August 1 - Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church—Memorial

Read entire reflection online >>>August 1: Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church—Memorial1696–1787Patron Saint of confessors and moral theologiansInvoked against scrupulosity, arthritis, and for final perseveranceCanonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871Liturgical Color: WhiteQuote: In the beginning of the soul’s conversion, God often gives her a flood of consolations. In consequence of this, the soul is gradually weaned from attachment to creatures and gives herself to God; but not as yet in a perfect manner, for she acts more for the sake of the consolations of God than for the God of consolations, as St. Francis de Sales so beautifully says. It is a common fault of our fallen nature that in everything we do, we seek our own gratification. The love of God and Christian perfection do not consist in sweet feelings and sensible consolations, but in overcoming our self-love and in fulfilling the Will of God. In the lives of God’s greatest servants and saints we see the milk of consolations give place to the more substantial food of afflictions; and this it is that enables them to bear the burden of the cross on their journey to Calvary’s Mount. ~Saint Alphonsus, The School of Perfection, Chapter TwelvePrayer:Saint Alphonsus, though you hated sin, you loved the sinner and worked tirelessly to reconcile every sinner to God. You did so with compassion and mercy, in imitation of Jesus. Please pray for me, that I will share in your convictions and mission, and seek to love every person who has turned from God. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.Image: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons