorian plain chant, and the choir was
thus greatly improved.

The holy bishop, who had the Church's good and glory
alone at heart, obliged the canons to residence as strictly
as he had done in regard to priests, (as we have seen
above,) and was careful to prevent them from taking upon
themselves charges incompatible with their duties. A
chaplain was secretary to Count Cerreto, and only went to
the cathedral from time to time. A prebend became va
cant, and _he immediately entered the lists, confident that,
as the bishop was just, (so he said,) the prebend would be
thought due to him as being the oldest of all the chaplains.

296 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

He presented himself, and exposed all his claims. "You
are quite new to me," answered Alphonsus, "for I have
never seen you at church." "That is true," replied the
chaplain with a complacent air, "for I have had the honor
of being Count Cerreto's secretary fora number of years."
"Well," answered the bishop, " but why did not the count
make you a prebendary ?" Then he added, in a more se
rious tone: "You must either give up your situation as
secretary as soon as possible, and come and perform your
duties at church, or I shall cause you to be no longer a
chaplain." " Either quit your new employment," he said
to another, who was employed in an important charge
which prevented his frequenting the church, " or give up
being a prebendary."

Alphonsus' great impartiality and equity in giving bene
fices naturally displeased candidates of unjust pretensions.
He had a great deal to suffer on this account, and was
often put in dangerous positions in consequence. They
even went the length of insulting him, and saying before
his face ; " you are unjust, you have neither conscience nor
equity, you ought to blush at being a bishop." At such
speeches, Alphonsus was never either disturbed or dis
tressed. He pitied their anger, and never opened his
mouth except to bless those who cursed him. Such
rare goodness and meekness, however, did not always put
the unjust pretenders to silence. One individual, who had
been unable to get a prebend, to which he had aspired, got
angry with him in consequence, slandered him, and even
accused him with the king. The sovereign, who knew Al
phonsus' justice and impartiality, answered : "I can do
nothing; Bishop Liguori exercises his right as a bishop."
Another prebend became vacant about the same time, and
Alphonsus then forgot his injuries, and bestowed it on the
very man who had appealed against him. " If you give to
those who oppose you," F. Caputo then observed to him,
" you will have no peace, for the future." " That is true,"
replied Alphonsus, "but at the time of the first gift, I
thought the competitor more worthy than the appealer, and

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 297

at the second, I found that the latter was the most worthy."
As F. Caputo observed further, that people would think
otherwise, and believe that saying abusive things and ap
pealing against*him was the means of obtaining what they
aspired to, he answered: "Poor creatures, they do not
know what they wish for, and they try to get what they
can ; but for me, I ought to bear with them, and to do my
duty."

Another pretender, having failed, addressed a statement
to the king, filled with falsehoods against Alphonsus, whom
he designated as unjust. The accusation was sent to the
bishop, that he might justify himself; he did so, but so far
from seeking to injure his calumniator, he only tried to
excuse him. The man was not free from blame for other
causes, and people endeavored to get Alphonsus to bring
him to justice before his own tribunal ; but he not only re
jected the advice with horror, buT always treated this priest
with great kindness from that time. A prebend became
vacant after this, and Alphonsus, considering his merits
equal to those of another candidate, gave the preference to
him who had accused him. In another similar case, Al
phonsus was again not only loaded with injuries but also
accused with the king by the brother of the rejected pre
tender, a public notary, who designated him in his libel, as
a rebel against the royal will, asserting that he did not
make promotions, but let the parishes suffer, in order that
they might depend more on the Pope than on his majesty,
and asking, besides, that the canons and chaplains should
be no longer elected by the bishop, but by the people in
public assembly. When this appeal was given to Alphon
sus, in order that he might justify himself, he said : " It is
true that I cause suffering to the parishes, but all the rest
is false." After he had sent in his justification, the king
answered through the Marquis of Marco: "The king is
persuaded of the wisdom of your conduct, and he trusts in
your prudence in the appointments to livings." Alphonsus
again took a saintly revenge. One day, when a prebend was
vacant, he was, as usual with him at dinner, listening to

298 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

spiritual reading, and that part of the life of D'Innico Ca-
racciolo, cardinal and bishop of Averso, being read to him,
where it is said that he revenged himself for a great offence
on the part of a priest, by conferring a large benefice on
him ; at these words, he said to the reader: " Stop, and re
peat what you have just read." When this was done, he
sent for the Grand-Vicar, and said : " I have resolved to
give consolation to the notary ;" and he ordered him to
have prepared the necessary papers for conferring the pre
bend on the brother of the notary. When the Grand-Vicar
observed, that, as the king had not yet declared that he was
satisfied with his justification, it might be said that he had
been intimidated, he replied: "Oh indeed, are we then
obliged to attend to all that is said ? Let them think and
speak what they please; what concerns me is the notary's
soul, and not my own glory." And not being able to en
dure any delay, he sent for the notary, and said to him, as
if he had been his intimate friend, " send for your young
brother from Naples, I intend to make him a prebendary."
Another solicitor, whose pretensions were not complied
with, applied also to the king, and slanderously accused Al-
phonsus of a thousand evil things. One of the greatest
causes of offence alleged, was that he despised the episco
pal town, and overlooked its citizens in bestowing livings,
to give them to other inhabitants of the diocese. The king
having again given the accused bishop the power of justifying
himself and of replying to these accusations, he sent his
justification, in a very elaborate and erudite letter on the
ecclesiastical laws concerning the conferring of livings and
benefices, which was published, for the first lime, at the
period of our Saint's canonization.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 299

CHAPTER XXIV.

Alphonsus' solicitude for the Sanctification of Religious.
His zeal for the material Churches. The Congregation of
Jilphonsus is persecuted. He publishes two new works.
He goes to Naples for the defence of his Congregation.
How he exercises his zeal at Naples.

A LPHONSUS' zeal in laboring for the good of the min-
.11. isters of the altar, led him, also, to attempt to sanctify
the religious, who are more especially consecrated to God.
He wished that the ancient monastic regularity should be
revived in all the convents, and he tried, at least, to renew
their piety, and to prevent their falling into still further
decay. " If we succeed in this," he said, " it will not be
a trifling thing." In consequence, he sent for F. Villani
and other missionaries from Naples, at the time of his arrival
in the diocese, to give the spiritual exercises to all the mon
asteries, and he caused this to be repeated at least once every
year. The spiritual exercises were in his eyes the best
method, or rather, the only method for sanctifying souls.
11 A retreat is a fire," he said, " in which the most rusty iron
ought to become softened and purified." When he was at
Arienzo, he received and entertained the preachers in his
palace, in order not to cause any expense to the commu
nities. Moreover, he often seized opportunities of going to
visit one or the other of these convents in person, and spent
two or three days in preaching, at the grate, on the duties
of religious. He by this means caused them to love prayer
and mortification, and led them in the paths of the sub-
limest perfection.

He considered Nuns, in particular, as the most precious
portion of his flock, and, following the example of the
good shepherd, he neglected no method of saving them
from ravenous wolves. Open grates were to him as so
many thorns which pierced his heart: "A shut grate, and
a sanctified monastery," he said, " an open grate and a

300 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

relaxed convent." He enjoined the abbesses, and still
more the confessors, to watch over this point, and wished
to be informed of all disorders, in order to be able to
remedy them immediately; relations within the second
degree alone had access to the parlor. His vigilance and
pains in preventing any one from frequenting the con
vents, extended to those belonging to his own household.
He considered it a great fault for any one, under any pre
text, to violate the rule in this respect, the Grand-Vicar
alone was excepted. He dismissed, successively, two
secretaries from his service for this reason alone, saying,
" if the law is not observed by my own household, who
then will observe it?"

Alphonsus was also very prudent in his choice of con
fessors for the convents. No examination was enough to
satisfy him ; he weighed the gestures, the words, and
searched even into the opinions of the subject. He made
a new nomination every three years, and, if a lack of con
fessors compelled him to confirm the same, he only did so
with trembling ; when, on the contrary, he was able to re
place him, all the entreaties of the nuns could not prevail
on him to confirm the former one. Frequent conversation
with the religious at the grate, was a sacrilege in his sight:
" God speaks in the confessional," he said, f( but not at
the grate." He allowed the confessor to receive some
token of gratitude on certain days of solemnity, but he did
not suffer him to receive frequent presents, and they were
always required to be given by the whole community. He
was delighted to hear of any young pensioner who wished
to consecrate herself to Jesus Christ. He hastened to
assist at the ceremony, and left every other occupation for
the purpose. He also accepted every invitation for the
profession of even a lay-sister, never omitting to preach on
each occasion. He never required the least recompense,
on these occasions, or permitted any attention of the sort
to be paid to him. "A bishop," said he, "ought to have
no other recompense than is necessary to enable him to fulfil
the obligations of his ministry." On another occasion, he

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 301

said: "It is my privilege and it is my duty to consecrate
these victims of charity to God."

In order to give the religious every advantage possible,
he sent an extraordinary confessor to them, every three
months, without their asking for one. He thought, also,
that a new confessor ought always to be granted to a re
ligious, when she asks for it. He heard that the nuns of
a certain convent could only write to their ordinary con
fessor, through a regulation on that subject, which was in
force therein. He immediately sent for the Superior, and
desired that this rule should be relaxed, whenever any of
them wished to apply to any confessor of well known
probity.

In his zeal for the re-establishment of religious disci
pline, he wished to introduce living in community, in some
of the convents, at least, and chose for this purpose, one
in which he expected to find the least difficulty. But as
soon as he had informed the nuns of his project, they all
united against it, and as he saw that more harm than good
would result from it, he said: "Calm yourselves, I pur
posed it for your good, but as you judge otherwise, forget
all I have said about it." He had a maxim, that when re
ligious are not all agreed, the discontent of even one will
give birth to a party, and, that will cause disorders, and the
final ruin of the convent; so, far from being offended at
the opposition of these religious, he paid them quite a pa
ternal visit on the following day.

In another convent, the circumstances of the times, and
the severity of the rules prevented several points from being
observed. "What is the use of preserving a written rule of
one sort, if one practises another ?" said Alphonsus, and
he reformed the rule and caused it to be printed. He
acted like another Francis of Sales, in the reforms which
he made in these rules, with a rare wisdom, condescending
to every want and yet avoiding too great indulgence.

While he endeavored to ameliorate the state of the con
vents, he also tried to extirpate their abuses. It was the
custom among the Franciscans of Airola, that when a
26

302 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

young person was clothed or professed, she should remain
seated at the door during the rest of the day, to receive
the congratulations of her relations and friends. Alphon-
sus, wishing this day to be one of recollection and thanks
giving rather than of dissipation of mind, ordered, that
neither the door nor the grate should be opened after
dinner, but that the Blessed Sacrament should be exposed
in the church, in order that the new spouse of Jesus Christ
might then be able, in a special manner, to obtain abundant
blessings. Another abuse had been that the young person
dined in the parlor with her relations and friends, and it
was all arranged like any worldly entertainment. When
Alphonsus saw the preparations for this repast, on the day
the two daughters of a noble lady of St. Agatha made their
profession, he was indignant, and immediately ordered
them to be put an end to. The noble lady and the abbess
came to entreat, but he would not yield; the lady's em
barrassment was then represented to him, (for she had
invited relations and friends from various parts, and had no
house in the neighborhood in which she could receive
them,) and Alphonsus so far yielded to this consideration
as to consent to the repast taking place in the convent, but
on condition that the grate and the door should remain
shut, and that the keys should be placed in the hands of
the abbess.

Alphonsus was once present at the profession of a novice
in a convent of Arienzo ; at the instant when she was to
pronounce the formula of the vows, the master of the cere
monies asked him to pass his hands through the grate.
Alphonsus did not understand this mystery, and was at a
loss what to do, but as the canon insisted, and said that the
novice ought to place her hands in his whilst uttering the
vows, interpreting thus literally the direction of the ritual
that she should make the vows in the hands of the bishop,
he exclaimed : " Oh, Jesus ! Oh, Jesus! What has that to
do with the profession ? Let her keep her hands to herself,
and I will keep mine," and explaining the meaning of the
rubric, forever suppressed this strange ceremony.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 303

Figured music, although forbidden to religious by several
decrees at Rome, was quite in fashion in another convent.
Alphonsus forbade its use in this convent, as well as in
others, and prescribed the sole use of the Gregorian chant.
" The church is not a theatre," said he, " and religious are
no opera singers." He forbade anthems on festivals, with
still greater severity, and wished that, if they were ever
anxious to sing something extra, it should never be a solo.
They were, however, not over scrupulous in following these
orders. One evening, a nun was singing the Litany of the
Blessed Virgin to figured music, when Alphonsus suddenly
entered the church; the nun perceived him, and directly
commenced to sing it to the Gregorian chant. He seemed
not to take any notice of it at first, but when he came to
the grate, he said to the nun : " You wished to deceive me
just now, and that was not. right; I forbade it because I did
not think it proper. Light music is a decoy to young liber
tines, who do not hasten to it through devotion, but to hear
the nun who sings; and who does not see that she is thus
the cause of a number of disorders and sins?" Alphonsus
made two predictions in regard to singers in this convent.
They told him they wished to receive a lay-sister, a young
person who was a good musician, to teach plain chant to
the novices and young parishioners. " I grant your request, "
he replied, "but she will not persevere." And so it was;
the new lay-sister left the convent, a short time afterwards.
They solicited him again in favor of another, who also
understood music. "This one will not persevere any
better," he said with a smile, and the young novice re
turned home after a few months. "God evidently con
demns our duplicity," the religious then said, " since our
plans are found out by his Lordship," and they made a firm
resolution never to think of having any thing but Grego
rian chant for the time to come.

In some convents the entrance of little children was per
mitted, through an abuse. The Council of Trent forbids it,
and Alphonsus immediately confirmed this prohibition, and
caused it strictly to be observed.

304 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

He took still more pains to prevent the introduction of
new abuses, than to extirpate the old ones. The nuns of
a convent intended to make new windows, which would
open on the street, and which were to be furnished with
blinds; they asked permission from Alphonsus, but he re
fused it. Persons in authority interfered in their behalf,
but he let the nuns know, that if they did not desist from
their project they would displease him very much, because
he could not consent to an improper thing. The religious
then followed his advice, and took no further steps in the
affair. The Pope granted, from time to time, to cloistered
nuns, permission to absent themselves from the convent.
Alphonsus, knowing some in the diocese inclined to ask
for a similar dispensation, warned them to abstain from so
doing. "The Pope refers it to the Ordinary," he said,
•'and I will never consent to grant it, for I know what a
bad reputation these goings out have, and the very least
evil which results from them is a very great dissipation of
mind." Some nuns complained that he never granted
them any thing, and that they had met with three refusals
consecutively. "Let them ask me for things that are just
and right," he replied, "and I will take care not to refuse
them; but whenever they address unreasonable requests to
me, they must not expect to obtain any thing.

The material churches were no less the objects of Al
phonsus' solicitude than the living temples; and as all
that enhances the glory of God's house must be considered
amongst the objects of a perfect zeal, Alphonsus also sig
nalized himself in this respect, after the example of King
David. "I have loved, O Lord, the beauty of thy house,
and the place where thy glory dwelleth." — Psal. xxv, 8.
When he entered the diocese, he particularly aimed at in
creasing the magnificence of the churches, and he spared
neither labor, fatigue, nor expense, to attain this end. The
old church of St. Agnes, at Arienzo, was so much out of
repairs, that it was nearly in ruins; Alphonsus at once en
gaged the canons belonging to the chapter, to restore it,,
and so inflamed their zeal, that, soon, instead of a low and

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 305

mean looking building, an edifice of a noble elevation, and
with a beautiful roof, was obtained ; it was adorned also
with statues and other tasteful ornaments, which made the
church extremely beautiful.

The church of St. Stephen, also at Arienzo, was like
wise in a deplorable state. He caused it to be examined,
and ascertained the expenses for the necessary repairs, and,
as the incumbent had sold a felling of wood for three
thousand three hundred ducats, he sequestered three hun
dred ducats to be applied to the first third of the payment;
with that he repaired the roof, embellished the stucco of
the high altar, restored the pavement with taste, and made
a large window to remedy the dampness. The principal
church of St. Angelus was in a bad state, and presented
the appearance of a barracks rather than that of a temple of
God, and it would soon have fallen to entire ruin. Al-
phonsus endeavored to repair it, in spite of the complaints
of the incumbent, who cared more for his revenues than
for the restoration of the church. The restoration'of these
two churches was a work of time ; but our Saint made ar
rangements that the labors should continue after his resig
nation, and it is to his care, that the good state in which
they are now to be found is to be attributed.

At Ducento, the church of the Arch-presbytery of St.
Andrew had been in a state of abandonment and ruin for
a number of years, through the avarice and carelessness of
the incumbents; the arch-priest's house itself presented an
equally unsatisfactory appearance. All this, added to the
unhealthiness of the place, caused the rector of the church
to be almost constantly absent, and, in consequence, the
faithful of the parish to be neglected. Alphonsus was dis
tressed at this sad state of things, but could find no method
of remedying it, when the arch-priest offered his resigna
tion. He thought then that he ought not to nominate
another in his place, and he accordingly appointed a priest
to perform the duties, assigning him a convenient sum for
his support, and reserved the rest of the income of the living
for the repairs of the buildings, which were soon completed.
26*

306 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS,

The very large and spacious parish church at Majano
was so neglected that it looked more like a barn than a
house of prayer. It was said that there was no means of
repairing it; but Alphonsus, seconded by the worthy in
cumbent and aided by the generosity of the faithful,
changed this church into a real basilica, worthy to rank
with those which are admired in Naples and Rome.

He did not take less pains in beautifying the Cathedral,
although it was in a very good state. This church" is a
magnificent one ; thanks to the deceased Bishop Gaeta,
who, seeing the ancient Cathedral out of repair, had rebuilt
it entirely. Alphonsus found the roof injured in several
places, he immediately sent for experienced workmen, and
it was put in order; he effected, moreover, a great many
other repairs of this kind, without ever flinching from any
expense. He spent about four hundred ducats in em
bellishing the cross pillars^of marble, and the horns of plenty
of brass. The church had not yet been consecrated; Mgr.
Puoti, the bishop of Amalfi, hastened thither at his call, and
the consecration took place in the year 1763.

But there is a still more remarkable instance of Alphon
sus' zeal for the house of God. The village of St. Mary de
Vico, containing more than three thousand souls, was di
vided into two parishes, the two priests of which had to
exercise their respective functions in the same church,
which was, moreover, so small that it could not hold more
than three hundred persons. As soon as he saw such a
state of things, he immediately conceived the bold scheme
of building a church capable of holding all the inhabitants.
The priests wanted to form two distinct parishes, but he
feared that if too much were attempted nothing would be
done, and so he decided that there should be established
only one, as formerly. He held several meetings, in con
cert with the two priests, assembling the clergy and gen
tlemen of the place, and persuaded the two priests to
give up their tithes, which might have amounted to three
or four hundred ducats, for the benefit of the building; and
the parishioners promised to contribute an annual sum of

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 307

two hundred ducats towards it. Alphonsus, in consequence,
sent for two architects from Naples, and had prepared a
plan for a beautiful and spacious church. The two priests
would have liked to have had the whole of the needed
sum in hand, before commencing the building. "If you
mean to act thus," said Alphonsus to them, "you will
never obtain the desired end ; I wish the work to be com
menced at once, if it is not, the church will never be
finished." A committee of four ecclesiastics and four lay
men was formed, and the foundations were commenced.
Alphonsus went to the spot to look after it all himself; the
circumference of the church appeared to him to be still too
small to hold all the people during the time of a mission,
so he ordered them to enlarge it. He went full of joy, in
pontifical vestments, preteded by his clergy, to bless the
first stone of the edifice, in the year 1763. The generous
prelate contributed, himself, no small sum towards the ex
penses of the building. He had only ten ducats at first,
yet he furnished money for a work, the cost of which
amounted to more than fifteen thousand ducats; his faith
did the whole.

The people, encouraged by his magnanimity, aided in
the undertaking by spontaneous gifts; the two priests wrote
to tell him, that they would be satisfied with retaining,
from the two hundred ducats which had remained, only
enough for their sustenance, and from the surplice fees, the
surn requisite for the food and the clothing of a servant.
But troubles did not fail to come, for good things are always
opposed. The people grew cold, and as the tithes had
been prohibited for the sums they had promised, they ap
plied to the royal council for permission to give up contri
buting to the expenses. Alphonsus, however, was not at
all discouraged ; he related all that had happened to the
president of the council, D. Balthasar Cito, his friend, and
obtained leave for the tithes to be continued until the
building was finished, after which other measures could
be taken. He also triumphed over many other obstacles,
which only served to cause his courage and firmness to

308 LIFE OP ST. ALPHOKSUS.

be still more admired. He entertained the two architects
with their servants and horses at his palace at his own
expense, and obtained an abatement of four or five hun
dred ducats through their generosity. Through his in
defatigable energy, he conducted so great an undertaking
to a happy termination, and when he left the dioce.se, there
was nothing remaining to be finished but some stuccoing
and flagging.

Alphonsus had at heart the interior embellishment of the
churches, and the decency which becomes the house of
God, as well as the substantial construction of the build
ings. He especially wished the altars to be furnished with
suitable ornaments. " I have never seen a priest," said he,
"make use of dirty and worn-out linen at table: every
thing they themselves use is clean, and it is only for Jesus
Christ, that dirty things are allowed."

God never granted peace or repose to Alphonsus, but
unceasingly exercised him in resignation and patience.
The Congregation was in a flourishing state, but an enemy,
or to speak more justly, hell, was irritated at the success of
this work of God, and could not allow it to go on tran
quilly. A quarrel occurred, three years back, between those
belonging to the house of Iliceto, and Francis Anthony
Maffey, a man of great authority, which caused the greatest
difficulties to that house, as well as to the whole Congrega
tion. This person had become engaged in a dispute with
the people, about the fief of Iliceto ; the fathers, to avoid
evil consequences, wished to preserve neutrality, and ob
tained an exemption from the necessity of appearing at the
trial. MafTey got angry at their course of conduct, saying:
" he who is not for me is against me," and swore to extir
pate, not only the house of Iliceto, but the whole Congre
gation. Baron Sarnelli, at Ciorani, also felt a secret re
sentment against the fathers there, on account of some
property which his brother had bequeathed to Alphonsus,
and which formed the only support of this house. Till
then, the fathers had always been able to live in harmony
with him, though he had more than once brought forward

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 309

his designs, but an unintentional mistake, on their part,
caused him again to rise up against them. It so happened
that some mark of attention, in church, was omitted to
wards his wife, the baroness, and that was enough to cause
the rupture. Maffey seized on the opportunity of exciting
the baron, and he became very violent against them. After
the flame was once kindled, Maffey accused them, in direct
terms, of crimes, to the king, saying that they, to the scandal
of the public, had degenerated from what they were when
the institution was so much praised by his Catholic Majesty.
The minister's offices were daily besieged by letters and
claims, and there was not a court of justice in Naples which
did not receive some petition against them. The truth
only reached the king's ears by slow degrees, and adul
terated by falsehood.

Every one may see what grief all this opposition must
have caused to Alphonsus. He groaned over it, and
humbling himself before God, adored his righteous judg
ments. He was most moved at MafTey's animosity. " The
matter is more serious than you imagine," he said to one
of the Fathers. " If D. Maffey is offended, I grieve for the
poor house ! I know his disposition, and what he caused
the venerable Mgr. Lucci to suffer. May God deign to be
our Protector." He ordered fasts and prayers in all the
houses; he recommended that discretion and charity should
be exercised towards their adversaries, and, above all, that
nothing should be undertaken against them, even in self-
defence, and that recourse should be had to no other arms
than those of prayer and observance of the rule. But, not
withstanding, the flame gained ground daily; Alphonsus,
therefore,' in a circular to the members of the Congregation,
wrote: "Behold, my dear brothers, how the Lord has
visited us in sending us so many tribulations. sJlow . It
is our negligence in observing the rule which God now
chastises — let us hope in the mercy of Almighty God, who
will not permit the Congregation to be destroyed ; let us
now try to appease His anger by our prayers, and by avoid
ing all voluntary transgressions, especially that of disobedi-

310 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

ence, because in this respect there is no punishment which
we have not merited."

Maffey wished that the Fathers should be deprived of the
privilege of possessing the rights of citizens, by a sentence
of the supreme court, although he had already robbed them
of these rights as far as practice went. They were obliged
to appear before the royal council of Sommaria, to which
the king had referred the decision, in regard to some pre
tended claims of trifling value. The royal council were
greatly surprised at such grievances, and, finding that the
demand for depriving them of civil rights had been dictated
by a malicious spirit, they decreed, unanimously, on the
1st of January, 1767, that the members of the Congregation
should enjoy the same privileges as the other subjects be
longing to the kingdom. Disappointed in this manner,
Maffey had recourse to intrigue, and obtained access to the
royal council; and the procurator, allowing himself to be
prejudiced, forbade the Fathers to administer their pro
perty, and the little they possessed was entrusted to a
strange commissioner, named by Maffey. Alphonsus'
sorrow, on hearing these tidings, and on seeing his children
in such distress, may be well imagined. " Let us not cease
to pray," he wrote to them, "because all my hope is in
God;" and to F. Villani, he said: "Let us behave well,
and Jesus Christ will protect us ; He does not cease to give us
warnings, but if we prove unfaithful He will abandon us."

Things being in this state, Maffey tried by every possible
means, to prejudice against them the mind of the king and
his ministers, by false or exaggerated accounts and distorted
reports, and even by the calumnious accusation that they
had excited the people to revolt. And he succeeded so
well, that the suppression of the Congregation was spoken
of, as well as the chastisement which awaited its members.
The same miserable attempts were resorted to, at the same
time, at Ciorani. Their conduct was misrepresented; they
endeavored to find them guilty of offences against the
Sovereign and the state. They pretended to prove that
they led a scandalous life, and that they oppressed the peo-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSTJS. 311

pie. The Fathers had daily visits from constables and other
inferior officers. The work of the missions suffered very
much from these interruptions, to the great sorrow of the
missionaries, and of all good people.

Alphonsus grieved by such sad events, besides urging the
members of the Congregation to penance, and redoubling
his own mortifications, solicited the prayers of several mon
asteries and holy persons at Naples. He also sent a great
quantity of wax candles to the hermitage of the Camaldulese
Fathers, in order that they might expose the Blessed Sa
crament, and intercede for the Congregation with God, and
he repeatedly sent large alms to the Capuchin Nuns at
Naples, and got them to make novenas and other pious
exercises.

His children, fearing as to the result of the accusations
at Naples, asked him to go there himself. On this subject
he wrote to F. Villani, on the 7th of July, 1767, saying:
"I have not gone to Naples, but I have written to the
President, D. Cito, in a way that will be very efficacious.
If he does not protect me after that letter, a hundred visits
would be equally useless. I am prevented from going out,
by fever, which is constantly attacking me ; the doctors say
that the least chill or excessive motion might occasion a
relapse, and if I am not cured while summer lasts, there
is no chance of being so for the whole winter." Alphon
sus, however, was filled with confidence and security, when
the tempest was at his height, and, in spite of the peril to
which the little bark of his Congregation was exposed, he
reposed on the goodness of God, the innocence of his
sons, and the king's good disposition.

In this same year, 1767, while the Congregation was
thus persecuted, he published his great work for the defence
of the Catholic Church, called, " The truths of the Faith;"
in which he shows that the Church is of divine institution,
and that out of it there is no salvation. To this work, whilst
it was in press, he added two appendixes; the first was
against Helvetius, or rather against his book, entitled,
"The Spirit," which he refuted in two points: First, with

312 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

regard to physical sensibility, which Helvetius calls the
producing cause of our thoughts, and in the second place,
with regard to that other proposition of Helvetius, viz: that
pleasure and interest form the morality of man, that is to
say, that all which increases pleasure is honest, and all
which favors interest is just. The object of the second ap
pendix is to refute a French work, entitled, " De la Predi
cation," &c., in which the author attacks evangelical
preaching openly, and establishes a distinction between the
conversion of the mind and that of the heart, and main
tains that the first and not the second is effected through
preaching. Alphonsus demonstrates the impiety of this as
sertion.

This work was received with general applause; a canon
of the Cathedral of Naples, said of it in a report to Car
dinal Sersale ; "Nothing can hinder or slacken the zeal of
this apostolical man; in his devotion to the salvation of
souls, he enters into the lists with indefatigable courage
in order to maintain a generous combat for truth, notwith
standing the double burthen of the episcopate, and of ad
vanced age. One can see that he has purposed in this'
book to re-establish the integrity of faith and morals
amongst the faithful, to avenge the calumnies of the wicked,
and to scatter the darkness of error. He completely over
throws all the dreams of materialists, deists, and other
impious men." Pope Clement XIII was extremely grati
fied on reading our saint's work, and he replied to the
dedication, which had been addressed to him, by a brief,
dated August 4th, 1769, in which the Holy Father testified
his esteem for our bishop's learning in very flattering terms.

The ignorance which overspread the diocese, and the
wish to aid the people, led Alphonsus to compose an ex
tremely useful work, at this time, which he published under
the title of "Instructions on the precepts of the Deca
logue, in order that they may be properly kept; and on the
sacraments, in order that they may be rightly received."
This treatise is short, but its great utility caused it to be
highly prized, especially by the parish priests.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 313

The disturbances in regard to the two houses of Iliceto
and Ciorani went on increasing, and as the storm became
more and more alarming, the Fathers of the Congregation
redoubled their entreaties to Alphonsus, to go to Naples in
person, in order to hold a conference with the Marquis
Tanucci. On this occasion he wrote to F. Villani:
"Tanucci has had an interview with Mgr. Albertini; if he
has not attached faith to this prelate's words, he would be
still less disposed to believe me, who am an interested
party. If I see that I can be of any use, I will not fail to
exert myself, .... and you ought never to fear that I
shall neglect the least thing which I may know would be of
use to the Congregation." F. Villani then went to see
him, in great sorrow, and in all haste, to inform him that
the cause was shortly to be brought before the royal tri
bunal. At these tidings, Alphonsus sent by his secretary
two letters, one to the Marquis of Tanucci, and the other
to the Marquis of Marco, begging them to deign to com
mence the cause in consideration of the reasons which he
assigned. But the tempest became still more furious; the
alarm of the Fathers was redoubled, and F. Villani, ac
companied by some other Fathers, repaired to St. Agatha,
and all, with tearful eyes, represented to Alphonsus their
adversaries' superiority, and the imminent danger which,
menaced them ; adding, that if he wished to save the Con
gregation, his presence at Naples was necessary. " What
could I do by my presence?" he replied; "that which my
letters cannot obtain, I shall be unable to obtain myself."
He was moved, however, at seeing their affliction, and ill
as he was, he resolved to set out. All his retinue on this
journey and all his methods of defence were masses and
prayers; confidence in God and hope for protection from
on high strengthened his courage. As he had no carriage,
he borrowed one from a gentleman, and he arrived at Na
ples on the 16th of July, 1767.

As soon as he reached Naples, he went to the Cardinal
Archbishop. His eminence was at dinner when Mgr. Li-
guori was announced to him ; he immediately arose, and
27

314 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

with eyes bathed in tears through joy at this unexpected
visit, he hastened to meet Alphonsus, and embraced him,
saying: " What has brought you to Naples so unexpect
edly?" "My Congregation is passing through a great
crisis, your Eminence," answered Alphonsus, "our ene
mies wish to destroy it, but I hope that God will grant us
the assistance of his arm." Before he left, the Cardinal
said to him, "Know that you are Archbishop of Naples;
you must obtain the victory and dispose of every thing as you
wish." Mgr. Liguori's arrival put the whole town in motion.
The canons, the superiors of the orders, the chevaliers and
ministers came to greet him. Almost all the prelates who
were in Naples went to visit him. As for himself, as he
had only come for urgent business, he begged every one to
excuse him if he reluctantly failed in the duties of civility.
Humility and poverty were his attendants ; he lived in his
brother's house, but he flid not wish to be treated with dis
tinction; and he gave up the room and state-bed which his
brother had had prepared for him to his secretary, and se
lected for himself quite a plain little apartment, which was
used as a lumber-room, and had nothing in it but a miser
able bed, and some straw chairs. When he had not to
officiate in any church, he merely put on the cassock of his
Congregation which he had worn every day at St. Agatha,
and which was then quite worn out. His shoes were the
same he had had made when he went to Rome; he had the
same hat, too, which was now no longer in fashion, and
which had only cost three carlins when new. His brother,
D. Hercules, who was more annoyed at the hat than at
any thing else, secretly took it away and substituted a valu
able one in its place. Alphonsus was very sorry to be
obliged to wear it, but before he left Naples he caused
it to be sold, and with the proceeds he bought four more
common hats; he kept one for himself, and gave the re
maining three to some of his Congregation. As he had
no cloak, he made use of a kind of mantilla; bu*t being
told that it was not fit for him, he sent it to a pawnbroker
in exchange for an old cloak. Some people gave him the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 315

title of Excellency. " Excellency," said Alphonsus, "what
do you mean by this title? Drop this excellency." He
had a singular altercation with a servant in a monastery, on
this head, who was continually addressing him by this title.
"Come now," said Alphonsus, "give up this word ex
cellency." "But," replied the servant, " why am I not to
call you thus? you are a chevalier, and this title belongs to
you." "That is enough," replied his lordship, "do not
speak to me any more about your excellency." He said
this in a tone which made the poor servant hurry to the
door as fast as possible. A gentleman observing to him
that he carried humility too far: "Humility," Alphonsus
replied, "has never injured any one."

Our saint was always preceded by humility, but glory
and veneration followed him wherever he went. When he
went to the royal palace, to implore the protection of the
Prince della Riccia, his majesty's grand equerry, he was
received there not as a mere man but as a messenger from
heaven. As soon as the prince heard that he was in the
ante-room, he hastened to go to him, and respectfully kissed
his hand, and when Alphonsus took leave of him he ac
companied him to the staircase with affectionate kindness.
" I thank God," exclaimed the prince on leaving him, "for
having allowed me to see this saintly man once more."
The same or similar marks of veneration were given him
by the highest personages he had occasion to visit. This
veneration was much increased by the manner in which he
defended the cause of his children. He managed to justify
the missionaries and defend their innocence without injuring
those who had calumniated them. He attributed their at
tacks to interest, and their irritation to passionate temper,
and he only sought to procure tranquillity to those belonging
to him, and to obtain the prince's protection for the Con
gregation. Alphonsus' very appearance at Naples put the
adversaries of the Congregation to confusion ; even their
counsel said that the case had an altered aspect, and the
advocates, who, till then, believed that they were sure of
victory and sought to have the cause brought on, tried now

316

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

to delay it, and would have liked to suspend it altogether,
no longer thinking it expedient to venture further. This
delay displeased Alphonsus, arid by his solicitations with
the ministers he obtained the king's leave to have the
affair terminated without loss of time, and the llth of
September was fixed for the discussion of the cause of
Sarnelli, at the royal court of St. Clare. It was at. this
time that our saint met with an accident, which one is
tempted to consider the work of the devil, who foreseeing
his defeat, wished to cause Alphonsus to perish. He was
one day in a carriage with the counsellor, Gaetan Celano ;
night was approaching, and the rain was falling in torrents,
their coachman urged the horses on as fast as possible to
wards the court of counsellor Pirelli in order to o-ain

t>

shelter, but other carriages had already taken refuge there
and he was obliged to turn back ; at that moment, another
carriage came up at a rapid rate, and struck with such vio
lence against that of Alphonsus that in the fall he was
thrown under the counsellor. The windows were broken
to pieces, and the coachman was wounded as well as the
footman. Alphonsus was not seriously hurt, but the coun- '
sellor had his hand cut; they both disengaged themselves
from the carriage, but with great difficulty, and took refuge
in a grocer's shop more dead than alive. The duchess of
Pirelli heard of the accident, and sent for Alphonsus and
the counsellor; they rested in her palace for some time,
after which the duchess lent them her own equipage to take
them home again. In this disaster Alphonsus regretted
nothing but his beautiful hat, which was lost in the con
fusion as well as the wooden stick which he used as a cane.
The proceedings in reference to the cause were at length
commenced, but the advocates of the adverse party had not
the courage to show themselves. One of them indeed
came, but it was only to declare that he had not the heart
to speak against a bishop whose sanctity was proclaimed
by all Naples. Our enemies' inaction was displeasing to
Alphonsus; he sent his secretary to the President Cito, to
complain of this disappointment. " He need not be an-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 317

noyed at seeing his enemies put to flight," replied the
magistrate, " let him take courage, and return to his dio
cese." Such was Alphonsus' success in this visit to Na
ples. He took leave of all his acquaintances, after a sojourn
of two months and three days, and set out for Arienzo on
the 10th of September, 1767.

Although Alphonsus only went to Naples on account of
the interests of his Congregation, he nevertheless made his
visit subserve the glory of God, and fatal to sin and hell.
Great disorders had taken place in the convent called "of
the Religious of the Wood." These nuns, without respect
for the Superior, who tried to unite them, had proceeded
to sad lengths on several occasions. Being entreated to
lend his aid, Alphonsus went to the convent several times
and preached there, and that which others had not been
able to effect by their words, was obtained by his humility
and mildness. He put an end to all the dissensions which
existed in the convent, and was able to re-establish there
peace, the love of prayer, and the frequent use of the
sacraments.

The Superior of the Congregation of the Propaganda re
solved to ask him to preach the Novenaofthe Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin, in the church of the Restitution.
The canon fearing that Alphonsus would not be able to
grant his request, (as he was ill, and overloaded with busi
ness,) it was observed to him, that he had an infallible means
of obtaining what he wanted, viz: his authority as Supe
rior; Alphonsus being yet a member of the Congregation.
When the humble bishop received this order, he made no
opposition, but bent his head and said : " Pray that the
Blessed Virgin may give me strength, for I have nothing
written, and no time to prepare any thing; you must be
satisfied with what God and the Blessed Virgin may deign
to suggest to me."

One evening during this Novena, our Saint was obliged

to go to the Archbishop's, but the carriage, the one which

D. Gaetan had bought, had been sent to be repaired ; the

servant took another, belonging to D. Hercules, which

27*

318 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

was rich and handsome. Such luxury alarmed the Saint,
and nothing could reconcile him to it. In order to pre
vent his going on foot, old harness was put on the
horses, and an old covering was put over the seat; which
mixture of old and new together caused the Bishop of St.
Agatha to present a somewhat singular appearance, but
satisfied his humility. During the Novena, the church was
crowded to overflowing, from the first day, and he preached
with such wonderful effect, that floods of tears were shed
in the church, arid his Eminence, Cardinal Sersale, who
made it a duty to assist at this Novena daily with his suite,
could not refrain from weeping at the touching spectacle
of an entire people in contrition. Canon Sparano declared,
that ten missions would not have done so much good nor
have effected so many conversions, as God did during this
Novena through Mgr. Liguori. Again, on this occasion,
pieces of his garments were taken from him in secret ;
amongst others a piece of his cloak was cut off. Mgr.
!Bergamo, at that time a priest and afterwards Bishop
of Gaeta, thought himself very fortunate in being able to
take his hat in exchange for another. He attempted the
same thing with his rosary, but Alphonsus found it out;
Ihe complained of it, and wished to have it restored to him
-again on account of the indulgences attached to it.

On the Eve of the Assumption, he went to pay his visit
to the Blessed Sacrament in the church of the convent Re-
.gina Coeli; while the nuns were chanting vespers, he knelt
down before a chair in a corner of the church. Three
abbots were officiating pontifically; one of them, who knew
him, no sooner saw him in his shabby dress than he turned
towards the others and said: "Look what a figure this
bishop is ! does he not disgrace his character !" The abbot
soon found that he was not a good judge. The Prince of
Monte Miletto who was present, also saw Alphonsus, and
immediately asked his valet who that Prelate was ; on hear
ing that it was Mgr. Liguori, he approached him respect
fully, kissed his hand, and held it to his forehead for some
time. The Duke of Andria also presented himself to him,

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 319

or rather cast himself at his feet, and would not consent to
arise until after he had received the sign of the cross on his
head ; some other noblemen also hastened to render him
the same homage. The abashed abbots then sent him a
velvet cushion by the sacristan, but Alphonsus would not
use it.

When the barefooted Carmelite Fathers commenced the
solemnity of the Wednesdays in honor of St. Theresa, Al
phonsus did not fail to attend, and mixing with the people,
he placed himself according to custom on one of the benches
in the church. When the Fathers perceived him they
wished to show him some token of respect, but Alphonsus
refused it. On the following Wednesday they prepared a
special chair with a velvet cushion for him, but in vain,
for he made no use of it.

Alphonsus had the gift of prophecy, as well as those of
knowledge and counsel. A daughter of the Duchess of
Bovino, who was on the point of leaving a convent, in
order to embrace the state of marriage, still hesitated in
regard to her vocation; the duchess went to Alphonsus
and begged him to remember her in his prayers. 'iNo,
no;" replied he, "she will not marry. God will detach
her from the world and draw her to himself." The young
lady's mind, up to this time, had been occupied about any
thing rather than becoming a religious; her mother was
therefore much surprised to hear these words from the
saintly man, but she was still more so when, on her return
home, a note was handed to her from her daughter, stating
her intention of taking the religious habit in the convent.

Lady Marianne Cayano Orsini gave birth to a son at
Marianella about this time. D. Hercules wished that the
ceremony of baptism should be performed by Alphonsus
himself, to which he assented. During the ceremony, the
priest, in addressing Alphonsus, gave him the title of Ex
cellency, at every instant; he bore it at first, in order not
to interrupt the ceremony, but at last he could endure it
no longer, and exclaimed: "Rev. Sir, if you wish to call
me most illustrious, you can of course do so, but you will

320 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

oblige me very much by only using the most simple ex
pressions in speaking to me."

Besides the Novena of which we have spoken, Alplion-
sus also preached a sermon in the church of the Advocate,
for the confraternity of the coachmen, footmen, and other
domestics. His dear brethren of the chapels, amongst
whom was the celebrated Peter Barberese, his former peni
tent, also heard his holy exhortations once more ; he re
joiced in thus being employed for the good of the poorest
and most obscure. A head saddler also begged him to
come and preach in his chapel, which was situated beyond
the gate of Capua, and he went there most willingly. He
found a very large assemblage of the lower classes, but as
the chapel could not hold them all, he re-assembled them
all in the church of St. Onuphrius. These good people
assembled together on another occasion, in the hospital
of the Annunziata ; the Blessed Sacrament was exposed
on both occasions, and he exhorted them all to the prac
tice of Christian virtue. He was alto asked to preach
to them on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin, and he •
yielded to their wis-hes. On the following Sunday he
preached to the orphans who were brought up in this
hospital, amounting to the number of more thaw three
hundred.

The people were not satisfied with profiting by his
words in church, but they hastened in crowds to his house, «•
and as he had not chairs enough for all, they sat on the
ground. He rejoiced in being in the midst of this multi
tude of poor people much more than in receiving the
visits of priests, confessors, magistrates, the knights of St.
Januarius, the Duchesses, Princesses, and the many others,
who not being able to speak to him in the confessional,
came to see him, and left him no moment of leisure time
until a late hour in the evening; and his loving kindness
towards these poor people won him the admiration of
all the town of Naples, not less than the fact, that, not
withstanding his advanced age, his infirmities, and the im
portant affairs that had brought him to Naples, he under-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 3*21

went so much fatigue for the glory of God and the good
of souls. He visited also the convents of Donna Alvina,
of St. Clare, of Sapienza, of St. Marcellinus, of St. Gau-
dioso, of St. Liguori, of the Blessed Sacrament, of St.
Jerome, of Little St. John's, of Donna Romita, of St. Po-
titus, of St. Andrew's, of the Nuns, and others. He
preached in each of them, and returned several times to
some of them to hear confessions. Being invited, on the
feast of St. Jane de Chantal, to the convent of the Nuns
of the Visitation, he went with pleasure and preached
there. Nothing, in a word, whereby he could encourage
hearts in the practice of virtue and the love of Jesus Christ,
was accounted by him as too much.

In all this he never deviated from his profound humility,
and though the Cardinal had told him that he was Arch
bishop of Naples, he never did anything without informing
his eminence. A religious asked him one day to hear her
confession. He immediately sent to ask for the faculty to
do so from the Cardinal, who replied half displeased :
"What does Mgr. Liguori want? Did I not tell him that
he was Archbishop of Naples? He may confirm, confess,
preach, and officiate, and do whatever he pleases, for he
has power to do anything?"

Besides the prophecy mentioned above, he made several
others in regard to inmates of convents, of which we will
only cite the following. Alphonsus' sister, Marianne Li
guori, a nun in the convent of St. Jerome, manifested a
want of submission towards her director; Alphonsus pre
dicted that she would die mad, and it speedily came to
pass. The Princess Zurlo, a pensioner at the convent of
St. Marcellinus, had an earnest desire to become a reli
gious; when this young lady's fervor was mentioned to
him, he answered: "No, she will not be a nun, but she
will return to the world, and lead a saintly life there."
And his words proved to be true. At St. Clare, a nun
tried to interest him in a niece of hers, whom she wished
to get admitted in the convent, although she had already
left it, "Leave her alone," said he, "she is not fit for a

322 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

convent." Arid so it was; she no longer wished to con
secrate herself to God.

Alphonsus made no distinction of persons; he acted
just in the same manner towards the convents of women
of no rank as towards those of women of noble birth. He
willingly consented to go and visit the convents of the
Little Rosary, of St. Margaret, of St. Monica, of the Mira
cles, of Jesus and Mary, of St. Catherine, of St. Joseph, and
of St. Theresa; of St. Philip and St. James also, where
he gave a sermon on the prodigal son : and his visits were
always marked by great blessings, as God assisted his
efforts. He also preached several times at the Refuge of
St. Clare, and visited the penitents of St. Raphael, as also
those of the Crucifix; it was especially edifying to see him
return from the most humble and despised places, with still
more pleasure than from the convents for the nobility.

He did not omit to g6 and comfort a great many infirm
nuns, and particularly his old penitents. He evinced his
scrupulosity in regard to holy modesty, during these visits.
In order to prevent his hands from being kissed, he kept,
his left across his breast and wrapped up the other in a
handkerchief. When asked to make the sign of the cross
on a sick person's forehead, he only consented to give her
his blessing from a distance, and whenever he entered a
convent he wished to be accompanied by a priest, to help
him, as he said, but in reality as a precaution; nor did he
ever omit to provide himself with hair shirts and iron
chains, and to discipline himself to blood.

He also accepted several invitations from different reli
gious societies. The Missionaries of St. Pavone, now call
ed, "of the Conference," wished to hear him speak at one
of their assemblies, as a fellow-member. Alphonsus spoke
1o them of the zeal which every priest ought to have for the
salvation of souls, exhorted them to preach in an apostolic
style, and declaimed against a far-fetched style. " This is
indeed a true apostle," said they, "thanks be to God for
having given us a bishop of primitive times in this age."
Cardinal Sersale, also, wished the fervor of the young peo-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 323

pie of the establishment which he had himself founded for
the instruction of young clerics in sacris in the exercises of
the Mission, to be animated by the words of our Saint.
He conducted Alphonsus thither, and, concealing his own
hands under his arms, made all the young people kiss
the bishop of St. Agatha's hand, despite his humility.
Alphonsus spoke to them on the practice of sacerdotal
virtues, and incited them to devote themselves zealously
to the salvation of souls, and to be filled with love to
Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin. Visits which were
only of compliment and useless, he tried always to avoid.
The nuns of Little St. John, not satisfied with having seen
him at the grate and with having assisted at his mass, soli
cited him, through F. Fatigati, to repeat his visit; as this,
however, was not in order to consult him as their director,
he did not accede to their invitation, but answered : " I like
much to go to St. John, but not to Little St. John's; they
have caused me to lose an hour, and I am scrupulous about
time." Although Alphonsus effected so much good in
Naples, and although his presence there drew down so
many blessings, he never ceased to grieve at being so far
from his diocese, but counted the moments, and only longed
to return. "If it were not on account of the interests of
the Congregation which is persecuted," he said, "and
which labors so successfully for God's glory and the salva
tion of souls, I should believe that I sinned mortally in
remaining so long at Naples." It must not, however, be
believed that he ever lost sight of the wants of his diocese.
Not a day passed on which he did not receive some courier
from thence. Being again asked for a Novena, he re
plied : "What Novena do you wish me to give ? I will go
and make one in my diocese, where God only knows what
disorders I shall find. Jesus Christ no longer wishes me
to be at Naples, but at St. Agatha."

Let us give one more instance of Alphonsus' humility,
while in the capital. He went to visit the Prince della
Riccia, to get. through his protection, a woman, a servant
of the Prince's, admitted into the Refuse of St. Raphael;

324 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

but the valet remembered that he had received nothing from
Alphonsus on his first visit to the Prince, so he said that
the Prince was in attendance on the King. A soldier of
the Italian guard, who was on duty, said to a comrade, on
seeing this old man, whose long beard and neglected ex
terior seemed unsuitable to his dignity as a bishop, "Look
at this shabby lord. He has not a half-penny to be shaved."
Alphonsus heard it and smiled. "I thank thee, O my
God," he said, " for causing me also to receive the censure
of the soldiers." But the guard was soon undeceived
when he saw the first noblemen hasten to pay their re
spects to the holy bishop. He returned a second time to
the Prince's palace, and was again dismissed, on some
other pretext; he then went a third time, when, on the
advice of his secretary, who suspected the real cause of
the mystery, he slipt some money into the valet's hand, and
the Prince was made visible. Angry at the refusals which
Alphonsus had met with, he offered to provide for all need
ful expenses in regard to the penitent woman, and in
formed the director of the house that she was one of his
tenants; nothing further was required for her admission,
and Alphonsus had the consolation to see one more of his
sheep in a place of safety.

When he left Naples at last, it was with the firm resolu
tion, if we should not rather call it a prediction, that he
would not return there any more. When he visited, for
the last time, his dear Mother, in the church of the Re
demption where he had received so many graces, he said
to her: " My Queen, we shall see each other again in Par
adise, but we shall meet no more in Naples." "Tell D.
Hercules," he wrote from St. Agatha to a brother of the
Congregation who was in Naples, " that he may freely dis
pose of the apartments which he keeps at my service, for
I shall return there no more."

Although Alphonsus was unceasingly, and we may al
most say, excessively solicitous for the right government of
his diocese, and though his conduct in this respect obtained
the admiration of the most distinguished men, and the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 325

praises of the Sovereign Pontiff, yet he could not escape
the darts of malignity and censure. His reputation for
sanctity caused him to be attentively watched, and as his
administration seemed rather like that of an angel than of
an ordinary man, people fancied that he ought to make sin
disappear from the world. As soon as any disorder in his
diocese was spoken of, people began to blame and calum
niate him; for some were too ready to listen to the dis
courses of the wicked, and co-operated, through inexcusa
ble credulity, in what others did through malice. A reli
gious, at Naples, found fault with, and condemned things
in Alphonsus which he had not seen, but of which he had
heard; and Alphonsus, being begged to justify himself,
answered: "I have heard of this bad opinion of me.
There is no need of writing to him. St. Francis of Sales,
F. Torres, and so many others, have not defended them
selves. The three who rule, are the Grand-Vicar, who aids
me by counsel, Archdeacon Rainone, who performs his
duty at St. Agatha, and the Secretary, who governs still
less." And in another letter: "Every thing passes through
my hands, with the single exception of the ordinary de
crees as to temporals, which are under the charge of the
Grand-Vicar, and of my Vicar-General at St. Agatha. Tell
me where there is a diocese in which there is nothing
wanting. As to me, I do what I can, but all ground pro
duces its thorns; one may pluck out one here, but another
will spring up elsewhere. I see that I cannot avoid the
reproaches made against me ; it is enough if God does not
complain : however, complaints are of use to me, for my
spiritual welfare, by humbling me through the contempt
and want of favor which I must meet with from some peo
ple. I should be very glad if you would tell Father N. to
come and see me, because he may then be enlightened as
to the real state of things." The good Father went to
him, and was his panegyrist from that time. He liked
to be told of all that was said to his dispraise, and never
hesitated to make amends if he found he had made a
mistake.
28

326 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

An idle person circulated a report through Naples, that
they were much dissatisfied with Msr- Lio-uori's adminis-

* o O

tration at Rome. It was even added that the Pope was
very far from rejoicing at having made him bishop. When
F. Villani informed him of this, he replied thus: "You
say that the accusation of which you speak, may very
probably have been made at Rome ; I have heard nothing
about it yet. For the rest, and as to the government, I
do not know how I could have been more careful than I
was. I always note down in writing all that has to be
done for the present day and for the following one, and
when any business connected with the diocese is in ques
tion, I leave every thing to occupy myself about it. All
belonging to my diocese may see this plainly; God will do
the rest, but this will enable me to get rny resignation
more easily accepted."

With an inconsistency, which is a characteristic of false
hood, others accused him of governing with too much
rigor; but Alphonsus was certain of the good he had done,
and cared equally little, for being thought too lenient, o,r
too severe. "Human respect," said F. Raphael de Ruvo,
"could never succeed in influencing Mgr. Liguori." One
day, in presence of several gentlemen, it was said that
people talked a great deal about a priest who, as they
alleged, had been banished unjustly. He was guilty of
several hidden offences, for which Alphonsus had felt con
strained to recur to this punishment, without wishing to
publish things against him which were unknown. When
he heard that he was censured for it, he got out of the dif
ficulty by a smile, and said nothing to exculpate himself.
Some even in the Congregation said, that in the publica
tion of his works he sought for an uncertain good, while
he neglected the certain good he could have effected, had
he been exclusively engaged in the affairs of his diocese.
Being informed of this, he wrote to F. Villani : " In regard
to the murmurs relative to my publications, I will say that
those bishops who are most celebrated for their great zeal,
preached and published works while ruling over their dio-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 327

ceses I am always shut up during winter, and con
verse with no one ; besides, every one avoids my conver
sation, because it is not agreeable. I make meditation
three times a day; I make an hour's thanksgiving after
mass, as well as a spiritual lecture, at least when I am at
liberty. After that I try to profit by all the time remaining
to me, in laboring in things which seem useful."

Alphonsus published, about this lime, " The Way of Sal
vation," which is a work of great utility for all classes of
men. It is divided into three parts: the first contains
meditations for all seasons of the year; the second for
divers times in particular: and the third contains a rule of
life for a Christian, the practice of virtue, and considera
tions on the love of Jesus Christ, entitled "Darts of Fire."

CHAPTER XXV.

JHphonsus is visited by sickness and great sufferings. He
finishes his work on Dogmatics. His Congregation is per
secuted in Sicily. His mode of life and apostolic labors
when paralytic . Interest he takes in the education of his
Nephews. Circular to his Congregation. His Mission
aries abandon Sicily.

WHEN Almighty God wishes to raise one of His ser
vants to great sanctity, the usual course of His provi
dence is to throw him into a sea of troubles and sorrows.
Alphonsus, whom God had destined to become a shining
pillar in the heavenly Jerusalem, was also obliged to pass
through the crucible of tribulation. On the 23d of June,
1768, in the seventy-second year of his age, and the seventh
of his episcopate, he was attacked by a fever, which at first
seemed so slight that it was believed to be only the conse
quence of a cold; but it increased on the second and third
day, and made such progress that it was taken for a danger
ous putrid fever. However it disappeared three day after
wards, and, contrary to all expectation, he was attacked by

328 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

acute pains in the right side. The doctors called it the com
mencement of sciatica, arising from rheumatic tendencies;
in fact he experienced constant pain in the bone of the
thigh, these however were not very severe.

As he had no fever, and his head was free, he never
ceased to give audience, nor interrupted his scientific and
spiritual occupations. Not being able to visit his diocese
himself, he sent his Grand-Vicar into the estates of Trasso
and Arpaja, as well as to the village of Forchia. " I con
tinue," he wrote to F. Villani, " to be tormented with in
ternal pains in nearly one-half of my body, and it seems
as if the pain would fix in the hip bone. Blessed for ever
be God for having sent me this suffering ! I shall have
difficulty in going out, this year, to make my accustomed
visitation." On the approach of the feast of the Assumption,
he tried to give the Novena, in the church of the Annun-
ziata; and, notwithstanding his suffering, he succeeded in
crawling into the pulpit: but the pain ere long seized him
in a most violent mariner, and fixed itself obstinately in
the hip bone, so as to render it impossible for him to go,
on, and a Neapolitan missionary, who had accompanied
him, took his place on the sixth day. From this time, the
malady made such progress that he no longer knew in
what position to place himself: in this state, he was un
ceasingly occupied in his bed about the affairs of his dio
cese ; he dictated his works, and continued to perform with
the members of his household all the accustomed exercises.

However, the fever went on increasing day by day, so
that fears were entertained for his life. When it was pro
posed to him to send for a doctor from Naples, he replied:
"Do you, then, think that the doctors in Naples work mira
cles, or that they have studied other books than the doctors
here? I am in the hands of God, and of the doctors he
has given me." His two worthy doctors, however, were
not of the same opinion, but sent for F. Villani and the
Grand- Vicar, and said to them : " We do not wish to bear
the responsibility of his lordship's death; we want to have
a consultation." A physician was therefore summoned

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 3*29

from Naples. Alphonsus said nothing on seeing him, but
his face betokened the suffering of his heart.

He affected every one, while in this state, by his ejacu
lations of love towards Jesus Christ and the Blessed Virgin.
He showed great confidence in their merits, but seemed
quite confounded at his own conduct, which, he said, had
not corresponded to their goodness. A Father of the Con
gregation was just going to say mass, when he called him,
and said with a profound sentiment of humility: "Pray
that God may deign to be merciful towards me." Although
he had confidence, he still trembled in thinking of the
judgments of God. "Non intres in judicium cum servo
tuo,"he repeated, and, "fac cum servo tuo secundum mise-
ricordiam tuam." " Enter not into judgment with Thy

servant, 0 Lord Do unto Thy servant according to

Thy mercy."

After receiving the last Sacraments on the 26th of Au
gust, 1768, he made his will. He would not have had
matter for one, if his steward had not received four hundred
and twenty-three ducats, some days before, arising from
the rents belonging to him. He wished this sum to be
placed in the hands of the Arch-priest Romano, and fixed
on the number of masses to be celebrated for him at Ari-
enzo, and at St. Agatha; he pointed out what alms he
wished to be given to the poor, and ordered that the sur
plus should be distributed to all who were in his service, as
a token of gratitude, two hours after his death ; finally,
he asked that his body should be taken to the Cathedral of
St. Agatha.

The fever, however, visibly abated, although the suffer
ings were still very sharp. The pains, too, caused by the
rheumatism were violent and continual, so that he could
find no position in which he could lie in bed, and was
obliged, though with great difficulty, to get into an arm
chair, where he remained as if nailed down by his suffer
ings. It is easy to imagine how he passed the nights and
days, as he could neither move, nor dress himself; his
state caused all who saw him to shed tears of compassion.
28*

330 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

The rheumatism was constantly making fresh progress, and
from the hip bone soon reached the leg, and extended
through the nerves of the limbs, which caused a great in
crease of pain. He bore it with unalterable patience: no
groan ever issued from his lips, but that which filled up the
measure of admiration in regard to him, was that he never
ceased to be still occupied with the affairs of his diocese.
The following are some of the lively aspirations collected
by one who attended on him: "Lord. I thank Thee for
having given me some share in the sufferings Thou didst
endure in Thy nerves, when Thou wast nailed to the cross.
I wish to suffer, my Jesus, as Thou wiliest, and as much
as Thou wiliest, only give me patience." " Hie ure, hie
seca, hie non parcas, ut in aeternum parcas." "Unhappy
damned souls ! how can you suffer without merit ? My Je
sus, my hope, the only remedy for all my ills." " Oh, how
happy a thing it is to^die, fastened to the cross." "A
poor person who loves God, dies more contented than all
the rich in the world. An hour of suffering is worth more
than . all the treasures of the earth." "I should like td
have a little sleep, but God does not will it, and I do not
wish it either." " Oh, my palliass ! thou art worth more
for one day than all the thrones of the world."

At last, the rheumatism settled in the vertebrae of his
neck, and his head was so bent forwards, and rested so
much on his chest, that on looking at him from behind he
appeared like a body without a head. " Nothing but a
miracle," said a doctor, " could have prevented this curva
ture from taking away respiration altogether." But even
this was only a part of his martyrdom. In consequence of
this displacement of the head, his chin sank down into the
middle of his chest, and his beard being strong and bristly
caused a considerable wound there. This could not be
seen, and he bore it without any complaint; it did not at
first attract attention, but the humor, which soon issued
from it, caused the doctors to entertain the most lively
fears ; they wanted to raise his head in order to examine it,
but Alphonsus was obliged to raise his hand, as a sign for

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 331

them to desist, for any force used in that direction would
have broken his neck. They then placed him on a sofa,
in a horizontal position, and thus they were able to exam
ine the wound. It was so deep and dangerous, that it had
very nearly laid bare the bone of the chest. They, how
ever, succeeded in preventing mortification, and it was
soon completely healed.

He began to get better at the end of a few months, but
the malignant humor settled on the nerves, the body was
contracted, and his head rested on his chest during the
seventeen years he lived after this. During the course of
this cruel malady he evinced superhuman patience : " Mgr.
Liguori," said F. Raphael de Ruvo, the ex-provincial of
the religious of St. Peter of Alcantara, " was a true picture
of the saintly Job. Though having become, as it were, one
mass of pains, he never opened his mouth to utter even
the slightest complaint. One look raised up to heaven
with some pious aspiration, was the sign of his suffering;
he still expressed himself so calmly that he consoled and
confounded me, as well as all who were present." One
of the first surgeons of the capital, having witnessed his
patience at Arienzo, said: "If I had had to endure such
torments, I should have become frantic." He could not
conceive how the Saint had been able to preserve unalter
able serenity in the midst of such terrible sufferings.

At length the invalid was placed on a poor mattress,
though not without great suffering, on which he lay in an
uneasy and painful position. It was not without difficulty
that they succeeded in putting on his cassock, and as he
could not undress himself, he remained in this garb night
and day, and in the same position. In all these pains, he
showed the truth of St. Augustine's words, that he who loves,
does not suffer, and wishes to suffer more. " He was fixed
on his poor bed," said a canon of Avella, "once, while I
was arranging the sheets with Brother Francis Anthony, I
saw that he had his large rosary by him, and that there were
as many holes in his flesh as there were beads in it. As I
attributed this to accident, I told the brother to take it away.

332 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

But he answered in a way which made me understand that
this servant of God was not satisfied with only bearing his
infirmity, but sought to crucify himself still more." His
submission to the doctors was no less admirable. " Let
us obey them," he often said, " and resign ourselves
to die." They had scarcely spoken when they were
obeyed; however painful or disagreeable the prescribed
remedy might have been, he took it, riot through a wish
to prolong life, but because he recognized God's will in
theirs. One day he said to one of the doctors: "I am
nothing but an old man now, what can I hope for, or
aspire to? I obey, in order to fulfil your will and that of
God." He was not only contented and serene, but he
carried his heroism so far as to be quite joyous. One day
he said to the same doctor: "You endeavor to hold me
up, by means of props and stays, but if you happen to put
a new prop some day, and raise it up too much, all the rest
will fall, and you will lose your trouble." A priest once
asked him how he had passed the night : " I chase flies by
day," he replied laughingly, " and I take spiders by night." •
"There," said he to a canon, slightly moving his head,
"that is the ne plus ultra, my head can do no more."
Another time he said to the same canon: "They have so
often called me crippled, that I am caught at last."

Although reduced to this state of infirmity, he never dis
pensed himself from any of his exercises of piety. In the
evening, especially, he wished all his household to come
to his room, together with the Grand-Vicar, to recite the
Rosary together, with the Litanies of the Blessed Virgin,
and the other accustomed prayers. He passed nearly the
whole day in hearing some spiritual reading, which was
made for him alternately by Brother Anthony and the
priest who attended him. Neither did he, in this state of
oppression, forget his flock, but dictated, ordered, and did
every thing as if he had been quite well. Thus he caused
several noblemen to be written to, touching the reform of
abuses, and addressed some Congregations at Naples, and
F. Villani, in order to obtain Missionaries, that year, for

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 333

all his diocese. "That which most astonished me," said
a canon, " was, that he not only never ceased to watch
and labor for the good of souls and the glory of Jesus
Christ, during this excess of suffering, but that he also did
so beyond the bounds of the province. Having been in
formed that a bishop had been guilty of an abuse, which
was most prejudicial to souls, he hastened to dictate a let
ter, which he sent by an express, to inform him of his
error, after which he turned towards me and said : ' My
dear Benedict, we are obliged mutually to aid each other.'"

It was on this bed of pain that he revised, for the last
time, a great work which he published, entitled "The
Practice of Love towards Jesus Christ." It manifests the
sentiments of his heart, and every where breathes the spirit
of the pious author, showing the necessity, and teaching
the way, of loving Jesus Christ our God, who ought to be
the sole object of the affections of our hearts, and to whom
all the actions of our life should be referred.

The convalescence of Alphonsus was very painful, and
lasted more than a year. " I continue to be without fever,"
he wrote to F. Villani, on the 8th of October, 1768, "but
the pain is just the same. They make me walk about on
crutches, supported however by two people, and this is the
sixth day since I began to do this; but I do not see that
this or the carriage does me any good. lam awake nearly
all the night; nature feels it, but I think that my will is
resigned to that of God. Remember me during mass, that
God may give me perfect resignation." And, on the 2d of
November, "I am in a state which renders me incapable of
moving, and fever attacks me from time to time. How
ever, my head is clear, and by God's grace, I am cheerful
and resigned."

At this time, a learned man of Naples published a treatise
against the authority of the Church, and particularly against
her privileges; Alphonsus, though in the midst of such
sufferings, did not hesitate to enter the lists. He prepared
the manuscript of a refutation, and he would have finished
it, but on account of several circumstances, and on the

334

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

advice of F. Villani, he did not think fit to put the finish
ing stroke to it. During this convalescence, he also com
posed and published a treatise on the ceremonies of mass,
expounding most clearly all the rubrics to be observed, and
urging upon all priests the necessity of making that pre
paration and thanksgiving which are required by so august
a mystery. Whilst he was bringing out this treatise, he
received a dissertation against the fees for masses, which
was written in an angry spirit, and published at Naples.
The author, who wished to abolish masses and the ec
clesiastical state altogether, pretended to demonstrate the
great disorders, as he said, the sins of simony, the sacri
leges, and the scandals which result from the retributions
which priests receive from masses. In conclusion he pro
posed that paid masses should be abolished altogether, and
that the custom of the primitive ages should be re-establish-
hed, of having but oneonass, and that the oblations should
be made, as formerly, for the support of the priest, and for
the wants of the Church and the poor. Alphonsus zealously
took up arms and published a learned reply, in which he
refutes the impious doctrine of the anonymous author by
the true Catholic doctrine. He added this refutation to the
aforesaid treatise, of which it forms the third part.

When his Holiness, Pope Clement XIII, passed to a
better world, Alphonsus never ceased to pray fervently that
God would deign to grant a worthy Pastor to His Church,
and immediately enjoined on all priests that the prayer joro
etigendo summo Pontifice, should be recited in the diocese,
and he recommended this matter to all who came to see him.
" After God," he said, "is the Pope." When Clement
XIV ascended the pontifical throne on the 19th of May,
1769, Alphonsus rejoiced greatly on hearing that the elec
tion had fallen on a prelate who was so full of knowledge
and zeal. In spite of all the sufferings which had come
upon him, he succeeded in finishing his work on dogmatics,
which was extracted from the Council of Trent, and against
the pretended Reformers, and he hastened to dedicate it
to the newly elected Pontiff. This work is one of singular

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 335

merit, and was applauded even beyond the borders of
Italy. The Pope received with pleasure, this new evidence
of the zeal of the indefatigable bishop in propagating the
knowledge of true religion amongst unbelievers and moral
ity amongst Catholics, to the latter of whom is also shown
in this work what attachment they owe to the holy faith
they profess. The Pope manifested his satisfaction to him,
and thanked him kindly in a brief.

As afflictions are sisters, they always go together; thus
in addition to all these anxieties and sufferings, Alphonsus'
heart was oppressed by other sorrows. The Congregation
had prospered wonderfully in Sicily up to this period.
Besides the diocese of Girgenti, the missionaries were
welcomed in those of Messina, and Palermo. The bishops
of Syracuse and of Massara also wished to have them,
though they were not sufficiently numerous to satisfy all
these demands. All this prosperity, which consoled them,
caused the bishop of St. Agatha to reflect seriously. "If
the works of God," said he, " are not contradicted, they
are not well rooted." " I am rejoiced," he wrote several
times to F. Peter Blasucci, " at the progress of our Con
gregation in Sicily, and am much comforted by it, but this
universal applause makes me tremble." But soon Al
mighty God, who willed that he should go through a mar
tyrdom of mind as well as of body, permitted a furious
storm to be raised up against his dear children in Sicily.

From the month of February, 1767, a Jansenist gloried
in accusing them to the Viceroy, as men of corrupt mor
als, as followers of the Jesuits, and as relaxed probabilists.
The calumny was a dangerous one and the missionaries
began to be only spoken of as men unworthy of their po
sition. However, they justified themselves with so much
energy that the minister was undeceived and assured them
of his favor and protection. In October, 1768, Mgr. Luc-
chesi, who had been their warm friend and benefactor,
passed to a better world, and the Prince of Campo-Franco
declared himself his heir, ab intestat, and pretended that
the hundred ounces annually, which had been assigned to

336 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

them by the defunct bishop for the work of the missions
and for their maintenance, were not validly given, and that
the missionaries had no power to make acquisitions. He,
in consequence, proceeded to sequester their revenues,
and the Fathers, on finding themselves without provi
sions, began to make preparations for leaving Sicily. The
tidings of these sad reverses reached Alphonsus in the
very height of his cruel malady; he was deeply affected,
but did not allow himself to be cast down. " I received the
disastrous news which you give me," he wrote to F. Blas-
ucci, " but I say wrongly, for nothing that God wills can
be disastrous. He wishes to mortify us; may His name be
praised for ever. I specially beg you not to lose confi
dence in Jesus Christ. If you are turned out of your
house, try to procure another. It will not do to yield so
soon; on the contrary, you must persevere till God shows
that he He longer wills you to be at Girgenti. There will
be fewer missions, but you will not lack a morsel of bread
to keep up life. Wait and see what the deputies will do,
what will be done by the new bishop; and, above all, what
God's will may be. I believe that God does not will the
destruction of this house. I continue to have no use of
my body from* head to foot, but I am contented, and bless
God, and thank Him, for having given me peace and
patience."

As Alphonsus heard that his moral theology was also
attacked on this occasion, he sent a letter to the bishop of
Sicily, to justify his doctrine. He also represented the
true state of things to the Marquis of Fogliani, the Vice
roy of Palermo, and implored his protection. They both,
in reply, did justice to his merit and eulogized his virtue
and knowledge.

But a new misfortune, and one more painful than the
first, came to increase his alarm as to the fate of his chil
dren in Sicily. Mgr. Lanza, who succeeded to Mgr. Luc-
chesi in the see of Girgenti, discovered in his seminary a
traitor, who was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and sought to
corrupt both the doctrine and the morals of this holy spot.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 337

Ho was a chaplain belonging to the Cathedral, and profes
sor of the Holy Scriptures, and gloried in publishing that
the Jansenists were the true disciples of St. Augustine, that
the Holy Roman Church was contrary to this holy doctor,
and that in condemning the doctrine of Quesnel she con
demned the doctrine of this and the other holy Fathers,
and that the bull Unigenitus was impious. The new bishop
no sooner heard of his blasphemies than he dismissed him,
and suspended his faculties as a confessor. Now from the
time of his arrival at Girgenti, the bishop had chosen F.
Blasucci for his confessor and theologian, hence the chap
lain thought that this blow could only have come to him
through the means of this Father. Though it was the
masters of the seminary and the pupils themselves who
had complained of him, yet his suspicions appeared to
have some foundation, and not being able to lay the blame
on the bishop, he thought he had better turn his weapons
against the missionaries; arid, as his own disgrace had be
fallen him on account of his doctrine, he tried to assail
that held by them. He won over several important per
sonages to his party, and, after having obtained fourteen
certificates, he went to Palermo, in February, 1769, and
presented himself to the royal junta of the president and
to the Viceroy, as having been persecuted by the mission
aries on account of his doctrine having been in opposition
to that they had spread to the prejudice of souls and of
the stale.

Mgr. Lanza hastened to represent to the viceroy and the
junta how unjust and slanderous these reports were, and
to inform them, at the same time, of the errors of the
plaintiff, which were rendered public by his obstinacy.
Calumny tarnishes what it cannot blacken ; and thus, at
Palermo, some judged well of the missionaries, others ill,
and several hesitated about making a judgment, being em
barrassed by the falsehoods alleged against them. These
divers sentiments engendered such a confusion, and things
wore such an inauspicious aspect, that the suppression of
the house of the missionaries and their departure were
29

338 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

talked of, to the great dismay of many pious persons, some
of whom mortified themselves and fasted on bread and
water, in order to avert such a calamity, while others dis
tributed abundant alms, and caused a great number of
masses to be celebrated.

When Alphonsus was informed of all this, he adored
the judgments of God, and never ceased to urge the mem
bers of the Congregation to be humble and respectful to
wards all, to keep silence and to be patient, and if the
truth was to be made known, to declare it without injuring
those who had shown such perfidy towards them. "Your
Reverence seems much afraid," replied he, full of confi
dence, to one of the Fathers, " for rne, I put all my trust
in God, who will protect us, as He has always protected the
holy Church, which has also been persecuted throughout
all ages. Let us act as we ought towards God, and God
will comfort us." However, the storm becoming more
and more threatening, in the spring of 1769, F. Blasucci
presented a sincere but energetic explanation to the Vice
roy, in favor of the doctrine of Alphonsus and that of the
missionaries. This apology, notwithstanding an anoriym6us
address full of horrible impostures which it drew forth from
the chaplain in whose hand it had chanced to fall, disa
bused the Viceroy and the other ministers of the monarch,
and peace seemed fully restored to the missionaries; but it
was only a treacherous calm, as we shall see hereafter.

We have admired the patience with which our saint en
dured the tedious sufferings of a painful illness, and the
energy with which he surmounted them and devoted him
self to the cares of the government of his diocese, the
labors of controversy, and the spiritual exercises which
he had been in the habit of performing: we shall find
equal reason to admire the mode of life he adopted as
soon as his state became less painful. He generally took
only five hours of sleep. The mattress he was obliged to
use, as he did not allow it to be shaken, was just like a
board. Fastened down to this painful bed, he was ready
for every thing, and occupied himself about his diocese,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 339

and listened to, and satisfied, every one. After the morning
meditation he made his preparation for holy communion,
which he never omitted, and assisted at the mass which
was celebrated by his secretary. After his thanksgiving,
which lasted an hour, he recited the canonical hours,
although with great difficulty, and, in the course of the
day, performed all his other exercises of private devotion
at their appointed hours. He took half an hour's rest,
after dinner, which was his only repast; he then made a
spiritual reading and a meditation of half an hour each,
made a visit to the Holy Sacrament, and the Blessed Vir
gin, and recited vespers and compline; after that he gave
audience, or began to study as in the morning. In fact,
he lay on his little bed, surrounded by books, and was
occupied without any intermission. "If it has been said
of St. Jerome," said a venerable ecclesiastic of Naples
who visited him, "that he triumphed over his maladies by
not ceasing to read and write, 'perpetua lectione et scrip-
tione superabat;' if there is reason to marvel at seeing all
that St. Gregory has written, although he was infirm arid in
bad health, 'infirma et aegra valetudine :' Mgr. Liguori
ought to excite still more admiration, on account of the
numerous labors to which he devoted himself when in a
worse state than St. Jerome and St. Gregory ever were."
Those who took the greatest interest in him personally,
applied to F. Villani, to get him, in his capacity of director,
to moderate such great application, that thereby he might
not shorten his days. But our saint justified himself
mildly, and replied : " I do not think that I ought to remain
idle. I could employ myself in reading, without dictating,
but my head would gain nothing by that. When I have
read for twenty minutes, or half an hour at most, I can do
no more; besides, I do not neglect my devotions; ....
but there are many days which are entirely taken up by the
affairs of my diocese, and while the visitation I have com
menced continues, all the writings must slumber. I have
been anxious to enter into all these details with your Rev
erence, in order to obtain your blessing."

340 LIFE OF ST. A.LPHONSUS.

To take his nourishment caused him extreme pain ; he
experienced the greatest difficulty in introducing any thing
like food into his mouth, and could only drink by means of
a quill. It was suggested to him to get a silver pipe made ;
but he rejected the idea with horror. At first he only made
use of a wooden pipe, but the use of hot drinks caused seve
ral of them to split. One of the lay-brothers of the Con
gregation having manufactured another sort of pipe, it
had to be thrown away because the rust destroyed it, al
though Alphonsus did not complain of it. Application
was at length made to a silversmith, who made one of sil
ver, but he was obliged to pretend that it was of some other
metal.

He was distressed at first at not being able to visit his
cherished sick. However, he supplied his place by priests
and different ecclesiastics, never neglecting to supply them,
or other poor people he heard of, with what they might
require, by means of Br. Francis, or his servant. He
wished to know about the state of those in greatest suffer
ing, day by day, and what they required in regard to fopd
and medicine. On hearing that a poor cloistered nun had
met with an accident which obliged her never to leave her
chair, although she could still sew and knit, he assigned
her an assistance of five carlins a month.

God also aided him in the exercise of his charity, and
several sick persons were cured through his prayers. F.
Joseph Morgillo, of the Congregation of Pious Workmen,
fell and broke his leg ; the bone was reset, but the opera
tion did not suceeed, and he was for ten days in great suf
fering and unable to take any rest. When Alphonsus
heard of his sad state, he sent his servant to him with a
little picture of the Blessed Virgin, telling him to have
confidence in her, and she would obtain his cure. The
Father placed the picture on his face, saying : " My Queen !
by the merits of Mgr. Liguori, deliver me from this tor
ment," and he was cured that very instant. F. Morgillo
honored this picture as long as he lived, as a relic of the
blessed bishop from whom he had received it.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 341

Alphonsus had sold his carriage during the time of the
scarcity, as we have already said, and had not since thought
of procuring another; but the doctors, on seeing his body
so paralyzed, and his mind so devoted to study, ordered
him to take a daily drive, in order to preserve a remnant of
life. Although he was always anxious to follow their ad
vice, he manifested indifference about it this time, and
when the doctors and those of his own household insisted,
he answered: " What is the use of these drives? I am well
enough as I am, and I do not suffer. The money which a
carriage and horses would cost me ought to be employed
by me in relieving the poor." On seeing, however, the
real necessity of his having it, Br. Francis and others re
solved to buy him a poor sort of a carriage, which, to
gether with the horses, caused an expense of one hundred
and thirteen ducats. At first he was told that it was a pre
sent from D. Hercules, but when he knew how it was, he
complained to Br. Tartaglione for having caused so much
expense for these things. " You could have economized,"
he wrote to him, "by buying a carriage and horses of an
inferior quality." He also wished the horses to be treated
and equipped in a manner conformable to his own ideas,
that is to say, as poorly as possible ; so his drives afforded
great diversion to the gentlemen of Arienzo. "An old
bishop," said they, " an old coachman, an old carriage,
and old horses."

These drives, though ordered for his relief, often ended
in being most painful to him. If the carriage met with any
shock by coming in contact with a stone, or from any
other cause, it was a martyrdom to Alphonsus, whose head
was as it were dislocated by each jolt. One evening, one
of the wheels met with such a shock that the spokes were all
scattered about, the carriage was upset, and it was a mira
cle that he was not killed by the blow. Br. Anthony and
the servant lifted him up in their arms with great difficulty,
but as they were not able to bear such a weight long at a
time, they were obliged to put him down on the road, at
intervals ; some poor women who were going home, per-
29*

342 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

ceived him, arid in compassion lent him a chair. On other
occasions, a shaft or other part of the harness broke,
and he had to wait in the middle of the street till it was
mended. Moreover, one of the horses had a singular

' O

habit ; after having gone through various contortions of
the head, he would suddenly lie down, and would not get
up agnin until after having been pulled by the ears for a
long while. Several times, Alphonsus was obliged to get
out of the carriage, in the middle of the road, and to re
main there patiently, if he could not be dragged to the
palace, supported by those who were with him. The in
capacity of the coachman multiplied these accidents, for
either he did not see what was in the way, or else, not
knowing how to avoid it, he ran up against something or
other at every step. Alphonsus was the only one who did
not appear to suffer, and he never thought of changing the
horses, the carriage, OK the coaclnnan. At first he went out
in the mornings and evenings, but at a later period he only
took his drive in the evening, and always in the country,
to avoid the frequent meetings which interrupted him when
driving through the town. Not to lose an instant of time,
as soon as he was seated in the carriage, he began to recite
an Ave Maria to the Blessed Virgin, and then said the Gloria
Patri three times in honor of his patron-saints, and the De
Profundis for the souls in purgatory. He had then the
life of some saint, or some other book on ecclesiastical
matters, read to him ; as he was a little deaf, they were
obliged to read in a very loud tone of voice. He most
frequently went to St. Mary de Vico, visited the Blessed
Sacrament there, and excited the people to fervor by some
holy exhortation. When he left the church, the book was
re-opened and not closed again until he re-entered the
palace court. After he had gone on with this regimen for
nearly two years, he became scrupulous about the expense
which the horses and coachman occasioned, and wished
the carriage to be sold, that its value might be distributed to
the poor. The representations of the doctors, of the Grand-
Vicar and the whole household were useless, or moved

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

him but little; but he yielded to the command of F. Vil-
lani.

After the evening meditation with his household, he re
cited matins and lauds with his secretary, and then resumed
his studies. All his household assembled again about nine
o'clock, and recited the rosary and night prayers. The
grand-vicar then went to supper with the rest, while Al-
phonsus prolonged his studies until midnight, and when
they brought him a miserable collation, which generally
consisted of a little coffee or milk, or even of nothing but
lemonade or pure water, he took it with the watch in hand.
" I have witnessed the long sufferings of the saint," said
F. Buonoparie, " and I have admired his marvellous and
truly Christian modesty; this appeared in things almost
too undignified to be related; when, for example, he went
to bed at midnight, he took off his under garments himself,
and after he had got into bed with great pain, he had his
stockings pulled off, underneath the clothes."

'The celebration of mass was the only thing wanting in
the life of Alphonsus. This privation, and it was one
which he felt the most, lasted for more than two years, dur
ing which time he had been obliged to be satisfied with
receiving holy communion from the hands of the priest
whose mass he heard. One day he related his distress to
F. Marcorio. an Augustinian, who had come to invite him
to preach in their church on the occasion of the feast of the
Girdle; this Father told him that necessity dispensed him
from the less essential parts, and that by placing himself on
a chair he could easily take the precious blood. Alphon
sus received this advice with a transport of joy, and tried
to put it in practice, and after two or three attempts, he
had the exceeding consolation to celebrate on the following
day. After vespers he went to preach at St. Augustine's,
and could not cease thanking him who had suggested
such a happy expedient. From this time he celebrated
mass every day, and obtained permission from Rome to say
that of the Blessed Virgin at all times. As he was most
exact in observing all the rubrics, he would bend his knee

344 LIFE OF ST. ALPHOJVSUS.

until he touched the platform, which rendered the genu
flexions most painful to him ; and when he wished to raise
the knee again, it fell heavily back, and he only succeeded
in standing up again by the aid of another person, so that
when the mass was over, he was in a perspiration, and
quite exhausted. But, notwithstanding, the fervor of his
devotion was so great that he appeared like an angel, and
when he prepared to take the precious blood, his face be
came inflamed like that of a man ravished out of himself.
For his thanksgiving, he heard the mass of his chaplain, or
of another priest, sitting down, but at the words " Et incar-
natus est," he fell to the ground, full of compunction, and
remained there bending profoundly; he did the same at the
consecration, and each time he required assistance in sit
ing down again. All the time he had been unable to say
mass, he never forgot his people, but had mass said for
them by one or the other of the Fathers of his Congregation.
Such was Alphonsus' condition during all the remaining
time of his episcopate; and, all the while, he retrenched
none of his austerities or labors. In order to be accessible
to all, he caused his bed to be placed in a room where every
one might come to him, and this was his only apartment, or
to speak more correctly, his sole apartment was his bed: ex
cept for the meditation, he had no fixed hours, and wished
the door to be open to every body, but the poor were es
pecially privileged. Not a day passed in which he did not
receive or dispatch several messages, either for remedy
ing some disorder or to inquire into the state of things.
However great had been his vigilance up to this time, it ap
peared to be redoubled in these latter years, and as he who
fears that he will not be able to attain his end hastens his
steps in order to reach it, so Alphonsus, always imagining
that he did not fulfil his office well, unceasingly redoubled
his solicitude in order to accomplish his duties better. As
soon as he heard of any disorder, he took no rest; he asked
advice, examined into it, and provided for its removal.
There was not a single day that he did not cause some
priest or episcopal vicar to come to Arienzo, in order to

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 345

become acquainted with all that could concern him. " You
see in what state I am," he said to the priests, " if you are
not careful in informing me of all the disorders which oc
cur, you will be responsible for all the mischief, and should
you not do so, remember that from this time I accuse you
of them before the tribunal of God." When he was in
formed of any abuse through the medium of some one
else, and not by the priest, especially if this latter had kept
silence through human respect, he lost all peace, and in
spite of all his mildness, he never concealed from any one
how much he felt it.

This vigilance had for its objects, as usual, the clergy,
the religious, and the laity ; and when there was any scandal,
and when paternal exhortations were of no avail, he had
recourse to the help of the great, and even to that of the
king in case of need. When any disorder was to be
checked, he did not suffer it to be deferred until the fol
lowing day, if it could be done at once. " He neither
took food nor rest," said his grand-vicar, "until he saw
the evil cut down to the roots, arid when any matter of this
sort was in question, the only meal he took in the whole
course of that day was the evening one."

He required to be informed of the way in which things
were going on in the seminary, several times a week. He
very often caused F. Caputo to come to Arienzo. Some
times he sent for those students whose conduct and labors
were distinguished as being exemplary, and made them
give an account of the conduct of the others. He was es
pecially vigilant over those who stayed at home on account
of indisposition, taking every possible care to ascertain
whether the necessity for thus staying away was real or
only pretended, and he particularly recommended them to
the care of the priests and episcopal vicars. When he re
ceived information of the misconduct of a seminarist, he
caused him to be reproved, and if this was not followed by
amendment, the subject was expelled ; so that the young
pupils were much more afraid of displeasing their bishop,
when he was paralytic and stretched on his sick bed, than

346 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

when he was up and well. After the few first years, he
had forbidden the vacations being passed out of the estab
lishment; but he wished that all suitable recreations should
be afforded in the seminary, and that nothing should be
spared which could in this respect conduce to the health
of the pupils. The reason of this redoubled severity and
vigilance towards the seminarists, as well as towards the
candidates for ordination and the faculties of confessors,
was, as he said to a canon, that he did not wish to aive his

' O

successor occasion to weep over sin.

He no sooner gained a little strength than he wished to
perform also the ministry of the word, and again went about
preaching, wherever any solemnity gave a prospect of a
numerous audience. On account of his great infirmities,
he required several persons to place him in the carriage,
and to aid him in ascending the pulpit. Whilst he preached,
his face could not be $een ; his arm only moved about to
wards the people ; however, he went on unhesitatingly for
hours, and it was uncertain whether his words, or the touch
ing spectacle he himself presented, were the most affecting.
He was conducted to the church, every year, when mass
was celebrated on Holy Saturday, after which he seated
himself at the side of the altar, and announced the Easter
feast to the people, endeavoring, by a picture of the resur
rection of Jesus Christ, to excite his children to rise to life
by a spiritual resurrection, and strongly urged all those
who had not yet fulfilled their Easter duty to comply with
this holy command. He was particularly watchful in see
ing that the priests did not omit to instruct the people and
catechise the children.

He opened, in person, the Visitation, on the 2d of July,
in the year 1769, in the collegiate church of Arienzo, being
assisted thither and supported by his servants. It was a
sight which caused all present to shed tears; he preached
to the people and to the clergy, and made all the necessary
arrangements. He also continued to visit this college and
the adjacent villages every year himself, until 1774, a year
before his resignation, when his state made it quite impos-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 347

sible for him to do so. He always felt the greatest interest
in these pastoral visitations. " However flourishing a graft
may be," said he, "if the trunk on which it is grafted is
not pruned of its wild shoots, they will be like so many
natural branches which will exhaust the graft. The same
thing occurs in the culture of souls," continued he, "if
one does not cut away all that is wild, that is to say, all
that nature produces of herself, the good that one has
grafted in cannot fail to perish." As he was unable to go
to distant places in person, he supplied his place by the
grand-vicar, to whom he especially commended the poor,
the widows, and those innocent souls whom indigence ex
poses to the danger of being lost.

As the observance of discipline in regard to the choir,
and vestments, had suffered a little in consequence of his
absence from the Cathedral of St. Agatha, he issued an
edict, in 1770, renewing the ordinances he had formerly
decreed on these subjects. He was informed that a priest
had transgressed some of his decrees, especially in regard
to some church furniture which he ought to have renewed,
whereupon he sequestered twelve ducats from his income,
in order to make these repairs, which he entrusted to the
management of a canon. He noticed that the church of
Bucciano was dirty and too small for the people, and, sev
eral times, let the priest know that it required to be en
larged. The priest was afraid of the trouble and expense,
and could not resolve to commence the work, but as Al-
phonsus thought that the holy mysteries could not be
decently celebrated in the church, he ordered, in the visi
tation of 1773, that some adjacent ground should be
bought within the space of one month, and he had the sat
isfaction of seeing a large edifice erected, and one worthy
of the purpose for which it was consecrated.

Though he had not sufficient strength to give the spiritual
exercises to the priests and religious, as before, he assem
bled them together at his palace, and during at least three
days, reminded them of the duties of their state. Thus
Alphonsus, although paralytic, was always vigilant in driv-

348 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

ing away wolves from his flock, and in procuring the
spiritual advantage of his sheep by every possible means.
He unceasingly fortified his people by his counsels and
the bread of the Word, and sent zealous missionaries
wherever he could not go himself. The zeal for the glory
of God, which formed a chief trait in his character, actuated
him unceasingly, up to the moment when he quitted the
diocese. " A hundred bishops put together," Archdeacon
Rainone said, " would not have done what Mgr. Liguori
alone did, notwithstanding all his infirmities."

We have seen the wise counsels Alphonsus gave to his
brother, D. Hercules, on his second marriage; he took,
however, a still greater interest in the spiritual welfare of
his nephews. D. Hercules had four children by his second
wife, three boys and one daughter, and he wished Alphon
sus to be the god-father for all four. During D. Marianne's
first pregnancy, D. Hercules took her to Arienzo. Both
wished that they would obtain a male child; Alphonsus,
however, gave a little picture of the Blessed Virgin to
Marianne, and said : " You will not give birth to a boy, but
to a girl, and I should like you to call her Maria Theresa
And this really came to pass. His gift to her, on occa
sion of the baptism, was a relic of St. Agatha, which he
had himself received as a present; it was in a little silver
box which did not exceed a few cents in value. D. Her
cules then entreated Alphonsus to pray to God to grant
him a male child. He went with his wife to Ariola, where
Alphonsus then was, during her second pregnancy. When
they took leave of him, they again asked of him to pray
to God to grant them a son. In reply, he gave D. Marianne
two pictures of St. Louis, and told her to be of good
courage, and that God would certainly comfort her. Two
pictures of the same saint seemed undoubtedly a mystery;
but D. Marianne was delivered of twin sons. They were
comforted by the birth of a third son after this.

Alphonsus took a great interest in the education of his
nephews, that they might imbibe the milk of piety, be
times. The priest, their tutor, related that there came no

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 349

letter from St. Agatha in which he did not urge his brother
to attend to the education of his children. He even com
posed a short rule for them, which was appropriate to their
age, in order that they might pass the day devoutly. In a
letter to D. Hercules, of the 4th of December, 1770, he
expresses himself thus: "For the love of God often call to
mind what I have urged upon you so frequently in regard to
the business of your eternal salvation. I am pleased to hear
that my little god-sons practice the devotions I have recom
mended for them. I hope they will be inclined to become
saints." When, once, D. Hercules introduced his three sons
to their uncle, at Arienzo, he looked at the twins, and said :
" If you should lose one of these two, should you be very sad
at it?" Alphonsus had prophesied ; for after some months,
one of the twin-brothers died. The disconsolate and aged
father came to St. Agatha to seek for comfort from his
saintly brother, when he reminded him of his prophecy.
"Do not say any more to me," he said to him, "for your
prophecies are too inauspicious." "Fear no more," re
plied Alphonsus, "for you will preserve the sons who
now remain to you, and you will see them live and grow
old."

He himself, after having instructed them, gave them con
firmation, and whenever they came to see him, he explained
to them their duties towards God and their parents, the
hideousness of sin, and how much bad conduct dishonors
a Christian and a gentleman. He, above all, tried to in
spire them with love for Jesus Christ, and a tender devo
tion towards the Blessed Virgin. When they grew up, D.
Hercules intended to place them in the college of the
nobility, and communicated his design to his brother, who
replied on the 15th of December, 1771, saying: "I cannot
approve of your project, because I have not an over good
opinion of that establishment; besides, boys are not fit to
enter a college until they are at least ten or twelve years of
age. In order to prevent their imbibing vice in their very
infancy, it is good for them at present to remain with you,
and when God wills it, it will be time to think of their going
30

350 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

elsewhere; but I repeat, that they ought not to go to the
college now. I should like to know where they may best
be placed so as to become virtuous as well as learned."
He heard that the college of Nunziatella would pass into
the hands of the Fathers of the Pious Schools, otherwise
called the Tommasque Fathers; he therefore wrote to his
brother, saying: "Should this college be under the direc
tion of these Fathers, I should be inclined to wish that my
nephews should be entrusted to the management of these
good priests, because they are especially pains-taking, from
the first, in forming the children who are confided to them
properly, and thus your sons would make more progress in
three or four years, than they would make elsewhere in
twice that time." In another letter,"he had said, "The
malice of but one is enough to cause the ruin of a hundred.
Keep them under your own eyes, and God will provide for
the rest, when the proper time shall come. For your part,
have their spiritual good at heart, and Providence will take
care to supply their temporal wants, without injury to those
of the soul."

D. Hercules wished to present his two sons to the king,
but Alphonsus wished him not to do it. " If the king were
to tell you," he wrote to him, "that he wishes to have
them as cadets in the brigade or some other regiment, you
will be obliged to make them cadets or soldiers, and thus
to risk the loss of their souls as well as that of their bodies.
I see that you do not enter into my sentiments as to the
way of bringing up these dear little children, and you do
the contrary of what I tell you. You are their father, there
fore you can do what you please, but I am greatly afraid
that you will one day have cause to repent of some misfor
tune, which you will then be unable to remedy. The love
which I bear towards you and your children has made me
write thus."

It came to pass that D. Marianne became tormented with
scruples, and at last lost her senses. "I sympathize in
your sorrow," Alphonsus wrote to D. Hercules, on the 5th
of April, 1768, "in regard to the calamity which has be-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 351

fallen D. Marianne, and I beg God to give you patience.
Since he has sent you this cross, you must accept it with
good courage, otherwise it will become more weighty, and
you will be still obliged to bear it." " I beg your reverence,"
he wrote to F. Villani, on this subject, " to recommend my
brother to God, and to write to all our houses to pray for
D. Marianne, for my poor brother is in great distress."

D. Charles Cavalieri, the general, and governor of Man
tua, a cousin of Alphonsus, died in the beginning of the
year 1770, and left to him and D. Hercules sixty thousand
ducats. Alphonsus did not hesitate to yield it all without
reserve to his brother. He expressed himself in the fol
lowing terms on this subject, and in regard to all that might
happen of a similar sort at any other time : " I do not wish
for rents, or possessions, or for any thing else I may have
a claim to; even were I to be no longer bishop, I could
live on my income from the college of doctors. Be satis
fied, therefore, and be not uneasy on this head ; it is enough
for you to know that I lay no claim to any money from you,
either for the past or for the future."

By all this, we see that neither his various and great in
firmities, nor his solicitude as a pastor, could stifle the senti
ments of tenderness he owed to his nephews. Neither did
he forget his dear children of the Congregation. In order
to cause virtue and evangelical perfection to flourish, which
he had formerly taught by his example, he wrote the fol
lowing circular on the 26th of February, 1771 : " You al
ready know that within a short time God has called several
of our companions into eternity ; you also know how much
the Congregation is persecuted. However, none of all this
gives me any alarm. But I am alarmed at seeing some
amongst us who have little fervor and numerous faults. St.
Philip Neri said that ten holy workmen would suffice for
the conversion of the whole world. I write to you this
time with tearful eyes, for I hear that several amongst you
correspond badly with the end for which God called them
into our little Congregation, and that they allow themselves
to be governed by a spirit of pride. God cannot dwell in

352 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

hearts where Christian humility, fraternal charity, and peace
are absent. Our sin in not corresponding to God's grace
makes me tremble more than the most furious persecutions
from men and devils ; God will protect us against these
enemies, when we live according to His will, and then we
can say: c Si Deus pro nobis, quis contra nosT but if we
behave ill towards God, He will chastise instead of protect
ing us. T feel great displeasure when I hear that any of the
young amongst you do not live according to evangelical
perfection, which is the peculiar duty of laborers of Jesus
Christ; but the pain I suffer is still more keen, and the
sadness of my heart is still greater, when I am told that
faults of insubordination and of non-observance of the rule
are committed by the fathers, or by the most aged and most
ancient brothers, by those, in short, who ought to serve as
models for the younger and those recently received.

11 In my letters and my discourses, I have always enforced
fioly obedience and submission to superiors, who are the
interpreters of the will of God here below. On these de
pend good order, the glory of God, the success of the Mis,-
sions, and the peace of our souls. . . . Reform and zeal
are talked of by some, but no thoughts are entertained by
them of reforming their own conduct, which is more evil
than that of the rest. . . . God wishes to have obedience
and respectful submission to superiors from you, rather than
a hundred sacrifices, and a thousand more striking works.
God wishes us to be poor, and contented with the poverty
we profess ; and we ought to thank Him if by His mercy we
have bread to eat, and if He provides us with the necessa
ries of life. He who is not satisfied to lead a life of poverty
amongst us, in food and clothing, had better take leave of
our society without troubling us further, and can go and
live as he likes at home.

" What ought to be the principal aim of him who enters
the Congregation, but that of pleasing God and making a
good death ? and this grace has already been obtained by
many of our good brothers, who have now passed into
eternity, and who are at present, I feel assured, all occu-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 353

pied in thanking God for having caused them to die in the
Congregation.

"Let each of you renounce the vain glory of shining, in
preaching the word of God. . . . We must not preach
ourselves, but Jesus Christ crucified ; we must proclaim His
glory, and not display our vanity ; I pray God to send His
chastisements down on those who preach with vanity ; I
wish, yes, I wish that they may be rendered unable to as
cend the pulpit of truth, and I hope that my desires will be
granted. . . .

"I am persuaded that God preserves my life at so
advanced an age, in order to remedy the disorders which
have arisen, to the detriment of the work of the Mission
aries; and I am resolved to remedy them at all costs. God
does not require many. It is sufficient if but few remain,
if those few be good : a few of this latter sort will do more
good than a great number of the imperfect, proud, and dis
obedient. ... I say to all who may despise the advice I
have just given, that at the judgment day they will find that
I shall be their first accuser before the tribunal of Jesus
Christ. I have never ceased to give the same warnings to
all my brothers, but notwithstanding all that I have said,
many turn their backs on God by quitting the Congregation.
I shall expect to see these miserable beings, and all who
may resemble them, at the day of judgment. . . .

"I advise you all to observe exactly the praiseworthy
practices in use amongst us for the promotion of piety and
sanctification. I enforce obedience to superiors, and love
towards Jesus Christ and His adorable passion. I do the
same also in regard to prayer, the spiritual exercises, and
the customary retreat. Let him who loves Jesus Christ
be obedient, let him be contented with all, and always re
main in tranquillity."

It is thus that the saintly founder encouraged his sons,
and never let them stand still in the way of perfection.
However slight an infraction of the rule might be commit
ted in the Congregation, it did not remain unpunished.
" Uncorrected faults," said he, "become an established
30*

354 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

evil." On hearing that some clerics had become lax in the
practice of virtue, and unsteady in the observance of the
rule, he was not satisfied with forbidding them to receive
holy orders, but wished that they should be sent back into the
Noviciate, in order that they might there regain the fervor
which was lacking in them, and he did not pardon them un
til he was assured of their amendment. The exterior trials
of the Congregation, however, caused him to act with more
circumspection, and he was not so prompt as usual in pro
nouncing sentence of exclusion, in order not to increase
the fire, and cast oil on the flames, by giving the discon
tented the occasion to join the enemies without. Two
subjects were tired of the rule, and no longer took the
trouble to observe it; Alphonsus sent for them to Arienzo
and spoke to them, but without success. In their blind
ness they went so far as to say that they would remain
in the Congregation invspite even of him, and that if any
attempt were made to dismiss them, they would know how
to act. Alphonsus, in sorrow that the circumstances of the
times did not allow them to be expelled, said that that,
which he did not do God would do for him ; and so it came
to pass, one of them asked for a dispensation to go that
same year, and the other speedily followed his example.
" I know," he wrote to the Superior of Frosinone, " that it is
necessary to have the patience of a saint with some, and to
go on waiting without gaining what one wishes for; but
what can be done ? Let us aid the bark as much as we can,
and if we meet with scandals, let us not hesitate: let us re
press them by the punishments they deserve. It is our
duty to punish them, and we must fulfil our duty, let what
will happen." And to F. Cajone, he wrote, "I beg your
reverence, to govern with all possible mildness, added to
great firmness against all attacks against the rule, for they
do us more harm than all our persecutions. When it is
necessary to use correction, do it privately in the first place,
and with charity, and treat every one with affability and
kindness."

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 355

The persecutions mentioned in these letters were those
of which we have spoken above, on occasion of which he
had visited Naples; for the enemies of his Congregation
had only desisted from their attacks while he was there, re
solved to return to the assault at a more opportune time,
with renewed strength, and with expedients which it would
be more difficult to ward off. Thus they gave a false inter
pretation to the decision of the king when he said that he
did not acknowledge the houses as religious communities,
and drew matter for accusation from it, whiah seemed to
furnish them with an engine too formidable to resist. They
applied also to the king, and obtained an order to get a
copy of the rule which had been approved of by the Pope, in
the hope of finding therein arms wherewith to combat the
Missionaries advantageously; and then drew up a fresh peti
tion filled with calumnies. As nothing was then talked of
but Jesuitism, they took advantage of this and represented
the Congregation as forming only a branch of the Jesuits, or
rather as being Jesuits in disguise. They thought themselves
so sure of success that they considered the Missionaries as
already lost. However, all their boasts did not succeed in
discouraging Alphonsus. He tried to make his children
share in his confidence, and constantly repeated to them:
" People say that all will be put an end to, after my death ;
I maintain that this Congregation does not come from me,
and that it does not depend on my existence. It is the
work of God, who has preserved it for forty-two years, and
he will continue to maintain it. ... Our stability depends
on God in the first place, and then upon our own good
conduct ; let us therefore be careful to unite ourselves to
God, to observe our rules, and to be charitable towards all;
let us be contented even with our miseries, and above all,
let us strive to be humble, because a little pride may destroy
us in the same manner as it has so many other societies."
The Fathers of the Congregation had not so much confi
dence ; their fears were founded on the old age and the
impaired health of the bishop of St. Agatha. F. Villani
went to Arienzo in 1772, accompanied by some of the

356 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

other fathers, and with tearful eyes implored him to repair
again to Naples to appease so furious a tempest. They
spoke so plainly that Alphonsus discovered the real cause
of their fears, and told them to tranquilize themselves.
"Do not be afraid that I shall die yet," he added ; but as
they continued to urge him still more earnestly, he said to
them several times over: "Do not fear for the Congrega
tion, and be assured that I shall live some time longer."

Maffey, at this time, changed his course and his artifices;
he applied to the prime minister and left off addressing
himself to the minister of ecclesiastical affairs, who had
begun to be aware of his character. The prime minister,
Marquis Tanucci, looked, or pretended to look on Maffey
in a favorable point of view, and attributed all he did to
nothing but zeal, the more so as the latter had also gained
over some of the minister's clerks by means of his gifts; he
therefore ordered the advocate of the king to proceed with
the utmost rigor in regard to the heads put forth in the pe
tition, and particularly as to the accusation, that acquisi
tions had been made by the Missionaries in the kingdom
and in the State of Benevento which had been carefully
concealed by equivocation, while they ought not to possess
anything. When these details were related to Alphonsus,
he was not discouraged : " Let us act as we ought towards
God," said he, "and He will aid us; for God can do more
than man. Let us have recourse to the assistance of pray
er. Innocence and prayer are all-powerful." He recom
mended that prayers should be offered in all the houses,
and he never wrote any letters to his friends in which he
did not also beg their prayers.

Another cause of distress to our Saint also happened
about this time at Palermo. A period of repose had been
enjoyed there since the first anxieties that their enemies had
caused the Missionaries, though Alphonsus had always
feared this calm more than a storm ; he had written to them
on the 30th of April, 1771, saying: "I feel great consola
tion at the exercises you have given, I derive comfort from
them, but on the other hand these very consolations fill me

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 357

with fear. St. Theresa said that persecutions are signs that
the seed sown produces fruit ; you are without persecu
tions, but here we are plentifully supplied with them; how
ever, God assists us." He was so ill and in such suffering
that he signed this letter: 'Brother Alphonsus Maria the
cripple.' And indeed this tranquillity was not of long dura
tion in Sicily. Their adversaries returned to attack them
with renewed strength ; they heaped up calumnies upon
calumnies, and stirred up again those which they had al
ready spread against the Missionaries, as being Molinists
and Probabilists, dangerous to the State and to the Church,
and pursued their persecutions against them even in Naples.
When Alphonsus saw affairs take this turn, he did not fail
to justify himself and his Congregation to the king and his
ministers.

About the same time, Maffey devised a snare into which
the Missionaries would have fallen, if Alphonsus, assisted by
light from on high, had not been able to avoid it. Maffey
got into new difficulties with the people of Iliceto, and
tried to secure the Missionaries as mediators between him
and his adversaries; there were several influential persons,
their friends, who approved of this proposal, and exhorted
them to bring the negociation to a satisfactory end ; but
Alphonsus, being informed of all this, answered : " It
would be the means of alienating the minds of the inhab
itants from us, without giving any hope of a reconciliation
with Maffey; he is an untractable man, whom it is impos
sible to pacify, besides, what we might say to the people in
favor of Maffey would be of no avail ; they would all be
lieve that we speak, not because he is right, but to win his
friendship. On the other hand, everything makes me be
lieve, that in whatever way one may turn in the matter,
right will always be found on the side of the people. . . .
I am then decidedly of opinion, that no one belonging to
the Congregation must accept the office of mediator on any
terms." When Maffey saw that his scheme on the subject
of mediation was disconcerted, he endeavored to render
the complaints of the people against him ineffectual, by

358 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

representing the Missionaries as instigators and as the
leaders of a party, and the credit he enjoyed with the Mar
quis of Tanucci influenced that minister in his favor.
When Alphonsus saw that the fire was lit at both extremi
ties, he felt that it was time to try and prevent a general
conflagration; he therefore recalled his sons from Sicily.
"If God wishes us to be there," he said to them, "he will
not lack means of .procuring our return, and you will then
return blessing God and the king." This retreat was a
cause of lively distress to Mgr. Lanza. " Who cannot see
the triumph of hell therein ?" he said. "You will go away
from Sicily, but you shall return there again, in spite of
hell; and if it is necessary for me to sell my mitre and my
cross in order to attain this end, I will sell them for God,
for you, and for this work." The most respectable of the
people of the town and of the clergy shared in their pastor's
sentiments; and though the departure of the Missionaries
took place secretly, and during the night, a great multitude
accompanied them to the shore, deploring the loss which
their departure would be to the town, and the blank they
would leave there ; and they had scarcely embarked, whe'n
the clergy and all the religious orders of Girgenti, the cheva
liers and ladies, magistrates and men of letters, united to
address petitions to the king to obtain their return. Some
of them had also recourse to Alphonsus for the same pur
pose; and thirty-eight ladies in particular, and twenty-eight
chevaliers, wrote to him, saying: "As we have addressed
an energetic petition to the king to implore his clemency,
the urgency of our spiritual wants also compels us to
implore your lordship's assistance."

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 359

CHAPTER XXVI.

Jllphonsus seeks io resign. He publishes several Works.
His Congregation is established in the States of the
Church. He publishes still other Works. He assists at
the death of Pope Clement XIV. His sentiments on the
Election of a new Pope. His Missionaries return to
Sicily.

A LPHONSUS, seeing the dangers his Congregation in-
J\. curred, on one hand, and believing, on the other, that
his infirmities and great age rendered him of little use to his
Church while he could still be of service to his sons, resolved
again to resign the episcopate. He had thought of doing so
before, but the differences which existed between the court
of Naples and that of Rome in regard to the election of
bishops, had made him defer taking any step in the matter,
from the fear that his Church would be left without a shep
herd for a long time. When the two courts had settled
the matter in debate, he represented to the Pope in the
year 1772, through Cardinal Castelli, all the reasons which
led him to tender his resignation, protesting at the same
time that he was far from wishing to do his own will, and that
he meant to depend entirely on that of his Holiness, and
that he was equally ready to give up the bishopric, or to
die under the burden of his office. The Pope was greatly
edified by his submission to the head of the Church ; but as
he was aware of the very great good Alphonsus still effected,
he replied to him in a brief, in which he expressed himself
in the most consolatory manner, in order to encourage him
to continue his administration ; and when Cardinal Cas
telli solicited him to consider the old age of the saintly
bishop, arid to release him from his burthen, his Holiness
replied: "That it would suffice if D. Alphonsus ruled over
his diocese from his bed:" and when the Cardinal wanted
to show him his incapacity in regard to making his visita
tions, the Pope answered him: "One simple prayer ad-

360 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

dressed by him to God from his bed, is worth more than if
he went about his diocese a hundred times." Alphon-
sus, when he heard that the Pope's opinion was contrary
to his request, bent his head, and submitted his will to that
of the Vicar of Jesus Christ.

The Fathers of the Congregation, and several bishops,
his friends, seeing him in such a deplorable state that his
very appearance inspired compassion, thought they ought
to persuade him to make a formal resignation, but however
feeble he felt for so weighty a charge, he would never con
sent to this. " The voice of the Pope," said he, "is to me
as the voice of God, and I shall die content now under the
burthen of the episcopate." As they went on to urge him
with reasons which seemed to authorize this step, he one
day extricated himself from their importunities by answer
ing cheerfully: " The present Pope is a man who does not
yield easily; if I wpre to give him my resignation, he
would not accept it; let us be patient, and wait for his suc
cessor." At this every one burst out laughing, as Alphon-
sus was nearly broken down and paralytic, while the Pope
was still robust and young, numbering seventeen years less
in age. He had prophesied truly, however. Pope Clement
XIV, contrary to all expectations, died two years after this,
while Alphonsus continued to live on and to labor. An
other reason made him afterwards renounce the idea of
abdicating, and even caused him to expel the thought of it
as a temptation. Numerous candidates aspired to succeed
him in the church of St. Agatha, and he heard that the
Pope would be obliged, in order to supply his place, to
yield to the efforts of a powerful party, who favored a sub
ject who was unfit to govern the diocese. He said on this
occasion : " I would rather die the most painful death, than
see my beloved sheep in the mouth of a wolf."

In a circular, addressed, about this time, to all the houses
of his Congregation, after having exhorted them to a more
exact observance of the rule, and a more fervent practice
of virtue, in order to merit the favor and assistance of God,
he says: "I repeat to you, the tempest rages "iolently.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 361

Let each one recommend the Congregation to God, and
let three litanies be said daily, in common, with three ' De
Profuntlis.' We stand in need of prayer, and there is no one
who will aid us but the Blessed Virgin ; but prayers will be
of little use to us, if we do not correct our faults. I can
do no more; I who am very decrepid, and in bed, all para
lyzed. What should I or could I do? It is you, my chil
dren, who must support the Congregation, and be assured,
that, if we behave properly, God will always assist us, and
the more poor, and despised, and persecuted we may be,
the more good we shall do, and the greater also will be the
reward which Jesus Christ will give us in heaven."

Notwithstanding all the bodily and mental sufferings with
which he was laden, Alphonsus did not cease to think
and labor for the welfare of the Church in general. In
order to impress the sacred wounds of Jesus crucified in
the hearts of the faithful, he wrote down the points of his
meditations on the subject. The title of this little book is :
" Reflections on divers spirtual subjects." It is considered
by every one to be admirably adapted to win the hearts of men
to that of Jesus Christ. It contains a lively description of
the whole passion of our Blessed Saviour, as well as of the
most powerful motives to excite us to love Him. Although
he had combatted the unbelieving in a dissertation which*
was published in the year 1756, and had done so again
still more recently, in his book ' On the Truth of Faith/
yet in consideration of the ravages they were continually
making, he once more attacked them, in a dissertation
entitled, ' Reflections on the Truth of Divine Revela
tion, against the opposing principles of the Deists.' "If
the enemies of our religion," said he, " are never satisfied,
although they fight against it by thousands of books, which
they publish daily, why should the friends of religion get
tired of defending it?"

In his zeal which knew no bounds, he also undertook

another work, which was intended to be of use to religion,

and to separate the true doctrine from the errors which in

former ages had endeavored to stifle it. In order to place

31

362 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

all the evils which the Church has suffered before the eyes
of the faithful, and to show them all the noxious things
which error has at all time emitted against her, he put to
gether in three volumes the history of all the heresies which
have existed since the birth of Christianity up to our own
days. In this work he also animadverts particularly on the
innovators of modern times, and shows the contradictions
of their doctrine, and the invariable stability of the Roman
Church. This history of the heresies was finished in 1772,
and published under the title of " The triumph of the
Church." The author defends the infallibility of the Pope
and his pre-eminence in the Church in a special manner,
and combats the errors of Jansenius and his followers, in
particular. For this reason, a canon who held the Gallican
opinions strongly, did not approve of the work and op
posed it, but this opposition was of no consequence ; it
was printed after the saintly author had written a letter to
the ecclesiastical examiner.

Another work caused him more serious embarrassment;
it was his collection of Sermons, which he published about
the same time. One of his enemies denounced this work
to the authorities, as containing things which might be
displeasing to the Sovereign, and therefore the publica
tion of it was hindered for nearly a year. But at last when
the report of the examiner became known, the intrigue
was put an end to, and the work was published, to the sat
isfaction of the minister, and the glory of Alphonsus.
Some letters were added to this book, in the form of an ap
pendix. The first is written to a young student, deliberating
on the choice of a state of life. It places before him the
great good he may derive from the spiritual exercises made
during a retreat. In the second, Alphonsus represents the
great utility of missions to a bishop, and settles all the dif
ficulties concerning them ; and in the last, which is ad
dressed to a religious, he treats of the manner of preaching
with apostolical simplicity.

We have also another very precious little book which the
saintly bishop published at this time, under the title of

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 363

'The true Happiness of Man, and on his submission to
the will of God.' One may truly say that this treatise was
inspired, rather than composed. A pious person was so
moved by the benefit he had himself derived from it, that
he caused it to be printed and gratuitously distributed
every where.

In the year 1773, God willed, that, though in the midst of
so many troubles, Alphonsus should yet see his Congrega
tion happily augmented by two new foundations, in the
states of the Church. Mgr. Sarni, the Bishop of Aquinas,
having ardently wished for his Missionaries for many years
without being able to obtain them, renewed his entreaties
in March of this year. In the following November, Al
phonsus destined nine fathers for these missions, under
the direction of D. Francis of Paul. The labors of the
missionaries, who were divided in two companies, were
every where attended with the greatest success, and the
fruits of salvation which they produced caused them
to be earnestly asked for, to preach also in other dio
ceses. During the course of these missions, D. Francis,
with another father, visited the celebrated abbey of Casa-
mary, of the Order of the Trappists. These religious
proposed to them to establish a house of the Congrega
tion, for the advantage of the numerous inhabitants of the
neighboring country, at Scifelli, (which is not far from
La Trappe,) where there was a church, just then vacated by
John Louis Arnaud, who, in his zeal for aiding the villages
in these parts, had erected it as well as a commodious
habitation for himself, and who had been lately nominated
by Mgr. Giacomini, Bishop of Verali, as his Grand Vicar.
The bishop, when he heard of this plan of the Trappists,
was filled with joy, and agreed with D. Arnaud in wishing
for the projected foundation, and wrote to Alphonsus to
inform him of the neglected state of the souls in those parts,
in order to obtain his consent to it. When the bishop had
obtained also the consent of Pope Clement XIV, the
foundation was decided on, Alphonsus looking on it as in
spiration from on high. "I have consented to let this

364 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

foundation be made," he wrote to D. Francis of Paul on
the 28th of May, 1773. " I have written to thank the
Abbe Arnaud for it ; it is to him that we are indebted for
all concerning it." The fathers were to live with D. Ar
naud ; so Alphonsus was most anxious that perfect harmony
should exist between them and him, and took particular
pains in advising F. Francis of Paul, the Rector of the new
house, to do all that he could to obtain this end. "Take
•care," he wrote to him, " not to displease him in things
which are not absolutely contrary to the good order of the
iiouse. Many things must be yielded for the sake of peace
and convenience. He has conferred good on us, and may
do so again. Let him see that you esteem him, and listen
to his opinions as far as possible. Nevertheless, I advise
jou to keep up the observance of the rule from the com
mencement of this foundation. I beg you to do this for
the love of God and your neighbor."

Poverty and misery were also the portion of this new
Iiouse. Alphonsus did not fail to assist it; not, however,
with the revenues of his diocese, but with that which he
received at Naples from the College of Doctors. " Tell
^11 the subjects in my name," he wrote to F. Francis of
Paul, " to remember that this foundation is new, and situ
ated in another kingdom. In all new foundations it is
necessary to suffer, and to suffer much, both on account of
their poverty, and also because one has to deal with people
one does not know. If they wish to please Jesus Christ,
let them read what the saints suffered in the first establish
ments, and how they thereby became saints."

At this period, the Fathers were also laboring to be es
tablished in Rome, but Alphonsus did not approve of this
project ; he replied to him who had made to him this propo
sition: " I have read your long letter, but I do not approve
of your reasons; what is the good of wasting time about
these things, since God does not wish for them :" When
the Jesuits were suppressed, the Pope, of his own accord,
conceived the idea of giving those of the Congregation a
convent in Rome. F. Francis of Paul believed that Al-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 365

phonsus would at length favor his wishes, but he answered
him as follows, on the 25th August, 1774 : " I am rejoiced
at what you tell me about Mgr. Macedonio, and about the
Pope's favorable disposition in our regard. But we have
cause to thank God that this affair has come to nothing.
If the Pope had persisted in such a design, I would have
written energetically to him, even if I had had the whole
Congregation against me, to try and get him to abandon
this project. What have we to do in Rome, let me ask
you? The Congregation would be lost, because we should
be distracted from the work of our mission, and we should
lose sight of the end of our institute. A bastard work
would result from this, and that would be all the profit we
should derive from it. There are many besides us, who can
do all that we have been asked to do in Rome, and in the
midst of the great multitudes who inhabit this town, what
good can we produce there ? .... If we are placed in the
midst of prelates, lords, and courtly people, adieu to mis
sions, and adieu to the country ; we shall become courtiers,
greedy after praise and riches. May Jesus Christ deliver
us from this. Finally, let us thank God for the good
opinion the Pope has of us." He was more pleased with
foundations in towns or villages which he saw were desti
tute and deprived of the bread of life, as was seen, when,
about the same time, he was applied to for a new founda
tion at Frosinone, also in the ecclesiastical States, and in
the diocese of Verali. The discalceated Augustinian
Fathers had abandoned a church and a hospice which they
had had under the title of St. Mary of Grace ; these were of
fered to the Missionaries, and Alphonsus did not hesitate
to accept the foundation. Besides, there being a great
number of little villages around, which wanted evangelical
laborers, there were two other considerations which caused
our saint to agree to this proposition. The first was, that
in those houses there would be freedom from the persecu
tions which were suffered in the others, and no obstacle
to the exact observance of the rule in all its rigor, which
appeared to him as a manifest sign of the will of God. In
31*

366 . LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

the second place, he thought, as the two houses were to be
near each other, they would be of mutual assistance; how
ever, they were not established there before the 20th of
June, 1776.

In the year 1774, Alphonsus gave a new proof how
deeply he had been impressed by that saying of the Holy
Ghost, " Particula boni doni ne te praetereat," and how
faithful he was, (considering the time allotted to each man
by God to be employed in promoting His glory, to be this
good gift,) in fulfilling the vow he had made not to lose
any part of it. It was the publishing of his explication of
the Psalms, of which he himself says, dedicating it to Pope
Clement XIV: "This is a book which I have written in
the last years of my life, and at an age when my exhausted
strength announces my approaching end. . . . I hope that
your Holiness will approve of this work, which may be
useful to a great number of the faithful who say the divine
office in a language which they do not understand, who
are ignorant of the signification of the words, and far more
of the sense of the Psalms." This work, which was a dif
ficult one, and composed at such an advanced age, was
the admiration of the most learned men at Naples. Of all
the eulogiums passed upon it, let the following suffice :
*' Alphonsus, by his labors," said B. Cervone, who after
wards became Bishop of Aquila, " has shown that he is
worthy to rival the holy bishops of the primitive Church ;
for without speaking of the many other works by which he
brought back to the road of virtue many who had wandered
from it, or strengthened in goodness many who were al
ready walking in it, had the saintly bishop not written any
thing else in support of religion and the Church, this work
alone would have sufficed to render him worthy of immor
tality." Alphonsus had added a statement of his system
on the rule of moral actions, in an appendix to this work,
which he also submitted to the Pope for correction, if any
error should be found therein.

The same year, 1774, brought to light his book on the
"Triumphs of the Martyrs." In writing which, he had in-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 367

tended to kindle in all hearts a greater degree of love
towards Jesus Christ, and a greater zeal for that faith for
which the martyrs have so cheerfully given their lives,
their blood, their all, and which was, in his time, the ob
ject of so many attacks from the mis-called philosophers of
the eighteenth century ; thus showing himself, as the same
B. Cervone expressed it, " full of solicitude for the grand
affair, that of salvation, and omitting nothing which could
open or facilitate the road to the celestial country, either to
himself or to others."

While he was thus occupied for the glory of God and
for the good of souls, Baron Sarnelli and D. Maffey never
rested, and left nothing undone in order to calumniate his
Missionaries with fresh accusations, not seeing any better
method of insuring the success of their cause. Laden
with infirmity and occupations as was the poor old man, he
showed that he still remembered his former profession as a
lawyer, and arranged the plan of defence himself. "I have
got ready my answers," he wrote to F. Villani, on the 2d
of June, 1774, " on the most important point. As this
answer must be presented in writing, I will place it in the
hands of Advocate Celano, in order that he may arrange it
in his own way." However, he was in a state of great un
easiness. '•' I have caused prayers to be said every where,"
he wrote in another letter, " I have had masses celebrated,
and I know not what more I can do. . . . Get the people
to say an Ave before the sermon, and get prayers said in as
many monasteries and places as you can." And in an
other to F. Majone, who resided in Naples: "When the
ministers are spoken to, the Congregation must not be
named, I only ought to be spoken of, for I am the person
principally aimed at in this affair." He recommended also
the matter, in writing, to the counsellors of St. Clare, and
got some persons of great influence to mediate for them,
and especially the Prince della Riccia. He wrote himself to
the Marquis of Cito, at that time the President of the royal
council, and also solicited Nicholas Vincenzio, the chief
minister of the Court della Sommaria, for his intervention

368 LIFE OF ST. ALPHOJN'SUS.

in their favor with the President. He addressed also a
memorial to the king, in which he, without injuring any
one. represented the innocence of his Missionaries, the
labor to which they daily ga\7e themselves up for the wel
fare of the kingdom, and their respectful submission to all
the royal decisions ; and especially reminded him of the
real intentions of his father, King Charles III, who had
authorized the four houses in the kingdom. He also wrote

to

a long circular to all the houses of the Congregation, in
which he exhorts all to increased fervor in the exercise of all
virtues and the observance of rule, as the best means to
secure divine protection for the Congregation, of which he
says, prophesying its future prosperity: "I am sure that
Jesus Christ looks upon our little Congregation with most
loving eyes, that he loves it as the apple of his eye, as we
see by experience; for in the midst of so many persecu
tions, he never ceases to protect us and to render us more
worthy to labor for his glory in divers countries, by the as
sistance of His manifest graces. I shall not see it, for my
death is at hand, but I feel assured that our little flock will
increase more and more, not by becoming richer and more
highly thought of by the world, but by procuring the glory
of God, and that, through our labors, Jesus Christ will be
better known and loved by others. A day will come when
we shall see each other again, and be re-united together in
that eternal abode where we shall never more be separated ;
and where we shall also be united to hundreds of thousands
of persons, who once lived without the love of God, and
who through our means recovered grace, and who will dwell
with the Lord forever, and form our glory and joy for all
eternity. Ought not this thought alone to stimulate us to
love Jesus Christ with all our hearts, and to cause others
to love Him also ?" He had certainly been favored with
some special revelation, which his humility made him con
ceal, for the same year he wrote to F. Majone, " I am
full of joy, because it seems to me that the Blessed Virgin
will bring us safe and sound out of this tempest. There
fore let us abandon ourselves into the hands of Jesus

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 369

Christ ; let us pray to Him, and He will do all for His greater
glory."

Alphonsus, who had so many times given proof of his
solicitude, not only for his diocese and the Congregation,
but also for the Church in general, by the many books he
composed and published, as soon as he was aware of a par
ticular want of the faithful, or whenever there appeared a
wolf threatening the flock of Christ ; could not but be pain
fully affected by the troubles which disquieted the Church
during the pontificate of Clement XIV, and by the misfor
tunes these troubles forbode to religion : they caused him
the greatest alarm, and he continually offered up prayers to
Heaven for the peace of the Sovereign Pontiff and of the
much persecuted Church. No one can well imagine how
he sorrowed over the storm which raged against the Jesuits
on all sides ; he never spoke of it without the deepest sense
of distress. "It is nothing but intrigue on the part of the
Jansenists and unbelieving," said he, " if they succeed in
overthrowing the company, their wishes will be accom
plished ; and if this bulwark falls, what convulsions will
there not be in the Church and State? If the Jesuits are
once destroyed, the Pope and the Church will be in a most
disastrous situation. The Jesuits are not the only aim of
the Jansenists; they aim at the company in order thereby
to be more certain of striking at the Church and State."

Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus, in a brief
dated the 22d of July, 1773; this was a terrible blow to
Alphonsus. When he received the brief of the Pope, he
adored the judgment of God in silence for some time, then
he said: "The will of the Pope is the will of God ;" and
did not utter another word to manifest how much he suf
fered interiorly. One day, the Grand-Vicar and other per
sons of distinction wished to cast blame on the dispositions
of the Sovereign Pontiff. "Poor Pope," exclaimed the
saintly bishop, " what could he do in the difficult circum
stances in which he was placed, and when so many crown
ed heads united in demanding their suppression? As for
us, we have only to adore the secret judgment of God, and

370 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

be at peace. However, I assert, that if but one single
Jesuit be left in the world, he alone would be enough to
re-establish the company."

No one is ignorant of the constantly increasing troubles
in which the Pope found himself after this suppression;
the deplorable state of the Church and of its head filled
the Bishop of St. Agatha with the deepest sorrow. "Pray
for the Pope," he wrote to F. Francis of Paul, on the 27th
of June, 1774. " N., who has come from Rome, told me
that the Pope is overwhelmed with sadness, and in fact he
has cause to be so, for there does not seem to be a shadow
of peace for the Church. Pray for the Pope ; God knows
how I feel for his afflictions!" "Pray for the Pope," he
said in another letter, to F. Villani. " For my part I never
cease to do so. Pray for the Pope ; I have heard that he
wishes for death, so great is his distress at all the trials
which afflict the Church." In another letter, of the 23d of
July, to F. Paul, he says: "The Pope suffers a great deal
on account of the pretensions of the crowns, and espe
cially on account of Venice. ... I do nothing but repeat
over and over again, 'Poor Pope, poor Pope, who is tried
on all sides !' I pray for him that God may come to his aid."
On the 25th of August, he again wrote, saying: " I hear
from various quarters that the Pope is in sorrow, that he is
shut up and does no business. Let us pray to God to de
liver him from this profound melancholy."

On the morning of the 21st of September, Alphonsus,
after having ended Mass, threw himself, contrary to his
custom, into his arm-chair; he was cast down and silent,
he made no movement of any kind, and never articulated a
word. He remained in that state, all that day and all the
following night. The servants, seeing the state he was in,
did not know what was going to happen, and remained up,
and at the door of his room, but no one dared enter it. On
the morning of the 22d, he had not changed his position,
and no one knew what to think of it. However, when the
day became further advanced, he rang the bell to announce
that he intended to celebrate Mass. At this signal, all the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 371

people in the house hurried to him with eagerness. On see
ing so many people, the Saint asked what was the matter,
with an air of surprise. " You have," they replied,
" neither spoken nor eaten any thing for two days, and
you ceased to give any signs of life." " That is true," re
plied he, " but you do not know that I have been with the
Pope, who has just died." Ere long, the tidings of the
death of Pope Clement XIV was received; he had passed
to a better life on the 22d September, at seven o'clock in
the morning, the very moment when Alphonsus came to
himself.

Cardinal Castelli, well aware of the high reputation for
sanctity possessed by Alphonsus, and knowing what a
great veneration the sacred college of Cardinals had for the
holy man, determined to ask him to write, before the Con
clave began, a long letter on all the abuses which ought to
be reformed in the various orders of the ecclesiastical
hierarchy. The Cardinal wished this memorial to be pre
sented to the Conclave, and that it should serve to deter
mine the election of a Pope capable of remedying all the
ills of the Church. Some people who were attached friends
of the Saint, were commissioned to make this request to
him to overcome his humility. The following letter, of the
23d of October, 1774, was his reply :

" Most Rev. Cardinal : — You ask for rny sentiments on
the present affairs of the Church and on the election of a
Pope. Alas! what sentiments can I worthily express to
you, who am but a poor bishop? All I can find to say is,
that it is necessary to pray, and to pray much ; for in order
to raise the Church from the state of remissness and con
fusion into which all classes have fallen, prudence and
human wisdom are insufficient, and nothing less than the
powerful arm of God will suffice. There are few among
the bishops who have a true zeal for the salvation of souls.
Most, if not all, of the communities of religious are relaxed ;
and in the confusion which surrounds us, observances are
destroyed, and rules are despised and treated as if they
were not. The secular clergy are in a still worse state, so

372 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

that there is an absolute necessity for a general reform
among all ecclesiastics, in order, afterwards, to be able to
reform the conduct and the manners of the laity. There
fore we must pray to Jesus Christ to give His Church a head
who has something more than knowledge and human pru
dence, to give her one who through the spirit of God may
be filled with a great love and zeal for His glory, and who
may be totally detached from all parties, so as to be able to
resist the suggestions of human respect. If we ever have
the misfortune to have a Pope who has not God's glory in
view, He will not assist him, and things will become worse
and worse. Prajer is the sole remedy for such great mis
fortunes. For my part, 1 have not only enjoined all the
houses of my Congregation to pray with more than ordi
nary fervor for the election of a new Pontiff, but I have
also ordered all the secular and regular clergy of my dio
cese to say the Collect, ' Pro eligendo summo Pontijice,'
during mass. This is the best advice I can give you; I
often pray about this election during the day myself, but
what can my poor prayers avail ? Nevertheless, I put all
my trust in the merits of Jesus Christ and of the Blessed
Virgin, and I hope that God will comfort me by letting me
see the Church relieved, before my death, which my age
and infirmities tell me cannot be far distant.

