Our Holy Founder: Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Learn about the life and legacy of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, the founder of the Redemptorists. Discover his profound impact on the Catholic Church and his enduring message of love and redemption. Join us as we explore the life of a saint who dedicated himself to serving the most abandoned souls.

A life dedicated to Jesus Christ

Alphonsus Maria de Liguori CSsR (27 September 1696 – 1 August 1787) was an Italian Catholic bishop and saint, as well as a spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, known as the Redemptorists, in November 1732.

Bishop and doctor of the church

In 1762 he was appointed Bishop of Sant'Agata de' Goti. A prolific writer, he published nine editions of his Moral Theology in his lifetime, in addition to other devotional and ascetic works and letters. Among his best known works are The Glories of Mary and The Way of the Cross, the latter still used in parishes during Lenten devotions. He is also associated with the manualist tradition of moral theology and seminary education, which was highly influential in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Canonization and legacy

He was canonised in 1839 by Pope Gregory XVI and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871. One of the most widely read Catholic authors, he is the patron saint of confessors.

Photo by Nick Castelli on Unsplash

Love Saint Alphonsus and let his life inspire you to follow in his footsteps. His teachings offer confidence and edification for all who seek a closer relationship with God.

The spiritual children of San Alfonso