" I also wish to see all the disorders which exist done
away with, and a thousand different ideas come into my
mind on the subject which I should ardently wish to com
municate to you, if the knowledge of what I am did not
take all boldness from me, by convincing me that it is not
for me to wish to reform the world. I should also like the
future Pope, when he has to supply any vacancies in the
College of Cardinals, to select only the best informed and
the most zealous among those who may be proposed to
him, and that he should request all princes not to present
any but men of well-known piety and learning as candi
dates for a Cardinalship. I should also wish him to exer
cise firmness, in refusing livings to those who are already
sufficiently provided for in all their state can demand ; to

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 373

repress luxury in all prelates, and to fix the number of their
servants of all sorts, so that they should only have so many
valets-de-chambre, so many other servants, so many horses,
&c. This would be a method of putting a stop to the
slander and detraction of our enemies. He ought to take
pains never to confer benefices on any, but those who have ^
merited well on account of what they have done for the
Church.

" I should wish him to be very strict in choosing bishops,
and that he should obtain information, on all hands, about
those who are proposed as candidates for this high and im
portant office in the Church, and that he should be certified
as to the goodness of their character and their doctrine,
which are indispensable qualities in ruling over a diocese.
It is on these chief pastors that the good of religion and
the salvation of souls chiefly depend. I should like him to
require all metropolitans, and others, to inform him, in
secret, as to any bishops who are careless as to the welfare
of their flocks. I should also wish him to threaten with
suspension, or the supervision of a Vicar-Apostolic, both
negligent bishops and those who are non-resident, as well
as those who scandalize the world by the luxury of their at
tendants, and by the excessive expense of their equipager
their festivities, &c. In some cases it does not do to be
afraid of putting these threats into execution ; for such cor
rections not only purify the Church from the corruptions-
which sully her, but they hinder other delinquent bishops-
from falling, through the fear of public blame, which ad
monishes them of their backslidings and causes them to
return to a sense of their duty, to the great advantage of
their flocks.

"In fine, why should not the future Pope be backward
in granting favors which are injurious to the maintenance
of discipline ; such, for instance, as that of permitting nuns-
to leave their enclosure to enter into the world without any
real necessity for it? He ought not readily to consent to
the secularization of religious, on account of the number
of evils which result from it, and above all, he ought to>
32

374 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

constrain all religious whatsoever, to the primitive observ
ance of the rules of their institute, at least, in all the most
important points.

"I will not tire you by saying more; I can do nothing
further than pray God to give us a Pastor full of His own
Spirit. And now I conclude with profound respect, and
assure you that I am," &c.

While the saintly bishop was thus occupied for the well-
being of the Church at large, for the administration of his
diocese, and for the existence of his Congregation, hell
too did not slumber, but was on the watch for opportuni
ties of injuring its dreaded antagonist. Up to this time,
the enemies of the Congregation had spared its head, and
had only fought against its members ; but on seeing they
could not injure the members while they respected the
head, they turned their weapons against him too. As they
could find nothing to c6ndemn in his private life, they blamed
his doctrine, and raised a cry that his work on Moral
Theology was full of decisions of too indulgent a nature,
and above all, that it contained the lax sentiments ajt-
tributed to the Jesuits. This was a sure means of pro
ducing a sensation and of exciting suspicion, at that time.
Thus the whole Congregation became an object of sus
picion, for it seemed impossible for it to escape the taint
of the errors of which its founder was accused. But God,
who kills and brings to life, caused this same Moral
Theology to be approved by the king at the very time that
its adversaries expected to see it condemned. Some copies
of the work were sent from Naples and reached the cus
tom-house, where they were stopped by the king's procura
tor-general, who was prejudiced against it, and wished it to
be examined with all possible strictness by a Conventual
Father. This learned religious assured him in the report,
that the doctrine was perfectly sound, and that there was
not any proposition which deserved censure. The pro
curator was rejoiced at this news, and regretted having
been obliged to give pain to the saintly old man. It was
thus that Heaven frustrated the plots of the wicked, and

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 375

turned them to the confusion of their authors and the glory
of the servant of God.

D. Maffey and Baron Sarnelli, on the other hand, were
impatient for the overthrow of the Congregation, and did
all they could, in order to accelerate the coming of the day
when the debates occasioned by their accusations were to
be held in the royal court; and as they flattered themselves
with the expectation of victory, they were continually mul
tiplying petitions for hastening this day, which they re
garded as that of the Missionaries' defeat. These, and
especially F. Villani, again begged Alphonsus to go and
cast himself personally at the feet of the king. He replied
to them with a smile : " What a figure I should cut before
the king in my present state! Would he not take me for a
phantom, and order me out of his presence? My brothers,
let us place ourselves in God's hands and let us not trust
in human means; for the Congregation is a divine work, and
not the work of man, who is incapable of supporting it."
The adversaries succeeded in fixing the opening of the de
bates in the royal court for the 24th of December. But
while they endeavored to move heaven and earth in order
to injure the Missionaries, Alphonsus, on his side, as he
was accustomed, did not neglect anything in order to ob
tain God's mercy. Besides the accustomed penances and
mortifications, he had recourse again to the celebration of
Masses, the prayers of pious souls, and alms. By his order
the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in all the houses, and
the psalm " Qui habitat" was recited in common in the
church, together with an Ave to the Blessed Virgin for the
persecutors. Another cause of trouble arose, which was
unlocked for. As the Missionaries kept on the defensive,
the attacks of the accusation were immediately warded off'
by their counsel, so that the projectors began to fear that all
the plots which they had contrived would be useless, and
that the truth would be manifest to the sight of the royal
counsellors. They therefore thought of a fresh contri
vance; by means of a protector who supported them with
the ministers, they managed so that the end of the debate

376 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

should not take place before the royal council, and that
the papers containing the complaints and wrongs, (or rather
the calumnies of the adversaries,) should pass through the
hands of the commissioner, Ferdinand de Leo, who was
to make himself acquainted with their contents, and to
make his report of them to the royal court. The appoint
ment of this commissioner took away from the Missionaries
all hope ; for he was an enemy to all new monasteries in
the kingdom, as well as new institutes, and indeed he
could scarcely bear the ancient ones. And from some
words he had dropped, they could easily conjecture how
unfavorable his report would be.

The Missionaries had manifested a wish to come to an
amicable arrangement with Sarnelli, for three years, and
some mediators had labored to manage so that he should
keep the vineyard left to the Congregation by his brother,
and give a sum of money in compensation for the pious
works his brother had intended to establish, but Alphonsus
thought that he ought in conscience to oppose such an
arrangement : " I must weigh these matters well," he wrote
to F. Majone, on the 4th of December, 1774. "If this
conciliatory plan should ever be acted on, I shall have to
consult the learned and those versed in spiritual matters,
in order to put my conscience to rest;" and to F. D. Mat
thias Corrado, he wrote : " In case I were to give up the
vineyard to the Baron, in return for the equivalent indem
nity, my conscience would become uneasy, for I should
have interpreted the wishes of the dead man." But there
was no need of all th-is ; the Baron, who believed himself
sure of victory, wanted to enter into possession of the pro
perty without being obliged to give an account of the
charitable intentions of his brother's will.

As the Congregation was in imminent danger of being
destroyed, Alphonsus was advised to write to Naples in
order to gain the patronage of a lady who had great influ
ence with the procurator; but as he entertained some fears
that God might be displeased at it, he replied as follows, to
F. Majone: " I will never do such a thing ; let the Congrega-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 377

tion be destroyed rather than become the occasion for even
the shadow of any sin."

The tears of the just are never shed in vain, and the
Lord, who never permits them to be persecuted except to
show forth His mercy and His glory more brightly, also com
forted Alphonsus in the midst of these trying circumstances.
The inhabitants of Girgenti had never ceased to petition
for the return of the Missionaries, as we have already seen.
The Prince of Trabbia amongst others, who enjoyed the
king's favor, did not forget to intercede for them with his
majesty, through the medium of his brother, the bishop.
The king gave a favorable hearing to these representations,
and permitted them to return to the island, by a royal de
cree. Their adversaries, on seeing their wishes thus de
feated, put an end to their intrigues, and Alphonsus,
having, in concert with the bishops, decided on the return
of the Missionaries, their departure took place in April,
1775. In order to render their entrance into Girgenti as
glorious as possible, Mgr. Lanza had wished them to stop
at Aragone, three miles from the town, there to be met and
received by a brilliant suite of carriages and a retinue of
ecclesiastics and gentlemen, but the Fathers declined this
honor. However, several carriages and persons of dis
tinction came to meet them, though they had not an
nounced the time of their arrival ; and they were received
at the gates of Girgenti by the clergy and the citizens, who
were perfectly delighted to see them. When Mgr. Lanza
saw them again, he could not help exclaiming with the
holy old Simeon : " Now dost Thou dismiss Thy servant, 0
Lord, according to Thy words, in peace ; because mine eyes
have seen Thy salvation !" And in fact, on the 23d of this
same month of May, this zealous and worthy prelate fell
asleep in the arms of the Missionaries, to go and enter into
eternal rest. However, God provided them another pro
tector, and one as full of zeal and love for the Congrega
tion, in his eminence, Cardinal Branciforti, who succeeded
him in February of the following year, 1776.
32*

378 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

CHAPTER XXVII.

•fllphonsus' zeal during his Episcopate in reforming his seen-
lar and regular Clergy — in removing scandals in general,
and preventing sin in all classes of the Laity. How God
assists him in his efforts.

[TAVING now reached the termination of Alphonsus'
JZL episcopate, when he resigned the bishopric and re
tired into his Congregation, it is not right that we should
follow him into his retreat, without giving more in detail
an account of his conduct in the administration of his dio
cese, as otherwise we should omit many particulars and
many of his maxims and actions, which will manifest more
especially his virtues and his zeal during his government.
F. Caputo thus describes the holy bishop's conduct in his
endeavors to make his clergy edifying and worthy of the
sacred ministry : <; His lordship's first reproof was full of
sweetness and humility ; if he saw no amendment, he gave
a second reprimand of mingled sweetness and severity. If
after this he found that the person was incorrigible, chas
tisement soon followed, and in such a case if the king and
"the Pope himself had wished to interpose in his favor, they
would have met with a refusal." Amongst all the sins,
drunkenness and incontinence, were those he abhorred
the most. He said that the drunkard is not a man, but a
brute ; that one can even expect more from the brute than
from the drunkard; and he looked upon drunkenness as
the source of the most infamous vices: it was, in his eyes,
even when indulged in only in private, a complete dis
honor to a minister of the Church. He had an equal
abomination for the vice of impurity, and was in the habit
of saying, that he saw no difference between a sow which
wallows in the mire, and a man who is addicted to this
vice. He compassionated him who had made a false step
through weakness, but he could not put up with him who
was the voluntary and obstinate slave of passion. He had

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 379

always salutary remedies at hand for the first, and did not
recur to very severe measures with them; his principal
mode of causing them to think seriously was the spiritual
exercises. But when he saw that the vice had taken root,
he did not make any compromise, but used the strongest
methods for destroying the evil. One day, not knowing
what more to do in order to cure one of these miserable
men, he sent for him to speak to him, but took care to
place a large crucifix on the floor at the entrance of his
room. On seeing this, the wretched man was seized with
terror and wanted to draw back. "No," said Alphonsus,
"enter and trample it underfoot, it would not be perhaps
the first time." He then gave free vent to the ardor of his
zeal, and set before him the enormity of his sin. The
guilty man was full of confusion and repentance; he burst
into tears, and promised to amend ; and really did so,
giving afterwards full satisfaction to his bishop. When he
had in vain exhausted mild measures, in trying to deliver
men from these passions, his ordinary remedies were exile
and suspension ; exile, in order to break through the at
tachment, and suspension, to avenge the dignity of the
sacred ministry. He had also recourse to the aid of the
secular power, when there was need, (as we have seen
him do in his visitations,) and no personal considerations
were ever able to move him, or shake his firmness. His
severity in regard to the refractory was so well known, that
it soon was a commonly received opinion in the diocese,
that if one had begun to be an object of the bishop's
watchful observation, there was no further chance of rest
for him unless he gave clear proofs of amendment. God
also assisted him by exemplary chastisements. One of
these weak men he had warned in a paternal manner, but
when he saw that he fell back into vice again, he had him
shut up in the prison of St. Agatha ; even after this chas
tisement, the miserable man did not amend: "Let him
alone," he said then to the episcopal vicar, " God's justice
will reach him." He was carried off by sudden death
some time afterwards, although he was in the prime of life.

380 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

In his dealings towards those whom he had suspended
or banished, he never lost sight of the spirit of charity, es
pecially when sin was united to poverty. He once sent
for one whose conduct scandalized the people, and kept
him for a fortnight in his palace, after which he sent him
to the house of St. Angelo, at his own expense. Another,
also, was kept for a long while in the house of Ciorani,
and supported at his cost. The same course was pursued
towards a great many others. Two others, whom he had
suspended and banished out of the diocese, received from
him two carlins a day for their maintenance; to others,
who were suspended, he assigned an adequate indemni
fication for their fees out of his own revenue, till after a
lapse of time, he thought them in a right state of mind, and
sent them the pardon, with the power of celebrating.

His inflexibility towards those who remained obstinate
in sin, changed into vmercy, when he saw that they re
pented. He had even an admirable degree of charity for
those whom he had reproved and who gave proof of real
amendment; he received them to his arms with all the tep-
derness of a father, and put an end to all proceedings
begun against them in the ecclesiastical court. One, be
longing to a noble and distinguished family, who lived in a
scandalous way, had been sent for three times, but he did
not deign to give any satisfaction. Alphonsus told his
Grand-Vicar to prepare the cause, and gave orders that he
should not be shown in if he should come to speak to him,
but should be sent to the Grand-Vicar. The culprit not
being willing to see his name figure in the courts of jus
tice, hastened to the palace; but being refused admittance,
he made a great noise in the ante-chamber, so that Alphon
sus, who was making his meditation, in bed, sent for his
secretary in order to have silence kept, but at the same
moment he entered after the secretary. Alphonsus, on
seeing him, told him to go to the Grand-Vicar, but the gen
tleman fell on his knees at the foot of his bed and said :
" I do not know the Vicar, but I acknowledge Mgr. Liguori
as my father." At these words, Alphonsus became affected :

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 381

"My son, ' he said, "I sent for you and you did not
come ; I was obliged to place you in the hands of justice ;
you know what scandals you have given." The culprit
was ashamed, began to shed tears, and after confessing his
faults, said : " Do whatever you please with me." " Since
you acknowledge your fault," said then Alphonsus, " and
confess the truth to me, I leave you to chose your penance
yourself." "I choose the house of St. Angelo for my
place of retirement," he answered, sobbing, " and only
when God tells me that He has forgiven me, then only will
T depart from it." Alphonsus, on seeing that his repent
ance was sincere, sent for the papers connected with his
suit, and said to him while tearing them: "My son, may
God do the same in heaven." He went to St. Angelo,
and remained there for a month, and was afterwards a
source of edification to all.

But if impurity and drunkenness were the two vices
which he was the most zealous in extirpating, he was
equally an enemy to every other kind of irregularity, and
the slightest fault was a considerable sin in his eyes. He
took the greatest care to be informed of the conduct of
each and all, so that no distance could shelter any one.
On one occasion, the culprits finding themselves reproved
without being able to discover how Alphonsus had been
informed as to their conduct, exclaimed: "It is either an
angel or a devil who betrays us, and tells him everything."
By this indefatigable zeal and by the assistance of divine
grace, he succeeded in doing away with a great number of
scandals in his diocese, and he insensibly worked a reason
able reform among the clergy. A gentleman, on hearing
once that he was seriously ill and in danger of death, re
plied to those who announced these sad tidings to him :
"St. Agatha will lose a great deal if Mgr. Liguori dies.
Who cannot see what regularity his zeal has succeeded in
establishing amongst so many who formerly lived in a state
of the most deplorable licentiousness?" As to the regular
clergy, Alphonsus said: "Edifying religious are a conso
lation to bishops and priests, but if they are imperfect and

382 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

irregular, they are a burthen to their bishops and a misfor
tune to the people." Therefore when he met with such,
he did all he could to amend them : " For if they are not
cured, said he, "their malady will be communicated to
others; it is with them as it is with fruits — those which are
bad spoil the good by contact with them, and in order to
avoid the loss of all, it is necessary to throw the bad away."
He, therefore, besides private admonitions and reprimands,
had recourse to their superiors and provincials, and if
speedy amendment did not follow, insisted on their being
sent away from his diocese, and showed so much firmness
that the superiors had to make up their minds to yield, and
the religious had to be transferred elsewhere without loss of
time. On one occasion, a religious frequenting a family of
high rank too assiduously, Alphonsus urged his superior to
send him to another monastery, but in vain. As just con
siderations prevented riis then authoritatively exacting what
he had asked, he determined at least to deprive the su
perior of the faculties to hear confessions, saying to him :
" How can you feed the flocks of others, if you allo;v
wolves to ravage your own with impunity?" And he was
not satisfied until this religious was out of his diocese.
Another, who was a dishonor to his Order, not heeding
the paternal admonitions he had given him, was advised to
leave the diocese of his own accord. This religious en
joyed the favor of his superior-general, who endeavored to
defend him. Other great personages also interceded for
him, but Alphonsus persisted, and he had to go away. In
the year 1769, when he was at Naples, the Duke of Mad-
dalon came in person to solicit the return of this religious,
but he could not succeed. "Even supposing all the re
ports of his amendment were well founded," he said, " he
has not acted in this way for a sufficiently long time, and
then he is now so much older. As long as I am bishop,"
he added, " he shall not enter my diocese."

When the immediate superiors and the provincials would
not assist him in thus purging the monasteries from reli
gious who were a dishonour to them, he had recourse to

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 383

more rigorous measures, and in order not to do any thing to
the prejudice of regulars, he applied at Rome to the gene
ral of the Order to which the culprit belonged, and when he
met with negligence even in the generals, he implored the
intervention of the king; many instances in which he had
recourse to both of these methods are on record. Thus, in
the year 1768 alone, when he especially labored to purify
the monasteries, he expelled as many as fifty-two religious,
according to the testimony of F. Caputo. " The superiors
of the Order, besides, knew him too well," said his Grand-
Vicar Rubini, il and often hastened to send away certain
subjects who were displeasing to him, of their own accord.
I can truly say," he added, " that during his lordship's
time, the monasteries of the diocese were as so many gar
dens, where all breathed forth the sweet odors of innocence
and virtue." But on the other hand, he took as much
pleasure, in being able to honor by his kindness those re
ligious who proved worthy of their vocation, as he was
resolute in punishing those who were dissolute and un
worthy. He entrusted them with important employments,
and chose them for synodal examiners. It was to them
that he confided the care of the convents: he liked to send
them to preach during Lent in different places, and often
consulted them and rewarded their merit.

Alphonsus waged an equally severe warfare against the
laity, whose irregularities were an injury to religion and
morality. "I am not merely the shepherd of priests and
religious," said he, " 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 we must render
him an account of them." "We may be assured," said a
priest on this subject, " that there never was a bishop in
the world who employed himself in putting a stop to
offences against God, and in procuring the good of the
faithful, with more ardor than Mgr. Liguori. He held sin
in such abomination that he was implacable in hunting it
out, even from its most hidden entrenchments." To this
end, he secured to himself the assistance of the magistrates

384 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

and syndics of the villages, recommending them, with tears
in his e.yes, to seek after the glory of God and the happi
ness of families. " You can do what I cannot do," he
said to them, " you can remedy every thing, for you are
on the spot ; you can do more than the king." Besides,
he spent a good part of his revenues in making presents
to persons who could inform him of existing scandals, and
he possessed so much influence with the lords of the places,
that he caused chastisements to be inflicted on the guilty
persons ; they were imprisoned, or sent away from the
places in which they lived, and if this did not stop the
evil or scandal, he had recourse to the king, to have them
banished from the diocese. But before coming to these
extremities, he made it a rule to try all the methods he
could adopt as a father. He sent, several times, if need
ful, for the offender, and, whether peasant, or gentleman,
reprimanded and threatened him. If that were not enough,
he had recourse to the interposition of the friends of the
guilty one, or of those who had influence over him ; but
as soon as he was convinced of the inutility of such cor
rection, he adopted rigorous measures. Of all this we
could relate instances by thousands, as such facts were of
almost daily occurrence in the life of our zealous bishop.
We shall however confine ourselves to a few, in which,
one or another of the virtues of the saint, or some other
divine favor bestowed on him, particularly shines forth.

He was informed that a physician at St. Agatha had
improper relations with the mistress of the hospital ; he
did all he could to convert him, but on finding that his
remonstrances were useless, he wrote to the president of
the council and superintendent of the house. He dismissed
the doctor from his employment, who thereupon came to
the bishop in a fury, and loaded him with a thousand in
vectives. " My son," said Alphonsus to him, " you
brought this misfortune on yourself; remember how many
times I reproved you with mildness and charity, but you
were deaf to my voice : if I have had recourse to a more
powerful arm, it has not been through passion, but on

LIFE OF ST. ALPHOiNSUS. 38

account of the scruples which my allowing you to go on
in sin caused me."

A gentleman 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 letting him alone. Al-
phonsus only answered by still stronger threats, and declared
to him that he would inform the king of it ; at these words
the gentleman got up in a great fury, loaded his bishop
with invectives, and made a gesture as if he meant to draw
his sword. The alarm which he spread caused all the
people of the house to run into the room, where they found
Alphonsus perfectly calm before his aggressor. "Ill-treat
me," he said to him, " abuse me, if you like, I do my
duty: I did not accept the episcopate in order to be
damned. Would to God that I might have the honor to
die a martyr! My dear child, I pity you! return from your
evil ways, but know that I will never leave you at peace
in your sin."

A stranger, who was an officer, carried on an adulterous
intercourse at St. Agatha, and Alphonsus warned him
several times. The officer was tired of these troublesome
reprimands, and constantly repeated in vexation, " what
does this withered old man want?" He even used
menaces, and went so far, that fear was entertained for
the saint's life. They informed him of this and of the
violent character of the officer; but, fortified with the
heart of an apostle, he answered : " I have no cause to
fear him; if he 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 the scandal continued the same as
ever, he informed the chevalier Negroni of it, who caused
the woman to be banished, and compelled the officer to
submit to the shame of coming to promise amendment at
the feet of the bishop.

Being informed that a woman of Arienzo lived in sin,
and apart from her husband, he immediately sent hi»
secretary to the governor's house, but not finding him i»P
33

386 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

the secretary did not take the trouble of going back to
him again. After the lapse of a short time, Alphonsus
did not forget to inquire into the result of the visit. The
secretary wanted to excuse himself, and said that he had
not been able to see the magistrate, and had not had time to
go to his house again. Alphonsus was exceedingly pained
at this negligence: " O Felix," he said to him, with deep
sorrow, " when an offence against God is in question, we
should leave every thing to put a stop to it." He sent
him back to the governor's with all speed, and did not
become tranquil again until he knew that the woman was
in prison. Another day, the grand-vicar came to him just
as he was taking his repast, in bed : " We have bad news,"
he said to him, " a most suspicious stranger has come to
establish herself at Arieiizo." " Only one," replied Al
phonsus, laughing, "we shall have more than one; adven
turers of this sort never come singly." The secretary and
the grand-vicar fancied that these tidings had made no
great impression on him ; but they were mistaken. He
had scarcely finished his meal before he dismissed every
one, and sent for Br. Francis, to dictate to him a most
energetic letter to the Count of Cereto ; informing him
of the scandal, and begging him to send to Arienzo im
mediately, that it might be forcibly removed. On the
same evening four soldiers drove away the infamous
woman.

He expended a good deal of money in similar cases ;
he had to pay large sums to the inferior people whom he
employed, and even to the higher officers, but there was
no sacrifice he was not ready to make in order to hinder
an offence against God, or to extricate some unhappy crea
ture from sin and misery. Having heard that several
soldiers in his diocese gave themselves up to shameful ex
cesses, he immediately wrote a letter, the result of which
was, that the regiment's quarters were changed, and that
the commanding officer received the strictest orders to
take care that none of the men came near that place
again. An inhabitant, who had derived benefit from the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 387

troops being quartered there, went to complain of their
going away and to expose his distress to Alphonsus; he
was touched with compassion, and sent for one of the
syndics of the parish, and begged him to give the peti
tioner something in compensation. The syndic replied
that he could not take it upon himself, and the others got
out of it in the same way, and Alphonsus ended by himself
indemnifying the man who had recourse to him, in order
not to incur the danger of a return of the military to the
place through the complaints and intrigues of interested
parties.

Alphonsus, hearing that a prostitute after a banishment
of eleven years had come back, wrote the following letter
to the priest of the place: "As this woman has come
back here again, let her know from me that I will give her
six carlins every month if she conducts herself properly ;
but I must first be convinced as to her persevering." On
hearing that a poor widow had caused the ruin of her two
daughters, he gave her a severe reprimand ; she was con
verted however, whereupon he assigned 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 ad
ding to these gifts the fruits of their own labors, they might
have enough to live on honestly. Another, returning to
the diocese after being converted, he let her know that, if
she persevered, he would insure her an allowance of fifteen
carlins a month. A wicked girl, who had ruined both her
body and soul by her debaucheries, when she was reduced
to the last extremity, applied to the house of the Incura
bles at Naples; Alphonsus hastened to recommend her
to the notice of several priests, and the unhappy creature
at last opened her eyes and wept over her past misconduct.
This moved him to tears, and he wrote to one of those
priests: "I have sent for the mother, 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 desti-

388 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

tution ; she 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 kerchief for the head, and another for the
neck, a serge petticoat, an underdress 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 be found in good condition ;
if one were to take really old goods, the thing would have
to be done over again next day. I should not take the
liberty to burthen you with all these commissions, if I did
not know your great charity." Who does not admire the
true minister of the Lord throughout all these details ?

Archdeacon Rainone attested that he spent considerable
sums of money, from the time he came to the diocese, in
thus aiding a great number whose indigence had led them
to crime. Nor were these gifts confined to the towns of
St. Agatha and Arienzo alone, he spread them throughout
all parts of his diocese without any distinction. The
curate of the parish of St. Anthony affirmed that Alphon-
sus assisted a very great number in that place, and caused
them to receive a stipend every month through his hands;
other priests and curates affirmed the same of their respec
tive places. When informed that he was often deceived
by his goodness; "It matters little if I am deceived," he
used to answer, " provided I thwart the plans of the devil :
it is no little gain if one can prevent an offence against
God, were it but for a quarter of an hour; and besides it
often happens that several abstain from their disorders for
good." Archdeacon Rainone also one day told him he
ought to withdraw the allowance from some whose perse
verance was doubtful. "That is not certain," he replied,
"but if I abandon them, they may perhaps.be led to yield
to despair; and besides, if they commit but one mortal
sin less, is it not a great thing for God's glory?" Such
persons he recommended to the missionaries whom he sent
through the diocese, and whom he furnished with all they

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 389

could require for such purposes. A priest was speaking
one day to him of the good dispositions which two of
these women manifested, when he 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 without my food to do so." Alphonsus put
the finishing stroke to his zeal by causing a great number of
these penitents to enter into the married state, and, in
order to establish them, he often did not hesitate to contri
bute from thirty to forty ducats for their portion, but this
he especially tried to do in good time ; as soon as he
heard of any young person's deviating from the right path,
he immediately endeavored to get her married, attaching
at the same time the greatest importance to its being to
her seducer. One day, a Father of his congregation, while
on a mission in the diocese, came to see him to settle
about six marriages of this sort in one place alone. Be
sides dispensing in such cases with all his fees, he willingly
procured the necessary dispenses at his own expense; and
when it happened at times that his own means were not
enough for the charity of his heart, he had recourse to the
charity of those in affluent circumstances, and to the
houses of relief. These unions were generally happy ones.
" It is true," he said, " that there are certain kinds of
forced unions of which I cannot approve ; but of two
evils, one must choose the least."

He succeeded also in placing a good number of such
penitents in the convents, at Naples, and at Nola, not
withstanding the great difficulties he often had to surmount
in so doing, and this was always the greatest consolation
to his heart. He was often obliged to go to expense for
this purpose ; the superior of the asylum of St. Raphael,
at Naples, once agreed to such a request, on the condition
that he would furnish the applicant with her wardrobe, and
he did so cheerfully. Certain missionaries, giving in the
year 1765 the mission in the diocese of Bojano, met with
a married woman who lived in a state of concubinage.
She told them in confession that she belonged to Trasso
33*

390 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

which was in Mgr. Liguori's diocese, and added that the
child she had with her was by her lawful husband. The
missionaries lost no time in informing Alphonsus of all
this, and the saintly old man, filled with very great joy at
seeing the sincere repentance of this woman and her
wish to enter a convent, succeeded in placing her in the
refuge of St. Clare, at Naples; where he supplied her
with what necessaries she required, and besides many
other gifts, assigned her an unusual pension of thirty-six
ducats. He had the little child brought up at St. Agatha,
and when old enough, maintained him at Naples at his
own expense, in order that he might learn a trade.
After this woman had been thus supported for five years,
her husband died, and she had the opportunity of making
an honorable second marriage, and Alphonsus did not
fail to assist her to the end with his accustomed generosity.
Besides all this, hundreds of poor girls owed the
preservation of their honor to his alms-deeds. Without
entering into a detailed account of the assistance he ren
dered them, we shall confine ourselves to saying that he,
went so far as even to procure innocent adornments for
them, in order to take away from them all temptation to
envy or to sin. That which gave him the greatest alarm
was, when any engagement 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 whether 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
by showing that delay on their part must inevitably lead
to sin. It often happened therefore that young people
who wished to settle, but were unjustly prevented from
so doing by their parents, had recourse to the saintly
Bishop, who immediately sent for the parents and managed
so well that he obtained their consent. When young
people had given public scandal by illicit intercourse,
their marriage was preceded by a public penance at the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 391

door of the church. He always most carefully tried to
stifle evil in its beginning. A troop of actors came to St.
Agatha, intending to remain there. He at once entreated
for the aid of the Duke of Maddalon's arm against them,
and succeeded in getting an order for their withdrawal.
They begged for one day's delay, 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.
Not being able to prevent, in the lime of Carnival, the
representation of a play about which the gentlemen of
Airola had arranged, he asked that he might at least be
allowed to read it, and they were obliged to submit to act
it with the retrenchments he made in it. He did not fail
to manifest his great displeasure to one of the gentlemen :
"You are men of age," he said to him, "and this is the
example you give to the young! I do not know how you
will be able to think of it at the hour of death." One day,
some mountebanks arrived at Arienzo, accompanied by
two young female rope dancers, who were dressed up as
men. As soon as Alphonsus was informed of it, he ap
plied both to the Governor and to the agent of the Duke,
in order that they might be sent away. The players quitted
the town, saying they were going to Naples, but they
stopped at Airola. " I thought that they had left my dio
cese," he immediately wrote to the Prince della Riccia,
"but yesterday I had the sorrow of hearing that they are
at Airola, and that they mean to perform in your excel
lency's palace. I must entreat you to send your orders to
Airola, and prevent its being thought that you consent to
this.'' Nothing more was necessary to cause them to be
banished from the diocese.

He dreaded the disorders too common in large assem
blages, even those which had religion as their end, and he
was therefore in the habit of suspending the confessors for
reserved cases, on fetes where there was too great a con
course of people. "This is the way," he said, "to pre
vent people from coming to unburthen their consciences
without any fruit, and then from loading them with new

392 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

sins through the contempt they show for the sacraments."
At Arienzo, on Christmas night, the people were in the
habit of going out of the town, with the inhabitants of the
adjoining villages, to assist at the offices in the church of
the Capuchin Fathers. There was no devotion in this; on
the contrary, this concourse of people of both sexes gave
opportunity for all sorts of disorders. In order to put a
stop to these evils, Alphonsus wished to be present in per
son, but the doctors opposed this, on account of the ob
vious danger there was that it might kill him. He then
forbade the church to be opened before six o'clock in the
morning, and he afterwards issued the same prohibition in
regard to all the other churches.

He also looked on himself as the peace-maker of his
people, and took all possible pains to reconcile spirits at
variance with each other, and to put a stop to discord and
prevent its spread in families, and much more so among
the clergy. Out of many facts on record, let us relate the
two following. One day, at Airola, when on his pastoral
visitation, he heard that a young man had been mortally
wounded in a combat; he immediately hastened to see the
unhappy man, and manifested all the feeling of a tender
father towards him, and assured him that he would assist
both himself and his family; and having appeased his re
sentment, he succeeded in obtaining from him the pardon
of his murderer. Another day, he heard that two young
gentlemen had challenged each other to fight a duel ; he
instantly sent for both, and represented to them the conse
quences of their guilty project, and did not dismiss them
until he felt sure that his remonstrance had been effectual.

This barbarous custom of duelling caused Alphonsus
great grief, and he addressed a memorial to the king to try
and get him to be severe in punishing the ferocious prac
tice. He had embodied therein all the various dispositions
both of the canon law, and the civil law of different coun
tries, with the arguments from reason, against this detest
able custom. His zeal was not unfruitful, for his petition

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 393

obtained the promulgation of a very severe law against
duelling.

Among the vices which Alphonsus combated the most
vigorously was that of blasphemy. As the law, which re
quired those guilty of it to be punished at the public square
with a bit in their mouths, had been abolished, he enjoined
the magistrates to punish them by at least imprisoning
them. He had sent several times for a public crier, who,
from having been once a novice with the Capuchins, had
become a horrible blasphemer — in order to warn and cor
rect him paternally, but he always had refused to come.
One day he commissioned his servant Alexis to bring him
in the palace, on the pretext of inquiring about the price
of corn, but when he saw him, Alphonsus said: "It is not
the 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 condemned to
the galleys. The crier was so terrified that he left off his
guilty habit, from that day forward. He died shortly after,
in sentiments of penitence and resignation.

Another blasphemer, at Forchia, had been excommuni
cated for several years, and persisted in his impenitence.
Alphonsus, unable to put up with him any longer, applied
to the Prince of Riccia to have his trial got ready; how
ever, he once more tried to win him by paternal counsels,
and sent for him to the palace. As the man did not ven
ture to appear before him, Alphonsus inquired as to the
time when he would pass through the street; he then went
to the window and called him by his name ; then putting
his hand on his head, he reproved him kindly, and repre
sented to him the impiety of his words. He was overcome
by this excessive goodness, humbled himself and was con
verted. Alphonsus sent him to confession the next morn
ing, and wished him, in order to repair the scandal he had
given, to remain, before being admitted to holy com
munion, at the church door for three Sundays, with a heavy
cross on his shoulders and a large stone hung round his
neck. He submitted to every thing, and his return to God

394 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

was so sincere, that he lived as a good Christian from that
time; he approached the sacraments every eight days, and
became a member of the Society of the Rosary.

Another, who was not satisfied with insulting the Saints,
but went to the length of reviling God himself and of
blaspheming against heaven, had already been imprisoned
for his blasphemies, but he had begun them again, and
was worse than before ; after this a monition had been
issued against him, without success, by the ecclesiastical
court. Alphonsusgot the Prince della Riccia to cause sen
tence to be pronounced against him as an incorrigible.
He had therefore to spend many a dreary day in prison, and
his purse suffered as well as his person, through the fines
he was obliged to pay to justice.

His severity in punishing those who did not fulfil the
Paschal precept, was not stopped by any earthly considera
tions ; even the first gentlemen had to submit to see their
names affixed to the church door, and if the Church's
power were not strong enough to compel them to do their
duty, he implored the intervention of the temporal lords.
Thus he wrote once to the Prince della Riccia, saying:'
"For some years N. has not fulfilled the Paschal precept,
on a false 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 remedied." And in order to
lessen the difficulties in the way of the punishment of the
culprit, he offered to keep him in prison at his own ex
pense. His request was granted ; the pretended maniac
was put in prison, and his sister was thus enabled to fulfil
her duties with all freedom.

He had ordered the priests to refuse the sacraments to
those who gave public scandal or neglected their duties,
however noble they might be, and he set them the example
himself. All his charitable efforts to cause a gentleman,
who was a notorious adulterer, to think seriously, failed ut
terly, and yet this person presented himself to receive the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 395

Holy Communion on Holy Thursday: Alphonsus, who was
administering the Holy Communion to the people, stopped
short before him, and said to him: "What! do you not
blush to approach the 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.

These are some of the many striking instances of our
Saint's admirable zeal, which might at first sight seem ex
cessive, but which was nothing more than the necessary
consequence of his ardor for the glory of God and his dread
of the awful account he felt he must one day render to him.
This thought of the responsibility of a bishop made him
really tremble. Mgr. Albertini asked him, one day, how
many souls he had in his diocese. "There are forty thou
sand," Alphonsus replied. "There are as many in mine,"
said Mgr. Albertini;" upon which Alphonsus bent his head
several times, and added : " My Lord, we have each of us
a burden of forty thousand hundred-weight on our shoul
ders ; woe to us if one of these souls be lost through our
negligence !"

This zeal of our Saint was so pleasing to God thai He
assisted him in a particular manner by the blessings with
which He favored his efforts, viz : by striking punishments
inflicted on the incorrigible, and by particular lights from on
high. "It was a marvellous thing," said a priest, "that
what we were ignorant of, was always known to his lord
ship. Many times, iniquity was committed at night in the
country, or in a distant village, yet the day had scarcely
dawned ere we were warned of it at the bishop's house."
We will give an example, which happened at his palace at
Arienzo. One night, the coachman and the cook tried to
perpetrate an abominable act, but at the instant when they
were going to commit the crime, they were suddenly seized
with fear, and their accomplice, who was as terrified as they
were, took to flight, and hid herself. As soon as it was
day, Alphonsus sent for his two servants, reproached them
with their fault, and exhorted them to confession.

396 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

At Arienzo, a woman of bad character, who was unhap
pily an adept in her trade, taught it even to others and had
several women in her service, receiving strangers at her
dwelling, particularly soldiers. • Alphonsus had several
times brought her before the courts of justice, but always in
vain ; on seeing how incorrigible she was, he once said to
her: "Miserable 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." This prediction was not long in
being verified ; for the unhappy creature, in order to escape
from a prison, fled from the town, and was obliged to
wander about on the neighboring mountains in the depth
of winter, and was several times forced to sleep in the
woods. Nevertheless, she came near to the town every
night to abandon herself to her criminal courses; but the
companion of her debaucheries, having also been threat
ened with imprisonment, one evening determined to have
nothing to do with her, and pursued her, casting stones at
her. In her flight she fell in a deep ditch, where she died.
Alphonsus caused her body to be carried, between three'
lighted torches, to the trench into which it was thrown, as
an example to those of a similar description.

A cleric, who, for his evil courses, had been imprisoned
for several years, was at last released and sent by the Prince
della Riccia to humble himself before Alphonsus. But,
instead of this, he went and bitterly reproached him for the
persecutions he had made him suffer. Alphonsus took up
his book on the " Way of Salvation." and presented it to
him, saying: "Read this, and you will be satisfied." But
the priest went on Ip the same tone. Alphonsus made no
reply, but looking at him with compassion and grief at so
deplorable a state of mind, dismissed him and said: "May
Jesus Christ have mercy on you, but divine justice is threat
ening you." And so it was; he returned to his evil ways,
and soon afterwards was shot, and thus perished.

A notary distressed him by his misconduct; after he had
reprimanded him several times, and always without success,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 397

he said to him one day: "My son, the life you lead will
bring you to a deplorable end;" and putting his hand on
his shoulder, he repeated, almost weeping : " Yes! you will
die a tragic death." This unhappy man went from bad to
worse, and at length he was involved in the conspiracy of
the Jacobins, and was condemned to lose his head on the
scaffold, in the January of 1800. While he was waiting in
the chapel for the movement to the place of execution,
he said weeping to a monk: "This death was foretold me,
in my youth, by Mgr. Liguori." This reflection caused
him to enter into himself with serious thought, and, having
been hardened till then, he died full of penitence, invoking
the saint in heaven.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

JUphonsus? patience in bearing injuries, and great Meekness.
His admirable Humility. His Spirit of Poverty, Penance
and Moi'tijication.

IN spite of the admiration which his zeal generally ex
cited, those who were its objects were usually offended,
and resented its effects with bitterness; and it often hap
pened that in the effervescence of their Italian character,
they loaded their good bishop with injuries, and nearly laid
hands on him. How undaunted his courage was, we have
seen above in similar occurrences, where threats even
against his life had been uttered. We are going to relate,
among many facts, some in which shone forth an incom
parable patience and meekness, united with such charity
that often he loaded those who offended him with benefits.
"When charity is patient," said he, "it is also kind ; if we
are really anxious to win over those who do us harm to
Jesus Christ, we must do them good."

A priest who had an office in the diocese, fancied him
self offended on account of the manner in which Alphon-
sus treated his brother, and had the impudence to go to
34

398 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

him and heap insults upon him. "Do you not see," he
said, " that you are unfit to fulfil your 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 bishop.'3 Alphonsus answered with a smile.
The grand-vicar asked that this man should be deprived of
his post, but he was kept in it, arid afterwards was made
a canon.

Alphonsus labored to put an end to the scandalous con
duct of a certain gentleman ; the latter came to the palace
full of rage, arid asked to see the bishop. The servants
seeing a man in a great passion, prevented his being ad
mitted, whereupon he uttered a volley of abuse. This
scene became talked of, and reached the ears of the go
vernor, who hastened to put the offender in prison. When
Alphonsus heard of it he was greatly distressed, and sent
for the governor, to whom he excused the gentleman, and
asked for his pardon ; nor did he rest until he had got him
set at liberty that very day.

One day, when Alphonsus was driving out, he met a
villager of bad character, who was full of anger for the cor
rection he had received from him ; and who loaded him with
abuse and bad language. Alphonsus bore it all in silence.
On his return to the palace, the grand-vicar wanted this
impudent man to be punished as an example. Alphonsus
was indignant at the idea, and positively forbade any thing
of the kind to be attempted. However, the grand-vicar
informed the governor of it, and the daring offender was
imprisoned that same evening. Alphonsus heard of it the
next day; he made loud complaints about it, and de
manded that the man should be immediately set at liberty:
in the evening, having heard that the governor had not yet
done so, he sent for the grand-vicar, and manifested his
dissatisfaction to him, and as the latter represented to him
the dignity of his position, he exclaimed : " What position,
if it is necessary for people to be put in prison on my ac
count!" He was not pacified until he had tidings of the
release of the offender.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

A priest who was convicted of falsehood and serious
deception towards his bishop, was so far from humbling
himself in consequence, that he even uttered a torrent
of abusive language against him. "I am on the point o
abandoning my home in order not to be under you an/
longer," he said to him, amongst many other disrespectful
things. From the fear of making him still more angry, the
saintly man quietly replied: "My son, what do you wish
me to say to you? You are right, and I am wrong; calm
yourself I entreat you :" he then made him sit down near
him and tried to pacify him.

Another day, a priest came in who set up claims to a
prebend, of which he was totally unworthy. Alphonsus
gave him a tacit refusal, by saying that he had promised it
to another. At these words the priest got outrageously
angry, and assailed his bishop with the most abusive in
vectives. " Is it you they call a saint!" he said. "A
pretty kind of sanctity yours is ! He only is a saint who
knows how to be just." Alphonsus listened in silence, but
on seeing that he went on, he said to him gently : " This is
too much;" and taking up his pen again, he went on with
his work. The other went on abusing him in the same
tone, until he had vented all his spleen. The eye-witness
of this scene stated that Alphonsus seemed like a marble
statue all the time, and that he could scarcely even per
ceive a faint flush which tinged his face, it was so slight;
and he added, that when the priest retired, Alphonsus did
not say a word to him about what had just happened.

A layman boldly entered his palace one day, and abused
him most violently ; he bore it all without saying any thing,
and without in the least losing his serenity. When the
scene ended, he went to the seminary as if nothing had
happened. He visited the different classes, manifested
great cheerfulness, assisted at the repetitions, and made
the youngest pupils sing a pious song. When he retired
the superior followed him, and on seeing him so cheerful,
he begged him to diminish the amount of the pension for
a young man with whom he was greatly satisfied. The
I

400 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

bishop granted him all he asked, with pleasure. When he
went away, and the superior heard of the insult he had re
ceived just before this visit, he was stupified, and could
not sufficiently admire the immovable sweetness of the
saintly bishop.

One day he sent the servant to the administrator of the
annunciator, to ask his kind assistance in behalf of a poor
woman whom he had converted. The administrator was
in a bad humor at that time, and sent the bishop, the
woman, and the servant about their business. The indig
nant servant repeated the speech to Alphonsus, and as he
blamed the administrator, he said to him: "be silent, he
is a holy man. Who knows what was the matter with
him ? Go back again to-morrow, and you will see that he
will give you a large donation." And so it was; the
servant went and received more than thirty carlins.

The good bishop's meekness towards those of his house
hold was no less admirable. When they annoyed him in
any way, his greatest complaint was to say : " How foolish
you are!" or else, "May you become a saint!" If the
matter were of more importance, and he saw no way of
remedying it, he raised his eyes to heaven and gently said:
"Thy will be done;" and if he could not control some
emotion, he used to exclaim : " Gloria Patri," &c. A
canon related that he always exercised extraordinary mild
ness 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 person. Alphonsus
alone never showed the least emotion at it.

He one day gently reproved a cleric who was writing
under his dictation ; the cleric, whether through stupidity
or malice, threw the papers down in a heap on the table,
and then hastily and angrily retired. When Alphonsus
thought he had got calm again, he sent for him and said:
" Well, why did you do such a thing? Do you know that
you vexed me? now go on writing again."

This calmness in the midst of affronts and insults was
not natural to him, however, for he had by nature a fiery

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 401

and irascible temper. It was the happy result of the vio
lent efforts he made to overcome himself, and to break off
all human attachment in his heart. From the moment he
left the world, he set the mildness and humility of Jesus
Christ before him as a model. Archdeacon Rainone, who
was once present when a country priest insulted him, said :
"My lord, that is not the proper way to act; it is de
grading to your character, and encourages the wicked."
" Oh, my dear canon," answered Alphonsus, "I have la
bored to gain a little patience for forty years, and you want
me to lose it in an instant." On a similar occasion he an
swered to a like remark of the superior of the seminary, with
a smile: "I have had no slight struggle to gain a little pa~
tience ; God knows how much it has cost me. It is the fruit
of continued effort, and shall I go and lose it in an instant r"
But this meekness did not prevent him from showing the
proper firmness, when, not his own person, but the glory
of God, or the welfare of souls was in any way concerned ;
he became then even terrible as a lion. F. Caputo, who
lived in his intimacy, was in the habit of saying, "When
this old man wants to manifest his authority, he intimidates
and terrifies one." A gentleman, who was rich, but dissi
pated all his possessions in gaming, had a son at the semi
nary, and on the plea of poverty, he wanted him to be
kept there for the half pension. Alphonsus wished to
correct him, so he refused his request. The gentleman then
raised his voice and tried to obtain it by intimidating him.
Alphonsus, upon this, said to him: "But do you know
how unbending I am ? He then struck the table with the
back of his hand, and added : " When I tell you that I ought
not to do the thing for God's sake, you might as well give
it up." Another gentleman of Airola went on obstinately
in sin ; Alphonsus sent for him to the palace and repri
manded him, and on seeing his indifference he got more
animated and reproved him more warmly. The gentleman
was much nettled, and began to abuse him excessively;
this did not move Alphonsus, who merely said to him more
than once, while walking up and down : " Sir, you wish me
34*

402 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

to act as a bishop, and I will make you see that I am one."
We could give a thousand instances of this truly apostoli
cal firmness. But it was not without suffering an interior
pang that he decided on resorting to firmness or severity.
" You cannot imagine," he wrote to one of his penitents
at Naples, " how much it costs me to treat certain persons
with severity ; and I think that one succeeds better by gen
tleness than by violence." He was once seen to weep, in
giving a severe reprimand to a gentleman whose deplorable
conduct had not yielded to repeated warnings. At this, the
licentious man could not help being affected himself, not
withstanding his being so hardened. Often after uttering
words which he thought a little too strong, he would think
of some pretext for recalling the person to whom they had
been addressed, and giving him some token of kindness.
Thus, having on one occasion spoken authoritatively to a
doctor, he sent for him" on the following day to feel his
pulse. " He was very well, however," said the doctor af
terwards, "but he made use of this innocent stratagem to
show me that he felt no ill-will towards me." •

This meekness and the control which he had gained over
himself also enabled him to rule over the hearts of others,
so that often one word from him sufficed to make all parties
agree, and the most obstinate hearts submit. Of this, let
us give the following most remarkable instance. One day,
the cook, who had forced Alphonsus to give him an assist
ant for the dirty work, had a dispute with this latter, who
carried it so far as to run after him with a knife. The poor
servant ran to take refuge in Alphonsus' room, and held
the door firmly closed; but the scullion, who seemed de
termined to kill him, pushed at the door violently from out
side. Alphonsus ordered it to be immediately opened,
and with a few words succeeded in completely calming the
infuriated scullion. The grand-vicar and all the others
wished the man to be imprisoned and dismissed ; but the
saintly bishop only sought to reconcile him to the cook,
and he succeeded so well that these two servants were the
best possible friends from that time.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 403

In a word, we may say that Alphonsus' meekness was
perfect. " There is nothing," said he, "which is more un
seemly in a bishop than anger. A bishop who gives way
to this passion, is no longer the father of his flock; he is
an intractable tyrant, who draws down the hatred of every
one." Br. Francis, who lived with our saint for fifty years,
and a Father who was in intimate intercourse with him for
forty years, attested, that, whether in his relations with them
or with strangers, he constantly evinced unutterable sweet
ness and equanimity, however annoying that intercourse
might have been; and a priest, a man whose sanctity made
him venerable, never called him any thing but the Francis
de Sales of our age.

As the inseparable companion of meekness is humility,
so Alphonsus, who was a model of sweetness, rendered
himself no less admirable by the low opinion he had of
himself. Being entirely detached from the world, wherein
he saw nothing but illusion and vanity, he seemed to have
forgotten what he once had been, and to seek for nothing
but obscurity and contempt during the whole time of his
episcopate. He no longer thought of the nobility of his
origin, nor of the great achievements of his forefathers,
and if any one attempted to speak to him of them, he im
mediately stopped them. On one occasion, some one
talked a great deal about the honors and dignities which
his cousin, D. Charles Caralini, had enjoyed at Mantua, as
governor of that town; far from taking pleasure in all this,
Alphonsus thought it a matter for sorrow, and said : " How
much more I should rejoice at hearing him praised for hav
ing been full of virtue ! How much more cause should I
have for pride, had his death been that of a saint." How
he hated the title of excellency ', we have seen above ; and
his persevering way of rejecting it 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, he was like one of the servants in his
house: he made his bed himself, dressed his own issue, and

404 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

never allowed a valet to come near his person for such ser
vices ; and 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 incensed on my throne, I
felt a sort of pleasing sensation. Now see," he added,
"see how the devil tried to tempt me." When he went
out of his palace, he never would be accompanied by more
than one priest, whoever that one might be ; and he very
often went out alone, or only accompanied by the sacristan,
who was a layman. The canons, on finding out this man
ner of proceeding, several times complained to the persons
belonging to the episcopal house that they were not
warned when he went out by the usual ringing of bells;
but that was precisely what Alphonsus did not wish for.
When he went to church for his private devotions, he went
alone ; and thus it severaf times happened that he came too
soon, and found the door shut, and waited then patiently
until the sacristan arrived to open it. When he arrived
alone in this way, he would not allow a cushion to be put
on his chair, and when the servant accompanied him, as he
knew his wishes, he took care to take it away, if it had
been placed there. The slightest mark of deference was
distasteful to him ; thus, when he went out in the carriage,
he would not allow the secretary or any other priest to seat
themselves in the front part of the carriage ; and he never
consented to take the right side unless it were quite indis
pensable to do so. Even at Naples he made his grand-
vicar take it, who, though distressed at such pre-eminence,
was obliged to yield through obedience, and in order to
avoid vexing his superior. Far from domineering over the
clergy, he even manifested submissiveness towards the
lowest of his servants, to whom he never spoke but in
these terms: 'Do me the kindness.' ... 'I beg you to
do such a thing.' . . . 'Have patience.' . . . 'Please to
do that,' &c. No word ever issued from his mouth which
denoted command or superiority. He was, above all, re
spectful in his expressions and conduct towards ecclesias-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 405

tics. "One day when I was in his room," said a priest,
"he did not venture to say to me, 'give me that pen,' but
he rung the bell to summon the lay-brother who had to
attend to him ; he was paralyzed and in bed." Even
when he gave an order to a priest relating to his office, he
did so in the form of a request. He once said to a priest
who gave the spiritual exercises to the nuns at Arienzo :
"D. Paschal, the nuns would like to have you for two days
more." "Your lordship can dispose of me; you have but
to command, and I will obey," was his reply. "Very
true," replied Alphonsus, "but a superior ought to be dis
creet." He was in the habit of saying that a tone of
superiority and disdain can only diminish the authority of
a bishop. If, however, he were resisted in a thing he had
a right to demand, he then remembered that he was a
bishop, and changed his love into firmness, but always
spoke in a polite manner, and never said any thing offen
sive. When he wrote to the episcopal vicars and to the
priests, he gave them the title of most illustrious, and he
was as respectful towards those he cited before his tribunal,
thus liking to give to others what he would not receive
himself. When he had to deal with any superior of a
monastery, he almost put himself in the position of a sub
ject. Having gone to the Capuchin Fathers on St. An
thony's day, while he was at Arienzo, and seeing there
was a crowd of people in the church, he said to the F.
Guardian in the most humble tone: " F. Guardian, if you
allow it, I should like to say a few words to these people."
He treated all kinds of ecclesiastics in office with the same
deference, in regard to the affairs relating to their church;
and he addressed the priests, and above all the canons, in
the same way, when he wanted to officiate at an unusual
time in any church.

He would never allow even the simplest cleric to remain
standing in his presence, and all who went to see him
were admitted to his table, if they came in the morning.
Thus no formal invitation was needed beforehand to en
able persons to be admitted to it; every priest, and even

406 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

every layman who came to see him, might hope to dine
with him. He disliked having his hand kissed, and he did
not even present it to the clergy, unless they manifested a
wish for it, and then he did so unwillingly. He liked to
converse with the most vulgar peasantry, and to inquire
into their affairs and their wants.

His profound science caused him to be consulted on the
most delicate affairs, and recourse was had to him from all
parts of Italy, and even from beyond the mountains; yet
he never decided any thing of consequence without him
self taking advice, and always behaved as if he were inca
pable of deciding any thing himself. He often took the
opinion even of persons of but moderate talents, and he
never hesitated in submitting his judgment to that of
another, when he thought it more in accordance with the
truth. He was the first to condemn himself, if he happened
to make any mistake. £Ee did this with joy, and always
manifested gratitude for the explanations he had received.
But if it happened that he was wrongfully condemned, he
>was equally sincere, exposed his reasons with candor,
and justified himself without blaming others. A common
place writer,'"of whom Alphonsus had made an honorable
mention in one of his books, not satisfied with having bit
terly censured an opinion which he had had grounds for
defending, wrote a letter to him, as indiscreet a% it was
impertinent, in which he did not scruple to call him an im
postor. Alphonsus received this piece of impertinence
with the greatest calmness, and took care not to complain
of it even to a canon, who, as he knew, was a friend of his
detractor.

A foreign merchant, who called himself a convert from
Protestantism, after having obtained the ordinary letter of
recommendation to the diocese from the grand-vicar,
wished to speak with his lordship. When he was in his
presence he began to talk of the different works which Al
phonsus had published, and did not scruple boldly to blame
several of his opinions, which he accused of being unten
able and scandalous, and went at length so far as to treat

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 407

him to his face as an ignorant fool. Alphonsus not knowing
what to think of such impudence, defended his opinions
with humility, without losing his affability. A canon who
was present, afterwards said to him: " I cannot imagine
how you managed to bear it." Alphonsus only answered
by a sweet smile, and then added that very likely he was a
Jansenist.

The publisher wishing to give an increased value to Al
phonsus' Moral Theology, begged him in January, 1762, to
have his portrait taken. Alphonsus answered : " As to the
portrait, that would throw discredit on the work; is it
fitting for an author to have his picture taken while he is
alive ? ... When I shall be no more, let them do what
they please with my body ; I care but little : but during my
life, I wish no notice to be taken of me, and that my name
may never be quoted anywhere. I have put it in my books,
it is true; but that was to excite the curiosity of people,
and to get them to read them, otherwise I should have had
them printed without my name." When his secretary, at
the instigation of the publisher, made use of some solici
tation on this subject, Alphonsus answered: "Do not
speak to me more about that, my work would not get more
credit, but on the contrary, it would be depreciated in value
if the head of such a mummy were put in it." If we have
his portrait, we owe it to his servant Alexis and to his
secretary, who being pressed by fresh entreaties from the
publisher, secretly made a hole in the door of the room
where Alphonsus dined; and thus the painter was able to
trace his features whilst he took his repast.

The arms of his house were to be seen only in the
chapter, they were neither to be found in the church nor in
his palace ; and the seats which he used, bore no other
impression than a cross, or a calvary. There was a magni
ficent chasuble in the treasury of the cathedral, left there by
Mgr. Danza; Alphonsus wanted to have a complete set of
vestments of the same sort, and he added some of his own
money to what the church funds could supply, and ordered
a cope, dalmatics, a humeral veil, and cushions, to match,

408 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

from Naples. When these things arrived at St. Agatha,
the canons fancied that the sight of the arms of Mgr. Danza
would be offensive to Alphonsus ; they therefore had them
immediately taken down, and were just going to send them
back to have the arms of Liguori affixed instead, when Al
phonsus heard of it and declared that it mattered little that
these vestments were adorned by Mgr. Danza's arms, and
asked if the ceremonies wherein these would appear, would
be of less value on that account. He made them replace
every thing as the embroiderer had put it. His brother
Hercules made him once a present of a magnificently em
broidered piece of cloth, which Alphonsus had made into a
chasuble and dalmatics, but he rejected the proposition
which the canons made of placing his arms on them ; giving
as the reason of this refusal, that what he had expended in
the making of these things was not out of his personal in
come, but that he had taken it from the episcopal revenues,
of which he did not consider himself to be the owner.

While he thus declined all personal privileges, he also
forbade all his household to take advantage of the position
they held, in the least degree. The general agent of the
duke of Maddalon, said on this head: "In the time of the
former bishops, no one dared to bring before the courts of
justice any of those who were attached to the bishop's
establishments, such as farmers, &c., but in the time of
Mgr. Liguori, the horror which he had for all sorts of unjust
pre-eminence, caused him to abolish these privileges."

The following is the last proof we shall give of his pro
found humility. As founder of the Congregation, and Su
perior General, he had a perfect right to employ any
member of it in all his wants as he might please : but it
was not thus he acted. F. Villani had destined F. D.
Angelo Majone for St. Agatha; but he did not like such a
tranquil mode of life, and manifested repugnance to it, so
he sent him to give a mission at Gaeto, in order to over
come his aversion, and informed Alphonsus of it. " This
news has given me great pain," he answered ; "I want an
able subject who can assist me in a multitude of difficult

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 409

cases; for I am surrounded by a thousand difficulties which
arise on all sides: but God wills it to be thus, and his will

be done Try and get him to aid me willingly ; me,

a poor old man loaded with trials and cares. Tell him that
he will thereby be sure of doing God's will, and that he
will do me a great charity. I like him because he leads an
edifying and retired life, and does not meddle with any
thing that does not concern him ; besides, he is a good ad
viser and a good preacher. I say, willingly, for otherwise
it would be better for him not to come ; for he would then
be more burthensome than useful.

The virtues of poverty and penance are the inseparable
companions of humility, or rather its most certain outward
expressions. We will therefore show how these two virtues
also shone forth in our saint during the time of his episco
pate. With the exception of one violet suit, he only made
use of Mgr. Danza's old clothes, and they were the only
ones he wore during the thirteen years he was bishop of
St. Agatha. Except when he had to officiate, he always
wore the habit of his Congregation, which became dearer
to him and more to his taste from its appearing humble and
poor; but even this cassock had no fellow. One day, a
gentleman coming to see him, found him clothed in violet,
and believing that he must therefore be going out, he said
to him: "Are you going to officiate? " "No," he replied,
"but my cassock is being mended." Another day, as he
was passing a monastery of the Dominican Fathers, dressed
in an old gown full of patches and in a cassock which
was out at the elbows, a father showing compassion for
such great poverty, Alphonsus excused himself for it by
frankly saying that he had given a commission for four
articles of clothing to be bought for him in Naples at the
old clothes-shop, but that they had not yet arrived.

He had a cassock which was so bad that the lay-brother
was ashamed of it, and determined to take it away from
him during the night, and make a new one of the same
kind. The next morning while he was assisting him ta
dress, which he could not then do alone on account of an
35

410 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

issue in his arm, the brother adroitly substituted the new
habit. Alphonsus did not find it out at first, but on looking
at the sleeves, he saw that they were new. "Ah," he said
to him, "you have put new sleeves." "Yes," answered
the brother, "the others were too much torn." But some
time afterwards he saw that it was not his old cassock at
all. "I am master," said he then, raising his voice, "I
think this cassock is perfectly new." " So it is," replied
the brother, " the other was no longer decent for you to
put on." "Never mind," he answered in a tone of
authority, "go and fetch me the old cassock." "If you
will not have this one," said then the brother, "you must
do without any, for the other has been given to a poor
man." Alphonsus could not help regretting it, and said to
the brother: "You always will act of your own accord."
His underclothes were of coarse stuff; in summer they
were of common cloth dyed black. A tailor said that on
receiving a pair of small-clothes to mend, he did not know
where to put the needle, and that a beggar would not have
taken them. "Although sick and old," said a priest, "he
only used hemp shirts, and a wooden rosary was suspended
at his neck, similar to those which poor beggars use." The
laundress often complained that the shirts were so tattered
that the pieces remained in her hands, and wished him to
be persuaded to get four new ones. " I undertook the
office," said F. Telesca, "and seizing on a good oppor
tunity, which the sight of the rents in the collar of his shirt
gave me, I told him that he ought to get new ones." " Old
things," he replied with a smile, "suit an old bishop; and
then I ought to think of clothing the poor." He was seen
in his visitations, mounted on an ass, and with such tattered
clothes on that his hair shirt was seen through them. His
stockings were of coarse wool; when he officiated he wore
spun silk ones, but he never would make use of real silk
stockings. The shoes which he had made at his election,

&

were the only ones he wore during the thirteen years he
governed St. Agatha, and he still wore them after his resig
nation, until his death. The walking-stick, which he used

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 411

for the sole purpose of supporting himself, was of no value,
having cost at most, twenty carlins. The little silken twist
upon it got so shabby that it looked quite discreditable, and
a priest not being able to bear its unsightliness, substituted
a simple riband in its stead. When Alphonsus perceived
it, he said: "What is that riband for?" Being told who
had put it on, he said: "Yes, it could only have been put
on by him." His bedstead was of wood, and of coarse
workmanship, and he could never be induced to make use
of an iron one. He had no curtains, and the 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, he never
allowed another to be bought, nor would he have a coun
terpane, but spread his cloak and his cassock on the bed.
"I have admired Naples," wrote the grand chanter of the
Cathedral of Girgenti, who had visited Alphonsus at Ari-
enzo, " I have felt admiration for the magnificence of Rome,
but the life of Mgr. Liguori has made a much greater im
pression on me ; it has effaced all the beauties of these two
capitals from my eyes. I have seen a saintly bishop of the
primitive age; he lies on a bed to which he is confined by
the most painful infirmities, but his serene countenance
betokens the tranquillity of his soul. The glory of God,
and the government of his diocese, occupy him unceas
ingly : in him have I seen extreme moderation in sleep and
in food, and such absolute poverty in all things, that the
only covering he has on his straw bed is his cassock; his
pastoral ring would not excite the envy of a beggar, a false
stone is its only ornament; his cross equals it in its sim
plicity."

At St. Agatha, as well as at Arienzo, he always chose
the smallest room in an obscure recess for himself. He
had not* one valuable chair; those he had were of the sort
all the poor use. His table was of unpolished wood, its
value consisting in its antiquity, and he had on it a miser
able little inkstand of bone. The paper which he used
for every thing he wrote was very common, and he was so

412 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

careful in turning the least piece to advantage, that he used
the envelopes of letters for his composition, and for writing
to the members of his Congregation. His snuff box was
the same that he had used in the Congregation, that is a
wooden one, worth only a few grains; in a word, he used
nothing which was not very poor and very coarse. The
bare floor was his Prie-Dieu. The only ornaments which
adorned his room, besides his books, were a large crucifix,
(which he had received as a present, 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 the palace also betokened poverty. Mgr. Danza
had left handsome furniture, but Alphonsus did not make
use of it, and the palace was a mirror of evangelical poverty.
With the exception of some common beds for those who
might come to see him, some chairs, and deal tables, all
the rest evinced distress. There were no valuable paint
ings, but on all sides devotional pictures of Jesus Christ
and the Blessed Virgin. In the vestibule of the house at
Arienzo, he placed a cross, which he kissed every time he
went in or out of the house. The best piece of furniture
for any person of distinction, was a bed which was covered
with some old damask cloth, which had belonged to Mgr.
Danza; and this was called the bed of state. He had, in
a word, such an ardent love for holy poverty, that even the
shadow of gold or silver made him afraid. He often went
to see, at Arienzo, F. Mascia, the ex-provincial of the
Capuchins, and each time he went into his room he ten
derly kissed a beautiful parchment picture representing the
Ecce homo. F. Mascia on seeing this devotion, offered the
picture to him, and he accepted it. It was surrounded by
the cloth of which the Capuchins make use ; he wanted
to take it off as a superfluous ornament, but it concealed a
little silver frame. He at once returned it, saying he would
not deprive F. Mascia of this object of devotion; but when
it had left the house, he said to the secretary, " the picture
is very beautiful, it is a pity that it has that silver frame."

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 413

On the pretext of health, he would only use the com
monest sort of bread, which is made of bran with a very
small quantity of flour. All the dishes at his table were
equally common. He ate only veal or mutton, there being
no other kind of meat to be had at Arienzo. " What
scandal would it give," he said, " if the people saw one
fare daintily." Even when he was ill, he would not allow
any thing to be sent for to Naples or elsewhere, saying,
"I ought to use the produce of my diocese;" and among
the things which were sold in the place, he wished those
which were the cheapest to be selected. The secretary
one day bought a rare fish ; as soon as Alphonsus saw it,
he hastened to send it back again, saying, Met it not be
said that the bishop eats the best fish.' If any sort of deli
cacy were prepared for him during his illness, he said,
shaking his head : " I am satisfied with what the others
have, I do not wish for any thing in particular." His great
maxim in this as in other things was: "All that is super
fluous is taken from the poor."

When the Archbishop of Amalfi came, as we have seen
above, to consecrate the Cathedral of St. Agatha, the cook
thought that this was an occasion on which he could get
credit through a grand feast; but when he heard that only
two dishes were ordered, he crossly replied : " My lord,
the scullion could prepare the dinner which you have
ordered." "What do you want to say?" answered Al
phonsus, " we received persons of great consequence at
Nocera, and we did not treat them differently." "Your
lordship was free to do so," boldly replied the cook, who
then went out of the room grumbling. " There now,"
said Alphonsus, " what a passion he has put himself in !
God knows all the plans he had concerted." However, the
secretary had a third dish prepared ; Alphonsus seemed as
if he did not observe it while at dinner, but he gave him a
severe reprimand afterwards, and said: "A bishop's table
ought not to resemble those of the great, it would be a real
scandal: poverty does not injure a bishop; on the con
trary it does him honor." When Mgr. Albertini, bishop of
35*

414 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Caserto, came to Arienzo with his suite, Alphonsus ordered
three more dishes than usual to be prepared ; Br. Francis
remembered the brilliant reception Alphonsus had received
in passing through Caserto, and applied to a Father of the
Congregation to obtain some more. The father had a
lively discussion with him about it. "I cannot waste
money," replied Alphonsus, " which belongs to the poor,
in feasts; I am their father and their steward, but not the
dilapidator of their possessions. I know not with what
face one can eat of dishes prepared with the blood of those
unhappy creatures who have no bread." The father
managed so that he got some more dishes at dessert, three
good dishes having been sent as a present. When Al
phonsus saw them he was quite annoyed, and would only
allow one to be touched. " The good nuns of the Holy
Redeemer," he said tovthe bishop, "are so poor, we must
send them something:" then addressing the other guests,
he added, " His lordship does not want any more, he pre
fers conferring a charity on these poor females;" and he
despatched the bearer to St. Agatha that same instant.

His table linen was so common that it looked quite dis
creditable, and the dishes were in keeping. His only
candlesticks were of brass, and the salt cellars of earthen
ware. On extraordinary occasions, he sent to borrow
plates and dishes from the Lords of Lucca, until the brother
attendant and the secretary provided them, unknown to
him. In conclusion, let us add the following testimony
given to his apostolical poverty by a gentleman who went
to visit him at Arienzo, in 1769, and who could not help
weeping at seeing the great destitution of his host. " I
have seen the ideal of poverty in Mgr. Liguori," he said
to every body, " what indigence is there throughout the
palace! some of the rooms are quite bare, others have
three straw chairs made of unpolished poplar-wood in them,
the simplest sort of tables, and a bed equally poor. If the
saintly bishop required to be moved about, his servant drew
•him up and down in the room by means of a rope attached
;to a shabby wheel-chair."

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 415

As for the spirit of penance which animated him, he
never omitted to discipline himself to blood every day, and
the wallsof his chamber would have borne constant witness
to these macerations, if Mgr. Rossi, his successor, had not
had them covered over by several coats of white-wash. It
was asserted that his drawers were steeped in blood, as if
they had been plunged in it. The prior of the Dominicans
at Durazzano once dwelt in the bishop's house, on account
of the examinations. The very day they terminated, he
wished to set out immediately, (although it was late in the
day,) and being urged to remain, he said: "I would return
were it midnight, for I have not the heart to hear the flagel
lations of this poor old man any longer."

In order to obtain an increase of grace from God for
himself and his flock, he used generally, on the vigils of
feasts, to scourge himself with various cruel instruments,
and especially with small cords armed with sharp steel
stars. He also redoubled his macerations at the carnival
and other profane fetes. 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, his arms and legs; when he
sat down or got up again, his motions betrayed his suffer
ings. All the particulars of these instruments of penance
would have been unknown, if the curiosity of some people
had not revealed them to us. " I saw them all secretly,"
said a canon, who had lived in filial intimacy with him, " in
a strong box, of which his lordship kept the key under his
bed: I could not help shuddering the first time I opened
it." How little he ate, we have seen above. There was a
time when he lived on abstinence food entirely; and what
was left of his food was so bad on account of the bitter
herbs with which he had seasoned it, that not only the
poor, but even animals, would not touch it. During the
day also, he used to chew these herbs in order to mortify
his palate, and he kept such a quantity of them, that one
quite smelt them on entering his room.

416 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

When he ate any where but at home, he had a thousand
stratagems for avoiding partaking of what was before him :
sometimes he carved, or distributed portions ; sometimes
he appeared to be giving his attention to a little dog; at
other times, when he thought that it would not be noticed,
he mingled bitter herbs with the little that he took. Dur
ing the whole time he was bishop, he never once com
plained of any dish being badly cooked, although accidents
of this sort were not rare in his house. One day at dinner,
he asked for something to drink, and instead of wine, the
servant gave him a bottle of vinegar, but Alphonsus drank
it without manifesting the least displeasure. A little while
afterwards, the grand-vicar also asked to drink, and no
sooner had he raised the glass to his lips than he began to
scold the servant; but Alphonsus laughed, and excused
him. On another occasion, when he was taking his meals
in bed, the same thing happened again, and although the
vinegar was very strong, he said nothing about it. Only,
the next day he said to the servant: "Do not give me the
same wine I had yesterday, for I took it for vinegar."

He liked fresh fruit, and used it as a remedy on account
of his sedentary life, but, when for this reason D. Hercules
supplied him with excellent fruit from Naples, Alphonsus
gave it to the nuns of the Holy Redeemer: he did the
same when he got rare fish, sweet things, or other delica
cies, from his brother, or those nuns who were related to
him.

In the midst of the sufferings which continually tor
mented him, he never sought for any other alleviations than
those which were prescribed for him by the physician.
One day, when he was oppressed by a very bad sick head
ache, F. Caputo offered to procure him some of the waters
of St. Vincent Ferrer, in the hope that the saint would
cure him, or at least relieve him. " Shall we go and apply
to St. Vincent for such a little thing?" answered he. "If
we want to address him, let us pray to him for the salva
tion of our souls, and for a good passage into eternity ; as
to what I suffer, it is nothing."

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 417

Although he was sinking under the weight of years and
infirmities, he was always careful to mortify his senses.
He never indulged in any gratification of the eyes, how
ever innocent it might be. " I am certain," said F. Ca-
puto, " that he scarcely knew that there was such a town
as Arienzo or St. Agatha in the world." Another Father,
who was intimate with him, said : " Alphonsus was so great
an enemy to himself, that he had a universal hatred for all
kinds of recreation." " His mortified life," added another,
" filled all who saw it with confusion, and sufficed to change
their lives." He slept as frequently on the floor as in bed.
His bed, besides, was a place of penance rather than of
rest, the palliasse being so thin that his body rested on the
bare boards. He never had it shaken during all the years
which preceded his great infirmity. Let us add one other
testimony of our saint's penances during his episcopate;
it is that of his grand-vicar, Rubini : "His lordship was
as cruel towards himself as he was kind towards others,"
said he. "I should make you shudder, were I to relate to
you all the 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 state of
mortification, his watchings ; in short, all which can afflict
the flesh was made use of unceasingly."

CHAPTER XXIX.

Jllphonsus' charity in relieving all kinds of bodily suffer
ing. His detachment from all self-interest.

TIO complete the description of the virtues of our saint
during his episcopate, we must add that of his charity
towards his neighbor in regard to their bodily necessities.
Full of love for all works of mercy enjoined in the Gospel,
he said that a bishop is especially bound to perform them.
The numerous poor of his diocese were therefore the first
objects of his charity. His heroic charity during the famine

418 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

of 17 — , and the frequent assistance given to persons in
danger of sin, we have seen above. On Wednesday and
Friday of each week, he had a general and public distribu
tion of alms; but whenever any assistance was needed,
all days were alike to him, none were exempted, even we
might say that there was not an hour in the day, in which
he could not be seen, purse in hand, giving liberally to all.
The grand-vicar, Rubini, affirmed, that after subtracting
what was necessary to pay the grand-vicar's salary, and
the monthly salary to which the chaplain, the cook and
the attendant were entitled, and also the expenses for the
table, all the rest of his income was employed in alms, or
else to meet the outlays which the suppression of disorders
entailed. Archdeacon Rainone said that one day he saw
the hall of the palace filled with poor: some asked for
salt, others for lard, some for sugar, others for delicacies
for their sick relatives at home. He was particularly care
ful in signing bonds, in exchange for which the apothecary
was bound to furnish remedies; and he gave quinine, and
other simple medicines with which he was provided to
those who required them. The same archdeacon one day
represented to him the excess of his generosity, as he was
sometimes for whole days without having any thing left to
give, (giving usually to each person at least from five to six
grains,) and asked him what would remain for himself
when he had given all away; reminding him that summer
is not unending, and that the wants of winter are still
greater. "Providence is never at a loss," replied Alphon-
sus. A light from on high directed his alms. Alexis, the
servant, related that when he announced any poor person,
he was in the habit of giving the first time a considerable
sum of money; if the same person came back again, he
diminished the alms each time, without personally seeing
him. But if he were asked for charity for others, he again
gave the large sum. During the bad weather in winter,
when the poor could not work, his charity became still
more striking. He was then in the habit of spending
among them six, nine, and even ten ducats a day. " He

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 419

was so generous in his alms," said a canon, "that he not
only deprived himself of what was necessary for himself
and for his family, but he did not hesitate even to contract
heavy debts for the relief of the destitute." " Repeatedly,"
said another canon, " I went to borrow fifty, a hundred,
and even two hundred ducats for him. When he could
find no one to lend him any thing, he had recourse to the
liberality of the great, especially of the Prince della Riccia.
The Duchess of Maddalon also sent him several hundred
ducats at once, which were specially intended for the poor
of St. Agatha and of Arienzo. Any expense for purposes
not necessary, he did not know, or rather considered as a
robbery. We have given his sentiments on this head in
several instances above; let us add the following. "When
D. Hercules came to visit him, for the first time, with his
second wife, D. Marianne, the grand-vicar and others told
the pious bishop that he ought to think of making some
present to his sister-in-law. He consented ; but they were
much astonished when they saw that this present consisted
in a garland of flowers, which he had himself received as
a gift, and when the trifling value of the thing he had se
lected was objected to, he replied : " Do you then wish
that I should take away from the poor, in order to make
presents to my sister-in-law ?" The lady took pleasure in
prolonging her stay at St. Agatha, but Alphonsus felt dis
tress at the expenses which this caused him, and for this
reason he ingenuously said to his brother: " It would be
very pleasant to me to keep you longer, but how can I
meet the expenses it would entail ? All my money comes
from the church, and what one takes from the church, one
takes from the poor also."

There are in the diocese sixty-four very rich chapels, of
which the bishop has the administration. Alphonsus put
aside, out of this, enough to meet the expenses of keeping
them up, and for the services in them ; and all the rest
went for the relief of the poor, whether to the orphans, or
to clothe the nakedness of a great number of other indi
gent persons; nay, he was so lavish in these alms that he

420 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

sometimes obliged the rectors of these chapels to contract
debts. Although several of these chapels were withdrawn
from his administration, he did not lose courage, but
managed so well with regard to the new managers, that
they still distributed many alms according to his wishes.
Besides, he was ingenious in turning to advantage every
occasion, and in creating new resources for his beloved
poor, as for instance, in appointing to offices, &c. When
ever he received any one in his own service, as a secretary,
a chaplain, or a servant, he always gave the preference to
the poorest, if he were fit for the post. Another instance
is the following. A prior of a convent recently elected,
sent him some pounds of excellent fish; Alphonsus
thought it right to accept the gift, and to manifest his satis
faction at it, especially as he wanted to show that he felt
no resentment for an annoyance which he had received
from the fathers of tha convent some days before. In the
spiritual reading of that day out of the life of the Ven.
Bartholomew, Br. Francis, who read for him, came to the
passage where it is said that the archbishops of Prague
were in the habit of sending a certain fish to the king every
year, on the occasion of a particular solemnity, and that
the venerable Bartholomew resolved to employ the money
in the service of the poor, instead. As soon as Alphon
sus 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 charity." It was objected that it
was too trifling a thing, and that the payment of the porter
would amount to more than the fish was worth ; he an
swered : " I know nothing about all that ; do as I tell you."
Not content with assisting the indigent who presented
themselves at the palace, Alphonsus took care to antici
pate the wants of the bashful poor, and always ordered
their priests to make them known to him. "I know,"
said a religious, " how many entire families he secretly
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

LIFE OF ST. ALPHOPsSUS. 421

the number of individuals to be provided for." A young
orphan of rank was destitute of relations, and lived in great
misery. When he heard of her situation, he sent her a
considerable sum of money through the medium of her
parish priest, and then continued to send her a monthly
allowance. A lady who had several children was in great
distress, on account of her husband being a professed
gambler. He supplied her with half a measure of corn
every month, unknown to her husband ; but he found it out
and got some body to go for the alms in the name of his
wife, sold it, and gambled with the proceeds. Alphonsus,
in embarrassment what to do, sent three measures of corn
to the wife during the absence of her husband; but on
hearing that he had again got hold of it, he determined
secretly to send the poor mother a monthly allowance
through the hands of the priest.

Notwithstanding his known dislike to visits, Alphonsus,
during his sojourn at Airola, went every evening to see an
indigent nobleman, who was the father of a large family.
He relieved his poverty, exercising the most refined deli
cacy in deceiving the very excusable pride of this nobleman.

One of the king's officers, also a stranger, was in want,
on account of having a large family whom he was unable
to supply with all they required ; he informed Alphonsus
of his position, and received six ducats a month during the
whole time that his regiment remained at St. Agatha.

It was especially in secret alms, that Alphonsus' charity
was most remarkable. "He who is a bishop," he was in
the habit of saying, "ought to think a great deal about the
poor whose tears no one thinks of drying: it is they who
are chiefly recommended to us by Jesus Christ." One 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 me," Alphonsus then
said, " that you act as a priest and not as a bishop, you do
36

422 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

not understand the meaning of these words of the Gospel:
{ Let not your left hand know what your right hand giveth.'
I advise you to think of alms-giving in secret, to widows,
to families in trouble, and to the poor who conceal them
selves."

If Alphonsus was liberal towards all the poor, he was
prodigal we might say, when through their poverty they
were in danger of offending God. We have already re
lated, above, many facts which abundantly prove this; let us
give here some more. A canon relates that one day he
heard that a poor old woman had six children, of both
sexes, and of a considerable age, who all shared the same
bed. Alphonsus was horrified at this, and exclaimed : f< 0
God, send for Br. Francis directly," and he instantly sent
the poor woman all that was necessary to remedy this sad
state of tilings. The parish priest of Talanico also found
a number of families^ who, through poverty, huddled all
their children in the same bed ; he informed Alphonsus of
it, who hastened to procure beds for them all. He bought
every year a great quantity of cloth and various kinds of
merchandise, that he might clothe the naked in proportion
to their wants.

Amongst the privileged poor, as Alphonsus called them,
were, besides the nuns of the new convent of the Holy Re
deemer, (of his charities towards whom we have spoken
above,) the Capuchinesses of St. Peter of Alcantara, and
the poor nuns of the convent of St. Philip Neri. Inde
pendently of alms in money, he supplied them with a store
of oil, corn, and wine, each year.

The money he received in his pastoral visitations, was
remitted to the episcopal vicars to be distributed among
poor families, for his charity embraced the poor of the
whole diocese. If he found a petition from a poor person
in the number which came to him from all parts of the dio
cese, he was accustomed to say in a joyous manner: "Ah,
this pleases me, it is a request for charity."

His charity extended even to strangers who were not of
his diocese. A priest asked him, one day, for an annuity

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 423

for a person who did not reside in the diocese. "You
know very well," he replied, " that I am bound to assist all
the poor in my own diocese; now they are so numerous
that I cannot find enough for them. However, tell the
canon, Joachim de Cassare, in my name, to give four carlins
a month to the person of whom you speak. I am poor
and cannot give more." When strangers came to ask for
his charity and he was unable to satisfy them, he said
^sorrowfully: "Charity must be regulated; if I have not
enough to give my own poor, how can I give to others ? "
The pilgrims also did not ask for his assistance in vain.
The following two most extraordinary instances of charity
towards strangers are on record. One day, a pilgrim who
stated that he was of noble birth, and a recent convert,
asked him for alms. Alphonsus told his secretary to give
him two carlins; the other refused them, saying that it
was not enough. Alphonsus heard this in his room, and
hastened to add something to the sum, but on the pilgrim's
requiring still more, he ordered all that he had asked for to
be given to him. Another indigent person, not belonging
to his diocese, often came to ask him for alms; as he was
sensible of the distress of this man, who appeared to have
sprung from a good family, he was in the habit of sending
him from ten to fifteen carlins through Br. Francis. This
man loudly complained to the brother one day, and told
him that the alms he got were insufficient. Alphonsus
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, arid I know riot what
more I can sell for their aid; be satisfied with that for the
present, and God will provide the rest." However, as the
stranger went away murmuring, and with a bad grace, he
took compassion on his distress, sent for him again and
ordered twenty carlins to be given to him. Another in
stance of such (we may say) imperious poverty, and of
submissive charity, is the following, though this person
was of his own diocese. The inhabitants of the village of
Cava are almost all attacked with the goitre. A woman of

4*24 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

this place carne one day to Alphonsus, accompanied by
her daughter, (who was afflicted with this disease,) for
whom she told him that she had an offer of marriage, but
that she did not know how to get a ionino. Alphonsus
could not make out what sort of a thing a tonino was, so
-the secretary asked the woman for an explanation of the
word, when she replied that it was a collar of small gold
beads for an ornament of the neck. The secretary burst
out laughing, and said that all the toninos in the world^
would not be enough to ornament a neck like that. Al-
.phonsus smiled, but touched with compassion, he ordered
ten carlins to be given to her, and on her insisting on having
imore, he added four carlins besides.

Such extended liberality could not fail to be abused, and
he was several times in consequence the dupe of the hvpo-
'Crilical poor. Several of their cheating tricks came to the
•ears of his friends, arvd they did not fail to warn him of it.
Alphonsus replied without any astonishment, "that does
me no harm ; it is better to give an unnecessary alms and
to be cheated, than to run the risk of being reproved for
not having given what was necessary."

We have seen above how he supplied with medicine,
-eatables, and delicacies, those poor whom he knew to be
•sick; so also he did not fail to send money for their relief.
We have seen also in another place, that when five o'clock
•struck, his relaxation was to go and console the sick who
were in the greatest suffering, and he did not forget those
whose misery made them repulsive. His solicitude was
redoubled in the case of the dying; he left every thing to
go and prepare them to make a good end. And there
was nothing which he more inculcated on the priests, than
the care of the sick, particularly if they were poor and deso
late. When his servant Alexis became ill, he went several
times to console him by his presence. One day he left
four ducats for his wife, and as she was hopeless, the
doctors having giving her cause to fear for her husband's
life, he said that he would continue her husband's wages
to her as lon<r as he himself should live. When he heard

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 425

that there were any incurable in the diocese, he caused them
to be taken to one of the hospitals at Naples, at his own
expense, arid as he often had not enough wherewith to
assist them, he applied to the administrators of the chapels,,
and to other persons.

The following is the testimony of a priest on this matter.
"I was filled with admiration at seeing his lordship prac
tice certain acts of charity, above all, those towards the
sick. He numbered seventy-seven years, and although
himself infirm, paralytic, and nearly sinking under the
weight of old age, he still continued to go about the neigh
borhood and to visit the sick. To see an old man, ail
wasted away, his head bent down, so weak as to require
not only the aid of my arm in getting in and out of the
carriage, but also of that of his attendant; to see, I say,
such an old man enter into houses to visit the suffering ob
jects 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 the sick, he who
daily received the visits of two medical men. ' What sort
of charity should I have,' he replied, 'if I were notable to
suffer something for the benefit of my children ? Oh ! how
much greater are the obligations of a bishop than those of
any other Christian ! I will even say, of any other ecclesi
astic ! The shepherd who wishes to watch over his flock
properly, ought not to forget the sick sheep, but must take
care of them in proportion to the magnitude of their
wants/ His arrival amongst the sick was not without
profit to them : ... he exhorted them to patience, and
encouraged them to accept their sickness as a penance
sent them by God ; he disposed them to receive the sacra
ments, he filled them with love and confidence towards
the Blessed Virgin, whose picture he always gave to them.
He inquired into their wants, and did not leave them with
out giving them an alms."

If any were ill and tormented by scruples, or had met

with a fatal accident, he quitted every thing to go to their

immediate assistance, and to dispose them to make a

36*

426 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

confession. This once gave occasion to a singular mistake.
He saw the viaticum being carried to some place in the
neighborhood of his palace, at Arienzo, and asked to whom
it was taken. Some one replied by the one word: ' Pec-
catore,' (sinner.) Upon that he was troubled and alarmed,
and believing that the sick person was a great sinner, he
sent to inquire what signs of repentance he had given. A
canon who then saw the mistake said to him : " Peccatore
is the name of the sick person ; but he is a good man."
However Alphonsus could not rest until he had crawled to
the house of the dying man, examined into his state of
mind, and satisfied himself as to his probity and piety.

On another occasion he heard that a villager had received
a mortal wound ; he immediately hurried off to see him and
induce him to pardon his enemy. He repeated his visits
daily while the sick man lived, and sent him provisions for
himself and all his family. To the mother of the man, as
she cheerfully forgave the murderer, he assigned a pension ;
but her daughter resisted all persuasions and would not for
give, though he visited her twice, so that he could but aban
don her and pronounce the divine malediction against her.

His solicitude became extreme if the illness of an eccle
siastic were in question, and especially if it were that of an
ecclesiastic still in the prime of life, and in a doubtful state
of mind. When therefore he heard that a priest was in
danger of death, he multiplied his visits, until he saw that
he was contented and well disposed.

God often deigned to manifest, in a miraculous manner,
what pleasure he had in the visits which Alphonsus paid
to the bedside of those who were ill. Thus he predicted
the death of the brother of the Archbishop of Amalfi, whom
he had gone to comfort by his presence, and also that of a
lady he went to see; in both cases contrary to the expec
tations of the medical men, and in the first, even though
two celebrated doctors, who had been called from Naples,
had held out confident hopes of a speedy recovery. So
likewise when Mgr. Albertini was ill at Caserto, Al
phonsus having gone to see him, and having heard that

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 427

two physicians had pronounced him out of danger, knelt
down before an image of the Blessed Virgin, and after a
short prayer arose and said to the doctors, " It is useless to
give yourselves more trouble; his lordship will die." He
then entered the sick man's chamber and said to him:
"My lord, do not trust to the flattering promises of the
doctors ; if God were to call you to himself, would you not
wish to have received the sacraments?" "Undoubtedly I
should, my dear friend," answered Mgr. Albertini, who
immediately asked to receive the viaticum and extreme
unction. Alphonsus after this said mass for the happy
death of the prelate. One of his relations, the Duchess of
Cimitile, did not approve of such sad preparations, and the
doctors were still more dissatisfied. However, Alphonsus
returned to Arienzo. He met the Governor of St. Agatha
next day at the church, and inquired about Mgr. Albertini :
"He is better," answered the governor, "at least so D. N.
writes me word, and the doctors allowed him to take an
egg this morning." After this Alphonsus ascended the
pulpit, and at the end of the sermon, he said to the people :
" Pray for Mgr. of Caserto, who is now in his last agony."
He spoke truly, for on the following night Mgr. Albertini
passed to another life.

It was just the contrary to this in regard to D. Blase
Trossi : the doctor had given him over, and the people in
the house told the bishop of the slate in which he was, for
Alphonsus knew the sick man well, and had often borrowed
large sums of money from him. Distressed at such sad
tidings, he said mass for him that very day. He then took
a picture of the Blessed Virgin and sent it to him, telling
him to recommend himself to her, and to be sure that he
would obtain a cure. The sick man had no sooner re
ceived the picture and kissed it, than his state began to
mend sensibly, and the improvement went on so rapidly,
that he was quite well again in a few days.

Prisoners were as great objects of commiseration to the
charitable bishop as the sick. He frequently visited them,
to encourage them and incite them to patience, and if they

428 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

were poor, he did not fail to relieve them by his alms. He
gave six grains to each of them every Saturday. A priest
stated that even when Alphonsus was at Arienzo, he sent
the same for all the prisoners at St. Agatha every Saturday.
But as these latter spent what they received in gambling,
he ceased to give them money, and the alms were made in
provisions. When there were any prisoners for debt, Al-
phonsus interceded for them with their creditors, whose
claims he often satisfied with his own money. Let us re
late the two following instances. At the opening of one
of his pastoral visitations at Arienzo, he told the people
how much it was his heart's wish to relieve all poor, and
that if he could not satisfy all it was not from want of love,
but through his own poverty. A man, on hearing these
words, turning to a priest near him, said jestingly : "We
have at last found our prefect," in allusion to a confrater
nity which was called^ in derision, of St. Misery. When
this speech was reported to Alphonsus, he only smiled at
it. But sometime after he was told that this same man
was in prison for debt, arid that his family were starving; he
then remembered his joke and said : " He is our fellow-
member, we must assist him." He then paid the debt,
which amounted to six ducats, and as he owed a great deal
more in other ways, he allowed him ten carlins monthly.

A poor man had been in prison for three months for
having smuggled salt; being ill besides, he had recourse to
Alphonsus, who wrote to the royal administrator of salt at
the tower of the Annunziata : "I entreat you to release
this man from prison, because he is dying of hunger; he
has nothing but alms to live on, for he possesses absolutely
nothing of his own. I hope that my request may lead you
to have pity on this unfortunate man, and that you will not
have the cruelty to let him die in prison. My dear N., do
me this kindness, and I will not fail to recommend you to
God." The administrator asked him for a medical certi
ficate as a security; Alphonsus wrote to him a few days
after: "I send you the certificate you asked me for, and I
hope that it will produce the desired effect, and that in

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 429

reply I shnll hear that this poor old man has been set at
liberty. Believe me, my dear N., you could not do a better
deed. I try to assist 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
me the sorrow of hearing that he has died in this mournful
prison, and perhaps destitute of spiritual aid."

He also interceded for criminals, and implored the cle
mency of the barons and judges for them. A soldier in a
country regiment having been found carrying prohibited
arms, was arrested and put in prison. Alphonsus pitied
the young prisoner, and also his aged father, and lost no
time in writing to the Duke of Maddalon's agent, to beg
him to intercede for him with the commissioner in his
name. He wrote also to the governor of the fortress of
St. Agatha to the same effect, and obtained what he de
sired.

This kind of charity by intercession, he even extended
to persons out of his diocese. Thus he wrote to the above
mentioned administrator of salt in favor of the farmer of
salt at Salerno : " I assure you, that this farmer is an honest
man, and if he has not satisfied you, it has riot been his
fault. I therefore earnestly entreat you to leave this man
in his farm, and to treat him with all the charity with which
your good heart is filled ; I shall always be grateful to you
for what you will deign to do in his favor/'

Compassion often ceases when one has to exercise it at
his own expense, but that of Alphonsus knew no bounds.
Alphonsus' store of apples once visibly diminished. A
canon had suspicions about a person who frequented the
palace, and went with Alexis and the commissioner to his
hou.se, and found there the missing apples and an iron in
strument by means of which the theft had been committed.
The magistrate was informed of it, and the thief was put
in prison. The canon and Alexis carried the news to
Alphonsus, expecting to receive praises for their zeal.
But Alphonsus exclaimed : "What! imprison a poor crea
ture for a few apples! go to the magistrate directly, and

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS,

get him to set him at liberty; and as to the npples, I will
buy them." "The apples are your own," replied Alexis.
"Well," answered Alphonsus, "do not trouble yourself
about that, arid make haste and deliver this unfortunate
man." Meanwhile, the grand-vicar and several gentle
men came in, and they all told him that he ought to let an
example be made of the delinquent. Alphonsus yielded
through prudence, but he immediately wrote to the magis
trate to beg him to stop all proceedings, and to send him
the iron which had been the instrument whereby the of
fence had been committed. He sent food to the prisoner
morning and evening, and even gave something to the
guards and the gaoler to cause them to deal well with the
poor man ; and as soon as he was set at liberty, he sent
for him, remonstrated with him, and gave him a large alms.
As mass was not said for the numerous prisoners who were
confined at Arienzo, whither the country courts also sent
their prisoners, Alphonsus managed to get the Duke of
Maddalon to allow a chapel to be erected for them.

Among other instances of his procuring the release of
prisoners, we will relate only the two following, where one
of the immunities of the church, that is, the right of asy
lum, was in question. The constables met with a man at
Arienzo, who was a dealer in tobacco, and arrested him, to
examine if it were not the produce of fraud. As this was
probably the case, the man had made away with it, not
seeing any other means of escape. The 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, from which they tore him away, and
dragged him to prison. When Alphonsus heard of this,
he immediately sent for the gaoler, and demanded that the
prisoner should be set free. He then turned to the 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 ob
tain justice." He was not at rest till the prisoner was
released.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 431

Five Albanian soldiers deserted at the bridge of the
Magdalene, and had the rashness to turn their arms against
the officers who were sent in pursuit of them. Two of
them were killed in the mountains of Arienzo, and the
three others took refuge in a little country church. The
suit was got ready, and application was made to Alphon-
sus to decide if they might or might not enjoy the privi
lege of sanctuary. They could not; but as he was in
horror at the idea of delivering these men into the hands
of justice, to be put to death, he let the allotted month pass
without giving any decision, so that the matter might be
left to the mixed court, from which he, expected a more
favorable decision. However, an officer of justice came
from Naples for the papers relating to the trial ; but on
seeing that Alphonsus' decision was not there, he said to
him : !t My lord, your pity injures the culprits ; for now that
the mixed court must decide their case, they will assuredly
be condemned to death." At these words, Alphonsus be
came much alarmed, and immediately sent for an officer
quartered with a company at Arienzo, and asked him what
he could do for these unfortunate men. "Nothing but
your intercession can save them," answered the officer.
Immediately, that is to say, at six o'clock in the evening,
Alphonsus despatched a courier to General Prince Taci, to
the Marquisses of Tanucci and of Marco, as well as to D.
Anthony del Rio, secretary of war, to ask for the pardon
of these criminals, saying that if he were not assured of
their safety, his own life would be endangered, for, para
lytic as he was, he would then go in person and throw
himself at the feet of the king. Alphonsus obtained
more than he had asked : the deserters received a full par
don, and all three, by order of the colonel, accompanied by
an officer of justice, came to thank their deliverer. On see
ing them he was filled with joy ; he remonstrated with them
in a paternal manner and showed that, not satisfied with
having saved their lives, he also wished to save their souls.

Let us cite a last instance of Alphonsus' charity towards
prisoners and persons accused. A chanter belonging to

432 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

the cathedral became an accomplice in a homicide, and
was put in prison, but as the evidence was not sufficient,
he was set at liberty. As he could not, however, justify
himself from having taken some part in the murder, he was
suspended. He was very poor, and when Alphonsus saw
his misery, he interceded for him with the treasurer, to beg
that they would grant him the half of what he would have
gained by his presence in the choir. "What you do for
this poor creature," he said, "I shall feel as if done to
myself." Touched by this request, they gave the unhappy
man the whole of it. Alphonsus, still sorrowing over his
position, took the opinion of enlightened persons, to know
if he could not reinstate him. He sent him to Rome, with a
statement of the case, and at his own expense; but as the
matter could not be cleared up, he assisted the chanter arid
his parents by allowing him a pension. He had, more
over, appointed a canon as an advocate in favor of the
poor, who was bound to defend them gratuitously in case of
need, doing thus by others what he could not do by himself.
Hospitality is numbered by St. Paul among the duties of
a bishop, and Alphonsus was also remarkable for that vir
tue ; indeed, his palace was like a hotel, for it was always
open. If any one of the clergy went to the palace in the
evening, even if he were the lowest of all, he was sure of
finding a lodging there. All strange ecclesiastics, arid es
pecially the candidates lor holy orders who had no ac
quaintances at St. Agatha or at Arienzo, were also invited
to dinner; if they came from a distant place, he made
them also pass the night at the palace: and it was the
same in regard to the agents of the priests, who daily
carne in great numbers to see him. When there was a
meeting for the election to a living, he used to make the
examiners dine at his table, as well as the candidates.
"At dinner," he once said to a priest, "1 am obliged to
give and take of what I destine for the poor, for it does not
do to send any of these priests to an inn." During the first
period of his residence at St. Agatha, an arch-priest came
at the dinner hour, accompanied by two ecclesiastics. He

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 433

was ignorant of Alphonsus' way of acting, and begged
him to receive him into the palace. "By all means," said
Alphonsus, and as the two companions were getting up to
go to the hotel, he caused them to stay, telling them that
the house of a bishop is at the service of all, and particu
larly of priests.

D. Salvador Tramontana, who did nothing without con
sulting him, very often came to visit. him ; he never arrived
without bringing either fruit or some cake, but Alphonsus
perceived his delicacy and said : " When you come here,
do not trouble yourself to bring any thing ; a bishop is
bound to be hospitable." Another time, he wrote to him :
"If you will come here for four days, I shall be glad, but
let it be without thinking of paying me for the little bread
you may eat; remember that I lodge a great many other
people." The grand chanter of the Cathedral of Girgeriti,
when visiting him, noticed that the table was well sup
plied, and said laughingly to Alphonsus : "How does this
sumptuousness agree with your poverty ?" "Hospitality,"
he answered, "is the daughter of charity, and not of pov
erty." However, this sumptuousness only consisted in an
extra dish ; and this was all the difference he made for the
Duchesses of Borino and of Salandro, and other gentlemen
and ladies who came to consult him, not even excepting
his brother Hercules on his first visit after his second mar
riage. The pilgrims who applied to him, were lodged at
the palace, besides receiving provisions for their journey.
The members of his own Congregation were always wel
come, and he treated them just like strangers, giving them
the same kind of food ; but he did not allow them any
lengthened stay without there being a necessity for it, and
when the business in question was terminated, he kindly
dismissed whomsoever it might be.

We may also say, that in Alphonsus' time, the episcopal
palace was turned into a public hospital. When any trav
eller fell ill, they appealed to the charity of the bishop. A
hermit, who had come to ask his advice, was taken ill. He
charitably received him into the palace, often visited him,
37

434 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

paid for the doctors and the medicines, and did not let him
go away till after a month, when he was entirely recovered.
Mgrs. Borgia and Pallante coming once to speak with him,
their coachman fell ill, and Alphonsus immediately gave
him a bed and a room. The illness became serious, the
last sacraments were administered to him, and Alphonsus
did not fail to console him frequently by his own presence.
The son of the coachman hastened to visit his father, and
was received also with the greatest kindness. When the
father was convalescent, Alphonsus caused light food to be
procured for him, and treated him with the greatest atten
tion. The father and the son remained in the palace for
upwards of a month.

Although Alphonsus was so careful in fulfilling the duty
of hospitality, he could not escape censure on this score,
from those who would have liked to see at his house a
splendid table whei^e they might have good cheer and
amusement. "They say," Alphonsus wrote to a priest
who had informed him of this, "that I do not practice
hospitality properly! I know, however, how much it costs
me; as Arienzo is a town through which a great many
people pass, my palace is almost always full of strangers,
for whom I always keep several beds prepared, and the
guests are sometimes so numerous that I am obliged to
borrow beds."

Alphonsus, who was only economical in order to be
liberal, was also admirable in his detachment from all self-
interest. He detested the shadow of that cupidity which
the apostle anathematises so severely. From the time of
his arrival at St. Agatha, he regulated all the fees of the
episcopal court according to the customs at Benevento,
which considerably lessened the tax on a great many regis
trations. As to those relating to the ordinations, he wished
them to be gratuitous, and when the secretary complained,
he answered: "I sacrifice what accrued to me ; you can
take what is your due." See what he wrote to F. Villani
on this subject: " As to the revenues of my bishopric,
which are said to amount to four thousand ducats, I should

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 435

be thankful if I had two thousand two hundred! I have
retrenched many of the suras 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 marriages,
especially when there is poverty or danger in the case."
When he resigned the episcopate, a canon examined the
archives of the church at Arienzo, and said that he did not
find a single marriage celebrated for nothing by the pre
ceding bishops, while in Alphonsus' time there were a
great many, especially among the poor. He himself wrote
to one of his friends: " I often remit considerable sums,
and those who serve me know what horror I feel in vio
lently exacting the payment of what is due to me." He
moreover generously abandoned all that was due to him for
the patents for livings. The sixty-four rich chapels, of
which he had the administration, as was said above, were
each bound to pay him four ducats at the principal solem
nity ; but this sum he generally left in the hands of the
administrators for the poor.

As to gifts and presents, which formerly formed a large
part of the income of the bishopric of St. Agatha, we have
seen above how particular he was in refusing them, for he
would not receive any other than the dust from the feet of
the poor. Let us give some other instances of this. The
dean of the cathedral, after his appointment to the charge,
sent a present to the bishop, who refused it. The dean on
complaining of it, received this answer: "I have only
done my duty in making you dean, and no recompense
ought to be expected or received for doing what one ought
to do." One day in the spring, he wished to have some of
the fruits of the season, and knowing that a priest . had a
quantity of melons, he sent to buy four from him. The
priest hastened to send him a dozen. When Alphonsus
saw them he asked what they would cost, and the porter
replied that it was a present. He immediately sent them
back. The priest then came in person, and assured him
that these melons cost him nothing. It was quite a con-

436 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

test, in which the priest got the victory, however, as he
was set upon it. Alphonsus yielded, in order not to pain
him; but he did it with so much regret that he took care
in future never to ask for any thing of the sort from this
priest or any other. On another occasion, a canon made
him a present of three melons : Alphonsus positively de
termined that they should either be paid for or sent
back again. But the canon, in order to get out of the
difficulty, told him what they cost him, and said that he left
the money in his hands for the poor. This agreement
pleased Alphonsus.

He also showed the greatest disinterestedness, or rather
liberality, in the farming of the property of the bishopric;
and whatever conditions the farmers might have entered
into, it sufficed for them to expose their distress and the
hardness of the times, to insure their being released from
ZL good part of their rents, especially if they were men who
feared God. A great number of them obtained great re
ductions on considerable arrears. One of the farmers
complained one day of the bad harvest, and "Alphonsus at
once released him," said F. Buonopane, " from more than
two hundred ducats of what he owed him." "In a word,"
^aid the grand-vicar Rubini, "he made so many such dis-
'counts, that he never had a farmer who paid the full
.amount of his lease."

Alphonsus dismissed a woman from a house belonging
to his see, whom he had been led to suspect of bad char
acter through a false report. The poor woman began a no-
vena to St. Joseph, and went to Arienzo. When she was
ushered into his presence, he asked her to what saint she
was most devoted. "To St. Joseph," she answered. "Ah
well," said he, for he had been previously undeceived,
" St. Joseph has been gracious to you, arid has told me not
to turn you out." The woman encouraged by this good
beginning, said that the rent was very high. Alphonsus
touched by her poverty, asked her how much she wished to
pay him. Her rent amounted to twenty-seven ducats; she
offered one and twenty. Alphonsus agreed to this, and

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 437

she continued to pay the same sum during the whole time
he was bishop, though afterwards she had to pay thirty-one
instead of twenty-one.

A steward was found to have a deficit of about four
hundred ducats; Alphonsus, on seeing him shed tears and
confess his negligence, was satisfied with discharging him,
and sent him away in peace. Several persons said that he
ought to bring him to justice. " What do you say about
courts of justice ?" said he with emotion, "this man has
satisfied justice by confessing his fault. What a thing it
would be to see a bishop bring an unfortunate man to
justice, to ruin him outright, for the sake of his own
interest! "

When he nominated D. Virgil Cimino as his secretary,
the grand-vicar thought that as he was of the diocese he
might give him only four ducats a month, instead of the
ordinary sum of six. "Why be parsimonious?" replied
Alphonsus. "D.Virgil is poor, why deprive him of any
thing? let him receive what has been given before."

To give a final proof, which is very striking and touching,
let us add the testimony of F. Raphael de Nuvo, the trea
surer of St. Peter of Alcantara. <;I am an old man of
ninety," he said, " and yet I never saw a prelate so chari
table and disinterested as Mgr. Liguori. His purse was
always open to give, and only closed against receiving.
Every thing was gratis for others, but he doubly paid what
he himself owed."

But though his disinterestedness was so great, it did not
go so far as to injure his successors, for he knew how to
distinguish between his own individual interests and those
of the episcopal revenue. Nay, his vigilance on this point
was extreme. On the first Christmas after his arrival at
St. Agatha, every priest or rector, even those of the monas
teries, presented him with four capons; believing that this
was a spontaneous present, he did not wish to receive it.
But when Archbishop Rainone had brought the deeds and
shown that this gift was not optional but a part of the
revenues of the diocese, he not only received them, but
37*

438 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

even exacted them for the future, and in order to make a
capital out of them, he applied to a poulterer each time, in
order to know the 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."

The archpriests, priests, rectors and superiors of monas
teries, renewed their protestation of obedience on the As
sumption, and according to old custom, they brought the
bishop a present as a testimony of their submission. Al-
phonsus' predecessors had substituted a large sum of
money instead of the present, without caring about receiv
ing the accustomed homage; when Alphonsus heard of
this, he required that they should renew their promise of
obedience, and that in place of the prescribed sum, each
one should again make him a little present.

The steward of the episcopal revenue demanded that an
archpriest should give to the bishop the fifteen measures of
corn due according to the terms of the ancient quit-rent;
the archpriest replied that he was not bound to do so, since
the payment of tithes had been forbidden. "I am sur
prised," answered Alphonsus, "that your reverence can
thus forget your obligations after having taken an oath to
defend the rights of the church. ... If mild measures are
not enough to make you pay what you owe, we will have
recourse to the tribunals, because I am determined to re
ceive the tribute which is due to me, at any price." Learn
ing from the priest, in answer to this, that the squire at
Arienzo had forbidden his paying the accustomed tithes,
he hastened to write to all his priests to tell them to repair
:lo Naples, and to state their rights before the royal council;
.adding that if the squire or others prevented justice being
rendered, he would in that event himself undertake to de
fend the common law. In spite of his representations, the
archpriest would not have recourse to Naples to defend his
rights, nor would he pay the rental in question to the
revenue. Alphonsus then felt obliged to denounce him to
the Metropolitan of Benevento, but the cause remained
undecided, as Alphonsus gave in his resignation mean-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 439

while. However, in order not to neglect the interests of
the revenue, when Mgr. Rossi went to St. Agatha, he in
formed him of the reasons which proved his claims. The
episcopal income had been lessened by the contribution of
wood furnished to the troops quartered at St. Agatha. As
Alphonsus was not able to obtain any compensation for
this, he appealed to the royal court. He alleged strong
reasons in his favor, and the ministers, who were moved by
their respect for his person, rejected the claims of the
parish. "That which is taken from Mgr. Liguori," they
said, "is taken from the poor."

These measures were very painful to Alphonsus, and he
only determined to resort to them through necessity ;
for he was opposed to law suits, and tried, whenever any
difficulty arose, to bring things to a happy end by gentle
means, saying that a bad accommodation is better than a
good law suit. Before proceeding against the arch-priest,
he wrote to ask him to come and have an interview with
him, and as he did not even deign to answer him, Alphon
sus again wrote to him, and humbly said : " If I had a car
riage I would have sent it for you long ago ; come, I
entreat you." It was only when he found that these ad
vances were useless, that he at length resolved to have
recourse to the law. A dispute arose between Alphonsus
and the Duke of Maddalon, on the subject of the right of
pasturage over a fief which belonged to the episcopal reve
nue, 'and as these rights had been refused for two years,
he defended himself with apostolical courage. "I am
obliged," he wrote to the Duke's agent, "to defend the
property of the see, which possesses the double right of
pasturage and lordship ; I beg you to tell the officers of the
Duke not to act with violence, because I will only yield to
evident reasons for so doing, for I am bound in conscience
to defend the revenue. If I am pushed to extremities, I
will apply directly to the regency, by whom I hope to be
heard. And in another letter, he said : " If I could recon
cile it to my conscience, I would yield and say no more
about this affair. God knows what a horror I have for

440 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

law suits; the very name makes me tremble ; but how can
I yield, after having taken an oath to defend the rights of
my church?" He wrote also to the Count of Cerreto, the
young Duke's governor, and the affair ended to the advan
tage of Alphonsus, thanks to his firmness and prudence.
The Count had a great veneration for the saintly bishop,
who, not to be outdone in civility, placed the case in the
hands of one of the Duke's advocates. The Count was
satisfied with such a generous proceeding, and wrote to tell
the agent to observe the ancient custom, and to pay up the
arrears. It was a beautiful sight to see interest and disin
terestedness thus struggling together in our saint, or rather
to see his justice contending with his charity.

A poor gentleman, who was burthened with a numerous
family, owed the revenue about twelve ducats for quit-rent.
As he was summoned by the steward, he implored the in
tercession of a pious widow, who told Alphonsus of the
state in which the gentleman was. He forgave him the
debt at once, but reflecting on the difficulties in which he
was placed, he added: "What shall be done for this
man?" and assigned him a measure of corn every month.
Nevertheless, in order to prevent the right as to the rent
from being injured, he caused the steward to oblige the
debtor to appear every year, in order to pay it, and then
to give him the money under the title of an alms. He
thus preserved all the rights of the revenue uninjured,
and was in the habit of satisfying the claims of charity at
his own private expense alone.

From the moment he came to St. Agatha, and saw that
the see possessed a good deal of property, he took all pos
sible care to prevent its being depreciated in value. Where
olive trees were wanting, he caused them to be replanted ;
he every year had the dead trees replaced, and when any
of the ground was uncultivated, he had its value increased
by plantations. As one wing of the palace was in a bad
state, he immediately ordered the suitable repairs, which
cost him more than six hundred ducats. A house belong
ing to the episcopal revenue being also out of repair, the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 441

enant was unwilling to do any thing to it, but he insisted
on it. " I feel scrupulous about it," he wrote to a canon,
"and I wish to do all that is necessary in order to repair
this house thoroughly, rather than diminish the ground-
rent." He not only took care that the value of all this
property did riot become lessened ; he even sought to make
it still more valuable. As he knew that silk was much
sought after, and that a great quantity of mulberry trees
were needed for its production, he wished to have a number
of plants of those trees, and even inquired as to whether
white mulberry trees were more profitable than black ones.

CHAPTER XXX.

jllphomus resigns ihe Episcopate. He leaves his Diocese, and
returns to Nocera. His manner of life in his retirement.

HAVING thus seen in detail how Alphonsus shone
forth in all the duties and virtues of the episcopal
state, let us now follow him into his retreat. The successor
of Clement XIV was not even elected, ere he again
thought of resigning his bishopric; being then an octoge
narian and paralytic, the burthen of the episcopate seemed
no longer endurable to him. He was not, however, free
from his accustomed fears, and as he felt doubts as to the
validity of his reasons, he again opened his heart to F Vil-
lani, to ask his advice and the assistance of his prayers.
He also consulted various zealous bishops, and in particu
lar, Mgr. Borgia, and Mgr. Lusco, bishop of Lucero, and
they all thought that he need have no scruples in resigning
his office. But he took no resolution until he had received
the decision of his director, F. Villani, who, though he
had not approved of this resignation at first, yet on account
of the state to which Alphonsus was reduced, now ad
vised it, and told him that he ought to resign without any
scruples, and that he was even bound to do so as he
would abridge his life were he to continue to support the

442 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

painful burthen, F. Villani, however, doubted whether
the Pope would accept the resignation. "There is no
reason to doubt about it," he answered to one of the
Fathers of the Congregation, "he will accept it, for I am
certain that I ought to die in the Congregation, and you
will see that I shall die in it as a subject ;" and he twice
repeated that he must die as a subject. He prophesied,
but the mystery was not then understood.

On the 15th of February, 1775, Cardinal Braschi was
elected Pope under the title of Pius VI. After the coro
nation of the new pontiff, Alphonsus' anxiety to be set
free from the weight of the episcopate increased. How
ever, during the proceedings which ensued upon this, he
still felt his accustomed scruples. " God only knows how
I am tormented," he wrote to F. Villani, on the 9th of
March. " The fear of abandoning my church in order to
escape the cross, disturbs 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 the whole of the short
time I may have to live." The following is the petition he
presented to the Pope. We give it entire, as it describes
perfectly the state of health he was then in, and also gives
a short account of the diocese:

"Most Holy Father, I wish to represent to your Holi
ness that I, the Bishop of St. Agatha de Goti, in the king
dom of Naples, have attained the advanced age of severity-
nine years. By the aid of God, I have continued to bear the
burden of the episcopate for thirteen years ; but I am in
capable of bearing it any longer. I have many infirmities
which foretell a speedy death : I suffer from an affection
of the chest, which has several times reduced me to great
extremities ; the palpitations of my heart have also several
times brought me to the 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 bleed-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 443

ing, blistering, and other remedies. I have received the
holy viaticum four times, and extreme unction twice, dur
ing the time that I have been bishop.

" I must add to what I have just stated, that I have other
infirmities which prevent my fulfiling rny 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 mat
ters, 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 the
aid of two people in making the least movement. I pass
my time on my bed, or I sit helpless in my chair. I can
not 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 the case, I
think I am bound to beseech your Holiness to accept my
resignation of rny bishopric, which I formally tender in
this petition, because I see that the state in which I am
causes me to fail in the duties of my office, and in the
right government of my flock. I confidently hope that
your Holiness 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 resignation, in order that my
flock may be relieved, for they obtain little assistance from
so incapable a shepherd, and also that I may be freed from
the scruples which torment me when I reflect on my un-
fitness for government.

"I wish to lay the state of my church before you : The
diocese contains about thirty thousand souls; the income
amounts to about twenty-six thousand ducats annually, ac
cording to a calculation made during the last four years.
The cathedral has thirty-one canons, with five prebendaries.
In the territory of Arienzo, there is a college which num
bers twenty-four canonries. There are three convents of
cloistered nuns, namely, those of St. Agatha, those in the
town of Airola, and in the territory of Arienzo, and also

444 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

two asylums where there is also a church in which the
sacred functions are celebrated.

" I very confidently look forward to receiving (he 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."

He sent this letter to Cardinal Crescensi, who loved him
and favored him very much, begging him to consent to pre
sent it to the Pope, and to support it by his mediation.
He wrote also to the same effect to Mgr. Calcagnini, the
Pope's chamberlain, and to Cardinal Castelli. No sooner
was it discovered at Arienzo that Alphonsus had sent in
his resignation to the Pope, than the news spread through
out all the diocese, and caused general affliction. People
consoled themselves, however, by the thought that the pre
sent Pope would not accept it any more than his prede
cessor had done. The superiors of the religious orders
wept for the loss of a protector who was both powerful and
zealous; the nuns, for that of a father and a comforter;
the clergy felt as if in him they lost the soul of the eccle
siastical state, and the seculars, a tender and vigilant pastor :
and so they all addressed the most ardent supplications to
heaven for the preservation of their saintly bishop.

In the meantime Alphonsus was not idle, but redoubled
his exertions and labors for the welfare of the diocese, en
couraging the priests to labor for the salvation of souls, and
to edify them by their own examples. The students of the
seminary were always especially in his thoughts, for said
he, "I do not wish to leave my successor overbnrthened
with old debts;" he was therefore, to the last, as kind in
rewarding the zealous as he was vigilant in chastising the
tepid and expelling the incorrigible. Before he left his
vineyard, he was also careful to have it entirely visited
throughout by faithful laborers, having applied, from the
preceding September, to the various Congregations, in or
der to have a sufficient number of missioners to preach
throughout all the diocese ; he had even written to Rome
to the general of the Dominicans, in order to obtain a good

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 445

number of his religious from La Sanita in Naples. Thus
he succeeded in riot leaving an estate, a village, or a ham
let throughout the diocese, which had not been cultivated
by zealous missionaries, having joined, for this purpose, to
those of his own Congregation the missionaries he had
himself formed at Airola, Arienzo and Durazzano. He
himself, from his bed or arm-chair, arranged the smallest
details of this great work, even to the providing for the ac
commodation of the missionaries and all they required.
From the following fact, we might almost fancy he was pre
sent every where to watch over every thing. On the 12th of
April, 1775, he caused his secretary to write to one of the
missionaries : " You must be careful in watching N. the lay-
brother. You know the convent where he lives, and you
must see whether he continues to visit the house of N. to
the scandal of the neighborhood. He wishes you to in
form him about this as soon as possible, and to come here
to him this morning to speak to him by word of mouth
touching this monk."

In order that the passion of Jesus Christ should be well
impressed on all hearts, he caused a picture of it, as large
as life, to be painted in the most moving manner, and
to be carried in procession through the church on the
last evening of the exercises of each mission. In order
also to excite the faithful to compassionate the dolors of
the Blessed Virgin, he caused the statue of our Lady of
Dolors to be exposed and carried processionally in the
same way. Besides, he pointed out in a circular, all thai
must be done in order to succeed in inspiring the people
with compunction through the picture of Jesus crucified,
as well as by the image of our Lady of Sorrows, prescrib
ing at the same time the malediction of habitual sinners in
all places where corruption or any special vice existed,
such, for instance, as blasphemy or licentiousness, and
pointing out what was to be observed in order to awaken
obstinate sinners.

The Holy Father, knowing too well how to appreciate
Alphonsus' zeal and the great good which he was con-
38

446 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

tinually effecting in his diocese, was not in the least disposed
to accept his resignation. But two fathers of the Congre
gation happening, after giving the mission in the Abbruz-
zes, to pass through Rome, and going to pay their homage
to the Holy Father, he asked them about Mgr. Liguori.
They answered: "Most Holy Father, he is in a state
which quite makes one grieve for him: he is deaf, blind,
and laden with so many infirmities, that he has no longer
even the appearance of a man." The Pope then turning
to Mgr. Calcagnini, said : " Do you hear what these fathers
say? If this be the case, we must not distress him."
Upon this he determined to accept his resignation, though
he did so with much regret, and ordered this to be signi
fied to Alphonsus, on the 9th of May, 1775.

This news filled Alphonsus with joy, but in the diocese
the lamentations became universal. Archdeacon Rainone,
on receiving the letter,, of Alphonsus which announced it
to the chapter, said : "It is a chastisement from God, we
have not known how to appreciate him." As soon as the
news spread, there was not a single canon or priest who
did not go to Arienzo to see him at his palace, and who
did not complain of the step he had taken, with tearful
eyes ; and even those who had experienced his severity
were now undeceived, and did justice to his merits, feel
ing only regret at hearing the tidings of his departure.
But the poor were the most afflicted of all. Penitent
women, poor girls, and a great number of indigent fami
lies who had relied on his assistance, were inconsolable at
losing him. These, as well as the infirm, said, weeping,
" We shall not have Mgr. Liguori any more, who used to
send us comfort or to come and console us himself. Who
will now intercede for us with our creditors, and who will
plead our cause with the magistrates? His lordship could
do every thing, for he was a saint, and every one honored
him as such." We cannot forbear quoting here the words
of a poor villager, as they show how far Alphonsus' charity
went: "When we used to go to the mountain," he said,
" we left our children at his lordship's palace, and we felt

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 447

sure they would be fed; but now that he is going away, to
whom shall we have recourse?"

The resignation was formally accepted by the consistory,
on the 17th of July; on hearing this news, some one said
to him jestingly, that since his resignation had been ac
cepted he appeared to hold his head straighter than before.
" Yes," replied Alphonsus, " because the weight of Mount
Taburno, (a very high mountain which overtops St. Aga
tha,) has been taken off my shoulders." After he had
thanked the Pope for the great favor he had deigned to
confer on him, he asked him to allow him to preserve all
the privileges annexed to the episcopate, especially in re
gard to the portable altar. The Pope granted this request
in the fullest sense, and added another favor which Al
phonsus had not asked for. " Our Holy Father," Car
dinal Giraud wrote to him, " thinks of reserving to you a
suitable pension secured on your church, and he wishes to
settle as to its amount with yourself." Alphonsus replied
that if the Pope deigned to grant him a pension, four hun
dred ducats would be enough for him. This moderation
was extremely edifying to the Holy Father, who, in con
sideration of his circumstances, graciously assigned him
eight hundred ducats, and also released a debt of one hun
dred and five ducats he owed to the apostolical chamber.
He caused him also to be freed from all expenses for the
composition and despatch of the letters, saying : " One can
not do enough for Mgr. Liguori." The college of Doctors at
Naples decreed also to give him the whole of his pension,
just as he had been receiving it up to that time, though he
was not entitled to it unless on the condition of residing
in Naples.

Mgr. Rossi, bishop of Ischia, was elected as the succes
sor of Alphonsus. Before this election was decided on by
the Pope, divers reports were spread about concerning the
person who would succeed to the vacant see, the candi
dates being very numerous. Alphonsus himself inquired
as to which of the conjectures on this subject had any
foundation; several names were mentioned to him, but he

448 LIFE OF ST. ALPHOKSUS.

heard them with indifference, until a canon one day said:
"Mgr. Rossi, the bishop of Ischia, is talked of as the one
who will be elected." " Mgr. Rossi!" replied Alphonsus
with earnestness. {i My God! My God! I will at once
write to Rome to be allowed to reside here until the arrival
of the new bishop." He then became more animated, and
•exclaimed: " My poor church, how long wilt thou have to
remain a widow, and without a pastor?" He hastened to
write to Rome, in hopes that the Pope would allow him to
continue to rule over his church until the arrival of his
successor, but, according to a new rule of discipline, a
ibishop who had resigned was obliged to leave his diocese
immediately. Alphonsus had prophesied truly, however,
for the clergy of Ischia, contrary to all expectation, opposed
the translation of their bishop to the church of St. Agatha,
which remained a widow for nearly five years.

As soon as Mgr. Rossi was duly elected by the Pope,
Alphonsus, wishing to "be useful to his church up to the
last moment, wrote to him on the 17th of June, as follows:
•" When your lordship shall have taken possession of this
church, I trust you will do me the favor to come to No-
•cera for two days, when I will give you full particulars of
all that can interest you regarding the bishopric, and of all
that I have learned during thirteen years of labor. Two
days will suffice to inform you of all. I hope that your
lordship, by means of what I will tell you and your own
experience, will be able to carry on the government in an
excellent manner and for God's glory." Mgr. Rossi went
afterwards to Nocera, and Alphonsus informed him of the
state of the diocese with tearful eyes.

When Alphonsus was on the point of separating from
his dear church of St. Agatha, he wished to visit* his chil
dren once more in person, although he was so infirm and
broken down. In making this visitation of the parishes,
he for the last time inculcated on them all, perseverance in
well-doing, the avoidance of sin, the frequentation of the
sacraments, and above all, the love of Jesus Christ, and
devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary ; asking at the same

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 449

time pardon for his numerous failings, as he called them,
and the scandal he might have given, and recommending
himself to their prayers, particularly when they should hear
of his death. He was every where answered by sobs and
floods of tears. How much impression these his last
words of exhortation must have made, we may conclude
from the following instance. He determined to make a
last appeal to a hardened sinner, a surgeon, whom he had
imprisoned at Nevano. " Now that I am going away to
leave my church," he said to him, "do you also leave off
sin." The emotion with which he pronounced these
words penetrated the heart of the unhappy man, who be
fore long became converted, and being attacked by a sick
ness which made him think seriously, he made a public
confession of his sins, and died in sentiments of the most
sincere repentance, rendering a thousand thanks to Mgr.
Liguori.

He visited also all religious communities, of both sexes,
reminding them of his paternal lessons and exhorting them
to a zealous observance of their rules and a fervent striving
after perfection. As he was unable, on account of the
fatigue, to go to St. Agatha, in order to make his farewell
in person, he wrote a letter to the chapter, the reading of
which caused many tears to be shed. As Sister Mary
Raphael, the foundress of the Nuns of the Holy Redeemer,
could not see him at St. Agatha, she wrote to him a most
affectionate letter. Among other things, she said that she
hoped he would not forget his daughters in Jesus Christ,
and would bequeath his heart to them by will. " Bequeath
my heart!" Alphonsus said, when he came to these words,
"I have always considered Mother Raphael as 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 that has value ; as for my body, if they wish to
please me, they will throw it away." The present he sent
to them was, besides a letter of advice and counsel for
Mother Raphael, a simple wooden cross with the emblems
of the passion, which he had kept in his room, and which
38*

450 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

he was in the habit of kissing whenever he entered or
went out of it. To the Nuns of the Annunziato, who had
asked for a little keepsake, he sent the little picture of our
Lady of good counsel, which he had had always on his
table — begging them to say a Salve Regina for him every
Saturday, and to recite the litanies for him for three days
after his death. To the canons, who also asked him for a
remembrance, he gave the large cross with the emblems of
the passion, which had been on the first landing place of
the stair-case, and which he had also been in the habit of
kissing whenever he went in or out of the house. To the
Capuchin Fathers he left some artificial flowers which had
adorned the altar of the Blessed Sacrament in his chapel.
To the Seminarists who had come to Arienzo, he gave
some books which belonged to him, as well as all his own
works. The furniture and valuable goods he left in the
palace as belonging to the chapter of St. Agatha, were
some few miserable beds and some cooking utensils. The
mattress and arm chair he asked to be allowed to take with
him as an alms from the two canons who were deputies
from the chapter of St. Agatha, who readily granted what
he wished for, but shed tears at the affecting scene of such
humility and poverty. The other things of which he had
made use were carried off as relics. Some asked ; others
-took what they wanted secretly, and as each wished to
have something, every thing disappeared, even the little
images he had at the head of his bed. A little wooden
crucifix was even violently carried off by a gentleman of
Arienzo, and as the barber of the house did not see any
thing else to take, he asked Alphonsus for a crutch of
which he had made use when he had the rheumatism.
•" Take it," he said, " for it may be serviceable to you some
day." In fact, his son's wife being some years afterwards
in labor for three days, he remembered the crutch and
these words, and taking it, said to her: "This crutch be
longed to our late bishop, who worked so many miracles ;
if you have faith, and will only take it, you will be cured."
She had scarcely touched it, when she was delivered and

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 451

out of danger, though all had despaired of her safety. As
to his beloved poor, as soon as his departure had been cer
tain, he had considerably increased his alms to them, and
on the day he left Arienzo, the palace was, as it were, be
sieged by them, and they all had the gratification of sharing
in his last donations.

At last, on the 27th of July 1775, after having ruled
over the church of St. Agatha for thirteen years and fifteen
days, early in the morning, he gave his last blessing in his
dear church of St. Agatha to an immense concourse of
people ; he distributed large alms to a crowd of poor per
sons who solicited his charity, and amidst the groans of
these, as well as the tears of the clergy and the people, he
got into his carriage, aided by his household, and accom
panied by F. Villani. The sight of the affliction of the
people was like a two-edged sword that pierced his heart,
and tears began to flow from his eyes. When he saw that
the priests, canons and gentlemen intended to follow him,
he thanked them and assured them of his gratitude for this
mark of their affection, but would not permit them to do
so. However, four of the canons were determined to ac
company him, as well as F. Caputo and a great number
of gentlemen. When they had gone on for some miles,
Alphonsus was anxious they should return, and assured
them that their presence only increased instead of relieving
his distress, but the treasurer and some others would not
yield to his entreaties, and accompanied him to Nocera.

On the way he addressed his usual prayers to his saintly
patron, and particularly commended the whole diocese to
the protection of Jesus Christ and his Blessed Mother;
and continued the journey while reciting the rosary and
canonical hours with F. Villani. He had not said mass in
the morning on account of the emotion which his depar
ture caused him to feel ; he therefore went to the Semi
nary at Nola, and celebrated it in presence of the whole
seminary, although he was in a stale of great suffering and
weakness. Every one shed tears of tenderness at seeing
the devotion with which he celebrated the august sacrifice,

45*2 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

without omitting the most minute rubric, notwithstanding
his age and sufferings. When the mass was ended, he heard
that of F. Villani, making his thanksgiving, after which, at
the request of the superior, he addressed an exhortation to
all the pupils and gave them his blessing. When his
arrival had become known at Nola, several gentlemen came

; o

to pay him their respects ; among these was D. Michael
Menichino, whose sight had been so much weakened for
upwards of a year through inflammation, that he was no
longer able to walk without being led. Various remedies
had been fruitlessly tried at Naples and at Nola; and the
complaint had got so much worse that he had become at
length completely blind. He arrived just when Alphonsus
was going to get in his carriage ; he threw himself at his
feet, arid shedding tears, entreated him to make the sign of
the cross on his eyes. Alphonsus had no sooner done so,
than the blind man recovered his sight.

As soon as he had entered the carriage again, Alphonsus
recommenced the recitation of the rosary with F. Villani,
and the rest of the time was employed in saying the office
and other prayers. When he arrived at Nocera, Mgr. San-
felice ordered that all the bells should ring out to welcome
him. Great rejoicing, though mingled with compassion at
the state he was in, was felt by the inhabitants, arid tears
of emotion were in all eyes. All the clergy and a great
number of gentlemen, hastened to kiss his hand and to re
ceive his blessing. When he was on the steps, he ex
claimed with transport: "Gloria Patri, &c. The cross
which I wear at my breast was very heavy when I ascended
the stair-case at Arienzo, but how light has it become to
day ! Gloria Patri," &c. When he reached the choir, he
cast himself on his face before the Blessed Sacrament, and
was heard to say : " My God ! I thank Thee for having re
leased me from so heavy a burden. My Jesus ! I could
endure it no longer." The fathers in the meanwhile sang
the Te Deurn, to thank God for having restored their com
mon father to them.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 453

A comfortable room, till then used for strangers, had
been prepared for him; when he was conducted there, he
observed a piece of tapestry with a kind of black border,
which formed the ceiling, and exclaimed: " What, must I
live in the midst of ornaments? I will have my old room."
He was told F. Villani occupied it, but he would not yield
till it was represented to him that he ought to have a room
for visitors, when he consented to take two little rooms on
the third floor. When he saw that he was lodged as the
poor are, he joyfully said to the gentlemen who surrounded
him: "0 how much better satisfied I am in this cell than
in the palace at Arienzo," and taking his little cross in his
hand, repeated several times: "This cross has become
very light here ; but there I sank under its weight." The
grand-vicar of Nocera came to see him the same evening,
to pay his respects to him as the deputy of Mgr. Sanfelice.
In the course of the conversation, the grand-vicar observing
that he thought that the diocese was very much displeased
at his departure, Alphonsus asked, "why?" "Because it
has lost a pastor who did much good," answered the
grand-vicar. Alphonsus was disturbed at these words.
"Jesus and Mary!" he exclaimed, "what does the grand-
vicar say of me, who have done no good at all, none, none,
none ! If any good has been done, it was God, God alone
who has done all." Mgr. Sanfelice carne to visit him him
self next day, and conferred full powers on him to exercise
all authority in the diocese. He received also the visits of
the bishops and grand-vicars in the neighborhood, as well
as those of all the superiors of the monasteries, and of the
nobles and persons of rank of the neighboring places in
the diocese, which prevented him from resting for several
days.

If Alphonsus' mode of life at Arienzo was admirable and
laborious, it was no less so at Nocera. He was only re
lieved from the burden of the episcopate in order to bear
that of the Congregation, as now all had recourse to their
common father and left him no rest. "I had hoped to
find relief at Nocera," he wrote to F. Majone, on the 26th

454 LIFE OF ST, ALPHONSUS.

of January 1776, "but I have met with a thousand thorns,
which deprive me of all rest. God be praised! My head
is exhausted, and I am forced to have a wet cloth con
stantly beside me, to prevent giddiness or fainting through
the number of letters I have to write. ... I feel scrupu
lous in neglecting to write the inspirations which God gives
me, for God gives knowledge to superiors which he does
not grant to others, and it is this thought which makes me
write so many letters." He never omitted to drag himself
to the chapel every Saturday, to assist at the chapter, and
to animate his sons to greater perfection. "Why are we
in the Congregation," he one day said, "if it is not in or
der to become saints? The end which God had in view in
delivering us from the world, is our sanctification ; if this
had not been his intention, he would have left us in the
midst of its dangers."

In consequence of the vow he had made of preaching
on the glories of (he Blessed Virgin every Saturday, he did
not fail to have himself conducted to the church by the lay-
brother and his servant on the Saturday after his arrival,
though they had the greatest difficulty in placing him in
the pulpit. As soon as he appeared before the people,
who had hastened in crowds to hear him, they all uttered
a cry of compassion, and wept at seeing the saintly bishop
broken down by infirmities, but rejoiced also in seeing ful
filled the prophecy he had made of coming to die amongst
them. He preached as if he had been quite well, and
afterwards did the same on all Saturdays.

A constant concourse of persons of distinction, of
priests, and of monks, hastened to be directed by his
counsels; and all the bishops who went to Naples or re
turned from thence, made it a point to consult him on
their own necessities, and on those of their dioceses. A
congregation of zealous priests, established at Nocera, de
voting themselves to the apostolical ministry by giving mis
sions and the exercises of Lent, preaching, and daily hear
ing confessions in their own church, wished often to have
him in their midst to obtain a constantly increasing fervor

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 455

through his exhortations — and the nuns also wished to
hear his instructions; he did not fail to visit both places
from time to time, to comply with their wishes and exer
cise his zeal. He visited also the asylum, called the Car-
minella. When he first arrived at Nocera, he effected in
this asylum what several confessors had attempted in vain.
Two of the inmates, though 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 forgiveness for their offences. On an
other day, the mother prioress 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. He encouraged
her to bear the malady patiently, by placing herself in the
hands of God and embracing the cross. When he returned
to the house, he sent her a bottle of pure water, telling her
to bathe the diseased part with it ; after she had done so,
the tumor disappeared, and she was perfectly cured.

One of his rooms served him as an oratory ; on the altar
there was to be seen a large crucifix, and at the foot of it a
beautiful figure of the Blessed Virgin, placed between two
others of the divine Shepherd and the Blessed Virgin with
the Holy Ghost on her breast. From morning till night,
except the time he went, according to the express com
mand of the doctors and F. Villani, to take a short airing
in the carriage, he was to be seen before these objects of
his devotion, engaged in his exercises of piety, or occu
pied in reading and in the composition of his works.
This room was also adorned by German figures represent
ing the different mysteries of the passion on a grand scale,
so that wherever he turned his eyes, they met with objects
which served to gratify his devotion. Other ornaments it
had none: three or four straw chairs and a little table
formed its whole furniture, with the roughly made arm
chair which he had received as an alms at St. Agatha. It
was covered with some old damask silk which the grand-

456 LIFE OF ST. ALPHOJN'SUS.

vicar and others obliged him to keep while at Arienzo ;
but at Nocera this stuff, although torn, was a great pain to
him, and as it inflicted a wound on his love of poverty, he
several times declared to F. Villani that he could not en
dure it, and so at last he had it taken off the chair, which
he had covered with leather. His bed-room was orna
mented with the same kind of pious pictures, with some
others of St. Michael, St. Margaret of Cortona, and the
seraphic St. Bonaventure ; and these were its sole orna
ments. The poor were his privileged friends at Nocera
also. After he had paid the wages of his servant and his
coachman, and for what the keeping of his horses and his
own miserable nourishment cost, he gave all the rest to the
poor.

He went through all the exercises of the community,
and had himself brought, or rather dragged from the third
floor to the church^ before the Blessed Sacrament, for
making his visit there, which lasted often for hours ; the
way of the cross he performed daily, riot in his chair as at
Arienzo, but by going to the different stations in a long
corridor.

He put the finishing stroke to his book on Divine Provi
dence, that is to say, on the Economy of the Redemption
of Man, the year of his arrival at Nocera. He added to
this work two treatises, the first, on the love of God, and
the methods of acquiring it, the second containing vari
ous counsels fitted to encourage a soul in desolation. At
this time he took up also the pen against an enemy of the
devotion to the Blessed Virgin : "I am determined," he
says himself, "to write these few pages from seeing that
Abbe Rolli (a Calabrian priest) wishes to throw discredit
on the devout prayers and titles commonly given to the
Blessed Virgin by the faithful in the litanies and in the
Salve Regina — as well as from hearing him call the scapular
and the rosary childish devotions, whereas they are most
religious practices, and have been dear to me from my
earliest infancy."

LIFE OF ST. ALPHOJN'SUS. 457

Alphonsus was full of gratitude to the Holy Father Pius
VI, and embraced an opportunity of testifying it to him
by dedicating to him his work on Divine Providence, which
he sent him together with his last writings. Pius VI ac
cepted this little present, and testified his satisfaction to
him by a brief of the 19th of November. Alphonsus, over
whelmed by so much kindness, hastened to offer his most
humble thanks to the Holy Father, and recommended his
Congregation to him, and Pius VI, who was sensible of
his gratitude, replied to him in a new brief dated the 16th
of December 1776, saying that his thanks were super
fluous both as regarded the augmentation of his pension
and the dues which were remitted to him, as he had over
paid for all by the present of his works. "They are," he
said, " a fresh and convincing proof to us of your inde
fatigable zeal in feeding the flock of Jesus Christ as far as
lies in your power; so that, although you have resigned the
episcopate, you have not, however, renounced the solici
tude and the duties of a bishop. As to the protection of
the apostolic see which you implore for the Congregation
of the Holy Redeemer, you cannot ask us for any thing
which is more just, and I will never refuse it to you, whose
piety we delight in acknowledging — nor to your Congre
gation."

There is also another work of Alphonsus', composed
after his return to Nocera. It is a treatise on the sacrifice
of Jesus Christ on the cross and on the altar, and a short
explanation of the prayers used at mass. As there was no
lack of individuals who wished to act like free-thinkers^
and who therefore designated eternal truths, such as the
resurrection, judgment, hell and such like, as mere fables,
Alphonsus again attacked them in 1776, in a book entitled
' Dogmatical Dissertations,' in which he sets forth each of
these dogmas in all its parts on the authority of the Scrip
ture, of the holy fathers, and of theologians; he also there
treats of private judgment, purgatory and antichrist, and
speaks of the signs and the circumstances of the end of
39

458 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

the world, of the state of the damned, of the blessed, and
of infants who have died without baptism.

He had to endure again some opposition from the ec
clesiastical examiner at Naples, on account of this work ;
viz : first, in regard to an assertion that there is no dif
ference between the love of the blessed in heaven and that
of the souls on earth, though it is the common opinion
of theologians ; and secondly, in regard to infants who
died without baptism, on which subject the examiner
wanted him to prefer the doctrine of St. Augustine to that
of St. Thomas. After having written three times to the
examiner, he appealed to the archbishop, and thus his
opinion in favor of St. Thomas prevailed and the dispute
was terminated. He was very ill when he published this
work, for he wrote to F. Cajone, at the commencement of
1777: "I cannot now either read or write; I am troubled
with a constant headache, and I have been obliged to give
up all kinds of study."

CHAPTER XXXI.

The Congregation is bitterly persecuted at Naples. JlJphon-
sus labors in its defence. His anxieties in regard to the
houses in the Pontifical States.

rpHESE were the pious and useful occupations of the
JL saintly bishop in his retreat at Nocera. But he had all
the time, moreover, to drink the cup of bitterness which
God had prepared for him in the continual persecutions to
which his beloved Congregation was exposed. We have
seen above, on several occasions, how fierce, how intrigu-
ino- and obstinate were its adversaries, and that three not

o

over well-intentioned individuals had been commissioned
to take information with regard to it and make their re
ports. The Marquis of Tanucci, on the 3d of October
1775, moved by incessant calumnious petitions, published
three ordinances, enjoining it upon those three commis-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 459

sioners, after a compilation of all the proceedings and ac
cusations in the council of St. Clare, that of Sommaria,
and in the royal council, and after having examined every
thing, to make their opinions known to his majesty, and to
transmit all the documents to the chief ministerial council.
The suppression of the Jesuits, which had happened not
long before, confirmed the forebodings of the speedy sup
pression of the Congregation ; and, besides, very serious
difficulties had arisen between the courts of Naples and
Rome. The enemies of the missionaries already began to
glory in their triumph and in the destruction of the Con
gregation.

In these critical circumstances, Alphonsus despaired
of the aid of men, and therefore, as usual, turned to God
with redoubled fervor. He recommended himself again to
the prayers of several monasteries, and wrote a circular to
all the houses, on the 4th of November, in which, among
other advice and exhortations, he says: "My very dear
brethren, redouble your fervor in prayer, for our enemies
redouble their fury against us. ... Do not cease to pray,
for if you neglect prayer our ruin is certain. If we pray
and act as we ought towards God, he will preserve us ; if
not, we shall assuredly be destroyed. . . . What pains me
most is not the seeing one of you ill, or even leaving the
Congregation ; I wish him well — but to see one commit
faults, especially against obedience and poverty, that rends
my very heart. I bless you all, one by one. Pray about
the persecution which we endure, and which is more in
tense now than ever; but I trust in Jesus Christ and the
Blessed Virgin^ who will not abandon us."

Thus Alphonsus was affected by hope and fear, but hope
preponderated. "I am quite contented," he wrote to the
fathers at Naples, "because I feel sure that our Lady will
protect us during this storm." In order to comfort the
subjects of the Congregation who were cast down by the
constant fear of being turned out of their houses, and the
many vexations they were daily exposed to, he used to
say : " Persecutions are to the work of God, what a storm

460 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

is to trees in winter; far from hurting them, it helps them
to put forth deeper roots, and renders them more fruitful.
There is nothing but the worm which can injure plants.
The worms which we ought to avoid are faults and volun
tary failures. . . . 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."

In the meantime, the procurator advocate, one of the
commissioners mentioned above, had allowed himself to
be persuaded by the adversaries ; they also succeeded in
acting on the mind of the prime minister by means of in
trigue, and this was cause for new shouts of triumph.
*' The casuistical tribe is extirpated," they exclaimed. " We
can see now," said others, " what this Liguori is, and what
kind of people he has for disciples." The advocates and
the other magistrates on the missionaries' side themselves
looked upon their cause as a desperate one when they
saw it in the hands of the three persons of whom we have
spoken. The fathers therefore were anxious to see Al-
phonsus in Naples. But he answered, on the 26th of
January 1776, to F. Majone, who had solicited him to
come: " Your reverence 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 any thing. Last night 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 rny placing it in evident peril, and that would be the
case now."

The adversaries on the other hand, on seeing Alphon-
sus' impaired health, predicted his speedy death, and every
where said that if the Congregation were not forced to
come to an end by the weight of their accusations, it would
at least become extinct with the life of Mgr. Liguori.
"They say," he wrote to the houses of Scifelli and Frosi-
none, "that when I die all will be ended; I say, for my

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 461

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." To other fathers he said : " Fear nothing,
I shall not die yet, God wills that I shall die a subject, and
not a chief superior of the Congregation." We have seen
that he had already predicted this in the year 1774, and the
event will show but too well that he had indeed prophesied.

While things went on thus, some people proposed to
Alphonsus to render the houses independent, like those of
the Fathers of the Oratory; others, that he should open
seminaries for the education of youth, and that they should
also preach Latin sermons. But he rejected all these pro
positions with horror, putting his confidence in God, who
would most certainly bless his Congregation if it adhered
faithfully to its special vocation, in which it had till then
done so much good for the benefit of souls.

The affairs of the Congregation had become still more
involved by the two following circumstances. Its enemies
by attacking anew the doctrine of Alphonsus, accusing
him and his missionaries of laxity, error and malice, and
representing his doctrine as opposed to the Gospel and de
structive both to church and state, succeeded, (being favored
by one of the chief functionaries in the royal ministry,) in
making an impression on the mind of the Marquis of Ta-
nucci; who therefore declared that the cause should not
be discussed in the royal council, but that it should be
rigorously examined in the junta of abuses. This decision
was a new signal of triumph to the adversaries, and Al
phonsus himself appeared to be disconcerted at it, and
considered it as an insurmountable barrier. The other cir
cumstance was that they carried their calumnies so far as
to accuse the missionaries of having carried money from
the kingdom into the Papal states, in order to elude the re
strictions imposed according to the tenor of the approba
tion given to the houses in the kingdom. This accusation
was also of great weight with the Marquis, who was
already prejudiced by the former calumnies, and it was no
sooner made than commissioners were sent with urgent
39*

462 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

despatches, to go through the houses of the states and
make inquiries about the purchases of property which, ac
cording to the adversaries, (who had gone so far in their ef
forts against the Congregation as to corrupt inferior agents
by means of money,) had been made there. Alphonsus
considered this last circumstance as the principal grievance,
and the only one which could hurt the Congregation. "It
seems to me," he wrote to F.-Majone on the 26th of Janu
ary, " that we must justify ourselves before Tanucci regard
ing the acquisition as soon as possible, and that we must
labor unceasingly for this. Whilst he is persuaded that we
have acquired possessions contrary to the decree of his
Catholic majesty, we shall only sail against the wind, for he
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 (hat so many despatches have been issued
against us." '-'The president himself," he says in another
letter, " believes us guilty, as he told the Cardinal Jerrale,
and the cardinal did not know what to reply. His emi
nence wishes to support us, and to speak to Tanucci, but
he must be informed of all the answers to the general as
well as to the particular accusations. I am ready to write
to Mgr. Guttilieri (the queen's confessor,) but first it will
be necessary for the cardinal to have spoken to the queen."
By this we see that Alphonsus did not neglect human
means, though he put all his trust in God as we have seen
by the many prayers he offered himself, and by his asking
those of the Congregation and of others.

As an answer to these multiplied prayers, may be con
sidered an unexpected return of good fortune for Alphon
sus, viz: that on the 16th of October 1776, the king al
lowed the Marquis of Tanucci to retire, and the Marquis
of Sambuca was made prime minister in his stead, who had
the most favorable opinion of Alphonsus, and was as favor
ably inclined to the Congregation as Tanucci was to its
enemies. This gave Alphonsus and the Fathers courage,
without, however, lessening that of their adversaries.

The report of the Procurator Leon was at length pre-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 463

sented to the throne, on the 13th of February 1777. As
nothing equalled the animosity of the procurator, the sword
of opposition had become doubly formidable in his hands;
he had styled the missionaries rising Jesuits, and had sworn
to have the Congregation suppressed and the missionaries
ruined. This report, a master-piece worthy of the age in
which the Society of Jesus was suppressed, was as a thun
derbolt which cast terror into the hearts of all the mem
bers of the Congregation as well as of their friends. Al-
phonsus immediately had recourse to his anchor of daily
safety; he recommended himself to the prayers of many
devout souls, especially of various convents of religious,
both at Naples and in the provinces, and ordered that be
sides prayers and masses in all the houses of the Congre
gation, the discipline in common should be continued
every Monday, and that Saturday should be kept as a fast
in honor of the Blessed Virgin. He inculcated on the
rectors that they must especially watch closely over the
observance of that same rule which the adversaries chose
to aim at. He several times sent alms to the Capuchin-
esses at Naples, as well as wax candles to the Camaldolese
Fathers, that they might have prayers for his intention and
exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.

When the bishops heard of this state of things, those
who had the greatest interest hastened to present petitions
to the king, attesting the probity of the missionaries, the
poverty in which they lived, their disinterestedness, their
submission to orders from those in authority, and the good
they effected in the provinces and their respective dioceses.*

*An authentic record shows that from the end of 1777 until the
month of May, 1778, thirty-five missions were given with benefit and
satisfaction to the bishops. The holy exercises were given to eight
clergymen, seven seminaries, and nineteen convents, in the dioceses of
Caserto, Avuso, Capua, Benevento, Cerreta, Avellino, Nari, Aurenza
and Matera, besides a great many triduos during the Carnival, the
devotion of the forty hours, and the time of Advent. Alphonsus said:
" Redeemed souls ought to be the advocates of our cause," and he
therefore caused his sons to redouble their efforts and zeal to win souls
to Jesus Christ.

464 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Alphonsus also addressed letters of supplication to the
new prime minister, and at last, through the intervention
of Cardinal Branciforte, the Bishop of Girgenti, who was
then at Naples, and Mgr. Filomarino, the Bishop of
Caserto, obtained, that the cause, after it had been exam
ined by the minister, should be sent back to the royal
council. This consoled Alphonsus much, and he gained
new strength at seeing this dispensation of Providence.
" I can do nothing/' he wrote to D. Francis de Paul, "but
thank Jesus and Mary for all the many blessings they have
conferred on me during these last days of my life. . . We
have good news from Naples of the action with Sarnelli,
for it has been remanded to the royal council. . . These
matters have now an altered appearance. Blessed for ever
be Jesus and Mary."

As one of the chief points of the opposition referred to
his Moral Theology, he therefore wrote a long pamphlet,
in which, appearing both as a theologian and a canonist,
he justified it fully ; he resumed also his former spirit of a
lawyer, and without abandoning that of Jesus Christ, he
digested an ample defence in reply to all the accusa
tions. Every one was affected by this petition of the ven
erable old man, the talent of which was no less admirable
than its moderation. He also addressed letters to the
ministers of the royal council, to the Prince of Riccia, to
the President Cito and the Marquis of Marco. Being
again asked by the Fathers to go to Naples in person, he
replied, on the 2d of September: "he who could see to
what a miserable state I am now reduced, would not, I
think, have the courage to require me to repair to Naples.
My arrival would only serve to attract the hootings of a
crowd of children, who would be curious to know if the
man in the carriage were dead or alive. It is a thing
which cannot be thought of, because I cannot do it; and
besides, my presence would not make the cause succeed.
. . . The weakness of my head prevents my being able to
express my thoughts clearly, and I cannot now pronounce
my words promptly. . . . Let us place ourselves in God's

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 465

hands; he will know better than we how to defend this
cause, which is more his than ours."

Although matters appeared now under a favorable aspect,
Alphonsus did not wish the cause to be immediately dis
cussed in the council ; his adversaries, on the contrary,
aware that delay would certainly be disadvantageous to
them, were eager in demanding this discussion. They
had made all their preparations; there were no less than
seven advocates appointed to assist them in the council.
They visited all the officers of the ministry, and the procu
rator himself, who was jealous of his honor, went round
about every where making comments pn his famous report.
The cause was, however, deferred until the month of Au
gust 1779, when the Marquis of Marco wrote to Alphon
sus as follows : " I stated to the king the representations
of your lordship against the allegations tending to the de
struction of the Congregation which you direct. His ma
jesty has commanded me to reply, that as the Catholic
king, his august father, permitted the missionaries of whom
your lordship is the head to give missions and to live in
the four houses of Ciorani, Nocera, Caposele and Iliceto,
and prescribed the means and conditions under which this
great undertaking might be maintained, his majesty also
consents to there being a superior in the four above named
houses, to watch over the internal order therein, and to
see that the other offices are properly distributed ; and as
it was the 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 be needful to enable them to supply the
place of those who have become incapacitated through
great age or any other reason."

Alphonsus rejoiced at this act of clemency on the part
of the sovereign, thanked God for it, and exhorted his
brethren to do the same by offering up prayers and masses.
The procurator advocate, on the contrary, was enraged,
with his whole party, and felt it most keenly. "If the
Grand Duke of Tuscany had come here in person," he said

466 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

several times, "he would not have obtained from the court
what this handful of upstarts have got." Thus God, who
never forsakes his children, protected Alphonsus and his
Congregation from the wicked designs of its enemies, even
whilst the debate and the particulars regarding the offences
alleged against the Congregation were before the royal
council.

It was evidently the same kind Providence which, after
all the calumnies spread concerning the doctrine and the
practice of Alphonsus and his sons, had already some time
before inspired the king to adopt a new course, which had,
not less than this decision, filled their enemies with con
fusion and the procurator with dejection. The king had
obtained leave to celebrate the jubilee in his kingdom,
from Pope Pius VI, on the 21st of November 1777. His
majesty principally selected Mgr. Liguori and his mission
aries to announce the attendant spiritual graces. In con
sequence, on the 22d of October of the following year,
the Marquis of Tambuca wrote to him as follows : " In
consideration of the constant labors of the missionaries of
the most Holy Redeemer, which tend to instruct the peo
ple and to their being led to true piety, arid of the solici
tude with which they disseminate good principles which
are calculated to form virtuous Christians and faithful citi
zens, his majesty has determined to make use of your Con
gregation to publish a jubilee, the only object of which is
the salvation of the faithful, and the good of the state.
Therefore the king has commanded me to let your lordship
know, that in return for the happy success which will at
tend the labors of your missionaries in this respect, he will
not fail to give you proofs of his royal gratitude." Alphon
sus seconded the piety of the king by his own zeal, and
addressed his sons, on the 8th November, in a circular, in
which he sets forth the excellence of this work and its
utility for the good of souls, and exhorts them to prepare
themselves with all possible zeal, as being nothing less
than the accomplishment of the very end of their institute.
He was at the same time full of gratitude for all these

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 467

blessings of Divine Providence, and wished therefore that
due thanks should be offered to God for them. In conse
quence, he wrote, on the 24th of January 1779, to all the
houses, to direct that every evening the following prayer
should be recited in common, and repeated three times,
adding each time a Pater, an Ave, and Gloria Patri :
" What have I desired in heaven or on earth but thee, oh
thou God of my heart and my portion for ever ? My Jesus,
I devote myself wholly to thee; I wish for nothing but
thee; I wish for nothing more." "Prayer," said he, un
ceasingly, " is all-powerful with God."

The honorable preference which the king bestowed thus
on the missionaries, and particularly the promise of future
liberality, filled their adversaries, and especially the procu
rator, with dismay and the bitterest sorrow. "Strange
fancy!" exclaimed the procurator; "it would seem as if
scandal is to be made lawful, and even rewarded, although
it causes ruin to the State and to the Church." He lost
courage, as did also the commissioner, but they made one
last effort in despair of gaining their cause; they entreated
the royal council for a new appeal, hoping that at least the
baron might then be able to recover the property left by
his brother, and that they might thus escape entire confu
sion. But neither the one nor the other saw the end of
this affair. They were both prematurely cited before the
tribunal of Jesus Christ: the one died on coming out of a
bath, without being able to have the sacraments adminis
tered to him, and the other was found dead in his carriage.
As the other supporters of the baron disappeared also, he
had no longer any heart or strength to go on with his
wicked prosecution.

Having thus shown at length all the anxieties, troubles
and labors occasioned to our saint by the persecutions
raging against his Congregation up to this time, let us re
late his other occupations and doings in the meanwhile,
that is, from the commencement of the year 1777, when
we left him. He was applied to by Cardinal Banditi for
the establishment of a house of his missionaries at Bene-

468 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

vento. After this town had been given up to the Pope,
on the entrance of the Neapolitan army on the 5th of Feb
ruary 1774, various petitions were addressed to the Holy
Father, to expose to him, (the see being vacant,) the spiri
tual necessities of the people. When Mgr. Banditi, the
Bishop of Montefiascone, was elected archbishop of this
town and made cardinal, the Holy Father Pius VI charged
him to suggest some expedient by which he might further
the glory of God and the good of souls at Benevento, and
supply the void which the Jesuits had left there from
the time of their suppression. Cardinal Banditi consulted
the canons of the Cathedral and the nobles of the town,
and all agreed to give up the church and college of the
suppressed Jesuits to the Redemptorist Fathers, as well as
all the rentals attached to them. The Cardinal applied to
Alphonsus, who declined the offer with thanks, saying that
Benevento already possessed a great many eminent reli
gious who could supply the spiritual wants of the people,
while his missionaries were more profitably engaged
among the poor in the country.

Neither the clergy nor the nobles of Benevento would
give up the point, and as they were unable to prevail on
Alphonsus, they addressed themselves to F. Villani; who,
being moved by the reasons exposed to him by the Cardi
nal, succeeded in persuading Alphonsus, (who was himself
forced to acknowledge the justice of these representations,)
no longer to refuse to acquiesce in the foundation. When
Pius VI was informed of it, he rejoiced greatly, and in a
letter written with his own hand, on the 22d of April
1777, he granted to the missionaries the said church and
college, and on the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus,
the 6th of June of the same year, they entered in posses
sion of this house.

The other two houses in the Pontifical States were in
great poverty and distress, and in consequence were a
source of solicitude and anxiety to Alphonsus, the more
so as he thought and said : " In the event of a tempest
these houses will be our refuge." We will confine our-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 469

selves to transcribe some passages of the many letters l:e
wrote to them during this year. " The house of Frosi-
none," he wrote to F. de Paul, on the 7th of July 1777,
"interests me more than that of Girgenti, because that
house is independent of the kingdom. The persecutions
we endured at Naples have not yet terminated, and I
attach the greatest importance to maintaining this founda
tion, for which we are indebted to the Pope :" and on the
17th of September: " I have again been suffering from one
of those catarrhs which will one day deprive me of life. . . .
If it be God's pleasure, I should like to live until I can
succeed, through my pension, in completing the affair of
the patronage of the church, and in finishing the building
now commenced. Tell me what state the little rooms
near the church are in. For the present I can only dis
pose 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." Alphonsus attached weight to
each subject's having his own room : " Without that," said
he, "a religious is a most miserable man." " I will do all
in rny power," he said, in another letter, "to assist you as
soon as possible. . , Father Landi has just written to tell
me that they are in the greatest misery at Scifelli ; I have
been obliged to divide the small sum of which I have been
able to dispose by causing six ducats to be borrowed. . . .
I have a great many debts. I am in continual distress,
from seeing that I cannot assist Frosinone and Scifelli as I
should wish. ... I have been begging alms, and I have got
thirteen ducats, which added to the other twenty-seven,
amount to forty." " F. Constant," he says in another
letter, "has twice reproved me sharply for not having sent
him more than two hundred ducats, whilst he was four
hundred and fifty scudi in debt. Yes, it is true that I told
him to procure some money by borrowing, but I meant
that it should be a moderate sum. ... 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 beg and provide for it as well as I can."4
40

470 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

"I have never dispensed you," he wrote to F. de Paul,
who had entered into some agreement about the patronage
of a chapel at Frosinone, " I have never dispensed you
from giving me information of what you do. Thank
God, I am riot yet dead, and have not lost my senses.
On the contrary, I have been an advocate and a bishop,
and I have several times had to do with such things.
I am now superior-general ; what reason can there be for
not informing me ? . . . For the future, I wish to be in
formed of every thing that takes place. . . . There is per
haps no house which has given me more trouble than that
of Frosinone. God be praised !" " Do not arrange about
any mission," he wrote to the same Father, on the 15th of
October, " without having previously informed me all about
it; you must excuse yourself to the bishops who ask you
for missions, by saying that you cannot allow them without
my leave. ... I wish the missions to be conducted with all
possible prudence and^edification, and in quite an apos
tolical spirit." Thus we see how Alphonsus' solicitude
extended itself to every thing; and above all, how anxious
he always was about the great work of the missions, never
being satisfied with all he said about them in his works,
and in the many instructions, circulars, and letters which
he never ceased to write about them.

In order to increase still further the good produced in
them, by the happy influence of those graces which are ac
corded by the head of the church, he addressed, on the 12th
of September 1777, a detailed recital to Pope Pius VI, of
the origin and progress of the Congregation, its labors and
sufferings, as well as of the good which the missions ef
fected, and entreated his Holiness to communicate to him
the graces, privileges, and indulgences which had been
granted to the Passionist Fathers; and he obtained all that
he had asked for.

" I have heard that your reverence," he wrote on the
12th of September of the same year to F. D. Diodates
Crisenoli, " has accepted an exercise for Lent in the dio
cese of Sora, and that F. de Paul has done so at Atin, in

Ltffi OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 471

the diocese of Aquino. ... I do not wish your reverence,
or any one else, to agree to undertake such exercises, es
pecially in the kingdom. Our institute forbids it, and it
would become a cause for jealousies. In any event, your
reverence must try to excuse yourself to Mgr. de Sora, and F.
de Paul to the bishop of Aquino, by representing my prohi
bition to them, and the observance of rule which I require.
I wish you to be solely engaged in missions ; they are what
God wishes from us, and not Lenten sermons. Obey, how
ever great be the solicitations of parishes and bishops. To
F. de Paul, who had asked to be allowed to preach during
Lent in the college of Frosinone, and to accept the remu
neration for it, he answered : " 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 the rule broken
which expressly forbids it. Leave all to our good God. If
we labor for Him, He will never allow us to want what is
necessary." "You know," he wrote on the 12th of Octo
ber to the same F. de Paul, " that I keep up these houses
in Romagna to see the rule vigorously attended to. Man
age so that the fathers make the accustomed retreat, or if
they are ill, at least a part of it." " You tell me," he said in
another letter, " that the house might very well be inhabited,
but the doctor thinks that it ought not to be used before
October, and I will not endure remorse for having caused
the death of some one of my brethren."

When the necessary buildings were finished, he wrote as
follows: "I send you thirty ducats as a subsidy for the
house of St. Cecily, (at Frosinone.) I do not wish them
to be spent in building, but only for the maintenance of the
subjects. Extraordinary expenses must not be incurred
for the church, nor for pictures, statues, chasubles, or
other rich ornaments without my permission. On solemni
ties, decorations and illuminations must be spared, even
if others are willing to bear the cost. I also forbid every
kind of adornment of the altar, such as decorations in
silk or any other rich material ; let it be ornamented with
garlands, candles, and flowers: these are befitting the stat

472 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

of poverty in which we are at present." "I have always
felt as much affection for Frosinone as for Scifelli," he says
in another letter, "but there are a great number of young
men at Scifelli who are now in want of bread, F. Landi
has written me word. Foundations in their commence
ment occasion distress, confusion, contradiction, and
misery; but if we remain entirely resigned to the will of
God, he will remedy every thing. Let us behave properly,
and Jesus Christ will protect us." " I entreat your rever
ence," he wrote to F. de Paul, then superior at Frosinone,
"to be humble towards your companions and affable to
wards 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 the exercise of charity re
doubled in their regard."

CHAPTER XXXII.

Jllphonsus exerts himself incessantly for the welfare of the
Church at large, and for the general promotion of piety.
His efforts to maintain discipline in the Congregation.

SUCH was Alphonsus' admirable solicitude for the well-
being and perfection of his subjects in the pontifical
states, while in his retreat at Nocera, amidst the unceasing
persecutions in the kingdom. It was in the same retreat,
and about this time, that he composed a work, entitled,
"The fidelity of subjects towards God is a sure pledge of
that which they have for their prince." "They deceive
themselves," said he, speaking of monarchs, "they will
never have any peace, if they have not the prevention
of immorality at heart; where religion does not reign5
iniquity triumphs, as well as perfidy; admit sin, and all is
in peril ; but if they make their subjects faithful towards
God, they will find that they will be equally faithful to
wards them." When he wrote this work, he said to one

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 473

of the fathers in a transport of zeal: "Have as many mis
sions as you please ; but if I gain one sovereign, it is
worth more than a thousand missions, for the good which
a sovereign who is touched by the grace of God can do,
could not be effected by a thousand missions. He sent
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 Hennequifi to get it conveyed to the
august Maria Theresa, to the electoral Princes of Cologne
and of Treves, as well as to the archbishops and bishops of
the empire who had temporal possessions. He also trans
mitted it to Prinee Charles, the governor of the Nether
lands, to the kings of Spain and Portugal, to the king of
Turin, to the duke of Parrna, and to the grand-duke of
Tuscany; in a word, to all the Catholic sovereigns and
principal ministers. None of the answers of these person
ages to Alphonsus are in existence, for, according to cus
tom, he sacrificed them to his humility. The work became
so celebrated that it was translated into French and sold in
different kingdoms. "This work," said the translator, "is
the voice of a soul which thirsts for nothing but the glory
of religion, the spread of morality, and the happiness of
sovereigns and their subjects, and which has no other am
bition than that of leading men to virtue and rendering
them happy." By this, as well as by his other publications,
Alphonsus has shown a zeal as universal as ardent. It
was this zeal also which caused him to weep bitterly at
seeing what progress infidelity and libertinism made in
France, through the fatal influence of the writings of Vol
taire and Jean-Jacques Rousseau ; the more so as their
contagion had begun to penetrate into Italy, and the works
of Voltaire formed the fashionable reading at Naples, so
that even ladies made them the pastime for their idleness.
As his age and infirmities no longer left him strength
enough to combat them, he unceasingly encouraged dif
ferent literary friends of his at Naples to labor in their re
futation. In the midst of this grief, a refutation of the
errors of Voltaire by he Abbe Nonnote fell into his hands;
40*

474 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

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 courage
ous devotion. Animated by holy zeal, he wrote a letter of
congratulation and encouragement to him on his having
dared to undertake the refutation of the most impious of
blasphemers. No tongue can express with what consola
tion this letter filled the heart of the worthy priest of Be-
sangon, who, as we shall presently show by his own words,
found little encouragement in his own country, though he
so zealously and triumphantly fought the battles of the
Lord. He testified his gratitude to the saintly bishop, in
a letter dated the 21st of April 1778, in the most glowing
terms: "I am accustomed," he says among other things,
<:to appreciate nothing except in conformity to the spirit
of God ; it is an unspeakable pleasure to me to meet with
men who also value the things of God alone, and who being
in themselves greater "than great dignities could make
them, cause one to be in doubt whether most to admire in
them the gifts of genius which they possess or the 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 in Naples. . . . All who
have read your excellent and very celebrated work on
Moral Theology congratulate me on my having received
rsuch a flattering letter from so learned a prelate, and I
congratulate myself in turn for having received the appro
bation of so distinguished a man for my works."

In order to encourage this generous confessor to strive
more and more against these impious and furious enemies
of the church, Alphonsus undertook to present a petition
to the sovereign pontiff to obtain an apostolical brief in
favor of the Philosophical Dictionary of Religion. "It is
with unspeakable pleasure and gratitude," Abbe Nonnotte
•wrote to him, " that I have heard that you have resolved to
address a petition to the sovereign pontiff, to ask him for
an approbation of my dictionary, such as Clement XIII
deigned to give to my book called < The Errors of Vol-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 475

taire.' It is indeed a tiling which I most ardently desire,
and for this reason I sent him my works, but have not re
ceived any answer, although Cardinal Pallavicini told me
that he had transmitted them to the sovereign pontiff.
Have I then to believe that my work has been despised by
this great pope ? . . . You exhort me to attack and to
combat unceasingly all the new sophisms which may again
be brought forth by the followers of this infernal philoso
phy. ... I have already undertaken to do all that you
wish for and hint at, nay, I have even completed it; but
the want of suitable and necessary assistance has pre
vented me from publishing what I have written. ... I
should have been exceedingly glad to have this work
printed at Paris . . . but every one here is so full of wild
admiration for Voltaire, or rather, the fear which this ex
tremely sarcastic man inspires is so great, that I have not
been able to succeed in finding a friendly examiner; on
the contrary, even the archbishop of Paris himself told me
that I should never find a censor of this kind. ... I shall
perhaps be obliged to cause a book which I have written
in defence of religion to be printed at Geneva, because
Catholics have not courage to doit. . . . 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
the contrary, I have been loaded with invectives from the
impious."

This reply of the Abbe filled Alphonsus with sorrow and
regret. "0 God!" exclaimed he, "at Paris, where there
are so many Christian orators, there is not any one to be
found who will oppose this monster who is so great an
enemy to the Church and to religion, and this defence must
be published at Geneva! Miserable beings that we are!
This is the authority the Church lias at Paris! She cannot
face an infidel and reprove his audacity ! Poor archbishop !
Poor church ! This abuse will undoubtedly not remain
unpunished! Poor France! I pity thee, and 1 pity the
many innocent people who will be involved in thy dis
grace !" Let us remember that these words were uttered

478 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

only eleven years before the catastrophe of 1789, that is,
the first French revolution, with all its horrors and expia
tory rivers of blood. Alphousus would have liked to send
letters to the king. "But how could I effect at a dis
tance,'1 said he, " what the archbishop and so many good
bishops cannot obtain although they are on the spot?"

A ray of false consolation came for a moment to soften
the grief of the afflicted old man : in the May of this same
year, 1778, there was a report that Voltaire had retracted
his errors and blasphemies, and that corresponding with
the influence of grace, he had declared himself to be a sin
cere Catholic. It is impossible to express what joy Al-
phonsus felt when he heard of this conversion. Animated
by fresh zeal, he at once wrote a letter to congratulate him
on his return to grace, and on the great good which his
conversion would confer on the whole church, and at the
same time to encourage him to write something as a refu
tation of his errors arid" sophisms, or if possible to use his
pen against another modern writer, Rousseau ; promising
earnestly to pray to God to give him strength, if not to
write, at least to dictate (Voltaire suffered then from his
eyes) something against the unbelievers of those times.
But soon Alphonsus received the tidings that the rumor of
Voltaire's conversion was unfounded, or rather grew out of
one of his many hypocritical simulations of conversion, and
that he persisted in his obstinacy. He was on the point of
sending his letter, but had to keep it back. " Such con
versions," he then said, "are not ordinary graces; they are
the effects of divine mercy, but not of a common degree
of mercy. God only grants blessings of this sort to those
whose errors have not arisen from a bad intention, like those
of St. Paul. But all is very bad in Voltaire." On the 30th
of May, in this same year, 1778, Voltaire passed out of
this life, having died in impenitence and despair. On the
2d of July following, his colleague in evil, J. J. Rousseau,
also died a sudden death. " I received the tidings of the
death of the unhappy Rousseau," Alphonsus wrote to a
friend, on the 13th of September: "God be praised for

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 477

having delivered the church from two of its greatest ene
mies in so short a time."

Alphonsus had one source of consolation about this
time, however. Let us hear himself speaking of it in one
of his works ; (" Spiritual Reflections ;" p. 2, p. 25) " may
I be permitted here to manifest the great joy I have lately
experienced. I have been positively assured, that the cele
brated Abb§ P. Metastasio, after having received so many
praises for his poetry throughout Europe, which is all the
more dangerous from its being so very beautiful, because his
tender and ardent expressions are thereby all the more
calculated to kindle the flames of impure love in the heart,
(I only allude to his profane 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 he has, if possible, to with
draw this kind of works from the hands of the public, at
any price whatever, even at the expense of his own
blood. ... It is also said that he leads quite a retired life,
spent in prayer arid devotional exercises. This has given
me unspeakable consolation, because this public declara
tion and the 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 description. . . . Thus, whilst I for
merly detested the vanity which made him glory in pro
ducing such compositions, I cannot now cease to praise
him, and, were it in my power, I would kiss his feet on
seeing him become the censor of his own works, and pro
fessing a wish to stop their circulation in the world, even
at the price of his own blood, as he himself said."

Let us give here another instance of the horror Alphon
sus had of all amorous poetry, which is so pernicious to
youth, and with what joy he was filled when any remark
able composition of sacred poetry came before him. He
was so much pleased with the compositions of X. Mafiei,
that he was always praising the labor of this distinguished
mm. " If all occupied themselves thus," said he, " we

478 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

should see lascivious poetry banished from the lips of the
young." Maffei, full of gratitude for Alphonsus' praise
and esteem for him and his works, did not forget to offer
his thanks to him in the preface to his translation of the
Psalms. On the 30th of November 1774, Alphonsus re
plied to him as follows : " It gives me great comfort to re
ceive your little work on the Psalms, and I keep your much
esteemed letter before me whilst I am composing my work,
(also on the Psalms.) This is fitted for the learned as well
as for the ignorant, because it both instructs and pleases,
while mine is only for the ignorant, and has nothing at
tractive. Your translation has been applauded by the lite
rary men throughout all Italy, and I may even say through
out all Europe ; 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 see^you continue to make use of the
great talents and knowledge which God has given you by
exercising them for the 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
himself to speak of theology and of the Holy Scriptures,
and to put forth whatever propositions he pleases."

In the year 1779, Alphonsus' humility made him become,
like another St. Charles Borromeo, a public penitent. For
six months, that is to say, from the 16th of December 1778,
the heavens had become like brass, and there had not been
a drop of rain. The whole country was in distress, fear
ing the loss of the corn and the fruit. Alphonsus was
moved at the sight of such a scourge, and wept over the
sins of the people. One Sunday, (it was the 13th of May
1779,) notwithstanding his weakness, he undertook to
make a penitential procession, in order to obtain God's
pardon and the favor which was so much longed for. After
having put on his purple vestments, which he was never in
the habit of doing, he covered himself with ashes; and ac
companying his sons with a rope around his neck, he re
solved to go and place a large cross in the parish church.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 479

The way was long, but all efforts to dissuade him from
going were useless. It was with great difficulty that he
was persuaded to go half the way in a carriage. He was
determined to go the rest of the way on foot; and as his
state of exhaustion no longer allowed him to walk without
support, the lay-brother and others aided him in perform
ing this painful pilgrimage.

All the inhabitants assisted at this ceremony — the church
and the square were crowded with people. In order to
satisfy all, the pulpit was placed at the church door, and as
Alphonsus was not able to ascend it, he was carried up to
it. He preached for upwards of an hour upon the punish
ment which sinners deserve, and exhorted all his hearers
to do penance. His words, added to such a touching
spectacle, made a general impression, and on that very
evening the salutary effects were seen by the great number
of those who went to cast themselves at the feet of the con
fessors. But heaven appeared to be insensible. The next
day. after vespers, when Alphonsus was returning from his
accustomed drive, and had nearly reached the house, he or
dered the coachman to turn back, and to go to the chapel
where the month of Mary was celebrated. He entered the
church, and went and prostrated himself before the altar of
the Blessed Virgin. This drew a crowd together, and Al
phonsus caused the image of Mary to be exposed, and ex
horted all present to have recourse to their divine Mother.
After he had prayed in silence for some time, he again
turned towards the crowd: "Continue," said he to them,
"to recommend yourself to our Lady with confidence;
confess and communicate this week, and you will have
rain on Sunday." And so it was, for on the predicted
day, just when it was least expected, and when the impa
tient people were murmuring and saying that he was mis
taken for this time, a sudden change was perceived in the
atmosphere, and the rain fell in such great abundance that
all the country was deluged. It was impossible not to see
the favor which the Blessed Virgin had granted to the
prayers of her servant; but as to Alphonsus, it seemed

480 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

almost a cause of confusion to him, and he said, when he
returned: "The words I addressed the people are taken as
a prophecy.: they merely escaped from me by chance,
however, for I am no prophet."

We have seen above how the persecutions to which the
Congregation had been so long exposed, ended in this
year, 1779. The greatest evil resulting from them had
been a certain interior derangement and relaxation in the
regular observance of the rule; some taking advantage of
these troubles to have their own way, and in many instances,
the superiors, to their great regret, being forced to bear with
this, or at least to be very careful when they gave any
reprimand, and in the expulsion of an incorrigible sub
ject finding still more difficulty. But as the pilot, after the
tempest, causes all the damages which the vessel has sus
tained to be repaired, and gets the rigging renewed, so
Alphonsus, after the storm of these persecutions, occupied
himself in remedying the injuries which the observance of
the rule had sustained. He became inflamed with zeal,
and rigorously required that discipline should be respected.
" In the Congregation," said he, " one must either edify,
or go." Therefore he wrote a circular to all the superiors
of the houses to encourage them and enkindle in them
the same zeal for regular observance, and he set himself,
without respect of persons, to correct what was wrong,
and to give both verbal and written warnings to the
rectors, as well as to the subjects. He insisted on this
point, and never rested until he was satisfied ; he was re
solved to dismiss all the rebellious spirits from the Congre
gation, and he unceasingly prayed to God for this end.
Several of those to whom the yoke of the religious life
seemed too heavy, returned into the world, and Alphonsus,
whilst he deplored their misfortune, was more consoled at
their departure than at the reception of those who were
fervent.

Some had taken the liberty to retire to their homes on
frivolous pretexts. Alphonsus had complained of this to
F. Villani before his resignation, but during the troubles

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 481

this father had to shut his eyes to a great many things. As
soon as peace was restored, Alphonsus took the most effica
cious means to cause all the subjects to return to their respec
tive houses. One of them would not obey, and got several
persons to intercede for him. Alphonsus delayed action
for a while, but on seeing that he was incorrigible, he ulti
mately sent him away, saying: "I pity this unhappy man ;
God knows how to punish these wilfully deaf persons,
who set no value on their vocation." And as if he had
prophesied, this subject was afterwards miserably assassi
nated, on account of the crime of usury, which he had
practised in favor of his nephews, for the love of whom he
had become unfaithful to his vows.

Although circumstances thus forced Alphonsus to act
with severity, he did not fail to use at the same time all
possible circumspection and prudence: "I have let all the
subjects know," he wrote to a subject who also was absent,
" that they must each return to the house assigned to them
within fifteen days. I have sent this announcement to all,
couched in the same terms, and in the same form. How
ever, as I have a peculiar degree of esteem for you, I take
the trouble of addressing a separate letter to you, different
from the others. I do not write to tell you that you must
positively return in the space of fifteen days; I only beg
you to let me know what necessity there is for your rever
ence's remaining with your relations. . . . My dear D. Bar
tholomew, your reverence is one of the oldest fathers,
your example will therefore cause the more harm and will
be a precedent for others. ... I beg you at least to write
and tell me the reason which keeps you in the world, be
cause I shall exercise all possible indulgence towards you
provided it be a reasonable one, and I must give some kind
of reason for your absence. I have for some time wanted
to beg you to come and remain with me at Nocera, where I.
am superior, in the midst of difficulties, and in continual
need of some prudent person whose advice lean ask."

In the following letter we will see an instance of his
firmness: "Your reverence," he wrote to a rector, "must
41

482

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

give Father N. a sharp reprimand ; I have not wished to
dismiss him, as he has deserved, as a punishment for his
fault and also for his habitual obstinacy, but tell him in
my name, that I shall be obliged to do it the first time he
again commits a fault of a similar nature. I think it arises
from his going out too much. Your reverence must there
fore not send him out any more, nor allow him to go out
again unless you have my written consent for it; and you
must not continue his faculties, because he must have for
gotten the little he knew by going about from place to place
in this way without ever studying moral theology, and this
makes me afraid to allow him to continue as a confessor. "
On hearing that a subject entertained too loose opinions,
he positively forbade him to hear confessions, and he was
so strict with him that he himself asked to be released
from the vows. He also dismissed another in a similar
manner who would not conquer a certain levity of conduct.
As we have already seen, in Alphonsus, firmness was
never severed from prudence. On hearing that a certain
subject disliked going on missions, he did not give him any
definite order to do so, as he feared a refusal; but once
when this subject was in his room with others, he dexter
ously began to speak of the value of obedience, and of
the injury which he who is intractable inflicts on himself;
this caused him to reflect seriously, and he of himself of
fered to do what was wished. In general, whenever the
resistance proceeded rather from nature than from the will,
Alphonsus had compassion on the weakness of the man,
and tried by his gentleness to soften the bitterness of his
command. "I have received your letter;" he wrote to the
superior of a house, " in one part you console me, and in
another you distress me. I find therein certain words
which I did not expect from your submission and your love
of obedience. You say, ' T am resolved to return to the king
dom.' I pity you, for I see that you wrote these words in
distress of mind. . . . 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

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 483

that you are of a peevish temper, as F. Villani has told you.
But did not your piety demand that you should have re
ceived this mortification peacefully, and the more so be
cause you know how much I esteem and love you? F.
Villani gave me a similar reprimand myself; but, thank
God, I received it quietly, and it has caused me to be more
moderate and humble."

On the 8th of September 1779, D. Hercules expired, of
a disease which was as violent as it was unexpected. Al-
phonsus had had a presentiment of it three months before,
though his brother was then robust and in perfect health.
One day when he was meditating according to custom, he
suddenly turned towards F. Costanzo and said : " Hercu
les will cause m« sorrow this year." Alphonsus was al
ways united to the will of God, so he received the tidings
with calmness. "Good God!" he exclaimed; he then
clasped his hands and was silent. When he heard that
D. Hercules had left the advocate, D. Peter Gavolti, as
tutor to his children, but under his authority and that of
counsellor D. Nicholas Vespoli, their relation, he felt com
forted, and instantly dictated a letter to the former, not so
much in order to secure the temporal interests of his
nephews, as to urge him to attend to their religious edu
cation. D. Gavotti replied: "lam quite at your service,
and I will devote myself as far as I can to the good of your
nephews, but your Lordship must pray to God to deliver
me from the headache which continually afflicts me."
"Take care of these little children," Alphonsus replied to
him, "and be sure that{*o.d will relieve you." Don Ga
votti has attested that when he received this letter, he felt
instantly cured, and he never suffered again from this
malady as long as he lived.

Alphonsus felt the greatest interest in the welfare of D.
Theresa, his niece, who was sixteen years of age at this
time, and a pensioner at the convent of St. Marcelline.
His only wish was to see her consecrated to Jesus Christ,
as she had manifested a desire to that effect some time be
fore, He wrote to her to remind her of her former reso-

484 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

lution, and exhorted her to be faithful to God, who had
inspired her with this desire. "If any one advises you to
leave the convent," he wrote to her in one of his letters,
"and to go and throw yourself down a precipice, that is
to say, to marry, do not listen to such counsel, for you
will certainly repent of it the second day. . . . Take the
advice of a good confessor, and of some nun of exemplary
life." He prayed most fervently for this object, and he
wrote to his cousin, Antonia Liguori, also a nun, to beg
ilier to watch over her, as also to D. Gavotti, to urge him to
•attend to her vocation. " T have begged her confessor,"
(he wrote to him, " to be most careful in directing her so
•that she may become a riun, and I also beg you to assist
Ihim in this, because if she marries in this corrupt age I
shall look upon her as lost."

Alphonsus obtained what he so ardently desired. D.
Theresa soon declared that she wished to embrace the reli
gious state ; Counsellor Vespoli and D. Gavotti opposed her
on the ground that she was yet too young, but she insisted
upon it, and Alphonsus did not fail to second her. When
she had to leave the convent, according to custom, before
-entering on the noviciate, he feared to entrust her to her
/relations, saying: "If we place her in the house of her
parents, she will incur a thousand dangers ; there will be
parties, theatres and soirees ; this will be quite enough to
cause her to lose her vocation." In consequence, he ap
plied to his penitent the Duchess of Bovino, who willingly
consented to receive her into her house. Whilst with the
Duchess, the only recreation D. Theresa asked for was to
go to Nocera to kiss the hand of her uncle.

Although the visits of ladies were usually disagreeable
to Alphonsus, that of his niece was an exception, and gave
him the greatest pleasure. The duchess and her daughter
stayed three days at Nocera. The presents he gave them
were confined to copies of the Visits to the Blessed Sacra
ment, and of the Preparation for Death, with a relic, in a
little box of no value. D. Theresa had been suffering from
a wound in her leg for six months. When Alphonsus

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 485

heard of it, he was much distressed ; and when she knelt
down and asked him for his blessing on taking leave of
him, he said to her: "I bless yau as your uncle, and as a
bishop." This took place in the morning, and in the even
ing when the wound was unbandaged at Naples, the sur
geon, the duchess, and the other members of the house
hold found, to their great admiration, ihat it was entirely
healed.

On the 16th of June 1781, D. Theresa returned to the
convent. After her noviciate, she begged Alphonsus to
assist at her profession. "Your last letter," he replied,
" has given me such great comfort, that I have been unable
to restrain my tears : I am sad at being unable to comply
with your wishes. If God had granted me power to wit
ness your sacrifice, I should certainly have done nothing
but shed tears of joy; but he has not granted me this
consolation." It was necessary to give a present to her,
and he did not fail to do so. "I send you this picture
of the Blessed Virgin," he said to her, " to remind you
to thank her, and unceasingly to implore her protec
tion."

Alphonsus manifested as much indifference regarding
the establishment and marriage of his nephew, D. Joseph,
(the eldest of the two,) as he had shown interest in his
niece's entrance into religion. Some years back, when
the boy was not yet thirteen, and D. Hercules, anxious
to see him settled before his death, had begun a matri
monial negociation for him with the heiress of Coun
sellor Vespoli, Alphonsus was distressed at it, and ex
claimed in a sorrowful manner.: "Ah! my little Joseph is
going to lose the grace of God. ... 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
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 improper remarks; it is thus that
children get irremediably corrupted." He was so uneasy
41*

486 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

that he commissioned one of the fathers who was then
about to go to Naples, to tell his brother how much he was
displeased, and to represent to him that he ran a fearful
risk of causing his son to be out of the favor of God. After
his father's death, when the son was of an age to marry,
Alphonsus entirely referred the matter to Counsellor Ves-
poli and to D. Gavotti, confining himself to advising them
not to constrain him, but to choose a wife for him of exem
plary conduct and of suitable birth. When D. Joseph
went himself to inform him of the decision about his mar
riage, Alphonsus received the news with indifference ; he
then gave him his blessing, and said to him: "I pray God
to bless you also ;" adding some good advice, and sent him
away satisfied.

It was about this time that Alphonsus finally revised his
Moral Theology, taking the greatest care to avoid either
too severe or too lax opinions. As upright intentions are
always accompanied by the blessings of heaven, this work,
like all the other works of its saintly author, obtained
such a high reputation among all the most civilized na
tions that it was spread throughout Europe. Even
during his lifetime there were seven editions of the Moral
Theology published at Naples and at Venice ; and it was
spread not only throughout Italy, but also in France,
Germany, Poland, Spain, Portugal and Switzerland, and
-even beyond the bounds of Europe, and every where it met
with applause. With regard to the Visits to the Blessed
Sacrament, he himself lived to see twenty-two editions of
it at Naples and Venice alone, (besides those in other
places,) and to see it translated into most of the modern
languages. The most of his other works, whether dog
matical, polemical or ascetical, were during his lifetime
translated in various languages, and published in Poland,
France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, and elsewhere,
to the great advantage of souls.

The last work he published was that entitled " The
fidelity of subjects towards God," &c , of which we have
spoken above. The authority of his director, F. Villani,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHOJVSUS. 487

was needed in order to make him put an end to his com
posing and publishing. However, he published yet some
little treatises which he composed, as he assured F. Villani,
by way of relaxation, and which he had distributed during
the course of the missions. He had summed up in them,
in a few pages, these two counsels, viz: "The necessity
of prayer, and of the intercession of the Blessed Virgin
Mary." He composed further in the same way some other
little treatises on various spiritual subjects. All his works,
the most important of which have been mentioned by us at
the several dates of their first publication, make up, in the
two most complete editions of them, (one of Monza, and
the other of Turin,) seventy-two volumes, in small oc
tavo. They will be an eternal monument of his profound
learning, tender piety, and ardent zeal, as well as of his
fidelity in keeping the vow he had made not to lose a
moment of time.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

The Congregation, through the treachery and intrigue of
some of its members, is threatened with complete disorgani
zation. Jllphonsus exhibits through all these trials entire
submission to the will of God.

A LPHONSUS had, on two different occasions, predicted
_lj_ that he should die as a subject, and not as superior.
The time of the fulfilment of this prediction was now draw
ing near, the Lord having pre-ordained that he should not
finish his long career in peace, but that as one of the living
stones of the heavenly Jerusalem, he should be perfected
by the stroke of the chisel to the last. As the devil had
not been able, by persecutions from without, to gain the
victory over the Congregation founded by our saint, he
sought to stir up treason within, in order to cause it to
be ruined through itself.

488 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

The rule was approved and confirmed by the Pope, hut
it had not been sanctioned by the government, and this
had been one of the chief arguments put forward by its
enemies, as we have already seen. When, through the
decree of the 24th of August 1779, the royal approbation
had been obtained on different points, it was thought to be
a favorable moment to ask for a general approbation which
would at last put an end to all further troubles. Mgr.
Testa, the grand-almoner, who was applied to, did not hesi
tate to promise his protection, provided the rule were
transcribed, and the part which was opposed to the royal
decrees regarding the acquisitions and the rentals of the
houses were left out. Alphonsus agreed to this; and the
affair was entrusted to F. Majone, one of the consultors-
general. This father, under the pretext that if they should
receive a refusal from the king and the thing should become
known to its enemies, it would be a blow to, the Congrega
tion, proposed that the whole matter should remain secret
between the consultors, and that they should all take an oath
to preserve secrecy in regard to all that might be done in
the course of this affair. Alphonsus and the other mem
bers of the council all agreed, and took the oath in conse
quence. But under the cover of this secresy, F. Majone
and the consultorwho had been associated with him made
the most arbitrary changes in the rule, adding to it, modify
ing it, or abridging it, entirely according to their own fane}'.

Notwithstanding the precautions of F. Majone, sus
picions were awakened as to his intentions; a report be
came current among the subjects that innovations were
about to be made in the rule, and general alarm ensued.
Protestations were addressed to Alphonsus expressive of
these fears, and of the wish not to have the rule altered.
The poor old man, who had no reason to suspect any
treachery of the kind, endeavored to reassure every one.
This however did not satisfy the subjects, (though F. Ma
jone boldly denied every thing,) and the dreaded innova
tions being specified as relating to poverty and life in com
munity, unceasing protests were addressed to him and to

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 489

Alphonsus. Alphonsus persisted in believing in the sin
cerity of F. Majone, and assured all that there was nothing
to fear. " I assure you," he one day said, taking the little
cross he wore on his breast in his hand, "that nothing is
being done against the rule; what is to be retrenched re
lates only to the acquisitions, because the king does not
choose to have them and we must obey him "

So many appeals, however, aroused the attention of Al
phonsus, arid in order to become more fully acqainted with
the real state of the case, he wrote to F. Majone, and
plainly told him that some innovation in regard to poverty
and life in community was suspected, and that he would
never agree to that. F. Majone reassured him as to his
conduct, saying: "As for what you say to me touching
life in community, to wish to do away with this regulation
would be to wish to destroy the Congregation. I hope
that Divine Providence will punish all those who thus
spread discord." His intrigues did not end here. He
came to Nocera, and with audacious effrontery, presented
the regulations he had made to Alphonsus, assuring him
that with the exception of what related to the acquisitions
all the rest was in conformity with the rule. The poor old
man could not read it himself, the writing being small and
illegible and covered with erasures arid interlinings, so he
gave it to F. Villani to be examined with care. F. Villani
saw that the vows had been done away with, and that holy
poverty had also been injured. " The king does not wish to
have vows," F. Majone said to him. "Besides, it is not
for us to make the laws; we must receive them from the
almoner, and if some slight changes must be made in or
der to obtain the approbation of the rule it matters little."
F. Villani had not the courage to oppose either F. Majone
or his colleague, and fearing to overwhelm Alphonsus by
by such sad tidings, he told him that all was going on well;
Alphonsus believed this and became tranquil in the expec
tation of a happy termination, no longer doubting that
the mistrust felt by the subjects was the work of the
devil.

490 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

F. Majone returned to Naples, and there consummated
the work of iniquity. On the 1st of January the affair was
proposed to the royal council. F. Majone did not find it
difficult to obtain all that he wished; the favor of the king,
and the venerated name of Alphonsus, smoothed all before
him. As they were ignorant of his deceitfulness, the
grand-almoner and all the council of state entered wil
lingly into what they thought would be agreeable to our
aged saint, and the king most graciously gave his approba
tion. The whole being thus settled, F. Majone, in order
to confirm his work, managed that two copies of the said
regulations should be sent to the office of the ministry by
royal authority, one of which was intended for the procura
tor-general, and the other for the royal council.

On the 27th of February 1780, the mutilated rule reached
Nocera, accompanied by an official letter from the grand-
almoner. As soon as this was known, the whole house
was in a state of anxiety. But F. Villani, who was vicar-
general and superior, did not open the papers, as Alphon
sus was too ill for it. But the fathers managed so that
they got the statutes into their hands the same evening
and copied them. Before daybreak, they went to awaken
Alphonsus to tell him of the havoc that had been made,
and to ask for justice. At these sad tidings the poor old
man was in the greatest distress; he asked for the fatal
pages, he looked over them, and in sorrow of soul, he ex
claimed: "It cannot be! it cannot be!" Then turning
to F. Villani, he said to him: "D. Andrew, I did not ex
pect such deception from you." He then addressed the
community, and said: "I deserve to be dragged at a
horse's tail, for I ought to have read every thing myself, as
I am superior." He then turned to the crucifix with his
eyes bathed in tears, and exclaimed : " My Jesus, pardon
me, I trusted to my confessor; on whom could I have bet
ter reposed confidence?" "You know," said he, address
ing the community again, "how much it costs me to read
even a line." He then gave way to his tears : " I have been
deceived," he said with sobs, and then was silent,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 491

He passed the whole morning in profound silence, and
in such a state of dejection that sorrow seemed to have
overpowered him ; he would hardly consent to take any
nourishment, and what he ate he mingled with his tears.
"Ah, Lord," he repeated, "punish not the innocent, but
punish the guilty one who has destroyed thy work." His
heart was pierced with the most poignant anguish ; he no
longer slept, and his life was soon in danger. Not know
ing what course of action to resolve upon, he was con
stantly sending first for one subject and then for another,
in order to obtain the assistance of their advice. On the
10th of March, he wrote to F. Corrado, who was then at
Naples: " My dear D. Bartholomew, I am in danger of be
coming delirious, for I find that the new regulations made
by Majone are quite contrary to my opinion. The young
men here are clamorous about it. I entreat you to leave
every thing and to come and see me, if you do not wish
me to lose my senses and to die of grief."

F. Majone, on seeing what opposition he met with, put
on the semblance of zeal, and feigning to pity Alphonsus,
represented him to the grand-almoner as sinking under af
fliction in the midst of rebellious subjects. The latter
therefore immediately intimated to the Congregation in an
official letter of March 1st 1780, an order to follow the
new regulations in every particular. The following was its
conclusion: "Your Lordship, as founder and superior-
general of the Congregation, must inform each member in
my name, that this regulation must be put in force from this
time without any alteration or retrenchment whatsoever,
for it is now the only rule and is binding in all its parts on
all the members of the Congregation present and future, on
superiors, priests, students, and lay-brothers, without any
room for reply or opposition."

It may be imagined how this letter served to increase the
flame in all the houses. Whilst Alphonsus endeavored to
allay it, he did not wish for the death of F. Majone,
who was the cause of all these evils, but rather that he
should be converted and dwell always among his children.

492 LIFE OF. ST. ALPHONSUS.

Though every one was bent on his ruin, he neglected no
thing in order to save him ; he wrote to him at Naples, and
without speaking of his treachery, he begged him to retire
into the house at Ciorani, or if that did not please him, into
any other he should choose. " Let us forget the past," he
said, "and pass over all that has been done. You will
continue to be consultor-general as formerly, and you will
give your opinion in all important affairs of the Congrega
tion. As for your honor, place that in my hands, I will not
cease to defend it in the Congregation and to strangers."
It was thus that he acted towards him with all mildness,
" because such is the will of Jesus Christ," he wrote to an
other father on thp same day, " and it is thus he inspires
me to act. I shall continue to act thus in his regard until
God restores peace to us." But far from yielding to such
loving measures, F. Majone became more and more inflamed
with indignation against the Congregation, and against
Alphonsus himself. On seeing his designs thwarted, he
resolved to address a petition to the king, to get him to
constrain the subjects to embrace the new regulations un
der pain of being expelled from the Congregation. This
news supplied fresh fuel to the fire already enkindled, but
caused him also to become still better known ; so Alphon
sus hastened to prevent the consequences of such a step,
and instantly wrote to Naples on the 12th of April to take
away from him the procuracy and to transfer it to F. D.
Bartholomew Corrado, charging the latter to inform the
grand-almoner of every thing. "If Mgr. Testa," he said,
"is not convinced as to the deceit which has been prac
tised we can obtain nothing from him, because he will
always say that he has granted me all that I have wished
for. ... If the regulations are to be maintained I am
afraid that several will lose their vocation. Try and make
him understand the state of our Congregation ; tell him that
we have more than a hundred young men who have finished
their studies in it, and who would have honorably distin
guished themselves at the Sorbonne or at Louvain, but that
F. Maione would destroy them all in order to attain his end.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 493

Tell him that I have not become imbecile, as F. Majone
would wish him to believe ; my head is still of use to me,
although this father labors to make me lose my senses."
On the same day he wrote to the grand-almoner himself to
represent to him the treachery of which he was the victim,
and to inform him of the spirit which actuated F. Majone.
who in order to increase his own power as consultor-
general had tried to take away all the faculties of the
superior-general, and had added to the regulations all that
his own fancy suggested to him.

The subjects, on finding themselves called on by reit
erated letters from the grand-almoner to follow a rule which
they had never promised to observe, protested against the
consultors, and even against Alphonsus himself, for having
kept the thing a secret. Their dissatisfaction was so great
that they lost that veneration which they had always cher
ished and manifested towards him ; so that he did not
know where to steer in such a stormy sea, and did nothing
but groan in silence at the foot of the crucifix. He again
wrote a long letter to the grand-almoner; and he sought to
obtain the aid of D. Joseph Cantore, (one of the first clerks
in the ministry,) as also that of D. Januarius Fatigati.
superior of the Chinese College, and Mgr. Bergame,
bishop of Gaeta — all of whom he knew had some influ
ence with the grand-almoner. But the latter, who had him
self taken part in the composition of the new regulations,
was far from acceding to his wishes, and maintaining
that the regulations were excellent, refused to annul what
he had done, as he said, with the consent of the parties.
He was, moreover, beset by F. Majone, and instead of
condescending to hear the prayers of Alphonsus and his
excellent friends, he urged the execution of the regulations.
Alphonsus had foreseen all this calamity as far back as
the 25th of January 1780. One day he aroused himself
from a profound meditation, and said: "I foresee that the
devil will do all in his power to overthrow us this year."
"Your reverence must, therefore," he said, writing on the
same day to F. Cajone at Benevento, " cause the short
42

494 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

prayers marked in the enclosed paper to be recited every
evening in common, from the month of February until the
end of May."

Alphonsus, in order to re-establish order and peace in
the Congregation without incurring the displeasure of the
Pope or of the king, suspended the execution of the regu
lations, and after he had recommended the matter to God
and implored the protection of the Blessed Virgin during
several days, he decided that, on the return of the Mis
sionaries from their excursions, a general assembly of two
subjects out of each house should be held, and the result
of the deliberations be presented to the king. He con
sulted several persons at Naples on this subject, and they
all assured him that these measures would be attended by
the most happy results. He informed the grand-almoner
of this resolution, and begged him to lend his support; as
he received no answer, he charged a father in Naples to
let him know that " if toe will not hear us," (these are the
words of his letter,) "I will go to him myself, all paralyzed
as I am. ... In conclusion, if he will not hear you, I
will send a thousand letters to the Marquis of Marco, and
a thousand petitions to the king." When the grand-
almoner saw the real state of things, and the general dis
satisfaction he had produced, he showed a disposition to
favor Alphonsus, who hastened to communicate the news
to all the houses, and to announce the general meeting on
the 1st of May, urging them all to be tranquil in the mean
while.

While Alphonsus thus sought to remedy the evil and
extinguish the flames enkindled in the houses, the devil
was not backward in improving this opportunity of in
creasing the fire more and more in order to bring every
thino1 to ruin. The house of Frosinone, in the pontifi
cal states, contained amongst its members one of those
restless and factious characters who are always a burthen
to communities. His superiors were constantly obliged
to remove him from one place to another; these changes
were very displeasing to him, and he got indignant againstthe

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 495

saintly founder, and took advantage of the circumstances of
the times to create discord between the houses in the states
and those in the kingdom. He concealed his perfidy under
the mantle of a lively zeal, while he suggested the raising
of the standard of rebellion against Alphonsus, and the
effecting a separation which would render the missionaries
of the pontifical states independent. In consequence of
this, steps were taken to have a council held at Rome on
the 3d of February, at which Alphonsus was denounced as
an accomplice to the scheme regarding the innovations,
and was deprived of his dignity as superior: it was also
decided that the Pope should be informed of this, and that
he should be entreated to convoke a general chapter of the
houses in the states, to pronounce their separation from
those of the kingdom, and to give them power to elect
another head.

Alphonsus' circular ordering the meeting of which we
have spoken was far from being welcomed by those in the
states; as they believed that the object was to constrain
them to adopt the new regulations, they did not even reply
to it! So he felt obliged, contrary to custom, to issue an
order to them to send their deputies to this chapter by
virtue of holy obedience. When these deputies of the
houses of the states arrived at Nocera, they were accom
panied by the subject of whom we have spoken, and whom
we shall designate as the procurator. He was the deputy
of the house at Frosinone. and came filled with thoughts

G

of insubordination and discord, firmly resolved to carry out
the separation he had projected. The chapter was opened
on the 12th of May, when flames burst forth on all sides.
The greater part were prepossessed against F. Majone and
his colleague, whom they considered as the enemies of the
Congregation, and wished to expel them from it, or at least
to depose them ; on seeing such exasperation, Alphonsus
regretted having convoked this meeting, which only seemed
to forbode disastrous consequences. On the one side he
saw the partizans of a dangerous novelty, and on the other
the friends of the rule who were ready to revolt against

496 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

him, and the procurator bent on increasing the discord.
With a sense of the impossibility of reuniting them, he
pressed his crucifix to his heart, and shed tears of bit
terness, saying: "On one side I see the disciples of Jesus
Christ, and on the other the instruments of the devil."

When F. Majone saw the impossibility of escaping, he
strove secretly to thwart the measures which were adopted
at Naples in regard to the grand-almoner, though Alphon
sus had all the while been endeavoring to save him and his
colleague and to prevent any thing being done against
them. General dissatisfaction was felt in the assembly at
fchis course towards F. Majone and his colleague, and at the
•compassion with which F. Villani and another consultor
had treated them, and, led away by the semblance of holy
liberty, they audaciously went beyond their prerogative,
and, on the 20th of May, deposed the six consultors and
forced Alphonsus to resign his office. The saintly old man
submitted unresistingly to all. He would have liked to be
the only victim of the tempest, to restore calm to the trou
bled sea and to save all his sons from shipwreck. After
many difficulties, they proceeded to a new election on the
26th of May: Alphonsus was re-elected as superior-gen
eral, but of the six former consultors, only the fathers Villani
and Mazzini were reinstated in consideration of their pre
vious valuable services, and F. Corrado was nominated
vicar-general instead of F. Villani. As F. Corrado did
not wish to take such a charge upon himself, Alphonsus
wrote to him, saying : " I entreat you to accept and fill the
post; if it be necessary I cast myself at your feet, and I
hope you will not refuse me." He had to oblige him to
accept the office under pain of great sin.

As Alphonsus had been unable to preside at this assem
bly, they adopted the most arbitrary decisions, in contempt
of the rule as well as in its favor. In a word, the rudder
was without a steersman, and the Congregation was like a
vessel without a pilot in the midst of rocks during the
height of the tempest. During the twelve days this contest
lasted Alphonsus was aimed at by all : his neutrality in re-

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 497

gard to the parties was looked upon as the cause of all the
evil; some reproached him as well as the consultors, for
having kept the secret, others for not having listened to
the general complaints, and instead of admitting the valid
ity of his reasons, they forgot the respect due to his person
and loaded him with reproaches: "You have founded the
Congregation," they said to him, "you have destroyed it.
We know not whether God will forgive you this fault." Al-
phonsus suffered all in silence, attributing every thing to his
sins; far from complaining, he only replied to every one
with words of respect and kindness, and however bitter
were his sorrows, he received all as from the hand of God,
and submitted patiently to drink of that chalice, of which
the dregs were not even yet fully exhausted.

After the assembly was dissolved, he found no longer in
the Congregation the spirit of submission which had existed
in it before. Division of opinion had produced that of
hearts, and even in the houses of the kingdom several par
ties arose, and each one constituted himself judge of what
had been done and what was to be done. When F. Majone
saw the evil he had done, and the sorrows Alphonsus had
to endure in consequence, he had not the courage to re
turn amongst his brethren. After having recalled him sev
eral times, Alphonsus signified to him that if he should
not return within a given space of time he would be looked
upon as excluded from the Congregation. The unhappy
man, in his blindness, preferred to devote himself to the
service of a baron of rank, as his secretary. It was there
he terminated his days by a premature end, shedding tears
over the ills he had caused, and over his own unhappy fate.

In the midst of this confusion, the F. procurator did not
lose sight of his criminal designs. As he had been unable
to succeed in his unjust pretensions, he had withdrawn
from Nocera with his partizans with a mind filled with
wicked thoughts. In order to attain his ends, which were
to mortify Alphonsus and to divide the Congregation, he
hastened to go to Rome and to present himself before the
Holy Father. With a great display of zeal he stated to
42*

498 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

him what injury the rule approved by Benedict XIV had
sustained in the kingdom, and begged the Pope's protec
tion for himself and the houses of the states, representing
Alphonsus as caring little for the decrees of the Holy See.
Pursuing his perfidious designs, he got also into favor with
the members of the Sacred Congregation, and thus obtained
on the 12th of June 1780, a decree, by which the Pope
charged Cardinal Banditi of Benevento to inform the mem
bers of the said Congregation who were in the two houses
of his diocess, that his will was that they should strictly
observe the rule and constitutions approved by Benedict
XIV, that they should obtain a copy of them, and take
care that they»might undergo no alteration. A similar de
cree was despatched to Mgr. Giacobini, the bishop of
Veroli, in regard to the houses of Scifelli and Frosi-
none.

This decree gave courage to Alphonsus. "God be
praised," he exclaimed, "by this order of the Pope the
subjects of the states are deprived of the liberty to make
changes in the rule. My Jesus ! bless the work, for it is
thine own." As soon as the decision of the sovereign
Pontiff was known in the houses of the kingdom, a great
number of the subjects who were faithful to the rule went
into the houses of Benevento and St. Angelo, through fear
of being obliged by the grand-almoner or the king to ob
serve the new regulations. This was in contempt of Al
phonsus ; however, his resignation was always perfect, and
bowing his head, he only blessed the hand which struck
him. He wrote to Cardinal Banditi to entreat him to pro
tect the Congregation, and to act with freedom without re
gard to any thing which had been written or done in the
assembly. "Even if your Eminence wishes," he added,
"to deprive me of my office of superior-general, I say do
a-s you think right before God. I have no other wish than
that. of seeing peace restored to my poor Congregation, and
Iiknow of no one but your Eminence who can succeed in
doing this. * * * I have ordered all the subjects to obey
your Eminence blindly."

LtPE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 499

Not satisfied with all he had done, the procurator pur
sued his measures without anybody's being able to resist
him. He pretended that the new elections were null and
void, and demanded in consequence, that the houses in
the states should no longer be subjected to the authority of
Alphonsus. His representations were such that, on the
4th of August, an order was expedited in the Pope's name
to Cardinal Banditi and to Mgr. Giacobini, to the effect
that no obedience was to be paid to the superiors of the
kingdom in any thing, and that no subject was to be per
mitted to leave the houses of the states. When Alphonsus
learned that the Pope had made arrangements in regard to
the houses of the states, he immediately sent for the most
ancient fathers of Benevento and St. Angelo, to inquire
about it, but they replied to him that they were not bound
to obey him as he was no longer their lawful superior.
These words were as a sword which pierced his heart; the
interior conflicts which they caused him to endure twice
endangered his life. His soul, however, was inseparably
united with the will of God, and he awaited death with
calmness ; but the Lord, in order to crown his servant more
gloriously in heaven, had prepared still severer trials for
him on earth.

After the procurator had gained the favor of the Sacred
Congregation, he, (without making known any of the rea
sons which excused Alphonsus,) drew up a petition on the
4th of July in the name of the four houses of the states, to
obtain the convocation of a chapter, or at least the nomina
tion of a president for these houses; but this wise assembly,
acting with its usual prudence, before adopting these ex
treme measures, wished to examine most thoroughly into
the state of affairs, and instructed the internuncio at Naples
secretly to inquire into the matter, and to make a faithful
report thereupon. Alphonsus in consequence received an
order from Cardinal Caracciolo, the prefect of the Sacred
Congregation, to remit all the acts which were drawn up
at the last assembly to the Sacred Congregation, with an
exact account of all that had taken place. But this order

500 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

threw Alphonsus into the greatest perplexity. The court
of Naples had at that time most strictly forbidden any in
tercourse whatever to be held with the court of Rome.
Not knowing what to do in these critical circumstances,
he replied to the cardinal on the 24th of August, that he
would send two of his fathers to Rome the following No
vember, to give all the wished-for information by word of
mouth. In order however that his having sought for delay
might not be found fault with at Rome, he wrote once
more to the cardinal to set before him a summary of the
critical conjuncture in which he was placed, the unhappy
nature of the attendant circumstances, and his total want
of power to remedy them.

The procurator did not fail to cause the delay which Al
phonsus asked for to pass for a piece of chicanery, made
use of by him in order to gain time and to elude the orders
of the Holy See. He multiplied his petitions, exaggerated
the pretended offenae of Alphonsus, and representing
the injury which the absence of a head would occasion to
the houses of the states, he redoubled his solicitations
that a superior should be given to them. He was supported
especially by those of the house of Frosinone; for which
house Alphonsus (besides all he had done for it in common
with the other houses in the states, as we saw above,) had,
four months before, sold his four services, and had wished £o
sell his carriage and even to deprive himself of actual ne
cessaries. The procurator was listened to, and through
the misunderstanding which at that time existed between
the courts of Naples and of Rome, he succeeded in de
faming Alphonsus so much that Pius VI, ill-informed, at
last declared that the houses of the kingdom should no
longer form part of the Congregation. He stripped Al
phonsus of his authority, and appointed F. D. Francis de
Paul superior of the houses in the states. This fatal blow
was inflicted on the 22d of September 1780. The procu
rator went farther, and obtained a rescript from the sacred
penitentiary, to the effect that the Congregation was abol
ished in the kingdom of Naples, and that no petition

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS, 501

coming from a redernptorist missionary out of the Roman
states should be received; and he caused a paper to be cir
culated among the other congregations of cardinals, in order
to get a similar declaration from each of them.

As Alphonsus did not know how far things had gone,
he sent two fathers to Rome. They arrived there on the 25th
of September, but it was too late; every thing had been de
cided on the 22d. The procurator received the fathers with
feigned sorrow, saying he had done all that had been in his
power to undeceive the holy father, and to prove the inno
cence of Alphonsus to every one ; but at last he took offthe
mask, and showered forth torrents of abuse against Alphon
sus. " He has been disappointed of canonization," he one
day said with a triumphant air, as if he wished to dishonor
the saintly founder even beyond the tomb. The two fathers
could do nothing in Rome ; the Sacred Congregation was
closed, and the cardinals had gone to their country houses.
When they returned to Nocera, F. Villani informed Al
phonsus of the decison adopted against him, just as he was
preparing for communion and to hear mass. This fatal
blow quite disconcerted him at first, but he soon rallied,
and adoring the Divine Will as manifested in that of the
Pontiff, he said with a profound inclination of his head :
"I wish for God alone; it is enough for me to have His
grace. The Pope wills it thus. May God be praised !"
He said nothing more, but he quietly went on with his
preparation, heard mass, and strengthened himself with
the eucharistic food. After the thanksgiving, he went out
in the carriage, when the devil assailed him with a horrible
temptation : he set before him the ruin of the Congregation
as his own doing and as a punishment for his sins; he
tried to persuade him that God had abandoned him, and
that he had no further hope of salvation. During this pain
ful conflict he humbled and abased himself, and strove to
open his heart to confidence ; but his humility seemed to
him as if it were false, and his hope as presumption, and
he saw nothing before him but despair. He hastened to
return to the house, and no sooner had he reached the

502 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

threshold of the door than he burst into tears, and ex
claimed in a heart-rending tone of voice : " Aid me, the
devil wants to make me despair; aid me, for I do not wish
to offend God." At these cries F. Villani and the whole
community hurried to him, but he did nothing but repeat:
"Aid me, the devil tempts me to despair. My sins have
caused God to abandon the Congregation ; aid me, for I
do not wish to offend God. The devil wants to lead me to
despair." Fathers Villani and Mazzini at last succeeded
in calming him. When the temptation was dissipated, he
turned towards the crucifix and a figure of Mary, and re
peated several times: "My mother, I thank thee ; thou
hast aided me now ; aid me at all times, my dear mother.
My Jesus, my hope; I shall never be confounded." This
temptation returned to him from time to time, but he over
come it each time by his confidence in Jesus and Mary.

In all these troubles he never uttered the slightest com
plaint. Whenever the fathers began to speak of the injus
tice done to him he silenced them, and said : "The Pope
has thus decreed it. God be praised ! The will of the
Pope is the will of God." The following Saturday he went
to the church, though he was so ill, in order that he might
magnify the Blessed Virgin according to custom, and ask
for the prayers of the people. F. de Paul was touched
with compassion in thinking of the sorrow which Alphon-
BUS must feel at seeing the Congregation divided and placed
under another head, and represented to him that he felt
sorry to be constrained to displease him through the man
date of the Pope. To this Alphonsus replied as follows:
•'By God's grace I have never lost my judgment ; I rejoice
that your Reverence is appointed superior; all is right,
and you must accept every thing because it is the Pope's
will." In fact he was so indifferent as to his deposition,
that when a certain religious came to visit him to console
him for the division which had taken place, and testified
his great displeasure in regard to the election of the presi
dent, Alphonsus heard him in silence and made no other
Answer than tliis : " J care little about my dignity as rector-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 503

major being taken from me ; it is enough for me that they
have not taken Jesus my Saviour and my mother Mary
away from me." But he was not so indifferent as to the
breaking of the bond of charity between the subjects of the
kingdom and those of the states. " I strive to instill a spirit
of charity into all my brothers, " he wrote to F. de Paul,
" your Reverence must do the same thing on your side, for
God loves those who love charity." When Mgr. Bergame
heard of the distress of his venerable friend he instantly
went from Naples to see and console him, for he had all
the tenderness of a son towards Alphonsus. Full of com
passion for the saintly old man, he resolved to go to Bene-
vento to see Cardinal Banditi, and to consult with him as to
the manner in which the work of the missions was to be
maintained in the kingdom of Naples. He went accom
panied by one of the fathers. The cardinal was not a little
distressed on hearing the sad and true state of things.
He grieved over it; but he thought that it was not then
expedient to take any steps at Rome in the matter.

Not satisfied with having submitted his will to that of the
Pope, Alphonsus also wished to put himself under obedi
ence to the new superior, the president de Paul, and he
made up his mind to go and live as a simple subject in the
house at Benevento. When F. Villani, in order to get him
to give up his determination, told him that as the rule had
not been abandoned the Congregation would always con
tinue to exist in the kingdom, his answer was : " Whatever
be the state of things, the Pope no longer recognizes these
houses as forming part of the institute." One reason alone
caused him to desist from his project, and that was the dis
turbance which such a step would cause at Naples at a
time when the king was not on good terms with the court
of Rome, and the consequent annoyance to the Pope likely
to follow from it. However, he hastened to write to the
new president, to assure him of his entire obedience, and
of his readiness to repair to whichever house in the states
he should point out to him, and he did not regain his
tranquillity until after F. de Paul had commanded him

504 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

to remain at Nocera, with the assurance that he should al
ways form part of the Congregation.

The measures of the Pope were as a thunderbolt to the
houses of the kingdom. Many of the subjects retired into
the houses of the states. Those who had the most respect
for Alphonsus went to ask his advice, but received no other
answer than this : " Obey the Pope." Some, without re
gard to him, abandoned him without even so much as
previously warning him of it, and there were others who
made shipwreck in the storm and returned to the world
again. So that on this more than on any other occasion,
was fulfilled in regard to the children of the holy founder
what our Saviour said to the apostles after the last supper:
" Behold satan has desired to have you that he may sift you
as wheat." In all this Alpbonsus was insensible to his
own humiliation, and only thought of the desolation of his
disunited children ; what distressed him the most was the
displeasure which this afflicting separation caused to the
sovereign Pontiff, and the cruel thought that he himself had
fallen into disgrace with him, though he hoped always that
he would be able to inform him of all in due time and to
regain his favor. In his distress he had again recourse to
the protection of Cardinal Banditi, begging him to repre
sent to the Pope the serious difficulties of his position, as
well as that of so many of his children who were deprived
of his favor. He himself composed an abridged history of
the vexatious vicissitudes which had agitated the poor Con
gregation from its very beginning, and he sent this memo
rial to his Eminence, that he might confirm it and remit it
to the Pope. To this recital, he added a statement of all
the good that his missionaries had done in the two king
doms of Naples and Sicily, in which every year six or seven
companies of them gave upwards of fifty missions within
the space of eight months. He caused a novena to be
made at Nocera by the whole community for the good suc
cess of this letter; he also sent to Naples to have a novena
begun by the capuchins of St. Francis, and caused a mass
to be sung in every house in the kingdom.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 505

The cardinal signed this letter and sent it as if it came
from himself; but as truth approached the pontifical
throne, calumny strove to repel it. When the procurator
heard that the letter had been handed to the Sacred Con
gregation, he was filled with fresh fury, and invented a
thousand falsehoods to render Alphonsus more and more
odious. When Alphonsus saw that his hopes were again
disappointed, he wrote again to the cardinal, and also to
the president de Paul, to know what he should do in these
circumstances, (when every communication with Rome was
forbidden without the previous authorization of the cham
ber and the king,) in order to satisfy the Pope, and obtain
again the faculties and the privileges necessary to the good
success of the missions, of which they were deprived in the
kingdom by thedecree of separation, During all these severe
trials Alphonsus always behaved admirably, never putting
his own interpretation on the will of the Pope. Severalofthe
fathers said: "If the Pope speaks of those who have aban
doned the rule, how can we, who have always observed it, be
of the number of those whom he has condemned." The argu
ment was plausible, and it was assented to by the bishop of
Troy, and Mgr. San Severino, the king's confessor, but Al
phonsus wished for unconditional submission. "It is not for
us to judge," he several times said, " we cannot judge the
Pope in our own cause ; let us humbly bow our heads in
submission. If the Pope has cast us down by one decree,
he can raise us up by another; we must obey, and not put
interpretations of our own on what he does." Mgr. Ca-
rafa, when one of the fathers complained to him at Rome of
having been so unjustly deprived of the favor of the Holy
See, said : " But what has he done to you ? The Pope did
not, and could not have you in view :" and on another
occasion, to two other fathers : " You are theologians; how
could that touch you?" Relying upon his name, several
of the fathers wished to take advantage of these answers ; but
Alphonsus never would listen to them. " Mgr. Carafa's
words prove nothing," said he, "those of the Pope alone
are those which we ought to attend to." He was chiefly
43

506 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

distressed, because the privation of pontifical favors in
regard to the exercises of the missiows acted to the injury
of souls. " At Rome," he wrote to the president de Paul,
"they endeavor to make me hope that the Pope thinks of
restoring to me the office of superior-general; but the blow
which has struck me is not that ; it is the loss of faculties
for the missions, of those faculties without which we can
be of but little assistance to souls." He then went on to
commission him to use his influence to regain them, and
he also begged F. Cajone to have the kindness to go to
Rome to arrange this affair. However, though things were
in such a state, Alphonsus did not neglect the missions.
" We have not ceased to labor for the good of souls in the
kingdom," he wrote to Cardinal Banditi on the 15th of
January 1781, " we have given a great many missions.
That of Foggia may be counted as four, for it will last
a month and a half; that of Nola will soon take place, and
will continue for a month; similar ones will also be given
at Nocera and elsewhere."

Whilst the servant of God thus manifested such earnest
solicitude for the work of the missions, the affairs of the
Congregation grew daily worse and worse ; thanks to the
calumnies of the procurator. Alphonsus and his mission
aries were now only looked upon in many places as a re
proach among men, and as loaded with the indignation
and the censures of the Holy See. Several bishops took
them for schismatics, and refused their missions, and if the
priests or the people asked to have them, they were refused.
Alphonsus' only consolation in the midst of so many trou
bles and humiliations consisted in meditating on the passion
of Jesus Christ, or on the truths of eternity, and in reading
over and over again the life of St. Joseph Calasanctius, the
founder of the regular Clerics of the Pious Schools, whose
old age had also been afflicted by a similar cruel persecu
tion from three of his subjects. Except when he spoke to
the fathers what it was necessary to say, he maintained
continual silence, and kept himself closely united to God.
His sight being much weakened, he was to be seen for

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 507

hours together with his forehead almost resting on his book.
He adored the will of God in that of the Pope, and did all
he could to prevent the smallest complaint being uttered
against it, and was still more anxious that nothing should
be done to cause him the slightest displeasure. On hear
ing that several of the fathers thought of soliciting the king's
protection, and fearing that that would occasion trouble
between the courts of Rome and of Naples, be entreated
the vicar-general, F. Corrado, expressly to forbid it.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Unavailing efforts of Jllphonsus to bring about a re-union
between the houses of the Pontifical States and those of the
Kingdom. Signs of Jllphonsus1 approaching dissolution.
His zeal for the salvation of souls continues unabated.

4 MIDST this thick gloom, a ray appeared to console Al-
_£\_ phonsus and his children. He remembered the promise
of the king to recompense the services of his missionaries,
whom he had appointed to publish the jubilee in 1779.
He determined to ask that it might be made lawful for the
subjects of the Congregation to make an oath to God to
lead a life in community according to holy poverty, and to
remain in the Congregation until death. He came to this
conclusion because the grand-almoner would not allow of
vows; and Innocent II having in 1664, (in the case of the
clerics of St. Joseph) commuted .t<he vows of poverty, chastity
and obedience into so many oaths, he thought that his plan
would be approved by the Sacred Congregation and the Pope,
and that thus there would no longer be an obstacle to a re
union, and the consequent enjoyment of the favors and pri
vileges dependant upon it. When the president de Paul
was informed of this project, he entered warmly into it,
thinking that if the king should grant the favor, the troubles

508 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

would be ended and a re-union brought about. But whilst
Alphonsus thus made use of human measures, he grounded
again all his hopes in prayer. Amongst other things, he
ordered that the Blessed Sacrament should be exposed in
each house for the adoration of the community, every even
ing for nine days, and that various prayers should then be
recited. All the members, besides, adopted a spirit of
penance ; many masses were celebrated for this intention,
and* large alms were distributed among the poor. He then
again had recourse to his old friend the Marquis of Marco,
<who laid the petition before the king and supported it.
The king graciously granted all that was asked for. " His
Majesty," the marquis replied on the 24th of February 1781,
' is full of gratitude for the indefatigable labors of your
missionaries, and the success they have obtained in the
publication of the jubilee, and so he has deigned to grant
you all the favors you have asked for. He therefore per
mits, 1st, the missiorraries of your institute to make the
oaths of a life in common and of poverty ; 2dly, that the said
missionaries may take the oath of perseverance in the Con
gregation, from which oath they may be dispensed by the
superior-general for lawful reasons; 3dly, he also consents
that the missionaries may ask for some assistance from
their friends and benefactors in the time of the wheat and
olive harvest."

These tidings filled Alphonsus with joy; he fancied that
every thing was now put to rights. Considering it a mira
cle of the Blessed Virgin Mary that he had obtained this
favor, he exhorted all, in notifying it to all the houses, to
offer up, before the Blessed Sacrament during its exposition,
fervent thanksgiving for this blessing to Almighty God
and to the Blessed Virgin. Great was the joy in all the
houses, as well as among the friends of the Congregation ;
the inhabitants around Iliceto even made bonfires in re
joicing.

As soon as the decree was published, Alphonsus sent a
copy of it to Cardinal Zelada, (who presided over the Sacred
Congregation as prefect, on account of the death of Cardi-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 509

nal Caracciolo,) again explaining to him how he had been
deceived, and showing that the wound was healed through
the oaths, so that there was no longer any obstacle to the
re-union so much wished for on both sides. He wrote also
to the procurator himself to entreat him to co-operate for
this re-union, or at least not to oppose it. " I pray your
Reverence to remember," he said, "that if you persevere
in wishing for the separation, and obtain what you wish,
you will, as I believe, spend the remainder of your days in
sorrow, especially when you shall see that it is too late to
remedy it. I entreat you by the love of God, to consider
this point at the foot of the crucifix." Alphonsus also once
more begged Cardinal Banditi to speak favorably for
him to the Holy Father. Every thing seemed to foretell a
happy termination of affairs, but the iniquity of the procu
rator, who had been insensible to the entreaties of Alphon
sus, triumphed once more. " Mgr. Liguori's pretensions
are too numerous," he said, on presenting himself before
the Sacred Congregation, " he wants to act as Pope, or at
least not to take any notice of the Pope. The oaths are
another alteration he wishes to make in the rule. But be
sides this, the rule is altered from one end to the other.
We wish to have the rule of Benedict XIV, and not the re
form of Mgr. Liguori." He took special care to make his
passion appear like zeal, and to render Alphocisus inexcusa
ble in the eyes of the cardinals; and taking advantage also
of the misunderstanding between the two courts, which
prevented Alphonsus from pleading his cause before the
Sacred Congregation, he had no difficulty in dissuading
the cardinals from all measures of conciliation. Car
dinal Zelada, who had an extreme veneration for our
Saint, and knew his inviolable attachment to the Holy See
as well as his innocence, proposed to the Sacred Congre
gation, that they should respect his person and make some
arrangement in favor of re-union; but he was alone in this
proposition, and all the other cardinals, especially Cardinal
Ghilini, the reporter of the cause, were of a contrary mind.
The Pope was again misinformed, and, beset by the procu-
43*

510 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

rator, far from granting any thing, he confirmed all the
previous decisions. When Alphonsus heard of it, he said :
"I wish for what God wills. The will of God makes all
things straight." Although his affliction on hearing of his
fresh defeat at Rome was very great, Alphonsus did not
despair of regaining the favor of the Pope. He begged F.
Corrado to go to Benevento, there to meet the president de
Paul, in order that they might consult together as to the
measures to be adopted to effect the re-union.

On the 3d of April, the fathers Corrado and Constance,
of Nocera, F. Augustin, the rector of Caposele, F. Carmin,
the rector of St. Angelo, and F. Tannoja, of Iliceto, ar
rived nearly at the very same hour at Benevento. The
meeting was providential, for they had not preconcerted it.
They were all of one mind, and settled on the measures to
be adopted for the re-union with the F. president. Amongst
other things, it was, decided that two provinces should be
established, and that that of the states should be under his
direction ; they also determined on sending two fathers to
Rome, to settle this matter with the Pope. But the pro
curator, irritated at this pacific interview, and dissatisfied
with the F. president, threatened to upset every thing in
the kingdom and in the states. The hatred he had con
ceived against Alphonsus increased day by day. He swore
that he would never permit a re-uriion to take place : " This
is a satisfaction," said he, "which Mgr. Liguori and his
adherents will never obtain from me." " If Mgr. Liguori
had me in his power," he said on another occasion, "he
would ruin me outright." Thus fear of some mischance
happening to himself had entered the heart of this unhappy
man, and together with his hatred against Alphonsus,
made him act as if he were quite desperate, and all the
hopes of Aiphonsus and of all the other fathers were frus
trated again.

After Easter, the Pope was to go to the Pontine Marshes ;
hence Alphonsus begged Cardinal Banditi to go there in
person, in order that he might see his Holiness, and inform
him of the real state of things. He made the same request to

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 511

Mgr. Bergame, the bishop of Gaeta. But the mind of Pius
VI was quite prejudiced against Alphonsus and his houses.
To all they said, he only answered : " Let them then come
and state all that has been done, for it is not well to change
the rule of a religious Congregation without the sanction
of the Holy See;" and, "1 know that Alphonsus is a saint,
and that he has hitherto been obedient to the Holy See ;
but on this occasion he has not adopted the same course :"
and again, "Let them come and tell me of all that has
been done with sincerity." In consequence of this, Al
phonsus at the end of May sent two fathers to Rome, or
dering at the same time prayers and masses to be said, and
exhorting the houses of Benevento and St. Angelo to co
operate in furthering the success of this matter.

In the midst of these troubles, Alphonsus had one more
source of distress. Through his love of holy poverty he
had made a vow to depend on the local superior, just like
any other subject; but the rectors in the kingdom not be
ing at this time lawful superiors of the houses, he did not
know to whom to apply, and was continually afraid of
sinning against his vow. He had therefore charged one of
the fathers who had been sent to Rome to speak about it
to the Pope — to inform him of his uneasiness, and to en
treat his Holiness to cause him, in all his doubts, to submit
to the will of the superior or his confessor. The father did
not apply to the Pope, but to the cardinal grand-peniten
tiary, who was filled with admiration at the saint's delicacy,
and at the vow he had made in regard to poverty, which
was so new a thing in a superior. "Let him submit to his
confessor," was the answer of the cardinal.

The proceedings at Rome in regard to the re-union had
not the fortunate results which had been expected. The
procurator again managed so, that all that had been done
at Benevento and the negotiations with the Pope at the
Pontine Marshes came to nought. The following answer
to the petition of Alphonsus was given on the 22d of June :
" Let the procurator-general of the Congregation present
at court be heard." The fathers stated all the reasons

LiPfc Of ST. ALPHONSUS.

which were in their favor, and the procurator also presented
his statement on the 9th of July. His words had little in
them calculated to produce conviction) but there was such
a prejudice in his favor that he once more gained his cause;
and in the report which was presented to the Holy Fathers
quite the contrary was asserted of that which he had
heard from Cardinal Banditi and Mgr. Bergame, so that
his dissatisfaction with those in the kingdom was con
verted into indignation. He therefore sent them an answer
on the 24th of August 1781, to this effect: " Standum
in decisis per Sanctissimum sub die 13 Septemlris 1780;"
that is, "let all previous decisions stand ;" and as a double
victory for the procurator, it was added: " Et amplius
non admittantur preces, " and let no farther petitions
be received." This confirmation of the preceding
dispositions was a final triumph to the procurator's
unceasing endeavors to humble and grieve Alphonsus by
calumniating him personally and destroying his work.
" He has failed as to his canonization," he exultingly re
peated over and over again, to the disgust of the bishop of
Narni, to whom he said it.

The fathers returned from Rome in November: when
Alphonsus heard of the decision which had been adopted,
he exclaimed, with all the calmness of perfect resignation :
" For six months I have asked for nothing from God but
that his will might be accomplished. Lord ! I only will
what thou wiliest." Thus did he make a perfect holocaust
to God of that work which he had maintained for forty
years amidst numberless difficulties, and for which he had
sacrificed his repose, his honor, and his reputation. He
adored the unfathomable judgments of God, by which he,
who had in so many ways manifested his zeal, sub
mission, and respect towards the Head of the Church, should
nevertheless be looked upon by him with an eye of severity,
and treated with rigor. It is true, that when they proceeded
to the examination of his virtues in the Sacred Congrega
tion of rites with that scrupulous exactness always practised
there, the calumnies were discovered, and his innocence

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 513

was brought to light. It is true, that when the Holy Father
was thus at last undeceived, he wept at having grieved a
saint, and did not hesitate to declare in a solemn decree of
the 29th of April 1796, that Alphonsus had always been
most submissive towards the Holy See, "as his words, his
actions, and his writings have often testified." It is true,
that the same Holy Father even imposed perpetual silence
on this subject, so that during the course of the process of
the canonization no farther allusion to the faults of which
he had been supposed to be guilty could be made. But
all this happened after his death. God willed that he should
die without the satisfaction of seeing his innocence brought
to light, and of being justified in the eyes of the world.
It was at this time that the Pope established a house of the
missionaries of the Congregation in Rome in the Church
of St. Julian, not far from that of St. Mary Major; and not
satisfied with granting them this favor, Pius VI gave them
fresh proofs of his esteem and protection, by founding two
houses at Gubbio and Spello, in the diocese of Foligno, in
order to supply the necessities of his states. The F. presi
dent de Paul and those of Rome informed Alphonsus of
this. So far from remembering his own humiliations, he
experienced the greatest joy at these tidings, and although
he had before been opposed to an establishment in Rome,
now that the will of the Pope was plainly expressed on the
subject, he testified as much satisfaction as if it had been
his own work, and as if he had been recognised as superior.
He wrote several letters of congratulation to those in the
states, testifying how much he rejoiced at their progress, as
well as at the flourishing state of their noviciate. " I hope,"
he said in one addressed to the F. president, " that God
will make use of you to increase his glory, and I will not
cease to pray to him for this end. I thank you for the Jive
Maria which you recite every evening for me ; apply it
specially for a happy death." He finished by offering some
advice suggested by his zeal, as to the importance of the
sermon on prayer and that on the Blessed Virgin, in the
missions, no less than on all other occasions.

514 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Those at Rome, whilst rejoicing at the opening of the
two new houses, wrote word to Alphonsus that the mis
sionaries had also been demanded at Ravenna. " Our bro
thers in the- states," he said thereupon, " are well pleased,
because they have got a new field of action. I am glad
that they are to have one at Ravenna; may they do
that which God wills; but you will see that Ravenna will
not take root. To conclude, I shall find pleasure at seeing
the progress of the affair." That which he predicted came
true ; all the negotiations as to obtaining Ravenna were
useless."

All this was very consoling to the heart of Al
phonsus, but it could not but increase the sorrow he felt at
seeing the houses of the kingdom cut off from the
Congregation. That this sorrow filled his heart entirely,
might be gathered from what he uttered during the delirium
of a fever, brought on by a vomiting of blood caused
probably by so man)i domestic misfortunes. " What," said
he, "are we not of the Congregation of the Most Holy Re
deemer? Do we not acknowledge the rule of Pope Bene
dict XIV? If we submit to the rule of the Pope, why are
we out of the Congregation?" At other times he said :
" We have the rule of the Pope, we have taken the vows
and we keep to them ; therefore why do we not belong
to the Congregation?" and again: " Perhaps they doubt
whether we do observe this rule, and this is why we are now
rejected; God wills it to be thus, let us have patience!"
As his state excited great compassion, he was told, in order
to calm him, that they were really Redernptorists ; he
then became silent and tranquil. It was observed that
during these deliriums he never uttered a word indicative
of the slightest dissatisfaction at what the Pope had done,
or against any one whatever.

During his recovery, several of the fathers, on their re
turn from a mission, went to get his blessing; Alphonsus
who had always this same idea before his mind, said on
seeing them : " I cannot make out how it can be said that
we do not belong to the Congregation of Redemptoristsj

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 515

since we receive the rule of Benedict XIV, and this rule
has been always kept by us, and is so still." "There can
be no doubt on the subject," responded one of the fathers,
11 both the Pope and the king designate your lordship as its
founder." " I do not wish to be spoken of any more in
this world," he replied, "but I wish it to be known that
the rule which is observed by us is the very one which we
received from the Pope, and from which we have never de
parted." On another occasion, having been told that it
would always be acknowledged that the Congregation ex
isted in the kingdom, and that the rule which Mgr. Liguori
received from the Pope was observed there, he replied with
agitation: "What does my name signify? what I care
about is that it should be known that we are subject to the
Pope. Let us bless God for all that he has done."

However deplorable was his situation, Alphorisus always
rose above his misfortunes, and never ceased to hope for
happier days for the Congregation. Once when they tried
to persuade him that it would never be re-estabiished again
as before, he answered : " I assure you that God willed and
still wills that the Congregation shall subsist in the king
dom ; I founded it for the kingdom, and it is for that God
has given me the vocation." He even, however he might
be cast down himself, unceasingly inspired the fathers with
fresh courage, by the assurance that they should one day be
re-united again, and that the Pope would restore his favor
to them. "Do not lose courage," said he, "Lazarus arose
on the fourth day; be faithful towards God, who can do all
things; let us pray and be resigned."

In the year 1783, it pleased the Lord partially to console
his servant, by the restoration of the privileges and favors for
the work of the missions. When the houses of the king
dom were deprived of the favor of the Pope, the bishops
shared in their sorrow. They were alarmed at seeing them
selves deprived of a congregation of workmen who took
such a part in their solicitude, and so most of them felt it
a duty to represent Alphonsus' innocence to the Pope, to
Cardinal Zelada, or to Mgr. Carafa, and to tell them the

516 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

sad consequences which would result to their dioceses if
His Holiness had not the clemency to restore these favors
to the missionaries of the kingdom as before. Mgr. the
pro-nuncio also, who had been charged to take secret in
formation, (though he had been very slow in acquitting
himself of his office, through an excess of prudence,) had
presented his report to the Sacred Congregation on the
17th of October 1782. After having represented the pain
ful position of the Congregation, which was in imminent
danger of being suppressed, he manifested the deceit of which
Alphonsus had been the victim, and clearly exposed his
entire innocence. " I believe," said he, " that Mgr. Liguori
acted in such a manner that his conduct does not deserve
the censure which the plaintiffs belonging to the houses of
the states have attempted to cast upon it; it must therefore
be worthy of approbation." He finally represented that
the preservation of the missionaries was indispensable to
the kingdom and to the welfare of its population ; and that
several bishops and other respectable persons had assured
him of the zeal and utility of this Congregation. " I think
it my duty," concluded he, "to beg and implore the kind
interest of their Eminences the Cardinals, in favor of the
re-establishment of union and harmony in this Congrega
tion, that it may continue to do the good for which it was
instituted by Mgr. Liguori, and which has caused it to
merit the protection of the sovereign."

This report of the pro-nuncio, arid the petitions of so
many bishops, could not fail to make an impression on the
heart of Pius VI. When therefore, Alphonsus himself,
strong in his innocence and confiding in the clemency of
the Pope, addressed a petition to him to obtain the restora
tion of the favors and privileges, the privation of which had
caused him the most distress on account of the loss result
ing to souls, His Holiness at once granted what he prayed
for. The petition was as follows :

" Most Holy Father : Mgr. Alphonso Maria Liguori pros
trates himself at the feet of your Holiness, and humbly en
treats you to grant to his missionaries all the graces, facul-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 517

ties and privileges conceded by the Holy See to tho
Venerable Congregation of Redemptorists in the Pontifical
states," &c.

This petition Alphonsus addressed to the Pope in March
1783, and on the 4th of April following, the Holy Father
granted to Alphonsus and the present and future members
of his Congregation, all the indulgences and spiritual favors
which the Redemptorist missionaries in his states enjoyed
during mission time, and in all other exercises of their
ministry. This rescript wounded the very heart of the pro
curator. Not knowing how else to thwart this favorable
decision, he forged a petition under the name of one of the
fathers of the kingdom, and presented it himself to the
Pope. It contained several questions, and a prayer that
the graces conferred should be specified. By this means
he hoped considerably to reduce those powers and favors ;
but this time his intrigue failed, and he was told that the
matter did not admit of explanation. Shortly after this,
God granted Alphonsus another consolation, viz: that of
seeing himself exculpated before the royal council, and
justified from all the calumnies and accusations with which
the procurator-advocate and the other adversaries of the
Congregation had loaded him. The senators declared the
missionaries free from all contravention of the royal de
crees, which had been the most serious point; and as to
the contested property claimed by Baron Sarnelli, after
having repeatedly heard the respective advocates, they all
with one accord agreed to represent to the king that there
was no ground for admitting the pretensions of the baron.
The royal council in consequence addressed to the king
on the 4th of February 1784, a report, by which they ac
quitted the missionaries of all the charges against them; and
a royal decree approved of this decision, on the 10th of April
of the same year, after the tribunals at Naples had been
occupied about these affairs for no less than nineteen years.

These two favors on the part of the Pope and the king,
following one another so closely, filled Alphonsus' heart
with unspeakable joy, and raised up the courage of his
44

518 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

desolate children. He desired that special thanksgivings
should be offered to God and to the Blessed Virgin in all
the houses for what he called a great miracle ; and a mira
cle in truth it was, but it was the fruit of the prayers and
penances of this great servant of God, and his unlimited
confidence in the protection of Mary.

When matters were thus tranquillized, various things hap
pened which were calculated to divide the houses of the
kingdom from those of Sicily, and these latter again from
those of the states. A chapter was convoked on the 15th
of October 1783. in the house of Scifelli, with the consent
of the Pope, and the F. president de Paul was elected rec
tor-major. Those in Sicily declared against those in the
kingdom, and nominated F. D. Blasucci rector-major for
themselves. Thus all hope of reconciliation was entirely
lost. Those in the kingdom, on the other hand, fearing
that they would lose their principal support by tne death of
Alphonsus, also held" a chapter in the same mouth at Cio-
rani, and elected F. Villani as the coadjutor and future
successor of Alphonsus. In the midst of all these new
difficulties, Alphonsus never lost the hope of seeing the
Congregation re-established under one head ; he often re
peated on different occasions : "Act uprightly towards God,
and God will not abandon the Congregation; matters will
be settled after my death." One day he said to one of the
fathers: "I should have liked to have seen things settled
before my death ; I have asked for it, and continue to ask
for it of the Blessed Virgin ; but it is not the will of
God. Things will be arranged, but that will be after my
death."

What he had predicted came to pass four years after he
had gone to receive his reward in heaven, through the very
orders 'of Pius VI, in concert with King Ferdinand IV.
The latter by an edict of the 29th of October 1790, decreed
that the missionaries in the kingdom should observe the
rule of Benedict XIV, and that their houses should be re
united to those in the states. Pius VI, on his side, restored
all his favors to them on the 5th of August 1791, and wished

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 519

that after the re-union one rector-major should be elected
by common consent in a general chapter.

When things were arranged as we have seen above, there
were a great many subjects who repented of their former
conduct, and addressed repeated petitions to be allowed to
return to the kingdom, and two of them in particular, who
had been the most obstinate in maintaining the separation,
protested that they wished to return and were content to
take the lowest place. They met with so many imitators,
that the president, on seeing that his houses were becoming
depopulated, asked the Pope if he could in conscience per
mit these transmigration's, and received a negative answer.
This last verdict was as the dregs of the bitter chalice which
Alphonsus had to drain ; though he received it with the most
perfect resignation. " If the Pope thinks so," said he, "I
also wish it. The holy will of God turns all that is bitter
into sweetness; the will of the Pope is the will of God."

But as God is not accustomed to leave his servants for a
length of time in tribulation without any consolation, so he
did not fail to console Alphonsus at this time. Two distin
guished subjects of Germany, John Clement Hofbauer and
Francis Hiibel, who came from Vienna, were admitted into
the Congregation at Rome as novices. What had made them
decide to join the Congregation, was the edifying conduct of
its missionaries, and especially the reputation of its founder,
Mgr. Liguori, well known in Germany for his sanctity
and his learning. These good Germans burned with a holy
zeal, and ardently wished to see a house of the Congrega
tion established in Vienna. The ardor of their zeal was so
great that they could perceive no difficulties in the way,
and looked upon the thing as if already accomplished.
This projected German house was laughed at amongst the
fathers. But when Alphonsus heard of the pious object of
the fervent novices he thought differently, and it caused
him extreme joy: "God," said he, "will not fail to spread
his glory in that country by their means. The suppres
sion of the Jesuits has caused those populations to be
nearly abandoned. The missions, however, ought not to be

520 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

like ours; instructions are more useful there than sermons,
as the people are living amidst Lutherans and Calvinists.
At the commencement they should be made to say the
Credo, and then the faithful should be prepared to abandon
sin ; these good priests will do good, but they will require
greater lights than they have. I would write to them, but
God does not will that I should have any thing to do with
it. My Jesus! humble me more and more, and reap there
from thy glory."

Partly in consequence of the last decree of the Pope,
and partly because he had not yet felt it right to acknow
ledge the Congregation in the. kingdom as forming an ec
clesiastical body, in proportion as the houses in the states
became more flourishing, those in the kingdom seemed to
decay. Whilst Alphonsus was consoled at seeing the pros
perity of the former, he could not see the others languish
ing and in lack of subjects without sorrow; and this sorrow
was increased by their great poverty. F. Villani repre
sented to him that the house of Iliceto was no longer capa
ble of maintaining the students, and that the other houses
being in poverty and distress could not give any assistance.
"Now," at last said Alphousus sighing, " all our houses
are falling into ruin. Ah! Lord, thy will be done, let the
consequences be what they may."

Alphonsus' humiliation and that of his houses was not
enough to satisfy the hatred of the procurator. The saint's
kind way of acting towards him did not avail to soften his
heart; in order to humble and distress Alphonsus still more,
he asked the Holy Father to specify in a brief the number
and the names of the true houses of the Redemptorists.
He succeeded, and in a special brief of the 17th of Decem
ber 1784, the Pope declared that the only houses of the
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer were those
of Benevento, of St. Angelo, of Scifelli and Frosinone,
of Spello and of Gubbio, and also the hospice at Rome
near the church of St. Julian. At the solicitation of the
procurator, His Holiness also declared that the house of St.
Julian should be regarded as the general and pricipal house

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 521

of the whole Congregation. The procurator had had some
thing still further in view in this petition. He was pained at
seeing the number of graces and privileges which the Pope
had restored to Alphonsus. He determined on taking the
cardinal whose office it was to draw up the brief by sur
prise, and, presenting him all the decrees previously issued
against the houses in the kingdom, he wished to cause him
to insert all that they contained to their disadvantage in
this last one, that is to say, that the houses in the states
were confirmed in the possession of the favors of the Holy
See, and those of the kingdom were deprived of them as
refractory. He had already written to inform a great many
friends of it, and had represented those in the kingdom
as having become objects of the abomination and anathemas
of the Holy See ; but some how or other he got afraid of be
ing discovered, and gave up this piece of deceit. Never
theless he did not cease to try to make people believe that
Alphonsus was imbecile, and even that he was out of his
mind. "Poor old man," he answered to a prelate who
being ignorant of his sentiments asked him how Alphonsus
was, " he is in a pitiable state ; his mind is so impaired that
he is no longer a man but a child ; and what is worse he
falls into extravagances. When he is spoken to about the
Pope and the affairs of the Church, he replies with emphasis,
that the Pope is the Pope, and the Church is the Church ;
in a word, he has so lost his senses that he has become
quite a child." He even went so far as to wish to deprive
Alphonsus of the title of founder of his Congregation ; and
not satisfied with words and false assertions, he tried to in
troduce into the Congregation of Rites the cause of the
canonization of Bishop Falcoja, (who had died in the od«r
of sanctity and had also worked miracles,) hoping to be
able during the proceedings to secure the glory of founder
to this servant of God, who had been the chief adviser of
Alphonsus at the time of the foundation. Such was the
conduct of Alphonsus' persecutor, and his sentiments weie
not changed whilst the saint lived. His hatred even fol
lowed him beyond the tomb; at the very time when God
44*

522 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

glorified his servant's sanctity by miracles, the implacable
persecutor wished to prevent his canonization, but his
odious conduct excited the indignation of the whole court
of Rome against him. Pius VI perceived, but too late, the
hypocrisy of this impostor, who went so far as to seek to
divide the cardinals and disquiet the Pope himself; how
ever, he was at length unmasked and seen through ; he
was forbidden to approach the Vatican any more, or to
enter the Congregation of the bishops and regulars. This
unhappy man's change of fortune did not produce a change
of heart or conduct. Alphonsus had predicted, on seeing
his prosperity, that he would one day receive a great chas
tisement from the hands of God. In fact, he fell ill in the
year 1801, and death overtook him suddenly, on the very day
when the sons of Alphonsus celebrated the festival of the
Most Holy Redeemer. He would not have any advice, for
in his madness he fancied he was quite well, and when it
was proposed to him "to receive the viaticum, he answered
that it was not necessary ; there was scarcely time to ad
minister extreme unction to him before the agonies of
death carne upon him, and he died striking his hand vio
lently against the bed, a prey to all the torments of despair,
without uttering a single word which could give reason
for hope as to his eternal salvation.

Some time before the fatal catastrophe of 1780, Alphon
sus was reduced, as we have seen, to a state of extreme
weakness, and seemed to have arrived at his last moments,
but after the blow which separated him from the greatest
part of his children, we may say that his life was nothing
but a prolonged death. Until this time he had never ceased
to preach to ,the people every Saturday on the virtues of the
Blessed Virgin, as also during the novenas before her feasts,
and on the .evening of Holy Thursday to describe the pas
sion of.Jesus Christ to the people in a most touching man
ner. On all these occasions crowds hastened to hear him,
and to gather, as they said, the last precious pearls which
fell from the lips of the pious bishop. In order to put a
•check on this admirable zeal, which could not but shorten his

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 523

days, the express orders of the doctors and of his director,
F. Villani, were necessary. But for all this he did not
cease to take the greatest interest in all that concerned his
missionaries and their labors; his solicitude appeared even
to redouble itself with the increase of his afflictions. We
have seen proofs of this above. When the missionaries came
home, he received them with open arms, and his delight was
to hear them give the recital of the good they had done, and
of any extraordinary conversions. "And I!" he exclaimed
in tears on one such occasion, " what do I ? I am useless5
nay, I am even a burthen to the Congregation." " The
others labor," replied one of the fathers, " and as you are
their founder, you take part in their labors." "Founder,
founder!" he replied with vivacity, " what am I but a poor
miserable creature ! I can only do evil ; it is God who
has founded the Congregation. God alone is its founder,
and I have only been a worthless instrument in his hands."
Admirable humility united to such an ardent zeal 1 The
same interest he took in the general welfare of the Church.
When any person came to see him from Naples or else
where, he forgot all his pains to inquire into the state of
religious affairs in all Catholic countries. He was incon
solable when he heard that religion was despised, or
the Church persecuted, or morals corrupt. " Unhappy
Naples," he one day said on hearing of the disorders of
this capital : " The Lord whom thou hast offended will not
forget to punish thee. God will not bear for ever, and if
his mercy is disdained, it is changed into malediction."
He often offered himself up in sacrifice to stay the anger of
the Lord. He felt such keen sorrow when the misfortunes
of the day were spoken of, that F. Villani was obliged to
forbid the fathers to speak to him of such subjects, espe
cially of the disagreement between the Pope and the states.
One of his principal occupations was to read those au
thors who avenged the cause of religion and undertook its
defence, thanking God for the zeal with which he inspired
them, as also for having caused him to be born in the faith
and in the pale of the Church, in Europe, and in that part

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS.

of Europe which is the centre of faith. He was deeply
grieved when he heard of any who were disposed to become
infidels, and his distress at hearing of the triumph of the
zealous Jansenists, as he called them, was still greater. But
not less great was his joy on hearing that the Jesuits were es
tablished in Prussia and Russia, and he did not cease to offer
up thanksgivings to God for it, as well as to magnify the
hospitality of the Empress Catherine. " People assert
that they are schismatics," said he, "but they talk non
sense. I know that the Pope recognizes them as members
of the Church, and protects them. Let us pray to God for
these holy religious, because their institute is a work which
is calculated to promote the good of souls and that of the
Church also. Schismatic ! What does that mean? Pope
Ganganelli was God's instrument to humble them, and Pius
VI is also God's instrument to raise them up. It is God
who kills, and brings to life again ; let us pray to him, and
he will not fail to bless vthem."

He heard that a religious of a strict order, who was
imbued with the spirit of Anthony Arnauld, was de
priving the faithful of holy communion, even for the
space of several years, on the specious pretext of want of
sufficient advancement in perfection ; and that he taught
his doctrine publicly, and was supported by others, and
that he had won over several priests and confessors to his
side. This news not only made him shed tears but enkin
dled also his zeal, and as he was unable to do any thing to
remedy this himself, he did all in his power to get his mis
sionaries to disabuse those who had been thus deceived,
especially the confessors ; he even wished that the Arch
bishop of Amalfi, in whose diocese this had happened,
should be warned on the subject in his name.

Although Alphonsus' zeal was fettered by his numerous
infirmities, yet he did not remain entirely idle. When the
spiritual exercises were given to the people in the house, he
was in the habit of having himself carried to the church on
the last day, that he might encourage the faithful to perse
vere in the grace of God. On one occasion, he determined

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 525

to give his accustomed counsels, although he had been bled
in the morning: he expatiated on the love of Jesus and
Mary, and preached quite a sermon which lasted for an
hour. At the end, he gave the benediction to the people
with a large crucifix. The effort he made in this re-opened
the wound, and the blood flowed in abundance whilst he
gave the blessing. While retiring, as he did not perceive the
accident, and it was not observed by those who supported
him, all the way as he went to his own room was covered
with blood. The faithful hastened to collect it, with reli
gious respect, striving to steep their handkerchiefs in it.
There were some free-thinkers there, and two in particular,
who were the sons of a notorious infidel, repented of their
evil thoughts, and imitated the eager crowd, carrying home
even the very earth which was reddened with the blood of
our saint. He was also in the habit of sending for the se
culars or ecclesiastics who might be in retreat in the mo
nastery, and of going through some spiritual reading with
them. He then tried to inspire them with piety and to con
firm them in their good resolutions, and he especially excited
them to devotion towards the Blessed Sacrament and the
Blessed Virgin: "If all those who come here," said he,
" only carry away a devotion to our Lady when they leave us,
that will suffice to save them."

He yielded also sometimes, as we have already seen above,
to the wishes of the nuns, who were always most eager to
hear him. He went to the Convent of The Purity for the last
time in the month of June 1781. He spoke to them of the
detachment we should have in regard to earthly things, of
the love we owe to Jesus Christ, and the filial trust we
ought to have in the Most Holy Virgin. His sermon lasted
for nearly two hours ; but it seemed to these pious nuns as
if but for a moment. When he left, they presented to him
a nosegay of flowers, which he refused, till he was told that
he could offer it to the Blessed Virgin, when he consented
to accept it.

At the time of the indulgences of the Portiuncula in the
convent of the Poor Clares, he went there in order to gain

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

them. The religious asked him to give them an exhortation,
and he spoke to them at length and with great fervor, on
love towards the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin
Mary, and especially extolled the religious vocation and
the strict observance of rule.

He was also anxious to maintain fervor among his own
sons, and seized every occasion to exhort and encourage
them, and never ceased to repeat and inculcate the maxims
of the spiritual life and of perfection, as he had done
with so much earnestness during his whole life. "It is
certain that God wishes you to be saints;" he said one day
to the young clerics who had come from Iliceto to Nocera
to receive his blessing; "I recommend two things to you,
obedience and poverty : obedience, were it even to the cook;
obedience is that which preserves us; he who wants obedi
ence is wanting as regards his duty to God, and God will drive
him out of the Congregation ; I also recommend poverty to
you, for it is that which unites us to God. I regard faults
against obedience and poverty as capital offences." Be
sides, as we have seen above, his infirm state did not pre
vent his holding the ordinary conference with the subjects
of the house every Saturday. The last he gave was in the
month of November 1780.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Alphonsus suffers great interior trials. The favors and
graces by which God attested his sanctity.

SUCH were some of the exercises of the ardent zeal of
Alphonsus in his retreat at Nocera. But whilst he had
the holiness of others so much at heart, his special labor was
to sanctify himself. He was constantly engaged in medita
tion and reading, and he was specially occupied with the
life of his advocate, St. Theresa, and with the actions of
the first heroes of the reform of this saint; and when he

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 527

came to any passage which he thought particularly worthy
of attention, he communicated it to those who went to sit
with him after supper, so jealously anxious was he, as he
had been all his life, to turn every moment of time to profit,
and never to lose one minute. Indeed, constancy and perse
verance were distinctive characteristics of our saint, no less
than a burning zeal for the good of souls. Thus he was
always most constant and punctual in performing the exer
cises of the community and his private devotions, as well as
in the observance of all the rules he was yet able to observe :
" I do not want great things," he often said ; " let them be
little, provided they be but constant."

His greatest trial under his infirmities was the anxiety
they might cause to others. If he asked any one to do
him some service, he made his request in the humblest
terms. As he fancied that it was an inconvenience to the
community for him to take his meals in his own room, he
determined to take them with the others in the refectory,
and would not yield to the reasons that were alleged
against his so doing, till he was told that his slow way of
eating would be inconvenient to the community.

He went out in the carriage up to the year 1784, as the
doctors, and much more the community, were most anxious
to prolong his life. But on the 19th of September of this year,
being then eighty-eight years old, an internal rupture took
place, which got worse by the shaking of the carriage, and
obliged him to be taken out of it and to have recourse to
the charity of a poor person who received him into her
house; he was placed on a bed, and remained there as if
he were quite dead. The surgeons succeeded in replacing
the intestines ; but he was brought back to the house in a
most alarming state. The doctors were convinced that
he required some exercise, and ordered that he should
go out in a sedan-chair. As soon as he heard of this, he
found a thousand pretexts for dispensing with it; but as
the rector told him that it was the doctor's order, he con
sented. The day after the first essay, he opposed a second
trial so much that the rector and the fathers united together

528 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

in vain in endeavoring to persuade him to |use it again.
"What!" he said to them with tears, "must I be carried
on the shoulders of these poor men ! The thought of this
made the going out yesterday more painful than salutary."
The fathers replied that people of this sort were used to
such labor, and that they gained their bread by it; but he
testified so much repugnance on the subject, that the doc
tors, in order not to distress him, made him get a wheel
chair to go up and down the corridors.

When he was thus freed from the necessity of going out
in the carriage, he sent the horses to Naples to be sold,
and on the 24th of September he wrote as follows to F.
Hilary : "As for the horses I send you, I do not want to
have any scruples about them : mention therefore that one
of them suffers in the jaws, and cannot eat either hay or
oats; the other, that is to say, the oldest of the two, suffers
from giddiness, and throws himself on the ground from
time to time, and his^ears must be pulled in order to make
him rise again. Explain all this, as I wish to be free from
scruples. " His horses therefore were not, as we may see,
over-expensive ones. One of them was sold for four ducats,
and the other for twenty-two carlins. Such was the end of
Alphonsus' pompous and superb equipage.

During this same year God deprived Alphonsus of his
greatest consolation, that is to say, he became unable to
say mass any longer. The celebration of the holy mysteries
had been most painful to him, especially as he would ob
serve the most minute rubrics, and make the genuflections
to the ground. As F. Villani saw that he became daily
more and more infirm, and that he had several times been
nearly unable to go on, he told him that it was the will of
God that he should abstain from celebrating the holy sacri
fice any more. As soon as he heard that it was the will of
God, and that of his director, he bowed his head in sub
mission, and on Friday the 25th of November 1784, he
celebrated mass for the last time. But though incapable
of celebrating himself, he did not therefore dispense himself
from assisting at the divine mysteries. Every morning

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 529

after he had heard mass in his oratory, received holy corn-
munion and made his thanksgiving, he went down to the
church with the assistance of his servant and Br. F. Anthony,
and was placed at the side of the altar: he staid there
without moving from his chair for several hours, and heard
as many as five or six masses. During the day he was
again conducted to the church, and prayed for several
hours before the Blessed Sacrament. Br. F. Anthony de
clared that he remained before the altar for at least five or
six hours every day. But it is impossible to describe what
pain he felt at not being able to celebrate mass.

Fresh torments however were reserved for him, for God,
who wished to prove him as gold in the crucible, gave him
up, as he did holy Job, to all the malice of the enemy of our
salvation. I allude to distress of mind, to scruples, terrors,
and perplexities, the martyrdom of privileged souls. A tor
rent of iniquities came to alarm his heart; he saw nothing
but sin and offences against God ; and he was the sport of
the temptations and illusions of the devil to such an ex
tent, that he lost all his peace and serenity, and thick gloom
overspread his mind. "Who knows," said he weep
ing, "who knows if I am in a state of grace, and if I shall
be saved ? Ah, Jesus, do not let me be damned! 0 Lord,
do not send me to hell, because in hell I cannot love thee."
"Ah, Lord, punish me as I deserve ; but do not cast me out
from before thy face." He had at the same time to endure
the rebellion of his senses, and continual thoughts of vani
ty, presumption, and incredulity. "There is not one of our
holy mysteries," said F. Mazzini, "against which he had
not temptations. At one time the devil would attack him
on one point, at another on something else ; but that which
most excited my compassion, was to see him attacked on
several points at the same time. I have been terrified
at his temptations, and delighted at his courage in sur
mounting them." His confidence in Jesus and Mary-
caused him to invoke their names unceasingly when he
was tempted by distrust. His temptations against purity
were especially overpowering. Concupiscence became at
45

530 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

times so enkindled within him, that he was no longer able
to distinguish the feeling from consent, and he then used
to break forth into loud groans and strike his feet against
the ground. During this time a priest who went one day
to see him, said to him : " My Lord, you seem to me to be
melancholy, you, who used always to be so cheerful."
"Alas, "replied Alphonsus, "lendure the torments of hell."
As he was often unable to resist so many assaults alone,
and was afraid of sending for the fathers Villani and Mazzini
too often, he was sometimes to be seen dragging himself
to their rooms, descending from the upper corridor to the
lower one in search of some relief, and when he could not
find either of these two confessors, he went to the first father
whom he happened to meet with. Very often, in the mid
dle of the night, when he was unable to sleep through his
temptations, he awoke the servant or the brother who as
sisted him, that they might aid him in dissipating his terrors;
and sometimes they were so violent, that he went to speak
to F. Villani.

His only relief was in prayer; but he often found no support
even in that. " I go to God," he one day said to F. Villani,
'•' and at every word I say, he seems to reject me. A fresh
storm assailed me this morning. I said ' My Jesus, I love
thee,' and I heard a voice, which answered : ' That is not
true.' " On another day when F. Villani tried to console
him, Alphonsus replied : " T hear a voice which says to me,
' thou hast abandoned thy God, and he has abandoned thee.' "
His chief reason for thinking himself lost, as we have seen
above, was because he could not remember having ever
done any good work and had been so very unfaithful to
God. "I have trodden under foot all my obligations," he
one day said to F. Villani, " I no longer say mass, I no
longer say the office, I do not do any good works; my
senses are rebellious, and I eat like a wolf; I cannot tell
how God can bear with me any longer." However, he
never ate without regret: "In the circumstances in which
I am," said he to F. Villani, "I ought to be vigilant in
mortifying my senses and my appetite." Many times, the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 531

fear of sinning made him suddenly put down his knife and
fork and stop eating. At other times he could not make
up his mind to take any thing.

His scruples and disquietude were especially great just as
he was going to communicate. His love for Jesus Christ
made him long to be united to him, and the fear of being
in an unfit state made him draw back. The celebrant
was often obliged to tranquillize him, and to wait till
he had recovered his composure. Several times he would
not have communicated if F. Villani had not arrived just in
time to make him do so. One day when he was greatly
disturbed, he remained irresolute until it was twelve o'clock ;
but when the cloud was at length dispersed, he exclaimed
weeping, " Give me Jesus Christ." But as all had said
mass, it was necessary to carry him to the church to enable
him to have the happiness of communicating. On a similar
occasion, after the storm, his desire of receiving his God be
came so ardent, that in order to console him it was neces
sary to take the Blessed Sacrament to his room. "When
will you come ?" he then kept exclaiming, " when will you
come, my dear Jesus?" Thus it was, that although rejected
by God, as it were, he was therefore only more eager to
receive him, and to converse with him in the Blessed Sa
crament. When he was the most assailed by his ordinary
temptations, he redoubled his entreaties to be carried to
the church, and he told Br. Anthony that the devil left him
in peace whilst there.

Whilst in this state of desolation, he did not cease to
welcome and console people who came to see him in
order to consult him in their troubles. One of his cousins,
who was a religious at Naples, was tormented by scruples
and temptations at this time, and wrote to ask his advice;
Alphonsus said in reply: "Your Reverence tells me that
there are times when you believe that you are lost; let us
console one another, for I am under a similar trial. Al
though I am so near death, temptations do not leave me,
and like yourself, my only resource is to gaze on the cruci
fix. Let us then embrace the cross, and remember always

532 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ dying. In this way
we have ground to hope that he will not send us to hell,
where we should be separated from him, and unable to
love him any more, which would make the hell of our hell.
Let us therefore continually say to him, ' Lord, cause me
to love thee, and then send me where thou wilt. I deserve
all sorts of trials through my sins; chastise me as thou
wilt, but do not deprive me of the happiness of loving
thee.' .... Although you are amid all these disquietudes,
do not forget always to recommend poor sinners to Jesus
Christ at the end of your meditations."

Alphonsus continued for upwards of a year in this de
plorable state, during which time, according to the testi
mony of F. Villani, his blind obedience and self-abandon
ment in the hands of God never once quitted him. He
had such faith in obedience, that as he could not always
have F. Villani in person when he wanted advice, he used
often to send his servant or the brother to tell him of the
object of his uneasiness. What consoled him the most
was to abandon himself to the goodness of God. One day
when he was tempted as severely as possible, a father said
to him, "My Lord, look at the crucifix, and say with me:
' In te Domine speravi." Alphonsus had no sooner done
so than he regained his peace of mind, and he went on re
peating: " Non confundar in ceternum." " My only resource
amid my distress," he himself said to F. Villani, "is to cast
myself into the hands of God ; he alone can give me peace ;
I do trust that Jesus Christ, through a pure effect of his
mercy, will not send me to hell." It is true that he recov
ered his serenity at certain intervals, but they were very
short. However, this interior desolation never caused him
to omit his devotional exercises; nay, his whole time was
consecrated to prayer and spiritual reading. He took at
this time particular interest in the life of St. Gregory
Nazianzen, and in that of St. Francis of Sales, as they had
both gone through the same trials.

The devil, not having succeeded in shaking our saint's
faith and virtue by all these temptations, strove to cause

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 533

him to fall into his snares by presenting himself before him
under the form of strange phantoms. One day he sent for
F. Corrado in the greatest haste, and said to him in extreme
alarm : "An enemy has been here who has thrown me into
a state of great distress; he said that I have no faith, and
that I shall be damned. I have not attached any faith to
all that he wished to make me believe, and I have not really
doubted. I believe all that the Holy Church teaches, and I
hope to be saved through the merits of Jesus Christ and
those of the Most Holy Virgin Mary." When F. Corrado
related this to F. Mazzini, he told him that Alphonsus had
for some time been tormented by similar apparitions, some
times under one form, and sometimes under another.

One day the devil appeared to him under the form of a
Napolitan missionary ; he began to converse with him about
his numerous works, and told him that every one was al
ways praising his writings, and was full of admiration at the
good they every where effected. At these words Alphon-
sus humbled and abased himself, saying: "I have done
what I could, but all the good is the result of the assistance
of God." " That is true," replied the pretended missionary;
" but it will always be said that they are your works, and
that you are the author of all this good." Alphonsus upon
this feeling some temptation to self-love, humbled himself
still more ; he recurred to God by prayer, and made the
sign of the cross, which caused the phantom instantly to
vanish.

The devil went to him on another day under the form of
a priest, and said : "After all your labor in composing so
many works, what have you gained ? All that you have said
and written is useless as regards yourself; you will be damned
notwithstanding all this, for there is now no hope of your
salvation. Something besides books and missions is neces
sary." Alphonsus humbled himself interiorly and replied :
"I have done and could do nothing good of myself; I have
no merit before God, save the merits of Jesus Christ and
the Most Holy Virgin Mary." Upon this the phantom im
mediately vanished.
45*

534 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

One day when he was tormented by the thorn of the
flesh, the devil came before him under the appearance of
one of the fathers. Alphonsus confided his temptation to
him : " 0 that is nothing," replied the impure spirit, "those
are natural feelings, to which one need not attend." Al
phonsus was seized with horror, and invoked Jesus and
Mary with so much agitation that he nearly fell from the
chair, and thus put the tempter to flight.

Another time he appeared to him under the form of a
gentleman who had been in his confidence, and for whom
he had great esteem, and endeavored to lead him to des
pair. Alphonsus, who felt no reason to distrust him, ac
knowledged his faults, but nevertheless said that he hoped
in the merits of Jesus Christ. "But what can you hope
for?" said the supposed gentleman, "or what have I to
hope for myself, if we are among the number of those un
happy beings who are- destined for hell ?" " Even in hell
T will love Jesus Christ ;" replied Alphonsus, "I do not
put my trust in my works, but in the merits and passion of
Jesus Christ." This put the devil to confusion ; he was
obliged to manifest who he was and to disappear.

But this generous soldier of Jesus Christ did not fail to
receive the consolations of the Lord from time to time,
even in the midst of all these alarms. His ecstacies and
ravishments were in fact more frequent than ever. A father
who happened to be at Nocera in the October of 1784, and
had several times the opportunity of observing him before
the Blessed Sacrament, testified that he some times fell into
such rapture 3 of love that he made the oiost animated ges
tures, in spite of the weakness of his body. At other times
the fathers perceived a ray of light which issued from his
forehead, and shone upon the book which he held in his
hands. A father once passing along the corridor before
his room heard him utter a loud cry. He went in to know
what was the matter, and saw him in an ecstacy, with
his arms extended and his eyes fixed on the crucifix, and
instead of the ordinary paleness of his face, it appeared
like that of a seraph.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 535

Alphonsus had a supernatural instinct which plainly
told him of the presence of Jesus Christ in his heart after
holy communion. F. Garzilli, who was ninety years old,
had communicated him one day as usual, but as soon as
Alphonsus commenced his thanksgiving, he said to the
brother: " F. Garzilli has not consecrated this morning."
The brother, astonished at this, hastened to inquire about it
from Alexis who had served the mass, and he found that
the father had inadvertently passed from the memento of
the living to that of the dead.

On the evening of holy Wednesday, Alphonsus was in
bed and alone, when the servant, who was outside his room,
heard him exclaim ten times over in a transport of joy:
"To-morrow is the feast, to-morrow is the feast of the
blood of Jesus Christ." Br. Anthony went in and found him
continually repeating in his joy : " To-morrow is the feast
of the blood of Jesus Christ." " That is true," the brother
said to him, " to-morrow is Holy Thursday, when commem
oration is made of the body and blood of Jesus Christ."
Alphonsus did not then say another word, rinding that he
had been overheard. The wonder in this was that for
aome time he had been unable to distinguish any of the
months of the year, and much less the weeks and the days.

One day he seemed quite joyous, and sending for the
students after dinner, he asked them for an explanation of
a stanza of a hymn by St. John of the Cross. No one was
able to understand it, when he explained it to them
with so much unction and such knowledge, that all the
fathers and clerics who were present were filled with
admiration.

Another day, when he was sitting in silence in his chair,
a brother who was in the room observed that in an ccstacy
he darted forwards towards the altar as if he wanted to take
or embrace something, and that he did so several times.
Br. Anthony then came in, and perceiving that his eyes
were turned towards the figure of the Blessed Virgin, which
was on the altar, he immediately took it and presented it to
him. Alphonsus seized it with holy impetuosity, and kissed

536 LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS,

it with a thousand acts of love. After some time he ex
claimed in rapture: "I cannot, I cannot separate myself
from the love of Jesus Christ."

Whilst he was being taken round the corridor, he was
unceasingly reproaching himself, fancying that he did not
satisfy his obligations. A father feeling compassion for the
state he was in, went up to him once to tell him that his
age and infirmities dispensed him from all, and that he
could supply every thing by one act of love. " By an act
of love !" Alphonsus repeated with emotion, " Teach me
then how to make this act of love." The father went close
to him and said: " My God ! I love thee with all my heart."
And Alphonsus immediately repeated : " My God ! I love
thee," but with such a sudden motion of his head, that it
struck against the father's chin, which was inclined towards
him.

An architect from ^aples came one day to Nocera, and
A.lphonsus asked him if the theatres were frequented in
Naples, and if his nephew, D. Joseph, attended them.
When the architect said that they were a good deal in
fashion, he was silent for some minutes, and then asked
with still more interest: "Are the chapels much frequented ?"
"Yes," answered the architect, "and you cannot imagine
what good results from this ; a crowd of people of all classes
go to them now, and we have saints even among the coach
men." At these words, Alphonsus, who was lying in bed,
jumped up suddenly and exclaimed : " Saintly coachmen
at Naples ! Gloria Patri, &c.," and he repeated this three
times. The joy which these tidings gave him prevented
him from sleeping the following night, and calling some
times for the servant, sometimes for the lay brother, he
kept continually repeating : " Saintly coachmen at Naples !
what do you think of that ! You heard what the architect
said: Gloria Patri! there are saintly coachmen at Na
ples."

Such were some of the holy ardors and the celestial fa
vors with which the Lord comforted his servant in his trials.
He was moreover also pleased at times to manifest his ho-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 537

liness. During an eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the moun
tain of Sonima, which is close to Pagani, threatened some
fresh disaster, to the great injury of the town. It was seen
emitting torrents of fire. The fathers were alarmed at this
sight, and hastened to inform Alphonsus of it. The poor
old man immediately dragged himself to the window, and
appeared filled with sorrow. They begged him to bless
the mountain, but he resisted ; however, on their reiterated
entreaties he raised his hands, and said : " I bless thee in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost." He had scarcely done speaking ere the danger
ceased ; the torrents took another direction, and the vol
cano emitted its fire and stones into the gorge of a valley
near by.

Theresa Desiderio of Nocera had a child of about eight
years, who had suffered from various serious maladies for
several years. A relation of hers took it to Alphonsus, and
told him how much it suffered. Alphonsus blessed the
child, and told him daily to recite three Jives in honor of
Mary. The child was cured that very instant ; he continued
to have good health, and afterwards became a priest.

A gentleman of the diocese of Nola had a son who was
deaf. He one day took him to Alphonsus to beg him to
bless him: Alphonsus did so, and the child returned home
entirely cured.

Whilst Alphonsus yet went out in the carriage, mothers
used to press forward on the road to meet him and to pre
sent their sick children to him, praying him to bless them.
His great charity caused him to stop the carriage, and while
the servant held the children he laid his hands on them and
said some prayers, after which he restored them to their
mothers safe and sound, saying to them: "Recommend
them to Mary." When these drives ceased, they brought
their children to the house; the servant then took them to
Alphonsus, who imposed his hands on them as before, and
they were healed instantly. Alexis, the servant, and Br.
Anthony declared that he effected thousands of such
cures.

538 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

He often also prophesied during these latter years. " Our
Congregation will sustain a great loss soon," he one day
said to the fathers, and shortly after F. Alexander de Meo
was struck with apoplexy in the pulpit, while preaching at
Nola, and died in the church.

A young Neapolitan, having come to Nocera for the re
covery of his health, went to see Alphonsus one day and
begged him to recommend him to God that he might obtain
a perfect cure. Alphonsus only said these few words to
him : " Pray to the Blessed Virgin to assist you to die well."
The young man understood the meaning of the words too well;
he returned to Naples, and in a few days had ceased to live.

One day Alphonsus suddenly aroused himself from a
profound meditation, and exclaimed : "A great calamity
will befall Naples in the year '99, and I thank God for
sparing me from witnessing it." He had foretold the en
trance of the French army into Naples, and the misfortunes
which ensued.

Another day a gentleman came to Nocera, accompanied
by one of his sisters, who said she had been possessed by
the devil, and wished Alphonsus to comedown to bless her
and to recommend her to God. When he was asked to go
and comfort her, he several times cast his eyes on the cru
cifix and the figure of Mary ; and then with a sigh said to
the Father who had come to speak to him about her : " Pos
session ! possession ! Tell her to make a good confession."
The young lady did so, and the evil spirit which had tor
mented her remained in the confessional.

One day he said to the fathers, as if he were awaking
out of a deep sleep: "There is a wicked intercourse being
carried on near this," and he repeated this several times
with signs of the greatest uneasiness ; but no one under
stood what he meant. He immediately sent for the priest,
and complained to him of what was taking place in his
parish with impunity. The priest was confounded, and
said : " That is true, it is a hidden disorder which I have
not yet been able to do away with." No one, however,
in the whole neighborhood knew any thing about it.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 539

As Alphonsus' body became visibly weaker day by day,
his soul only became thereby stronger and his fervor in the
exercises of all virtues more admirable; let us give some
instances of it. He was always submissive to the will of
God, suffering all his ailments without ever murmuring, and
the crosses, with which he was so heavily laden, never
caused him to commit the slightest act of impatience.
One day when he asked F. Villani some question, he wag
not able to catch his answer: "What can I do," said he,
" if God has also visited me with deafness? Blessed be
his name for ever!" One evening when he could not read
a passage of Scripture, he said in a cheerful tone : " When
one once gets old, one loses his sight and his hearing: if
this be the will of God, our best remedy is patience."

His humility seemed to increase as he approached his
end. Some sick persons presented themselves before him
one day to beg him to heal them. " If I were a saint,"
he said to them, "and if I knew how to work miracles, I
should cure myself, who am so crippled and worthless."
During his last years he used sometimes to go to the door
of the convent to get a little air; several persons used to
take advantage of this opportunity to ask his blessing; this
alarmed his humility, and he consulted fathers Villani and
Mazzini to know whether he ought to give it. They replied
that as it was a bishop's office to bless, it would not be
proper for him to refuse. One day a number of young
children came and ranged themselves before him. "Look
at these young sparrows around an old owl," said Alphon
sus cheerfully. Canon D. Gabriel Genga, the superior of
the Propaganda at Naples, went to see him one day: when
the canon asked for his blessing, he said "It is you who
ought to bless me, for I am your subject, and you are my
superior." The contest was quite a serious one ; at length
the canon yielded, but only on the condition that he would
bless Alphonsus as superior, and that Alphonsus should
bless him as bishop.

A spirit of obedience naturally springs from true humility.
He, therefore, although a superior and a bishop, always

540 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

depended on the local rector, or, in his absence, on the
minister, in regard to all his actions and wants. He did
not like even to move, I may say, without a permission.
F. Mazzini, when he was rector, had exhorted him not to
undertake vocal prayers. After this Alphonsus once felt
disposed to recite some prayers for the souls in purgatory.
" Go," said he to Alexis, " and tell D. John to bless as
many Pater Nosters as I want to apply to the souls in pur
gatory ; but tell him that I want to recite a great many, and
ask him to bless them all." But he carried his submission
to others much farther, so that Br. Fr. Anthony and Alexis
really made him do all they wished.

As he had taken holy poverty for his spouse, any thing
contrary to it made him tremble. In consideration of his
episcopal character, the rector of the house had allotted a
silver fork for his use, but Alphonsus only used it with re
gret. He employed some little address in order to get rid
of it, and tried to prove that it was not sharp enough. He
complained of it so often that it was at last felt necessary
to give him a steel one, "a sharp and good one," as he
said. He was quite pleased at this, and made use of it till
F. Villani, not thinking it suitable for a bishop, especially
before strangers, forbade him to go on with it. Alphonsus
did not say a word in remonstrance, but it was perceptible
how painful it was to him to make use of a silver fork.

One day when going round the house in his wheel chair,
he was taken into the library, where he saw a harpsichord
and asked what it was. " It is your harpsichord ;" was the
answer: " It is the one your brother gave to you." "Your
harpsichord!" Alphonsus replied in great alarm, "I have
nothing of my own : it was not given to me, but to the
community." If the food was not quite plain, he became
uneasy, and even refused to eat. He would have no other
fish than sardines at Nocera, as at Arienzo, because they are
of little value. "I am poor," said he, "and I ought to eat as
the poor do." One day when a rare fruit was served up to
him, which he had heard was sold at a very high price in Na
ples, he took it in his hands and looked at it, but nothing the

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 541

servant could do could persuade him to eat it. One day,
it was the 25th of October 1786, he ate nothing at all ; as
he had had no relish for any kind of nourishment for some
time, a mullet was prepared for him. He asked what it
was, and the servant afraid of the consequences of telling
him, replied, " It is some fish." Alphonsus did not venture
to touch it in such uncertainty. " Tell him it is a mullet,"
said one of the fathers, "and then he will eat it." It was
just the contrary; at the very name, he exclaimed "Take
away this dish — take it away, it is not fit for the poor."
The servant cut it in pieces and put vinegar with it, and
then served it up to him as another dish ; but Alphonsus
discovered it and sent it away. He was then given some
blanc-mange, under the pretext that it was a dish which
the poor use. Alphonsus tasted it, but finding what it
really was, he also sent that away; and as it was a Wednes
day, he would not eat any fruit either, so he remained
fasting. Another lime, as it was observed that he had
scarcely eaten any thing, a little piece of Spanish bread was
presented to him: he looked at it, but would riot take it;
and as the servant urged him to take it, he replied: "I
never ate it even in the world, and do you wish me to eat
it in the monastery ! "

Far from making any complaints when he was badly
served, he even then returned thanks with humility. As
he fancied it was a trouble to the brother and the servant
to draw him about in his wheel chair, he never used it
without regret. He wanted to dispense with this comfort
altogether, but the orders of the doctors and of F. Villani
prevented his doing so. He also thought that the noise of
the wheels might incommode the others during the time of
silence and study, and so he was not satisfied till the wheels
were covered with leather.

As to modesty, he was so particular in this regard, that
he would not even allow his nails to be cut, and it often
required the express orders of the doctors and of his di
rector to make hirn consent to have his wounds dressed-
When he used to go to the church, whenever people
46

542 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

pressed around him, he took care to wrap his handkerchief
around his hand to prevent women from kissing it ; and as to
his eyes, one day when he was conversing on purity with
the missionary priest established at Nocera, (whom he went
sometimes to visit, as we said above,) he said to him :
"Even I, old as I am, am obliged to walk with my eyes
down in coming merely from St. Michael's, in order to pre
vent temptations against holy purity. Some use no control
over their eyes, and yet they wonder that they are tempted."
With regard to mortification, Alphonsus cherished it to
his last days. One day he had unthinkingly manifested a
wish to have some little cakes ; the brother at once had them
procured for him, but nothing would make him eat them
when they were brought to him. The doctors ordered rai
sins to be put in his soup, but as he liked them, he carefully
put them aside when he found them; he even forbade them to
be served up to him again, but F. Villani commanded him
to take them. On Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, he
did all he could in order to abstain from meat, although he
had a dispensation to eat it from the doctors and his con
fessor. One day some livers of fowls were served up to him;
as he thought it to be Wednesday, he wanted to send them
away, pretending he had no relish for them, and saying:
"Meat does not suit my stomach." When the brother
urged him, he said : " It is Wednesday to-day, arid I keep
it because I wear the scapular." The brother told him he
was mistaken, it being Tuesday; he then began to eat them,
and his stomach felt no further repugnance. He also had
made it a rule not to eat fruit when it first came in season,
and he never touched it even when a nonagenarian. Some
cherries just ripe were one day put before him, but as it
was on a Saturday he had a double reason for abstaining
from them; he examined them, and put them down again,
saying: "I will not eat them, they are not ripe" — and
when efforts were made to get him to eat them, he said : "I
will not, they might disagree with me." So he did with
the first of grapes and other fruits. From the time he en
tered into religion he never drank any thing on Saturdays,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 543

either at meals, or throughout the whole course of the day;
and he kept this practice up until he was eighty-eight years
of age. At this period, the doctors ordered that he should
daily take a cup of cold chocolate. He would not take it
on Saturdays, and it was necessary to have recourse to F.
Villarii.

All dishes were insipid to him if they were not seasoned
with the salt of mortification. His pocket was always filled
with bitter herbs, which were dried and often reduced to
powder, and it was with these aromatics that he continued
to season all his food, as he had done throughout his life ; he
even put the fruit he took in salt, in order to mortify his
palate. For some years he had been in the habit of taking
two small glasses of wine before going to bed, in order to
obtain some rest; but latterly he did without it, and in or
der to conceal this mortification, he said : "A little water is
better than all the cordials in the world." In fact, he had
such an avidity for mortification that he was constantly
complaining, saying that he led an easy life and did no
penance. " It is not thus the saints lived," he often said
with sorrow. As he could not crucify his flesh by instru
ments of penance as he would have liked to do, he found
an expedient by which he could do continual penance ; it
was the motionless position in which he remained in his
chair from morning to night. The servant one day seeing
him placed in an uncomfortable manner, said to him:
"Move a little, my Lord, for you are in an awkward posi
tion." But Alphonsus replied ; " What is the use of my
moving? I am always crooked." His apparent insensibility
while in this attitude caused him to appear more like a block
of marble than a living being: and he practised this heroic
act of penance during the twenty years his illness lasted,

Charity, also, that noble bond which unites all virtues
together, was in Alphonsus both the foundation and the
summit of his perfection, and in all his actions he only had
union with God in view. " By the mercy of Jesus Christ,"
he one day said to F. Villani, "I do not feel attached to
anything." His transports of love towards God were so

I

544 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS

frequent, that it seemed as if he formed but one act of love
from morning till night. Notwithstanding all the weakness
produced by his maladies, he still always performed the
smallest practices of religion ; he never even took the least
nourishment without blessing it. His respect for the
holy sacrifice always impelled him to cast himself on his
knees at the consecration, until F. Villani forbade him
to do it. After he had communicated, he lost all control
over himself; he entered into a sweet ecstacy, and often
repeated in an audible tone, "My love, my God! O my
Mother, love him for me." His delight in his retreat at
Nocera was, as we have seen above, to remain almost all
day before the Blessed Sacrament. In October 1784, on
the last day of the novena of St. Theresa, which he had
made with the people, he entered into a long ecstacy,
and continually repeated : " 0 eternal love, I love thee."
As F. Villani saw with regret that these transports of love
attracted general attention, he tried to persuade him that
his health no longer permitted him to go to the church.
He submitted ; but this privation was the greatest he had
to endure. When the time when he had been accustomed
to be taken there arrived, he testified the most incredible
desire to go as he had been used to do : he dragged
himself to the staircase, and tried to descend it, and not
being able to do so went away again quite in affliction.
When he made his visit in his oratory, it w.as with lighted
candles on the altar, though the Blessed Sacrament was
not kept there; and his heart supplied him with the most
tender sentiments of adoration, love and confidence,
which he expressed in a loud voice.

When he was taken round in his chair, he often said:
"Let us go to the church, let us visit Jesus Christ;" and
he had often quite animated disputes on this head with the
servant and the brother. Even in his sleep he dreamed only
of the Blessed Sacrament and the Most Holy Virgin, and
made the most affecting aspirations. A cleric once entered
his room whilst he was asleep, and found him dreaming
and saying: " How lovely art thou, O Mary ! how beautiful

LTFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 545

thou art, O Mary! how beautiful art thou, my Jesus!"
Another time he heard him repeat : " I wish to please God,
even if the whole world were to be overthrown ; I ever wish
to please my God."

One evening when he was in a fever, he exclaimed in
his delirium : " I cast myself into the arms of Jesus Christ,
I die without uneasiness, and I believe that I shall be saved
by the merits of Jesus Christ and my Mother Mary ; yes, I
hope to go to thank them in Paradise." His affection for
Jesus crucified was very ardent; his image was always
before his eyes, and his acts of love towards Jesus on the
cross never ceased. The way of the cross, as we said
above, he daily performed in a corridor of the house ; he
continued this devotion say to the age of eighty-eight, when
he was forbidden to practice it any more, and after that he
never omitted to perform it in spirit in his room before a
large crucifix. In a word, his meditations never had any
other object, he himself asserted, than the passion of Jesus
Christ.

His love towards the Most Holy Virgin Mary became
more ardent than ever in his latter years. He never ne
glected an opportunity of rendering homage to her. As
long as he was able to walk, he could be seen making an
offering of two fowls to the Blessed Virgin during the
Octave of Easter and on the last Sunday of July, when the
miraculous statue called of our Lady of the fowls was car
ried in procession ; it being the custom at Nocera to carry
it about at that time, and to deposit fowls at its feet. He
never omitted to say an Jive before his meals and his other
actions, as well as when he heard the clock strike. After
the J^ngelus, which he never omitted, he always remained for
some time absorbed in the contemplation of the grand mys
tery. If it were on Saturday or Sunday, he took care to
recite it standing; and when others tried to persuade him
to remain seated, he answered: "One does not gain the
indulgences, if one does not stand." The same thing took
place in the evening when the bell rang for the Deprofundis
for the dead. He continued to say this until the eighty.
46*

546 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

ninth year of his age, when F. Villani, in consideration of
the great difficulty he had in making these acts, ordered
that he should no longer be informed when they took place.

As the rosary had always been his special devotion, he
recited it several times a day with the servant or Br. Fr.
Anthony, whilst they took him up and down the corri
dor, never omitting to meditate on the mysteries. But
when F. Villani, in order to relieve him from all uneasiness,
commuted all his vows into the recitation of the rosary, he
was to be seen with the beads in his hand from morning to
night. It was touching to hear the altercations he daily
had with the brother or the servant, sometimes because he
had not made the intention properly, sometimes because he
had not distinguished the mysteries carefully, or they had
not suggested them according to the day of the week, and
then he insisted on recommencing afresh. One day when
dinner was ready, he fancied he had not finished his rosary,
and he resisted going to it, saying : "An Ave Maria is worth
all the dinners in the world." Another day when he did
not remember having recited it, the brother told him he had
done so; — "But," said he, "you forget that my salvation
depends upon it." One day in 1784, when he was in a
profound lethargy, Br. Fr. Anthony said to him, by the ad
vice of F. Villani: "My Lord, we have still to recite the
rosary." At the simple word rosary, he moved, opened his
eyes, and began " Deus in adjutorium," &c.

He was. besides, always, up to the last, careful to recom
mend devotion to the Blessed Virgin to all who came to
see him, strangers as well as those of the Congregation,
especially the novices and young clerics. "Be devout to
the Blessed Virgin," said he to them ; "he who is devoted
to her will be saved." He recommended every one to visit
her images, to recite the rosary, and to fast in her honor on
Saturday and on the vigils of her feasts.

In conclusion, we might say there was not even a sigh
which he did not consecrate to God by solemnly offering
it to him ; so that the whole life of our saint was truly full
of good works and virtues. To give a last proof of this

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 547

wonderful fullness, let us mention the number of good acts-
which he used to make before going to sleep; they would
have remained unknown, had he not caused Br. Fr. Anthony
to write them down one day in 1784, for fear of forgetting
them. They are as follows: Ten acts of love; ten acts of
confidence: ten acts of sorrow; ten acts of conformity to the
will of God ; ten acts of love towards Jesus Christ; ten
acts of love to the Blessed Virgin ; ten acts of love towards
the Blessed Sacrament; ten acts of confidence in Jesus
Christ; ten acts of confidence in the Blessed Virgin ; ten
acts of resignation to suffering ; ten acts of abandonment
to God ; ten acts of abandonment to Jesus Christ; ten acts
of abandonment to Mary ; and ten prayers to do the will of
God.

To his love of God he did not fail to unite, up to the
last, as he had done throughout his whole life, that of his
neighbor. When he heard that any one of his fathers was
ill, he was sensibly distressed ; he immediately caused him
self to be conducted to him in his chair, and as it could not
be taken into the room, he himself was carried in and con
versed with the sick person for some time. He inquired
about his maladies, exhorted him to patience, but above all
recommended union with God and conformity to his will.
He manifested this solicitude for all, and as much in regard
to the lay-brothers as to the fathers. Besides, he constantly
prayed for the perseverance of the just and the conversion
of sinners; he was seen to burst into tears for the latter,
and to offer himself a victim to God for them. In order to
see him look young again, it sufficed to tell him of some
extraordinary conversion. He started on hearing it, and
the satisfaction of his heart was then depicted on his coun
tenance ; and it sufficed to say the words "the glory of
God " and the " salvation of souls," to reanimate him and
give him fresh strength. But, on the other hand, he was
greatly distressed when he heard of scandals and offences
against God. Mgr. Bergame, the bishop of Gaeta, being
about to set out for Naples after a visit to our saint, Alphon-
sus said to him : " Now that you are going to Naples, I

548 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

entreat you to send for Father N., and to tell him from me
not to ill-treat souls, which have been redeemed by the
blood of Jesus Christ." This was a Jansenist zealot, who
caused him the greatest uneasiness.

We ought not to omit to record here two most precious
confessions which in these latter years fell from his own
lips. One day he was heard to exclaim : " Lord ! thou
knowest well that all that I have thought, said, done, and
written, has been for souls and for thee;" and on another
day, conversing with F. Villani, he let these words escape:
"I am a bishop, and I ought to tell the truth; I do not re
member having ever uttered a deliberate falsehood even
when I was a child."

CHAPTER XXXVI.
Jllphonsus' last illness and Death.

1 LPHONSUS was now in his ninetieth year; and the
JJL rectitude of his judgment and his presence of mind
continued to be admirable, although his humility and de
tachment from all earthly affections made him sometimes
assume an air of puerile simplicity. This was the case es
pecially in visits of mere civility, which now more than ever
were insupportable to him. When he was obliged to receive
such visits from persons of distinction, he knew how to get
rid of them speedily, whatever might be their rank, by
manifesting weariness, or making his deafness an excuse for
keeping silence, so that imagining he was imbecile, or in
a state of second childhood, they soon took their leave.
He acted however very differently with religious people
who conversed with him about things which merited his
attention. Two conventual fathers visited him in these
latter days. He was told that one of them, who had re
cently been ordained priest, wished to kiss his hand. At
the word priest, Alphonsus exclaimed: "A great dignity,
a great dignity is the sacerdotal dignity !" The priest then

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 549

recommended himself to his prayers. "I am a miserable
creature," said Alphonsus, " you must pray God for me,
who am on the eve of making the great journey from time
to eternity, and of presenting myself before the tribunal of
God." He said these words with such an expression, that
the two religious retired in terror, saying: "If his lordship
trembles, what will become of us ?" Two young fathers of
the Congregation, on being raised to the priesthood, went
to him to thank him and kiss his hand ; but Alphonsus,
through respect for the dignity with which they had just
been invested, kissed their hands, exclaiming; "Oh what
a great dignity ! Oh what a great dignity it is to be a priest !
you are now exalted above sovereigns, kings, and emperors."
Counsellor Gaetan' Celano came to see him in October
1786, with his wife and the Marquis of St. Lucia. He re
ceived these distinguished guests with all due considera
tion, especially as he considered himself under great obli
gations to the counsellor, who had always supported him
and his Congregation at Naples under the most embarrassing
circumstances. He turned the conversation, to render it
profitable to them, upon the duties of the marriage state,
and strongly exhorted them to have but one will, assuring
them that their happiness depended upon it.

He showed a great degree of strength of mind and
memory in all the most important and difficult affairs of
the Congregation, as well as in other affairs about which he
was consulted or on which he had to decide, of which
many instances are on record. Nor did the Lord cease to
communicate his favors to him. In December 1786, D.
Fr. Tortora, his physician, being taken ill, sent to beg him
to recommend him to God. He said an Jive Maria to the
Blessed Virgin and recited the litanies, after which he said
at once without any hesitation : " he will die." The illness
did not appear to be mortal, but three days afterwards D.
Francis Tortora, though contrary to all expectations, had
passed into eternity. The F. Master Caputo, the president
of the seminary at St. Agatha in Alphonsus' time, was
taken ill at Naples. Alphonsus was informed of it that he

550 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

might recommend him to God. Some days afterwards, on
the 8th of October 1786, at about four o'clock in the after
noon, Alphonsus suddenly turned round towards Br. Fr.
Anthony, and said: "the F. Master is dying." And so
it was ; this same day at about eight o'clock in the evening,
he passed into eternity after four hours agony. God also
revealed to him about this time the approach of his own
deliverance, that is to say, the time of his death. In the
month of September 1786, a Carmelite father came to see
him, as he was in the habit of doing every year, when Al
phonsus said to him : " F. Joseph, we shall not see each
other again next year." At a later period, on the 16th of
July 1787, he turned to Br. Fr. Anthony, and said to him
in quite a joyful tone : "Brother, I have a new function to
perform." He spoke of his death and funeral. The mys
tery was understood when he was attacked by a violent
dysentery during the night of the 18th of the same month.
On the morning of tlie 19th, after he had assisted at mass
and received the holy communion, he was attacked by a
fever. In the after part of the next day, he fell into such
a state of weakness and prostration, that he seemed as if
he were just going to expire. He was, however, able to
take some nourishment, and after having recovered some
strength, he slept during a part of the following night. As
soon as his death drew near, all his scruples vanished, and
his serenity never again left him throughout the whole of
his painful illness.

Towards eight o'clock on the morning of the 22d, as he
was still in full possession of his intellectual faculties, he
was asked if he would like to hear mass and to communi
cate ; he replied, " Make haste. " When he was told that
mass had commenced, he made the sign of the cross as
usual and repeated : "Make haste." At the reception of
the blood he was no longer quite himself, but being told
that he must then communicate, he recovered his senses,
communicated, and continued to make acts of love towards
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. He was quite calm and
serene until the evening, but fever then seized him again,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

551

and he became delirious. He became worse on the night
of the 23d. As soon as it was day-light, he was told that
it was time to hear mass and to communicate. " Let them
make haste," he replied in a state of great prostration.
On seeing that there was a delay, he repeated several
times over: "Will they not then give me communion?"
but when the time arrived for giving it to him, he had
lost his senses. The doctor was summoned, who gave
him over. He was then told to prepare for exteme unction ;
but he answered: "I do not understand." At length, as
he saw that he did not receive communion, he said and re
peated : "I wish to have his body." His wishes were not
satisfied, for fear that he had not sufficient consciousness.
After extreme unction had been administered to him, F.
Villani told him to bless the whole Congregation ; but al
though he repeated it over to him, lie did riot understand
him. F. Villani then told him that he must bless the Con
gregation as bishop and as superior, in obedience to the
names of Jesus and Mary; on hearing the word obedience,
he became quite collected, raised his hand and gave the
wished-for benediction.

When the extreme danger in which Alphorisus was had
become known in the town and neighboring villages,
gentlemen, religious, and priests hastened to visit him
daily; Mgr. Sanfelice especially, never once omitted to
come : and prayers were offered for him in all the monas
teries and all the churches. When the sad news was re
ceived in the houses of the Congregation, it caused general
lamentation, and all the rectors, accompanied by all the sub
jects who were not wanted in the houses, set out to see him
and receive his blessing. They all arrived within three days,
even those of Benevento and St. Angelo. As soon as the
saintly old man perceived them he maifested much pleasure,
and blessed them with the sign of the cross.

On the morning of the 27th, as he seemed a little relieved,
a second mass was celebrated towards seven o'clock in
order to communicate him, but it was perceived that all his
physical strength had abandoned him, though on hearing

552 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

that mass was being celebrated and that he was going to
receive Jesus Christ, he had testified extreme joy. After
some time, lie himself asked for his rosary, and he felt about
with his hand here and there as if to find it. It was given
to him, and although he had lost his senses, he went through
it in a stammering way, but what he said was unintelligible.
As he continued in the same state, the doctors wished him
to swallow some bark with lemonade ; after he had taken
two or three spoonfuls, he did riot want to have any more.
But he was told that the doctor required it, and that he
must take more under obedience. At the words doctor
and obedience, he instantly opened his mouth ; he then held
out his hand to the doctor, who had asked to feel his pulse,
saying: " Here I am, 0 my God." He also wished to feel
his feet, but as soon as he perceived this, he exclaimed :
" Do not touch me," and drew back his legs. Although
he was burning through the extreme heat of the weather,
his love for modestyvnever allowed him to be at all unco
vered : one day when the covering was a little displaced
in order to wash him, he exclaimed in a tone of complaint
to the servant Alexis: "They have uncovered me, is not
that sinful?"

As he was every where held in very great veneration,
when it became generally known that he was dying, it
would be difficult to believe how many demands for relics
of him were made even from distant places. The linen
which was sent to be washed at this lime was either riot
sent back to the house, or was returned only in fragments.
Handkerchiefs full of rosaries and other objects of devotion
were brought continually, with the request that they might
touch his body.

His state underwent little change during the 23d. As it
was observed that his mind seemed more alive in the even
ing, he was asked if he wished for communion. At this
proposition he started for joy, and when he was told that
the time was come, he joyously exclaimed several times:
" Come, my dear Jesus." He also made many acts of de
sire, and manifested a saintly eagerness by his gestures. He

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 553

wanted the acts of thanksgiving to be suggested to him :
this was done, and he listened and stammered them out,
but without any body's being able to make out the words.
He was then asked to bless all who were present in the
name of Jesus Christ; he then raised his hand and blessed
them all in a perfectly collected manner. He became
delirious again later in the evening.

Several votive masses were said in his room on the morn
ing of the 24th. Very early in the morning he repeated
with great urgency: "Give me Jesus Christ." The acts
of desire which he made, and his impatience to be soon
consoled, drew tears from the eyes of all who were present;
he was satisfied, and after having communicated he remained
in a state of recollection, and made acts of love and thanks
giving. As fever came on again, his strength was once
more prostrated, and he lost the use of his faculties, but
when a father suggested to him to recite the Jive Maria
and to have recourse to the Blessed Virgin, he moved his
lips and recited the angelical salutation by himself, and
turned to the father to know if he had said it properly ; he
then continued to stammer through the rosary.

When it became known at Naples that Alphonsus was
dying, the grief was general. All the nuns interested
themselves about his state, and many religious followed
their example ; amongst others, the fathers of the Oratory, of
the Pious Works, and of the Holy Family. The superior of
the Congregation of Apostolical Missions, in concert with
the superior of that of the Conference, hastened to inform all
their subjects of it. The town and the diocese of St. Aga
tha also displayed their attachment to their former bishop.
Prayers were said for him throughout the diocese, and the
Blessed Sacrament was exposed at mass in the 'cathedral
on the morning after the news had arrived. Several bishops
who were his friends, also offered up the holy sacrifice and
got their flocks to pray for him.

D. Joseph had at once left Naples and come to see him,
accompanied by his wife and her uncle, the Prince of Pol-
leca. They asked for his blessing, but there was much
47

554 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

difficulty in making him understand who they were and
what they wanted ; however, he raised his hand and blessed
them. D. Joseph asking him to give him some good ad
vice, he answered : " Save your soul." On seeing they did
not go, he said to them : " Be satisfied, it is finished ; you
can go now."

The devil could not leave Alphonsus in peace. On the
morning of the 25th, whilst mass was being celebrated, he
said : " He who sins is the enemy of God." As the father
saw he was tempted, he interrupted the mass and exhorted
him to confide in the merits of Jesus Christ, and to have
recourse to the Most Holy Virgin Mary ; he then breathed
freely again, and regained his serenity. He was tempted
again towards the evening, and said : " Do you wish to
make me despair? " The same father immediately reminded
him of the passion of Jesus Christ and of Mary. When he
heard of the merits of Jesus and Mary, he opened his eyes
and listened attentively, and repeated distinctly the acts
suggested to him. He then asked, " What can I do in
order to merit?" and receiving for answer: " Do the will
of God," he remained silent, and at intervals was seen to
fix his eyes on the picture of our Lady of Sorrows.

Such great faintness came on about seven o'clock, that
it was believed that the hour of his agony was approaching.
The prayers for the dying were commenced, and he received
the absolution. Whilst this took place he recovered his
senses, gave his blessing, as he had been asked to do, to the
doctor, the brother, and the servant, as also to all the houses
and subjects of the Congregation. He was also reminded
of the houses in the states which had caused him so much
sorrow, and he raised his hand twice and blessed them
also; and, as if the devil, like a skilful tactician, had seized
this opportunity of assaulting him, at the end of half an
hour he opened his eyes and said in a loud voice, so as to
be distinctly heard in an adjoining room: "I bless the
houses in the states." After an interval he was asked to
bless the diocese and the nuns of St. Agatha, and he moved
his hand to signify that he blessed them, and afterwards he

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 555

said in a loud and intelligible tone of voice, of his own
accord : " I bless the king, all the generals, the princes,
and the ministers, and all the magistrates who administer
justice."

The rector of the house then asked him if he wished to
receive Jesus Christ. Full of joy at this, he replied :
"Give me communion; yes, give me communion;" and
as it was some time before they brought the Blessed Sacra
ment from the church, he several times repeated : " Is com
munion coming?" On hearing a sound he opened his
eyes, and seeing the priest with the holy ciboriurn, he ap
peared as if in an ecstacy, and began to make many acts of
love, exclaiming in the transports of his devotion : " My
Jesus, do not leave me." Some time afterwards a picture
of Ven. Br. Gerard, to whom he had a special devotion,
was presented to him; after having recognized what it was
and looked at it for a moment, he said: "God does not
will that he should cure me." Mass being afterwards com
menced, he made the sign of the cross three times accord
ing to his custom, and distinctly pronounced the words
the third time. Afterwards, a picture of the crucifixion
being shown to him, he made a sign with his trembling
hand that he wished to have it. He then put it to his lips,
kissed it, and held it thus for some time, after which the
delirium returned again.

The large wound near his throat, from which he had suf
fered so much at Arienzo, re-opened during his illness, and
rendered his condition an intensely painful one ; but
through his patience and resignation this accession of suf
fering only served to increase the splendor of his crown.
Whilst in this painful state, God was pleased to glorify him
by a miracle. A canon, who had been suffering from a
complaint in the knee for three years, so as to be unable to
walk without crutches, came to see him on the 24th, but
he had scarcely taken leave of him when he felt that he
was completely cured, and said to two priests he met at
the door: " I came here a cripple, and I go away perfectly
healed ; I secretly applied his lordship's scapular, which

556 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

was on his bolster, to my leg, and now I am cured."
Up to this time he had tried several remedies, but without
any success.

On the morning of the 25th, the invalid was much bet
ter; he heard mass and communicated at day-break, after
which two more masses were said for him, but in the mid
dle of the second he became perturbed. Some acts of love
and confidence in Jesus Christ were suggested to him, and
he became calm again. Late in the evening of this day he
appeared to be so faint that he was thought to be dying.
The fathers hastened to aid him in his passage by their
prayers, and began to say mass about two o'clock on the
morning of the 26th. Holy communion was proposed to
him, but he did not answer. At the Sanctus bell during
the first mass he opened his eyes and looked at the cele
brant ; he aroused himself again at the elevation, looked at
the altar and moved his lips. He had a fresh attack at
three o'clock ; absolution was given to him, and the prayers
for the dying were commenced, but he regained his senses
at the end of the litanies. At a later period, as he mani
fested an ardent desire for communion, it was given to him,
and during the following mass he continued to make his
thanksgiving, although he was extremely faint. Some time
afterwards he asked for his rosary; it was given to him,
and his lips were seen to move while he recited it.

Among the many gentlemen and ecclesiastics who came
constantly to visit Alphonsus, was a great friend of his, F.
Samuel, ex-provincial of the Capuchins at Arienzo. As his
efforts to obtain the benediction of our saint had been in
vain, he took his hand and raised it upon his head, making
the sign of the cross with it ; he touched also one of his ears
which was diseased with it, and it was immediately healed.
F. Buonapane, of his own Congregation, had suffered from
an abscess in the throat for two days, and much apprehen
sion was felt as to the consequences ; in the evening he
applied a little piece of linen, which had been used in
bandaging Alphonsus' wounds, and the next morning the
father was cured.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 557

The 27th was a day of suffering to Alphonsus. At about
seven in the morning he was suddenly seized with such a
severe colic that he could not find any rest, and exclaimed:
"Aid me. . . . Unbind me. . . . put me on the ground."
During the violence of these attacks, he several times fixed
his eyes on the picture of the Most HolyVirgin Mary and said
in a faint voice, "My Jesus." Mortification had already
commenced. A poultice being applied, when he felt that
he was touched, he said in broken accents and with tears in
his eyes, "They have touched me." On the 28th, being
interrogated as to whether he wished to hear mass and to
communicate, he seemed quite joyous, and made a sign in
the affirmative. He made the sign of the cross before
communicating, and also made his preparation. He heard
two masses during his thanksgiving. When afterwards
preparations were made to rub him, he said quickly, "Do
not touch me ;" but he at last submitted through obedience.

As his mind was weakened and he was exhausted, he
wished holy affections to be suggested to him from time to
time; he took pleasure in them and repeated them in a
faint tone of voice. Mortification went on increasing, and
as his sufferings became greater they brought on frequent
spasms, which caused the fathers who assisted him to stop
speaking and to look on in compassion and silence ; but
dissatisfied that the aspirations were not suggested to him
as before, he asked with a remnant of strength which his
love gave him : " Have you no more holy thoughts to sug
gest to me ?" His weakness increasing, the blessed candle
was lighted and the prayers for the recommendation of the
soul were commenced. He recovered however his senses,
and a picture of the Blessed Virgin being given to him, he
opened his eyes, and joining his hands in a praying atti
tude he kissed the picture, and recited an Jive Maria in a
distinct voice. After this he seemed to be agitated, and
putting his hand to his forehead he said : "My thoughts.
. . . . Will you not Jet me rest?" At seven o'clock in
the morning he seemed again dejected : the crucifix was
presented to him; he took it, raised it to his lips, and
47*

558 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

holding it in his hands often opened his eyes to contem
plate it. A picture of Holy Mary was also given to him,
and he was told to place his life and his soul in her hands;
he then extended his arms to signify that he made the
offering, and looking at the picture, he pronounced some
words which were not understood. The following night
he was better than before, and he slept quietly. However,
on the following morning, the 29th, he was not in a state
to communicate. Whilst mass was being said before him,
he exclaimed: "What a number of foreign enemies?"
The death of Jesus Christ being afterwards recalled to his
mind, and it being suggested to him to make an offering to
him of his own death, he listened attentively, raised his
hands, clasped them together and moved his lips for some
time. He turned then his eyes to a picture of the Blessed
Virgin, and it being suggested to him to invoke her, he
said an Jive Maria in a distinct voice. A picture of St.
Joseph being also presented to him, he looked for some
time at it, and recognizing it, he began to pronounce some
words whilst keeping his eyes fixed on the picture of the
spouse of Mary.

A father beginning to suggest holy thoughts to him, Al-
phonsus said of his own accord : " Give me the picture of
our Lady." When he had it in his hand, he began to pray
to her. The death-rattle then commenced, which never
ceased till he was dead. A picture of the Blessed Virgin be
ing again placed in his hands, he kissed it, and slowly and
with difficulty pronounced the words of the Jive Maria.

His beard had become very long, and caused him great
discomfort. A brother cut it off as well as he could, and
Alphonsus seemed relieved. When the operation was
over, these few hairs were eagerly sought for and kept as
precious relics. He was extremely ill during the whole of
the 29th, and nearly unconscious; about nine in the even
ing it was believed that his agony had commenced. The
whole community surrounded his bed, and the prayers for
the agonizing were commenced ; but he came to himself
again. He was again asked to bless all the Congregation,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 559

and as he could no longer raise his hand, he moved his
head in acquiescence. On the morning of the 30th, several
masses were celebrated, and it seemed that he wished for
communion. F. Villani, however, would not allow it, as
he feared that he was unable to swallow the Sacred Host.
A Carmelite father came during the day to give him the
last indulgence of the scapular. It sufficed to remind him
of the sacred names of Jesus and Mary, or to give him a
picture of his holy patrons, to make him quite collected.
That of St. Michael being presented to him, he took it in
his hands and kissed it, and gazing on it, moved his lips
and recommended himself to the archangel. He also
opened his eyes and was heard to murmur whilst the acts
of faith, hope and charity were suggested to him. He also
took in his hands a crucifix which was presented to him,
pressed it with love, and three times endeavored to raise it
to his mouth, but as he was unable to do it, a father assisted
him to kiss it. At about eleven o'clock he took some
spoonfuls of milk; after that he refused all that was offered
to him. He preserved the use of his faculties during all
that day and the following night, although so very weak,
and was seen to assent to the holy affections which were
suggested to him, either by opening his eyes or moving his
lips.

At about two o'clock on the morning of the 30th, as his
agony was near at hand, masses were begun to be said in
his room, in the church, and in the oratory. A crucifix
was offered to him ; he opened his eyes, looked at it, and
took it in his hands. A picture of the Most Holy Virgin
was also presented to him, and he looked at it with devo
tion. At about seven o'clock the crucifix being again pre
sented to him, he looked at it with tenderness. At about
twelve he himself took into his hands a picture of the
Blessed Virgin which he had at his breast ; he kissed it and
pressed it to his heart ; he took it up again at about two, and
held it for nearly a quarter of an hour. Afresh attack came
on at three ; it was believed to be the commencement of the
agony, but he again came to himself.

560 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

The Blessed Virgin did not fail to assist and to console
him in his last moments ; it was a favor which he had ar
dently desired during life, and had unceasingly prayed her
to grant him. His prayer was heard. He became worse
every instant, but his peace and serenity were unaltera
ble. At about six o'clock, when he was being attended by
two fathers and held a picture of the Blessed Virgin in his
hand, his face suddenly became inflamed and resplendent,
and a sweet smile overspread his lips. The same thing
happened again before seven. A father put a picture of
the Most Holy Virgin before him, and suggested to him to
invoke her that he might have a good death ; as soon as he
heard the sweet name of Mary, he opened his eyes and
looked at the picture, and seemed again to have a mysteri
ous interview with the Queen of Heaven.

He was in a state of complete prostration throughout
the whole of the following night, but he was always
tranquil and serene/ He was quite recollected, and list
ened with pleasure to the holy affections which were
suggested to him. When the crucifix was presented to
him, he endeavored to kiss it. On the morning of the 1st
of August, when some compresses were applied to him, he
caught hold of the sheets in order to cover himself.

Masses were unceasingly celebrated, in the church, in
the oratory, and in his room, from one o'clock in the morn
ing, his children trying to do a holy violence to heaven to
obtain special assistance for the last moments of their com
mon father. He grew worse at half past nine. From the
early part of the evening he clasped the crucifix, and as
every one wished to have a crucifix which had been for
some time in his dying hands, a fresh one was constantly
substituted. The fathers continued to arrive from all the
houses, and, as he had always wished to die among his
dear brethren who would aid him to die well, Alphonsus,
like another Jacob, entered into his last agony surrounded
by his numerous children who were his joy and his crown.
He seemed not so much to be struggling with death, as to
be conversing with God in a prolonged ecstacy. No change

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 561

was observed in his body, no oppression of breathing, no
painful sigh ; but whilst holding a picture of the Blessed
Virgin in his hands, and amidst the prayers and tears of his
sons, Alphbnsus gently and sweetly expired, or rather he
tranquilly fell asleep in the arms of the Lord and of the
Most Holy Virgin Mary, at the very moment when the bell
was rung for the Angelus.

CHAPTER XXXVII.

The Ceremonies of the Interment. Many Miracles are
wrought through the intercession of jSlphonsus. The
process of his Canonization.

A LPHONSUS Maria de Liguori died on the 1st of Au-
J\. gust 1787, at about eleven o'clock A. M., and at the
age of ninety years ten months and five days. He was of
middle size, with a rather large head, and of a fresh com
plexion. He had a full forehead, pleasing azure blue eyes,
an aquiline nose, a small mouth and smiling lips. His
beard was thick and his hair black; he kept them short,
and often cut them himself. He was short-sighted and
made use of glasses, but never in the pulpit or when
he spoke to women. His voice was clear and sonorous;
however spacious the church might be, and however long
a mission might last, it never failed him, and it continued
thus until his last infirmities. He had an imposing mien;
his manners were grave and gracious at the same time?
His judgment was subtle arid penetrating; his memory
prompt and tenacious; and his mind precise and methodi
cal. He was of a passionate temper, but through virtue he
became a model of sweetness. His whole life was one
continual application ; but he was never occupied about
indifferent things, nor even about matters which were more
curious than useful.

No sooner had Alphonsus rendered up his pure soul to

562 LIFE OP ST. ALPH0NSUS.

God, than the fathers foreseeing the enthusiasm of the peo
ple, applied to the commander of the royal cavalry, before
ringing the knell, to have a detachment of horse to keep
order at the door of the house. When the body was pro
perly placed on a bier, which was surrounded by a great
many lights, in the part of the church destined for the
confraternity of gentlemen, his death was announced by a
little bell, to which all those in the other churches echoed,
as Mgr. Sanfelice had ordered. The whole town was
immediately thrown into a state of agitation, and crowds
of people flocked to the church ; nobody was allowed
to enter, and all had to be satisfied with having their
rosaries, scapulars, and other objects of devotion applied to
the saintly body. Several persons brought baskets of flow
ers, which they had strewed on the body, and then carried
them away to distribute them as so many relics.

When the fathers of the Congregation had paid their
last homage to their ^common father by the recitation of
the office for the dead, the fathers of St. Francis de Paul
and the Carmelite fathers sang the Libera together. The
missionary priests of the town then united together to
chant the office in their turn, which was also followed by
the Libera. During this time, a great number of gentle
men from the high town of Nocera arrived, with the com
mander and his staff. It was seven o'clock in the evening,
yet they had the greatest difficulty in shutting the door.

Mgr. Sanfelice had already made preparations to have
the funeral conducted in the most solemn manner possible.
He had settled that besides the chapter of the cathedral,
the seminarists and clergy of Pagani, and all the religious
and confraternities, should be invited to accompany the
sacred remains in procession through the town, with military
escort, to the Convent of the Poor Clares which is near
the high town ; and that after having consoled these reli
gious, as well as those of the Purity, by chanting the
Libera in their respective churches, the funeral proces
sion should return by the same streets and with the same
pomp: but the inhabitants of Pagani or the lower town,

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 563

suspecting his lordship meant by some pious stratagem to
transport Alphonsus' remains to his cathedral, strongly op
posed the execution of this design. When he was return
ing to the palace in the evening, they stopped his carriage,
and protested that they would not allow such a translation.
The bishop solemnly asserted that they were wrong in their
suspicions; but they did not believe him, and at eight
o'clock in the evening the crowd were still assembled and
in a state of great disturbance, and their minds became
tranquillized only when the fathers themselves went to them
and assured them that no such project was in contempla
tion. His lordship, however, fearing some tumult in which
the venerated body might suffer, altered the arrangements
he had before made, and determined that no invitations
should be issued, and that the funeral should be conducted
in the simplest manner possible.

On the morning of the 2d of August the door could not be
opened until after the arrival of a detachment of twenty
soldiers. An immense concourse of people of all classes
flocked from the adjacent places ; they all ranged them
selves before the house, protesting that they wished to
render homage to the saintly bishop and to have some of
his relics. Besides Mgr. of Nocera, the chapter of the
cathedral, the seminarists, the clergy of Pagani, the priests,
and, amongst the regulars, the fathers of St. Francis of
Paul and the Carmelites, arrived all of their own accord
to honor the memory of Alphonsus. The ceremony was
commenced by the clergy of Pagani, who sang the Libera,
in which the canons of the cathedral and the regulars
joined. During this time, as a number of altars had been
erected on the preceding evening, a great many secular
and regular priests offered up the holy sacrifice of the mass.

When all was ready, Mgr. Sanfelice arranged the proces
sion. It was decided that it should not enter the town,
but that it should go out by the door of the house, make a
semi-circle before the monastery, and then return to the
church ; the precious burden being carried on the shoulders
of the rectors of four houses of the Congrgegation, preceded

664 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

by all the clergy, and followed by Mgr. of Nocera, while
the gentlemen and troops of the town made up the rear.
When the body was deposited in the church, the can
ons chanted the office, Mgr. of Nocera assisting, and
mass was celebrated by D. I. B. Villani, who was canon
and vicar-general. D. F. Pinto, a canon and patrician of
Salerno, afterwards bishop of Tricarico, preached the fune
ral sermon. As the church was too small to contain the
crowd, care had been taken to place the pulpit near the
door. The catafalque was not very high, as the church was
too low to admit of it ; the body was raised about six
palms only from the ground, and this made it possible, after
the office, to allow people to satisfy their wish to kiss it, to
touch it with rosaries and to strew it with flowers. Br. Fr.
Anthony and the servant Alexis stood at each side of the
catafalque, and many mothers presented their children to
them that they might touch the saint's body. As they
could not seize on aliy relics of it, it being surrounded by
soldiers, every one enriched himself by carrying away some
flowers or rosaries which had touched it.

At this time a celebrated painter from Naples came to
take the likeness of Alphonsus, without the fathers having
sent for him. It was about eleven o'clock when he wished
to form the cast, and there was the greatest difficulty in
shutting the church. The body had preserved its bloom
and appeared as if alive. When the cast was taken off, a
part of the skin of the left nostril adhered to it, and a quan
tity of bright blood issued from it, which was"eagerly col
lected in handkerchiefs. When the operation was over,
the church was re-opened ; and in the mean time a multi
tude of gentlemen of the neighboring places had arrived, so
that all the ground in front of the house was crowded with
carriages. There were also whole communities of regulars
who formed part of the concourse. The fathers were insuf
ficient to distribute to all these devout persons pieces of the
linen which Alphonsus had made use of; it was said that
more than ten thousand people came to do honor to the
ceremonies of this funeral.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 565

At about seven o'clock in the evening, as Mgr. Sanfelice
saw what a multitude of people there was, and feared
some disagreement between them and the military, he or
dered the interment of the holy body, but it was not without
much difficulty that the soldiers succeeded in emptying the
church. Several gentlemen solicited the honor of taking
the body down from the catafalque. It had remained there
for thirty-three hours, and yet, notwithstanding the heat of
the weather, and the mortification which had reached the
flesh, the limbs remained flexible and emitted no unplea
sant smell. Mgr. of Nocera wished that an attempt should
be made to draw blood from the body. It was done, first at
the right arm, then at the head, and then at the jugular
vein ; but without success, as Alphonsus had foretold long
before his death: for, when it was related before him, that
as the body of F. D. John Rizzi after his death would give
no blood, the rector commanded it to flow, upon which the
blood at once flowed — he smiled at the recital and said :
" When I am dead, such wonders need not be attempted,
for I will yield no blood."

The holy remains were deposited in a leaden chest, which
was sealed with six seals; four of the town of Pagani, and
two of the Congregation. It was shut with three different
keys: one was given to the Prince of Polleca, who assisted
in the name of the nephews of Alphonsus; the second to
the regents of the town ; and the third remained in the
hands of the rector of the house. After these precautionary
measures, the chest was deposited at the left side of the
high altar, and the door of the vault was closed by a single
slab of marble with the following inscription :

11 Hie jacet corpus — Illustrissimi et Reverendisimi Dom
ini — D. Jllphonsi de Liguorio — Episcopi S. ^gat/ice Gotho-
rum — et Fundatoris Congregationis — Sanctissimi Redemp-
toris."

On the following evening a fresh concourse of people

and persons of distinction arrived, from Nola, from Salerno,

and other distant places; even from Ariano, which is two

days journey from Nocera. As they found that the body

48

566 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

was already placed in the vault, they collected some re
mains of the mortar which had been used in fastening the
stone, as if they were precious relics. Others, went away
satisfied with having been able to touch the stone with
their scapulars or rosaries. A great number of little child
ren did homage to Alphonsus' sanctity, by kneeling down
on it and kissing it with humility and devotion.

God was not long in glorifying his servant: signal favors
were obtained through his intercession on the very day of his
funeral. D. Angela Tortora had suffered violent and fre
quent tooth-ache for a great number of years; when Al
phonsus was exposed on the catafalque, she applied a little
piece of his vestment to her mouth, and she was instantly
cured. Another woman had been nearly blind for some
months; she had specks on her eyes and a great many
pimples on her eyelids; she invoked Alphonsus while the
funeral rites were being celebrated and was instantly
cured. There was a woman who had suffered great pain in
her side for three days; she had recourse to the saint, and,
after having applied a morsel of his raiment to it, she was
healed. The Abbot of Montevergine had a diseased liver;
he applied to his body a piece of the saint's clothes and
was also relieved. A lay sister in the Convent Delia Purita
had a sore on her leg, which had begun to mortify ; she
made use of a relic of Alphonsus, and was immediately in
a state to wait on the community. In the village of Car-
toli, there was a lady who had been for several years afflicted
with a tertian fever, accompanied with pains in the whole
body and obstinate vomitings, and she too was cured by
the mere touch of his relics.

Angela Oliviero, a nun at Naples, who was a former pen
itent of Alphonsus, and who had a great devotion to him,
was inconsolable when she heard of his death. But whilst
she was thus sorrowing, Alphonsus appeared to her in
glory to console her.

When his death became known at St. Agatha, the in
habitants of this town also resolved to fly to his patronage.
A woman of this place who had b'een tormented by pain in

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 567

the side for three days, had recourse to Alphonsusand was
instantly cured. Another woman who suffered most acutely
from tooth-ache, applied a thread of the saint's vesture, and
became perfectly free from all pain. Canon Lucca, who
had suffered from violent colics, had no sooner made use
of a letter of the saint than his pains disappeared. For
some days the brother of a poor woman had been confined
to bed by a high fever; he was ordered to take quinine,
but as she could not command the sum it would have cost,
in her distress she cast herself down on her knees and ex
claimed : " My Blessed Lord, come to my aid, for I cannot
aid myself." Animated with confidence, she took some
threads of linen which the saint had used and caused her
brother to swallow them. The fever instantly ceased, and
two days afterwards he was laboring in the fields.

We pass over many other similar prodigies, and confine
ourselves to the relation of the following striking miracle
which took place in the church at Nocera during the cele
bration of the funeral rites. For ten days Joseph Maria
Fusco, a child of rather more than a year old, had been suf
fering from a violent feyer accompanied with dysentery, and
all hope of saving him was abandoned. His aunt resolved to
take the boy to the church, and she did so in spite of the
opposition of her brother, of another relation, and of the
mother, who feared that the sick child would die on the
way. At first, the saintly body was touched with a rosary
which was afterwards placed on the dying child, and then
the mother, who had followed it, suddenly became filled
with great confidence, and begged Br. Fr. Anthony to let
her son's face touch the body, which was scarcely done ere
the child was cured. On the evening of Friday, the 3d of
August, his uncle D. Gaetan Fusco, who was a priest,
came to the house of the fathers and informed them of the
miraculous cure of his nephew. They had just then re
ceived some pictures of Alphonsus from Naples, and they
gave one of them to D. Gaetan. Having carried it home,
he sent for his nephew and held it out to him. After the
little child had looked at it with attention, he seemed to be

568 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

raised out of himself, and suddenly exclaimed : "Alphon-
sus is in heaven !" His parents were filled with admiration;
the little child became more animated and joyous, and re
peated, while pointing to the picture : "Alphonsus ! Alphon-
sus! The saint! the saint!" then after again raising his
hands and eyes to heaven, he exclaimed : " The saint is in
heaven! the saint is in heaven!" This unanswerable tes
timony from the mouth of a child who had never before
spoken, and was not even old enough to do so without a
miracle, contributed greatly to spread Alphonsus' renown
every where ; and as God daily glorified his servant by fresh
prodigies, crowds were seen coming to his tomb to implore
his powerful intercession, or to make offerings to him in
token of their gratitude.

Thus the Lord had begun, (according to the promise: " I
will glorify him who hath glorified me,") to glorify Alphon
sus in this world from which he had only wished to receive
contempt; and he ordained that he whose whole life had
been devoted to promote the Divine glory, should receive
this kind of reward in full measure. Besides the solemn
rites celebrated for him in the houses of his own Congre
gation, in the kingdom, in the pontifical states, and in Sicily;
magnificent catafalques were erected, and obsequies, more
like feasts than funeral rites, were celebrated in a great
number of churches and dioceses where he had either per
sonally given proofs of his apostolical zeal, or was only
known by fame and his writings. Cardinals, archbishops,
bishops, archpriests, canons, religious and nuns without
number, vied with each other in causing magnificent funeral
preparations to be made in their respective churches, and
in procuring the most renowned preachers to deliver dis
courses on the virtues and merits of the saintly apostle whom
God had called to his reward ; and on such occasions, the
concourse of the clergy, the magistrates, the nobility, and
the people in general, was every where immense, not to say
prodigious. At Amalfi alone, the expenses of this cer
emony amounted to more than a hundred crowns. These
solemnities, at which nothing was spared to enhance their

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 569

pomp, were in many instances illustrated by miracles;
God himself wishing thus to contribute to the glory of his
servant. Among others, at Caposele, a lady who had
suffered from a cataract for ten years, and had entirely lost
her sight, caused herself to be led into the church from the de
sire to obtain her cure. She was full of confidence, and raising
her voice before all present, she exclaimed : "Alphonsus,
I will not believe that you are a saint and in heaven if you do
not obtain this favor for me." Her prayer was heard, and she
returned home glorifying him who had restored her sight.
At Girgenti, in Sicily, there was a man who had been suf
fering from a great many infirmities for a long time, and
having heard that the obsequies of the saintly bishop were
being celebrated, he caused himself to be conveyed to the
church, as he could not go on foot; when there, he recom
mended himself to the saint, and obtained a complete cure
on the spot, which was visible to all present.

Persons of all classes and from all parts eagerly sought
to possess something of which he had made use. As soon
as he had expired, his room was completely pillaged : gen
tlemen and persons of the highest rank did not scruple to
carry off various things which their piety caused them to
covet. The cloak which was torn into pieces at Amalfi ;
the shirts and other articles of dress which were taken from
him there as well as in other places, and for which new
ones had been substituted ; the many pieces which had on
innumerable occasions been rent off from the borders of
his garments, when passing through crowds; beds in which
he had slept; the rooms he had occupied — were all reli
giously regarded as precious relics, and God worked by
their means a great many miracles. Among others, Mgr.
Puoti, Archbishop of Amalfi, preserved a simple girdle
which was quite worn out, but which Alphonsus had made
use of when celebrating mass, as a valuable treasure; and
as St. Anthony made use of the dress of palm leaves of St.
Paul the hermit on solemn festivals, so the Archbishop
made use of this girdle only when he officiated pontifically.
Canon Genga of Naples obtained one of the shirts of the
48*

570 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

saint, and his house was from that time frequented by such
a great concourse of people that the relic was soon divided
into a thousand pieces, as each one wanted to have some
portion of it. Amongst others, the Prince of Scilla carried
off the collar as a precious treasure. Sister Mary Michael
Grimaldi, a Dominicaness and one of Alphonsus' penitents,
of Lorrento, wrote the following lines to the fathers of the
Congregation : "All those who are ill beg for some threads
of his soutane, as the famished poor entreat for a morsel
of bread, and miraculous cures are every where effected by
them."

The town of St. Agatha being inconsolable at not pos
sessing the mortal remains of its holy bishop, by way of
amends a mitre of which Alphonsus had made use was
given to the cathedral chapter. When the people saw it
being taken there they all knelt down with uncovered heads;
then they hurried to the church to kiss it, being full of ven
eration for their precious relic. All the canons and the
clerks received it with the same respect: and the chapter
returned the most grateful thanks for this inestimable trea
sure ; which they preserved with the greatest care, in mem
ory of their saintly prelate, and in the certain hope that it
would one day become the relic of a canonized saint, who
would deign to be the special advocate before God of the
town, the chapter, and the whole diocese.

A print seller, by name Nunzio Petrini, anticipating the
great sale of likenesses of Alphonsus which would take place
at his death, had taken pains to procure one of his portraits
beforehand ; so that immediately after the decease of the ser
vant of God, the town of Naples and all the kingdom were
full of prints of him, which were every where sought for with
a holy avidity. The shop-keepers of Naples alone, asserted
that more than sixty thousand were sold by them. The
same eagerness for relics and pictures was manifested out
of the kingdom, especially in the Roman states. Even at
Varsovia, F. Hofbauer, wishing to satisfy the great number
of persons who wanted to have these pictures, got several
new plates engraved after the original at Naples. The

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 571

same thing was done at Venice, where every one wished
•to possess a likeness of this servant of God. At Rome,
several cardinals were eager to procure copies, which they
honored as those of a saint. Cardinals Zurlo and Banditi
were as eager as the rest, and placed his picture at the
head of their beds, as that of a powerful protector. The sov
ereign pontiff, Pius VI, was presented by Cardinal Buon-
cornpagno with a copy of the funeral sermon, composed by
Joseph Cavallo of the Congregation of Pious Workmen,
accompanied by a picture of the saint. When the Holy
Father saw the picture, he kissed it with devotion, and
held it to his forehead for some time with the greatest
respect, saying: "He is a saint, and I doubt not that he is
now in the enjoyment of the glories of heaven ;" he then
thanked the cardinal for the sermon and said : " I will read
it with much pleasure." It was marvellous to see how as
soon as one plate was worn out, another was instantly en
graved in a different style. Tramontana, the priest, alone,
had a dozen of these portraits taken at his own expense,
each one more beautiful than the last.

The miracles we have already related were but the be
ginning of prodigies without number, by which God, in re
compense for the charity his servant had exercised on earth,
deigned to glorify him by bestowing innumerable blessings
through his intercession. We will relate some of the most
striking of them. F. Francis d'Ottajano, of the reformed or
der of St. Francis, at Palermo, had been suffering since the
month of November 1786, from a burning fever and a pain
ful cough. In spite of all remedies the fever got worse, and
the sick man had already begun to spit blood and matter;
and four of the first physicians of Naples, who were con
sulted, agreed in saying that he was in an incurable con
sumption. On seeing that no hope of his recovery was
entertained, and that every one was afraid of coming near
him on account of his contagious disease, he went to the
house of an old aunt of his. He placed himself under the
care of two doctors, who declared, in the month of July
1787, that he was in the last stage of consumption. To

572 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

this serious malady was added a retention of urine. When
reduced to this extremity, the dying man, being animated
by the account of the numerous miracles of Alphonsus, had
recourse to his intercession, and said : " If you are really
dear to God, and if you enjoy beatitude in Paradise, obtain
for me that I may not die of this malady, which renders me
an object of horror." He promised also to offer up to him
a pound of wax every year, and to carry it himself to his
tomb. He had scarcely finished his prayer, when he felt a
sudden change ; and whereas all food had before caused him
to feel nausea, he now ate with relish. After this he had a
quiet sleep, and, on awaking, he was perfectly cured. This
was juridically deposed at Nocera, at the time the process
was arranged; and for a number of years the religious contin
ued to enjoy good health, and every year, in all weather, was
to be seen bringing his offering to the tomb of his benefactor.
In the same monastery, there was a religious who laughed
at the confidence which F. Francis had in Alphonsus, and
often teased him on this subject, going so far as to ask how
much the wax cost, and what use was made of it by his
saintly advocate. Alphonsus was displeased at this con
duct; he appeared to him one night, and said to him in an
indignant tone: "Audacious man! when will you cease
to laugh at my servant?" The religious, seized with terror,
replied that he had not done it with a bad intention, and
that what he had said was nothing but a jest. " People do
not jest in this manner," answered Alphonsus, and in a
threatening tone of voice, he added : " Go now to confes
sion, and never have the boldness to speak in this way
again." The religious was terrified; he instantly jumped
out of bed, and ran and cast himself at the feet of his con
fessor; the next morning he informed all the community
of what had happened to him, and took good care never to
' repeat his jests again.

In the year 1787, Vincent Cocca, a joiner at Foggia,
was wounded in the chest by a knife. The injured part
was cut away, but the wound remained incurable. He
suffered for more than a year, and there was no further

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 573

hope of his cure, as the doctors said that he was in a con
sumption. F. D. Joseph Stella went to see the sick man,
gave him some threads of Alphonsus' cassock, and assured
him that if he had confidence in him he would be cured.
• The mother of the joiner, animated by a lively faith, took
off all the bandages of the wound, and applied to it some
threads of the holy garment. It was again uncovered a
short time afterwards, when it was found to be healed, and
the skin had grown over the holy relic ; the sick man was
quite cured, and recovered his former health.

D. Catharine Biscotti, a Benedictine nun in the town of
Diana, in the province of Salerno, was attacked by a bloody
flux which caused her to suffer severely. After fourteen
months suffering, the malady got so much worse that she
had no rest day or night, and the doctor was much afraid
that mortification had commenced. While in this state,
she invoked Alphonsus and said: "Alphonsus Liguori,
show me that you are really a saint, as is every where pro
claimed. You must deliver me from this malady ; and as
the process of your canonization will have to be drawn up,
I promise you to bear witness to my cure juridically, and to
have a mass and Te Deum sung in thanksgiving." After
this prayer the nun fell asleep, and on awaking, she found
that she was perfectly cured.

For fourteen days, D. Julian Jourdain, procurator-advo
cate at the tribunal of Lucere, had suffered from a malig
nant fever, and from the ninth day he had been unceasingly
tormented by hiccough, and his death was expected every
instant. His disconsolate sister entered her chamber, and
there before a picture of Alphonsus began to pray, saying
with faith : " My countryman," (the family of Jourdain
came from Nocera,) "I, a poor stranger, have recourse to
you. You must spare my brother to me : I wish to obtain
this favor." After that, with greater confidence still, she
took the picture and brought it to her brother, who took it,
and placing it on his forehead, said : " My Lord, succor
me." At the same instant the fever ceased, and the crisis
was succeeded by a complete recovery.

574 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

At Foggia, D. Louisa Palatella, the wife of the lawyer
D. Francis Xavier Massari, had been pregnant for eight
months, when her child died in her womb. On hearing of
the sad state she was in, a father of the Congregation ex
horted her to have recourse to Alphonsus with confidence.
She did so, and on applying a picture of him to herself,
she promised to offer him a pound of wax, and to support
an abandoned girl, if he would heal her. Her delivery
was pronounced to be, humanly speaking, impossible, and
symptoms of death appeared after three days, but she did
not lose confidence, and continued to hold the picture close
to her. The said father encouraged her more and more,
and at length she was delivered without the least accident.

At Benevento, there was a poor woman who was very
often afflicted by violent convulsions, which were so severe
that one night she fell out of bed, and as she was alone in
the house, she was unable to rise again. She had a picture
of Alphonsus at the head of her bed, and she invoked him
with confidence, as well as the Most Holy Virgin Mary.
At the same moment, she saw the saint enter her room,
accompanied by a most beautiful lady, who lifted her from
the floor and laid her in bed again with the greatest com
passion. Alphonsus then sat doivn beside her and said:
" See, we have come to assist you, but you must go to con
fession to-morrow, your pains will be redoubled until then;
but when the confession is finished, they will cease." At
these words the lady and Alphonsus disappeared. When
the morning had arrived the poor woman sent for F. An
thony Corrado, who found her in a very suffering state ;
but when the confession was finished, she was entirely free
from pain.

For thirty-four years Leopold Marino Rousseau, of Fog-
gia, was tormented by a dysentery, which had reduced him
to a mere skeleton. The malady grew worse and worse,
and the doctors declared he could not live, and ordered
extreme unction to be administered to him. When D.
Paschal Rousseau was informed of the state his brother was
in, he sent him two pictures, one of the Blessed Joseph of

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS: 575

the Cross, and the other of Alphonsus. In the evening,
they lit a lamp before the two pictures, and recommended
the dying rnan to the two saints. At midnight, a bishop
appeared before him clad in a rochet and an almuce ; he
was little and bent; he inquired what was the matter with
him. The sick man replied: "I have no strength, and I
entreat the saints to pray to God to grant me deliverance
from my wretched state." The bishop then assumed quite
a joyous manner, and answered : " Have confidence ;" and
as the sick man's entrails were supported by bandages, he
went on to say : " Take off this handkerchief, and you will
feel better." " How can I do so?" said the sick man, "I
have not strength for it;" but as the bishop again told him
to undo the bandage, he tried to do it, and perceived that
it was already done ; as he felt instant relief he called his
daughter, and asked fo> a light, but he saw the bishop no
more. The next morning he cast his eyes on Alphonsus'
picture, and said : "It is he who has cured me." When
the physicians came they found him quite recovered and
free from fever.

We will now mention a miracle of another kind, which
happened to F. Louis of St. Catharine, apostolical mis
sionary in the Roman states. He wrote to the superior-
general of the Congregation of the M. H. Redeemer: "I
tried in vain to convert a great number of sinners who
were living most obstinately in vice, and who told me they
could not separate from the object of their passion ; I per
suaded them to recite an Jive to Mary Immaculate, praying
her to extinguish these impure flames in them through the
merits of Mgr. Liguori, who had exalted her so highly.
After that they all came to me again, giving extraordinary
proofs of conversion ; they are now reformed and have led
exemplary lives from that time. I had also the consolation
of seeing this same method succeed with other sinners who
nourished inveterate hatreds."

We forbear relating any more of the miracles wrought by
the intercession of our saint, for they would fill volumes;
we may say without the least exaggeration, that they may

576 ^LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

be numbered by thousands. Indeed, the Lord was truly
lavish with such favors towards his servant, in order, un
doubtedly, the sooner to illuminate the Church, his house
upon earth, by causing Alphonsus to be placed on her
altars as a shining and burning light,

No sooner had Alphonsus gone to receive his immortal
crown than two verbal processes were drawn up by the or
dinary judges; the one at St. Agatha, and the other at
Nocera, in order juridically to confirm his heroic virtues and
the miracles wrought through his intercession. The acts
of these processes were forthwith sent to Rome, to obtain
the introduction of the cause of the beatification and ca
nonization. About the same time there were sent to Rome
and duly registered, (without counting those that came too
late,) four hundred and eight petitions, from cardinals,
archbishops, bishops, vicars capitular, chapters of cathe
drals, collegiate establishments, religious bodies, magistrates
of the highest rank/ and from the king Ferdinand IV,
earnestly entreating the Holy See for the commencement
of the process. By a decree of the 9th of July 1794, the
sovereign pontiff selected Cardinal Archinto as the reporter
of the cause, D. Gaetan Cardone, of the Congregation of
the M. H. Redeemer, being its postulator. On the 30th of
April 1796, another decree was issued in order that the
cause might be introduced. The calamities of the times
and the exile of the Holy Father, it might have been ex
pected, would have put a stop to all proceedings, but it was
not so. As early as the 27th of March 1802, Cardinal
Caraccioli, who, in consequence of the death of Cardinal
Archinto, had been substituted by Pope Pius VII on the
6th of the same month as reporter of the case, issued a
decree in favor of the validity of the apostolical process on the
reputation of sanctity enjoyed by the servant of God. On the
report of Cardinal Saluces, who took the place of Cardinal
Caraccioli, the Sacred Congregation of Rites decided, on
the 14th of May 1803, after a theological examination, that
nothing was to be found in the printed or manuscript works
of the venerable Alphonsus Liguori which was worthy of

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 577

censure, and that therefore the proceedings might be con
tinued. On the 25th of June 1803, the Pope granted a
dispensation from the decree of Urban VIII, which forbids
any proceedings with regard to the special examination of
the virtues of a servant of God to be entered upon until
fifty years after his death, only sixteen having elapsed since
the death of Alphonsus. The anti-preparatory, the prepar
atory, and the general Congregations of the Cardinals hav
ing previously been held at the Quirinal palace ; on the 7th of
May 1807, the feast of the Ascension, after having celebrated
mass in his domestic chapel, and having assisted with the
cardinals at the solemn mass in the basilica of St. John
Lateran, the Holy Father published his solemn decree on
the virtues of the servant of God ; proclaiming that Al
phonsus Maria Liguori had possessed the theological and
cardinal virtues in a heroical degree. The extraordinary
anti-preparatory Congregation for the examination of the
miracles was to take place on the 25th of September 1809,
but the captivity of the Pope, the dispersion of the cardi
nals, and the invasion of the Roman states, suspended the
proceedings. They were resumed on the 28th of February
1815, and on the 17th of September of the same year, the
day on which the feast of our Lady of Sorrows was cele
brated throughout the whole Catholic Church for the first
time, (this day having been selected on account of the
great devotion of the servant of God tor the sufferings of
the Blessed Virgin,) the Pope, after having offered the Holy
Sacrifice in his domestic chapel of the Quirinal, published
his decree, by which he recognized two miracles of the
second class, (related hereafter,) which had been effected
through the intercession of the venerable Alphonsus Maria
Liguori. On the 21st of December 1815, the feast of St.
Thomas the Apostle, the Pope Pius VII, after having cel
ebrated mass in the chapel of the Quirinal, published the
decree which permitted the proceedings regarding the
solemn beatification of the venerable servant of God to be
continued; and on the 26th of September 1816, he signed
the brief of the beatification, conferring the title of T/I&
49

578 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

Blessed on the illustrious Bishop, declaring that he is most
assuredly in possession of the celestial glory, and that his
relics and images might be exposed to the veneration of
the faithful, authorising at the same time the dioceses of St.
Agatha and of Nocera, as well as the Congregation of the
Most Holy Redeemer, to celebrate yearly the mass in honor
of the beatified. The ceremony of the beatification itself
took place nine days afterwards, in the basilica of St. Peter,
the whole being conducted with great pomp and splendor,
only twenty-nine years and a few days over two months
having elapsed since the blessed death of Alphonsus.

God, who willed that his servant should be still more
highly exalted, was not long in manifesting his will through
fresh miracles worked by Alphonsus. Many new and il
lustrious solicitations were addressed to the court of Rome,
requesting the continuation of the process for the canoni
zation of the servant of God ; they were assented to by the
Sacred Congregation of Rites, and, on the 28th of February
1818, Pius VII signed the decree which introduced the
cause of the beatified for canonization. After this, Leo XII
succeeded to Pius VII, and Pius VIII to Leo XII, F.
Joseph Montone, the general procurator of the Congrega
tion of the Most Holy Redeemer, succeeded to the deceased
Vincent Andrew Giattini, as postulator of the cause, and Car
dinal Odescalchi to the deceased Cardinal Caraccioli, as re
porter; and, after due examination of the two fresh miracles
(selected for that purpose amongst a great many others) in
the extraordinary anti-preparatory, preparatory, and general
Congregation of Cardinals, prelates and consulters, his
Holiness Pius VIII approved and confirmed, by a solemn
decree of the 3d of December 1829, (the feast of St. Francis
Xavier,) which was published the same day in the church of
the Jesuit fathers, the judicial declaration of the same two
miracles, which are related hereafter. On the 16th of May
1830, the 5th Sunday after Easter, after having celebrated the
Holy Sacrifice in the chapel of the Quirinal, his Holiness
declared that the solemn canonization of the Blessed Al
phonsus Maria de Liguori could be safely decreed, and

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 579

ordered that this declaration should be published, and
preserved among the acts of the Sacred Congregation of
Rites, and that the apostolical letters should be prepared
for the canonization, to be celebrated in due time in the
basilica of the Vatican. The storm which Pius VIII had
predicted in an encyclical, soon burst forth throughout all
Europe ; and this pontiff dying some months afterwards,
Gregory XVI succeeded him, on the 2d of February 1831.
To the political reasons which still existed and acted as
hindrances to the canonization, was added the outlay which
is entailed by the magnificent ceremonies which must al
ways accompany the canonization of the saints; but various
subscriptions were set on foot to meet the expenses of the
fete of the five saints who were to be canonized together,
and at length the 26th of May 1839 was selected as the
day for the canonization of these servants of God, Alphon-
sus Maria de Liguori ; Francis of Jerome, of the Company
of Jesus ; John Joseph of the Cross, of the reform of St.
Peter of Alcantara; Pacificus of San Severino, a reformed
Minor ; and Veronica Juliana, a Cupuchiness : which took
place accordingly on the said day with the utmost pomp
and solemnity. Here follows the Bull which was given on
the occasion.

3toll of tlje Caitottijaftm of St.

GREGORY,

Servant of the Servants of God, for a perpetual remembrance:

PREFACE. — § 1. Sanctity and knowledge, ought, in the judg
ment of the Apostle of the Gentiles, so to adorn every bishop, to
whose care the salvation of souls is entrusted, that, by the holiness
of his life, he may be to the sheep committed to him as a shining
light for running without stumbling the way of salvation, and
may be able also to exhort them according to sound doctrine, and
to convince the gainsayers. We know, that, from the earliest ages,
there have been most excellent bishops, illustrious in both these
respects, lively images of the Good Shepherd, who, " being
made a pattern of the flock from the heart," have carefully and
wisely watched over its safety, and, as a light set upon a candle
stick, were no less by the examples they gave of a spotless life,
than by the excellence of their doctrine, the glory of the Church
of God.

§ 2. Alphonsus Maria Liguori appears to have been given by
God to the Church in the last century, in order to renew this
admirable example of a holy prelate. As he had from his early
youth applied himself to the practice of the Christian virtues,
and especially as he possessed sacred knowledge in an eminent
degree, he was called to fill the office of the episcopate, a charge
by far the most weighty of all, in order that his labors in the field
of the Lord, in which he had already, as a priest, shown himself
a diligent laborer, might be yet more abundant and fruitful in
good. But, by no means content that this his zeal for spreading
the divine glory should be confined within the narrow limits of
his own life, in order that he might leave successors in this min
istry of salvation to the most distant ages, he founded a Congre
gation of priests, who, inflamed with the same zeal, should de-

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 581

vote all their labors and care to the furthering the salvation of
souls. And, as it has been clearly shown, that the admirable
virtues of Alphonsus, which have been examined with the usual
judicial severity, reached the highest degree of Christian perfec
tion, and it appears that the miracles, by which God, the author
of all good, has manifested the sanctity of his servant, have been
duly verified ; by virtue of the apostolical authority which has
been divinely committed to us, though unworthy, and on the
advice of the fathers the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church,
as also of the patriarchs, archbishops, and bishops, who were
present in Rome at that time in great number, we have judged,
and do by the present letters ordain, that the honors paid to saints
be rendered to the Blessed Alphonsus Liguori, by the whole
Church, and that his intercession with God be invoked.

$ 3. Alphonsus was born at Naples, of noble parents, on the
5th day of October 1696. Being endowed with a wonderful
vivacity of mind, he applied himself, when he had scarcely
ceased to be a child, to the classics, then to the higher sciences, and
afterwards to the study of the law, and had so happy a facility
in learning, that he had hardly entered the sixteenth year of his
age, when, after the usual examination, he received the degree
of doctor of civil and canon law with great distinction. In
deference to the wishes of his father, he entered into the profes
sion of the law, in the discharge of which though he led a pure
and upright life, yet, because he found it to be full of cares and
dangers, he determined to leave it, and entered into the service of
the Church. Despising, therefore, a very splendid matrimonial
alliance, and voluntarily and cheerfully renouncing, in favor of
his brother, the ancestral fortune which belonged to him as the
eldest son, he put utterly away from himself all care about
earthly things.

§ 4. Then being admitted to holy orders, and invested with
the sacerdotal character, he exerted himself with all his strength
to extend the glory of God everywhere, to sow in the hearts of
men the seeds of virtue, and to root out the vices. As he was
persuaded that no one will ever reap much fruit from his apos
tolic labors unless he practise as well as teach, he proposed, to
himself in the beginning as a thing to be insisted upon, that by
the exercise of every virtue he should show himself as a minister
of God and a dispenser of his mysteries. He most vigilantly
guarded that chastity which he had long before vowed to God,
constantly having in view, in every motion of his mind and
49*

582 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

body, the preserving it free from the slightest stains, and, in
order that he might be sure to succeed in this aim, he placed
it with perfect confidence under the protection of the Mo
ther of God. His love of God was so ardent, that he kept
his mind continually fixed upon him, and he seemed to take de
light in nothing but in thinking and speaking of him. It is easy
to understand with what ardent charity for his neighbor one so
inflamed with the love of God must have burned. Wherefore,
he never declined any labor or fatigue, when there was question
of bringing back to the bosom of God men plunged in vice and
laden with crimes. Hence, he very frequently visited the hos
pitals, in order to wait on the sick, and especially that he might
be ready to assist those who were in danger of death : he heard
confessions with the greatest patience, and often spent almost
the whole day, and even the greatest part of the night, in this
employment: he frequently preached to crowds of auditors., in
language so earnest, that he triumphed over the obstinacy of the
most abandoned, and, exposing to them the turpitude of the
c ^mes in which they had become hardened, he excited in the
hearts of his hearers such lively feelings of sorrow as to bring
them to tears, and frequen ' v the sacred edifice resounded with
weeping and groanings. As he allowed himself no respite, day
or night, but exerted all the powers of his mind and body in la
boring for the salvation of his neighbor, becoming at length
weakened and broken down by these great and incessant efforts,
he fell into a dangerous illness, from which, however, having
recovered, by a signal favor from heaven, he again applied him
self to his labors of charity, with more alacrity than ever.

§ 5. As soon as he knew that he was called, in the providence
of God, to be the founder of a new religious Congregation, that
there might be no lack of industrious laborers in so plentiful a
harvest, he suffered himself to be deterred by no obstacles, how
ever great, from hastening the accomplishment of his undertak
ing, destined to be of such service to the Church. Relying,
therefore, upon the divine assistance, he undertook the work, and
happily succeeded in frustrating the designs and arts of the in
fernal enemy, striving to prevent the execution of his plans.
Having united with himself twelve men of eminent piety, he
laid the foundations of his religious Congregation, to which the
name of the Most Holy Redeemer was given ; and he proposed
to the members as their chief aim, the bringing back to the way
of virtue, as well by their words as by their examples, the pro-

LIFE OP ST. ALPHONSUS. 583

fligate and abandoned, especially those among the peasantry
who lived dispersed throughout the country. As the Congrega
tion spread in a short time, and in a wonderful manner, through
out the cities and provinces of Italy, he obtained from our pre
decessor, Benedict XIV, its confirmation, by virtue of his apos
tolical authority, and, being appointed rector-major, he excited
his companions, by his own example, to the exercise of all vir
tues, in a manner truly wonderful.

§ 6. He excelled, in an especial degree, in the virtue of humil
ity ; although every one had the highest opinion of his sanctity,
and he was honored by the esteem of the most distinguished
men, yet he ever preserved a lowly opinion of himself, and
deemed himself unworthy of all honor and consideration. He
loved the Virgin Mother of God, as a son his mother, with a
piety truly singular. He had the most ardent sentiments of love
and veneration for the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist,
and often passed whole hours in succession in adoration before
it, his soul, meanwhile, being filled with an ineffable sweetness.
In order that he might, after the sample of tb. Apostle, bring
his body into subjection to the spirit, he continually treated it as
a domestic enemy, and crucified it by all kinds of torments.* He
allowed h self so little food and drink, that it seemed scarcely
sufficient to keep up his strength and support life, and even the
wretched nourishment he took he was accustomed to season with
the most bitter herbs, in order utterly to take away every occa
sion of sensual gratification. Moreover, he always wore the
roughest hair shirts, and constantly afflicted his body with iron
chains; he was accustomed to scourge himself with disciplines
armed with sharp points, and that so severely, that the blood,
flowing copiously from his mangled flesh, sprinkled the floor
and the walls of his cell ; he took great pains, however, to efface
these bloody stains, that they might not lead to the discovery of
his self-macerations.

§ 7. But what is especially worthy of admiration, is, that, not
withstanding his constant labors in the apostolic ministry, and
the extent to which he chastised and weakened his body by every
kind of torture, he was able, nevertheless, to find so much time
for, and to apply with so great alacrity of mind to, the study of
sacred things, as greatly to enrich the Church by the production
of many equally learned and laborious works. Indeed, that he
might consecrate himself and his whole life to the divine service,
he made the very difficult and till then almost unheard of vow,

584 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

never to allow even the least instant of time to pass idly by, but to
employ every moment usefully. Thus he was enabled to pro
duce a great number of works, having for their several objects
the support of morality, the more perfect instruction of the min
isters of the sanctuary, the establishing the truth of the Catholic
religion, the asserting the rights of the Holy See, and finally, the
awakening piety in the hearts of Christians. In these productions
we must admire the unusual fervor, the richness and variety of
attainment, the striking proofs of the pastoral solicitude, and the
ardent zeal for the interests of religion, which he discovers. But
this is specially WQrthy of note, that, although he wrote so vast
a number of works, it has nevertheless been found, upon the
strict examination which has been instituted in regard to them,
that they may be read by the faithful without the least fear of
finding the smallest error in them.

§ 8. As Alphonsus possessed so great a reputation for holiness
and learning, he was raised to the episcopal see of St. Agatha of
the Goths, by Clement XIII. The holy man dreaded the being
loaded with so heavy a burden, and made use of every means to
escape it ; but when he had perceived the will of God in that of
the PontiiF, he concluded, with a ready and undaunted mind, to
submit, and to undertake, confiding in the divine assistance, the
charge, which his humility made him feel was beyond his
strength.

§ 9. It is indeed difficult to express with how great care and
earnestness he strove to fulfil all the pastoral functions of his
office : he watched assiduously over the flock which had been
committed to his charge, and took every pains, that not even one
of the sheep entrusted to him should perish. Neither did he re
lax, in any respect, his very austere mode of life, on account of
his new dignity: he avoided all sumptuousness in food and
clothing; there was nothing in his palace, nothing in his furni
ture, which was superfluous or luxurious. He loved the poor
with singular affection, and profusely distributed to them food,
clothing, and alms; he even did not hesitate to sell, on one occa
sion, his golden cross and episcopal ring, in order to relieve their
distress. He was in the habit of giving dowries to young wo
men, out of his own income, to enable them to marry, and of
maintaining at his own expense such young clerics in the study
of the liberal arts, as, on account of their humble birth, were
suffering from poverty. He opened convents for virgins wishing
to consecrate themselves to God, and houses of refuge for poor

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 585

women who were in danger of losing their innocence. Not being
deterred, in the visitation of his diocese, by any difficulties of the
roads or inclemency of the season, he sedulously visited the little
towns situated on the tops of mountains, and the people dispersed
throughout the country, and with words full of ardor he excited
them to the love of virtue, and he withheld them from the com
mission of sin. But it was with regard to priests and young
men preparing for the sacred ministry, that he took especial care.
With what great diligence did he not labor, that they might grow-
up in piety while yet in early youth, and be rightly imbued with
the sacred sciences especially, so as to become, at length, fit in
struments for the ministry of the altar, and for the guidance of
the faithful. But it must be said, that it was the life of their
saintly pastor which had the greatest effect in enkindling their
minds, inasmuch as, beholding his manner of living, they had
before their eyes the most illustrious examples of continency, of
religion, of poverty, in a word, of all those virtues with which a
priest should be adorned and enriched, if he would contribute
any thing to the common good of the Church.

§ 10. After having for thirteen years given an example of all
pastoral solicitude and vigilance in the government of the Church
which had been confided to his care, as he was now laden with
years and become infirm, he resigned (having several times be
sought our predecessor, Pius VI, for, and at length obtained,
permission,) the charge which he found so heavy. But having
betaken himself, thus free from the duties of the episcopate, to
the society of the brothers of his Congregation, he devoted the
remainder of his life, not to a well-earned repose, but to fresh
cares and labors, even in his most advanced age. Thus, he was
always engaged in writing something which he knew would be
of use to the faithful, and never ceased preaching, that he might
reform the morals of men, and, as far as lay in his power, inflame
them with the love of virtue.

§ 11. When he had at length reached his ninety-first year,
pressed down with the weight of his age now rapidly approach
ing its term, he fell grievously ill. Having endured with incredi
ble patience the excruciating pains of his disease, and most
earnestly exhorted the members of the religious Congregation
of which he was the founder to the utmost zeal in the pur
suit of virtue, he was refreshed with the viaticum of the Most
Holy Eucharist, and fortified with extreme unction. After he
had most devoutly received these sacraments of the Church, his

586 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

soul filled with joy and gladness, and desiring nothing more
ardently than-that, loosed from the prison of the body, it might
be with Christ, fled, in perfect peace, into the bosom of its God.

§ 12. As soon as the report of Alphonsus' death was spread
abroad, an immense concourse of people flocked to his coffin,
mourning- for the loss of one so dear to them, and striving,
through devotion and veneration, to possess themselves of some
thing which had been used by him during his life. Nor was
there wanting the fame of miracles, by which the almighty and
good God manifested in the sight of all the exceeding sanctity of
his servant. Which prodigies being made known far and near,
the high reputation his virtues had for a long time won for him
became increased in a wonderful degree, and several princes and
other persons high in dignity, as well as a great number of re
ligious orders, earnestly besought the sovereign pontiff', Pius VI,
that judicial proceedings might be commenced regarding the
saintly life of Alphonsus. The process having been gone through
with in the usual manner, and the works which he had published
having been most carefully examined and scrutinized with the
greatest severity, Pius VII, our predecessor, after hearing the
opinion of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, published a decree,
on the nones of May 1807, in which he declared, that it was
certain that the venerable Alphonsus Maria Liguori had prac
tised, in a heroic degree, the theological and cardinal virtues,
together with all which depend on and spring from them.

§ 13. After this, they proceeded, in the said Sacred Congrega
tion, to the examination of the miracles which were said to have
been wrought by Almighty God, at the intercession of the vene
rable Alphonsus. Among this number there were two, in particu
lar, of the second class, which were judged certain and incon-
testible : that is to say, the instantaneous cure of Magdalene of
Nuncio, who, being at the point of death, a great part of her
breast having been amputated by reason of a gangrenous ulcer,
invoked the aid of Alphonsus, upon which she arose, contrary
to the expectation of all, perfectly healed, and her breast became
quite whole again : the other was the cure, likewise instantaneous
and perfect, of Francis of Octajano, of the order of Reformed
Minors of St. Francis, who was in the last stage of consumption,
and utterly exhausted, so that his recovery was despaired of; but
after he had prayed to the venerable Alphonsus for several days,
he was suddenly cured, and every trace of his former malady
disappeared. However, Pius VII, of holy memory, judged that

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 587

he ought to delay pronouncing any decision in a matter of so
great importance, in order to implore more additional light from
God by more ardent prayers. At length, on the 16th of the
kalends of October 1815, the day consecrated to our Lady of
Dolors, the memory of whose sorrows Alphonsus had ever af
fectionately and piously cherished during his life, the same pon
tiff pronounced his judgment, and issued a decree, in which the
two above related cures were declared to be true miracles.
Finally, after having heard the opinion of the same Sacred Con
gregation, he issued, on the 12th of the kalends of January 1815,
pontifical letters, in which he ordained the beatification of the
venerable Alphonsus Maria Liguori, which was celebrated with
the greatest pomp and splendor, in the basilica of the Vatican,
on the 16th of the kalends of September 1816.

§14. But after the honors of public veneration had been ren
dered to the venerable Alphonsus, many others experienced his
aid in present danger, and it was clearly seen that God had
willed, in his goodness, to reward the faithful steward of his
house with a measure of honor among men, proportionate to
the greatness of the care and pains taken by the holy prelate to
extend the glory of the divine name. Being struck with the
greatness of these miracles, Ferdinand I, the most pious king of
the two Sicilies, and many other princes, together with the most
of the cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, of the archbishops
and bishops, as well as the religious orders, and especially the
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, which justly glories
in having Alphonsus as its founder, earnestly besought Pius VII
that the Sacred Congregation of Rites might commence at once
the process of the canonization of the Blessed Alphonsus. The
same pontiff, our predecessor, received their entreaties most fa
vorably, and an inquiry was instituted concerning the authen
ticity of the recent miracles; and, after a long deliberation, two
were found to be without all doubt: namely, the sudden and
perfect cure of Antoinette Tarsia, who, having fallen, loaded
with a heavy burden, from an elevated place, was brought to the
point of death, in consequence of the very grievous injuries she
received in the abdomen, but, after having earnestly implored
the aid of the Blessed Alphonsus, suddenly arose perfectly cured,
to the utter astonishment of all who were present. The other
was the instantaneous cure of Peter Canalis, a professed lay
brother of the Congregation of Camaldules ; he was suffering
most severely from a deep, hard, and mortified ulcer, which

588 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

every remedy seemed only to irritate more and more, so that,
having abandoned all hope of recovery, he was expecting death
every hour. When he had for several days besought the Blessed
Alphonsus to deliver him from a death which seemed inevitable,
he obtained his desire, recovering on a sudden (without the least
trace of the ulcer remaining) his health, the loss of which he had
so lonsr deplored.

§ 15. The truly wonderful cures we have cited having been
judicially confirmed, our predecessor, Pius VIII, issued a decree
on the 3d of the nones of December 1829, acknowledging their
authenticity. Afterwards, when it had been discussed in the
usual manner in the Sacred Congregation of Rites whether the
solemn canonization of the Blessed Alphonsus could safely be pro
ceeded with, and whether none of the conditions, which, accord
ing to the custom of the Holy See are required, were wanting, the
same sovereign pontiff, Pius VIII, declared, after having cele
brated the Holy Sacrifice in the chapel of the palace of the
QuirinaljOn the 17th of the kalends of June 1830, being the 5th
Sunday after Easter, that the aforesaid canonization might be
proceeded with in safety. Being desirous to put this decree into
execution, and readily yielding to the wishes of the Congregation
of the M. H. Redeemer, we first conferred upon the matter with
the whole college of our venerable brothers the cardinals of the
holy Roman Church, in a secret consistory held on the 4th of the
ides of December 1838, who unanimously agreed that the honors
paid to saints should be conferred on the Blessed Alphonsus
Maria Liguori. We afterwards assembled a great number of our
venerable brothers the archbishops and bishops, for the delibera
tion of this important matter, and submitted to their judgment the
whole series of acts comprising the virtues and miracles of the
Blessed Alphonsus, which we did by word of mouth, in the public
consistory, in which our beloved son Anthony Maria Cagiano
d'Azevedo, the advocate of our consistorial court, defended the
cause of the beatified, and also in writing, that is to say, by pre
senting to them an accurate account of the acts taken from the
authentic records of the Sacred Congregation. After that, we
convoked before us, on the 8th of the ides of May, a semi-public
consistory, to which we summoned not only our venerable bro
thers the cardinals of the holy Roman Church, but also our ven
erable brothers the patriarchs, archbishops and bishops, who
were then present in Rome, and asked them whether they were
of opinion that the Blessed Alphonsus ought to be inscribed in

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 589

the catalogue of the saints. As they unanimously replied in the
affirmative, and even expressed the most lively wish to see this
honor conferred upon the Blessed Alphonsus, we ordered that a
public instrument of this their verdict should be made by our be
loved sons, the notaries of the Apostolic See, and that the suf
frages of our venerable brothers, after having been committed to
writing and signed by themselves, should be preserved in the
archives of the Roman Church. Nevertheless, we thought it
right still to defer pronouncing a definitive sentence in so weighty
a matter, until, having fixed on days for solemn feasts in Rome,
and also pointed out churches in which the faithful might offer
up prayers to God, we should obtain from the Father of lights
more abundant rays of his wisdom.

§ 16. The 7th day of the kalends of June having been at length
fixed upon for the solemn canonization of the Blessed Alphonsus,
and also that of the Blessed Francis Jerome, of the Society of
Jesus ; John Joseph of the Cross, of the order of the Discalceated
Minors of St. Peter of Alcantara; Pacificus, of St. Severino,
of the order of Minors of the Reformed Observance; and Ver
onica Juliana, Abbess of the Capuchinesses, we repaired with
solemn ceremony to the Vatican, accompanied by the whole of
the secular clergy and the religious orders, by the dignitaries and
officers of the Roman court and of our palace, finally, by the
aforesaid our venerable brothers, the cardinals of the holy Roman
Church, the patriarchs, archbishops and bishops. Before we
ascended the altar to celebrate the holy mysteries, our blessed son
Aloysias Lambruschini, cardinal priest of the holy Roman
Church, of the title of St. Callistus, again most humbly pre
sented to us by the advocate of the consistorial court, the prayers
of the Christian princes, prelates and people, that the Blessed
Alphonsus might be placed in the number of the saints, and
prostrating ourselves, we implored the choirs of angels and all
the heavenly court to assist us; then, upon the iteration of the
same prayers aforesaid, we ardently besought the Holy Spirit,
that he would by his divine power strengthen us, now about to
pronounce our final decision. Finally, upon the prayers of the
postulator of the cause being repeated for the third time with
great earnestness, and much more in consideration of the wishes
of the whole Church, and of the suffrages which the prelates,
aided by God had given, after the very rigid examination which
had been instituted in so important a matter, we, by virtue of the
apostolical authority, which, notwithstanding our unworthiness,
50

590 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

has been given us as successor of St. Peter, the prince of the
Apostles, in the supreme government of the Church,, to the praise
of the holy and indivisible Trinity, for the honor and glory of the
Catholic faith and of religion, pronounced our solemn and defini
tive sentence, and placed the Blessed Alphonsus Maria Liguori,
so distinguished for the lustre of his Christian virtues and the
splendor of his miracles, among the number of the holy confes
sor-bishops., and appointed the 4th of the nones of August for
the celebration of his memory by the Universal Church. More
over,, we have accorded to those who shall visit on this day the
tomb of St. Alphonsus, and, on the appointed days the bodies of
the other saints, an indulgence of seven years and as many
quarantines.

§ 17. We then offered up to God the Father the Immaculate
Lamb, on the great altar of the basilica of the Vatican. Finally,
having affectionately given to the assembled multitude, from the
height of the upper balcony of the sar.je basilica, our solemn
benediction, we granted in the Lord, a plenary indulgence to all
the faithful, as well those present at the bendiction, as to those
who had assisted at the ceremony of the canonization.*

* Besides this special indulgence for the canonization, the Holy
Father granted the following in perpetuity:

GREGORY XVI, POPE,
For a Perpetual Remembrance.

Among the brightest lights and ornaments of the Catholic Church,
St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori shines forth pre-eminently, who, re
nowned for his doctrine and sanctity, and inflamed with an ardent
chanty, having in view, in the admirable examples he gave of all vir
tues, and in his very numerous works which are replete with learning
and piety, only the glory of God and the spiritual welfare of his
fellow-men, having received the crown at the end of a most holy life,
possesses now the palm of glory, and triumphs with God in heaven. In
order therefore to increase the piety and devotion of the faithful towards
this great saint more and more, we have most willingly consented to
unlock the ecclesiastical treasures of the Church. Wherefore, yielding
to the request of our beloved son John Camillus Ripoli, priest and rec
tor-major, as we are assured, of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer, founded by this saint, and trusting to the mercy of Almighty
God and in reliance on the authority of his Blessed Apostles Peter and
Paul, we grant in the Lord, to each and all of the faithful of Christ, of
either sex, who, being truly contrite shall, after having confessed and

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 591

$ IS. It is therefore meet and right that we give up our hearts
to sentiments of rejoicing, and that we render worthy thanks to
Almighty God, who does not cease to give his Church fresh ex
amples of virtue, in order that we may be excited by them to
walk with more ardor in the way of salvation. Wherefore, en
compassed as we are by so many and so great perils, and assailed
on all sides by so many malicious enemies, let us implore St. Al-
phonsus to be our intercessor with God, that, by the divine as
sistance, we may one day obtain in heaven the palm of victory
prepared for those who conquer, and that crown of glory which
fadeth not away.

§ 19. In order that the memory of this most happy event may
never be obliterated by any length of time, we have recorded and
confirmed it by these apostolic letters, ordaining that copies of
them bearing the signature of a public notary, and the seal of
some dignitary of the Church, shall have, when shown, the
same authority as these present letters themselves.

$20. Let no one, therefore, impugn or rashly gainsay our
will and decree, set forth in these letters. But if any one should
have the presumption to attempt to do so, let him know that he

received Holy Communion, devoutly visit any one of the churches of
the said Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, on the feast of the
said St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori, from the time of the first vespers,
or on any one day, at choice, within the octave of the feast, and shall
there offer up prayers to God for concord among Christian princes, for
the extirpation of heresy, and for the exaltation of our holy Mother
the Church, a plenary indulgence and remission of all sins, once every
year, which may be applied by way of suffrage, to the souls of the
faithful departed. The present concession is made in perpetuity, not
withstanding all obstacles.

Given at St. Peter's at Rome, under the seal of the Fisherman, on
the 10th of January, 1840, in the ninth year of our pontificate.

A. LAMBRTJSCHINI.

This is a faithful copy of the original,

JOHN CAMILLUS RIPOLI,
Rector-major of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer.

We have seen it, and allow it to be published. Given at Liege, on
the 7th of April, 1840.

f CORNELIUS, Bishop of Liege.

By order, E. BREMANS, Secretary.

592 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

will incur the indignation of Almighty God, and of his Blessed
Apostles, Peter and Paul.

Given at St. Peter's at Rome, in the year of the Incarnation of
our Lord, 1839, on the 7th of the kalends of June, in the ninth
year of our pontificate.

Besides the special indulgence for the canonization, the
Holy Father granted in perpetuity, on the 10th of January
1840,* to each and all of the faithful of both sexes, who,
being truly contrite, shall, after having confessed and com
municated, devoutly visit one of the churches of the Con
gregation of the Most Holy Redeemer on the feast of St.
Alphonsus, from the time of the first vespers or on any one
of the seven days following, a plenary indulgence and re
mission of all sins once every year, which shall be applica
ble to the souls in purgatory, provided they pray for unity
amongst Christian princes, for the extirpation of heresy,
and the exaltation of their Mother the Church.

His Holiness, Gregory XVI, by a decree of the 10th of
Sept., 1839, not only allowed, but prescribed, that the feast of
St. Alphonsus should be celebrated throughout the world
by all those obliged to say the breviary, and by the faithful
in general, under the rite of duplex minor; inserting his
name in the ecclesiastical calendar.

The inhabitants of Naples, moreover, entertaining the
most lively desire of numbering this new hero, their for
mer townsman and apostle, as one of their saintly patrons,
on the 4th of July 1839, the authorities, in answer to a
petition of the fathers of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer presented on the 25th of June of the same year,
declared him patron of the said city. This decree received
the sanction of the sovereign, with the consent of the eccle
siastical authorities, and the syndic was authorized to make
the needful arrangements. In consequence, according to
the decrees of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, a fete
took place in the church of the Congregation of St. An
thony, which, (after the first ceremonies were gone through

See Note, p. 590.

LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS. 593

on the loth of August 1840) commenced on the following
day, and lasted for nine days. On the 24th of the same
month, a silver statue containing a relic of the saint, pre
sented by the Congregation to the town, was carried in
procession to the cathedral, with extraordinary pomp and
solemnity, where, after all the ceremonies had been gone
through, it was placed with that of St. Januarius, the first
patron of the town, on the altar of the chapel of the trea
sury ; the fathers of the Congregation of the Most Holy
Redeemer being authorized to come in procession for the
statue of their saintly founder each year on his feast day,
after giving an assurance that they would bring it back
again in the same manner. It is impossible to find words
to describe the prodigious concourse of people that assem
bled together to witness this religious pomp ; they filled
the streets, the public squares, the balconies and even the
roofs of the houses. The king and the queen, the queen
mother, and all the royal family, saw the progress of the
procession from the balcony of the royal palace, with most
religious attention. The eminently religious spirit of the
king had led him before to the foot of the altar of Alphon-
sus. He went thither privately on the first day, accompa
nied by his august spouse, and heard two masses, to
the great edification of all present ; he returned again on
the last evening, accompanied by the queen and his royal
highness the count of Aquila. Her majesty, the queen's
mother, also visited the church to honor in person the hero
whose triumph was being celebrated ; she went there on
the 17th, the 19th and the 22d, and on the last occasion
she was accompanied by the princess royal. On the same
day, their royal highnesses the prince and pirncess of Saler
no, and their august daughter, came to crown this religious
homage with their presence.

Were it allowed to desire any further addition to the
glories of St. Alphonsus, it would be that of seeing him
declared Doctor by the head of the Church ; to the obtain
ing of which title our saint appears to have fulfilled the
necessary conditions. The following are the conditions,
50*

594 LIFE OF ST. ALPHONSUS.

which, according to Benedict XIV, the Church requires
for this honorable distinction, viz : eminent knowledge,
great sanctity, and the declaration of the Church. Now,
who can fail to perceive that Alphonsus had all these
qualifications necessary for obtaining the honor of this title ?
Benedict VIII says that eminent learning is proved by com
bating heretics victoriously, by clearing up obscure and
doubtful questions, and by setting forth Holy Scripture with
clearness. Have not the works of Alphonsus on heresies
and against heretics, all the pages of his Moral Theology
and his commentary on the Psalms, (not to speak of his
numerous ascetical writings,) perfectly fulfiled these condi
tions? and have not the sovereign pontiffs themselves, sev
eral times declared that the learning and sanctity of this
servant of God were carried by him to an eminent degree ?
It rests therefore only with the Vicar of Jesus Christ to add
this additional glory to the crown of the new confessor
pontiff.

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writings, in this country and in Europe, render it superfluous to add any of the nu
merous and flattering notices of the Press.

Library Editions of Fredet's Universal Histories, in 2 Vols.

New and Improved Editions, carefully Revised and Coirected by the Jlu/hor.

These two volumes form a Complete course of History, or a continuous chain of
Historical Events from the Creation of the World to the Year 1854.

Ancient History, from the Dispersion of the Sons of Noe.,
to the Battle of Actium,and change of the Republic into an Empire.
By PETER FREDET, D. D., Professor of History in St. Mary's Col
lege, Baltimore. Fourth edition, carefully revised and enlarged.
12mo. cloth, $1 25 Library style, marble edges, $1 50

Modern History, from the Coming of Christ and the

Change of the Roman Republic into an Empire, to the year of our
Lord 1854. By PETER FREDET, D. D. Tenth enlarged and im
proved edition, in 1 vol. 12mo. cloth, $.1 25

Library style, marble edges 1 50

(Jr^-Prof. Fredet's Histories have heen adopted as Text Books in the Irish University.

Catechism of the History of the United States: with a

Chronological Table of American History, from its Discovery in
1492 to the year 1854. Illustrated with Engravings. Designed to
accompany Irving's Series of Catechisms. Third Enlarged and
Revised Edition By M. J. KERNEY, A. M., Author of a Com
pendium of Ancient and Modern History, &c., &c.. .24mo. 12§ cts.
The peculiar merits of this little History are to be found in the accuracy of its de
tails, and in the adaptation of its style and arrangement to the capacity of that class
of learners for which it was designed. In these particulars it is far superior to any
work of the kind now before the public. But the favor wiih which it has been re
ceived, rtnd its extensive circulation, are the best comments on its merits. Ten
thousand copies have been disposed of within two years,

3

Murphy & Go's Recent Publications. -

A Catechism of Scripture History., compiled by the

Sisters of Mercy, for the use of the Children attending their Schools.
Revised and corrected by M. J. KERNEY, Author of a Compendium
of Ancient and Modern History, First Class Book of History,
Catechism of the History of the United States. Second American,

from the last London Edition 18mo. 50 cts.

The object of this Catechism is to render children early acquainted with the truth
ful and interesting events recorded in the Sacred Scriptures ; to familiarize them
with the prophecies relating to the coming of the Messiah, and lead them to regard
the Old Testament as a figure and a foreshadowing of the New.

In its style and arrangement, it is happily adapted to that class of learners for
which it was designed. It was originally compiled for the use of the pupils attend
ing the schools of the Sisters of Mercy, in the city of Limerick, Ireland. The first
edition was published under the supervision of the Rev. Dr. O'Reilly, of Maynooth,
and shortly after its appearance it acquired an extensive circulation among the
Catholic schools of England and Ireland. Its merits soon extended to this country,
and in a short time it became extensively used in our Catholic Institutions. Here
tofore, however, our schools have been supplifd from the English press, but in order
to meet the increasing demand for the work, the publishers have deemed it expedient
to is-ue an American edition.

Advantage has been taken of the present favorable opportunity, of having the
work carefully revised and improved. Experience had sbown that the ansu-eis were
generally much too long for a work in the catechetical form, and consequently the
task of committing them to memory was rendered unnecessarily difficult. To ob
viate this objection many of the answers have been divided and sub-divided by the
introduction of additional questions, thus rendering the labor of preparing the les
sons much easier for the pupil.

Just published, in 1 vol. 12mo., price 50 cents.

Elementary Algebra, by B. Sestini, S. J., Professor of

Natural Philosophy and Astronomy in Georgetown College.

To render the Science of Algebra intelligible to pupils whose minds are yet unac
customed to such studies, is not an easy task. For should the instructor subject
every principle, as it is announced, to a rigorous demonstration, he will very pro
bably not be comprehended ; while, on the other hand, inconclusive reasoning is
worse than none at all.

To obviate this difficulty has been the main object of the present treatise. The
beginner will here be furnished with such proofs as are suited to his capacity ; ex
amples will afford new light to what might be otherwise obscure ; with regard to
operations founded on higher principles he will, for the present, content himself
with merely practical rules, exemplified in the same manner.

With a mind thus gradually led on to strict mathematical discussion, he may
then resume his course with profit, and by the aid of a treatise now in preparation,
which is intended as a sequel to the present, complete his study of Algebra.

I3XT I=»3

The People's Edition of Lingard's England.

Will be ready early in December, in a beautiful 8vo volume of nearly 700 pages,
with a fine Portrait and Memoir of the distinguished Author. Price, in embossed
cloth, $2; Library style, $2 50.

The Primacy of the Apostolic See Vindicated. Fourth

Revised Edition. By the Most Rev. FRANCIS PATRICK KENRICK,
D. D., Archbishop of Baltimore.

The Genius of Christianity ,- Or the Spirit and Beauties

of the Christian Religion. By M. DE CHATEAUBRIAND. A new
and beautiful translation, with a Memoir of the Author.
This work will be issued in an elegant and attractive style, at an early day.
A New Historical Tale, by the Author of " Bertha, or the Pope and the Emperor."

Florine, a Tale of the First Crusaders.

This highly interesting Tale will be issued in a neat and attractive form, at an
early day, from advance sheets furnished by the distinguished author.

GERMAN PRAYER BOOKS, &c., published by MURPHY & Co.

The following German Prayers are published with the Approbation of the Most
Rev. Archbishop of Baltimore. They have been compiled with the greatest care by
gentlemen of experience, under the immediate superintendence of the Rev. Superiors
of the Society of the Holy Redeemer, in Baltimore, with a view to their adaptation
to the wants of the German Catholics of this country.

Der gute Same, ein katholisches Gebetbuch. Herausgegeben von
der Versamrnlungdes allerheiligsten Erlb'sers. Mit Gutheissung der Obern. Mit
36 feinen K up fern und Holzsehnitten verziert. . .32mo. Leder-Einband. sheep 25

Dasselbe in Corduan roan 38 Saffian, unit. turk. 75

mit Goldschnitt, roan, gilt edges 50 turk. Saff. mil Gold., turk. sup. ex. 1 25

Gelobt sei Jesus Christus. Ein Gebetbuch fiir fromme Christen.
Enthaltend kurze Belehrungeri iiber das Gebet, die heilige Messe, Beichte und
Communion, und die anmuthigsten Gebete fiir diese heiligen Handlungen,
nebst einer Vesper-Andacht, mit beigefiigtem lateinischen Texte, den Buss-
Psalmen, Litaneien, &c. Herausgegeben von der Versammlung des aller
heiligsten Erlosers. Mit Gutheissung der Obern. Leder-Einband sheep 38

Feinein Papier, in Corduan, roan.. 50 Saffian, unit, turkey 1 00

Goldschnitt und Platten, rn. gt. ed. 75 fein. tiirk. Saff. Gold., turk. sup. ex. 1 50-

The Gloies of May, in Geman, a new and beautiful edition.
Die Herrlichkeiten J\Iarias. Von deni heiligen Alphons M. Von
Liguori, Bischof von St. Agatha und Stifter der Versammlung des Aller-
heiligsten Erlosers. — Aus dem Italienischen iibersetzt. Herausgegeben von
der Versammlung des AllerheiJigsteh Erlosers. Erste Americanische Aus-
gabe. Mit Approbation Geistlicher Obrigkeit. The Glories of Mary, in Ger
man, translated from the Italian of St. Alphonsus M. Liguori. — A new Edi
tion ; with Devotions for Mass, Confession and Holy Communion. 18mo. roan 1 00
Arabesq., Goldschnitt, &c., 1 50 iinit. gt, edges 2 00

It is deemed superfluous to add any of the numerous testimonials in favor of this
book. The name of Saint Liguori is sufficient to recommend it to every pious
Catholic. This edition is comprised in an 18mo. volume of nearly 800 pages, printed
and bound in a style of unsurpassed elegance and neatness. It has been carefully
re-vised by one of the Redemptorist Fathers, and can be recommended with confi
dence, as one of the cheapest arid best books ever offered to the German Catholics.

Besuchungen des Jlllerheiligsten Altars- Sakramentes, 8fc. (Visits to
the most Holy Sacrament, and a complete Prayer Book combined,) und Be-
griissungen der allzeit unblefleckten Jungfrau Maria; fur jeden Tag des Monats.
Von dem heiligen Alphons Maria von Liguori, Stifter der Versammlung des
Allerheiligsten Erlosers. Nebst einem Gebetbuche. Neu herausgegeben von
einem Priester derselben Versammlung mit Genehmigung des Hochwiirdig-

sten Erzbischofes von Baltimore 18mo. Leder-Einband, sheep 63

Corduan roari 1 00 Saffian turkey morocco 1 50

. ..rnit Goldschnitt, roan, gt. edges 1 25 feinem turk. Saff., turk. sup. extra 2 0«

To this edition of the Visits to the Most Holy Sacraments, by St. Liguori, all the
Prayers and Devotions used on ordinary occasions, have been added, which renders it
a most useful and complete Prayer Hook for the use of devout persons. It is well
printed on good paper, and sold at a very low price.

GERMAN SCHOOL BOOKS.

Biblische GeschicMe des Jllten und Neuen Testamentes, [The History of
the Old & New Testaments, for the use of Cath. Schools,] zum Gebrauche der
katholischen Schulen. — Herausgegeben mit Genehmigung und Erlaubniss des
Hochwiirdigsten Erzbischofs von Baltimore : ....12mo. Halb-Franzbper doz. 2 00

Katholischer Katechismus. [Catholic Catechism.] Verfasst von Johunn
Nep. Neumann, Bischof von Philadelphia. Zehnte Auflage. Mit Genehmigung
des National Conciliums von Bait I8mo. Halb-Franzb, per doz.l 59

Kleiner Catechismus. [Small Catechism.] Verfasst von Johann Nep.
Neumann, Bischof von Philadelphia. Zehnte Auflage. Mit Genehmigung des
National Conciliums von Bajtimore 32mo. Per hundred, 1 00

.#, B, C, und Buchstabir und Lesebuch. [Primer and Spelling Book,
for the use of Catholic Schools.) Nach der Buchstabir und Lautir-Methode
eingerichtet. Zum Gebrauche in den kathol. Schulen. . . Halb-Fr'zb. per doz. 1 00

•fllle deutschen Buchervon Murphy fy Co.sind mit Gutheissun« der Obern herausgcgeben.
5

HANICQ' S CELEBRATED LITURGICAL PUBLICATIONS.

Missale Romanum, printed in Red and Black — all sizes from folio to 12mo.; various
bindings. — Canon Missalce Pontificalis. Folio. 16 fine Engravings. — Missa Defunc-
torum, folio and 8vo. — Missce Pontificates, folio. 13 fine Engravings. — Breviarium
Romanum, printed in Red and Black, all sizes, from 4to. lo 32mo., various bind
ings. — Breviarium (Totum) Romanum. 18mo. — Rituale Romanum. 18ino. & 8vo. —
Martyrologium Romanum. 4io. — Pontificate Romanum. 3 vols 8vo., 158 fine Engra
vings. — Graduate Romanum, Juxta Ritum Sacrosanctae Roma; EccIesiaR. 8vo. — Ves-
percde Romanum, cum Psalterio ex antiphonali Romano fideliter extractum. 8vo. —
Officia Beata Maria Virginia in Latin and English. 18mo.— Officium Hcbdomada
Sa»cta, with notes. 32mo — Homo Jlpostolicus, Ligorio. 3 vols. — Impedimentis (de)
Matrimonio. 8vo.—Memoriale Vita Sacerdotalis. ISrno.— Caleste Palmetum, &C.

The missals and other liturgical publications of Mr. Hanicq, of Mechlin, have
already acquired a world-wide reputation for accuracy, convenience and other quali
ties so desirable in works of this description. The Roman Missals, from his press,
are in three different forms, folio, quarto, and duodecimo, and consequently adapted
to altars of any dimensions, the last is particularly convenient for private reference.
•These missals may also be obtained in black letter, or in black and red. As to the
accuracy of the editions, it will be sufficient to state, that they were prepared by
learned rubricists, and have received the approbation of his Eminence the Cardinal
Archbishop of Mechlin. The letter-press is in fine large characiers, and ornamented
with ten excellent engravings from the pencil of artists of the very highest merit. But
the chief point of superiority is the convenient arrangement of the collects, gospels,
&c., which cannot fail to win the approval of the" Rev. Clergy. We will notice
briefly the principal features in which this arrangement differs from that of other
editions.

1. — The Proper of the Saints is perfectly complete up to the time of publication.

2. — All the Masses of double or semi-doublt; feasts, which have peculiar to them
the least thing more than the collect alone, are printed in full in the Proper of the
Saints on the days on which they occur. When the secret anil the post-communion
are proper, it is very disagreeable for the priest to be obliged to turn over the leaves
of his Missal three or four times^in order to look in the Proper for the few lines of
those two prayers separated by the communion which is common. All the Saints, of
whom a commemoration is made on double or semi-double feasts, have likewise
their three prayers printed in full. In fine, the prayers which are to be said during
the octaves are found always in their proper places, or near them, so that it is never
necessary to recur to the Common of the Saints or other parts.

3. — In all the other editions of the Missal published up to the present time there
exists a very serious inconvenience for the celebrant, viz : the necessity of turning
the page in the middle of an introit, gospel, or even of a collect, or post-communion,
during the Masses which are sung. This inconvenience is more especially felt at the
introits and gospels, when after having turned the leaf for the purpose of reading the
end, it is necessary to turn it a second time on account of the beginning, and a third
time, in order lo go on with that which follows. The same may be said of certain
parts of the canon. Mr. Hanicq is so far the only one who has completely avoided
this inconvenience in his fine editions.

4. — The Proper of the Saints presents, in their respective places, the three prayers
of every simple feast which has the least thing proper to it; but it was thought per
fectly useless 10 crowd the Proper of the Saints with Masses of simple feasts, entirely
belonging to the common.

5.— The proper prayers for the weeks of Advent are repeated in the Proper of the
Saints at the beginning of December; so that the priest is not obliged, during those
four weeks, to look every day for those prayers at the beginning of the Missal, with
the risk of overturning it when moving it with the aid of the marks. The prayers
peculiar to other times of the year are so located as to afford the greatest conveni
ence to the celebrant.

6. — At the end of the Missal is found a very extensive supplement which includes
a great number of Masses for different countries, diocesses and religious congrega
tions. Amongst thos« Masses are particularly remarked those of the Society of
'Jesus, the Lazarists, &c., and that of the Immaculate Conception. Finally the two
new Masses of St. Francis Hieronymo and the Blessed Peter Claver granted to the
Society of Jesus have recently been added.

Improvements of the same kind have been introduced in the Mechlin editions of
the Breviaries of every size, and in Diurnals in 8vo. in 32mo. and in 48mo. all printed
in red and black, and the greater part on very strong hand-made paper.

(fc^-We have the pleasure to announce that we have been appointed Agents for the
sale of Mr. Hanicq's publications in the United States, and will keep a large supply
constantly on hand, which we are prepared to supply in various bindings, Wholesale
and Retail, at very low pricet. MURPHY & CO. 178 Markets!. Baltimore.

I/'